#261
Mentioned in 70 episodes

On liberty

Book • 1859
Published in 1859, 'On Liberty' is a seminal work by John Stuart Mill that argues for the protection of individual freedoms from the tyranny of the majority and government interference.

Mill uses utilitarian philosophy to justify the value of liberty, emphasizing the importance of freedom of thought, discussion, and action.

He introduces the 'harm principle,' which states that individuals should only be restrained from acting when their conduct may harm others.

The essay is structured into five chapters, each addressing different aspects of liberty, including the liberty of thought and discussion, individual liberty, the limits of authority, and practical applications of his theories.

Mill argues that protecting individual liberties is essential for societal progress and the avoidance of social stagnation.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 70 episodes

Mentioned by
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Dwarkesh Patel
and
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in discussion of economic theories and social reform.
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John Gray
when discussing the concept of a religion of humanity and its influence on liberalism.
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to emphasize the importance of exposure to diverse viewpoints.
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for understanding the importance of disagreement.
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when he talks about the classic case for free speech.
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as one of the greatest works of Western philosophy on free speech.
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Mentioned by Robert George to explain Mill's trident, a framework for intellectual discourse.
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Thomas Chatterton Williams
when referencing John Stuart Mill’s distinction between state-sanctioned limits on speech.
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Mentioned by Speaker 0 as the best argument for free speech ever committed to the page, written by John Stuart Mill.
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who made his daughter reread it, noting that both the left and right should heed its lessons on discourse.
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Cass Sunstein
as John Stuart Mill's famous work, advocating for individual freedom unless it harms others.
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Noam Chomsky
in relation to Wilhelm von Humboldt's principles of liberty.
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Glenn Loury
during a discussion on free inquiry and the challenges of expressing controversial opinions.
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Jack Symes
in relation to the harm principle and free speech.
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as a key figure in liberal socialist thought.
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Spencer Mizen
as an influential book in the debate around free speech.
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