Discussed and debated from time immemorial, the concept of personal liberty went without codification until the 1859 publication of On Liberty. John Stuart Mill's complete and resolute dedication to the cause of freedom inspired his treatise, an enduring work through which the concept remains well known and studied.
This new edition offers students of political science and philosophy, in an inexpensive volume, one of the most influential studies on the nature of individual liberty and its role in a democratic society.
Discussed and debated from time immemorial, the concept of personal liberty went without codification until the 1859 publication of On Liberty. John Stuart Mill"s complete and resolute dedication to the cause of freedom inspired his treatise, an enduring work through which the concept remains well known and studied.
The British economist, philosopher, and ethical theorist"s argument does not focus on “the so-called Liberty of the Will... but Civil, or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual.”Mill asks and answers provocative questions relating to the boundaries of social authority and individual sovereignty. In powerful and persuasive prose,he declares that there is“one very simple principle”regarding the use of coercion in society---one may only coerce others either to defend oneself or to defend others from harm.
This new edition offers students of political science and philosophy, in an inexpensive volume, one of the most influential studies on the nature of individual liberty and its role in a democratic society.
Chapter I Introductory
Chapter II Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion
Chapter III On Individuality, as One of the Elements of Well-being
Chapter IV Of the Limits to the Authority of Society over the Individual
Chapter V Applications
