Consider the following statements:
(I) J. S. Mill in his book "On Liberty" deals with individual liberty.
(II) He distinguishes between "Self regarding action" and "Other regarding action".
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

Consider the following statements: 
(I) J. S. Mill in his book "On Liberty" deals with individual liberty. 
(II) He distinguishes between "Self regarding action" and "Other regarding action". 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Both statements (I) and (II) are correct, making Option 3 the right choice. J. S. Mill's monumental work, "On Liberty" (1859), is fundamentally a defense of individual freedom against the coercive power of the state and society, thereby confirming Statement (I). Central to this defense is the "Harm Principle," which Mill uses to define the legitimate limits of governmental interference. This leads directly to the distinction mentioned in Statement (II): "Self-regarding actions" are those that affect only the individual performing them, where Mill argues society has no right to interfere. Conversely, "Other-regarding actions" are those that affect the interests of others, and these actions may legitimately be subjected to social or legal regulation to prevent harm. This critical dichotomy forms the entire conceptual framework of Mill's theory of liberty.

The incorrect option is 1:
Stating "Only (I)" is incorrect because it falsely rejects the second statement. Mill’s entire argument for individual liberty in "On Liberty" is contingent upon his differentiation between actions that solely concern the individual (self-regarding) and those that impact the collective welfare (other-regarding). If he did not make this distinction, the principle that society can only intervene to prevent harm to others would be meaningless. Therefore, both the topic of the book (individual liberty) and the central mechanism (the distinction of actions) are integral truths about the text.

The incorrect option is 2:
Stating "Only (II)" is incorrect because while Mill does distinguish between self-regarding and other-regarding actions, the primary focus of the book, as established in its title and introduction, is the nature and limits of individual liberty. The distinction between the two types of actions is merely the tool or mechanism Mill uses to define the boundary of individual liberty. It cannot be studied or understood in isolation from the overarching theme of freedom, making Statement (I) equally, if not more, correct in describing the book's contents.

The incorrect option is 4:
Stating "Neither (I) nor (II)" is incorrect because both statements accurately reflect the content and core arguments of "On Liberty." The work is universally recognized as a classic text on individual liberty, and its primary political philosophy contribution is the establishment of the harm principle through the dichotomy of self-regarding and other-regarding actions. Rejecting both statements demonstrates a misunderstanding of this essential text in political philosophy.