On Liberty

THE subject of this Essay is non the so-called Liberty of the Will, so regrettably opposed to the misnamed doctrine of Philosophical Necessity; alone Civil, or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which force break be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. A question seldom stated, and hardly ever discussed, in widely distributed terms, but which profoundly influences the practical controversies of the age by its possible presence, and is likely soon to make itself recognized as the full of life question of the future. It is so far from being new, that, in a certain sense, it has divided mankind, almost from the remotest ages, but in the simulate over for of progress into which the more civilized portions of the species have now entered, it presents itself chthonic new conditions, and requires a different and more fundamental treatment. The moot betwixt Liberty and Authority is the most conspicuous characteristic in the portions of histo ry with which we are earliest familiar, particularly in that of Greece, Rome, and England. But in old times this contest was amongst subjects, or some classes of subjects, and the government. By liberty, was meant protection against the tyranny of the political rulers.

The rulers were conceived (except in some of the popular governments of Greece) as in a necessarily antagonistic position to the people whom they ruled. They consisted of a plaque One, or a governing tribe or caste, who derived their dominance from inheritance or conquest; who, at all events, did non hold it at the pleasure of the governed, and whose supremacy men did not venture, perhaps did not desire, to contest, w hatever precautions might be taken against ! its oppressive exercise. Their power was regarded as necessary, but also as highly dangerous; as a weapon which they would take on to use against their subjects, no less than against external enemies. To anticipate the weaker members of the fraternity from being preyed upon by innumerable vultures, it was needful that there...If you command to wee a full essay, order it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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