1859 - John Stuart Mill, from On Liberty
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Introduction and Chapter 3 ("Of Individuality, as one of the Elements of Well-Being") - Mill's first publication after his wife's death was On Liberty in 1859. Its fundamental theme of is the value of freedom for individual and social well-being and the extent to which political and social power can legitimately limit it. Mill's reviews of Democracy in America, his correspondence with social reformers such as Comte, and his experience of the moralism of the Victorian Era convinced him that a defense of individual liberty was necessary against the most oppressive power in democracies, the "tyranny of the majority." The majority can oppress either by law or by social pressure, and Mill contends that the latter is the greater threat since it is far more difficult to escape: the opinions of one's peers can become internalized and enslave the individual's own thoughts and desires. Individuals must be protected against the tendency of society to impose its collective opinion-which is usually based on emotion rather than on reason-on those who disagree. On Liberty was written to educate legislators and citizens about the basic principle that should guide the making of law, as well as the exercise of social approbation and disapprobation. This principle-which is not applicable to children or to backward societies-is that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self-protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise, or even right. ... The only part of the conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign." (from Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 262: British Philosophers, 1800-2000. A Bruccoli Clark Layman Book. Edited by Philip B. Dematteis, Saint Leo University, Peter S. Fosl, Transylvania University, and Leemon B. McHenry, Loyola Marymount University and California State University, Northridge. The Gale Group, 2002. pp. 136-154).