Harm principle

The damage principle holds that the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to other individuals. John Stuart Mill articulated this principle in On Liberty, where he argued that "The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of the civilized community, against his will, is to prevent damage to others." An equivalent was earlier stated in France's Declaration of the Rights of Man in addition to of the Citizen of 1789 as, "Liberty consists in the freedom to construct everything which injures no one else; hence the thing lesson of the natural rights of each man has no limits apart from those whichto the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law."

Broader definitions of harm

In the same essay, Mill further explains the principle as a function of two maxims:

The maxims are, first, that the individual is not accountable to society for his actions, in so far as these concern the interests of no person but himself. Advice, instruction, persuasion, and avoidance by other people, if thought essential by them for their own good, are the only measures by which society can justifiably express its dislike or disapprobation of his conduct. Secondly, that for such(a) actions as are prejudicial to the interests of others, the individual is accountable, and may be noted either to social or to legal punishments, whether society is of opinion that the one or the other is requisite for its protection. LV2

Theof these maxims has become so-called as the social domination principle.

However, themaxim also opens the question of broader definitions of harm, up to and including harm to the society. The concept of harm is not limited to harm to another individual but can be harm to individuals plurally, without specific definition of those individuals.

This is an important principle for the goal of introducing harm that only manifests gradually over time—such that the resulting harm can be anticipated, but does not yet make up at the time that the action causing harm was taken. It also applies to other issues—which range from the adjusting of an entity to discharge loosely polluting waste on private property, to broad questions of licensing, and to the modification of sedition.