Liberty, Paternalism, and Equity: Public Health and the Legacy of John Stuart Mill

FAIN: RZ-50636-06

Columbia University (New York, NY 10027-7922)
Ronald Bayer (Project Director: November 2005 to June 2009)

A conference to examine the impact of the philosophy of John Stuart Mill on the ethics and practice of public health in the United States (12 months)

2006 will mark the bicentennial of the birth of the 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mill, a principle figure in the development of modern liberal thought. For this occasion we will convene a two-day conference of historians, philosophers, legal scholars, and public health experts to discuss the impact of Mill's legacy on the ethics and practice of public health in the United States. A volume based on this conference will be published. The project will involve an examination of how Mill's perspective has influenced debates over the scope of public health. Our goal will be to confront the question of whether Mill's antipaternalism is compatible with the protective functions of public health in a liberal democratic society.