Individual Development And Social Progress

On liberty, scholars have different opinions. As a famous British ideologist in nineteenth century, John Stuart Mill’s works involve many fields such as philosophy, politics, economics, ethics, logic, religious studies, etc. His work of On Liberty is known as classical discussion in regard to individual liberty; Utilitarianism established Mill’s position as one of the utilitarian founders of modern times, and it became an important work in history of ethics; Mill even is regarded as divided ideologist in the history of liberalism ideas. Mill’s ideologies are grand, but Mill himself paid earnest attention on social liberty, for not just he realized the relation between individual and society had changed after the establishment of political liberty, and he was influenced by Tocqueville, Harriet, Comte and Coleridge such persons, which made his concern for social liberty had painful experience. Mill’s idea of social liberty has obvious sociological meanings.After the establishment of political liberty, Mill realized although the times was entering democratic society, the new social formation generated Tyranny of the Majority and Equality of Mediocrity, society itself had the potential to be a tyrant and above the individuals, and individual liberty may be under new threat. Mill tried to draw a line between individual liberty and social control, which made social liberty possible, and individual development and social progress could complement each other under social liberty.The discussion about social liberty of Mill involved two aspects of individual liberty and social progress. On individual liberty, Mill took it as effective prevention for social tyranny, and the highlights of individuality was for individual development and social progress. Mill discussed from Principle of Liberty for individual liberty, liberty of thought and discussion and individuality as the welfare of human three aspects on individual liberty, Mill also demonstrated the rights of minorities for embodying the benefits of individual liberty. After demonstrating individual liberty, he discussed the otherness and social dimensions of social liberty, individual liberty and individual development still in the orientation of social progress, and social liberty integrated individual development and social progress perfectly.At last, the purpose of social liberty conception of Mill was for individual development and social progress. In the two stages of social progress conception of Mill, the stage of Development was socialization process of individual in society, and the stage of Self-development was important stage for individual development and social ties. In this stage, the individual cultivated his application of individual liberty, self-assertion, regard for others and interest for the common goods to connect individual development and social progress. Mill’s political economics provided the framework of individual development and social progress, the individuality education of Mill embodied the union of individual liberty and individual development, and his social education cultivated the social nature of man and the given possibilities of development for the application of social liberty by individual. Individual development and social progress united through the formation of education under the framework of social liberty.In this paper, the author tries to discuss the change from political liberty to social liberty based on the liberty thoughts of Mill, through analyzing the regards for social liberty of Mill to clarify the connotation of social liberty of Mill. The author considers that social liberty of Mill includes the achievement of individual liberty and social liberty two aspects. The essence of social liberty of Mill is for achieving the union of individual liberty and social progress, which is the operating mechanism for social progress and development of Mill’s understanding. Through the presentation of two stages under social liberty of Mill, which combines the development and progress between individual development and social progress, and embodies a kind of socialization process. Education is the connection for individual development and social progress, which educates people to enjoy social liberty and enjoy development and progress.