TOPIC: The Social Contract
FOLLOWUP QUESTION: A problem with living in such a heterogenous society is that we all have such different values and perspectives, yet we are supposed to submit to the same Social Contract. We have laws and constitutional amendments to protect out rights, but sometimes they clash. Today, the first amendment protects us so much, but can also limit some rights. For example, a woman's right to choose might clash with religious freedom. Civil rights protections extends safeties to Gay Rights, but some members of the religious right claim it impedes their right to religious freedom if they are "forced" to politically acknowledge gay rights.
How do we resolve this in a society like ours? Which protections should take precedence??
The concept of the "social contact" is
one that was highly supported by many philosophes of the Enlightenment
era, especially America's Founding Fathers. It is loosely defined as the
implicit agreement between a government and its people. In this
agreement, citizens "give up" certain rights they are "born with" in
order to receive the stability of civil society and thus get to enjoy
the additional freedoms and privileges that come with living in a stable
state.
-How many and what type of rights should the
individual "give up" for the security of civil society? At what point does the concept of the "social contract" begin the
encroach upon your sense of individualism? Should we look at society as
one big team? Or every man/woman/child for himself? Apply this to education. Some philosophes and educational reforms believed that part of our social contract is giving up some of our property (money) to the government in exchange for public education. Is that fair and how far should that extend? What about Obama's new goal of making community college free?
-The concept best applies to our current debate on gun control. How
should this issue be addressed? How does the concept of the Social
Contact play into this?
-How
far should the ideals of the Enlightenment extend? Voltaire sure loved
freedom of speech, but are pure freedoms dangerous? How does that affect
our modern society with the advent of the internet? Should some groups
be limited in their use of free speech? Hate groups, creepy NAMBLA type
groups?
-Futher, with free speech, was it irresponsible of the cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo to continuously portray the prophet Muhammad?
You
are required to post and must directly engage another student. I am
grading based on quality and amount of interaction, so post away!
Remember to use the reply function when responses to specific
people/topics. Engage with your fellow AP Worlders and debate! Use as
much evidence from the readings and any other research to back your
claims!
GO!
REMEMBER: WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! NO PERSONAL ATTACKS! ANY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WILL BE DOCUMENTED AND PUNISHED.
ALSO: IF YOUR IDENTITY IS NOT COMPLETELY EVIDENT IN YOUR SCREEN NAME, YOU WON'T GET CREDIT!
ONE
LAST THING: Don't write essays nor address every questions in one post.
Spread it out and make your posts short enough that people will
actually read them and address them. Remember to use the reply function!
I will post addition questions throughout the weekend. Keep an eye out for that!
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Economics and the Enlightenment
TOPIC: Economics
FOLLOW UP QUESTION:
A lot of great discussion here. On the topic of the rich paying more taxes, and even on the topic of communism, my follow up is: how does our nation account for historic inequalities? I hear some people saying "the rich worked hard for their wealth, so they shouldn't have to pay for the poor." Do the poor not work hard? Is there such a thing as systemic inequality?
Use Adam Smith, the general concepts of the Enlightenment and current events to support your ideas.
Questions:
1. Is Capitalism the best economic model for the world?Would Adam Smith approve of some of the recent practices of Wall Street and major corporations? What about offshoring and tax evasive practices?
2. President Obama recently announced a series of initiatives (free community college, paid sick leave, paid maternity/paternity leave) that would require funding. He proposes to cut taxes for the middle and lower classes, and close loopholes so, essentially, the rich would pay more. Is this a fair way to fund these initiatives?
3. Income Inequality is a serious issue for our nation. The United States is quickly becoming one of the most disparate countries in the "developed" world. The richest (in the 95th percentile of earning) have benefitted the most from our economic recovery, with their incomes increasing by 36% over the past 4 years, with those in the 60th percentile (which is still higher than the traditional middle class) incoming increasing by only 9%. Is this a fair way for a society to be set up? If not, how should this be addressed?
4. Affordable Care Act: our healthcare system is broken in many ways. Apply these concepts to Obamacare and debate how to fix our healthcare crisis.
You do not have to comment on ALL these questions, though you are invited to. You must engage at least 2 of these questions.
You are required to post and must directly engage another student. I am grading based on quality and amount of interaction, so post away! Your first post must be by Friday Jan 23 by 9PM. Blog will close Sunday night. Engage with your fellow AP Worlders and debate! Use as much evidence from the readings and any other research to back your claims!
GO!
REMEMBER: WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! NO PERSONAL ATTACKS! ANY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WILL BE DOCUMENTED AND PUNISHED.
ALSO: IF YOUR IDENTITY IS NOT COMPLETELY EVIDENT IN YOUR SCREEN NAME, YOU WON'T GET CREDIT!
ONE LAST THING: Don't write essays nor address every questions in one post. Spread it out and make your posts short enough that people will actually read them and address them. Remember to use the reply function!
FOLLOW UP QUESTION:
A lot of great discussion here. On the topic of the rich paying more taxes, and even on the topic of communism, my follow up is: how does our nation account for historic inequalities? I hear some people saying "the rich worked hard for their wealth, so they shouldn't have to pay for the poor." Do the poor not work hard? Is there such a thing as systemic inequality?
Use Adam Smith, the general concepts of the Enlightenment and current events to support your ideas.
Questions:
1. Is Capitalism the best economic model for the world?Would Adam Smith approve of some of the recent practices of Wall Street and major corporations? What about offshoring and tax evasive practices?
2. President Obama recently announced a series of initiatives (free community college, paid sick leave, paid maternity/paternity leave) that would require funding. He proposes to cut taxes for the middle and lower classes, and close loopholes so, essentially, the rich would pay more. Is this a fair way to fund these initiatives?
3. Income Inequality is a serious issue for our nation. The United States is quickly becoming one of the most disparate countries in the "developed" world. The richest (in the 95th percentile of earning) have benefitted the most from our economic recovery, with their incomes increasing by 36% over the past 4 years, with those in the 60th percentile (which is still higher than the traditional middle class) incoming increasing by only 9%. Is this a fair way for a society to be set up? If not, how should this be addressed?
4. Affordable Care Act: our healthcare system is broken in many ways. Apply these concepts to Obamacare and debate how to fix our healthcare crisis.
You do not have to comment on ALL these questions, though you are invited to. You must engage at least 2 of these questions.
You are required to post and must directly engage another student. I am grading based on quality and amount of interaction, so post away! Your first post must be by Friday Jan 23 by 9PM. Blog will close Sunday night. Engage with your fellow AP Worlders and debate! Use as much evidence from the readings and any other research to back your claims!
GO!
REMEMBER: WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE! NO PERSONAL ATTACKS! ANY INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR WILL BE DOCUMENTED AND PUNISHED.
ALSO: IF YOUR IDENTITY IS NOT COMPLETELY EVIDENT IN YOUR SCREEN NAME, YOU WON'T GET CREDIT!
ONE LAST THING: Don't write essays nor address every questions in one post. Spread it out and make your posts short enough that people will actually read them and address them. Remember to use the reply function!
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