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الحرية
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هذا الكتاب أشهر من أن يعرف به، فقد انتشر في كل البلاد وبكل اللغات. وهو يعد بحق دستور الحرية الأعظم
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Paperback, الطبعة الأولى, 223 pages
Published
2019
by آفاق للنشر والتوزيع
(first published April 1859)
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WARNING: Some of my political views are discussed in this VERY LONG review. I don't think there is anything offensive but with politics, you never know. Therefore, in case anything I say upsets anyone, I have included several very CUTE kitten photos by way of apology.
6.0 stars. On Liberty has secured a spot on my list of “All Time Favorite” books. I have gone through a pretty significant political re-examination over the last several years (maybe a lot of us have). A few years ago, if you were ...more
6.0 stars. On Liberty has secured a spot on my list of “All Time Favorite” books. I have gone through a pretty significant political re-examination over the last several years (maybe a lot of us have). A few years ago, if you were ...more

Jun 10, 2019
Ahmad Sharabiani
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
philosophy,
economic,
essay,
non-fiction,
political,
19th-century,
historical,
classics,
science,
british
On Liberty, John Stuart Mill
On Liberty is a philosophical work by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill, originally intended as a short essay. The work, published in 1859, applies Mill's ethical system of utilitarianism to society and the state. Mill attempts to establish standards for the relationship between authority and liberty.
He emphasizes the importance of individuality, which he conceived as a prerequisite to the higher pleasures—the summum bonum (The highest good) of utilitarianism ...more
On Liberty is a philosophical work by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill, originally intended as a short essay. The work, published in 1859, applies Mill's ethical system of utilitarianism to society and the state. Mill attempts to establish standards for the relationship between authority and liberty.
He emphasizes the importance of individuality, which he conceived as a prerequisite to the higher pleasures—the summum bonum (The highest good) of utilitarianism ...more

Jun 01, 2017
notgettingenough
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
sociology,
pre20th-century
Anybody interested in free speech must surely be concerned with the situation of Bret Weinstein in the US. See for instance his hour interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fEAP...
One can only be deeply ashamed that non-conservative media has (I understand) all but ignored this story. Curious to have a statement of why this is so, I've written to NPR to find out why they have not reported one word on it. I am waiting for a response.
Meanwhile, John Stuart Mill's words to remind us of wha ...more
One can only be deeply ashamed that non-conservative media has (I understand) all but ignored this story. Curious to have a statement of why this is so, I've written to NPR to find out why they have not reported one word on it. I am waiting for a response.
Meanwhile, John Stuart Mill's words to remind us of wha ...more

Written in the 1850s, parts of this classic text are a little dated, but mostly it remains surprisingly relevant to the modern world. Probably it’s most famous for its second chapter, where Mill gives an impassioned defence of free speech. It’s noticeable that he sees social pressure as a more insidious threat to free speech than government legislation. How relevant is the quote below to the modern phenomenon of the social media mob?
“…there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevai ...more
“…there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevai ...more

Eccentricity has always abounded when and where strength of character has abounded; and the amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional to the amount of genius, mental vigor, and moral courage which it contained.
It would be pretentious to suggest I dedicated my reading to Ahmed Merabet, yet it would be untrue to exclaim otherwise. We've drowned in debate about liberty this last week. Somehow I regard that as most encouraging. I found Mill’s treatise riveting and incisive ...more
It would be pretentious to suggest I dedicated my reading to Ahmed Merabet, yet it would be untrue to exclaim otherwise. We've drowned in debate about liberty this last week. Somehow I regard that as most encouraging. I found Mill’s treatise riveting and incisive ...more

Dense, but well written, and of course, it is a classic discourse on individual liberty and it's relationship to governmental power.
...more

A fundamental text in the Philosophical canon, but we still mustn't overlook the overt imperialism, naivety and intellectualism which seeps throughout these pages...
...more

The book is so great that whenever being asked about it, I'm just speechless, restless, wondering how to give the right word. It's not easy to read, and not easy to make a review. I keep delaying to note my thoughts about it, partly afraid I'm not good enough to comment on such a masterpiece. Yet I try, for my own record, for my later review on this review, and for the future reflection.
On Liberty is an excellent work on human rights and individual's relationship with society. What scores here i ...more
On Liberty is an excellent work on human rights and individual's relationship with society. What scores here i ...more

4.5/5 I was listening to an interview of Mr.Anupam Kher today on a 'Newslaundry' podcast. The interviewer was questioning him persistently on why he supports restrictions on freedom-of-expression ? I think Mr.Kher (I am a semi-fan of his), gave a number of arguments which were moral and not legal, niceties and not crimes, and failed to distinguish between the 2. This makes me wonder whether even those who suppose themselves to be liberals truly understand the basic reasons behind freedom-of-expr
...more

It's amazing how it appears as if the older the work, the more relevant it is to today. Sure, this is anything but 'old' in comparison to Socrates and other writers, but this over 150 year old document still serves well today, definitely worth the few hours reading and I recommend it to everyone.
It is logically structured and written with ease of reading and understanding without the sacrifice of the quality of his argument.
As mentioned by Mill, he's not necessarily bringing anything new to the ...more
It is logically structured and written with ease of reading and understanding without the sacrifice of the quality of his argument.
As mentioned by Mill, he's not necessarily bringing anything new to the ...more

Not that I agree entirely with Mill's ideas about the structures and general functions of the individual and society, but this was a fascinating insight into the society I live in now, and how I regard my own place in society, if I have one. Most interesting were his points about freedom of expression, and his ability to move from our justifications for freedom of expression to freedom of tastes and pursuits without even flinching. Definitely worth a read, whatever your political persuasion.
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This book is a classic. Giving due credit, I must acknowledge Prof. Keith Eubanks for inadvertently turning me on to Mill. I think Eubanks once quoted Mill, perhaps in his course syllabus, and I found the quote (something about expecting more from students, and how they will perform to these higher standards given the expecatation and opportunity) intriguing.
Anyway, if you're interested in learning where I get a lot of my thoughts on being an individual, read this book (or read essays/books by ...more
Anyway, if you're interested in learning where I get a lot of my thoughts on being an individual, read this book (or read essays/books by ...more

I read this in college in the 70s. I remember it very positively, except for his waffling on liberty in certain areas, such as allowing the state to provide education. That was a crack that statists drove a Mack truck through and further confused liberty lovers ever since. Too bad, since so much of the book is tightly logical and well written.

A foundational work addressing representative democracy that continues to shape ideology today. After the 2016 Presidential Election I would strongly suggest both parties hold 'JSM focus groups' to try to reconnect with the American people.
...more

During the libertarian rebirth of the past generation, it has become fashionable to sneer at the essay On Liberty. It is, I admit, a flawed work, and I will shortly try to explain why this is so. Before then, however, I will put a case for the defence - to show why, despite its flaws, the essay remains a valuable weapon in the libertarian arsenal, and will remain one when Rand and Nozick will chiefly be names found in histories of twentieth century thought.
Mill is at his very best in Chapter II, ...more
Mill is at his very best in Chapter II, ...more

Dec 08, 2014
Kyle van Oosterum
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
philosophy
As the title of this essay suggests, we are dealing with the fundamental social force which when deficient, or when in excess, necessarily provokes chaos; Liberty. Meticulously undertaken, this essay presents the fiercest defence of individualism, captivating the reader with its endorsement of human excellence and self-government. Indeed, Mill's main antagonist is the democratisation of the masses, how we subdue ourselves to the tyranny of public opinion and passively accept mediocrity. Along th
...more

I FREAKING LOVE, ADORE, UPHOLD, CHERISH, ADMIRE, REVERE (and other synonyms) THIS GODDAMN AWESOME BOOOOOOOOK!!!!
If after gay marriage legalisation comes book marriage legalisation I would have considered "On Liberty" one of my top suitors ahahahha. Written in 1859 by John Stuart Mill, this philosophical work examines state authority and individualism, and it was so well written that Thomas Hardy once said "All 1860 undergraduates memorised this book by heart." My political view changes so much ...more
If after gay marriage legalisation comes book marriage legalisation I would have considered "On Liberty" one of my top suitors ahahahha. Written in 1859 by John Stuart Mill, this philosophical work examines state authority and individualism, and it was so well written that Thomas Hardy once said "All 1860 undergraduates memorised this book by heart." My political view changes so much ...more

AMAZING.
I think Mill's book, and especially his words on free speech, should be given to every student to read and reflect on. I couldn't agree more on the stifling effects of public pressure and blasphemy laws - every idea needs to be evaluated, dissected, and criticised, for it is only in this way that bad ones can be weeded out. People need to think for themselves, to explore, to contemplate, not be moulded into carbon copies of their teachers or relatives, conforming totaly to the majority, ...more
I think Mill's book, and especially his words on free speech, should be given to every student to read and reflect on. I couldn't agree more on the stifling effects of public pressure and blasphemy laws - every idea needs to be evaluated, dissected, and criticised, for it is only in this way that bad ones can be weeded out. People need to think for themselves, to explore, to contemplate, not be moulded into carbon copies of their teachers or relatives, conforming totaly to the majority, ...more

Sep 12, 2017
Hannah
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-i-own,
read-for-class
I don't think Mill's ideas are perfect in every single situation, but he makes a convincing argument. In general, I agree with his ideas on the harm principle, individuality, and government. I just think that they break down when taken to the extremes of human behavior that we have seen in various court cases.
I took off a star because holy cow. He uses so many words. Too many words. He could benefit from a copy editor. This would have been easier to follow and made more sense if he had stopped ...more
I took off a star because holy cow. He uses so many words. Too many words. He could benefit from a copy editor. This would have been easier to follow and made more sense if he had stopped ...more

Jul 04, 2011
Valerie
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Ian
Recommended to Valerie by:
Stephen
Shelves:
because-its-the-right-thing-to-do
I read Stephen's masterful review, and decided I should read this. As an ebook...but it will take me a while. Each densely packed sentence is easily a page long.
I finally finished this, but I think I'll be rereading it. I wonder what life would be like if I tried to run my classroom on these principles?
...more
I finally finished this, but I think I'll be rereading it. I wonder what life would be like if I tried to run my classroom on these principles?
...more

Liberty is an issue that concerns us all. It's in everyone's mouth but, frequently, most people prefer to demand it rather than thinking about it in-depth.
Mill's "On Liberty", published in 1859, is a powerful essay that highlights the liberty of an individual and the importance of Liberty from a social point of view. The author constitutes his work on five chapters: Introduction; Of the liberty of thought and discussion; On individuality as one of the elements of well-being; On the limits to th ...more
Mill's "On Liberty", published in 1859, is a powerful essay that highlights the liberty of an individual and the importance of Liberty from a social point of view. The author constitutes his work on five chapters: Introduction; Of the liberty of thought and discussion; On individuality as one of the elements of well-being; On the limits to th ...more

An indisputably great work of philosophy. One, though, whose most valuable insights are too often ignored by today's left-liberals and one that is mentioned with astonishing frequency these days by people who seem to be actively opposed to much that Mill would have thought important--the set of "conservatives" who like to claim that they are "classical liberals," probably on the basis of a quick read through a Wikipedia page and some creepy Randian blogs.
Of course, Millian liberalism actually s ...more
Of course, Millian liberalism actually s ...more

Sep 11, 2016
Sumirti Singaravel
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
To everyone, especially to those who are young.
Never have Liberty found such a passionate, clear, beautiful and eloquent defence. There are few books which has the capacity to instill the faith that written words can change the world, if they are done well, and this is one such book. This should remain as a source of greatest inspiration for all those who want to defend truth and guard their true-selves at all the times. Here is a man who rebels with grace, kindness, and consideration. A book to read to realize how much of freedom we enjoy t
...more

‘On liberty’ by John Stuart Mill is by far the best account I have ever read so far concerning the protection of individual rights. Mill is en exponent of liberty, not of democracy, because democracy is imperfect, whereas liberty is not. Liberty is perfect thus democracy should aspire towards liberty and not vice versa. Many people speak about democracy as if it was liberty, but it is not, and can never be. Democracy is a pragmatic system that attempts liberty. Mill mentions the greatest challen
...more

John Stuart Mill's discourse on social liberties regarding the nature of power exercised over an individual within a society, an issues between civil liberty and authority...
I rather appreciate the closing statement of the work:
"A government cannot have too much of the kind of activity which does not impede, but aids and stimulates, individual exertion and development. The mischief begins when, instead of calling forth the activity and powers of individuals and bodies, it substitutes its own ac ...more
I rather appreciate the closing statement of the work:
"A government cannot have too much of the kind of activity which does not impede, but aids and stimulates, individual exertion and development. The mischief begins when, instead of calling forth the activity and powers of individuals and bodies, it substitutes its own ac ...more

Huzzah! I have finished.
This book took me forever to read. Four months, can you believe that? I can't. A mere 187 pages taking 4 months?! Unbelievable.
I forgive myself somewhat though, because the diction of this book is incredibly dense. The ideas that he is talking about require thought and consideration, so I don't blame myself for taking so long.
I quite enjoyed the book. It's the first time I've read it, and so it was interesting to read the seminal document for the importance of the freedom ...more
This book took me forever to read. Four months, can you believe that? I can't. A mere 187 pages taking 4 months?! Unbelievable.
I forgive myself somewhat though, because the diction of this book is incredibly dense. The ideas that he is talking about require thought and consideration, so I don't blame myself for taking so long.
I quite enjoyed the book. It's the first time I've read it, and so it was interesting to read the seminal document for the importance of the freedom ...more

This book is still well worth reading for its still-relevant defense of freedom of speech alone. Some of the later parts let it down slightly, especially on education. But the whole of this book is important for understanding the history behind how liberalism got to be how it is.
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mental Health and...: Rest for Resistance | 1 | 2 | Jul 24, 2019 07:45PM | |
Freedom to speak your mind. | 1 | 7 | Feb 18, 2018 10:48AM | |
Liberty or Death? | 1 | 7 | Jul 31, 2017 02:49PM | |
Libert or Death? | 1 | 1 | Jul 31, 2017 02:48PM | |
Tyrannicide vs. genocide | 1 | 3 | Jun 22, 2017 10:47AM | |
"... the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community... is to prevent harm to others." | 1 | 13 | May 15, 2016 09:04AM |
John Stuart Mill, English philosopher, political economist, civil servant and Member of Parliament, was an influential liberal thinker of the 19th century. He was an exponent of utilitarianism, an ethical theory developed by Jeremy Bentham, although his conception of it was very different from Bentham's.
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“A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.”
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“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion... Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them...he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.”
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