Date of Award

5-1-2014

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Philosophy

First Advisor

Alexander, Thomas

Abstract

This thesis is a reading of the role of the individual in the social philosophies of Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Dewey. It seeks to reconstruct both philosophers as putting forth a philosophy of social individualism by putting the two in conversation with one another through the method of Hegelian dialectic. The line of influence from Emerson to Dewey is touched upon, and some time is spent comparing the two scholars in terms of how their philosophies are unique reactions to their experience of America and as Americans. A large part of the thesis is spent in defense of Emerson from contemporary readings that are found to not fully address the complexity of the philosopher, especially how he was reacting to his particular cultural situation.

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This thesis is only available for download to the SIUC community. Current SIUC affiliates may also access this paper off campus by searching Dissertations & Theses @ Southern Illinois University Carbondale from ProQuest. Others should contact the interlibrary loan department of your local library or contact ProQuest's Dissertation Express service.