Jean-Jacque Rousseau has been remembered as the philosopher behind the ideals of the French Revolution; however, this is not exactly true. Rousseau believed in the popular will, in other words, he wanted something like universal suffrage and an elected aristocracy. Rousseau believed that society’s laws were rooted in the social contract. According to his theory, authority is granted by the people in return for goods from those in power. As a result, if the government does not provide those goods, then its authority may be reduced or eliminated. In addition to these thoughts, Rousseau also argued for a simple, rural lifestyle governed by simplicity and reason.
Edmund Burke, on the other hand, has been remembered as the first person to predict the eventual violence of the French Revolution. Burke believed that political systems shouldn’t be governed by reason, as reason cannot be trusted. Instead, Burke believed that tradition is the best way to organize our lives. By following older models, Burke believed we could ensure gradual change. Gradual change is much safer, and more respectful towards human nature than radical shifts, even if they are governed by reasonable theories. An interesting aspect of Burke’s thought is his argument that while the French Revolution was wrong, because it was rooted in rational thought, the American Revolution was correct, because it simply asked to be given back its old traditional rights.
Please be prepared to share in class. [edit: you still need to post your responses!]
- 1. Do you believe that we can trust our own rational thoughts? Explain.
- 2. Can tradition be rational? Explain.
- 3. Whose (Rousseau’s or Burke’s) opinions resonate more with your own? Explain.
18 comments:
1. I believe that we can trust our own rational thoughts to a certain extent. For example, before crossing a street rational thinking tells us to check the street for cars. If it is clear then we can cross the street, and we trust our rational. In some situations, however, we can’t trust our own reasoning or logic to tell us what is the right thing to do. Sinful human nature distorts our rational. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.” Frequently, we must rely on God’s reasoning rather than our own.
2. Yes, tradition can be rational. Tradition is defined as “the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation” (Dictionary). Rational means to be based on reason or logic. Therefore, if a custom that is based on reason and is handed down from generation to generation then it would be a rational tradition. An example of this can be seen in the branches of the US government. The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches all work together to make, enforce, and judge American laws. This tradition was laid out in our constitution because it was a rational solution for maintaining a balance of power.
3. While Rousseau’s social contract could work well in a perfect world, and I do not agree fully with either view, Burke’s idea of taking things back to their traditional roots resonates more with me. If, for example, America was to go back to the original ideals and beliefs of its forefathers, we would probably be better off. However, sometimes changes do need to be made that do not follow an old tradition.
I think that at times we can trust our own rational thoughts, but we should not rely on them completely. I think we can trust our rational thoughts to the extent of common sense, but not much further than that. Mankind is sinful and flawed, and our thoughts will not always be good or beneficial even though we may think they are. At times I think mankind can get fooled into thinking that we are wiser than we really are. I think you really have to be careful trusting your rational thoughts, because you are looking for wisdom from your self or from other sinful man. As Christians we should always look to God for ultimate wisdom.
I think that tradition can be rational, but we should not always fall into the pattern of just following tradition without question. If we are following a tradition, because we really are convinced that it is the best way to go about something, then yes, I would say it is rational. If we are just following tradition, though because it is what has always been done, then I think we have to be wary of getting caught in a bad habit, and not making improvements.
I think I would lean more towards Rousseau’s view, because I think just getting caught in a pattern of following tradition isn’t always a good thing, especially if that tradition is not beneficial, and should have major changes made to it. I read the short story this summer “The Lottery”. The story is fictional, and rather dark, but shows how a town has gotten caught in a tradition that is harmful to the people, and even though the tradition has changed slightly over time, the people will not brake away from it because it is what they have always done. I think if this is the case, tradition should not be followed. Sometimes major change is needed.
1. We can trust our rational thoughts, but only so far. There are simple things where we can asses the situation and make a decision based on our rational thinking. But, because we are sinners, most of the time, relying upon our own thinking can lead us astray and can get us into deep trouble. That is why we need to look to the Bible for instruction. It is our ultimate authority and we should not depend upon our sinful thinking.
2. Tradition can very well be rational. If we look at what other people have done in the past and the good results they have gotten, then we can trust that fact and rely on tradition to determine our rational. But, if the opposite is true, then we must look to make it better than what it was before so people can rely on tradition for their rational.
3. After looking at the two different views, I would have to say that although Rousseau makes a very good argument for trying to make things better, I think relying on tradition with Burke resonates more with me. If I am faced with a tough decision and I need examples or advice, I would look back to tradition and see what other people did to help determine what would be best in that situation. However, if there needs to be some sort of change, then I do believe that would necessary.
The course pack says to write a blog post in response to these questions but the blog says just be prepared to share the answers to the questions in class. I'm assuming that we follow what the blog says.
Although I firmly believe that God has gifted humanity with the ability to think, process, create, and feel unlike any other, I do not think that we can conclusively trust our own rational thought. Granted, because God has given us the ability to think, our reason is sometimes correct. God has given us the innate ability to determine right from wrong and the freedom to exercise this capability. However, our reason is seriously flawed on account of human nature. From a scientific standpoint, our cognitive biases impair our reason in ways we may not even realize. My point is that the only “rationality” we can be completely dependent on is God’s, but it is not wrong to recognize and put into use our God-given ability to reason.
I believe that tradition can be rational. There are institutions in any hierarchy that find their roots steeped in tradition. I do maintain that any “traditional” thought should be complemented by contemporary reason. As the world is constantly changing and ideas evolving, I believe that a healthy mix of modern rationality and traditional influence are essential to a stable culture.
Although both Rousseau and Burke have ideas with which I would beg to differ, I lean towards Rousseau’s line of thought. I think that relying solely on tradition can be dangerous. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, we see how as the world was changing, Okonkwo’s attempt to keep things as they had always been after his return from the motherland failed miserably. I believe that history is important because it teaches us to look at the past mistakes and successes of others. That is when tradition can potentially be a favorable factor in society. However, as I argued before, tradition should almost always be accompanied by modern rationale. The world is constantly changing, and there is a healthy balance between being cyclically stuck in the past and completely disregarding traditional values.
Rational is defined as “using reason or logic in thinking out a problem, in accordance with the principles of logic or reason, and reasonable, of sound mind; sane” (Dictionary.reference.com). I believe that we generally can trust our rational thoughts. We use rational thinking in our every day decisions. For example, we are more likely to buy a cheaper item that a more expensive one or to choose the thing that is for sale. However we can’t trust our own rational reasoning because as sinful humans we often let our own selfish wills distort our rational thinking.
Tradition can be rational because it has been used and tested from generation to generation, but only if it is based on unbiased reason because as I said before, we are sinful beings who can repeat bad decisions. Throughout the centuries different groups have been excommunicated or even experienced genocide because of discrimination on race, religion, culture, and appearances. And only after the fact do people realize their mistakes. We cannot always look to tradition to guide us, but sometimes it is necessary.
While Rousseau’s social contract contains admirable ideas like social religion, I’m not sure they are plausible. Burke’s ideas of following tradition make more sense. Political leaders often ask Queen Elizabeth for advice because she has experienced so much history and can make wise decisions. In that way tradition can help our world. However, traditions are not always the right way to follow. I’m reminded of the story of Fiddler on the Roof where there is a battle between the old and the new traditions. Traditions can be valuable, but not all of them. There is a constant battle between the traditions that constrain us to the past and those that allow us to progress into the future.
1. As human beings we were created by God to make somewhat intelligent choices. Our rational choices can, to a certain extent, be trusted but clearly not all the time since we are imperfect beings. Our minds can make decisions on the small things, but when it comes to larger matters it gets harder for our human minds to remain perfectly rational. Man is sinful above all things and most of the time we will choose to sin, especially if it supposedly "benefits" our personal situation. Only through God can we truly make the right decision.
2. I think tradition can most certainly be rational although it all comes down to what that tradition is based upon. Many cultural, as well as governmental traditions finds its roots in clear reasoning/thought. As long as the ideas behind these practices are not founded on fantasy, traditions can very well be rational practices.
3. I must say that out of both Rousseau and Burke's mindsets I'd have to resonate more with Burke. (Though there are many things I disagree with) I chose his point of view over Rousseau simply because you can't base a perpetually proficient and beneficial government around human reasoning. Burke argued that making operations simpler/taking them back to their beginnings leads to a steadier rate of growth. If we focus on making government and culture more simple it would be more productive in a positive way.
I'd say in general we can trust our own rational thoughts. Such as when deciding whether something is safe or not. Other times however our views are skewed and unreliable. We might think it a good idea to stay up all night watching movies because it it fun but on the other end the next day it becomes evident sleep would have been better. In a different situation, maybe we're in an argument. Often times we will fight for our side without considering the other's point of view. In this case your thoughts may seem rational to you, but could be totally irrational when looking at the bigger scope of things.
Yes, I believe tradition can be rational, but it usually isn't. Especially today there are traditions passed down from generation to generation simply because it was celebrated by our parents. Religious traditions all have a story behind them as to when and why it became an important thing. I was just reading in Esther about the Jewish celebration, Purim. I'm sure there are Jews years later who would celebrate it because everyone else did and the food was good, all without truly caring and realizing that it was all about how God used Esther to save his people from being wiped out. So yes, I think tradition is good because it is tried and true by people in the past, but every so often it is good to reevaluate and understand why it works and maybe who first brought it about.
I'd have to say that I agree more with Burke although there are flaws to simply following the footsteps of others. Rousseau's idea makes sense except when it comes down to it, people don't bother with reasoning. They would prefer to do what everyone else does. In a world of highly educated people, perhaps. Perhaps simplicity and reason would be enough. AS it is though, tradition seems like the better route.
I believe that mankind can trust our own rational thoughts, however we cannot be so gullible as to unconditionally trust them. One can trust our rational thought that if a cookie jar is sitting out in the open with no one guarding it, it would not be moral to take what does not belong to you. However, the bible clearly says that the heart is desperately wicked above all things. That is a clear statement proving that we are naturally inclined to sin, but in some cases, our own rational thoughts to pull a child out of the way of an oncoming bus are moral.
I believe that tradition can contain the potential to be rational, however, similar to rational thought, that is not always the case. One family's tradition may include giving hats and gloves to the homeless on thanksgiving every year, this would be culturally a moral and rational thing to do. On the contrary, another (crazy) family might have the tradition to go and steal all the clothes and change from homeless people every year, this would not be rational nor moral.
Although I believe that new changes can/should be made during the proper time and situation, I believe for the most part that following the foundations set forth by America's founding fathers would lead to a generally more moral society. I do not think I could necessarily decide between the two given opinions...
1. Yes and no, I believe it depends on the situation. I think being rational is good when it comes to simple situations. But for more complicated situations I think sometimes it is necessary to go past what is rational and sometimes take the irrational choice.
2. Yes tradition can be rational on occasions. We born to think rational so this means no matter where we get our tradition from it will have some sort of rationalism in it. Although some traditions can be completely opposite of rational.
3. I agree with Burke's opinions more than Rousseau's. Mainly because I believe life is always changing and if we try to live by the ways of old then that will lead to disaster.
FWI this is Rylan
While I would agree that God created humans with the ability to think creatively and logically, I do not believe that we should exclusively trust our own rational thought. I do not mean that our own thinking is always wrong, but we are not perfect…and neither are our judgments and perceptions. I believe that humans were made with an inner compass, or conscious, that helps us determine whether or not something is right or wrong. But we are fallible beings. We cannot simply rely on our own rationale. As in all actions, I think we should turn to God as the perfect judge, instead of leaning on “our own understanding.”
I think tradition can be rational. Many thriving institutions are deeply grounded in years of tradition. The danger of this is that a long carried tradition is not up to date with contemporary ideals, and the reason for carrying on a custom can be lost in a cyclical pattern of carrying on a tradition just for the sake of tradition. I would agree that it is important to carry on some tradition. Learning from the past is key for success. But I also think that contemporary leaders should reevaluate traditions to determine whether or not it is the most effective way to function.
In my opinion both Rousseau and Burke have many flaws in their way of thinking, however I am leaning towards Rousseau’s ideas as the best option. Burke neglected to realize that not all tradition is exemplary. It is concerning to me that, while some tradition can be beneficial, tradition also has the potential to cause a lot of harm on a society. Cultures are not stagnant, and something that was an appropriate tradition in the past may harm later generations. There should be a constant balance between the ideals carried throughout history and the present values.
As Christians reason and faith do not stand alone but instead are integrated together. Some Christians think that faith and reason are in conflict with one another and in a way one takes over where the other left off, but this is far from the truth. We as Christians can most assuredly trust our rational thinking as long as it is backed up by biblical rational. In the bible we are encouraged to reason with others (Isaiah 1:18). For example, as Christians we have a good reason to believe what we believe and we should share our sound reasoning with others. But we must not forget our faith, trusting in God and not leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Therefore we are supposed to trust God regardless of whether his word makes sense to us or not. Simply we are to acquire biblical reasoning and faith. Without one we cannot have the other. In summation, if our rational thought is biblical and our faith is strong we as Christians can trust our rational thoughts.
Yes, I believe tradition can be rational. It is wise as a country or culture to look back on history and learn from past mistakes or add modern thinking to ideologies or theories that have worked in the past. It is only rational to look back on history at foundational traditions and translate those with a modern viewpoint that fit today’s culture.
I resonate with Burke more than I do with Rousseau. Burke is not asking us to aimlessly follow history and get stuck in old cultural ideas, but instead he is asking us to learn from history and use what was seen as good and prosperous and translate it into a more efficient modern perspective. The major reason I disagree with Rousseau’s theory is because I do not see it as a moral theory. Contractarianism seems to me the opposite of morality because morality involves denying one’s self interests. A contract seems to only have selfish ambitions to see what one can get out of the contract. Ultimately, I believe tradition can be a useful tool for our modern day thinkers, politicians, and leaders.
1. I do believe that to some degree we can trust our rational thoughts. However, as sinful human beings are thoughts can be sinful and lead us to do wrong. I think if we check and make sure that our rational thoughts are honoring and right in Christ’s eyes, we can than trust them, “ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Many of our rational thoughts are good and helpful to us, such as telling us if something is to hot that it will burn or be harmful. But our rational thoughts are tempted by the world to think all different kinds of ideas on what is right or wrong. But our sinful nature is why we cannot always trust our rational thoughts.
2. I think tradition can be rational as it is useful and helpful in many different circumstances. Tradition can be helpful and useful as it gets passed down from generations, but as time moves and systems of authority, religion, beliefs, culture, and all different changes come about, sometimes the tradition needs to be adjusted to fit the circumstances of the time.
3. Between Rousseau’s and Burke’s opinions, I have to say I agree more with Burke’s view of tradition. Although, tradition at times has to have adjustments and changes made to it. Because each generation lives in a sinful world and in return can make sinful decisions or choices which can effect the traditions and future generations, therefore these traditions passed down throughout the years must be looked over and if necessary changed. Traditions give insight and wisdom to future generations. Many traditions give people knowledge and in understanding of historical situations, in which they can learn and apply for future circumstances. Although. I do believe that even though tradition can be very helpful and useful for many it should not be the only source in which men are to get wisdom, understanding, or direction from.
1. God gave humans the gift of reasoning so that we can logically sort out problems and discern right from wrong. However, when sin entered the world that reasoning was compromised and through sin human’s ability to have perfect rational thoughts has been distorted. We have an intuition of common sense which tells us to stop eating when we are too full or to head to shore when we are tired of swimming; but there are many times when we are faced with decisions where we make mistakes and rely on our own thoughts and decisions rather than the Lords. Thankfully, He has given us some guidelines in the Bible which help us make better decisions, but without those guidelines I don’t believe that humans can fully trust their own rational thoughts.
2. I think tradition can be rational, but it depends on what the tradition is. For example, for many years teens have the tradition of “egging” people’s houses on Halloween. In this tradition teens are only repeating what other teens did before them and I would be quick to argue very irrational. On the flip side, one of my friends has a tradition of baking a dozen cookies for every member of their business (this comes out to a couple gallons of cookies per each year). They do this so they can honor and thank their employees, every year the staff look forward to the tasty “thank you” and it builds excitement and joy in the office environment, I would call this is a rational tradition.
3. Despite the fact that neither Burke nor Rousseau seem to have arguments that I completely agree with, I find myself resonating more with Burke. Rousseau based his Social Contract on people’s reasoning and as I mentioned previously, our human reasoning is flawed and shouldn’t be fully trusted. Not only that, but many people tend to make quick decisions based on how they feel more than how they reason. This would cause many issues in Rousseau’s contract and I don’t believe that it would work simply because we lived in a flawed and sin-filled world. While Burke does also have issues, I believe that looking back to tradition and learning from success’ and failures of the past can bring about a better future.
1. I don’t believe we can. What might seem rational to us might not be as rational as we think. As humans, our thought process is often skewed. We don’t have 20/20 vision all the time. Also, rationality isn’t the only thing our thoughts should be base on. Sometimes a little emotion is needed in our decisions.
2. I believe tradition can be both rational and not rational. We have practices that should be continued because they are practical and reasonable. For example, communion isn’t just rational, it is also essential for the Christian. There are other times, however, when tradition starts to get in the way of reason. We do things that we’ve been doing for years, but maybe aren’t very reasonable. Another example is there was a church that always put a cloth over the communion food. They didn’t know why, but they did it. Turns out, the church, when it didn’t have air conditioning and had to open the windows, put the cloth over the food to keep the flies away. The church continued putting the cloth on, but it wasn’t very rational.
3. Edmund Burke’s opinion resonates more with me. There are good traditions that we should continue to follow. We just need to know the reason behind those traditions. Also, there are practices that our ancestors did that I think would be good if we continued to follow them. I also agree with gradual change. I think that sits better with humans than our entire way of life changing all at once.
Post a Comment