First published 1859
John Stuart Mill takes aim at the growing power of popular opinion to crush individual freedom. Writing in 1859, Mill builds his case that society threatens liberty not just through government oppression but through social conformity that silences dissent and difference. He champions the right of individuals to think, speak, and act according to their own judgment, even when their choices offend prevailing attitudes. Mill demonstrates how the pressure to conform destroys the spontaneity and diversity that fuel human progress. He warns that democratic societies can become as tyrannical as any despot when they demand uniformity of thought and behavior. The philosopher offers readers a framework for protecting individual liberty against the suffocating weight of collective opinion.
Genres: philosophy, american, political-science, social-issues, 19th-century, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary
Period: 1859
187 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books