In the first three chapters, I examine first Locke’s, then Mill’s then Dewey’s theory of human nature, justice and individualism. I examine each thinker’s concrete conditions, their theory of human nature, theory of justice and their corresponding theory of individualism. With their view of individualism, each thinker criticizes the activities of their day for its lack of justice to human nature for the bulk of humanity. Based upon each thinker’s conception of human nature, their corresponding theory of individualism does justice to that nature. I argue that each theorist modifies the theory of individualism to best suit their understanding of human nature, adapting it where they can and outright removing aspects where they cannot. This thesis traces versions of the theory of individualism by three major theorists, John Locke, John Stuart Mill and John Dewey, as they criticize existing social, cultural, economic, legal and military conditions of their times. Its history falls into three phases: the formative phase, the 16 th through the 19 th centuries the great crisis, from 1914 to 1953 and the period of triumph and growing pains, from 1950 to 2000 We will see that this tradition rests on multiple key values that are often in tension. Our unifying thread will be the history of liberal republicanism, or “democracy,” the society in which the people are sovereign, and its major competitors. We will explore the roots of modern democracy the arguments for and against capitalism, liberalism, conservatism, nationalism, anarchism, and communism issues of economic justice and the proper function of government warfare and ethics and such recent movements as feminism, multiculturalism, postmodernism, and environmentalism.

This course will help us navigate the labyrinth, tracing modern Western political and social thought from the 16 th century to the end of the 20 th. And yet the great political ideas-freedom, equality, justice, rights, the common good-have been used in so many different ways as to be deeply confusing.

Its major competitor in the 20 th century was designed by another philosopher, Karl Marx. A moral philosopher, Adam Smith, formulated the “invisible hand” that has guided our economic lives. Philosophers from Locke to Montesquieu to Jefferson essentially designed the modern democratic state. He power and danger of great political ideas cannot be overestimated.

Psychological hedonism