The only purpose for which a person can be rightfully exercised over any members of a civilized community, against his will is to prevent harm to others…In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute.” The shorthand version of Mill’s Harm Principle is that you’re free to do what you want, as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. In Mill’s words, “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. John Stuart Mill’s influential 1859 essay On Liberty described ‘liberty’ as the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state or social control. The reality is nearly all Covid-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths are among the unvaccinated. ![]() Media attention on expected ‘breakthrough’ infections provokes doubt about vaccination, endorsing hesitancy. Masks are available to mitigate disease spread, yet remain controversial. This is despite the profound effectiveness of available vaccines in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death related to Covid-19. The United States is experiencing a fourth surge of Covid-19 infections and hospitalizations related to the delta variant. ![]() ![]() How can we mitigate a pandemic when individual sovereigns chose not to follow these recommendations. John Stuart Mill proclaimed, “Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.” Mill’s statement appears to come in conflict with public health expert mitigation recommendations.
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