The Routledge Guidebook to Mills on Liberty Routledge Guides to the Great Books

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty is widely regarded as one of the most influential and stirring pieces of political philosophy ever written. Ever relevant in our increasingly surveillance dominated culture, the essay argues strongly in favour of the moral rights of individuality, including rights of privacy and of freedom of expression. The Routledge Guidebook to Mill's On Liberty introduces the major themes in Mill's great book and aids the reader in understanding this key work, covering: the context of Mill's work and the background to his writing each separate part of the text in relation to its goals, meanings and impact the reception the book received when first seen by the world the relevance of Mill's work to modern philosophy. With further reading included for each chapter, this text is essential reading for all students of philosophy and political theory, and all those wishing to get to grips with this classic work of political philosophy. Series editor Preface Author Prefaces Part 1: General Introduction 1. Mill and the Liberty Part 2: The Argument of On Liberty 2. Introductory (Chapter I, paras 1-16) 3. Of the liberty of thought and discussion (Chapter II, paras 1-44) 4. Of individuality, as one of the elements ofwell-being (Chapter III, paras 1-19) 5. Of the limits to the authority of society over the individual (Chapter IV, paras 1-21) 6. Applications (Chapter V, paras 1-23) Part 3: Mill's Doctrine in Outline 7. The structure of Mill's doctrine of liberty Part 4: Genral Issues 8. Liberal utilitarianism 9. Liberty, individuality and custom 10. The doctrine of Liberty in practice. Index Cover; Half Title; Series Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Table of Contents; Preface to the first edition; Preface to this edition; Part I: General Introduction; 1. Mill and the Liberty; Mill's life and work; 'Text-book of a single truth'; Early reaction; Current status; Suggestions for further reading; Notes; Part II: The Argument of on Liberty; 2. Introductory (Chapter I, paras 1-16); Stages of liberty (I.1-5); Absence of a general principle (I.6-8); The exceptional case of religious belief (I.7); 'One very simple principle' (I.9-10); Utilitarian form of argument (I.11-12) The proper limits of society's police authority (V.5-6)Society's authority to enforce 'good manners' (V.7); Liberty of public solicitation and its limits (V.8); Legitimate authority to tax sales and limit the numberof sellers (V.9-10); Voluntary association and the enforcement ofcontracts (V.11); Voluntary release and the permission to breakcontracts (V.11); 'Misapplied notions of liberty' (V.12-15); Liberty to refuse to co-operate (V.16-23); Suggestions for further reading; Notes; Part III: Mill's Doctrine in Outline; 7. The structure of Mill's doctrine of liberty; Key concepts The harm of silencing an opinion which may be onlypartly true (II.34-36, 39)The crucial case of Christian moral beliefs (II.37-38); Must free expression be fair and temperate? (II.44); Suggestions for further reading; Notes; 4. Of individuality, as one of the elements of well-being(Chapter III, paras 1-19); The grounds of liberty of action (III.1); The worth of spontaneous action (III.2-6); The worth of obedience to social rules (III.3-6, 9, 17); An ideal type of individual character (III.5-9); Utilitarian case for the equal right to liberty (III.10-19); Holes in the case? Suggestions for further readingNotes; 5. Of the limits to the authority of society over theindividual (Chapter IV, paras 1-21); The nature of utilitarian coercion (IV.1-3); The nature of self-regarding acts (IV.4-7); The self-other distinction: some objectionsanswered (IV.8-12); 'Gross usurpations upon the liberty of private life'(IV.13-21); Suggestions for further reading; Notes; 6. Applications (Chapter V, paras 1-23); Mill's doctrine and its application (V.1-2); Harm to others not sufficient for coercion (V.3); The liberty principle distinguished fromlaissez-faire (V.4) John Stuart Mill' s On Liberty is widely regarded as one of the most influential and stirring pieces of political philosophy ever written. Ever relevant in our increasingly surveillance dominated culture, the statements made argue strongly in favour of the rights of the individual, privacy and freedom of expression. The Routledge Guidebook to Mill' s On Liberty introduces the major themes in Mill' s great book and aids the reader in understanding this key work, covering:The context of Mill' s work and the background to his writingEach .. Self-regarding conduct (I.12)From one very simple principle to the maxim ofself-regarding liberty (I.9-12); The self-regarding sphere (I.12); Absolute priority of self-regarding liberty (I.7, 10, 13); The growing danger of social repression (I.14-15); Suggestions for further reading; Notes; 3. Of the liberty of thought and discussion (Chapter II,paras 1-44); The grounds of some familiar liberties (II.1); The harm of silencing an opinion which may betrue (II.3-20); The harm of silencing even a false opinion (II.21-33) Plato, often cited as a founding father of Western philosophy, set out ideas in the Republic regarding the nature of justice, order, and the character of the just individual, that endure into the modern day. The Routledge Guidebook to Plato’s Republic introduces the major themes in Plato’s great book and acts as a companion for reading the work This book introduces the major themes in Plato's Republic and aids the reader in understanding this key work