Jonathan's Discussion Questions for Oct. 25/26
For this week, please read the selections from Locke's Some Thoughts Concerning Education and the Second Treatise of Civil Government in the Enlightenment Reader (p. 222 and p. 395). Also read the Declaration of Independence (online reader unit 6). In what ways was the enlightenment, as evidenced by the work of Locke, optimistic? How did Locke's work influence the American revolutionaries?
Also be sure to read the portions of the textbook that deal with the coming of the revolution. What were some of the arguments for and against separation from Britain?
Also be sure to read the portions of the textbook that deal with the coming of the revolution. What were some of the arguments for and against separation from Britain?
posted by Jonathan Jones at 11:35 AM
29 Comments:
John Locke’s approach toward achieving an education is based more on optimism rather than harsh punishment. His philophy is that awarding performance is more effective than punishing wrongfulness. Locke says that “esteem and disgrace are, of all others, the most powerful incentives to the mind.”
Locke’s essay on education, published in 1693, was widely read and deeply influential in the eighteenth century. Nowhere was this more the case than in Protestant America, where it became a principal guide on “how to breed” children.
Locke believed that humans learn better and have an overall better response when they are praised for the good things they do instead of punished for the wrong things. Humans will want to do good when their past good is awarded. The American Revolutionaries were influenced by Locke's work, and it became their "guide" on raising children.
Accoring to John Locke's work, the Enlightenment was viewed as optimistic because Locke's work was based on a change in the government and in education. Locke wanted to get rid of cruel punishment because he thought it was better to give positive sanctions to positive actions. There was a positive outlook on the enlightenment change, especially with punishment, because Locke said that "those children who have been most chastised, seldom make the best men." This shows that if cruel punishment to children is lifted, there will be "better men" in society.
John Locke's political views were for the nation and the nation's politics to be of "their self", which means being independent. This view was shared by the American Revolutionaries and thus influenced them even more.
The enlightenment was optimistic because it gave people freedom and protection. The schools and the governments did not punish the people. They merely taught them how to do things the right way. The American Revolutionaries were influenced by Locke with his ideas of independence, which led into the Declaration of Independence. Locke gave the people a feeling of hope with the new expression of freedom.
according to John Locke, those who do good, should receive good. He belive that should not be pusnish, instead people should be rewarded with optimism. if people are rewarde thn they will try to act right by doing all good thins.The american Revolutionaries were inspired by John Locke and his new idea of how to raise a good kid.
John Locke and the ideals of the Enlightenment were much more optimistic than previous ideas. On the subject of education, Locke believed that "great severity of punishment" leads to "great harm in education." His ideas about government always emphasized the inherant freedoms, liberties and equalities all men enjoyed. The American Revolutionaries were influenced by Locke in his ideas about men's equality and their right to protect their "life, liberty and estate."
The Enlightenment according to Locke was optimistic because for the first time, people werent punished for any of their wrongdoings. The schools and even the government didn't punish the people for their mishaps but taught them the right way to live with positive feedback. Locke felt that the best way for someone to learn is to be complimented on their good deeds instead of cruel punishment. This lead to the revolutionary war because the people wanted to be able to practice more of their liberties and freedoms.
John Locke's work and the Enlightenment were optimistic, especially when it came to raising child because the use of force and submission was discouraged. Although Locke looked down upon "flattering children by rewards of things that are pleasant," he did believe that "reward and punishment" was an effective way to keep children in order.
American Revolutionaries were heavily influenced by Locke's work, especially when he talked about Politics and the State. He basically lays the foundation for checks and balances when he says that there should be a state of equality "wherein all the power and jurisdiction is reciprocal, no one having more than another." Locke also talks about all men having the freedom to order their actions, and directly in the Declaration of Independence it states that all men are created equal and have certain unalienable rights. Obviously Locke's ideas influenced many and had a lasting effect on American society.
Education and abolition of slavery are based on the optimistic enlightenment. The education is better than the punishment because the punishment contributes not at all to the mastery of our natural propensity to indulge corporal and present pleasure. However, the education should be less indulged than any. Freedom is also helpful for the optimistic enlightenment. Freedom of men under government is to have a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society, and made by the legislative power erected in it.
Locke’s work influence the American revolutionaries because the Declaration of Independence led to freedom as free and independent states.
In "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" Locke takes the stance that violent punishment is harmful to children and they will not develop into responsible adults. "Those children who have been most chastised, seldom make the best men". Locke goes on to say that some kind of punishment is in fact necessary, just not in the form of physical abuse. "The Second Treatise of Civil Government" was a radical statement that men should be free and only governed by the law of nature. Locke goes on to state that things such as slavery are unethical and that men have the right to private possessions or property. Many of Locke's ideals and beliefs were used to justify the American Revolution and were later incorporated into the U.S. Constitution.
John's view on the enlightment were optimistic in the way that he believed that children should be rewarded when they did something good and punish them when it was necassary. Locke's views on freedom and every man being treated equal, was the beginning of the revolution. Since others thought the same thing he acquired much attention from the rest of the colonist, which later turned into a uprise of the colonist against Great Britian.
The enlightenment was optimistic in that they believed that people should be able to think for themselves, and that as long as they can do that then they will benefit society, a view somewhat contradictory to the idea that everyone is born into evil. Locke was seemingly a heavy influence on American revolutionaries most notably the four fathers who wrote the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. In Locke's Second Treastise of Civil Government, he proclaims that man is born with a natural liberty, which can be seen as "all men are created equal." Later Locke discusses a man's right to his own property and the plants and animals therein which reappears as property rights and the ability to purchase property and one's right to "Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness."
The enlightment was very optimistic. They made people think that they should be able to be free thinkers. To have thier own thought process and that in time that would make them be able to give back to the community. He did not think that everyone was born into the evil deeds that some people thoguht but that they were all born with the advantages and would be able to become a good producer to society. Also he had huge impacts on the founding fathers. He talks in the same sense that they do. He wants people to be free and be free thinkers. They do that through there actions and it makes them just like the found fathers wanted in the sense that they are become equal and free. He was a huge influnence to many people and that shows in his work.
The Enlightenment was optimistic because instead of someone being punished it believed in rewarding a person for something. It gave people freedom. He had an influence over the American Revolutionaries because he gave them the idea of every man is created equal and that they should protect their own equality and liberty, that they should stand for themselves.
The Enlightenment was optimistic because instead of someone being punished it believed in rewarding a person for something. It gave people freedom. He had an influence over the American Revolutionaries because he gave them the idea of every man is created equal and that they should protect their own equality and liberty, that they should stand for themsleves.
-Jessica Walter (the one that just says anonymous is mine also, it go submitted before I put my name on it)
The Enlightenment was optimistic because it gave hope to the people that needed it the most. The poor of the colonies looked at Locke's view of property and realized that ownership was naturally defined as physical possession. It also gave the elite hope of a more free government in which they could participate in the highest levels. This gave them hope that they could help run the nation, as opposed to the view of only achieving mid-level government jobs.
One argument for separation from Britain is the oppression of the colonial elite from upper level British elites. The colonial elites were not allowed to hold the highest positions in the colonies, such as governors and judges. Another argument for separation was the high taxation after the Seven Years War.
An argument against separation from Britain is the use of British soldiers in the protection of the colonies. British troops help protect the Western colonists from Indian raids. Another argument against the separation was the idea that the colonists were British. Some colonists just did not want to separate from the nation that they considered a "motherland" of sorts.
The Enlightenment was positive and optimistic in that it suggested the idea of giving people freedom to think and do as they please without any persecution. John Locke's theory was to raise children with more rewards and less punishment which completely contradicts the old ways of "breaking the will." In addition, Locke's views on freedom opened the eyes of our founding fathers who fought for the colonies independence during the revolution. His views had much influence on the American society.
The enlightment was in many ways very optimist and possitive. john locke's works show that the enlightment was free.The people should be able to express themselves through differnt beliefs. This gave people away to be indivuidal by letting them think and act for themselves and not be told what to do by the government. John Locke's ideas helped to create the declaration. Locke's ideas were the base line for the freedom from the English.
Locke's ideas of less punishment/ less laws for children helped to create declaration also. because it showed that people can have less laws letting them express themselves and society will not be crupt. Locke also started that all men are created equal.
some arguments against the seperation would be: seperation of motherland, this would mean that the new nation would not have any Protection.
Locke's work and the enlightenment were more optimistic because Locke believed that people responded better when they are praised for good things rather than criticized for wrong doings. Locke's work influenced American revolutionaries because he said that all men were created equal. Before this many people thought that they were born with advantages over others. Many people started believing in Locke's works which started the seperation from Great Britain because the people of America wanted their own rights and freedoms that Locke's works stated.
The work of Locke was optimistic by the way he thought of education. He beleived not to threaten with punishment but to embrass and praise the work of a young child. Also to learn French instead of Latin because French could actually be used. Lockes work influenced the American Revolutionies by showing that men were created equal. That no man was born with more power or more rights then another man. People of American liked this idea because there status in England was not very good and they wanted to get away from this.
John Locke's work was optimistic, because he believed that a man was essentially good at heart, although goverment was needed in order for there to be peaceful living conditions for all. He believed in representation for all, which is an idea that the founding fathers of the United States would incorporate into the Declaration of Independence. His idea of "all men created equal" would resound within the document, and would help pave the way for ideas such as free will.
John Locke's works in The Second Treatise of Civil Government were extremely influential in the separation of America from Britain. Locke's writings on government were about a fine balance between sacrificing liberties, and receiveing protection. The social compact, which we studied earlier in the semester played a large role here. In Locke's theoretical government, people would come together and form a system of balanced legislation. They would understand that they would be sacrificing some of their liberties for a balanced and strong government which would protect them. When the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, the system of government which the Crown used to control the American colonies was anything but balanced. Laws and taxes were formed with little to no representation. This is evident in the Declaration of Independence where the reasons for separation are listed. Its easy to see where Locke's works have come to play in our government.
The enlightenment worked to give the citizens more respect and consciousness. This gave the people hope that their lives could be better, therefore it was an optimistic time. Locke believed that the children needed to be treated better in their society. Locke was more of a believer in natural law which gives people much more freedom. This played a part in the beliefs of the American Revolutionaries because it gave them a hope or desire to have more control over their own lives. The American Revolutionaries wanted control of their government and their laws.
Based on John Locke's writings, the enlightenment was optimistic because it brought changes that were for the better of the people. Locke felt that no one should be punished for wrong doing but rewarded for the good things in hopes that the bad things wouldnt happen because the people would want to be rewarded for doing good. Locke's work influenced the american revolutionaries by giving them a new way to look at life and capture whats good for the people.
The enlightment was optimistic because Locke did not encourage a strict hand. Instead, he believed in postive reinforcements, except in extreme bad cases.For example, laying a strict hand on boys seldomly made them into good men.
Jolene Hibbler
The work of John Locke was optimistic, Locke believed that the people shouldn't be punished but they should be embraced or praised for doing good things. This issue was stressed so that people would want to do some good. This kind of played a part in the American Revolution because it gave them some kind of desire to have more control over their lives. The Revolutionaries felt that that should control the government and laws.
The enlightenment was optimistic when viewed through Locke’s work because it implies that people are generally good and that they should be treated well. On page 225 of the Enlightenment Reader it says that “such a sort of slavish discipline makes a slavish temper”, which is saying that attempting to punish people only makes the matter worse. Therefore, we must assume that Locke is meaning that people should not be punished and the only way that society could last if nobody was ever punished is if they were inherently good. Additionally, on page 395 of the Reader Locke talks about how a person is naturally in a state of freedom and equality. These are both optimistic ideas and are ideas that influenced the American revolutionaries. The revolutionaries believed that they should be equal to the people in Britain and they should be able to rise up the ranks, and when they could not do that they wanted freedom.
~Jennifer Claybrooks
The Enlightenment was optimistic because of Locke’s positive views of learning. He believed good deeds should receive rewards. This should be the reinforcement technique (a psychology term) that parents and schoolteachers used when teaching children. Locke felt that children would respond more to positive reinforcement, than to negative reinforcement in the form of punishments. Locke believed that the previous practices of “breaking the will” of children was harmful to their education and persons.
Locke’s ideas of freedom greatly influenced revolutionary writings. This is evident in the Declaration of Independence. The beginning paragraph starts off by saying “all men are created equal” and that they are entitled to certain, “inalienable” rights. Locke believed that governments were created to protect these rights of men. The Declaration reprimands the King of England for ignoring his duty to protect his subject’s rights when the document states, “He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.”
John Locke realized that the more the people were praised for the good things they did, rather than have that overlooked and always looked at the punishment of the bad things, the more good things seemed to be happening. The way this issue continued to be stressed made people make it a priority, as well as somewhat framed the revolution because it made them want to better their lives.
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