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JOHN MILTONS REPUBLICAN THOUGHT
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to show Milton's republican vision and the purpose for which republican system was to serve. According to John Milton the Christian alternative to monarchy was to be a free Commonwealth; no other system could free people from the state of slavery in which they were supposed to live, neither could it better secure their freedoms. The republican vision of political order was most precisely delineated in his treaty The Readie and Easie Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth (1660). Milton belonged to English republicans of the first half of the 17th century who combined antic republicanism with modern science of natural law and natural rights resulting from it. Therefore he is considered as a liberal republican. Milton referred to individualism and egalitarianism treating these values both as Christian heritage and rights resulting from birth (birthright). He insisted, that task of prime importance of government was to be defence of natural rights of the governed, above all, freedom.
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References8
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