Question

According to John Stuart Mill, Does it make sense to conceive an organization (such as a corporation) as a "person" would he say "yes" (and why), or would he say "no" (and why)?

Answer 1

(Answer) John Stuart Mill was best known for his principle of utilitarianism. According to this principle, an individual should make the choices that maximize the happiness derived from the action. In other words, the choices that have the most “use” or “utility” are the one that should be chosen.

Furthermore, Mill theorized that if each individual in the society were to be given their freedoms, they would garner the most utility. Therefore, if people are able to be free, they will exhibit the maximum utility.

Through such a perspective, it would be of most utility to view a corporation as a person. This is because they would get the same freedom of ideas that a human being would be entitled to and be able to get the maximum utility from their operations. Since the purpose of a corporation is to earn maximum profit or utility from their actions, it would be beneficial to give a corporation the same status as a person.