Download a PDF to print or study offline.
Study GuideBibliography
Course Hero. "On Liberty Study Guide." Course Hero. 25 Oct. 2017. Web. 19 Aug. 2022. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/On-Liberty/>.
In text
(Course Hero)
Bibliography
Course Hero. (2017, October 25). On Liberty Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/On-Liberty/
In text
(Course Hero, 2017)
Bibliography
Course Hero. "On Liberty Study Guide." October 25, 2017. Accessed August 19, 2022. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/On-Liberty/.
Footnote
Course Hero, "On Liberty Study Guide," October 25, 2017, accessed August 19, 2022, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/On-Liberty/.
John Stuart Mill
1859
Nonfiction
Philosophy
Since its publication in 1859 On Liberty has become a foundational text providing philosophical justification for governance in liberal capitalist democracies. Mill lays out a series of principles, of which individual liberty is the paramount concern, and around which societies should be organized. Mill contrasts the principles and practice of individual liberty to both state tyranny and the "tyranny of the majority," which cannot be overcome by simple democratic checks on autocratic power. The essay progresses from a defense of freedom of thought, to broader individual liberty, and finally considers where proper checks on individual liberty can be placed. Continuously in print, the work is a foundation of liberal thought, and Mill has remained the most important philosopher of liberalism.
On Liberty is a general philosophical defense of political liberalism, in which Mill argues individual freedom is the bedrock of proper social organization. The title, On Liberty, is meant to show that Mill's work is both philosophical and scientific and that its content will cover the core principle of Enlightenment liberalism, freedom and liberty.
This study guide and infographic for John Stuart Mill's On Liberty offer summary and analysis on themes, symbols, and other literary devices found in the text. Explore Course Hero's library of literature materials, including documents and Q&A pairs.