freedom of thought
A fixed legal and philosophical term referring to the right to hold personal beliefs without interference.
The constitution guarantees freedom of thought.
Refers to freedom of expression, which is the outward communication of ideas, while 思想の自由 is the inner freedom to hold beliefs.
Specifically freedom of religion, a subset of freedom of thought.
A compound of 思想 (thought) + の (possessive particle) + 自由 (freedom). The phrase is a direct translation of the Western concept 'freedom of thought' and became common in legal and philosophical contexts during the modernization of Japan.