Professor Fumerton discussed one of the most famous attempts to articulate a principled defense of freedom, the Harm Principle of John Stuart Mill's classic On Liberty, which puts limits on legitimate interference with our doing as we choose. Professor Fumerton critically examined that principle and suggested an alternative approach to defending freedom.
The musical prelude was provided by a jazz quartet comprising University of Iowa music students. Brooke Lunsford, Jeff Miguel, Blake Shaw, and Jarrett Purdy performed music of Cole Porter.