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Discuss John Stuart Mill's concept of 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 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." 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.

In Mill's view, tyranny of the majority is worse than tyranny of government because it is not
limited to a political function. Where one can be protected from a tyrant, it is much harder to be
protected "against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling." The prevailing opinions
within society will be the basis of all rules of conduct within society; thus there can be no
safeguard in law against the tyranny of the majority..

J.S. Mill concludes the Introduction by discussing what he claimed were the three basic liberties
in order of importance:

1. The freedom of thought and emotion. This includes the freedom to act on such thought, i.e.
freedom of speech
2. The freedom to pursue tastes (provided they do no harm to others), even if they are deemed
"immoral"
3. The freedom to unite so long as the involved members are of age, the involved members are
not forced, and no harm is done to others

The concept of liberty carries three connotations,

(a) The notion of choice.

(b) The absence of constraints to make and exercise such a choice.
(c) The existing conditions that enable you to actuate the choice.
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The liberty not to have one's individual opinion suppressed by collective decisions of the society
and state is at the core of J.S Mill's understanding of Liberty. Mill's view on Liberty is based on
the understanding of Utility in the largest sense grounded on the permanent interests of man as a
progressive being. His essay "On Liberty" seeks to protect individual liberty from the
interference of State and Society. Mill enlarges the concept of liberty beyond the Utilitarian
doctrine of Bentham by holding a view that a proper conception of happiness includes freedom
as individuality. As per Mill, Individuality was a prerequisite for the cultivation of the self. This
would enable society to progress each individual is useful in proportion to the extent they differ
from the rest. Further Mill discussed Liberty under three aspects:

(a) Liberty of thought and discussion

(b) Principle of individuality
(c) Limits of authority over an individual's action.

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. 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. Over time,
the meaning of liberty changed along with the role of rulers, who came to be seen as servants of
the people rather than masters. This evolution brought about a new problem: the tyranny of the
majority, in which a democratic majority forces its will on the minority. This state of affairs can
exercise a tyrannical power even outside the political realm, when forces such as public opinion
stifle individuality and rebellion. Here, society itself becomes the tyrant by seeking to inflict its
will and values on others. Next, Mill observes that liberty can be divided into three types, each of
which must be recognized and respected by any free society. 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. Third, there is the liberty to join other like-minded individuals for a common purpose that
does not hurt anyone. Each of these freedoms negates society's propensity to compel compliance.
Mill states that two maxims together form "the entire doctrine" of the essay. The first maxim is
"that the individual is not accountable to society for his actions, in so far as these concern the
interests of no person but himself," and the second is 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 the opinion that the one or the other is requisite for its
protection. Mill sidesteps this dilemma by delving into moral theory, where the only important
thing is the happiness of the individual, and such happiness may only be attained in a civilized
society, in which people are free to engage in their own interests, with all their skills and
capabilities, which they have developed and honed in a good system of education. Thus, Mill
stresses the fundamental value of individuality, of personal development, both for the individual
and society for future progress.
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Mill view on individual liberty is that society must be given power to curtail behavior that harms
others, but no more. Mill's twofold argument. First, individuals are not accountable to society for
behavior and actions that affect only them. Second, a person is answerable for any type of
behavior or action that harms others, and in such cases it is the responsibility of society to punish
and curtail such behavior and action.

CONCLUSION

To conclude, the researcher feels that Mill was very contemporary in his thoughts and views on
the principles of liberty as he highlighted it in his essay "On Liberty". This can be further
supported by quoting a paragraph from chapter one of his essay, "On Liberty". 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 a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent
harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. He cannot
rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will
make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right... The
only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns
others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over
himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign" This paragraph much
highlights that the notions of liberty as advocated by Mill were quite contemporary and can be
highly regarded and justified in today's context. Therefore, the essay "On Liberty" can be
regarded as a highly unique piece of writing by Mill, which advocated various modern aspects of
liberty which is totally warranted.