Saturday, December 16, 2017

Blog #78 - Aristotle's Ideas on Democracy





Using the article, "Aristotle's Philosophy of Equality, Peace, and Democracy" by Matt Qvortrup (Philosophy Now, October/November 2016), let's examine what Aristotle said about these three topics in his lecture notes, The Politics, and how they still resonate with us today. 

When it comes to equality, Aristotle felt that political leaders have to find ways to keep people happy.  "The truly democratic statesman must study how the multitude may be saved from extreme poverty" (Politics).  The official poverty rate in America in 2015 was 13.5% (for Black Americans it was 24.1% and Latino Americans it was 21.4% and Asian Americans 11.4%).  There are about 19 million people in America living in extreme poverty, making about $10,000 annually for a family of four.  This would be one area where an American President and Congress would start, according to Aristotle.  In order to make sure that everyone was happy, according to Qvortrup, Aristotle advocated "measures... that bring about lasting prosperity for all" and was willing to redistribute the wealth of all:  "The proper course is to collect all the proceeds of the revenue into a fund and ditribute them in lump sums" (Politics).  We do something similar today with our taxes that go for welfare, Social Security, food stamps, Medicaid and Medicare, and other aid programs.  But it sounds like Aristotle advocated something more drastic than what we have today. 

In the second part of the article, Aristotle gives us the key to ending our culture of political violence and terrorism - including minorities and increasing democratic engagement in order to lessen inequality and lower levels of violence.  When we look at civic engagement in America, there has been a recent push by Emily's List to increase the number of women and specifically women of color to run for office in America since November 2016.  When looking at the gender make up of Congress, our highest law making body, it is 80% male, 80% white, and 92% Christian (see charts below).  Aristotle would likely scoff at these numbers and say that things need to change.  But the question remains how? 
Also, the article questions how we deal with terrorism and political violence.  Written from a British point of view (but similar to America's responses), Qvortrup questions whether increased surveillance and military action are the best ways to deal with domestic or international terrorism. 

In the last section of the article on constitutional democracy, Qvortrup stated that Aristotle made a massive study of constitutions, but only his study of Athens' constitution is the one that survives.  He found that balanced constitutions work best, with an enlightened and elected aristocracy (based on "uncommon prudence and intelligence, not wealth") making the laws and the people having a say-so on those laws.  Today, you practically need to be a millionaire to run for national office, or raise hundreds of millions of dollars to compete and possibly win.  A wealthy aristocracy (made up of white Christian men) appears to be running our country.  However, they seem to have listened to their constituents lately when it comes to health care repeal and possibly tax cuts for the rich.  The next issue Americans need to be heard on is net neutrality (here's an article on what it is and why you should care - http://gawker.com/what-is-net-neturality-and-why-should-i-care-the-non-g-1657354551).  Aristotle believed in the wisdom of the crowd and that the more people deliberated over an issue, the better.  I tend to agree with this, that enlightened discourse about a topic is much more effective than just watching commercials about it.  But is this enlightened discourse still possible today? 

Questions for you to answer (answer one from each part for a total of three questions): 
Part A 
1. Should the aim of government be to increase the general happiness of its people - even if this means redistributing peoples' wealth?  Why or why not?
Part B 
2. Should women and people of color be more included in governing bodies at all levels of government?  How do we get more people to run? 
3. Should America change the way it deals with political violence / terrorism from its current ways of increasing surveillance and military action?  Why or why not? 
Part C 
4. Do you trust the wisdom of the crowd to make the right decisions most of the time?  Why or why not? 
5. Is it impossible to have an enlightened discourse in today's age of sound bites and social media and fake news?  Why or why not?


Poverty facts came from https://www.worldhunger.org/hunger-in-america-2016-united-states-hunger-poverty-facts/

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Blog #77 - What in the World is Wrong with Socrates?

We read the articles by Emily Wilson with her alternative take on the life of Socrates. In "What's Wrong with Socrates?"in The Philosophers' Magazine, 2nd Qtr., 2008, she listed 10 things that conflicted with the myth/legend of Socrates that we have grown familiar with.

Among Socrates' perceived transgressions (in Dr. Wilson's eyes), he was:
1. An amateur and prided himself in not getting paid;

2. Irresponsible to leave his wife and two children behind;

3. A chatterbox (talk over action is valued);

4. Psychologically naive - with statements like "nobody does wrong willingly", Wilson tears him apart;

5. Felt that pain didn't matter - if you were good, though wrong/harm was done to you, the real harm is in the sinner or the wrongdoer;

6. Anti-political - he felt that few if any are smart enough to run a government properly, but could he do it? Could anyone? If not, why have gov't in the first place?

7. Parochial - there was little that Socrates believed could be learned outside of the walls of Athens;

8. Arrogant - when Dr. Wilson says arrogant, apparantly she means ill-mannered and inconsiderate among other things listed in the article;

9. Superstitious - sometimes, philosophers mean that someone who is religious is superstitious, but the way she wrote this passage, she made him sound a bit loony (eccentric if you want to put a good spin on it) for listening to the voice inside his head. Is that voice his conscience or was hearing voices like the math professor in A Beautiful Mind?

10. Rationalist - normally, you wouldn't think there's anything wrong with being rational, but Dr. Wilson finds that Socrates puts such a strong emphasis on being rational that he leaves no room for emotion in solving problems. He is devoid of emotion.

So, your job here is to pick 4 of these criticisms and discuss whether or not you agree or disagree with them and explain why for each of them. This would be a good place to refine your ideas about Socrates.

350 words minimum. Due Monday, Dec. 11 by class.  Please post your blog here and not on your blog. 

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Who Am I? Paper

I'm asking you to do a paper about your identity.  If we know who we are, then we can figure out what we believe.

The paper should be a minimum of 1.5 pages, double spaced, 1 inch margins, no bigger than 12 point font.  It's subject is you and who you identify as.

1. Complete the social identity wheel.  Describe which of these social characteristics define you the most, the least, and why.  Don't lose this handout, you will turn it in w/ your paper on Friday, Dec. 8. 

2. Watch the two Crash Course videos on Identity below.  #19 Personal Identity talks about the two theories about identity - body and memory theory.  Which do you feel is more of an accurate reflection of you and why?  #20 Arguments Against Identity discusses the ideas of a fixed identity and one that is a bundle of impressions.  Also, there is a discussion about our identity and the promises, obligations, and responsibilities that we have.  Which of these critical ideas do you most agree with and why?

3.  Describe yourself.  Who are you to your family?  Who are you to your friends?  Who is the hidden you that no one sees?  Also, which do you think has influenced you more - nature or nurture?  Explain why with specific examples.  





Monday, May 15, 2017

If you missed the videos

We watched three videos in this unit, Kant and Categorical Imperative, Romanticism, and Hegel.

See below.

Kant.


Romanticism


Hegel


Enjoy!

Friday, April 21, 2017

Problem of Evil Paper, Rubric, and Crash Course


Here is a link to the Problem of Evil paper - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bjVJU8GBQ0Hb4dLt4tCNICA7Fsrfm76GH7uK8e6wTH0/edit?usp=sharing

Here is a link to the rubric for the paper.  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rv6UQpBcHMrPDm5t1cWVUAUbEJKNud4HOFfJDiP1x6Y/edit?usp=sharing

Here is the episode of Crash Course Philosophy that we watched on Friday.




Paper is due Monday, April 24 by class.

Image result for depictions of evil

Image result for depictions of evil


Image result for depictions of evil 

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Review for Hellenism, Christianity, Renaissance, and Baroque Test

Review for the Hellenism, Christianity, Renaissance, and Baroque Test - Wednesday, April 19 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1allQR65am8hNnzFvCZiehgk3qfLaSx5bKsmMobP9LmY/edit?usp=sharing

Crash Course - Anselm and Ontological Argument for God.



Crash Course - Aquinas and the Cosmological Arguments for God



Crash Course - Intelligent Design / Teleological Argument for God