On Liberty

"On Liberty" is arguably the most celebrated philosophical essay by John Stuart Mill. It was first published in 1859, yet it is still influencing scholars today. In this seminal work, Mill discusses his ethical system of utilitarianism as it applies to people and the state that exercises control over them. Mill presents his arguments for what he sees as the ideal relationship between happiness and well-being (i.e., liberty) and government intervention (i.e., authority). As profound as Mill's work is, it must be acknowledged that his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, helped shape the theories he developed in "On Liberty."