The reason for freedom

Author: Huang Kewu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-05-01
Features: Yan Fu was a pioneer of modern Chinese liberalism and made significant contributions in introducing the liberal thought of British Mill (J.S. Mill) to China. This book focuses on two key aspects: Exploring Yan Fu's translation of Mill's On Liberty (On Liberty), where the author compares the two texts word by word, highlighting Yan Fu's understanding and misunderstandings of Mill. The second aspect examines how Yan Fu integrated the Millian ideas he understood with traditional Confucian, Mohist, Taoist, Zhuangzi, and Yang Zhu thought to create a new liberal theory. The author emphasizes that Yan Fu's misunderstandings and critiques of Mill are intertwined, thereby altering Mill's "reason for freedom." Yan Fu's liberalism exhibits three characteristics: First, the pursuit of strength and prosperity; Second, affirmation of freedom, democracy, and capitalism, but rejection of the individualism that prioritizes the self over the group, while emphasizing the balance between the self and the group; Third, adaptive gradual reform. These three elements constitute a highly integrated political theory. Therefore, Yan Fu was not only a translator but also an innovative and visionary thinker.