On Liberty

by John Stuart Mill

Overview

On Liberty by John Stuart Mill is a classic politics essay that is one of history's most important political works. Mill declares that "over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign." For those interested in political philosophy, this is essential reading.On Liberty is a philosophical work by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill, originally intended as a short essay. The work, published in 1859, applies Mill's ethical system of utilitarianism to society and the state. Mill attempts to establish standards for the relationship between authority and liberty. He emphasizes the importance of individuality, which he conceived as a prerequisite to the higher pleasures—the summum bonum of utilitarianism. Furthermore, Mill criticizes the errors of past attempts to defend individuality where, for example, democratic ideals resulted in the "tyranny of the majority". Among the standards established in this work are Mill's three basic liberties of individuals, his three legitimate objections to government intervention, and his two maxims regarding the relationship of the individual to society.On Liberty was a greatly influential and well received work, although it did not go without criticism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774419106
Publisher:	Whispering Pines Press
Publication date:	06/07/2021
Pages:	158
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.34(d)

About the Author

John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873) usually cited as J. S. Mill, was an English philosopher, political economist, Member of Parliament (MP), and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely to social theory, political theory, and political economy. Dubbed "the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the nineteenth century", he conceived of liberty as justifying the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state and social control. In his later years, whilst continuing to staunchly defend individual rights and freedoms, he became more critical of economic liberalism and his views on political economy moved towards a form of liberal socialism.

Mill was a proponent of utilitarianism, an ethical theory developed by his predecessor Jeremy Bentham. He contributed to the investigation of scientific methodology, though his knowledge of the topic was based on the writings of others, notably William Whewell, John Herschel, and Auguste Comte, and research carried out for Mill by Alexander Bain. He engaged in written debate with Whewell.

A member of the Liberal Party and author of the early feminist work The Subjection of Women, Mill was also the second Member of Parliament to call for women's suffrage after Henry Hunt in 1832.