Commentary: On Liberty Chapter I

Question: Why is it important to set limitations on states when seeking individuality and what liberties are presented?

     For many years individuals were ruled  by some sort of ruler who exploited their position.  It came to a point when there needed to be some form of checks and balances to set limits to the powers these rulers had and to make room for the subjects to have rights. For as long as "mankind were content to combat one enemy by another, and be ruled by a master on condition of being gaurenteed more or less effaciously against his tyranny, they did not carry their aspirations beyond this point." Individuals became to realize that the state was only self-interested and had little concern for individual rights. Mankind wanted to limit the states powere and that the states main priority should be of the people it governs.
     This leads to a democratic society where there lies individual independance and social control. Howeve,r this independance is consantly threatened by what Mills call tyrranies this is in refernce to premis 3. The main tyranny is of the magistrate where it can take away the responsibility of political infractions, create it oen mandates that silence it oppressed, create unfair mandate that adds to oppression and in turn digging them deeper in the whole with no return in sight. There is another tyranny that is in dyer need of beeing protected from, tyranny of opinion and feeling where society tends to impose its own policies and practices to which penalties would be charged against those who opposed. This was to prevent any form of individuality and to conform mankind to what socity wants to be potrayed.
    The main issue at had is where to find the medium or limit to public opinion insofar as individual independance and to protect it from encroachment (pg 5). Society wants mankind to follow traditions and customs that are already inplace. That an individual should ignore his own inner thoughts, feelings, and beleif through natural occurances. However, even society through religion states that individuals have irrevocable rights. Although society uses religion on when it is to its benifit.
    The individually whether independant or collectivly should have liberty of self protection, and that the individual should be free to be independant so long as he does not harm others. His independant is absolute, he has rights "over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign" (pg 9).
     In referanc eto  premise 5, Mills want restrictions to individulity when in return it harms others. One of the exception to this is freedom of speech or opinion. The interest of individual must be protected (pg 11).
     When going back to a society not forcing their opionions on the individual, Mills "demands, liberty of conscience...liberty of though and feeling, abdolute freedom of opinion and sentiment on all subjects, practical or speculative, scientific, moral, or theological" (pg 11). That society cannont impede on "liberty of taste" even if it thinks its foolish or will harm the individual. Lastly individuals should have the liberty to unite (pg 12).