Journal of East China Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) ›› 2006, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (1): 15-21.

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From Political Liberty to Social Liberty——An Essay on J.S.Mill's Liberal Thought

Hong-tu LI   

  1. Department of History, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • Received:2005-10-20 Online:2006-01-30 Published:2006-01-30

Abstract:

John Stuart Mill was one of the founding thinkers of modern liberalism.Unlike those former liberals, Mill did not regard liberty as a political principle but rather a social principle, telling us that social tyranny was worse than political oppression.As a result, he granted a fresh meaning to liberty, and defined it as a legitimate use of social power, whose aim was to protect individual rights from any intervention by society and defend individuality and social diversity.Through his appeal to individual freedom, Mill transformed political liberty into social liberty.

Key words: J.S.Mill, individuality, political liberty, social liberty

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