|
Midterm Examination (Take-Home)
This examination has Two parts
Both are due on Monday, April 2
(Monday Thursday section) or Tuesday, April 3
(Tuesday-Friday Section)
Below you'll find ten representative quotations taken from the readings
in The Idea of Democracy and from the additional readings I've assigned
from internet sources.
Part 1. Identify the author of each quotation. (25% of
midterm exam grade)
Part two is designed to see how well you understand the theories
and concepts represented in these ten quotations.
Part 2. In each case, the quotation reflects upon an issue or
question of concern to the author. For this part:
(A) Select three quotes of your choice, and
(B) using your own words, identify what the issue under consideration
is, and
(C) the author's position on that issue.
(D) Then state what the counter assertion to the argument might be
(E) Do you agree or disagree with the author's position? Why?
Remember, we did a similar exercise the second week of class.
Keep these short, Focus on the specific quote itself, rather than
the larger writing from which it was extracted Don't try to cover
more than the specific quote reflects..
Each answer constitutes 25% of your midterm examination grade.
|
The Quotations
| Quotation 1 |
Because of laziness and cowardice, many supposedly grown men remain
happily immature throughout their lives, readily allowing others to serve
as their guardians. After all, it so easy to remain immature. If I have
a book which does my thinking for me, a priest or pastor who serves as
my conscience, and a doctor who tells me what to eat, then I need not take
the trouble to think for my self. |
| Quotation 2 |
From this fundamental law of nature, by which men are commanded to
endeavour peace, derived this second law; that a man be willing, when
others are so too, as far-forth, as for peace, and defence of himself as
he think it necessary, to lay down this right to all things; and be contented
with so much liberty against other men, as he would allow other men against
himself. |
| Quotation 3 |
I entreat you to consider that, when you choose magistrates, you take
them from among yourselves, men subject to like passions as you are. Therefore,
when you see infirmities in us, you should reflect upon your own, and that
would make you bear the more with us, and not be severe censurers of the
failings of your magistrates, when you have continual experience of the
like infirmities in yourselves and others. We account him a good servant
who breaks not his covenant. The covenant between you and us is the oath
you have taken of us, which is to this purpose, that we shall govern you
and judge your causes by the rules of God's laws and our own, according
to our best skill. |
| Quotation 4 |
Naught is more hostile to a city than a despot; where he is, there
are first no laws common to all, but one man is tyrant, in whose keeping
an in his alone the law resides, and in that case equality is at an end. |
| Quotation 5 |
...it appears not that God has ever given any such authority to one
man over another, as to compel any one to his religion. Nor can such
power be vested in the magistrate by the consent of the people: because
no man can so far abandon the care of his own salvation as blindly to leave
it to the choice of any other, whether prince or subject, to prescribe
to him what faith or worship he shall embrace. For no man can, if
he would, conform his faith to the dictates of another. |
| Quotation 6 |
Now the only way to avoid this shipwreck and to provide for our posterity
is to follow the counsel of Micah, to do justly, to love mercy, to walk
humbly with our God. For this end we must be knit together in this work
as one man, we must entertain each other in brotherly affection, we must
be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities for the supply of
others' necessities, we must uphold a familiar commerce together in all
meekness, gentleness, patience, and liberality, we must delight in each
other, make others' conditions our own, rejoice together, mourn together,
labor and suffer together, always having before our eyes our commission
and community in the work, our community as members of the same body So
shall we keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. |
| Quotation 7 |
...you will not think it dishonourable to submit to the greatest
city in Hellas, when it makes you the moderate offer of becoming its tributary
ally, without ceasing to enjoy the country that belongs to you; nor when
you have the choice given you between war and security, will you be so
blinded as to choose the worse. |
| Quotation 8 |
...according to this argument, neither the election of magistrates,
nor the calling of them to account, should be entrusted to the many. Yet
possibly these objections are to a great extent by our old answer, that
if the people are not utterly degraded, although individually they may
be worse judges than those who have special knowledge-as a body they are
as good or better. |
| Quotation 9 |
We alone regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs, not
as harmless, but as a useless character; and if few of us are originators,
we are all sound judges of a policy. The great impediment to action is,
in our opinion, not discussion, but the want of that knowledge which is
gained by discussion preparatory to action. |
| Quotation 10 |
There shall be one measure of wine throughout all our kingdom, and
one measure of ale, and one measure of corn, namely the quarter of London;
and one breadth of dyed cloth.... Also it shall be the same with weights
as with measures. |
I'm happy to help you with this assignment any way that I can.
The easiest way to contact me is by e-mail, at either school: mrhs@alpha.rwu.edu
or at home: mrhs@tiac.net |