John Stuart Mill: On Liberty
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Average rating3.8
A remarkably timeless analysis of our notions of individual freedom and our obligations to each other.
Some examples are topically 19th century of course, but these are not major distractions. The analysis tends to fall apart for a modern reader though because it does not address second order effects our behavior has on others that have become critical in our time. Pollution, global warming, overpopulation, depletion of natural resources, and the power of nongovernmental organizations radically affect the lives and limit the freedom of all people, ourselves and our children.
I think that had John Stuart Mill lived in our time, he would have addressed these issues as a major part of his analysis. As it is, this book is a milestone in our human thought on liberty, and a good start on framing a discussion, but it is only a start.
Near the beginning of On Liberty, John Stuart Mill states the over-arching idea of the book:
...the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. [...:] The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.
Republic