See the axis · Moral demandingness

Argument

The harm principle

Morality demands little, but demands it firmly: do not harm others. As long as I wrong no one, my life is my own business.

Supports

Mill, Ruwen Ogien · · 1859

  1. A duty is what may legitimately be demanded of everyone, by blame or coercion if need be: its mark is that anyone may be reproached for failing it.
  2. Now all that can be demanded of everyone is the minimum without which common life is impossible: do not kill, steal, deceive, harm. Beyond that, each has the right to lead their life as they see fit, so long as they wrong no one.
  3. Doing good, devoting oneself, sacrificing oneself is admirable but cannot be owed: a morality that makes saintliness a duty turns every ordinary life into a fault, and gives anyone a title to police our own.

Therefore So morality confines itself to what can be demanded of all, not harming; the rest, help, generosity, sacrifice, belongs to the , not to duty.

How far does this reasoning convince you?

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Entirely