Reforming Liberalism : J.S. Mill's Use of Ancient, Religious, Liberal, and Romantic Moralities

In __Reforming Liberalism__, Robert Devigne challenges prevailing interpretations of the political and moral thought of John Stuart Mill and the theoretical underpinnings of modern liberal philosophy. He explains how Mill drew from ancient and romantic thought as well as past religious practices to reconcile conflicts and antinomies (liberty and virtue, self-interest and morality, equality and human excellence) that were hobbling traditional liberalism. The book shows that Mill, regarded as a seminal writer in the liberal tradition, critiques liberalism’s weaknesses with a forcefulness usually associated with its well-known critics. Devigne explores Mill’s writings to demonstrate how his thought has been misconstrued--as well as oversimplified--to the detriment of our understanding of liberalism itself.

in reforming Liberalism, Robert Devigne Challenges Prevailing Interpretations Of The Political And Moral Thought Of John Stuart Mill And The Theoretical Underpinnings Of Modern Liberal Philosophy. He Explains How Mill Drew From Ancient And Romantic Thought As Well As Past Religious Practices To Reconcile Conflicts And Antinomies (liberty And Virtue, Self-interest And Morality, Equality And Human Excellence) That Were Hobbling Traditional Liberalism.
 the Book Shows That Mill, Regarded As A Seminal Writer In The Liberal Tradition, Critiques Liberalism’s Weaknesses With A Forcefulness Usually Associated With Its Well-known Critics. Devigne Explores Mill’s Writings To Demonstrate How His Thought Has Been Misconstrued—as Well As Oversimplified—to The Detriment Of Our Understanding Of Liberalism Itself.

In Reforming Liberalism, Robert Devigne challenges prevailing interpretations of the political and moral thought of John Stuart Mill and the theoretical underpinnings of modern liberal philosophy. He explains how Mill drew from ancient and romantic thought as well as past religious practices to reconcile conflicts and antinomies (liberty and virtue, self-interest and morality, equality and human excellence) that were hobbling traditional liberalism.

The book shows that Mill, regarded as a seminal writer in the liberal tradition, critiques liberalism’s weaknesses with a forcefulness usually associated with its well-known critics. Devigne explores Mill’s writings to demonstrate how his thought has been misconstrued--as well as oversimplified--to the detriment of our understanding of liberalism itself.

In "Reforming Liberalism", Robert Devigne challenges prevailing interpretations of the political and moral thought of John Stuart Mill and the theoretical underpinnings of modern liberal philosophy. He explains how Mill drew from ancient and romantic thought as well as past religious practices to reconcile conflicts and antinomies (liberty and virtue, self-interest and morality, equality and human excellence) that were hobbling traditional liberalism. The book shows that Mill, regarded as a seminal writer in the liberal tradition, critiques liberalism's weaknesses with a forcefulness usually associated with its well-known critics. Devigne explores Mill's writings to demonstrate how his thought has been misconstrued, as well as oversimplified, to the detriment of our understanding of liberalism itself Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1 The Moderns and Plato......Page 21 2 Liberty and the Just Moral Conscience......Page 38 3 The Cultivation of the Individual and Society: J. S. Mill’s Use of Ancient and Romantic Dialectics......Page 73 4 On Liberty: Overcoming the West’s One-Sided Moral Development......Page 116 5 Reforming Reformed Religion: J. S. Mill’s Critique of the Natural Religion of the Enlightenment......Page 149 6 On Liberty: The Summum Bonum of Modern Liberalism......Page 174 7 Mill and Political Philosophy......Page 218 Notes......Page 246 Bibliography......Page 294 Index......Page 312 "In Reforming Liberalism, Robert Devigne challenges prevailing interpretations of the political and moral thought of John Stuart Mill and the theoretical underpinnings of modern liberal philosophy. He explains how Mill drew from ancient and romantic thought as well as past religious practices to reconcile conflicts and antinomies (liberty and virtue, self-interest and morality, equality and human excellence) that were hobbling traditional liberalism."--Jacket