Harm principle from "summary" of Utilitarianism and On Liberty by John Stuart Mill
The Harm Principle, as expounded by John Stuart Mill, posits that the only justification for interfering with an individual's liberty is to prevent harm to others. This principle asserts that each individual is the best judge of their own interests and that society should only step in when someone's actions pose a direct threat to someone else. In this way, the Harm Principle serves as a safeguard against tyranny and promotes personal autonomy. Mill argues that individuals should be free to pursue their own happiness as long as they do not harm others in the process. This means that society should not intervene simply because it disapproves of certain behaviors or finds them offensive. Instead, the focus should be on preventing tangible harm to individuals or society as a whole. By restricting interference to cases where harm is likely to occur, the Harm Principle allows for maximum p...
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