J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
John Stuart Mill ~ On Liberty (1859)
Chapter 1
Two kinds of liberty
“Liberty of the Will”
“Civil or Social Liberty”
This book addresses the latter.
John Stuart Mill: On Liberty - 1
J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Comment: Locating Mill’s concept of
liberty
David Miller’s proposal: there are 3
traditions of liberty (David Miller, ed.
Liberty. NY: Oxford UP, 1991).
• (1) The republican
• (2) The liberal
• (3) The Idealist
Where is Mill’s theory?
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Back to Mill: Do democratic governments
mitigate the perennial conflict between
liberty and authority?
No - because of the “tyranny of the
majority”
• the meaning of this phrase
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Mill’s proposal for “one very simple
principle” of liberty
“That principle is, that 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. That the
only purpose for which power can be
rightfully exercised over any member of
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
a civilized community, against his will, is to
prevent harm to others. His own good,
either physical or moral, is not a sufficient
warrant.” (Collini 13; Rapaport 9; Gray 14)
Mill’s comments on the principle
• This principle does not prevent
attempting to persuade others
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
• Mill’s individualism: “Over himself,
over his own body and mind, the
individual is sovereign” (Colini 13;
Rapaport ; Gray 14)
• Three exceptions
 (1) The principle applies only to
those “in the maturity of their
faculties” (Colini 13; Gray 14)
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
 (2) It does not apply to “those
backward states of society in
which the race itself may be
considered as in its nonage. . . .
Despotism is a legitimate mode of
government in dealing with
barbarians, provided that the end
be their improvement.” (Colini 1314; Gray 14-15)
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
 Comment: Mill & the British
Empire
 (3) It is not applicable to earlier
times when a tribe or nation is
not yet a civil society (Colini 14;
Gray 15).
Justification of the principle
• State that he will appeal to utility
(Gray 15) (the task of chapters 2 &
3)
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Further refinements of the principle
• The principle is not negative only; it
may require certain acts. But when
applied to positive acts, much more
caution must be taken.
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Chapter 2
Primarily concerned with freedom of
speech
An opening declaration (quotable quote)
“If all mankind minus one, were of one
opinion, and only one person were of the
contrary opinion, mankind would be no
more justified in silencing that one
person, then he, if he had the power,
would be justified in silencing mankind”
(Colini 20; Gray 21).
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
The general thesis of the chapter:
freedom of speech enhances truth
Cf. the truth shall make you free, or
Arbeit macht Frei
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
The arguments for this thesis
Mill considers three ways that
authorities might suppress speech & he
proposes to show that each of these
ways harms the discovery of truth
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
1. Authorities suppress a true position
and defend a false one
• Arguments against such action
• (1) This assumes infallibility on the
part of the knowledge of the
authorities; no person has such
infallibility.
 “All silencing of discussion is an
assumption of infallibility” (Colini
21; Gray 22)
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
 “There is no such thing as
absolute certainty, but there is
assurance sufficient for the
purposes of human life” (Gray
24).
 Mill’s argument here -- it is part
of the human condition to be
immersed in a time & place & this
greatly affects one’s ideas on
what is true & false (Gray 22-23).
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
• (2) Liberty of discussion is
necessary for correcting mistakes;
experience is not sufficient
 Objection: Won’t truth win out in
the long run? (Gray 33)
• (3) Liberty of discussion is
necessary for the growth of
individual wisdom & the wisdom of
humankind
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
2. Authorities suppress a false position
and defend a true one (Gray 40)
• Arguments against this action
• (1) False positions help keep true ones
alive
 “However true it may be [the
position one holds], if it is not fully,
frequently, and fearlessly discussed,
it will be held as a dead dogma, not a
living truth” (Colini 37; Gray 40).
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
 “Both teachers and learners go to
sleep at their post, as soon as
there is no enemy in the field”
(Colini 44; Gray 48).
• (2) False positions help hold
positions for good reasons and not
blindly.
 “He who knows only his own side
of the case, knows little of that”
(Colini 38; Gray 42).
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
• (3) Conflict of false and true
positions helps clarify the truth.
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
3. Authorities suppress a mixed
position (partially true and partially
false)
• Free discussion will help sort these
out.
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Chapter 3
Primarily concerned with freedom of
action (vs speech)
The general thesis:
• (1) freedom of action enhances
individual happiness & well being &
• (2) freedom of action enhances
social, political, and economic
progress
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
Argument for thesis # 1
• There is no universal happiness; what
constitutes happiness differs from
person to person.
• Individuality & the freedom to
engage in “different experiments of
living” are a necessary condition for
each person to discover what way of
living produces happiness (Colini 57;
Gray 63).
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J. S. Mill ~ On Liberty
 “The free development of
individuality is one of the leading
essentials of well-being” (Gray
63).
Argument for thesis # 2
• Social, political and economic
experiments give rise to the
possibility of social, economic, and
political progress.
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