The Harm Principle and the Nature of Harm

Abstract This article defends the Harm Principle, commonly attributed to John Stuart Mill, against recent criticism. Some philosophers think that this principle should be rejected, because of severe difficulties with finding an account harm plug into it. I examine criticism and find it unforceful. Finally, identify a faulty assumption behind type criticism, namely Principle is plausible only if there full-blown, problem-free, harm, which proponents can refer to.