R819th

**//On Liberty //**** by John Stuart Mill **  //__Theme #8: __//// The diffusion of new intellectual concepts among different social groups. //   Although liberalism was around since the early eighteenth century, it truly took root among the masses when J.S. Mill created his popular essay, //On Liberty.// In this piece, Mill explored the problem of how to protect the individual rights of a person, as well as how to protect from the “tyranny of the majority.” Mill said that the ruler’s actions and decisions should always be instituted in order to benefit the whole of the state/nation. This is a diffusion of a new intellectual concept because it truly changed the way a liberalist viewed politics. Traditionally, liberals were very strict and by the book, but after Mill published his essay, liberals changed their views as a whole. Overall, Mill’s essay was very influential on the political philosopher’s in nineteenth century England.   McKay, John P., John Buckler, and Bennett D. Hill. __A History of Western society__. 7th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003. 
 * 1859 **
 * __MLA __**