John Stuart Mill: On Liberty

4.5 stars

A remarkably timeless analysis of our notions of individual freedom and our obligations to each other.

Some examples are topically 19th century of course, but these are not major distractions. The analysis tends to fall apart for a modern reader though because it does not address second order effects our behavior has on others that have become critical in our time. Pollution, global warming, overpopulation, depletion of natural resources, and the power of nongovernmental organizations radically affect the lives and limit the freedom of all people, ourselves and our children.

I think that had John Stuart Mill lived in our time, he would have addressed these issues as a major part of his analysis. As it is, this book is a milestone in our human thought on liberty, and a good start on framing a discussion, but it is only a start.