Friday, August 08, 2008

Who Deserves Rights?

J.S Mill's Harm Principle states that, "The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others."
Before an institution can restrict a behavior, it has to demonstrate that that behavior causes demonstrable harm to others.

The notion of liberty, the claim that liberty is a freedom from encroachment and i have a right to self-determination so long as it harms no one, is a basic founding principle of democracy.

So is the majority's moral condemnation a good enough reason to limit another's rights?