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Personification
Definition of Setting
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis—Historical Context:
“Utilitarianism” is a work of nonfiction that is not set in any particular time in place. Like many other philosophers of his day, Mill is primarily interested in outlining ethical principles he believes are universal and that therefore apply anywhere, at any time. Therefore, he is careful not to embed his argument too closely in a specific social or historical setting. Still, Mill’s essay is in many ways shaped by its historical context, as Mill responds to several key philosophical, cultural, and political developments of the mid-19th century, a time of profound social transformation across Europe and the world. This period marked the peak of the Industrial Revolution and saw major shifts in social structures and norms, prompting a reexamination of traditional Christian moral values.
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