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Introduction
In his essay On Liberty, John Stuart Mill has been talking about the proper role of Government, arguing that the State authorities should not meddle in the lives of individual citizens. He now lays out three freedoms essential to any truly liberal society: those of thought, choice and association. Every man should have the freedom to go his own way in life, so long as he extends the same courtesy to his neighbours.
THIS, then, is the appropriate region of human liberty. It comprises, first, the inward domain of consciousness; demanding liberty of conscience, in the most comprehensive sense; liberty of thought and feeling; absolute freedom of opinion and sentiment on all subjects, practical or speculative, scientific, moral, or theological. The liberty of expressing and publishing opinions may seem to fall under a different principle, since it belongs to that part of the conduct of an individual which concerns other people; but, being almost of as much importance as the liberty of thought itself, and resting in great part on the same reasons, is practically inseparable from it.*
Secondly, the principle requires liberty of tastes and pursuits; of framing the plan of our life to suit our own character; of doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow; without impediment from our fellow-creatures, so long as what we do does not harm them — even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong.
* Mill does not enlarge on this here. But it seems evident, that if a man cannot speak according to conscience lest someone hear him and be offended, he also cannot act according to conscience lest someone see him and be offended; and a man who cannot act according to conscience does not have liberty of conscience in any recognisable sense. See also Ralph Waldo Emerson on No Offence.
Précis
John Stuart Mill, the eminent Victorian philosopher, laid out three aspects of the principle of liberty. The first was liberty of conscience, in which he included freedom of speech. The second was liberty of tastes, to live our life however we please even if others are offended by it, so long as we extend to the same courtesy to them. (60 / 60 words)
John Stuart Mill, the eminent Victorian philosopher, laid out three aspects of the principle of liberty. The first was liberty of conscience, in which he included freedom of speech. The second was liberty of tastes, to live our life however we please even if others are offended by it, so long as we extend to the same courtesy to them.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, may, not, otherwise, ought, since, whether.
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