On Liberty
John Stuart Mill's 1859 essay on the limits of society's power over the individual: the harm principle.
At a glance
Key ideas
The harm principle, Never silence an opinion, Tyranny of the majority …
See all 5Criticism
Utility or rights?, What counts as harm, Nineteenth-century critics
See all 3Connections
John Stuart Mill, Harriet Taylor Mill and 2 others
See all 4
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- The essay applies utilitarianism to the relationship between authority and liberty.
- Its central standard is that power over a person against their will is justified only to prevent harm to others.
- It argues that opinions should never be suppressed, and that individuality is a condition of well-being.
- It warns that democracy can produce a tyranny of the majority.
- It was written jointly with Harriet Taylor Mill and published under John Stuart Mill's name after her death.
Why it matters
- It is one of the founding texts of liberalism and a standard reference in arguments about free speech; it has stayed in print since 1859.
Key facts
- Author
- John Stuart Mill, with Harriet Taylor Mill, whom he called its joint author1
- Published
- 18591
- Written
- Conceived as a short essay in 1854; the final draft was nearly complete when Harriet Taylor Mill died in 18581
- Influences
- Wilhelm von Humboldt, especially his essay On the Limits of State Action1
- Co-author edition
- 2026, Hackett: the first edition naming Harriet Taylor Mill beside John Stuart Mill1
- Symbol of office
- A copy is passed to each president of the British Liberal Democrats1
Key ideas
-
The harm principle1
Power can rightfully be used over a member of society, against their will, only to prevent harm to others; their own good is not enough.
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Never silence an opinion1
A silenced opinion may be true, may hold part of the truth, and even a true view held unchallenged becomes a prejudice.
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Tyranny of the majority1
Prevailing opinion can oppress the few more thoroughly than a government, because it is not limited to politics.
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Individuality1
Human nature is "not a machine" but a tree that must grow on all sides; conformity is a danger.
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Three basic liberties1
Freedom of thought and speech, freedom to pursue one's tastes, and freedom to unite with others, so long as no harm is done.
Criticism
-
Utility or rights?1
Nigel Warburton argues much of the essay seems divorced from the utilitarianism it claims as its final appeal.
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What counts as harm1
Warburton also finds it unclear about harm, since some acts harmless in private are to be banned in public.
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Nineteenth-century critics1
Thomas Carlyle, James Fitzjames Stephen and Matthew Arnold felt its idea of liberty left the door open to barbarism.
Connections
Written by
- John Stuart MillPerson
- Harriet Taylor MillStylometric analysis in 2022 suggested her contribution makes her a co-author
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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