GS4 · 10 marks · 150 words

Discuss John Stuart Mill's idea on freedom of thought and expression. Also, give reasons as to why, according to Mill, representative democracy is the best form of government despite its inherent weaknesses.

Answered by 15 toppers · CSE 2017–2019

Syllabus: Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and world.

How toppers approached it

From 14 of the 15 answers · about 140 words.

Opening

  • No separate opening93%
  • A constitutional or legal provision7%

Body

  • Points43%
  • Points and prose29%
  • Continuous prose29%

Close

  • No separate close71%
  • A summary21%
  • A way forward7%

The toppers’ answers

Junaid AhmadAIR 3 · CSE 2018 · 191 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

John stuart mill is a utilitarianism thinker who has talked about maximum benefit for maximum people for maximum period of time. According to him an action should be evaluated based on this parameter.

His idea on freedom of thought and expression

Body · points

→ These rights are natural rights which are with the people. → These are important for constructive debates and progress of humanity. → state should ensure the protection of these rights of an individual. → they should be enjoyed unless they donot impinge on right of others.

According to mill despite of its inherent weakness, representative democracy is the best form

Weaknesses → Not equal say to minorities → Representatives can turn authoritarian → No direct say of people in law making → Can create instability

But despite of it this type is considered the best

→ Periodic elections ensures accountability of the representatives. → Institutions are considered as public property which officials hold for a temporary period → Monarchy, feudalism are much exploitative in comparison to it → Public trust in their elected representatives.

Close · a way forward

There is a need to move towards participative democracy from representative democracy to reap benefits

More on World Thinkers

Moral thinkers and philosophers from outside India used as a source: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Mill, Rawls, Confucius and others.

All GS4 questions on World Thinkers