Personal Freedom and Independence: The Works of Benjamin Franklin and H

Personal Freedom and Independence in the Works of gum benzoin Franklin and atomic number 1 ThoreauIt is an undisputable fact that the contribution of such prominent philosophers, writers, policy-making and social activists as gum benzoin Franklin and hydrogen David Thoreau in developing American statehood is tremendous. The literary works of some(prenominal) men can serve as a manifesto of national and personal liberation, a call for grammatical construction a better society, where each citizen can live and work freely. Indeed, both Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasize the independence and independence of an individual, but they do so in significantly different ways. These differences can be cogitate to their different worldview, life positions, philosophies, or interests. Nevertheless, this fact cannot detract from the obvious uniqueness and importance of Thoreaus and Franklins literary heritage. Benjamin Franklins aim of Independence and Freedom of Individual Benjamin Franklin was a scholar and lexicographer, a representative of the American Enlightenment, ideologist of the national liberation movement. It should be noteworthy that Franklin was one of the most active participants of the struggle of American people for independence. He condemned slavery and ardently defended the rights of American national minorities.The basis of political views of Benjamin Franklin is the concept of the natural and inalienable rights of an individual. Franklin attributes life, liberty, and property to such natural rights. correspond to Benjamin Franklin, a man is simply a tool-making animal, a creature, whose freedom and, thus, independence is limited (Houston 45). In his Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, pleasure and Pain, Benjamin Franklin put the statement that every... ...y, considering citizenship and working for the benefit of society, while Henry Thoreau emphasizes the illusory nature and imperfection of the state and sees individual fre edom in unity with nature and rejection of pseudo-needs enslaving people. Works CitedFranklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. impertinently York and Cincinnati American Book Company, 1896. Web. 5 June 2012.Houston, Alan. Franklin The Autobiography and other Writings on Politics, Economics, and Virtue. new-sprung(prenominal) York Cambridge UP, 2008. Print.Wolf, Abraham. History of Science, Technology, and Philosophy in the Eighteenth Century. New York MacMillan Press, 1968. Web. 5 June 2012. Thoreau, Henry David. Walden A Fully Annotated Edition. New Heaven Yale UP, 2004. Print. Myerson, Joel. The Cambridge Companion to Henry David Thoreau. New York Cambridge UP, 1995. Print.