when did john stuart mill write on liberty

What is the purpose of on Liberty by John Stuart Mill?

On Liberty. On Liberty is a philosophical work by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill, originally intended as a short essay. The work, published in 1859, applies Mill's ethical system of utilitarianism to society and the state. Mill attempts to establish standards for the relationship between authority and liberty.

What is the CID number for John Stuart Mill on Liberty?

S2CID 170181380. ^ Mill, John Stuart. [1859] 2006. On Liberty. Penguin Classics. ^ a b Mill, John Stuart. [1859] 2001. On Liberty.

When was John Stuart Mill's obituary published?

"John Stuart Mill (Obituary Notice, Tuesday, November 4, 1873)". Eminent Persons: Biographies reprinted from The Times. I (1870–1875). Macmillan & Co. 1892. pp. 195–224. hdl: 2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t6n011x45 – via HathiTrust.

Did Millard mill predict the success of on Liberty?

Mill rightly predicted that of all his writings On Liberty would be the most discussed. Surely enough, he was proven correct. On Liberty became massively popular following its publication in 1858. To this day, it is still hailed as one of the best defenses of free speech.

Why did Mill wrote on liberty?

Mill wrote that he believed On Liberty to be about "the importance, to man and society, of a large variety in types of character, and of giving full freedom to human nature to expand itself in innumerable and conflicting directions." This celebration of individuality and disdain for conformity runs throughout On ...

How did JS Mill define liberty?

Mill states the Principle of Liberty as: "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".

When did John Stuart Mill wrote utilitarianism?

1861Mill's work Utilitarianism, originally published in Fraser's Magazine (1861), is an elegant defense of the general utilitarian doctrine and perhaps remains the best introduction to the subject.

Who wrote essay on liberty?

What is John Stuart Mill known for? John Stuart Mill was an English philosopher, economist, and exponent of utilitarianism. He was prominent as a publicist in the reforming age of the 19th century and remains of lasting interest as a logician and an ethical theorist.

What is the thesis of on liberty?

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty applies the utilitarianism philosophy of Jeremy Bentham to the actions of the government. Mill argues that if the majority of people disapprove of an action, that is not enough of a reason for the government to regulate it. Instead, the action must actually do harm to the society.

What was John Stuart Mill's theory?

The ethical theory of John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) is most extensively articulated in his classical text Utilitarianism (1861). Its goal is to justify the utilitarian principle as the foundation of morals. This principle says actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote overall human happiness.

What was John Stuart Mill best known for?

John Stuart Mill's most important works include Principles of Political Economy (1848), On Liberty (1859), Utilitarianism (1861), and The Subjection of Women (1869).

Who wrote utilitarianism in 1861?

John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill's book Utilitarianism is a classic exposition and defence of utilitarianism in ethics. The essay first appeared as a series of three articles published in Fraser's Magazine in 1861 (vol.

What is Mill's utilitarianism theory?

Mill defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." Mill defines happiness as pleasure and the absence of pain.

What is individuality and how does Mill define liberty of an individual in On Liberty?

Mill believed that individuality could not prosper without a “liberal culture,” consisting of individual liberties, equality of women, toleration of different lifestyles, a free-market economy, and limited government.

What do you mean by the term liberty?

Definition of liberty 1 : the quality or state of being free: a : the power to do as one pleases. b : freedom from physical restraint. c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic (see despot sense 1) control.

Did Mill believe in natural rights?

21Naturally, the rights of which James Mill spoke are only legal rights; he could never conceive the existence of pre-legal rights, that can only be metaphysical, and so in open contradiction with Bentham's theory on the matter: 22 J. Mill, "Jurisprudence", p.

What is liberty According to Rousseau?

What did Rousseau mean by 'liberty'? Liberty, by definition, is the 'immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority; political independence.

How did John Stuart Mill describe the struggle between authority and liberty?

John Stuart Mill opens his essay by discussing the historical "struggle between authority and liberty," describing the tyranny of government , which, in his view, needs to be controlled by the liberty of the citizens. He divides this control of authority into two mechanisms: necessary rights belonging to citizens, and the "establishment of constitutional checks by which the consent of the community, or of a body of some sort, supposed to represent its interests, was made a necessary condition to some of the more important acts of the governing power." Because society was—in its early stages—subjected to such turbulent conditions (i.e. small population and constant war), it was forced to accept rule "by a master." However, as mankind progressed, it became conceivable for the people to rule themselves. Mill admits that this new form of society seemed immune to tyranny because "there was no fear of tyrannizing over self." Despite the high hopes of the Enlightenment, Mill argues that the democratic ideals were not as easily met as expected. First, even in democracy, the rulers were not always the same sort of people as the ruled. Second, there is a risk of a " tyranny of the majority " in which the many oppress the few who, according to democratic ideals, have just as much a right to pursue their legitimate ends.

When was On Liberty written?

According to Mill in his autobiography, On Liberty was first conceived as a short essay in 1854. As the ideas developed, the essay was expanded, rewritten and "sedulously" corrected by Mill and his wife, Harriet Taylor.

When was the final draft of the book Liberty published?

The final draft was nearly complete when his wife died suddenly in 1858. Mill suggests that he made no alterations to the text at this point and that one of his first acts after her death was to publish it and to "consecrate it to her memory." The composition of this work was also indebted to the work of the German thinker Wilhelm von Humboldt, especially his essay On the Limits of State Action. Finally published in 1859, On Liberty was one of Mill's two most influential books (the other being Utilitarianism ).

What does Mill say about fornication and gambling?

On the subject of fornication and gambling, Mill has no conclusive answer, stating, " [t]here are arguments on both sides." He suggests that while the actions might be "tolerated" in private, promoting the actions (i.e. being a pimp or keeping a gambling house) "should not be permitted." He reaches a similar conclusion with acts of indecency, concluding that public indecency is condemnable.

What does Mill suggest about the relationship between authority and liberty?

Mill suggests standards for the relationship between authority and liberty. He emphasizes the importance of individuality, which he considers prerequisite to the higher pleasures—the summum bonum of utilitarianism. Furthermore, Mill asserts that democratic ideals may result in the tyranny of the majority.

What did Mill say about colonialism?

Contemporary philosophers Domenico Losurdo and David Theo Goldberg have strongly criticised Mill as a racist and an apologist for colonialism. However, during his term as a Member of Parliament, he chaired the extraparliamentary Jamaica Committee, which for two years unsuccessfully sought the prosecution of Governor Eyre and his subordinates for military violence against Jamaican Blacks.

What is the principle of liberty in the fourth chapter of the book?

In the fourth chapter, J. S. Mill explains a system in which a person can discern what aspects of life should be governed by the individual and which by society. Generally, he holds that a person should be left as free to pursue his own interests as long as this does not harm the interests of others. In such a situation, "society has jurisdiction over [the person's conduct]." He rejects the idea that this liberty is simply for the purpose of allowing selfish indifference. Rather, he argues that this liberal system will bring people to the good more effectively than physical or emotional coercion. This principle leads him to conclude that a person may, without fear of just punishment, do harm to himself through vice. Governments, he claims, should only punish a person for neglecting to fulfill a duty to others (or causing harm to others), not the vice that brought about the neglect.

What is the meaning of the book "On Liberty"?

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.

What is civil 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.

Why is individual liberty expressed in Chapter IV?

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.

What are the three types of liberty?

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.

What did John Mill believe about liberty?

Mill believed that "the struggle between Liberty and Authority is the most conspicuous feature in the portions of history." For him, liberty in antiquity was a "contest…between subjects, or some classes of subjects, and the government."

Who was John Stuart Mill?

Influenced. John Stuart Mill (20 May 1806 – 7 May 1873), usually cited as J. S. Mill, was an English philosopher, political economist, Member of Parliament (MP), and civil servant. One of the most influential thinkers in the history of classical liberalism, he contributed widely to social theory, political theory, and political economy.

How many sections does Mill explain utilitarianism?

Mill separated his explanation of Utilitarianism into five different sections:

What did John Mill study?

His father also thought that it was important for Mill to study and compose poetry. One of his earliest poetic compositions was a continuation of the Iliad. In his spare time he also enjoyed reading about natural sciences and popular novels, such as Don Quixote and Robinson Crusoe .

Why did John Stuart Mill not consider giving offence to constitute "harm"?

He did not consider giving offence to constitute "harm"; an action could not be restricted because it violated the conventions or morals of a given society. John Stuart Mill and Helen Taylor. Helen was the daughter of Harriet Taylor and collaborated with Mill for fifteen years after her mother's death in 1858.

What is the meaning of Mill's On Liberty?

Mill's On Liberty (1859) addresses the nature and limits of the power that can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. However, Mill is clear that his concern for liberty does not extend to all individuals and all societies. He states that " Despotism is a legitimate mode of government in dealing with Barbarians ."

What was Mill's education?

Mill was a notably precocious child. He describes his education in his autobiography. At the age of three he was taught Greek. By the age of eight, he had read Aesop's Fables, Xenophon 's Anabasis, and the whole of Herodotus, and was acquainted with Lucian, Diogenes Laërtius, Isocrates and six dialogues of Plato. He had also read a great deal of history in English and had been taught arithmetic, physics and astronomy.

Introduction

In his work, an English philosopher John Stuart Mill (1869), emphasizes the importance of individuality within any public system. Chapters II and III of his book became the parts of the collection of short essays that were edited by Roca and Schuh (2015).

Liberty of Contradicting as a Justification for Assuming the Truth of Opinion

One should differentiate between the purposes of assuming the separate opinions to be true. According to the author, it is unacceptable to presume that the idea is true only for not allowing its rebuttal.

The Manner of Expressing Opinions

There is a common belief that the ideas that are transmitted in an intemperate manner should be discarded and prohibited. Moreover, such ideas are considered to be false. However, the statement is arguable, while often people who try to rebut the opinion, are accomplishing it in a fierce and attacking way, which may seem intemperate.

Legal Restrictions of Freedom of Speech

Freedom of speech is not absolute. One should be aware of the fact that there are boundaries that determine the legitimacy of speech. Consequently, if the opinion promotes any encouragement for the accomplishment of some illegal or destructive act, society is supposed to restrict or discard it (Roca & Schuh, 2015, p. 450).

Conclusion: Freedom of Opinion and its Significance

The work provides an overview of the major principles of interrelations between personal opinions and generally-held truths. The author of the work illustrates how freedom of speech should be realized. Finally, the work helps the readers to realize that freedom of opinion is a crucial prerequisite of cognition in the modern world.

When did John Stuart Mill write the essay on liberty?

In John Stuart Mill: The later years. The essay On Liberty appeared in 1859 with a touching dedication to her and the Thoughts on Parliamentary Reform in the same year. In his Considerations on Representative Government (1861) he systematized opinions already put forward in many casual articles and essays. It has been remarked how….

Who argued that liberty cannot be a right?

In democracy: Mill. In his work On Liberty (1859) John Stuart Mill argued on utilitarian grounds that individual liberty cannot be legitimately infringed—whether by government, society, or individuals—except in cases where the individual’s action would cause harm to others. In a celebrated formulation of this principle, Mill wrote that.

What is civil liberties?

…advocacy in John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty (1859), which argues on utilitarian grounds that the state may regulate individual behaviour only in cases where the interests of others would be perceptibly harmed. Read More.

What is John Stuart Mill's essay on liberty about?

John Stuart Mill's Immortal Case for Toleration. John Stuart Mill’s essay On Liberty (1859) is the most famous work about toleration in the English language. It is clear, concise, logical, and passionate. It defends toleration —of thought, speech, and individuality—as a practical means to promote happiness for the greatest number of people.

How long did John Stuart Mill work for?

In May 1823, when John Stuart Mill was 17, he gained security for life—a six-hour-a-day administrative job at the East India Company, arranged by his father who had been working there four years. John Stuart Mill’s starting pay was only £3O a year, but he got promotions and had plenty of time for intellectual pursuits. He was to work at the East India Company for 35 years.

What is the most famous work about toleration?

John Stuart Mill’s essay On Liberty (1859) is the most famous work about toleration in the English language. It is clear, concise, logical, and passionate. It defends toleration—of thought, speech, and individuality—as a practical means to promote happiness for the greatest number of people. The book inspired generations ...

How old was Mill when he met Harriet Taylor?

In the summer of 1830, when Mill was 24, he had dinner at the home of London merchant John Taylor and met his 22-year- old wife, Harriet Taylor, who, it turned out, shared these passions. According to one acquaintance, she “was possessed of a beauty and grace quite unique of their kind.

Why was John Mill in jail?

Mill’s first freelance effort to improve the world landed him in jail for a couple days on an obscenity charge: concerned about overpopulation, he had distributed birth control information in a London park. Mill was defiant, but his family and friends were scandalized.

What was Mill's influence on liberty?

Mill owed his influence perhaps as much to his appealing personality as to his intellectual firepower. He was a rational, positive, generous man who sincerely loved liberty. There is moral fervor in On Liberty, even if he couldn’t bring himself to justify liberty for moral reasons.

When was the book Liberty written?

Mill had started writing On Liberty in 1855. He and Harriet collaborated on it, and after her death he worked to complete it. The book was published in February 1859, dedicated to her. Like most intellectuals, Mill was mainly interested in freedom of thought and was much less concerned about freedom of action, which required secure private contracts as well as private property. The book is an eloquent plea for toleration rather than a general defense of liberty, as commonly supposed. Nonetheless, the vigor of Mill’s language makes clear that he did value liberty for its own sake and not just as one among many possible ways to achieve a Utilitarian’s conception of happiness.

What is John Stuart Mill's essay on liberty about?

In John Stuart Mill’s essay “On Liberty”, he explores the question of whether society has a right to suppress an individual’s expression and opinions. Mill’s states, “if all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, ...

What did John Stuart Mill say about freedom of speech?

In conclusion, John Stuart Mill recognized that society tends to encourage conformity whether it is through laws the government enforce s or if it is through societal pressure. If a person’s opinion does cause any form of har m to another then they have no reason to silence their views. Freedom of speech is not just about whether ...

What does Mill say about corn dealers?

Mill (1869) writes: An opinion that corn dealers are starvers of the poor, or that private property is robbery, ought to be unmolested when simply circulated through the press but may justly incur punishment when delivered orally to an excited mob assembled before the house of a corn-dealer, or when handed about among the same mob in the form of a placard. Mill makes it apparent that there is a clear difference between someone writing an opinion piece about corn dealers and how they are starving the poor, and that same person standing before a group of angry poor people and telling them to grab their pitchforks. One is voicing an opinion no matter how wrong or ignorant it might be and the other is a call to immediate action with the intent to cause harm.

What did John Stuart Mill believe about conformity?

John Stuart Mill recognized that society tends to encourage conformity whether it is through laws the government enforces or if it is through societal pressure. This is a key part in his argument since if a person’s opinion does not harm someone in any way, shape, or form they have no reason to silence these harmless views of another. ...

What does Mill mean when he says "to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it?

Mill states, “To refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” (Mill, 1869).

What is the point of Mill's critique of hate speech?

Mill address some possible criticisms like the idea that the government has a duty to suppress certain ideas that are harmful to the well being of society , this is where hate speech comes in. Mill argued that this comes from a place of the assumed infallibility of judgement. For instance, what exactly is the appropriate definition ...

What is the fourth argument Mill makes?

The fourth argument Mill delivers is that very often it is not as simple as one view being correct and an opposing view being incorrect, but rather the truth lies somewhere in between. Mill believed that many views held as popular truth contained only partial truth.

Who wrote John Stuart Mill and the Ends of Life?

Isaiah Berlin, “John Stuart Mill and the Ends of Life”, in Four Essays on Liberty (Oxford, Oxford University Press: 1969)

What is the context of On Liberty and Other Essays?

Historical Context for On Liberty and Other Essays by John Stuart Mill. An 1844 fashion plate depicting clothing for men and women. (Wikimedia Commons) Mill was writing in the Victorian age, in which formality and highly restrictive moral convention carried the day. The 19th Century marked the heyday of the British Empire.

What did Mill advocate for?

Where Mill fit into this picture is up for debate. Although he often advocated for laissez-faire policies, he was also sympathetic to many socialist ideas and causes. In 1837 Queen Victoria began her reign that would last almost seven decades.

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Overview

Biography

John Stuart Mill was born at 13 Rodney Street in Pentonville, Middlesex, the eldest son of Harriet Barrow and the Scottish philosopher, historian, and economist James Mill. John Stuart was educated by his father, with the advice and assistance of Jeremy Bentham and Francis Place. He was given an extremely rigorous upbringing, and was deliberately shielded from association with children his own age other than his siblings. His father, a follower of Bentham and an adherent of

Works and theories

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