Summary Of J. S. Mills's 'On Liberty'

J.S. Mills had numerous examples when he proclaimed, “liberty is often granted where it should withheld, as well as withheld where it should be granted” (Mills 103). Everybody deserves liberty as long as they do not harm other individuals in the process. People should have the ability to do in their own concerns, but people should not be free to exercise power over another individual. In chapter five in On Liberty, this obligation is almost utterly disregarded in the instance of family relations. In these instances the actions can harm other individuals in the society and that is why it is the State’s responsibility to make sure that these harms do not occur. For example, Mill asserts that the State should have the ability to enforce education