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act reading 2
In the following essay, the author discusses the connection between thought and feeling in the political theory of John Stuart Mill, a 19th century British social thinker, known as a proponent of the philosophy of utilitarianism.
“Thought and feeling in their lower degrees antagonize, in their higher harmonize. Much thought and little feeling make a mental voluptuary who wastes life in intellectual exercise for its own sake. Much feeling and little thought are the common material of a bigot and fanatic. Much feeling and much thought make the hero or heroine.” --John Stuart Mill
The content of John Stuart Mill’s social thought can be seen as a dialectic of thought and feeling dedicated to the fulfillment of the potential of human nature, a fulfillment which constitutes the improvement of humanity. Committed to the lamp of reason always, Mill came to realize that feeling or emotional commitment is equally essential to the cultivation of character, which for Mill was the crux of social improvement.
In his utilitarianism, Mill’s aim was to a great extent the combining of reason in all matters with deep, sustaining, and lasting sources of human feeling. The full moral and intellectual development of individuals, which constitutes the crux of Mill’s utilitarianism, is to be found in the realization of people’s capacities for thought and feeling.
The liberal, utilitarian society is one whose members develop their thought and feeling as far as possible, and who thereby approach the “heroes” and “heroines” of much thought and feeling. Such a society is Mill’s goal, and the sum of his work on this subject defines that goal and elaborates the conditions for its achievement.
In his concern for the means to this goal, Mill recognizes in his mature thought that there are no guarantees to human development, because for this development to be successful, it must be free and autonomous. Furthermore, there needs to be, for the preservation of social order, some provision for the guidance of society by the wise, those presumably of the most developed hearts and minds. As Mill warns, they are not to be hero-worshipped or slavishly followed (Mill’s reference to heroes and heroines is not be misunderstood in this regard), they are merely to be allowed “the freedom to point out the way,” as Mill put it.
This passage is pretty dense. Trying to read the whole thing could lead to confusion, loss of focus, repetition—in short, waste of time.
Try reading less, as we suggested. For example: read the first paragraph (including the italicized introduction), first sentence of every sentence after that, and the final sentence.
The introductory paragraph is quite simple and lets us know we’ll be reading about the connection between thought and feeling in some philosopher’s social thought.
The first and last sentence of the quote by Mill lets us know he thinks that “much feeling and much thought” are ideal.
The first sentence of the next paragraph (paragraph 1 of the body of the essay) reinforces the last point, adding that it is the path to human improvement.
Paragraph 2’s first sentence again reinforces the main point.
Paragraph 3’s first sentence defines the best society as a liberal, utilitarian one
The last paragraph’s first sentence states that people need to develop in a free society. The last sentence of the paragraph says that “wise” people need to be free to lead.
That wasn’t difficult, was it? Basically, we cut the essay down to size and came up with the main and supporting ideas.
You can sum up this essay pretty much in one sentence: the best society is one whose people who are free to develop their minds and hearts.
That’s all you need to know to get started on the questions. You can always go back to the passage to find details you need.
In fact, you’d probably be amazed how many questions you can answer WITHOUT going back!
CLICK HERE to try some questions on this passage.
