NOTE: As midterm report presentations conclude, you can assume that you earned all 25 available points if I've not told you otherwise. The sign-up for final report presentations will be available next week.
1. After Plato, the next philosopher to turn his attention to the details of child-rearing was who?
2. What's the first step of human reason, according to Kant?
3. If we have hope for moral progress, what do we want for the next generation?
4. What was Orwell's nightmare?
5. What "perfidious reversal leaves us permanently confused"?
6. What are you committed to, if you're committed to Enlightenment?
7. What is freedom, according to Rousseau and Kant?
5. What "perfidious reversal leaves us permanently confused"?
6. What are you committed to, if you're committed to Enlightenment?
7. What is freedom, according to Rousseau and Kant?
8. What's the key to whether or not we grow up?
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Discussion Questions
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- Should philosophers pay more attention to child-rearing and parenting? 36
- What do you think Cicero meant by saying that philosophy is learning to die?
- Do you feel fully empowered to "choose your life's journey"? If not, what obstacles prevent that? 37
- In what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
- If you've read 1984 and Brave New World, which do you find the more "seductive dystopia"? 39
- Are we confused about toys and dreams? 40
- Do others make the most important decisions for you? 41
- Do you "make a regular appointment with your body"? 42
- Do you trust anyone over 30? 45
- Is it "reasonable to expect justice and joy"? 49
- Are you "committed to Enlightenment"? 51
- Do the passions for glory and luxury make us wicked and miserable? 53
- What does it mean to say there are no atheists in foxholes? Is it true? 54
- Was Rousseau right about inequality and private property? 55
- Should philosophy be taught to children, so as to become thinking adults? 57
- Should children "yield to the commands of other people"? 61
- Should parents "let the child wail"?
- Are Rousseau and Kant right about the true definition of freedom? 62
- Is Rousseau right about desire? 65
- Did Rousseau's abandonment of his children discredit his thoughts on child-rearing? 69 Or show him to be a hypocrite for saying no task in the world is more important than raising a child properly? 72
1.) After Plato, the next significant philosopher to turn his attention to the details of child-rearing was Aristotle. In his work Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle explores the importance of upbringing and education in shaping a child's character and virtues. He believed that children should be taught to cultivate virtues through habit, and he outlined the role of parents and educators in guiding children toward moral and intellectual growth.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that these ancient philosophers had a basis for how important education is makes me wonder why we don't value educators more. I feel like it is such a vital part of every culture and society, yet teachers are overworked and underappreciated. I don't know how a role so important is so pushed aside.
DeleteThis shows that children shape the the future of the world depending on how the adults in their life rear them. I believe that if you have a child, you owe them knowledge. If you do not have knowledge, then do not hinder them from seeking it out while guiding them from the side. Children are, were, and will continue to be a vital factor for the future.
DeleteI completely agree with you. Education is vitual to intellectual and mental growth.R eceiving an education opens your eyes to areas of study otherwise may not have been explored.
Delete2.) According to Immanuel Kant, the first step of human reason is sensation, which is the process through which we receive data from the external world through our senses. However, for Kant, raw sensations alone are not enough to produce knowledge. Human reason then organizes these sensations through the categories of understanding to form coherent concepts.
ReplyDelete7.) According to Rousseau: Freedom is the ability to act according to the general will of society, which aligns with the common good. True freedom is achieved in a political community where individuals participate in forming the collective will.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Kant: Freedom is the autonomy to act according to rational moral principles, guided by universal laws of reason, rather than external influences or personal desires. True freedom is moral freedom, bound to duty and the categorical imperative.
In one way, everyone follows Kant, since the general morals of the universe will never be a certain answer that we know is true, but parts of our faith that give us the rights and wrongs.
DeleteI disagree with Rousseau's idea of freedom. It assumes that the general will of society always align with the common good. That is not true considering that fact that some societies can come to the common consensus that cannibalism, honor killings, or sacrificial offerings are good, shows that the idea of common good within a society is not always good.
DeleteKant claiming that the first step of human reason is the realization that we are the ones to choose our lives, and our journey is interesting to me. This is something I have never truly thought of too much. I grew up Christian and I am still active in my faith. I know I have the opportunity to choose my own choices throughout my time on this earth, but ultimately, I believe that my overall journey in life is not in my control at all, but rather in God’s hands. I am not saying I am being forced into doing things, but rather I am expected to live a certain way in the world that glorifies Him. This goes down to the point a paragraph later about your culture predetermining choices for you. This is what I have always aligned with as a Christian. There are things you can and should not do, which determines my choices for me. I like what Kant claims, and I do believe it to a degree, but I also have the viewpoint that God is in control and not me.
ReplyDeleteCicero’s statement that life is about learning to die seems rather counterintuitive, but I also completely understand the message he is putting out. I think that we are told to live our lives to the fullest, yet no one knows how to do that. It makes a person turn to philosophy and try to learn how to be happy. Yet, Cicero states that learning philosophy is learning to die. I think this is a fascinating take on philosophy as a whole, because when you think about it philosophy is there to guide a person to death. It eases the mind and elevates troubles in daily life. Philosophy isn’t necessarily there to teach you to live, but rather to teach someone how to cope with death and the inevitable.
ReplyDeleteI would actually argue the opposite; I don't agree with Cicero. A lot of the stoics, especially Epicurus, thought that death should not be feared but not that it should be coped with. It is actually teaching you how to live a fulfilled life without regretting it on your death bed. Learning to die often means learning how to not exist anymore, which is very different from learning how to live.
DeleteShould philosophers pay more attention to child-rearing and parenting? 36
ReplyDeletePhilosophers should pay attention to parenting as philosophy is about how to live your life and since parents contribute so much to how a child acts during their lives, it makes sense for them to talk about it more so that children may grow up learning and living by philosophical teachings.
In what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
One way would be the hours a parent has to work as a student might not be able do extracurriculars or participate in school events if their parents work late at night. Another way is income as it can limit what extracurricular someone can do if it requires heavy fees and it can even limit what college a child can go to even if they perform well in academics and extracurriculars.
Should children "yield to the commands of other people"? 61
Should parents "let the child wail"?
I feel like that Rousseau's statement holds value as from my experience, my younger brother cries to get my parents to get him a snack or toy and sometimes even fake cries and falls over to get attention ( He is 2 years old). When I know that he has gotten enough food or drinks, I tend to ignore him and he relatively gives up and focuses on playing with his toys which is why I find some truth to that statement. But finding out what a child is crying for should be a priority rather than ignoring them first.
I agree especially with the last one. Of course we will never know if they’re faking or not without checking it out first, we can always recognize a pattern that’s being created, and if it’s a bad behavior, learning to avoid encouraging it
DeleteI agree, particularly with the first comment. It’s hard for me to imagine a solid reason to exclude this area of life as a person in the pursuit of wisdom. I believe that there’s so much insight and perspective to gain from raising a child
DeleteI agree with the last statement. However, if a child is crying, especially if they're faking it, they are exhibiting behavior they observed or has worked before. It would be better to correct their behavior however, if you can't then simply showing them it doesn't work by ignoring them works just as well.
Delete2. What's the first step of human reason, according to Kant?
ReplyDeleteThe first step of human reason is to organize and process your sensory data of the world, this process is known as synthesis. We must analyze what we feel and how this affects our worldview. This data helps us create a picture of the world and our place within it.
4. What was Orwell's nightmare?
ReplyDeleteOrwell's nightmare was depicted in a novel titled "1984" which reflected a totalitarian future society. Within this society government control was absolute and in complete control. People could not express their individual thoughts are were forced to go along with the ideas pushed upon them. Free speech did not exist and you had to be careful with what was said. Everything you did was monitored, you would have no privacy and the government would know all there is to know about your daily actions.
Do you believe our speech and actions are monitored by the government intelligence agencies?
DeleteIn what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
ReplyDeleteUltimately we are an extension of our parents. We come from the same blood and DNA. We are genetically engineered to follow in the footsteps of our parents. As we are young we are exposed to the habits and routines of our parents. We look up to our parents so we attempt to mimimc the patterns. As the years go by we become more and more like our parents. Although we of course are responsible for our own choices, they are undoubtedly influenced by our parents.
One comment I've heard on this topic is the idea that most people, maybe around 80% (I can't remember the exact number), don't exceed the same economic class of their parents. The nurture of early children creates an ideology of comfort that few individuals actually strive to get out of. The concept of being "born into money" is far more impactful to one's choices and opportunities in live than most people think.
Delete1. After Plato, the next philosopher to turn his attention to the details of child-rearing was who?
ReplyDeleteAristotle is the philosopher who turned his attention to the details of child-rearing after Plato. In his work Nicomachean Ethics and Politics, he discusses education and the development of virtues in children as essential for shaping moral character.
2. What's the first step of human reason, according to Kant?
According to Immanuel Kant, the first step of human reason is sensibility—the capacity to receive impressions or sensory data, which forms the basis for all knowledge. This is the foundation upon which human understanding builds through the process of concepts and categories in the mind.
3. If we have hope for moral progress, what do we want for the next generation?
If we have hope for moral progress, we want for the next generation better moral development and improvement in virtues, which involves cultivating ethical understanding, empathy, justice, and responsibility. This would ideally lead to a more just and moral society in the future.
McKinsley Slicker 005
Do you "make a regular appointment with your body"? 42
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, along the way there are check ins too. It’s apart of acknowledging reality for me. Too often I want to ignore the things I don’t enjoy, or push away things that hurt. But, they are real and prove to bear benefit.
Do you trust anyone over 30? 45
Yes, however I think I get more skeptical the older they get. Not about the validity of their statements but about the timely relevance. Depending on the age gap, things could have changed a lot. So it becomes my responsibility, should I trust their words, to find it applicable in my time my day.
Is it "reasonable to expect justice and joy"?
With justice, I don’t think so. I think that’s one of the earliest lessons I remember being taught. But, something I also had to learn later was to not discredit it as a possibility. Grieve it when it’s not, celebrate when it is. Joy however is something I think can be expected, because unlike happiness, it is up to us as individuals where our joy lies.
1. When Cicero said philosophy is learning to die, I think he meant that you learn to accept that life is bound to end. It makes you learn to appreciate the life you have and realize that you are on a timer essentially.
ReplyDelete2.I think my parents'occupations influence a great number of my life choices. It determined how much money that could afford to spend on college. I feel like if you come from a wealthy household you know that you are taken care of so you don't worry about money as much as someone who grew up always having to work to feed themselves.
3. I think philosophy should be introduced in middle or high school. It creates another perspective on the way you live and it can impact the way we think. After that, it should remain optional to take the course.
Do you trust anyone over 30?
ReplyDeleteAs with anyone, you have to understand their background, bias, and experiences. Though they may be more wise and experienced, older people can lack a thorough memory or have a particular bias. Trust is something that is gained through credibility and reliability.
Trust is also gained through past experiences, such as the case with one's parents. Most of the time, however, it can be difficult to trust older generations as there is a distinct cultural and ideological gap between them and us.
Delete1. After Plato, Aristotle was the next philosopher to turn his attention to the details of child-rearing.
ReplyDelete2. According to Kant, the first step of human reason is recognition of the world beyond yourself through your sensory experiences.
7. Rousseaus idea of freedom is defined by the concept of moral freedom or living by laws that are prescribed by the "general will." Kant's idea of freedom is defined by autonomy and individuality, or a moral law that you impose on yourself.
Should philosophy be taught to children, so they become thinking adults?
ReplyDeleteYes, teaching philosophy to children can help them become more thoughtful, independent, and critical thinkers as they grow up. Neiman argues that maturity isn’t just about accepting responsibilities but also about developing the ability to question, reflect, and shape one’s own beliefs. If children are encouraged to engage with philosophical ideas early on, they are more likely to resist conformity and navigate the world with a stronger sense of autonomy. Rather than simply absorbing societal norms, they can learn to evaluate them—and even work to change them.
Do the passions for glory and luxury make us wicked and miserable?
The desire for glory and luxury can lead to both moral corruption and dissatisfaction, according to philosophers like Rousseau, whom Neiman discusses. The pursuit of wealth, status, and recognition often creates competition, insecurity, and dependence on others’ approval, making true contentment elusive. Additionally, luxury can distance people from genuine needs and relationships, fostering selfishness and moral decay. However, this doesn’t mean ambition or material success is inherently bad—Neiman suggests that the key is finding a balance where one’s goals align with deeper values rather than external validation.
In what ways do you think your parents' occupations influence the number of choices you'll be able to make in your life?
Parents’ occupations can shape a child’s social class, education, opportunities, and sense of possibility, all of which influence the range of choices available in adulthood. Neiman discusses how maturity involves both circumstances and personal effort—while privilege can open doors, true independence requires the ability to think critically and make meaningful decisions. A child of wealthy or well-connected parents may have more access to education, financial security, and career networks, while others may have to work harder to create opportunities. However, Neiman also emphasizes that growing up involves recognizing one’s constraints while still striving for agency and self-determination.
What was Orwell's Nightmare?
ReplyDeleteHis dystopian novel 1984 which is set in a world where free thinking is banned and citizens are executed for speaking or even thinking about the omnipotent “Big Brother” which governs this world. He wrote this book as a warning to world, to be cautious of a government who cannot take criticism and to protect our free thinking.
Is it "reasonable to expect justice and joy"?
ReplyDeleteI think this can be answered both ways. In the pessimistic way, I don't think it's reasonable to expect this. The world isn't perfect and certainly not fair. To go through life constantly expecting for us to get injustice after we are wrong every single time or not only expect to be joyful everyday is unrealistic. But to argue on the side of the optimists, we cans till strive to expect that. To live our lives believing that we can have joy and we can get justice for the pain we experience. I think if we as people only focus on the bad and only be thinking of how much despair is around us, we'd only see that. We'd end up ignore the good and I think we need a balance. Try to think of the world as good but still have our guard up just in case. And when bad things do happen, don't get hung up on the pain. That is what holds us back.
1. Aristotle was the next philosopher to focus on raising children. He believed good habits and education shape a persons character and lead to virtue. He thought learning and practice help children grow into good citizens.
ReplyDelete2. Kant said the first step of reason is understanding how we experience the world. Our mind takes in information and organizes it so we can make sense of things. This helps us form knowledge and judgments.
7. Rousseau saw freedom as living by rules we choose for ourselves as a group, not being controlled by others. Kant thought freedom means following reason instead of desires, making choices based on moral duty.
After Plato, the next philosopher to turn his attention to the details of child-rearing was who? Aristotle
ReplyDeleteWhat's the first step of human reason, according to Kant? The first step of human reason is sensation. Kant believed knowledge begins with sensory experience, which provides the raw data from which we can form ideas and concepts.
What are you committed to, if you're committed to Enlightenment? f you're committed to Enlightenment, you are committed to the use of reason, the pursuit of knowledge, and the promotion of individual freedom