This volume investigates the conceptual boundaries of harm as a justification for state intervention within the framework of criminal law. Joel Feinberg, a prominent legal philosopher, utilizes analytical jurisprudence to dissect the relationship between individual interests and the state's authority to restrict liberty. By examining the nuances of want-regarding and ideal-regarding interests, he establishes a rigorous taxonomy for determining when an action qualifies as a harm sufficient to warrant legal prohibition.

Legal scholars and philosophers frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the harm principle in modern liberal societies. Readers often note the high level of analytical density, making it a standard reference for advanced students of jurisprudence and political theory.