#Mill harm principle summary trial#

In diminishing the importance of respecting authority figures and traditional social structures, Kohlberg set the stage for decades of subsequent research that assumed that morality was unrelated (and even in opposition to) these values. Kohlberg reasoned that hierarchy and submission to authority hindered a child’s moral development by keeping him from stepping into another’s shoes and resolving conflict independently. While developing his theories about the six stages of moral judgment, psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg noticed that children who were given more chances to “role take”-step into another’s shoes and see the situation from his viewpoint-progressed through the moral stages more quickly. The Harm Principle: The Rationalist Argument Read more to learn about differing views regarding the harm principle. This is put forth by Jonathan Haidt in his book The Righteous Mind.

However, taking the rest of the world into consideration opens up a different perspective. This is the basis for ethics in the secular West. The harm principle, introduced by John Stuart Mill in 1859, states that the only way that anyone should exercise power in a civilized society is to prevent harm. ĭoes the harm principle of ethics have universal merit? What is the principle’s counterargument?

#Mill harm principle summary trial#

Like this article? Sign up for a free trial here. Shortform has the world's best summaries and analyses of books you should be reading. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform book guide to 'The Righteous Mind' by Jonathan Haidt.