A liberdade como base para a obtenção da felicidade em John Stuart Mill

Abstract

The present Work aims to approach the utilitarian theory and some aspects of political liberalism of John Stuart Mill with a pretension of demonstrate how the concept of liberty, conceived by english philosopher is fundamental to obtainment of what he understood to be the happiness. Therefore, the structure of work is composed by two chapters: 1) The first will seek approach the concept of utilitarianism, well how your aplications and some aspects of influence and detachment in relation the benthan’s theory; 2) The second chapter will traverse about the theme of Liberty, your concept, connection with the utilitarist idea, applications and importance to obtainment of happiness. The central base and the conductor yarn of this work is founded on pretension to seek indicate how the Works of Liberty and the Utilitarianism are interconnected by the argument of the Liberty is the concept that sustains the Happiness. At the work, will seek to expatiate, as well, about other aspects of the millian theory presented in the course of his work, how: the liberty of press, the limitation of individual liberty from, mainly, of religion, individuality, geniality, etc. We will treat yet of others concepts exposed by Mill like a virtue, justice, democracy, and how all of these concepts are the base for that a person get the happiness. Is important to mention too that the hapiness is the greatest good for the greatest number, and in the perspective of Mill, it is reached – beyond of guarantee of individual liberty – by the most elevated pleasures, called intellectual pleasures. We will try, as well, especially in the first chapter, demonstrate the influences that the utilitarian philosophy of Mill obtained in relation of Jeremy Bentham’s theory and, in certain aspects, of Epicurus and Seneca. Therefore, this work, objective essencially demonstrate how the democratic liberty (representative government) and the full-cultivation of individuality are the base for that a person can experiment the most-elevated pleasures (intellectual) to obtain the happiness.