约翰·斯图尔特·密尔：做一个不满足的人，胜过做一只满足的猪 / John Stuart Mill: It is Better to Be a Human Being Dissatisfied than a Pig Satisfied

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生平简介 / Biography

约翰·斯图尔特·密尔（John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873）是19世纪英国最杰出的哲学家、经济学家和政治理论家之一，也是自由主义思想的集大成者。他的人生堪称传奇。在父亲詹姆斯·密尔的严格教育下，他从三岁开始学习希腊语，八岁接触拉丁语和代数，年少时已博览群书。然而，这种高强度的填鸭式教育也让他在20岁时陷入了严重的精神危机，他感到人生的目标和意义尽失。正是这次危机，促使他开始反思和重构自己的人生哲学。

John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) was one of the most distinguished philosophers, economists, and political theorists of 19th-century Britain, and a key figure in liberalism. His life was legendary. Under the strict tutelage of his father, James Mill, he began learning Greek at three and tackled Latin and algebra at eight, becoming exceptionally well-read by his youth. However, this intense, cramming style of education led to a severe mental crisis at the age of 20, where he felt a complete loss of purpose and meaning in life. It was this crisis that prompted him to reflect upon and reconstruct his own philosophy of life.

核心思想：高级快乐与个体自由 / Core Ideas: Higher Pleasures and Individual Liberty

密尔最为人熟知的思想之一，是他对功利主义的修正。传统的功利主义认为，幸福就是追求快乐、避免痛苦。但密尔在精神危机后意识到，快乐是有“质”的区别的。他提出了著名的论断：“做一个不满足的人，胜过做一只满足的猪；做一个不满足的苏格拉底，胜过做一个满足的傻瓜。”（It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied.）他认为，理智、情感、想象力和道德情操等“高级官能”带来的快乐，虽然更难获得，但其价值远高于纯粹的感官满足。

One of Mill's most well-known ideas is his revision of utilitarianism. Traditional utilitarianism holds that happiness is the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain. But after his mental crisis, Mill realized that there are qualitative differences in pleasure. He famously argued, "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied." He believed that the pleasures derived from "higher faculties"—such as intellect, feeling, imagination, and moral sentiments—are far more valuable than purely sensual satisfaction, even though they are harder to achieve.

此外，密尔在《论自由》一书中极力捍卫个体自由。他主张，只要个人的行为不伤害他人，社会和政府就无权干涉。他认为，思想自由、言论自由和个性的自由发展，是社会进步的根本动力，也是个人实现真正幸福的必要条件。一个充满活力的社会，必然是允许多元观点和生活方式共存的社会。

Furthermore, in his book On Liberty, Mill passionately defended individual freedom. He argued that society and government have no right to interfere with an individual's actions as long as they do not harm others. He believed that freedom of thought, freedom of speech, and the free development of individuality are the fundamental drivers of social progress and necessary conditions for an individual's true happiness. A vibrant society is one that allows for the coexistence of diverse viewpoints and lifestyles.

对中年人的意义 / Significance for the Middle-Aged

密尔的思想对步入中年的我们极具启发意义。人到中年，我们常常会审视自己的人生：物质生活或许已经丰足，但内心是否真正感到满足和幸福？密尔提醒我们，不要沉溺于安逸的“低级快乐”，而去追求能提升我们精神世界的“高级快乐”——比如深度阅读、学习新知、艺术欣赏、参与公共事务，或是在亲密关系中投入真挚的情感。这种对生命质量的追求，能帮助我们抵御中年的空虚和迷茫。同时，他对于个体自由的强调，也鼓励我们在家庭、职场和社会角色的重压之下，勇敢地去探索和发展自己的个性，活出真实的自我，而不是成为他人期望的模样。

Mill's philosophy is profoundly enlightening for those of us entering middle age. At this stage of life, we often examine our lives: our material needs may be met, but do we feel genuinely fulfilled and happy? Mill reminds us not to indulge in the comfortable "lower pleasures" but to pursue the "higher pleasures" that elevate our spiritual world—such as deep reading, learning new things, appreciating art, engaging in public affairs, or investing sincere emotion in our relationships. This pursuit of life quality can help us combat the emptiness and confusion of midlife. At the same time, his emphasis on individual liberty encourages us, under the heavy weight of family, career, and social roles, to bravely explore and develop our own individuality and live out our true selves, rather than becoming what others expect us to be.

关键词 / Keywords: 约翰·斯图尔特·密尔, 功利主义, 论自由, 高级快乐, 个体发展, 中年危机, 人生意义, 哲学思想 / John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism, On Liberty, higher pleasures, individual development, midlife crisis, meaning of life, philosophical thought.

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