1.What does Kant mean by “Freedom”
-By freedom he means that when men become mature, they are free of what others were telling them to think, or know, because before they were not truely allowed to them think for themselves. Having freedom means to have your own opinions on matters, or your own personal morals and values, and being able to express them to others without fear.
2.Why does Kant feel “freedom” is so central to the Enlightenment?
-Without this freedom of speech, some would never be enlightened to think a different way or use their reasoning skills. In other words, people would not have heard of these new ideas had there been no freedom; therefore the Age of Enlightenment would not have existed.
3.How do people become enlightened and what is the appropriate environment to accomplish this?
-People become enlightened when they hear or read something that makes them think in a different way. The most appropriate place for this to be accomplished would be somewhere
in which people are supporting things that would make a society better, rather than making everyone believe in something that could potentially ruin a civilization.
4.How does Kant relate enlightenment and politics?
-He wrote about how a politcal leader/ruler could be enlightened by his subjects if he lets them debate publically. If this were to occur, then the official could possibly take the citizens criticism and opinions, and apply them; ultimately creating a better government and nation.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Vocabulay 2
The Enlightenment is a period of time where people's original way of thinking is altered, or changed. Also, a time when the study of science, astronomy, and philosophy mesh together in order change societies approach to life, religion, and/or government.
The Scientific Revolution (Age of Reason) changed European's view on the world. The fathers of this revolution showed society the importance of human reason. It brought about ideas of natural law (rules made possibel by reason), social contract (deal by which people gave up their freedom for an organized society), and natural rights (rights intitled to someone at birth).
Copernicus was a Polish astronomer and mathematician. He also was the first to disprove that the universe did not revolve around Earth. He then discovered that the universe orbits around the sun (heliocentric). The Catholic Church rejected his heliocentric idea ;nevertheless, it was the start of a change in the way the world was viewed, and Copernicus became one of the fathers of the Scientific Revolution.
John Locke was a British philosopher. He believed the majority of people were rational and ethical. He came up with the idea of natural rights (see Scientific Revolution def.), in which included the right to life, liberty, and property. He was concerned one of the most influencial philosopher of the Enlightenment. He wrote many essays supported the rights of life and human understanding.
Montesquieu was a English philosopher. He believed everything was made of unchangeable laws and rules. He evaluated these laws scientifically in order to better understand their importance in society. he thought the best working government would be one that was divided equally between three groups of officials. Those three groups of officials would soon be known as the three branches of the American Government (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative). He also created the concept of checks and balances, in which guarentees that no one branch becomes too powerful.
Jean Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher from Switzerland. He created the ideas of social contract (see Scientific revolution def.) and sovereignty (supreme authority within a territory). he thought a civilization was made of corrupted people. He believe that a "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in shackles."
Voltaire was a French philosopher. He studied law, but quit in order to write. He was sent to Bastille (prison) twice because of his comments. He spoke out against established religious and political systems and took intrest in any cases of injustice (religious prejudice). Thought up the idea of separation of church and state (religious freedom). He was a very sarcastic man, who gave criticism and expressing his own opinion by making fun of people and ideas. He didn't take himself too seriously.
Thomas Paine was an English philosopher who wrote the famous book Common Sense. He supported the voice of the common man and one of the first to say that Britian should not rule America because they are selfish and they are not the only country occupying the land. He committed himself to striving toward American independence. He also advised an instant declaration of independence and the organization of a republican constitution.
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who wrote the book Leviathan. He had a very negative view on people. He believed people were selfish and as long as power is availiable, people are always going to desire that power. According to Hobbes, government soul purpose is protect people from their own selfishness and evil. He thought a short, strong government should control people.
Common Sense was a book written by Thomas Paine. It was published in 1776, and challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. Thomas Paine used a language in which the common people of America could understand and it was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.
The Scientific Revolution (Age of Reason) changed European's view on the world. The fathers of this revolution showed society the importance of human reason. It brought about ideas of natural law (rules made possibel by reason), social contract (deal by which people gave up their freedom for an organized society), and natural rights (rights intitled to someone at birth).
Copernicus was a Polish astronomer and mathematician. He also was the first to disprove that the universe did not revolve around Earth. He then discovered that the universe orbits around the sun (heliocentric). The Catholic Church rejected his heliocentric idea ;nevertheless, it was the start of a change in the way the world was viewed, and Copernicus became one of the fathers of the Scientific Revolution.
John Locke was a British philosopher. He believed the majority of people were rational and ethical. He came up with the idea of natural rights (see Scientific Revolution def.), in which included the right to life, liberty, and property. He was concerned one of the most influencial philosopher of the Enlightenment. He wrote many essays supported the rights of life and human understanding.
Montesquieu was a English philosopher. He believed everything was made of unchangeable laws and rules. He evaluated these laws scientifically in order to better understand their importance in society. he thought the best working government would be one that was divided equally between three groups of officials. Those three groups of officials would soon be known as the three branches of the American Government (Executive, Judicial, and Legislative). He also created the concept of checks and balances, in which guarentees that no one branch becomes too powerful.
Jean Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher from Switzerland. He created the ideas of social contract (see Scientific revolution def.) and sovereignty (supreme authority within a territory). he thought a civilization was made of corrupted people. He believe that a "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in shackles."
Voltaire was a French philosopher. He studied law, but quit in order to write. He was sent to Bastille (prison) twice because of his comments. He spoke out against established religious and political systems and took intrest in any cases of injustice (religious prejudice). Thought up the idea of separation of church and state (religious freedom). He was a very sarcastic man, who gave criticism and expressing his own opinion by making fun of people and ideas. He didn't take himself too seriously.
Thomas Paine was an English philosopher who wrote the famous book Common Sense. He supported the voice of the common man and one of the first to say that Britian should not rule America because they are selfish and they are not the only country occupying the land. He committed himself to striving toward American independence. He also advised an instant declaration of independence and the organization of a republican constitution.
Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher who wrote the book Leviathan. He had a very negative view on people. He believed people were selfish and as long as power is availiable, people are always going to desire that power. According to Hobbes, government soul purpose is protect people from their own selfishness and evil. He thought a short, strong government should control people.
Common Sense was a book written by Thomas Paine. It was published in 1776, and challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. Thomas Paine used a language in which the common people of America could understand and it was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Offices of the Roman Republic
The Consul positon in ancient Rome has many similarities and differences compared to our American President today. One major difference would be that the Consul was made of two men, but we only have one president. One similarity would be that the Consul and our president both have power over their military. However, the Consul had complete control of their army, whereas, our president has the majority of the power, but he is not completely in charge of the troops. In order to lead their army into war, the Consul had to read auguries (books on signs and omens) and our president has to be educated on war strategies, so in a way they both had to learn how to fight and lead a war. The age in which the Consul must be in order to be elected is around the same age someone needs to be, to be president. Although sometimes the rules were broken and a person who was not the correct age was elected. This would never be allowed in our presidential campaigns.
The Quaestors and Aedile were very similar to our local detectives and public police. Although policemen don't usually hold public festivals like the Aediles, they do enforce public order and regulate public festivals. In other words, our police is not in charge of public events, but they do supervise them. The Quaestors and local detectives both investigate criminal acts. When it comes to the money, Quaestors are more like our treasurers because they both supervise the treasury.
There are two major differences between the American and Roman Senate. One, all of the Roman Senate meetings had to end by nightfall, whereas American Senate meetings have an unlimited amount of time. Two, in the Roman Senate the votes were casted by raising of hands, or dividing the room, whereas the American Senate votes with ballots.
The Quaestors and Aedile were very similar to our local detectives and public police. Although policemen don't usually hold public festivals like the Aediles, they do enforce public order and regulate public festivals. In other words, our police is not in charge of public events, but they do supervise them. The Quaestors and local detectives both investigate criminal acts. When it comes to the money, Quaestors are more like our treasurers because they both supervise the treasury.
There are two major differences between the American and Roman Senate. One, all of the Roman Senate meetings had to end by nightfall, whereas American Senate meetings have an unlimited amount of time. Two, in the Roman Senate the votes were casted by raising of hands, or dividing the room, whereas the American Senate votes with ballots.
Vocabulary
Polises were ancient Greek city-states ruled by their citzens. They all were Greek and had different opinions therefore creating issues and problems which then influenced Plato and Aristotle to write there philosophies on government.
Homer is known to be the author of the two earliest existing poems from ancient Greece (the Iliad and the Odyssey). The ancient Greeks referred to him as the “holy poet” because he created a whole new view on mankind that was entertaining and somewhat realistic to what was happening at that time.
Iliad & The Odyssey were two epic poems written by Homer that were mildly ironic. These poems are important because they show us what the ancient Greeks believed in and their overall morals and values.
Pericles was a general and politician in ancient Athens. He believed that the Assembly was not good enough and that there was not a sufficient amount of people participating in the meetings. Therefore, he created radical democracy, in which they pay politicians using taxes.
The Persian War started when Xerxes came to power, in which the Persians launched a retaliatory mission against Athens. Themistocles prepared the Athenians for war by suggesting a navy-building project. In fact, he convinced the Athenians to invest the profits from a newly discovered silver mine into this project. Sparta, Corinth, and Athens lead the thirty-one city-states that decided to fight in the war against the Persians. Sparta was made leader of all land and sea operations. In the end, Sparta's king (Pausanias) lead the battle of Plataea, and their army retreated back to Persia.
The Peloponnesian War was an ancient Greek war, fought by Athens and its empire against the Spartans and their Peloponnesian League. The conflicts started when Sparta started attaching Attica and Athens used their naval advantages to raid the coast of the Peloponnese. A treaty was soon signed, but then broken by Sparta, and Peloponnesian League, when they ambush Athens. The war came to an end when the Athenian naval fleet was destroyed. The war changed ancient Greece in many ways. For example the struggle between Athen's idea of democracy and Sparta's idea of Oligarchy made civil war common in the Greek society
The Centuriate Assembly was composed of citizens only. Status was very important in this assembly. The more money, armor, land, etc that you had, the more your vote counted. There were 98 wealthy groups and 95 poor (rigged toward wealthy) and about 193 people in all. The wealthy were known as the Patricians and the poor were the Plebeians. These groups were called centuries and each had one vote. The senate ruled above everyone.
Conflict of the Orders started when the poor (Plebeians) decided to go on strike by refusing to fight in wars, or be in the military. This strike lasted for about 200 years, but luckily Rome was not invaded during that time. The Patricians finally gave in and the Plebeians gained quite a bit. For example, the wealthy and poor were mixed because the groups were divided according to what region you lived in. Plebeians were also given the opportunity to run for office and intermarry.
Tribal Assembly was established after the Patricians decided to give the Plebeians fair voting rights. They did this by dividing up the centuries according to what region you lived in; therefore, mixing the poor with the rich. This made voting more accurate and just.
A Patrician was a member of an important, or wealthy, family in ancient Rome. They controlled most of the voting rights and government before the Plebeians boycotted the military. They were well educated, aristocratic people who were usually significant officals.
The Plebeians were known as the common people, or the poor. They were the lower class citizens in ancient Rome and were often the ones fighting in the war (huge part of the military). They gained reasonable voting rights when they rejected their military duties for about 200 years. They also were allowed to run for office.
A Senator was a powerful Roman citizen who helped make laws and control the city. Senators were elected to do different jobs in the senate. They were extremely wealthy and owned the finest of clothing. Senators also had a right to the best seating at public displays next to members of the Priesthood, the Vestals, and the ruling King, Consuls or Emperor and entourage. To be in the Senate you first had to serve as a magistrate. Once elected to a magistracy, membership in the Senate was for life, although censors sometimes tried to take senator's immorality.
The Consul were two men elected by the Comitia centuriata. They were only allowed to be in power for one year in order to prevent corruption. They were the head of the Senate, controlled the Roman army, and had the highest juridical power in the Roman empire. One had to be at least 43 years old to become consul.
Homer is known to be the author of the two earliest existing poems from ancient Greece (the Iliad and the Odyssey). The ancient Greeks referred to him as the “holy poet” because he created a whole new view on mankind that was entertaining and somewhat realistic to what was happening at that time.
Iliad & The Odyssey were two epic poems written by Homer that were mildly ironic. These poems are important because they show us what the ancient Greeks believed in and their overall morals and values.
Pericles was a general and politician in ancient Athens. He believed that the Assembly was not good enough and that there was not a sufficient amount of people participating in the meetings. Therefore, he created radical democracy, in which they pay politicians using taxes.
The Persian War started when Xerxes came to power, in which the Persians launched a retaliatory mission against Athens. Themistocles prepared the Athenians for war by suggesting a navy-building project. In fact, he convinced the Athenians to invest the profits from a newly discovered silver mine into this project. Sparta, Corinth, and Athens lead the thirty-one city-states that decided to fight in the war against the Persians. Sparta was made leader of all land and sea operations. In the end, Sparta's king (Pausanias) lead the battle of Plataea, and their army retreated back to Persia.
The Peloponnesian War was an ancient Greek war, fought by Athens and its empire against the Spartans and their Peloponnesian League. The conflicts started when Sparta started attaching Attica and Athens used their naval advantages to raid the coast of the Peloponnese. A treaty was soon signed, but then broken by Sparta, and Peloponnesian League, when they ambush Athens. The war came to an end when the Athenian naval fleet was destroyed. The war changed ancient Greece in many ways. For example the struggle between Athen's idea of democracy and Sparta's idea of Oligarchy made civil war common in the Greek society
The Centuriate Assembly was composed of citizens only. Status was very important in this assembly. The more money, armor, land, etc that you had, the more your vote counted. There were 98 wealthy groups and 95 poor (rigged toward wealthy) and about 193 people in all. The wealthy were known as the Patricians and the poor were the Plebeians. These groups were called centuries and each had one vote. The senate ruled above everyone.
Conflict of the Orders started when the poor (Plebeians) decided to go on strike by refusing to fight in wars, or be in the military. This strike lasted for about 200 years, but luckily Rome was not invaded during that time. The Patricians finally gave in and the Plebeians gained quite a bit. For example, the wealthy and poor were mixed because the groups were divided according to what region you lived in. Plebeians were also given the opportunity to run for office and intermarry.
Tribal Assembly was established after the Patricians decided to give the Plebeians fair voting rights. They did this by dividing up the centuries according to what region you lived in; therefore, mixing the poor with the rich. This made voting more accurate and just.
A Patrician was a member of an important, or wealthy, family in ancient Rome. They controlled most of the voting rights and government before the Plebeians boycotted the military. They were well educated, aristocratic people who were usually significant officals.
The Plebeians were known as the common people, or the poor. They were the lower class citizens in ancient Rome and were often the ones fighting in the war (huge part of the military). They gained reasonable voting rights when they rejected their military duties for about 200 years. They also were allowed to run for office.
A Senator was a powerful Roman citizen who helped make laws and control the city. Senators were elected to do different jobs in the senate. They were extremely wealthy and owned the finest of clothing. Senators also had a right to the best seating at public displays next to members of the Priesthood, the Vestals, and the ruling King, Consuls or Emperor and entourage. To be in the Senate you first had to serve as a magistrate. Once elected to a magistracy, membership in the Senate was for life, although censors sometimes tried to take senator's immorality.
The Consul were two men elected by the Comitia centuriata. They were only allowed to be in power for one year in order to prevent corruption. They were the head of the Senate, controlled the Roman army, and had the highest juridical power in the Roman empire. One had to be at least 43 years old to become consul.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Plato and Aristotle Notes
- Plato was Aristotle's teacher
- Socrates was Plato's teacher
- 428-374 BCE - Plato
- came from aristocrat family wealthy, educated
- born in Athens (known for intelligence)
- Present at teacher's exitcution (399) had taught Plato for 20yrs
- traveled in Egypt, started a school in Athens called the Academy
- spent rest of life teaching
- wrote dialoges on how people should think (effective filter) and that it defines you
- The Republic - book he wrote
- famous theories (Atlantis) came up w/ the first idea of hell (reason)
- Think on your own; understand your thoughts
- life and people = people living in a cave live is stuck in the cave and refuseto believe there is more to life (thinking outside the box)
- Body - spirit, desire, rational (harmony =justice in the head)
- 2 low classes ruled by an upper class because they are well educated
- commander or ruler stripped of personal properties
- Physical and mentalphysical
- 387-322 BCE - Aristotle
- More of a scientist/ father was a doctor of royal family
- At 17 he moved to Athens and studied at the Academy for 20 yrs
- forced out of Athens /greece taken over by king Phillip (macedonian)
- went to Asia Minor and knew King Hermious and married his niece
- moved to Pelia to be king Phillip's advisor
- Aristotle was Alexander the Great's tutor
- went back to Athens and stated his own school callled the Lyceum/ walking school, talk and share thoughts casually
- Macedonians treated people badly looked down upon
- believed you have to work and develop tools and work to achieve anything
- wrote books on science, math, and zoology
- music and proverbs
- came up w/ why humans ere here (purpose of life)
- original idea that the univers revolves around Earth
- created the idea of elements of the earth (fire, water, and earth)
- believed a ruler should be a little corrupted and rough
- worked w/ pathagorus and worked w/ phycology(soul)
- believed our soul was our diving compass
Plato and Aristotle had some opposing opinions on government. For example, Plato believed in a perfected, well-educated ruler, whereas Aristotle thought a ruler should be a little off balanced and not so perfect. One reason why these two thought differently was because they were brought up in different societies. Plato came from a wealty, articratic, and intelligent society, however, Aristotle came from a middle class society. Because Plato came from such an intelligent place, his opinion about a ruler stems off from where he comes from. Aristotle came from an average family and therefore requires an average ruler and knows there is no such thing as a perfect king.
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