Core 102
The Idea of Democracy
Roger Williams University
Section 01 LLC TTH 09:30AM 10:50AM GHH 108
Section 18 ELI TTH  12:30PM   1:50PM  GHH 108
Spring Semester, 2015
Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.
Office: GHH 215
Hours: M 2:00-3:20  Th - Th: 11:00-12:00 
Or By Appointment
Phone:  ext 3230
E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu
if the above doesn't work, click on the picture to find additional resources
Due: Sunday, March 8,  2015   by Midnight.  Note the change of Date
Submit by Bridges
Remember if you have a MAC, I cannot open .Pages files. Submit as .doc, .docx, or .pdf

VOLUNTARY Draft for comments to be submitted on Bridges by Thursday February 26

Length: About five pages.  I’ll read more quite happily.

USING ONLY THE DOCUMENTS ASSIGNED FROM THE CORE CANON, plus your own thoughts and ideas, write a reflective essay responding to this question:
Is it possible to believe in Democracy if one doesn’t also believe in Reason (critical thinking)? What should one do if one’s reason disagrees with certain laws or policies of the government of the country in which one is a citizen?
Use These Documents:

What is Enlightenment? (Kant)
Cicero on the Laws (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
Democracy and Despotism (Euripides, from The Suppliants)
Socrates and Socrates and the Philosophical Life
Government by the Middle Class (Aristotle)

NOTE:I’ve listed them in the order in which we read them.  Use them in any order which makes sense to your ideas and argument.

As you write this, remember what Kant said: “Have the courage to use your own reason”.