Stuart Mill Conformity

As a social theorist in the mid 19th century, John Stuart Mill maintained a Utilitarian outlook. Yet, his enlightened perspective discouraged forced conformity and promoted the misfit. Furthermore, Mill argued that individual liberty is necessary to obtain progress in society.3 This concept remains relevant to the world we see today because, without deviants such as Brenda Berkman and Autherine Lucy, society would stagnate. In the essay Of Individuality, published by Mill in 1869, the theorist asserted that the modern age has the capacity to diminish the individual by shaming them into conformity. Contrarily, regarding human nature, Mill believed in the most good for the largest number of people, ensuring that both actions and opinions are limited. Yet, he insisted on an emphasis of individual liberty as long as it remained balanced with social stability. Therefore, Mill concluded, individuals are necessary to promote progress in society.5 Approximately one century after the release of Mill’s essay, African American rights activist and NAACP member, Autherine Lucy, was rejected from the University of Alabama’s graduate school on
In the case of Snyder v. Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church revealed themselves as a hate group damning “fags” and their “associates” like the U.S. Army.2 Westboro’s despicable words and protests immediately labelled them as deviants - uninterested in societal norms and lacking respect for the diseased. Through Mill’s essay Of Individuality, it is evident that he wanted to prevent the mental harm of others caused by deviants use of individual liberty.5 Furthermore, Westboro’s ideas are outdated and discourage societal progress. However, Mill believed that these weren’t enough to silence the individual. Instead, by having a multiplicity of ideas and stances that can be openly voiced, we as a society are more progressive and