John Stuart Mill - On Libery and Utilitarianism

During times of change, it is often good to go back and reread some of the great thinkers of the past to get a different perspective that is independent of current events. 

Walking back to the 19th century, one of the greatest philosophers and political economists was John Stuart Mill who developed the philosophy of utilitarianism, the idea that an action is right if it promotes happiness, and the greatest happiness for the greatest number should be a guiding principle for conduct. This approach tries to answer the simple question that has been a core issue for western civilization ethics, "What ought a person to do?" This is not just a hedonistic question but one associated with what is good and how one should act. Some have viewed this philosophy as one of common sense. Do what has positive intrinsic value and avoid that which does not have intrinsic value for happiness.

This is closely associated with Mill's work, On Liberty, "The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede [obstruct] their efforts to obtain it." From liberty, we can pursue our happiness.