ABSTRACT
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.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part |50 pages
General introduction
chapter |48 pages
Mill and the Liberty
part |136 pages
The Argument of On Liberty
chapter |21 pages
Introductory (Chapter I, Paras 1–16)
chapter |22 pages
Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion (Chapter II, Paras 1–44)
chapter |45 pages
Applications (Chapter V, Paras. 1–23)
part |40 pages
Mill's doctrine in outline
chapter |38 pages
The Structure of Mill's Doctrine of Liberty
part |105 pages
General issues