On Liberty by john Stuart Mill

Public Prostitution and Public Gambling

These are cases in which an occupation involves “instigating” others to engage in social vices. Does this constitute

harm to others?

Mill: Not in private, but in public, yes. In the public sphere, such instigators should not be tolerated - their

influence on the decisions of others can legitimately be suppressed by law.

Mill also thinks this is the case with “offenses against decency”.

Note: Mill thinks restrictions on sellers of alcohol are different. Such sellers are biased, like the pimp or the casino

owner, and want to influence the public to consume their good. However, alcohol sellers are the only means of

obtaining their product for legitimate use. (pg. 175)