《论自由·第四章·社会凌驾个人之权力的限度》第21节
The case of the Bombay Parsees is a curious instance in point. When this industrious and enterprising tribe, the descendants of the Persian fire-worshippers, flying from their native country before the Caliphs, arrived in Western India, they were admitted to toleration by the Hindoo sovereigns, on condition of not eating beef. When those regions afterwards fell under the dominion of Mahomedan conquerors, the Parsees obtained from them a continuance of indulgence, on condition of refraining from pork. What was at first obedience to authority became a second nature, and the Parsees to this day abstain both from beef and pork. Though not required by their religion, the double abstinence has had time to grow into a custom of their tribe; and custom, in the East, is a religion.
注释摘要
这段关于孟买帕西人的简短历史叙述，在密尔第四章的整体论证中，承担着一个非常具体且重要的功能：它是一个归谬和类比并用的历史实例，旨在瓦解那种以“强烈反感”或“习俗”作为干涉个人自由之依据的立场。 要理解这一点，我们必须先看清密尔在这一节中正在做什么。他已经在前面花了大量篇幅，试图划清个人完全关涉自身的行为与社会关涉他人的行为之间的界限。他承认，个人对自身的伤…