Freedom of Ancients and Freedom of Modern People: A Selection of Political Essays by Gong Xindang

Author: [French] Constant
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-12-01
Features: From the practice of the French Revolution, the principle of popular sovereignty could also be misused to justify a previously unprecedented tyranny. Constant discovered this issue while continuously commenting on and reflecting upon the works of Rousseau. Constant pointed out that sovereignty, by its very nature, must be limited. This limit is the independence and existence of the individual. Whether it is a democratic government or a government controlled by a minority, it should not attempt to cross the boundaries required by individual rights. We must remember a truth: any sovereignty must be exercised by concrete individuals. The attempt to guarantee the absolute power of sovereignty through democratic means does not harm the interests of the individual can only be an illusion. Modern people should enjoy more personal rights than ancient people—firstly, it is manifested in the fact that modern people enjoy a series of legally protected personal rights that are not interfered with by the government, and secondly, it is reflected in the dilution of civil rights. Personal freedom is the true freedom of a modern person.