Liberty is not a new idea, rather one that has been socially unacceptable for discussion. With progress of civilization, the issue presents itself with new conditions and “requires a different and more fundamental treatment.”
Liberty is defined as “protection against the tyranny of political rulers.” Limits were needed to rein in the corrupt officials, those who used their power against the people. It progressed to “elected and temporary” officials, adopted throughout civilization. But too much power was placed in the limits, and what power they had.
Even with limits on the officials, Mill talks about how society is the tyrant, the majority, who imposed its civil penalties. He stated “the tyranny of the majority is now… among the evils against which society required to be on its guard.”
Mill states the object of the essay as being, “to assert one very simple principle as entitled to govern absolutely the dealings of society with the individual in the way of compulsion and control, whether the means used be physical force in the form of legal penalties, or the moral coercion of public opinion” which he thought was for self protection. He states the only purpose for this principle is to protect the group from an individual.
Mill believes in the idea of “live and let live” but with the exception of harm, which is undefined. If any actions result in harm to another, then that action should not be allowed. This rule only applies to those of maturation to realize the consequences of their actions, therefore excluding children and those “who are still in a state to require being taken care of by others.”