On Liberty John Mill Analysis

Individual freedom is the most precious and greatest treasure in a world full of government oppression and excessive regulation. The absence of restraint on our ability to act and think for ourselves, hinders our capacity to become self-determined and productive. In the book, On Liberty John Mills presents his concept and analysis about individual freedom. The author expounds on the amount of power the society can possess to legitimately exercise control over its people, therefore, interfering with the liberty of an individual. Mill argues on the danger of individual liberty that results to the tyranny of numbers and its influence over the minorities. It is therefore clear that Mill bases his arguments on the fact that the governing bodies

It is based on the core idea that effects of any actions determine whether they are morally wrong or right. Mills argument in chapter three is based on the concept of utilitarianism and its effect on individuals. Mills argues that “as it is useful that while mankind is imperfect there should be different opinions, so it is that there should be different experiments of living” (Mill 65). In this statement Mill refers to customs that are praised in a contemporary society as “experiments of the living.” The moral preference created by the majority of people eventually is accepted and adopted as customs and this determines the norm. According to Mills, these customs are meant to experiment the minority group, who unwillingly accepts these customs as a consequence of

The society perceives individuality as not essential to the welfare of human beings, but rather the majority thinks that what is right for them should be right for everybody. This is, therefore, an argument in favor of the notion of “experiment of the living.” People need to have the opportunity to interpret life experiences as they see it rather than being forced to get in line with what the majority thinks. “One who desires, and impulses are not on is own, has no character, no more than a steam engine has character” (66). Also, Mill argues that people are shunned from the process of making choices, by not simply accepting customs and this makes people lose