On Liberty

Mill writes with urgency about liberty because he fears that society moves towards restricting it rather than protecting it. He writes that states have consolidated and expanded powers that, whether intentionally or not, encourage conformity and quash individuality—each person’s rightful exercise of their personal thoughts, impulses, and desires. For example, he says, “The greatness of England is now all collective: […] But it was men of another stamp than this that made England what it has been, and men of another stamp will be needed to prevent its decline” (58). Full liberty of thought and personal actions, in Mill’s view, created and will create these “men of another stamp.”

Mill’s rule for state intervention into personal acts hinges on the concept of public harm. He sums up his argument:

The maxims are, first, that the individual is not accountable to society for his actions, in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself […] Secondly, that for such actions as are prejudicial to the interests of others, the individual is accountable, and may be subjected either to social or to legal punishment, if society is of opinion that the one or the other is requisite for its protection (79).

When there is threat or easily observable direct harm caused by a person’s actions, society can rightfully intervene and prevent or ameliorate the harm. Public opinion of what is proper or typically practiced is not a legitimate justification for state involvement. Unless the harm is significant, there should be no state interference. For minor inconveniences, “the inconvenience is one which society can afford to bear, for the sake of the greater good of human freedom” (69). Mill often places emphasis on individual freedom and restricting state involvement.

Mill outlines specific areas of harm that invite, in his view, reasonable state intervention. Many of the most significant areas for regulations surround children. Mill believes that to refuse a child an education is to do active harm to society as a whole (89). He advocates for mandatory education. However, because he has previously acknowledged that people do not all benefit from the same approaches to learning, and because he distrusts powerful governments, he thinks there should be variety of available education options. In Mill’s view, society beyond a child’s parents should ensure that that child is being raised in a way that will foster their growth as a safe, educated individual. The topic of childrearing is the area where Mill advocates for the highest degree of state involvement based on the most abstract definition of harm.

Mill also approves of regulations such as taxes, fines, and probation, as long as they are not arbitrary or designed to promote a certain state goal that alienates its citizens. Mill’s greatest concern is protecting liberty, but liberty has specific parameters.