J S MILLS ON LIBERTY CL (Routledge Philosophers in Focus Series)

This book brings together J.S. Mill's "On Liberty" and a selection of essays on Mill's Liberalism by a number of scholars, including Isaiah Berlin, Alan Ryan, John Rees, C.L. Ten, and Richard Wollheim. As well as comprising a commentary upon "On Liberty" for the use of teachers and students, the essays also reflect a broader debate about the philosophical foundations of Mill's liberalism, particularly the question of the connection between Mill's professed utilitarianism and his committment to individual liberty. In the substantial introduction the editors survey the debate and conclude that the outcome has profound and disturbing implications, both for our understanding of Mill's classic defence of individual freedom and more generally for the style of liberal argument with which Mill is typically identified. This book should be of interest to students and lecturers in philosophy and political thought.