John Stuart Mill s On Liberty - 1700 Words

John Stuart Mill’s â€Å"On Liberty† essay, published in 1859, portrays Mill’s perception of liberty with an emphasis on individuality. He explicitly states at the start of the essay that the main point is to â€Å"govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control† (5). His push to establish the basic guidelines for the relationship between authority and liberty is a result of his ethical theory of utilitarianism. Throughout the course of this essay, Mill provides the reader with a deeper understanding of their individual civil liberties, as well as presenting examples that enhance his ideas. Mill begins this essay with an introductory chapter that immediately questions â€Å"the nature and limits of the†¦show more content†¦The introduction of the essay provides a better understanding for the foundation of Mill’s beliefs, as well as preparing the audience to examine Mill’s next point focused thought and discussion. In Chapter 2, Mill discusses the problem of people, both individuals and those in government, coercing the opinions of others. Mill states that â€Å"the power itself is illegitimate†, meaning that it is unjust to silence the opinion of an individual. (21) He believes that there is a â€Å"peculiar evil† in silencing the opinion of an individual, and that â€Å"evil† is â€Å"robbing the human race† of helping better understand not only that particular opinion but also opposing opinions (21). He first defends his claim by asserting that society is harmed by the silencing of opinion because it could be true. With this argument, Mill begins to refute any criticisms of his work. He responds to four main critics, first discussing how a person is only deserving of confidence if they are open to contradicting opinions through experience and discussion. According to Mill, â€Å"No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode bu t this† and that an individual cannot â€Å"become wise in any other manner† e.g. (24). Following this, Mill states that â€Å"The usefulness of an opinion is itself matter of opinion†, as it is different for everyone (27). To help strengthen his argument, he uses the persecutions of Socrates and Jesus Christ as examples of mistakes made by popular opinions, asShow MoreRelatedJohn Stuart Mill s On Liberty And Utilitarianism Essay2257 Words   |  10 PagesThis essay examines and inspects liberty and order conflict based on the writings of philosopher John Stuart Mill, titled On Liberty and Utilitarianism. We will discuss how his philosophical views on equality as fundamental to what it means to be human. We will interpret John Stuart Mill’s theorist view on equality as fundamental to the good or bad functioning of the state? The question and debate we would also raise will be, is equality be integral the arrangements of power? Lastly, we wouldRead Mor eJohn Stuart Mill s Profound Work On Liberty2193 Words   |  9 Pages In John Stuart Mill’s profound work On Liberty, he preaches against the conformity of the nations and outwardly encourages and restlessly defends voice of the individual. The philosopher expresses the importance of individuality by warning against forces such as the government and other citizens silencing their opinion. Though Mill gives due recognition to virtues such as free speech, liberty, and individualism, he also rightly places limitations on our freedoms to ensure that they do not infringeRead MoreJohn Locke And John Stuart Mill s On Liberty Essay1748 Words   |  7 PagesPolitical philosophers over time have developed their own conceptions of liberty and the relationship of individuals to not only society, but also the state. 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John Forbes Nash Jr. and John Stuart Mill were both very intelligent as young children. John Stuart Mill learned to read as a toddler and began to study Latin at the age of three. John ForbesRead MoreThe Impact Of Media On American Society1640 Words   |  7 Pages John Stuart Mill in a post 9/11 Western Society Adam Kershek History 1002-106: Growth of Western Civilization Since 1715 November 2, 2017 It is no mystery that 9/11 brought upon change in American society. The lasting effects of this unforgiving event, such as, the ongoing wars, the severity of immigration and deportation laws, and the increase in racial profiling, continues to disrupt American society. This brings up an important question: Why are these still lasting issues inRead MoreIndividualism And Liberty By John Stuart Mill1196 Words   |  5 Pages In the essay, Liberty, written by John Stuart Mill, Mill states that individualism is the theory that â€Å"[o]ver himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign† (7). Before coming to this conclusion, Mill first explains that individualism and liberty were defined in ways far different from definitions now and that true individualism did not exist until later in history. It takes him several paragraphs and even chapters to finally suggest that a man, by himself, is free to do whatRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill : An Influential Philosopher Of The 19th Century1252 Words   |  6 PagesTierra Myers Mr. Berkoben English IV 26 October 2016 John Stuart Mill Not only did Harriet Burrow give birth to a son but also the most influential philosopher of the 19th century. Exploring the life of as well as evaluate the work of and examine the impact of John Stuart Mill gives us as readers and understanding of why this man deserves this title. Born May 20, 1806, John Stuart Mill became the son of James and Harriet Burrow. As a child he faced multiple struggles; being the only child meantRead MoreAnalysis Of The Text On Liberty By John Stuart Mill1642 Words   |  7 PagesAccording the text ‘On Liberty’ by John Stuart Mill, his position with respect to free speech is that even one person had a specific opinion, mankind is not given grounds to silence him. Mill’s argument regarding free speech is valid because he protects the liberty of the individual over the popular opinion of society. I agree with Mill’s point of view because I also believe that everyone should have the voice to express what they wish, excluding when it causes harm to others. Mill begins the text by