ABSTRACT
In chapter 3 of On Liberty, Mill (2003a) introduces the concept of “experiments in living,” with the goal of presenting a progressive alternative to what he saw as a declining culture. The notion of experiments in living is notable for several reasons: first, it offers a clearer conception of his claims of utilitarian progressivism that he argues for in chapter 2 of Utilitarianism (2003b). Experiments in living1 are meant to provide the engine of social progress: not only do we have the opportunity for improving our cultural and moral condition, but we can also better discover why some of our existing social arrangements are so successful. Second, these experiments help define and justify the negative freedoms of individuals. Individuals are to be free to engage in those experiments that do not harm others, and we are to encourage them to do so because we look forward to the possibility of society benefiting from their innovations. Third, experiments in living, and the individuality that they promote, make us worthy objects of moral contemplation, as they differentiate us from mere automatons. Experimentation forces us to flex our moral muscles in a way that conformity simply does not. In virtue of trying out a different way of living than is common in one’s society, one is forced to think more carefully about one’s choices. They deviate from the defaults, and so require consideration. Not only does this encourage us to contemplate our new way of life, but also to reflect on the standard social contract.
