登陆注册
15424600000096

第96章 Chapter IV(6)

The real difficulty of toleration arises when we have to draw the line between speculation and action.Is it possible to discriminate absolutely?to give absolute freedom to thought and yet to maintain institutions which presuppose agreement upon at least some general principles?If men,as Mill asks,should be free to form and to utter opinions,should they not be free to act upon their opinions --to carry them out,so long at least as it is 'at their own risk and peril'--in their lives?(19)How does the principle present itself in this case?Mill has declined(20)to take advantage of any assumption of absolute right.He wishes to give a positive ground;to show that the liberty which he demands corresponds in point of fact to a necessary factor of human progress.His own doctrine is that the 'development of individuality is one of the leading essentials of well-being';and he adopts as identical the doctrine of Wilhelm von Humboldt,(21)that the right end of man is 'the highest and most harmonious development of his powers to a complete and consistent whole.'Humboldt considers this end to be 'prescribed by the eternal or immutable dictates of reason.'Mill would prefer,we may suppose,to have regarded it as the uniform teaching of experience.In either case,it is a broad and elevated doctrine which few thinkers would deny in general terms.

It is,moreover,eminently characteristic of Mill in his best mood.He never wrote more forcibly than in his exposition of this doctrine.He is now stimulated by the belief that he is preaching in painfully deaf ears:In advocating freedom of thought or denouncing despotism he was enforcing the doctrines most certain of popular applause.But nobody cared much for 'individuality'or objected to the subtler forms of moral tyranny.The masses are satisfied with their own ways;and even 'moral and social reformers'want as a rule to suppress all morality but their own.

Mill is uttering forebodings common to the most cultivated class.

The fear lest the growth of democracy should imply a crushing out of all the higher culture has been uttered in innumerable forms by some of our most eloquent writers and keenest thinkers.The course of events since Mill's death has certainly not weakened such fears.The problem is still with us,and certainly not solved.Mill's view is eminently characteristic of his whole doctrine.How,starting as a democrat,he had been led to a strong sense or the possible evils of democracy,I have already tried to show.I have now to inquire into the relation of this view to his general theory.

'Custom'in conduct corresponds to tradition in opinion.So far as you make it your guide,you need no faculty but that of 'ape-like imitation.'(22)You cultivate neither your reason nor your will when you let the world choose your plan of life.You become at best a useful automaton --not a valuable human being;and of all the works of man,which should be perfected and beautified,the first in importance is surely man himself.

Obedience to custom implies condemnation of 'strong impulses'as a snare and a peril.And yet strong impulses are but a name for energy,and may be the source of the 'most passionate love of virtue and the sternest self-control.'Individual energy was once perhaps too strong for the 'social principle.'Now 'society'has fairly got the better of individuality.We live in dread of the omnipresent censorship of our neighbours,desire only to do what others do,bow even our minds to the yoke,shun 'eccentricity'as a crime,and allow our human capacities to be starved and withered.Calvinism,he says,preaches explicitly that self-will is the 'one great offence of men.'Such a creed generates 'a pinched and hidebound type of human nature.'Men are cramped and dwarfed,as trees are clipped into pollards.It has lost sight of qualities belonging to a different type of excellence.'It may be better to be a John Knox than an Alcibiades;but it is better to be a Pericles than either.'

Clipping and cramping means loss of 'individuality',and 'individuality'may be identified with 'development.'This,he says,might close the argument;but he desires to give further reasons to prove to those who do not desire liberty for themselves that it should be conceded to others.His main point is the vast importance of genius,which can only exist in an atmosphere of freedom.The 'initiation of all wise and noble things comes,and must come,from individuals.'He is not such a 'hero-worshipper'as to desire a heroic tyrant,but he ardently desires a heroic leader;and where eccentricity is a reproach,genius will never be able to expand.Press all people into the same mould,condemn tastes which are not the tastes of the majority,and every deviation from the beaten path becomes impossible.Yet public opinion tends to become more stifling.

'Its ideal of character is to be without character.''Already energetic characters on any large scale are becoming merely traditional.'The greatness of England is now all collective.We are individually small,and capable of great things only by our 'habit of combining.''Men of another stamp made England what it has been,and men of another stamp will be needed to prevent its decline.'The evil is summed up in the 'despotism of custom.'

China is a standing warning.It had the 'rare good fortune 'of possessing a particularly good set of customs.But the customs have become stereotyped,the people all cast into the same mould,and China therefore is what England is tending to become.

Hitherto European progress has been due to the diversity of character and culture of the various nations.It is losing that advantage.Nations are assimilated;ranks and professions are losing their distinctive characters;we all read the same books,listen (not quite all of us?)to the same sermons,and have the same ends.The process is accelerated by all the past changes.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 春梦无痕,人初晓

    春梦无痕,人初晓

    “珍惜青春梦一场,珍惜相聚的时光,谁能年少不痴狂,独自闯荡……”安心第一次听到这首歌时,并没有那么深的体会,只是被那浅声低唱的人的情绪所感染。直到后来,被现实左右了的我们终于消散了关于青春怀揣着的美梦,多年奔走逃离,再不敢轻易触及。果然,“春梦无痕,人初晓”。
  • 魔法简史之奇迹法神传

    魔法简史之奇迹法神传

    揭开泰伦历史的重重帷幕,探寻那些泥垢中不为人知的秘密。在那个人族魔法没落的时代,兽人筹备数百年的千年复仇为何落败?平民的怒吼由何而起?贵族评议会又因何解散?奇迹法神哈扎卡拉卡为何号为“奇迹”?这是一场毅力与家世的碰撞。这是一次奇遇与天赋的盛宴。让我们透过《魔法简史》丛书来探寻这个记载模糊,不为人知的末法时代。“你总是如此幸运。”雷克如此对哈扎尔说。
  • 卧底新妻

    卧底新妻

    为端了某高级艳色场所的老窝,她改头换面,卧底埋伏,好不容易混进‘高层’,竟有‘大牌’亲点她的名,当她看清面前一脸得瑟的男人,恨不能扑上去撕了他不辨雌雄的面孔!又是这个该死的男人!当卧底彪悍警花扛上全城闻名的恶少,“嘘,Madam,束手就擒!”
  • 我的中二异闻录

    我的中二异闻录

    视角可能有点乱,不喜勿扰。轻喷。由于主角光环的缘故,身边发生了各种无法想象的事情。女吸血鬼的夜访男宿舍?狼人在厕所蹲点埋伏?饭堂买个鸡腿都要飞檐走壁?美女接近我只为泡我舍友?情何以堪。在光环效应下。强者终会...汇聚一堂。当然...也少不了各种美女。可是这就算了,可是为什么汇集而来的美女全部都被身边的基友们抢走了?为什么为什么为什么宿舍三人的回答陈真杰“你没我幽默有趣”李思毅“...我帅”林浩填“我那么吊,你是要和我讲道理吗”
  • TFBOYS之遇见你的盛夏

    TFBOYS之遇见你的盛夏

    青春就是一场旅行,我遇见了你,就是最美的结局!你说,我们天造地设,永远也不要分开。可是路上,那么多坎坷,我不敢确定。你像天上一颗闪烁的星辰,而我却只是那茫茫的黑夜……
  • 霓虹之都

    霓虹之都

    故事从一件英雄救美的事情开始,讲述了一对奇遇恋人深深相爱与邪恶势力斗志斗勇,但最后男主角被杀害后女主角装烈殉情!
  • 念代凰

    念代凰

    网络歌手苏念,在一个阳光明媚的早晨,偶然机会带着250系统穿越到了一本小说里,从此开始了斗倒玛丽苏的旅程。
  • 无上国运

    无上国运

    吞气运,立皇朝!普天同庆!天地运道,唯我独尊!国运读者群217052407!(进群请说明是国运的读者!)
  • 春花秋月何时了

    春花秋月何时了

    本书以唐宋词人的风花雪月和经典词作为线索,通过对唐宋词人及其脍炙人口名篇的趣味化解读,讲述了著名词人与词背后那不为人知的故事,常有知人论世之语。同时,作者结合这些词人的身世背景、性格学养、情感经历等方面,来探寻唐宋词艺术的发展与演变及词中蕴涵的人生哲理。
  • 散尽铅华

    散尽铅华

    她本倾国之貌,却散播消息误让天下人以为自己丑陋无比,变成人人嫌弃,讨厌的丑公主。和亲被拒,未嫁先休。她遇到他是唯生之缘还是只是萍水相逢。