In Our Time: On Liberty
BBC Radio 4 | Aired: February 12, 2026
Host: Melvyn Bragg
Guests:
- Helen McCabe (Professor of Political Theory, University of Nottingham)
- Piers Turner (Associate Professor of Philosophy, Ohio State University)
- Mark Philp (Emeritus Professor of History and Politics, University of Warwick)
Episode Overview
This episode of "In Our Time" explores the enduring impact and philosophical intricacies of On Liberty (1859), John Stuart Mill’s seminal text on liberty, individuality, and the limits of authority. Joined by three leading experts, Melvyn Bragg delves into Mill’s intellectual biography, the critical arguments of On Liberty, and the ongoing relevance of its ideas for democratic societies.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Mill’s Early Life and Intellectual Formation
- [03:23] Mark Philp: Mill’s upbringing was highly controlled by his father, with little room for emotional development. He was treated as a “tabula rasa...a blank slate,” and intensely educated from a young age.
- Quote: “His father comes from the Age of Enlightenment, that it’s just about reasoning and nothing else.” (04:28, Philp)
- The lasting impact was a lack of emotional fulfillment, leading Mill to later integrate Romantic concerns for feeling and self-development into his thinking.
2. Bentham and Utilitarianism
- [05:19] Mill was deeply influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism—the principle of the “greatest happiness of the greatest number.”
- Through a period of crisis in his twenties, Mill reinterpreted happiness as the development of individual capacities, rather than just the balance of pleasure over pain.
3. Mill’s Mental Crisis
- [07:05] Helen McCabe: In his twenties, Mill underwent a profound mental health crisis, realizing that achievement of his reformist ideals wouldn’t bring happiness.
- Quote: “The end had ceased to charm and so thus also had the means.” (08:06, McCabe)
- He recovered, in part, by reconnecting with feelings and simple pleasures, illustrating the need for affect and self-development.
4. Partnership with Harriet Taylor
- [09:53] Mill’s relationship with Harriet Taylor was both personally and intellectually transformative; together, they sought alternatives to the narrow Benthamite worldview.
- Taylor, a radical reformer herself, contributed greatly to the ideas that shaped On Liberty.
- Quote: “He talks about On Liberty as being the thing that they really authored most together...a product of two minds.” (15:24, McCabe)
- Recent scholarship and computational analysis support co-authorship, especially in the chapter on individuality.
5. Writing and Aims of On Liberty
- [12:21] Piers Turner: Driven by concerns over “liberticide”—the suppression of liberty not by tyrants, but by societal pressures and consensus—they sought to identify principled limits on authority, including the tyranny of the majority within democracies.
- Quote: “Democracy does not guarantee liberty...there was still the possibility of a tyranny of the majority.” (13:10, Turner)
- Principal aim: Defend social diversity and individuality against pressures for conformity.
6. Major Threats to Liberty
- [17:04] Mark Philp: On Liberty attacks direct limitations—like Sabbatarianism and mandatory oaths—and the deeper threat of stifling conformity and intolerance of dissent.
- Quote: “His deep worry is the sense that society more generally is becoming more and more intolerant of diversity of opinion.” (17:41, Philp)
- Mill distinguishes between genuine freedom and merely being left alone by formal laws.
7. The Harm Principle
- [19:26] Central to Mill’s argument: individuals’ actions can only rightly be limited to prevent harm to others.
- Quote: “Harm is whatever might set those interests back... detriment to these important interests that allow us to progress.” (19:39, McCabe)
8. Core Arguments for Liberty
- [23:43] Piers Turner:
- Value to Society: Individuality enables “experiments in living,” fostering societal progress.
- Value to Individuals: Self-development and self-direction are crucial for happiness and fulfillment.
- Quote: “…there are as many possible centers of improvement as there are people…that’s just an engine of social progress.” (24:19, Turner)
- Mill (and Taylor) connect this to utilitarianism by arguing these conditions make society happier overall.
9. Freedom of Thought and Expression
- [26:07] Mark Philp: Mill’s fourfold defense:
- Suppressed opinions might be true.
- Suppressed opinions might be partially true.
- Engaging dissent refines our own understanding.
- Truth needs to be vigorously tested to remain vital.
- Quote: “They’re making a case for protecting opinion as a special kind of category, different from action...” (27:10, Philp)
- Still, at a certain threshold (e.g., inciting immediate violence), intervention is justified (27:49).
10. Ambiguities and Limits of the Text
- [28:46] Helen McCabe: The text may be unfinished; last edits by Harriet Taylor were missing due to her death. The “applications” chapter is less developed, highlighting real-world complexities.
11. Defining the Limits of Personal Freedom
- [31:14] Piers Turner: The harm principle’s strength depends on definitions of “harm.” Importantly, society is cautioned against paternalistic interference or enforcing mere social norms.
- Quote: “Any interpretation of the harm principle says that society should not be interfering with you for paternalistic reasons...” (32:08, Turner)
12. Mill’s Context and “Barbarous Societies”
- [33:13] Mark Philp: Mill views his principles as suited for Britain and societies “capable of being guided by their own improvement.”
- [35:22] Mill was in dialogue with European contemporaries, shaping liberalism in response to diverse political realities.
13. Reception & Legacy
- [37:03] Helen McCabe: On Liberty’s arguments for tolerance and individuality have had lasting intellectual and cultural influence, being repeatedly revived in changing historical circumstances. Mill anticipated its enduring impact.
14. Is On Liberty The Text of Liberalism?
- [38:30] Piers Turner: It’s one of liberalism’s most important texts—a “baseline” for pluralistic societies, compatible with various political outlooks, including some socialisms.
- Quote: “It sets out a baseline that’s consistent with quite a range of views.” (39:23, Turner)
- [40:12] Mark Philp: Distinctive for its optimism and focus on living together as a community, not just government mechanics. Yet, Mill is also elitist and sets high expectations for individual development.
- Quote: “It’s a richer, more pluralist, more optimistic view of how we can live together than many other forms of liberal doctrine.” (40:21, Philp)
- Mill and Taylor’s egalitarian reform aspirations (e.g., women’s rights, anti-racism) are inseparable from their arguments for liberty (42:10).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Mill’s Upbringing:
“His father comes from the Age of Enlightenment, that it’s just about reasoning and nothing else.”
—Mark Philp [04:28] -
On Mill’s Crisis:
“The end had ceased to charm and so thus also had the means.”
—Helen McCabe [08:06] -
On Co-Authorship:
“He talks about On Liberty as being the thing that they really authored most together...a product of two minds.”
—Helen McCabe [15:24] -
On Liberty’s Purpose:
“Democracy does not guarantee liberty...there was still the possibility of a tyranny of the majority.”
—Piers Turner [13:10] -
On the Harm Principle:
“Harm is whatever might set those interests back...detriment to these important interests that allow us to progress.”
—Helen McCabe [19:39] -
On Individuality and Society:
“…there are as many possible centers of improvement as there are people, right? We explore the world in our own way...that’s just an engine of social progress.”
—Piers Turner [24:19] -
On the Defense of Freedom of Expression:
“They’re making a case for protecting opinion as a special kind of category, different from action, which needs to be protected even when it causes harm.”
—Mark Philp [27:10] -
On Liberalism’s Reach:
“It’s a richer, more pluralist, more optimistic view of how we can live together than many other forms of liberal doctrine.”
—Mark Philp [40:21] -
On Egalitarianism and Reform:
“He was most famous for...being a radical egalitarian reformer, not just on women’s equality...On Liberty is also about social equality and for everyone…”
—Piers Turner [42:10]
Important Timestamps
- Mill’s Unusual Childhood: [03:23–05:19]
- Crisis and Emotional Awakening: [07:05–09:53]
- Harriet Taylor’s Influence and Co-Authorship: [09:53–16:53]
- Threats to Liberty; Societal Conformity: [17:04–19:26]
- The Harm Principle: [19:26–20:48]
- Core Liberal Arguments – Individuality/Progress: [23:43–25:49]
- Defense of Free Thought and Speech: [26:07–28:33]
- On Liberty’s Unfinished Nature: [28:46–31:07]
- Limits to Personal Freedom: [31:14–32:46]
- Mill’s Historical Context: [33:13–37:03]
- On Liberty’s Legacy and Liberal Tradition: [38:20–41:39]
- Egalitarianism and Social Reform: [42:10–43:11]
- Roundtable on Relevance Today: [43:24–45:32]
Closing Reflections
The panel agrees that On Liberty remains a foundational text, offering both a principled guide to social diversity and a practical challenge in managing difference, authority, and individuality. Its arguments for experimentalism, freedom of thought, and the celebration of individuality remain urgent in pluralistic societies—though ambiguities remain, particularly in real-world application and the delicate balancing of harm and liberty.
Standout Closing:
- “It’s really about all of us committing to those social conditions that allow us to continue to make progress by learning from each other.” —Piers Turner [44:54]
For further exploration: See transcript segments [46:00–50:48], where the guests discuss edge cases, the four principles underlying On Liberty, and the tension between toleration, elitism, and true pluralism.
Next week: The Mariana Trench.
Produced by: Simon Tillotson
BBC Studios
This summary captures the core content and intellectual spirit of the "On Liberty" discussion, providing both context and substance for further engagement with Mill’s landmark work.