On Liberty

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was interested in the nature of Civil Liberty, and the limits to the power that a Government can legitimately exercise upon its citizens. He believed that some worrying tendencies could be observed in the England society of his time, and tried to warn others about them. In his classic "On Liberty," Mill explains his ideas regarding the preservation of individual liberties as rights owed to everyone and because they benefit society as a whole. In order to preserve the liberties included in the concept of Civil Liberty, Mill points out that there must be limits to the action of the Government, writing 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". Any other reason is simply not good enough. Thus, Mill highlights the rights of the individual, but also the limit to those rights: the well-being of others. A short and enjoyable read, "On Liberty" is just as relevant today as it was when first published in 1859, and well worth the effort to read it. Answers to questions about the importance and limit to individual rights will be found in this important book.