On Liberty

Liberty is the central concern of Mill’s essay. Specifically, he says he means to discuss “Civil, or Social Liberty,” and he defines that as “the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual” (1). He says that there is an ongoing struggle between liberty and authority. People have freedom, but it is not unlimited. A state’s authority might step in to limit liberty when a person’s actions threaten to harm others. In matters of personal concern, Mill advocates for people to have full liberty over their opinions and actions.

In the first chapter, Mill discusses social tyranny. Historically associated with monarchs, emperors, or other despotic rulers, the term “tyranny” in this sense instead refers to oppression created by society at large—not the government. The majority of a community might construct standards or rules that are arbitrary or unjust, and yet those preferences will still hold sway over the community. Mill fears the pervasiveness of social tyranny and advocates for individualism as an antidote.