On Liberty

John Stuart Mill

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139149785

British philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill (1806–73) is the author of several essays, including Utilitarianism (1863) - a defence of Jeremy Bentham's principle applied to the field of ethics - and The Subjection of Women (1869), which advocates legal equality between the sexes. This work, arguably his most famous contribution to political philosophy and theory, was first published in 1859, and remains a major influence upon contemporary liberal political thought. In it, Mill argues for a limitation of the power of government and society (democracy's 'tyranny of the majority') over the individual, and defines liberty as an absolute individual right. According to the still much debated 'harm principle', power against the individual can only be exercised to prevent harm to others. Full of contemporary relevance, this essay also defends freedom of speech as a necessary condition of social and intellectual progress.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp 1-2
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Contents
pp 3-4
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Dedication
pp 5-6
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CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTORY
pp 7-30
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CHAPTER II - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
pp 31-99
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CHAPTER III - OF INDIVIDUALITY, AS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF WELL-BEING
pp 100-133
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CHAPTER IV - OF THE LIMITS TO THE AUTHORITY OF SOCIETY OVER THE INDIVIDUAL
pp 134-167
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CHAPTER V - APPLICATIONS
pp 168-208
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On Liberty

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp 1-2

Contents
pp 3-4

Dedication
pp 5-6

CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTORY
pp 7-30

CHAPTER II - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
pp 31-99

CHAPTER III - OF INDIVIDUALITY, AS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF WELL-BEING
pp 100-133

CHAPTER IV - OF THE LIMITS TO THE AUTHORITY OF SOCIETY OVER THE INDIVIDUAL
pp 134-167

CHAPTER V - APPLICATIONS
pp 168-208

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On Liberty

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