Having spent a short time in Rome, we're going to get into our time machine and move fast forward to 1630 and the founding of Massachusetts Bay. John Winthrop was the first Governor, and he served as governor many times, the town of Winthrop, Massachusetts, is named after him. Unfortunately, there was no Logan Airport into which he could fly. He traveled on The Arabella, which you see (as imagined) in the postcard to the left. He probably might have preferred to fly, had that been an option, for the trip by sea took from March 29 to June 17th, 1630, and the weather was horrible much of the time. You can read about it in John Winthrop's Journal, here.
Here is what I want you to think about as you mark up
A Model of Christian Charity
1. You will notice that like Aristotle, Winthrop seek a society as a group divided into different classes of people. Unlike Aristotle, he sees this as part of a divine "Grand Plan", which is for the benefit of all, regardless of social standing. He gives three reasons. See if you can paraphrase them (use a sticky note) and indicate which of these is most convincing to you (you may not be convinced by any of them, but perhaps one stands out as a "better" reason than the other two).
2. Notice that Winthrop makes distinctions between "Justice" and "Mercy" and "Law of Nature" and Law of Grace" (the second being "moral law". He doesn't say much about the "Law of Nature". If you can figure out what he might mean by this make a note. (We'll come back to this when we take a look at Thomas Hobbes a little later). What is the principle idea behind the moral law, and do you agree with it, or disagree with it?
3. He makes quite an assertion in his "thirdly". Is he right about his view of "law of nature" or is there a different interpretation one might make of "natural law". Either way, what do you think about the idea of "Loving your enemies"? Is this a good idea? What might cause "enmity" between people and groups of people. (Think back to some of the things we've read from the ancient philosophers).
4. He proceeds to make a rather astounding assertion: "Lastly, when there is no other means whereby our Christian brother may be relieved in his distress, we must help him beyond our ability rather than tempt God in putting him upon help by miraculous or extraordinary means." He then uses a very interesting (I think) form of argument. He begins with with "Questions", then imagines "Objections" and supplies answers to those "objections" Provides the body of his "sermon"--which he delivered before he let anyone disembark. Do you find the "objections" reasonable, or does he adequately answer them? Mark the "reasonable" ones and the "unreasonable" ones, with different color markups. Remember to give your code so a reader can know which are which.
Finally is gives one of the most famous conclusions of all time: "The City on the Hill". It is hard to imagine these Puritans stepping off the boat into something close to a "wilderness" given what Boston is like today. Two final things: IF we followed Winthrop's advice, how would the country be different today? and, IF we are generally ignoring Winthrop what problems is that causing us? Make this your final markup.
This is a panoramic map from the nineteenth century. It should help show where the "City on a Hill" metaphor came from. Click on the map to find this and other samples from the Library of Congress Map Collection
Here is what I want you to think about as you mark up
On Liberty
This shouldn't take you as long. It is only a page and a half long. Nonetheless, there are some things worth discussing. The background, as you will see from the Encyclopedia Britannica brief biography you can find by clicking on the image, top left (You do remember to click on images don't you?) for this short essay is a dispute between one of the Massachusetts towns and John Winthrop. He was impeached and brought to court for exceeding his authority. Though acquitted, he felt the need to respond publicly to the charges, which shamed him. To do so, he writes about civil authority, and about magistrates who enforce and sometimes create civil law. Two things to note:
First Note the context--Magistrates are "called" from among the people. What does this have to do with Democracy? Is there anything "special" about a Magistrate, compared to other people. What can people expect from a magistrate, and when can they call him to account? Find his answer and indicate your agreement or disagreement.
Second, You'll notice some theories which we would call "sexist" in an analogy which he makes. Laws have changed since those days, and we will look at treatment of women a bit later in the semester. Look at the analogy he makes to marriage, and in a brief note, indicate how he uses this to explain what good citizens do, once they've selected a magistrate from among themselves.
Ironically, Reverend Nathaniel Ward, who as "The Simple Cobbler" was himself persecuted and forced to flee his native England for a number of years before he returned there to die. Agawam has changed since Ward's day, and not just in spelling. Click on the map to see what is there now. Some of you may have visited it.
Here is what I want you to think about as you mark up
Against Toleration
The toughest thing about this short document will be the "Old English" spelling. It could be worse: the version could have used the old fashioned typography as well. To see what that looks like, click here. (If you do look, you can also see what Ward thought about women's fashions and also about the Irish.) I wouldn't worry too much about it. Just three things to ponder:
First, look at the distinction Ward makes between persecution and prosecution. Does he favor one over the other, and if so, why?
Second, Ward writes, "THAT State is wise, that will improve all pains and patience rather to compose, than tolerate differences in religion." What does he mean by this? Note elsewhere that he argues that the Civil State has a duty to exercise control in religious matters--we'll see how the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution treats this idea of Ward.
Third, as we've thought about before--do we see this argument popping up again in this year's election cycle? If so, how. Perhaps you can find a link to something in the news currently, and add that in a note on your marked up paper.
