The And American Culture Facing The Other Ethical...

Individuality in American Articles Horizons in Theory and American Culture : Facing the Other : Ethical Disruption and the American Mind by Linda Bolton, published in March 2010. The old, classic, unforgotten articles have a lot to say about freedom and individuality, some through the stories of others. These ideas from long ago explain how our country runs today. The author’s thesis is to reflect ethical dialogues that revisit six important moments in the archive of American letters, as well as interrogate existing articles and it’s interpretations to inform our culture of American history. She bases her book on the idea that the most crucial concerns of ideals in the United States starts and concludes with individuality. Letters from†¦show more content†¦Author Bolton’s intent here is to suggest the ways in which Letters expects a move in nineteenth century philosophy that communicates individuality through the representation of property, because it initiates the basis of freedom. In Letter II, James confesses a â€Å"happiness† that is directly tied to his â€Å"new situation: as the American Farmer, â€Å"possessing freedom of action, freedom of thoughts.† The â€Å"philosophy† of Farmer James is specifically linked to the recollection of a â€Å"system of rational laws founded on freedom.† In the aftermath of his encounter with the African in the tree, Farmer James discovers that freedom is a philosophy of power, dependent on the relent of difference to the rule of individual freedom. The next article the author interprets is Common Sense, written by Thomas Paine in 1776. It s arguments in the name of independence and it s bold criticism of the tyranny of government were remarkable elements of Thomas Paine s radicalism. In Paine s item, he says that the government, rather than property, is where human beings suffer the loss of equality. He states, If the establishment of government-particularly a monarchy-disrupts human equality as the original order of aceration, it represents an unequivocal sin against the scriptural command of God... In contrary, at no point does Paine question the freedom or humanity of an African. He demands that even through the violence of slavery, enslaved Africans still holds proper