Ralph Waldo Emerson And John Stuart Mill's Definition Of Individualism

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The United States of America was founded on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This ability to have the opportunity to peruse our own personal liberty and happiness is what separates democracy from socialism. The term liberty is questioned by many scholars such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Stuart Mill. While the term liberty is questioned, another term that is discussed is individualism. While Mill perspective is more reasonable and practical in a civilized society, Emerson’s perspective on individualism and the self-worth gives the individual more freedom and this is why his viewpoint remains supreme in his work known as Self- Reliance. Mill believed in the idea of utilitarianism and also defined utilitarianism is a theory that uses …show more content…

Mill’s definition of liberty can be broken down into three sub-categories. Mill breaks down these categories into the ability to join like-minded individuals, thought, and taste. While Mill’s definition of liberty is more logical than Emerson, Emerson disaccredit Mill’s definition of liberty within the text of Self- Reliance. Emerson states that “To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true from all men, -- that is genius” (1). This perspective on liberty is important due to the fact that every individual has the ability to believe in whatever they deem acceptable, yet this signifies are inner working between men versus his inner thought. Also, Emerson makes a comparison to society like a joint stock company. While the individuals make up the stock company, when it comes to making decisions for the majority, the liberties and rights of the minority become oppressed. So is it acceptable for the minority’s liberties to become limited as long as the majority is pleased with themselves? Mill’s would certainly say so, but Emerson would adamantly

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