Liberalism and Socialism: Convergences in the political philosophy of J. S. Mill and C. Castoriadis
Abstract
This article investigates the theoretical convergence between two seemingly irreconcilable social systems: liberalism and socialism. Through a comparative analysis of John Stuart Mill and Cornelius Castoriadis, the author argues that early liberal thought and authentic socialist ideals share a common foundation in deep democratic sentiment and the deconstruction of social structures to empower the individual. While Mill emphasizes individual perfection and personal liberty within a utilitarian framework to prevent social chaos, Castoriadis proposes the concept of autonomy, where individuals actively participate in the self-institution of society. The study highlights their mutual belief that political participation is essential for human development and that true liberty cannot exist without equality. Ultimately, the text advocates for liberal socialism as an "Aristotelian mean"—a synthesis that addresses the crisis of traditional ideologies by balancing economic development with social progress.
Article Details
- How to Cite
-
Tagkoulis , N. (2020). Liberalism and Socialism: Convergences in the political philosophy of J. S. Mill and C. Castoriadis . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (1), 16–22. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.22637
- Issue
- No. 1 (2005)
- Section
- Articles
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). This license allows others to share and adapt the work, provided that the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal are properly acknowledged.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal websites) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
