Editing Harm principle (section)

== John Stuart Mill's formulation ==
The harm principle was first fully articulated by the English philosopher [[John Stuart Mill]] [JSM] (1806–1873) in the first chapter of ''[[On Liberty]]'' (1859),<ref name="leeds1" /> where he argued that:{{Blockquote|The object of this Essay is 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. That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the [[liberty]] of action of any of their number, is self-protection. ''That the only purpose for which [[Power (social and political)|power]] can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his [[will (philosophy)|will]], is to prevent harm to others.'' His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right... The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is [[sovereign individual|sovereign]].|[[John Stuart Mill]]<ref name="On Liberty">{{cite book |first=John Stuart|last=Mill|author-link=John Stuart Mill|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qCQCAAAAQAAJ&q=On+Liberty&pg=PP1 |title=On Liberty|publisher=[[Oxford University]]|location=Oxford, England|date=1859|pages=21–22|access-date=February 27, 2008}}</ref>}}

Mill also put the harm principle within his list of rights that sprung from liberty. It was found within his list of political rights (political activities that did not involve harm to others) - but also within his non-political liberty rights - his "tastes and pursuits" - activities which did not involve politics and did not involve harm to others:

{{Blockquote|This, then, is the appropriate region of human liberty. It comprises, first, the inward domain of consciousness; demanding liberty of conscience, in the most comprehensive sense; liberty of thought and feeling; absolute freedom of opinion and sentiment on all subjects; practical or speculative, scientific, moral, or theological. The principle of expressing and publishing opinions may seem to fall under a different principle, since it belongs to that part of the conduct of an individual which concerns other people; but, being almost of as much importance as the liberty of thought itself, and resting in great part on the same reasons, is practically inseparable from it. Secondly, the principle requires liberty of tastes and pursuits; of framing the plan of our life to suit our own character; of doing as we like, subject to such consequences as may follow; without impediment from our fellow-creatures, ''so long as what we do does not harm them'' even though they should think our conduct foolish, perverse, or wrong.|}}

According to Mills, harm is thus necessary but sometimes insufficient to justify legal coercion.<ref name="Oliveira">{{cite web|first=Jorge|last=Menezes Oliveira|title=Harm and Offence in Mill's Conception of Liberty|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/43951393/harm-and-offence-in-mills-conception-of-liberty/18|publisher=[[University of Oxford]]|location=Oxford, England|date=2012|page=13}}</ref>