The History of Freedom, and Other Essays by Acton

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Author Acton, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron, 1834-1902
Title The History of Freedom, and Other Essays
Note Reading ease score: 52.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
Contents The history of freedom in antiquity -- The history of freedom in Christianity -- Sir Erskine May's Democracy in Europe -- The massacre of St. Bartholomew -- The Protestant theory of persecution -- Political thoughts on the church -- Introduction to L.A. Burd's Edition of Il principe by Machiavelli -- Mr. Goldwin Smith's Irish history -- Nationality -- Döllinger on the temporal power -- Döllinger's historical work -- Cardinal Wiseman and the Home and foreign review -- Conflicts with Rome -- The Vatican Council -- A history of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages / by Henry Charles Lea -- The American commonwealth / by James Bryce -- Historical philosophy in France and French Belgium and Switzerland / by Robert Flint.
Credits Produced by Steven Giacomelli, Graeme Mackreth and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
(This file was produced from images generously made
available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Summary "The History of Freedom and Other Essays" by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton is a collection of historical essays written in the early 20th century. The essays delve into the evolution of the concept of freedom, analyzing its manifestations and movements throughout antiquity and Christianity. Acton examines how liberty interacts with political structures and societal norms, providing insights into the complexities of freedom's development over time. The opening of the work introduces the historical context of freedom, emphasizing its importance as both a motivating force for virtuous actions and a justification for wrongdoing throughout history. Acton highlights that true liberty is the knowledge that individuals are protected when acting according to their beliefs, especially against the pressures of authority and the majority. He outlines the struggles that nations have faced in pursuit of freedom and critiques various political systems that have either upheld or undermined these principles, leading to a rich discussion on the relationship between authority and individual rights. Through a variety of historical examples, he begins to set the framework for a broader exploration of how liberty has been interpreted and challenged throughout the ages. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class D: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere
Subject History
Subject History -- Philosophy
Subject Liberty -- History
Category Text
EBook-No. 31278
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 6, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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