Summary
On Liberty is one of Mill’s most famous
works and remains the one most read today. In this book, Mill expounds
his concept of individual freedom within the context of his ideas
on history and the state. On Liberty depends on
the idea that society progresses from lower to higher stages and
that this progress culminates in the emergence of a system of representative
democracy. It is within the context of this form of government that
Mill envisions the growth and development of liberty.
Chapter I defines civil liberty as the limit that must
be set on society’s power over each individual. Mill undertakes
a historical review of the concept of liberty, beginning with ancient
Greece and Rome and proceeding to England. In the past, liberty
meant primarily protection from tyranny. Over time, the meaning
of liberty changed along with the role of rulers, who came to be
seen as servants of the people rather than masters. This evolution
brought about a new problem: the tyranny of the majority, in which
a democratic majority forces its will on the minority. This state
of affairs can exercise a tyrannical power even outside the political
realm, when forces such as public opinion stifle individuality and
rebellion. Here, society itself becomes the tyrant by seeking to
inflict its will and values on others. Next, Mill observes that
liberty can be divided into three types, each of which must be recognized
and respected by any free society. First, there is the liberty of
thought and opinion. The second type is the liberty of tastes and
pursuits, or the freedom to plan our own lives. Third, there is
the liberty to join other like-minded individuals for a common purpose
that does not hurt anyone. Each of these freedoms negates society’s
propensity to compel compliance.
Chapter II examines the question of whether one or more
persons should be able to curtail another person’s freedom to express
a divergent point of view. Mill argues that any such activity is
illegitimate, no matter how beyond the pale that individual’s viewpoint may
be. We must not silence any opinion, because such censorship is simply
morally wrong. Mill points out that a viewpoint’s popularity does
not necessarily make it correct—this fact is why we must allow freedom
of opinion. Dissent is vital because it helps to preserve truth,
since truth can easily become hidden in sources of prejudice and
dead dogma. Mill defines dissent as the freedom of the individual
to hold and articulate unpopular views.
Chapter III discusses whether people who hold unpopular
views should be allowed to act on them without being made social
outcasts or facing a legal penalty. Actions cannot be as free as
ideas or viewpoints, and the law must limit all actions whose implementation
would harm others or be an outright nuisance. He states that human
beings are fallible, and therefore they need to experiment with
different ways of living. However, individual liberty must always
be expressed in order to achieve social and personal progress.
Chapter IV examines whether there are instances when society can
legitimately limit individual liberty. Mill rejects the concept
of the social contract, in which people agree to be a part of society
and recognize that society can offer certain forms of protection
while asking for certain forms of obligations. However, he does
suggest that because society offers protection, people are obliged
to behave in a certain way, and each member of society must defend
and protect society and all its members from harm. In brief, society
must be given power to curtail behavior that harms others, but no
more.
Chapter V summarizes and elucidates Mill’s twofold argument. First,
individuals are not accountable to society for behavior and actions
that affect only them. Second, a person is answerable for any type
of behavior or action that harms others, and in such cases it is the
responsibility of society to punish and curtail such behavior and action.
However, Mill does note that there are some types of actions that
certainly harm others but bring a larger benefit to society, as when
one person succeeds in business more than his rival. In the rest of
the chapter, Mill examines particular examples of his doctrine.
