On LibertyFrom the Introduction In his Autobiography, Mill predicts that the essay On Liberty is "likely to survive longer than anything else that I have written." He goes on to say that the essay is the expression of a "single truth: " "the importance, to man and society, of a large variety of types of character, and of giving full freedom to human nature to expand itself in innumerable and conflicting directions." In the essay itself, Mill defines his subject as "the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual." He defends the absolute freedom of individuals to engage in conduct not harmful to others, and the near-absolute freedom to express and discuss opinions of all kinds. Mill's essay survives, as he had predicted, because his powerful message is still widely rejected by the powerful, and by those who continue to seek power over the lives of others. |
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able action admit affect allowed amount argument asserted attempt authority become believe better body called cause character Christian common concerns condition conduct consequences considerable considered contrary custom deny desire discussion doctrine duty enforced equally error evil example exercise exist experience fact feelings force freedom give grounds hold human important improvement individual interests interference judge judgment justify least less liberty limit living majority mankind means ment mental merely mind mode moral nature necessary never object obtain opinion party persecution persons political position possess possible practical preference prevent principle profess progress punishment question reason received regard religion religious render require respect rest rules side social society stand strong supposed things thought tion toleration true truth unless whole wrong
Bibliographic information
| Title | On Liberty |
| Author | John Stuart Mill |
| Edition | 2, large print |
| Publisher | Parker, 1859 |
| Original from | Ghent University |
| Digitized | Feb 22, 2011 |
| ISBN | 0758337248, 9780758337245 |
| Length | 207 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |