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A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau
University of Kentucky UKnowledge Literature in English, North America English Language and Literature 6-11-2009 A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau Jack Turner University of Washington Click here to let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Thanks to the University of Kentucky Libraries and the University Press of Kentucky, this book is freely available to current faculty, students, and staff at the University of Kentucky. Find other University of Kentucky Books at uknowledge.uky.edu/upk. For more information, please contact UKnowledge at [email protected]. Recommended Citation Turner, Jack, "A Political Companion to Henry David Thoreau" (2009). Literature in English, North America. 70. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_english_language_and_literature_north_america/70 A Political Companion to Henr y David Thoreau POLITIcaL COMpaNIONS TO GREat AMERIcaN AUthORS Series Editor: Patrick J. Deneen, Georgetown University The Political Companions to Great American Authors series illuminates the complex political thought of the nation’s most celebrated writers from the founding era to the present. The goals of the series are to demonstrate how American political thought is understood and represented by great Ameri- can writers and to describe how our polity’s understanding of fundamental principles such as democracy, equality, freedom, toleration, and fraternity has been influenced by these canonical authors. The series features a broad spectrum of political theorists, philoso- phers, and literary critics and scholars whose work examines classic authors and seeks to explain their continuing influence on American political, social, intellectual, and cultural life. This series reappraises esteemed American authors and evaluates their writings as lasting works of art that continue to inform and guide the American democratic experiment. -
Social Contract As Bourgeois Ideology Stephen C
Social Contract as Bourgeois Ideology Stephen C. Ferguson II John Rawls (Photo © Steve Pyke.) Since the publication of John Rawls’ magnum opus A Theory of Justice in 1971, there has been a significant resurgence of philosophical work in the tradition of contractarianism. The distinguished bourgeois political philosopher Robert Nozick has argued that A Theory of Justice is one of the most important works in political philosophy since the writings of John Stuart Mill. “Political philosophers,” Nozick concludes, “now must either work within Rawls’ theory or explain why.”1 It is not far from the truth that Rawls single-handedly not only gave life to analytical political philosophy, but also resuscitated contractarianism, a philosophical tradition that — in many respects — had been lying dormant in a philosophical coma. In fact, social contract theory has become the hegemonic tradition in liberal social and political philosophy. As the Afro-Caribbean My thanks for advice, guidance and/or invaluable criticism of earlier drafts to John H. McClendon III, Ann Cudd, Rex Martin, Tom Tuozzo, Robert J. Antonio and Tariq Al-Jamil. I would also like to extend a hearty thanks to Greg Meyerson and David Siar for their invaluable editorial comments. And, lastly, thanks to my wife, Cassondra, and my two sons, Kendall and Trey, for your unqualified love and support in times of tranquility as well as times of crisis. 1 Robert Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia (New York: Basic Books, 1974): 183. Copyright © 2007 by Stephen C. Ferguson and Cultural Logic, ISSN 1097-3087 Ferguson 2 philosopher Charles Mills has put it, contract talk is, after all, the political lingua franca of our times.2 In this essay, we will examine the ideological character and theoretical content of contractrarianism as a philosophical tradition beginning with its classic exposition in the works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and, finally, culminating in the work of John Rawls. -
Freedom and the State: the Social Contract This Course Aims To
Freedom and the State: The Social Contract This course aims to introduce students to central questions in political philosophy, through engagement with the work of several significant political philosophers: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant and John Rawls. The topics with which we will be most deeply concerned include the legitimacy of the state; the limits of the state’s authority; the basis of rights of resistance or rebellion; the relevance of consent to political authority; the nature and value of freedom; the relationship between politics and human nature; and social justice. We will also, as often as we can, attempt to relate the views of these philosophers to contemporary debates. Program of lectures and reading Week 1 (15/01) Lecture 1: Political Legitimacy and the Social Contract Tradition Reading: Easy: Wolf (2006): 34-48. Easier: ‘Authority’ and ‘Political Obligation’ in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Harder: Boucher & Kelly (1994): ch. 1. Hampton (1997): Chapter 3. Week 2 (22/01) Lecture 2: Hobbes on Human Nature and the State of Nature Primary Reading: Leviathan, Part I, chs. 11, 13-16. Secondary Reading: Easy: Wolf (2006): 8-17. Easier: Levine (2002): 15-32. Newey (2008): ch. 4-5. Harder: Warburton, Pike and Matravers (2000): 100-105. Seminar question: If human nature is, or were, as Hobbes describes it, does it follow that life in the state of nature would be ‘solitary, poore, nasty, brutish and short’? Week 3 (29/01) Lecture 3: Hobbes on the Covenant, the Sovereign and the Right to Rebel Primary Reading: Leviathan, Part II, chs. -
1 the LIBERAL SOCIAL CONTRACT (Theory and Practice of Liberalism)
1 THE LIBERAL SOCIAL CONTRACT (Theory and Practice of Liberalism) LE CONTRAT SOCIAL LIBERAL (Théorie et pratique du libéralisme) 1985, 405 pages, Presses Universitaires de France, Paris Social liberty This volume shows the complete theory of social liberty – freedom from forceful interference (see below). Social liberty is the fundamental social ethics of the modern world – it has been for the last two centuries. In particular, it is the basis of our Constitutions (as basic rights) and of our law. Therefore, it is surprising that its very numerous but always partial presentations were so wanting in rigor and scope. This applies to the theory of social liberty in the strict sense, but also to its natural extensions. As a result, this complete analysis concludes that the implication of social liberty as regards issues such that the scope of the public sector and the distribution of income and welfare are very different from what it is usually said they are. It shows what the actions of the public sector and the distribution should be from this basic principle. In these studies, “liberal” means “liberty-based” in the sense of based on the principle of full social liberty rationally understood and applied. One can thus derive, notably, the liberal distributive justice in general and the liberal social justice (at the macro level), the liberal public economics, the liberal public services, taxes, and State, and so on. In particular, the liberally just distribution results from the following facts. (1) The effects of free actions, exchanges, and agreements. (2) The distribution of the value of the given resources (including people’s capacities). -
Can Anarchy Save Us from Leviathan?
SUBSCRIBE NOW AND RECEIVE CRISIS AND LEVIATHAN* FREE! “The Independent Review does not accept “The Independent Review is pronouncements of government officials nor the excellent.” conventional wisdom at face value.” —GARY BECKER, Noble Laureate —JOHN R. MACARTHUR, Publisher, Harper’s in Economic Sciences Subscribe to The Independent Review and receive a free book of your choice* such as the 25th Anniversary Edition of Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government, by Founding Editor Robert Higgs. This quarterly journal, guided by co-editors Christopher J. Coyne, and Michael C. Munger, and Robert M. Whaples offers leading-edge insights on today’s most critical issues in economics, healthcare, education, law, history, political science, philosophy, and sociology. Thought-provoking and educational, The Independent Review is blazing the way toward informed debate! Student? Educator? Journalist? Business or civic leader? Engaged citizen? This journal is for YOU! *Order today for more FREE book options Perfect for students or anyone on the go! The Independent Review is available on mobile devices or tablets: iOS devices, Amazon Kindle Fire, or Android through Magzter. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE, 100 SWAN WAY, OAKLAND, CA 94621 • 800-927-8733 • [email protected] PROMO CODE IRA1703 REVIEW ESSAY Can Anarchy Save Us from Leviathan? —————— ✦ —————— ANDREW RUTTEN hese days, it seems that anarchy is everywhere. Its fans range from Yale law professors (Ellickson 1991) to pulp novelists (Ferrigno 1996; Mosley 1998). T Last fall, it even showed up in the New Yorker, where it was touted it as “the next big thing” in law enforcement (Rosen 1997). At first glance, it is hard to understand this fascination. -
Two Views of Civil Disobedience: Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr
TWO VIEWS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: HENRY DAVID THOREAU AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR, A Monograph Presented to the Faculty of the School of Humanities Morehead State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts -i' by James Dewey Reeder June 1970 Accepted by the faculty of the School of Humanities, Morehead State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree. Master' s Committee: ~)'· lc!f;;t Chairman '4}c ~' ~,<L" (iate) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The author gratefully acknowledges the kind assistance 'I of the eminent Thoreauvian scholar Professor Walter R. i Harding, University Professor, State University Teachers\ I College, Geneseo, New York. Professor Harding suggested the use of numerous source materials necessary to the development and completion of this monograph. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 II. THE VIEW FROM CONCORD • I • • • • • • • • • • • 14 III. THE VIEW FROM BIRMINGHAM I • • • • • • • • • • 27 IV. I "ONE HONEST MAN" OR "WORLD HOUSE" • • • • • • 39 BIBLIOGRAPHY • •••••••••••••• I • • • • • • 43 I I CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION I Both Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King, Jr~, I believed in the power of civil disobedience as a form ofj justifiable protest against certain laws and functions of government. Both men practiced nonviolent resistance, aJd both were convinced of its workability, but there are distinctions in their ultimate objectives for its use. These distinctions relate primarily to the role of the . individual in society and his involvement with or detachment from the state. The subject of this monograph is to stud~ I . two views of civil disobedience, a subject which in itself I implies a divergence of opinion. -
De Tocqueville's Democracy in America: a Sociology of Knowledge Perspective
Journal of Political Science Volume 12 Number 1 Article 4 November 1985 De Tocqueville's Democracy in America: A Sociology of Knowledge Perspective Eileen L. McDonagh Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/jops Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation McDonagh, Eileen L. (1985) "De Tocqueville's Democracy in America: A Sociology of Knowledge Perspective," Journal of Political Science: Vol. 12 : No. 1 , Article 4. Available at: https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/jops/vol12/iss1/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Politics at CCU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Political Science by an authorized editor of CCU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. De Tocqueville's Democracy in America: A ociology of Knowledge Perspective* EiLL EEN L. McDo AGH ortheastern University •The author thanks Whitney Pope, H. Douglas Price, and David Riesman for their constructive criticisms and suggestions. Alexis de Tocqueville is accepted as one of the most insightful and im portant commentat ors on American democracy. 1 He explores at length in hi seemingly timeless treatise, Democracy in America, enduring and domi nant characteristics of American democratic society: the tyranny of the ma jority, the social and economic equality of the American people, the predominant materialism of American culture, and finally the importance of manners and mores in setting the character of a political society. In fact, de Tocqueville is viewed by some as the author of the "first sociological tudy of American society," and often is ranked with .Marx for the persist ent relevance of contributed insights and ideas . -
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A Moral Argument in Favor of The VoluntaryProvis ion of Social Services Robert S. Ogilvie In this paper. I make theargument that ifthe devolution of the welfare state from the federal /eve/ to the local /eve/ is planned and implemented properly. then Americans could end up being better off I say this because I have fo und that volunteering to provide a social service in a local voluntary institution can have a profound moral impact on all involved. Such participation can produce better people. and that. I believe. is the essential starting point fo r the production of a better society. As planners look to affect change they don 't very oft en look at the level of the individual. We need to correct /his omission. as we are currently being presented with a great opportunity to profoundly affect the nature of this country. Citing political theory and the experiences of the volunteers at The Partnership fo r the Homeless in New York City. Ogilvie contends that voluntary participation in a local organization can create better citizens. His central point is that it is a prime responsibility of every law maker and planner to create these good citizens, that is, citizens who are capable of making informed and sensitive decisions. Furthermore, he argues that these sorts of citizens can only develop out of habituation, usually through voluntary participation in a local organization. Plans about social serviceprovision need to recognize this. and create as many situations as possible fo r people to be active in decision making and serviceprovision. Introduction In this paper I make the argument that if the devolution of the welfare state from the fe deral level to the local level is planned and implemented properly, then America could end up being better off. -
Notes for Wolff, 46-55 Anarchism If Social Contract Theories Are Untenable
Notes for Wolff, 46-55 Anarchism If social contract theories are untenable (because it is not possible to conclusively establish the relevant kind of consent in the real world), then we might be tempted to endorse philosophical anarchism—the view that the state is illegitimate. -Radical version: Our only reason for obeying the state is a prudence (avoiding punishment). -Moderate version: We have independent moral reasons to obey some laws, but no reasons stemming solely from the fact that it is the law This looks good up to a certain point, since it allows us to easily explain why we don’t have to obey unjust laws. But “it is not so easy to saw what this moral limit should be.” -If we follow this kind of thinking to its ultimate conclusion, we end up back in the kind of chaotic state of nature that we form the state to avoid. -If we agree that the state of nature is not tenable, then philosophical anarchism begins to look like “a very dangerous example of moral self- indulgence” -Protesting that people are still capable of perceiving independent moral obligations in the absence of a state won’t work. We need to ensure that everyone does see their moral obligations—and more importantly, we need to ensure that they adhere to them. Utilitarianism An attractive alternative, at this point, may be to justify the state on the basis of utilitarianism. This theory says that morality requires us to do whatever maximizes happiness in the world. Since the state yields more happiness than we can find in its absence, we are morally justified (and in fact morally required) to establish and protect the state. -
Political Obligation and Lockean Contract Theory
Acta Cogitata: An Undergraduate Journal in Philosophy Volume 7 Article 6 Political Obligation and Lockean Contract Theory Samantha Fritz Youngstown State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.emich.edu/ac Part of the Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Fritz, Samantha () "Political Obligation and Lockean Contract Theory," Acta Cogitata: An Undergraduate Journal in Philosophy: Vol. 7 , Article 6. Available at: https://commons.emich.edu/ac/vol7/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of History and Philosophy at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Acta Cogitata: An Undergraduate Journal in Philosophy by an authorized editor of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact lib- [email protected]. Samantha Fritz Political Obligation and Lockean Contract Theory POLITICAL OBLIGATION AND LOCKEAN CONTRACT THEORY Samantha Fritz Youngstown State University Abstract In John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government, he presents his notion of social contract theory: individuals come together, leave the state of perfect freedom, and consent to give up certain rights to the State so the State can protect its members. He grounds duties and obligations to the government on the basis of consent. Because one consents to the State, either tacitly or expressly, one has consented to taking on political obligations owed to the State. Locke also notes that individuals can withdraw consent and leave the State. This paper challenges the view that political obligation can exist under Locke’s social contract theory. This paper first provides background for the argument by explaining Locke’s position. -
Social Contract Theory Versus Kantian-Christian Morality
Journal of Markets & Morality Volume 6, Number 1 (Spring 2003): 81–98 Copyright © 2003 Why Be Moral? Social Contract Theory Versus Kantian-Christian Kelly James Clark Professor of Philosophy Morality Calvin College According to social contract theories of morality, right and wrong are nothing more than the agreement among rationally self-interested individuals to give up the unhindered pursuit of their own desires for the security of living in peace. I argue that theism provides a better motivation for rationally self-interested per- sons to be moral. In the context of our moral development, we are involved in the project of becoming certain kinds of persons, and this project must extend into the next life within a community similar to Kant’s kingdom of ends. The temporary squelching of desire necessary for the common good is rewarded in the long run with long-term desire-satisfaction (including both self-interested and altruistic desires), but the squelching of desire makes sense only, I argue, if the moral project continues into the next life. In Dostoevski’s The Brothers Karamazov, Smerdyakov claims “If God does not exist, everything is permitted.” This quotation has often been taken to imply Dostoevski’s belief that morality is essentially dependent upon God; hence, if there is no God, then there is no right or wrong and everyone may do whatever he or she pleases. Perhaps morality is essentially dependent upon God so that, for example, duties or laws depend upon a Lawgiver, and rights are granted to us by our Creator, but Dostoevski may have had something dif- ferent in mind. -
John Locke Social Contract Theory
John Locke Social Contract Theory How bathyal is Jonathan when ungovernable and emerging Nick clouts some shells? Dopy Clifford oversees or loaf some hawkbits Whiggishly, however extrapolated Porter told meritoriously or enfilades. Parnell punches inconsonantly if viridescent Donny replies or harangues. However were state is social antagonisms, john locke social contract theory of. Locke flatly prohibits any redistributive acts by government. The social order to john locke because there was extremely fortunate as evidence, does talk around and john locke social contract theory behind when ideas and. Instructors may the notions of john locke social contract theory of his condition and human fallibility of? The Bible is one writing the greatest blessings bestowed by God on the throng of men. Global social contract. This, Locke thinks, explains why resident aliens have an obligation to cleanse the laws of the brush where he reside, can only while this live there. Hamilton was theimage of john and john locke social contract theory of. Despite their own master held out, and social contract and industry leaders no one of john locke insists that track both useful slaves! WISH WE COULD consult ABOUT. Excerpts and john locke social contract theory? They are free to define themselves or themselves. The theory has unlimited power. The next step is that examine society, being formed, establishes a government with legislative and executive organs by the decision of the majority. Hobbesian social contract theory. Attracted by the escapist themes of Christianity, slaves held fast and its promises. The only difference is that Rousseau admitted at study outset what he was update to.