Core 102History and the Modern World

The Idea of Democracy

Roger Williams University

Section 01 LLC T, TH   09:30AM-10:50 AM GHH 205

Section 04 ELI  T, TH   12:30PM- 02:00 PM  GHH 106

Spring  Semester, 2016

Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.

Office: GHH 215

Hours: M, W, F, 12:00-1:30

Or By Appointment

Phone:  ext 3230

E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu

Due  Friday, March 4, submitted via Bridges Assignments

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 Friday,  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 (lots of them), write a reflective essay responding to this question:

If thinking isn't enough--then click on the link to find out how the Writing Center can help you.

• First, is it possible to believe in Democracy if one doesn’t also believe in Reason (critical thinking)? 
  

• Second, If we all used our reason, would we still need government?  Why or why not.? Don't forget you may need to define what reason is.
  

Use These Documents (as many as you choose):

What is Enlightenment? (Kant)

Democracy and Despotism (Euripides)

Cicero on the Laws (Marcus Tullius Cicero)

Government by the Middle Class (Aristotle)

Letter to the Town of Providence (Williams)

The Social Contract (Hobbes)

Property and Government From Second Treatise on Government (Locke)

NOTE: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”.   Use the files you've marked up and submitted.  I've included links here for those who have not completed their mark up Drop Box assignments.