The harm principle is laid out in John Stuart Mill's arguably most famous work, On Liberty.

Mill defines the harm principle in chapter 1 as follows:

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 can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not 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.

The harm principle is in part the basis for certain political stances of the Libertarian Party (US), such as the legalization of prostitution and the abolition of laws against recreational drug use.

See also

• Wiccan Rede
• Golden rule

Harm_principle

Ethics