We are going to have a review for the Midterm on Wednesday Morning. There will be a movie that evening, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Think of questions from the previous chapters. Use the book's website. The midterm will be mostly like our quizzes with some short answer questions based on the reader and our class discussions. The more questions you come in with the better.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Lincoln and King
Rights for Lincoln and King
A good tool for understanding their disagreement is the distinction between process and substance, or means and ends. The process refers to the procedures that we follow in making and enforcing laws, our ‘means’ of making laws. The substance is the rightness of the content or outcome of those laws, the ‘ends’ of those laws.
This distinction between procedural and substantive justice is at the heart of many disagreements about rights and political conflict in general.
Lincoln argues that the process is more important than the substance of rights. He is almost callous in describing some of the criminals whose rights have been violated as being deserving of their fate and claiming that we are better off with them dead. The substance, the outcome, is not what concerns him, it is the procedure, or process, by which they ended up dead that is the problem. His concern is not with the guys getting hanged and burned, it is with the good citizen who, gradually, over time, starts to figure that the law is a sucker’s game. He is concerned with loyal citizens losing their affection for the law.
King is concerned with and argues mainly from the basis of the substance of the law. As Charles pointed out, he also makes a process argument, that the laws are illegitimate because the process excluded people that by the letter of the law had a right to vote. But his main objection is deeper and he would hardly be forced to change his argument if segregationist laws could win a fair vote (which in some places they could have). His claim is that the substance of these laws is unjust, regardless of the process by which they were made.
In Lincoln’s speech, obeying the law, even if, or especially if, it is unjust is the highest duty of the citizen. King turns this on its head. Doing the right thing, the just thing, even if, and especially if you know you will be punished for it, is the highest duty of a citizen. This is because it arouses the citizens to the unjustness of the law.
Lincoln’s speech could have been given in Rome without too much alteration. He argues that we should protect these rights out of fealty to our forefathers, to honor their sacrifices.
King makes an argument based more on a very un-classical idea, the idea that all men are equal in the sight of God.
Both of them use religion, and specifically, the Christian religion, in their argument.
King cites Augustine to put substantive justice, the justness of the laws outcome, over formal justice, the justice of the process by which the law was made.
Lincoln uses the Christian religion in a novel way to ask us to imagine seeing Washington on the day of the resurrection. He asks us to image being able to look Washington in the face and be able to say that we faithfully preserved our inheritance form him, our “father,” so to speak.
I find this a really interesting twist because it is essentially a pagan argument. The Roman’s justified everything in terms of living up to our ancestor’s expectations and explicitly deified illustrious ancestors and political leaders (like Caesar) to legitimate the laws and justify sacrifice. Lincoln uses a peculiarity of Christian doctrine to get an essentially pagan effect.
Lincoln’s is “it’s the law” and King’s is “it’s God’s will,” (or at least the Judeo-Christian God).
A good tool for understanding their disagreement is the distinction between process and substance, or means and ends. The process refers to the procedures that we follow in making and enforcing laws, our ‘means’ of making laws. The substance is the rightness of the content or outcome of those laws, the ‘ends’ of those laws.
This distinction between procedural and substantive justice is at the heart of many disagreements about rights and political conflict in general.
Lincoln argues that the process is more important than the substance of rights. He is almost callous in describing some of the criminals whose rights have been violated as being deserving of their fate and claiming that we are better off with them dead. The substance, the outcome, is not what concerns him, it is the procedure, or process, by which they ended up dead that is the problem. His concern is not with the guys getting hanged and burned, it is with the good citizen who, gradually, over time, starts to figure that the law is a sucker’s game. He is concerned with loyal citizens losing their affection for the law.
King is concerned with and argues mainly from the basis of the substance of the law. As Charles pointed out, he also makes a process argument, that the laws are illegitimate because the process excluded people that by the letter of the law had a right to vote. But his main objection is deeper and he would hardly be forced to change his argument if segregationist laws could win a fair vote (which in some places they could have). His claim is that the substance of these laws is unjust, regardless of the process by which they were made.
In Lincoln’s speech, obeying the law, even if, or especially if, it is unjust is the highest duty of the citizen. King turns this on its head. Doing the right thing, the just thing, even if, and especially if you know you will be punished for it, is the highest duty of a citizen. This is because it arouses the citizens to the unjustness of the law.
Lincoln’s speech could have been given in Rome without too much alteration. He argues that we should protect these rights out of fealty to our forefathers, to honor their sacrifices.
King makes an argument based more on a very un-classical idea, the idea that all men are equal in the sight of God.
Both of them use religion, and specifically, the Christian religion, in their argument.
King cites Augustine to put substantive justice, the justness of the laws outcome, over formal justice, the justice of the process by which the law was made.
Lincoln uses the Christian religion in a novel way to ask us to imagine seeing Washington on the day of the resurrection. He asks us to image being able to look Washington in the face and be able to say that we faithfully preserved our inheritance form him, our “father,” so to speak.
I find this a really interesting twist because it is essentially a pagan argument. The Roman’s justified everything in terms of living up to our ancestor’s expectations and explicitly deified illustrious ancestors and political leaders (like Caesar) to legitimate the laws and justify sacrifice. Lincoln uses a peculiarity of Christian doctrine to get an essentially pagan effect.
Lincoln’s is “it’s the law” and King’s is “it’s God’s will,” (or at least the Judeo-Christian God).
Friday, February 23, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Friday
Ok, new plan.
So, we have the midterm the Monday after next, March 5th. Next week we will have class on Monday and Wednesday and a special Wednesday evening class on the 28th of Feburary to watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," exact time and place to be announced.
For your reading Friday I would like you to read Tocqueville, Chapter 7, from page 235 to 248 (leaving off the very last section). It is a brilliant piece of writing and, if you remember only one thing from the course it is the one I hope sticks with you.
For next week I would like to go back to the reader for Monday and read Lincoln and Martin Luther King's respective pieces on Rights, selections 19 and 20. Lincoln's piece is called "On the Prepetuation of our Institutions," and King's is called "Letter from a Birmingham Jail Cell." If you don't have the reader for some reason I am certain you can find them on the web. For Wendesday morning we will review for the exam.
So, we have the midterm the Monday after next, March 5th. Next week we will have class on Monday and Wednesday and a special Wednesday evening class on the 28th of Feburary to watch "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," exact time and place to be announced.
For your reading Friday I would like you to read Tocqueville, Chapter 7, from page 235 to 248 (leaving off the very last section). It is a brilliant piece of writing and, if you remember only one thing from the course it is the one I hope sticks with you.
For next week I would like to go back to the reader for Monday and read Lincoln and Martin Luther King's respective pieces on Rights, selections 19 and 20. Lincoln's piece is called "On the Prepetuation of our Institutions," and King's is called "Letter from a Birmingham Jail Cell." If you don't have the reader for some reason I am certain you can find them on the web. For Wendesday morning we will review for the exam.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday
Let's discuss the Harry Truman readings. Truman is the President whose reputation is most improved over the last 30 years. There will not be a quiz so if for any reason you can't get the readings to open don't worry about it. They are entertaining, I think.
For Friday we will review for the midterm. Also, if you submit questions you think would appropriate for the exam and I use them I will give you extra credit. Be thinking about things you would like to ask about Friday.
For Friday we will review for the midterm. Also, if you submit questions you think would appropriate for the exam and I use them I will give you extra credit. Be thinking about things you would like to ask about Friday.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Monday
Ok, I screwed up.
1) I forgot to make an entry for Monday's reaction papers
2) I forgot that we are having class on President's day.
that means that we don't have anything in particular to read for today. I guess that means it is a good day for review questions. Think of some things that you would like to ask about from the Presidency Chapter or anywhere else for that matter.
On the reflection papers, try to connect what you write with the Presidency. I think it is especially useful to try to apply the principles of politics and arguments from the text to current events or other things related to politics and government.
1) I forgot to make an entry for Monday's reaction papers
2) I forgot that we are having class on President's day.
that means that we don't have anything in particular to read for today. I guess that means it is a good day for review questions. Think of some things that you would like to ask about from the Presidency Chapter or anywhere else for that matter.
On the reflection papers, try to connect what you write with the Presidency. I think it is especially useful to try to apply the principles of politics and arguments from the text to current events or other things related to politics and government.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Hey
The Presidency, continued.
Post here for Friday's class. Just click on the comment link below.
I think we are still behind on quizzes, so, as always, be on time and smile!
Post here for Friday's class. Just click on the comment link below.
I think we are still behind on quizzes, so, as always, be on time and smile!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Friday
Ok, Now we are going to finish up the chapter on the founding in the text. We are also probably due for a quiz.
The passages from Tocqueville and from Madison are among the most interesting and important in the history of political thought. I hope you find them stimulating.
Also, just to make sure we don't get lost with these papers, it might be a good idea to include in your posting which paper this is for you, i.e., first, second etc. That way, if I have let any slip through the cracks we can catch it more quickly.
The passages from Tocqueville and from Madison are among the most interesting and important in the history of political thought. I hope you find them stimulating.
Also, just to make sure we don't get lost with these papers, it might be a good idea to include in your posting which paper this is for you, i.e., first, second etc. That way, if I have let any slip through the cracks we can catch it more quickly.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Wednesday
Here is a place to post for tomorrow's class. You might want to talk about the movie or move on to discuss the rest of the Constitution Chapter. I am looking forward to what you have to say.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Monday
Hi,
For today, I am hoping to show some of the play, "Julius Caesar," by the Bard. I have a great 1953 version with Marlon Brando as Mark Antony.
I mentioned this in class, but this will switch around our readings, since I had originally planned to show this on Friday. Also, check the syllabus on the web, I had the wrong page numbers up for the Tocqueville reading up at first.
For today, I am hoping to show some of the play, "Julius Caesar," by the Bard. I have a great 1953 version with Marlon Brando as Mark Antony.
I mentioned this in class, but this will switch around our readings, since I had originally planned to show this on Friday. Also, check the syllabus on the web, I had the wrong page numbers up for the Tocqueville reading up at first.
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