‘Lost, Enfeebled, and Deprived of Its Vital Effect’: Mill’s Exaggerated View of the Relation Between Conflict and Vitality

Abstract Mill thinks our attitudes should be held in a way that’s active and ‘alive’. He believes that lack these qualities—those dogmatically, or unreflective conformity—are inimical to well-being. This claim then serves as premiss his argument for overarching principles of liberty. argues attitudinal vitality, the relevant sense, relies upon people experiencing (and being open to) conflict, this necessitates prioritization personal liberties. I argue that, pace Mill, contestation isn’t required vitality. describe one species vitality reliant conflict.