On Liberty

Author: [British] John Stuart Mill
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: "On Liberty" is the main work representing Mill's radical liberalism, and it also reflects the demands of the British bourgeoisie in the 1850s to the 1860s. At that time, the British bourgeoisie had already gained political power and consolidated its rule. Economically, capitalism had matured and was beginning to transition to monopoly capitalism. Domestically, the bourgeoisie demanded further elimination of the remnants of feudalism and expansion of its rule. Internationally, on one hand, they sought to maintain the vast colonies acquired in the previous centuries, and on the other hand, they demanded unrestricted expansion to open up more colonies and seize and monopolize global raw materials and markets. In summary, the main trend of the British bourgeoisie at that time was to call for removing all obstacles under the banner of liberalism, implementing free competition and free trade, so as to pursue profits without restraint. Mill's "On Liberty" was precisely the fervent call for profit-seeking.