Although Marx realizes that men are the creators of their own ideas and thoughts, he also presumes that these ideas have in some way been implemented or supplemented by society, and keeping in terms with society's norms. Marx emphasizes that, "men are the producers of their conceptions, ideas, etc. - real, active men, as they are conditioned by a definite development of their productive forces and of the intercourse of corresponding to these, up to its furthest forms." (Porter/Marx, p565) Therefore, Marx is stating that how a person perceives and feels about ideas has already been formed and manipulated by society. .
The role of the individual in the construction of society is a point of argument for Mill and Marx. Mill feels that the individual is paramount. "If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." (Porter/Mill, p512) If the group opinion is not right, they are deprived of substituting the truth and correcting the erroneous decision. Minority opinion is wrong; they loose a greater benefit because the validation of the truth is gone, because not all opinions have been considered. The individual's feelings and thoughts are vital to Mill, as Mill feels that it is the individuals who form society. Marx however, feels that society forms the individual. Marx is of the opinion that in the capitalist regime, materialism takes over the role of the individual in society. "As individuals express their life, so they are. What they are, therefore, coincides with their production, both with what they produce and with how they produce." (Porter/Marx, 558) People are what they produce. People who own the means of production own the product. People feel like they have accomplished something when they actually have a solid product, and have something to show for their labor.
