Grantham University Freedom and Philosophy Acting Freely Paper
Question Description
We looked at “Freedom” this week, but as the term ends, it is always agood idea to try to tie together different ideas in order to see thecoherency.
While you are writing, please do not use the textbook or anyoutside materials. You can mention things in the textbook, but you willnot have time to look them up. The paper you write is intended to giveyou the opportunity to express your philosophical viewpoints.
Please take a few minutes to read through the two choices forthe first part, to choose one of them, to figure out your views, and toscribble down a skeleton outline for an argumentative essay. You will betrying to prove that your view is the best one.
Make sure you include:
An introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement,
At least two evidentiary paragraphs, each offering supporting points,
A brief summary of the opposition’s main point and a refutation of it, and
A summarizing conclusion.
After you have answered either Question A or Question B in Part 1, go to Part 2 and answer the single question there as well.
PART 1
In a well-developed short essay, address the prompts for one of the choices below:
Question A
Freedom and Morality. In Chapter 18 of The Prince,Machiavelli offers advice for future rulers: “Everyone admits howpraiseworthy it is for a political leader to keep his word and to behavewith integrity rather than cunning. Nevertheless, our experience hasbeen that those leaders who have done great things have consideredkeeping their word of little account and have known how to beguile men’sminds by shrewdness and cunning. Occasionally, the words of leadersmust serve to hide the facts. But the lies should be told in such a waythat the general population does not become aware of them; or, if thelies are discovered, excuses must be ready at hand to be producedimmediately. In the end, the leaders most likely to reach their goalsand sway the people are those who have not relied on integrity or onkeeping their word.”
Contrastingly, Aristotle said that we are not free if ouractions are caused or influenced by external compulsion (includingdeceit or insufficient evidence).
The old joke asks, “How can you tell a politician is lying?”And, the classic answer is, “His lips are moving.” Americans have alwayssuspected that their politicians leaders tell falsehoods, and recentnational leaders have even admitted that they “misspoke” (i.e., lied) onnumerous occasions to the American people.
Define freedom in your own terms, specificallyoutlining those aspects of yourself that you consider the basis of yourown conception of “acting freely.” To what extent can people truly befree if they are living in a society where their leaders routinely lieto them in order to gain the common man’s compliance? To what extent isit possible or impossible for a person to be “acting freely” when helacks the relevant (and truthful) information needed for hisdecision-making? Explain which type of government you believe providesthe most individual freedoms and that you personally believe would bemore preferable to live inan immoral and powerful government that liesto the people or a weak but moral government in which the leaders alwaystells the truth. Defend your position for why your choice is moredesirable than the alternative.
Question B
Freedom and Self. Define freedom in your own terms,specifically outlining those aspects of yourself that you consider thebasis of your own conception of “acting freely.”
An idea we were left with from the textbook is that people areso largely influenced by both nature and nurture that it is difficult tomake any sort of decision which has not already been affected by bothinternal and external influences; our “self identities” are not acreation of own but largely the product of biology and relationships.But, choosing to “act freely” implies that we are choosing freely,without influences affecting our choices.
Think back to our discussion of the “essential self” in Week 4as you address the following questions. To what extent does yourconception of “acting freely” include playing roles and interacting withother people? To what extent do other people limit your freedom? Howcan your “essential self” be free choose to “act freely” while living ina world in which you are bound by obligations to various kinds of otherpeople? Under which conditions would you be confident to declare thatyou had freely chosen a “free act”?
PART 2
In no more than one or two paragraphs, answer the following:
As you reflect on your work and your learning in this class,what has been the most important skill you have mastered, insight youhave secured, or knowledge you have gained? With respect to the skill,insight, or knowledge you have identified, why is that thing importantto you and in what ways, and to what ends will you be able to use itlater on?
Grading Criteria Assi
