The Life of Samuel Johnson

As a committed Tory, Johnson believes that social order depends on the existence of a clear hierarchy in society, with distinct social classes, which Johnson terms “subordination.” For Johnson, these social ranks are fixed and part of the just order of things; any “deviation from rank” (601) is a “perversion” that should be punished. His social philosophy is thus opposed to democracy and egalitarianism of the sort proposed by the American independence movement.

Johnson argues that inequality in society leads to happiness, because society can only improve when some people work for others, rather than when everybody is on the same level. Total inequality would result in a “brutish” existence defined by mere “animal pleasure” (313). Further, Johnson insists that high-born people have a higher sense of morality as well; those who are socially underprivileged are generally “grossly ignorant, and [think] viciousness fashionable” (996).

Johnson argues that his motives for holding these views are pure and disinterested, since he himself is not from privileged circumstances (and indeed was poor during part of his life). As Johnson sees it, he has no particular personal stake in arguing for this side.

However, Johnson’s views on inequality in general contrast with his argument for the wrongness of slavery.