• In what sense is censorship a "tyranny"? (Section 11)
• What does Milton mean when he suggests "a man may be a heretic in the truth; and if he believes things only because his Pastor says so, or the Assembly so determines, without knowing other reason, though his belief be true yet the very truth he holds becomes his heresy" (Section 12) Keep this section in mind when you read Kant in a few weeks.
• Why does the very public nature of books act as a safeguard against error (Section 13)
• What is the relationship between learning, progress, and freedom of inquiry? (Section 14 - 15)
• Why should we expect argument as part of learning? (Section 14-15)
• Why does censorship hinder national greatness? (Section 15)
• What does Milton mean when he calls liberty the "nurse of all great wits". Do you agree or disagree? (Section 15)
• In what sense does censorship demonstrate a kind of intellectual cowardice? (Section 16)
• What is the relationship between Truth, Falsehood, and Reason? What is Milton saying when he says that "Truth is strong next to the Almighty"?. (Section 16) Do you find any relationship to the ideas put forth by Cicero? 
• If censorship is not the best way to combat error, what is? (Section 17)
• How does censorship lead to bad government? (Section 18)

We'll assemble to see an American Film Classic, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (1939) Directed by Frank Capra and Starring Jimmy Stewart.  The film was written in the unhappy decade of the Great Depression and under the shadow of war in Europe.  Capra was an immigrant from Italy, and Stewart was born in Indiana Pennsylvania, yet both were remarkably alike in their association with films portraying American political ideals and challenges or betrayals of the same.  This film appears on nearly everyone's 100 all-time greatest list, and it should provide fruitful opportunity for discussion, which will happen the first session the week after spring break.  Clicking on the date buttons will take you to an excellent synopsis and discussion of the film.  Clicking on the pictures will take you to a second view.  Clicking on the names will direct your browser to biographical information on the director and to a museum which honors the actor in his birthplace city.
 

Popular Culture reflects the attitudes and opinions of the society to whom it is marketed.  Because popular culture is commercial it is only successful when sufficient people to make a profit purchase it. For this reason we can use Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as a measure of what Americans felt about government and democracy at the time it was made.   We can discover what the political beliefs of the audience were, and, through our other investigations what sources provided their beliefs to them.  To what extent does this film show that Americans had adopted the ideals of Greek Democracy as their own?

You will use this film to help answer one of the questions on your first examination, so if you miss the class this evening you will need to make certain you see the film on your own.