Burke and Mill: The Proper Extent of Dissent in Society. Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, an inherent argument can be traced through the works of Edmund Burke and those of John Stuart Mill. Burke asserts the importance of institutions and their presence in society. As an empirical philosopher, Mill developed the philosophy of utilitarianism, which bases knowledge upon human experience and emphasizes the importance of human reason. In his most famous work, "On Liberty," Mill holds that individual liberty and reason were the criteria for policy and the formation of the state. Thus, while for Burke, it is the institutions that must develop in order to embrace justice, for Mill it is the human being that is the initial criterion and the institutions of society are, at best, a reflection of the human being's experience and reason. 5 pgs. Bibliography lists 2 sources. Pages: 5 Bibliography: 2 source(s) listed Filename: 4307 Burke Mill Society.doc Price: 44.75