《论自由·第三章·个性·论幸福的要素之一》第10节
Having said that Individuality is the same thing with development, and that it is only the cultivation of individuality which produces, or can produce, well-developed human beings, I might here close the argument: for what more or better can be said of any condition of human affairs, than that it brings human beings themselves nearer to the best thing they can be? or what worse can be said of any obstruction to good, than that it prevents this? Doubtless, however, these considerations will not suffice to convince those who most need convincing; and it is necessary further to show, that these developed human beings are of some use to the undeveloped--to point out to those who do not desire liberty, and would not avail themselves of it, that they may be in some intelligible manner rewarded for allowing other people to make use of it without hindrance.
注释摘要
在这段话里，密尔实际上给自己出的是一个关乎论证策略的难题。他刚刚花了很大的篇幅去证明，个体性的自由发展本身就是好的，因为它使人成为更完善、更丰满的人。现在他走到一个节点，他坦言，如果按这个逻辑推到底，他的论证其实已经可以结束了。他的理由是：如果承认个体性的发展就等于人的完善，那么还有什么比这更好的事？反过来，还有任何对善的阻碍，比阻止人走向完善更糟的吗？从…