The Idea of Liberty in Thomson, Shenstone and Akenside
Abstract
The most important aim in the study of any term. such as liberty is the understanding of the meaning which the concept had for the men who used it. While this is true, a great deal that is valuable may be learned by giving attention to the author's attitude to the term, as shown by his use of it. For example, different men with the same concept of celibacy as far as literal meaning is concerned, may yet show quite diverse attitudes to the idea. This can be observed in the manner of their treatment of the term. So for liberty. By examining the connotations of the term, it is possible to determine something of the value attached to it and the position it occupied in the thought of the men using it. Therefore, before proceeding to an investigation of the meaning of the concept of liberty in Thomson, Shenstone and Akenside, it is worthwhile to ascertain in what manner the three men used the term. By taking cognizance of the connotations attached to the word, apart from what it actually denotes, it is possible to gain a knowledge of the attitude of these writers to the idea of liberty.
Subject Area
Literature|British and Irish literature
Recommended Citation
McClelland, Samuel D, "The Idea of Liberty in Thomson, Shenstone and Akenside" (1938). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI28960380.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI28960380
