I will be discussing John Stuart Mills views on paternalism. I will argue how I feel about the subject. Then I will try my best to put myself into Mills shoes, argue back and try to see if I can understand where he is coming from with his arguments on paternalism. I plan on saying that there should be certain types of laws for different types of paternalistic acts, weak and strong for example. The laws should depend on what goes on when that act occurs and also after that act. I have strong views against Mill on the general way that he explains paternalism, but when I read more into depth Mill really says what I think should really be done. My view toward paternalism is somewhat different from that of Mill because Mill believes that there should be a law only against someone harming someone else. I believe that this is a start. Lets say that you have a strong relationship with a person who all of a sudden wants to kill himself or herself. It would be morally wrong not to try to stop that person from killing him or herself, because you are emotionally attached to that person and their death will in turn hurt you so such. That person might have meant the world to you and now that he or she is gone you might start to feel that there is no point in living also and then you pretty much start a change reaction of bringing everyone down around you. Also, I am not saying that this should be the only reason for stepping in if someone is trying to commit suicide, it is just one of many reasons.Mill would probably go right to the word morally and would likely say, Should we base all our laws on morals? Then he might say: if you believe that then, whose morals should we base them on? All peoples morals are not the same. Everyone does not think alike. Some might think if, that person does not want to live then let him or her be, let him or her do their own thing and get it over with, we do not need people on this earth like that. Some of the othe...
