On Liberty - Mill, John Stuart

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Résumé :
A product of the deliberate effort of his father to create a particular genius that would continue to advance the ethical philosophy of utilitarianism; philosopher, political economist, and Member of Parliament, John Stuart Mill was one of the most influential thinkers of the 19th century. In On Liberty, John Stuart Mill begins by writing, The subject of this essay is not the so-called 'liberty of the will', so unfortunately opposed to the misnamed doctrine of philosophical necessity; but civil, or social liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. It is this concept that is at the heart of this work. John Stuart Mill eloquently ponders the question of where the line should be drawn between the freedom of individuals and the authority of the state. As he puts it, The struggle between liberty and authority is the most conspicuous feature in the portions of history with which we are earliest familiar... This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Biographie:
John Stuart Mill was an English philosopher, political economist, Member of Parliament (MP), and civil servant who lived from 20 May 1806 to 7 May 1873. He was one of the most significant intellectuals in the development of classical liberalism. The utilitarian movement was started by John Stuart Mill. Being a particularly bright youngster, he was able to read six Plato dialogues and Aesop's Fables by the age of eight. Jeremy Bentham and Francis Place provided guidance and support as John Stuart's father schooled him. At the age of eight, Mill started studying Latin, algebra, and Euclid classes. He liked to read Robinson Crusoe and Don Quixote in his free time. Along with his father, he studied David Ricardo and Adam Smith. He was deeply affected by the vibrant and welcoming culture of France. Mill was inspired to reject Bentham's theory of human nature by his correspondence with Auguste Comte. After 21 years of close friendship with Harriet Taylor, Mill wed her on April 21, 1851. After barely seven years of marriage and after experiencing acute lung congestion, she died in 1858. Thirteen days before his 67th birthday in 1873, Mill passed away from erysipelas in Avignon, France; he was buried next to his wife.