The Tension of the Perennial, Traditional and Historical in John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty

Abstract

Reflection on teaching courses in the Western tradition over many years leads the author to identify some unavoidable fundamental questions, among them: What does one mean by “tradition”? Are there perennial insights which persist through time? If there are, how are they aff ected by changing historical conditions? Are ideas necessarily relative to time and place? Is there progressive understanding or wisdom or is there simply change? What sorts of lessons is one to gain from studying the past? John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty” is examined with respect to such questions to discern the response of one of the acknowledged masters of modern progressive thought. In turn, some concluding questions are posed to Mill’s response, seeking to extend dialogue on these matters.