J.S. Mill and Karl Marx

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes the theories of Mill and Marx in terms of comparing Mill's utilitarianism and Marx's socialism. The paper compares two themes where they have similar ideas: the welfare of the individual as having greater value in the modern-capitalist society and the achievement of ethical freedom. The paper also looks at themes where they have differing ideas: individualism versus socialism and the right to property versus the equal distribution of property in society.

Outline:
Introduction
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 3
Theme 4
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"John Stuart Mill was known for his development of the utilitarian movement, wherein capitalism is said to be the resulting effect of this phenomenon that occurred in the modern period. Under Utilitarianism, Mill promoted the idea of assuming individualism in pursuit of happiness, resulting to the concept of rationalism that gave birth to capitalism. Karl Marx, meanwhile, was synonymously identified wit the socialist movement in the midst of a rapidly-individualizing nature of human society under the capitalist economy. Under the socialist, specifically Communist, movement, Marx promoted the idea of achieving an ideal, egalitarian society through the dominant emergence of a proletariat class, occurring after a social revolution."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barnett, V. (2005). "The Soviet economy--an experiment that was bound to fail?" History Review.
• Brennan, J. (2005). "Choice and excellence: a defense of Millian individualism." Social Theory and Practice, Vol. 31, No. 4.
• Lovell, D. (2004). "Marx's utopian legacy." The European Legacy, Vol. 9, No. 5.
• Marx, K. E-text of "The Communist Manifesto." Project Gutenberg E-texts.
• Mill, J. S. E-text of "On Liberty." Available at: http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/m/m645o/m645o.zip.

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