Who Is John Stuart Mill Advocates For The Preservation Of Individual Liberty

In his short essay, On Liberty, John Stuart Mill advocates for the preservation of individual liberty and for a lack of governmental involvement in the regulation in the idea of thoughts and ideas. Mill does this by first discussing when it is appropriate for a government to limit the liberties of its people, and then by discussing why it is important that governments generally preserve the sense of liberty experienced by the governed. Mill’s idea that individual liberties should be protected is quite sensible, and by examining North Carolina’s recently passed and notable House Bill 2, “An Act to Provide for Single-Sex Multiple Occupancy Bathroom and Changing Facilities in Schools and Public Agencies and to Create Statewide Consistency in Regulation of Employment and Public Accommodations,” it becomes quite clear that John Stuart Mill would oppose the bill due to the fact that it limits the rights of individuals who do not identify with the sex listed on their birth certificate.
Mill says “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, it so prevent harm to others” (Mill, pg. 147). Aside from this, Mill says that “the part [of life] which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute” (Mill, pg. 147). Even further, Mill says that “over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign…” (Mill, pg. 147). These excerpts clearly show that believes that the liberties of individuals should not be restricted, unless those liberties interfere with the liberties of others and cause harm. In addition to explaining to when it is appropriate for society to limit individual liberty, John Stuart Mill also discusses why differences of opinion and action are important to