Philosophers and Their Theories on Society
Among the foremost philosophers who created theories about society are Mill and Marx. The concepts that Mill developed about a just society, however, diverge from those that Marx developed.
Mill's Concept of a Just Society
According to Mill, a genuinely just society is one in which political rulers are held politically responsible by the people they rule and where the people they rule are the ones who benefit from their rule. In a just community, authority can also only be used against someone's will in order to protect others from harm. Furthermore, the ruler's influence over the populace is constrained in a just society.
Marx's Concept of a Just Society
On the other hand, the characteristics of a truly just society according to Marx include the abolition of social classes in the society. As a result of the elimination of classes and capitalist, a truly just society will have no state. Consequently, all individuals will be equal in Marx’s just society, and all the society’s processes will be democratic such as collaborative efforts in social and workplace environments.
Arguments Presented by Mill and Marx
Both these thinkers present different arguments to support their reasoning.
Mill argues that during the old times, rulers were conceived and derived their authority from inheritance or conquest. These leaders at all times did not hold the ruling position due to the wish of the people they were governing. As a result, actions of the rulers were unquestionable by those being governed due to the fear of being oppressed. Mill argues that the powers of these leaders were used as a weapon which they could use on their subjects in the same way as they did to their enemies. According to this argument, power was not being used to prevent harm to others but to benefit the rulers, and the power was not controlled.
On the other hand, Marx states that the history of existing society is based on class struggles. The classes are divided into two main categories: the oppressor and the oppressed, who are always fighting each other. The Bourgeois is the new class of oppressors, while the proletarians are the working class being oppressed for the benefit of the Bourgeois. Furthermore, Marx notes that the current state of political power and state are dependent on the existence of classes and capitalism. In a communist state envisioned by Marx, both classes and capitalism will be abolished, resulting in a loss of state and political character in public power.
Critiques by Marx and Mill
Marx can critique Mill’s emphasis on individual liberty based on the principles of individual liberty stated by Mill. According to Mill, an individual has absolute right and independence over his body and mind. However, an individual cannot exercise his powers for either his physical or moral good but only to benefit another individual. Marx can argue that this principle by Mill oppresses the individual because the person will have to depend on another one for their happiness. An individual’s liberty of action is therefore dependent on another person's view. In that, one has to be sure that their actions will be beneficial to the other individual before exercising their powers. In some way, Marx can see this as oppression depending on the various classes available in the society.
Mill can critique Marx’s emphasis on social equality as a requirement for a just society based on the argument that universal equality is hard to achieve. According to Marx, people should be able to look beyond gender, class, and age. However, classes are inevitable in every society, even though people try to abolish them. For instance, the ruling class will always be there. Therefore, when Marx states that the working class should raise the proletariat to the position of the ruling class, this proletariat will become the new ruler and take the position of the bourgeoisie. Hence, when they wrestle capital away from the bourgeoisie, they will probably not centralize production but use the capital to establish more power as the ruling class. Therefore, achieving the just society of social equality envisioned by Marx is doubtful.
Bibliography
“Chapter II. Proletarians and Communists.” Marxist. n.d. Available at: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch02.htm
“John Stuart Mill on Liberty 1859.” Hanover. n.d. Available at: https://history.hanover.edu/courses/excerpts/111mill.html
“Manifesto of the Communist Party.” Marxist. n.d. Available at: https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch01.htm
