Influencing U.S. Democracy: Enlightenment Thinkers

Activity: Working with a partner, you will be tasked with gathering information about one of 4 Enlightenment Thinkers and the ideas they contributed to the development of American government. Then, taking on the persona of your assigned philosopher, you will draft a speech to be made to the class in which you convey that philosopher’s ideas and beliefs. Use this sheet to document your cooperative efforts.

Assigned Enlightenment Thinker:

Part I: Gathering Information—use your textbook and given handouts to answer the questions below.

Background Information:

Where was the philosopher born?

What was his upbringing?

What was his job?

Where did he study?

What book(s) did he write?

Philosophical Ideas:

What influences contributed to this thinker’s ideas?

Did this philosopher believe people could govern themselves?

Is humankind good or bad (according to him)?

Beliefs in Government:

What did this thinker believe is the best form of government?

Did this thinker contribute any new political ideas?

Part II: Compose a Speech—compose a 2 minute speech introducing your philosopher. Your speech should:

        ____        Include a brief biography

        ____        Cover the thinker’s philosophy on Government/basic beliefs

        ____        Be presented in a clear and concise fashion

OR

        Write a Letter - write a letter, taking on the persona of your philosopher, to Thomas Jefferson in which you:

          

        ____     Include a brief biography

        ____     Provide advice on how American government should be structured

Part III: Closure—Typing your response below, respond to the following essay prompt as a pair to reflect on the contributions of all 4 philosophers to the development of American government:

The U.S. Constitution was influenced by the ideas of Enlightenment Thinkers such as Locke, Rousseau, Hobbes, and Montesquieu. Select two philosophers. Describe and compare the ideas they contributed to the development of American democracy.

out of these four philosophers: Jeremy Bentham, Joseph Fletcher, Immanuel Kant, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Pick ONE philosopher you agree with on what they believe in and after you pick one of them explaining why you agree with them, brainstorm bullet point ideas about a reflection writing you can potentially write about the person

CAN YOU WRITE A REFLECTION BASED ON THE INFORMATION GIVEN??

MY THESIS STATEMENT:

Immanuel Kant’s philosophy of the categorical imperative aligns with peoples beliefs of the most, because it emphasizes the importance of treating people as end rather than means, promoted the idea of universal ethics, and stress is the significance of individual autonomy in decision making.

NEXT PART IS THREE POINT PROOF EXPLANATION:

POINT 1: Immanuel Kant emphasizes the importance of treating people as end, rather than means. For Kant, human beings have inherent value and dignity, and they should never be treated merely as a means to an end, but always as ends in themselves. This means that individuals should be respected and treated with dignity, regardless of their social status, or usefulness to others. According to Kant, using people as mere means to achieve one’s own goals, is not only an ethical also undermines the dignity of human beings.

PROOF: “A human being however, is not a thing, and hence not something that can be used merely as a means, but must in all his actions always be regarded as an end itself.” (Kant, 113)

EXPLANATION: Here, Kant argues that every person has inherent dignity and worse, and should be treated as an end in themselves, rather than merely as a means to an end. This means that we should not use others for our own purposes, or treat them as objects to be manipulated, but rather respect their autonomy, and treat them with respect and dignity.

POINT 2: Immanuel Kant promoted the idea of universal ethics. Kant believed that ethical principles should be universal and applicable to all human beings. He argued that ethical rules are not based on personal preferences or opinions, but are grounded in reason, and rationality.

PROOF: Kant believed, in the principle of universalizability, which he describes as, “Act only according to that maxim through you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.” (Kant, 109)

EXPLANATION: Kant believed that ethical principles should be universal and applicable to all people. He argued that morality is not relative, and that there are fundamental principles that apply to everyone. This proof supports the point that Kant promoted the idea of universal ethics. Kant argues that morality is not relative and that ethical principles should be universal. He believes that there is only one categorical imperative that should guide all moral actions, which is to act in a way you could will to become a universal law.

POINT 3: Immanuel Kant stress is the significance of individual autonomy in decision making. He believed that individuals have a moral duty to act autonomously and to use their own reason and judgment, to make ethical decisions. He believes individual should not simply follow the rules or conventions of society, but should use their own judgement to determine what is morally right or wrong.

PROOF: Kant states, “So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means.” (Kant,112)

EXPLANATION: Kant’s  emphasis on individual autonomy, highlights the importance of respecting individuals freedom and independence in the moral decision making. This principle suggest that individual should take responsibility for their actions, and not be unduly influenced by external factors, such as societal norms, or pressure from others. It also implies that individuals have a duty to use their own reason and judgement to make a decision that align with moral principles, rather than blindly, following authority or tradition.

THE CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Immanuel Kant’s philosophy of the categorical imperative is a valuable philosophical framework for guiding moral decision making. It emphasizes how crucial it is to view people as ends rather than means, encourages the concept of universal ethics, and highlights the value of individual autonomy in decision making. These ideas are crucial for creating adjust and equitable society that values the inherent worth and dignity of all individuals.

MY THEMATIC STATEMENT: Kant’s philosophy offers a framework for examining ethical behaviour that is relevant, not only in personal decision making but also and broader social and political contexts. By emphasizing the importance of treating people with respect and promoting universal ethics, Kant challenges us to consider the impact of our actions on others, and to strive for a more just and equitable society.

YOUR JOB IS TO TAKE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND CREATE A GOOD AND WELL WORDED REFLECTION. I ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION FOR YOU TO DO SO. HOWEVER, YOU CAN ADD EXTRA SENTENCES AND EXTRA INFORMATION THAT WILL MAKE IT SOUND BETTER. (DONT JUST TAKE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION AND PUT IT ALL IN ONE, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE GOOD USE OF EXTRA WORDS AND SENTENCES TO MAKE THIS SOUND GREAT FOR AN A+) l

PLEASE ANSWER THIS!

Through his emphasis on treating people as ends rather than means, promoting the idea of universal ethics, and emphasizing individual autonomy in decision making, Kant’s philosophy aligns more closely with people’s fundamental beliefs and values. First and foremost, Immanuel Kant placed a great emphasis on the importance of treating people as ends in themselves, rather than merely as a means to an end. He argued that human beings possess inherent dignity and worth, and as such, should always be regarded as ends in themselves. Kant famously stated, “A human being, however, is not a thing and hence not something that can be used merely as a means but must in all his actions always be regarded as an end itself.” (Kant, The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative, 113). This quote serves as evidence of Kant’s belief that people should not be treated as mere tools or objects to achieve one’s own goals or desires, but rather as individuals with their own autonomy and dignity. According to Kant, treating people as mere means to an end is an immoral and unethical act, as it denies them their inherent worth as human beings.

Can you please please either relate this quote to the trolley cart problem or the the holocaust problem where the mother had to suffocate her baby because of then aziz? (whichever one it relates too more)