John Stuart Mill, also known as J.S. Mill, was a philosopher in the 19th century who had interesting views on the structure of government and the restrictions it holds on its people. In an essay he wrote, called “On Liberty”, Mill’s main focus was the social liberty of mankind, and the limitations of power the government holds over society. During his time and age, liberty meant “the protection against the tyranny of the political rulers”(Mill 5). Mill describes civilization as a battle between society and the individual over who should control the actions of the individual. Mill believed in the idea that true freedom means pursuing one’s own good in one’s own way, as long as it does not prevent others from doing the same. In today’s contemporary …show more content…
The United States, are good for deciding issues for its people. For a long time gay marriage was illegal in most states. Some citizens believed that it was their human right to have their own opinion about who they should love and who they married. Most people said it is against the bible for a man to be with a man or a woman to be with a woman; this is the main reason why gay marriage was banned. However the opinions that discouraged gay marriage, in the eyes of Mill, prevents others from exercising their freedoms. For example, a year ago a woman in Kentucky refused to issue a gay couple their marriage license. Yes, the woman is exercising her freedom of opinion, but her opinion prevents the freedom of other so it is unjustified. A person has the right to preach against different opinions, and try to change other people’s minds, but they should not be forced to. Mill uses Socrates and Jesus Christ to defend his argument. Socrates and Jesus Christ, both important figures in history, were put to death for blasphemy because their beliefs were different from the majority. In his essay he wrote, “And the world, to each individual, mean the part of it with which he comes in contact” (Mill 25). Even if only a person holds a particular opinion, mankind would not be justified in silencing him or