History Courses For Dr. Christopher C. Lovett
|
History Courses For Dr. Christopher C. Lovett |
|
Updated as of 2 October 05 Today in History: On October 2, 1780, Major John Andrι, a British spy associated with Benedict Arnold, was executed on this day in history. Quote of the Day: "In my view we are much worse off now than when we went into Iraq. This is not a partisan position. I voted for these guys." A senior figure at a military-sponsored think tank as told to James Fallows in "Bush's Lost Year" in The Atlantic Monthly (Oct. 2004) Take the Ann Coulter Quiz Where are you politically? Take the Neocon Quiz and find out. "History is Far too Important to be left to History Professors" Teaching isn't such a novel idea
Bibliography:
History of Disease Contemporary Terrorist Organizations Map of Islamic Terrorist Cells in the U.S.A.
|
The Reforms of the PhilosophesModern World CivilizationSpring 2009The Area of Economics The Philosophes attacked much that was wrong with society. The first target was economics. The principle philosophe in this area was Francois Quesnay (1694-1774) He was a biologist, surgeon, and personal physician to Louis XV. He and people who believed like him were called Physiocrats, believers in the rule of nature.The Physiocrats and Nature They believed that they could find the Natural Laws that regulated economics. Quesnay and his supporters believed that the prime source of wealth was land. This view clashed with the prevailing doctrine of Mercantilism, which placed an emphasis on gaining specie -- Gold and Silver. As a result the cost of goods became too expensive.What did the Physiocrats Want? They called for Laissez-Faire, Laissez-passer. Live and let live. They wanted nature to take its course. They rejected controls on the economy and wanted nature to take its course. Most of all the State should not interfere with private property. They believed in a single tax, a tax on land.Along Comes Adam Smith (1727-90) He believed that the wealth of a nation was attributed to the production of goods. This reflects his English background. He took a less agrarian view than Quesnay. He also minimized the role of the State in the economy. He thought that those who freely compete in their own fortunes enrich the nation. Like they were guided by an invisible hand.Adam Smith & The Physiocrats Reversed the view of the Mercantilists that place the State over the Individual. They advocated the economic liberty of the individual. Free Trade and saw this as part of the natural law. But they did not have much sway with European governments.The Philosophes, Justice & Laissez-Faire Like Quesnay, the Philosophes wanted to use Laissez-Faire to Justice. Many believed that man-made legislation prevented natural law to Justice. Likewise they were appalled by the cumbersome procedures used by the Old Regime.Cesare Beccaria (1738-1794) Was an Italian Philosophe who provided the basis of modern sociology. He was the author of Essay on Crimes and Punishments (1764). He developed principles concerning the use of punishment and the prevention of crimes.Cesare Beccaria and Crime Prevention Punishment ought to make a lasting impression on the criminal with the least torment to the body of the criminal. Justice should be speedy. It is the certainty, not the severity, that will reduce crime. As a consequence he opposed the death penalty and the use of torture. Jail time should replace capital punishment and education can reduce crime.The Philosophes and Education They felt that the Old Regime failed in Education. Dislike the reliance of the Church in Education. Especially the emphasis placed on Theology, Greek, Latin, and Ancient History. Instead they wanted a new emphasis on modern languages and modern history.Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) Rousseau rebelled against his upbringing in Geneva. He rebelled against the bookish learning he was forced to endure. He rebelled against the polite conventions he discovered in the Paris salons. As a result he wrote the novel Emile (1762), which was a treatise and a romance as well as a plea for a progressive educational program.Emile Two characters -- the teacher and the student. The teachers goal was to turn Emile into a man, not a magistrate, soldier, or priest. To do this he followed the principles of Laissez-Faire. This included not arguing with Emile, not disciplining Emile, not forcing him to learn. Allow the student to progress on their own pace.The Importance of Emile It marked a return to the Renaissance concept of the universal man. The Greek view of a sound mind and sound body. By the 1960s, many of Rousseaus concepts found there place in some of that decades educational reforms. This was the basis of Summerhill.The Philosophes and the Church When the philosophes attacked superstition and fanaticism they pointed to the Jesuits. Even the Catholic kings of Europe attacked them. In 1733 Pope Clement XIV dissolved the order. They would be revived 50 years later when the political situation changed and was less hostile.Deism The term came from Deus meaning God. It started in 17th Century England when the English sought ways to resolve religious disputes by reason. They accepted aspects that all people could agree. God created the Universe and the Last Judgement. But little else. Voltaire was the leading Deist in France.Voltaire and the Church Voltaire once cried Crush the Infamous thing. What he meant was the bigotry and superstition and intolerance of the church. He spent time in the Bastille because he criticized the government. He went into exile in England and was impressed by religious and political freedom he found there.The Perfect NationMontesquieu (1689-1755) He was a French lawyer who set out to analyze the political virtues of England. His most famous work was The Spirit of the Laws (1748). He stressed that no one system was applicable to all nations. He felt that laws should fit the country. He also believed that old laws may not be all bad. He pointed to the situation in Russia with Peter The Great for example.Different Strokes for Different Folks: Montesquieu and Governmental Types Montesquieu believed that Republics were best for small and barren countries. Limited monarchies were best for mid-size and prosperous countries. Despotism was best for large empires.Montesquieu and Britain Britain was mid-size and prosperous. The monarchy was limited by the aristocracy. The hereditary nobility sat in the Lords. And those of talent sat in the Commons. He had no faith in the common people.Montesquieu on English Superiority Montesquieu felt that if only France had such a system. He also believed that the Checks and Balances ensured British political superiority. What made this work was The Separation of Powers.Mistakes Made by Montessquieu He failed to take into account that Britain was moving away from the separation of powers. This was the result of the decline of the power of the monarchy. But this was not totally obvious in the eighteenth century. He also thought that climate and geography help determine human institutions.Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Revolution While Montesquieu and Locke had an impact with the Americans. Rousseau had an important part in the political development of Europe. He did inspire the radicals of the French Revolution. He felt that civilization corrupts man. Only if civilization followed nature more closely.Rousseaus Social Contract (1762) He tried to reconcile the liberty of the individual with the institution of government. He felt a contract existed between the people and their government. It was also believed it was social too. The General Will was the task of all people.Rousseau on DemocracyEscaping From Freedom Other philosophes sought a short cut to political utopia. They found their saving grace in Enlightened Despots. Many of these people were physiocrats. The physiocrats believed that God was the legislator and that nature preserved the divine legislation. The sole duty of government was to administer the natural laws. The physiocrats believed that the interests of the monarch coincided with national interests. This would work out since the monarch was Gods agent and unearth the natural laws decreed by God.The Enlightened Despots Frederick The Great of Prussia. Joseph II of Austria. Catherine The Great of Russia.Frederick II (1740-86) He rebelled against his father. Frederick William I was a drill sergeant of a father. Frederick like playing the flute and reading poetry. He read the philosophes Especially Voltaire He even wrote an essay called Anti-Machiavel. But he was just like Machiavelli in real life.Frederick II and Reform While he attacked Machiavellis Prince, he would have made Machiavelli blush with envy. He used the economic theories when he wanted too. He advocated crop rotation, drained swamps, and introduced the iron plow. He brought in immigrants to settle Silesia and the Oder River valley. But he was hostile to Laissez-Faire since he used the funds for his Army. While he advocated religious toleration, he disliked Jews.Fredericks Dark Side In justice he reduced torture, instituted regular appellate courts, and ended the practice of purchasing justice. But he did nothing to end serfdom. He wouldnt allow his officers to marry. On the personal side he neglected his wife. He stipulated that he should be buried next to his his dogs.Maria Theresa (1740-80) She increase the tax on the nobles. She strengthened the central government at the expense of the aristocracy. She took the first steps to abolish serfdom. Even as a devoted Catholic, she taxed the Church. To get her way, she used a combination of force and charm. She became the first housewife of the realm.Clio vs. Maria TheresaJoseph II (1780-90) He was co-regent with his mother who restrained him. He promised to make philosophy the legislator of his realm. During his ten year reign, he issued 11,000 laws and issued over 6,000 edits. He granted religious toleration for Protestants, Orthodox, and Jews alike. Jews no longer had to wear the yellow star, live in ghettoes, and pay special taxes. He encouraged popular education about 25% of all school age children in Austria had a primary education. He abolished capital punishment and torture.Josephs Enemies He angered the peasants because he tampered with the Church. The nobility disliked him because he was an egalitarian. When he died, his friends said that he governed too much and reigned too little.Catherine The Great She always saw herself as an intellectual. She was well versed in the literature of the philosophes. She was a master at PR. She invited some philosophes to come to Russia. And she paid others to write nice things about Russia. Diderot pinched her legs black and blue. She wanted to reform Russia, but she was an outsider.
|
