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December 21, 2005 Meeting Notes
I. Book/Media Discussion –
o Democracy in
An introduction to philosophy in comic book form but with the main points in tact.
o The Federalist Papers, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay,
Published in 1787
This book was written as a series of essays designed to sell the American people on the newly created constitution so it would be ratified by the states. It explains clearly the main points on the constitution, the compromises made and why it is the optimal, if not the ideal, solution.
o The Republic, Plato, written about 500 BC
This is possibly the first Western style philosophical essay on what is the ideal government for a society.
o Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes, Published in 1651
An epic in the annals of Political Philosophy, Leviathan is one of the earliest works to discuss the concept of a social contract between the government and the governed. Hobbes offers many insights though his Shakespearean type language may take some getting used to.
o On
Written in the 19th century, this essay will seem like common sense to most Americans. That is because Mill popularized our notion of the balance of freedom. He argues that people should be allowed to do what they like up to the point where they impact the freedom and rights of others.
o History of Philosophy, Bertrand Russell, Published in 1945
Bertrand Russell is one of the greatest philosophers of the twentieth century. His history is a fascinating and insightful read but be warned, Russell is very opinionated and his judgments need to be read with a grain of salt.
Yes
most of the times but exceptions include:
o Campaign Finance reform which banned religious groups involvement in politics.
o Ban on religious talk in public schools.
o Socially unacceptable comments come at a cost, i.e. being ostracized. For example, racist comments would be immediately rejected by most people and the speaker of such comments rebuked and/or ignored.
o Teacher in public schools are restricted in what they discuss such as religion.
o An employer may take action against an employee who says things the employer does not like such as criticism of the company’s products.
o In one case a student was dismissed from a private school for watching a movie. Watching movies was banned by the school.
o In private, free speech can be exercised more fully but some restrictions or costs still apply.
o Tend to have more freedom on political and commercial subjects.
o Note: Subject of Bush’s wire tapping raised.
o Issue of the separation of church and state came up:
– Founding principles formed within a framework of religion, i.e. assemblies.
– According to De Tocqueville’s “tyranny of the majority”, the majority view should reign yet in the case of religion in the public sector, the minority, i.e. anti religious, seem to be dominating. Freedom of religion or freedom from religion? Why? For example, recent push to eliminate the word Christmas by stores, i.e. holiday trees and saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”/
Basic Issues to Consider
The Problem of Power
- Regardless of the
form of government, power must be turned over from the people to government
officials.
- The problem
of power, avoiding tyranny and protecting civil rights.
Social Contract
– Agreement by the governed to be governed.
– Obligations of the governed.
– Obligations, if any, of the government.
What came first the economic
system or the type of government?
- Can democracy, i.e. republics, be separated from capitalism?
- Can monarchies be separated from agrarian economic systems?
- Does the economic system drive the form of government?
The Rule
of Law – From the Romans to the English to Americans
Problems
with Democracy
(Recommended reading: Democracy in
- American style democracy – Custom made, a unique fit.
- Tyranny of the majority
§ Examples: The monster and the human sacrifice.
§ Two Types:
§ Political
sense – A conservative in MA or a minority group
§ Social Sense – Decision made, end of discussion
i. In the south prior to the 1960’s
– black voter harassment
ii. Rights of Smokers gone, rights of
non smokers in
iii. Politically incorrect statements
iv. Period of discussion = period of
indecision
v. Decision made – Accept the will of
the people, public opinion
1. Resistance
is futile => Ostracized
a. King could
attack your body, republic attacks entire being, the mind
b. Looks, others shun, lose job, ignored by media, like you have the
plague
c. Examples: Racism, women’s
rights, majority rules, equality
- Quality of decision making. Are the masses well educated and
informed enough to make good decisions? How susceptible is the
public to manipulation?
- Policies and laws that follow a well thought out plan versus random
implementation based on how the political forces (voters, special
interest groups, etc.) play out.
- Party politics and gridlock.
- In the
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
Plato’s
The Republic
- The rule of philosopher kings.
- Communistic society.
- Social engineering.
Why not a monarchy? De Tocqueville’s question
considered today.
o Imagining
a monarchy in the
o Many monarchies abused power and the people suffered under them, i.e. Roman Emperors.
o In a monarchy, how would civil rights be protected?
o The monarch could do many things not good for the country and no one could stop them.
o However, a monarchy avoids the problems of a republic such as:
o Gridlock because opposing groups such as parties or branches of government cannot agree.
o Inconsistent, almost chaotic, implementation of laws because each law is passed based on a agreement of a myriad of groups (special interest groups, voters, companies, officials). A comprehensive program of many related laws could not be implemented due to the confluence of influences.
o “Tyranny of the majority.” According to Alexis De Tocqueville in “Democracy
in
o In the end, the view seemed to be that “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others,” as Winston Churchill said.