He just looks Frenchie. Just add wine, cheese, and a beautiful flowing Voltaire wig.We discussed his views of positivism and his idea of how society undergoes three phases, which the are theological, the metaphysical, and the positive. He also coined the best term ever, which lead to the creation of the best academic discipline to ever exist ever, hint: IT'S SOCIOLOGY! end hint, so he was a pretty cool guy. We went with one factual question and could not decide on a discussion question so I will just post all four.
First the factual question:
T/F Auguste Comte coined the term sociology?
True!
Discussion questions (posted in the order of Tim, Lacey, Shannon, and Megan respectively):
Do you agree with Comte's idea that society undergoes three phases, which are the theological, the metaphysical, and the positive, in its quest for the truth according to a general 'law of three stages'?
Do you agree with Comte's idea that atheists are too interested and focused on "holding up an empire of Reason?" Do you think he believed that theists rejected reason?
Do you agree that asking the philosophical question of "how?" over "why?" will yield more useful answers or theories?
Do you think Comte's belief in a need for sociology was reflected in any way in his distaste for atheism? How can these two concepts be related?
He would have looked so much more sensational with a Voltaire wig on...
ReplyDeleteI'll answer Lacey's question.
I think Atheists seem preoccupied with upholding an "Empire of Reason" if only because it is their main opposition to Christianity, on which their argument is interdependent. Atheist's mission does not seem to be to expand what they argue, just continue to modify how they present their argument against the existence of a higher being. For the second part of the question, I don't think Comte was saying theists are devoid of reason per se, just that that's not the base point of their belief. They have an "Empire of Faith" contradicted by Atheist's "Empire of Reason," and Comte keeps those two spheres separate.
Americana Questions
Factual:
T/F - All of the names associated with Americana (Edison, Harrison, Johnson, Goldman, Sanger, and Twain) were firm defenders of Christianity and belief.
Discussion:
Which Americana writer do you think had the most lasting impact? Which had the most controversial statements or arguments? (And why).
I will answer Tim's question:
ReplyDeleteAs a community or society, I believe that the three stages occur. But when looking at it on an individual perspective, I don't think that everyone undergoes all of the stages and I don't think that they may even present themselves in that particular order. It is possible that the third stage (the positive stage) may come before the other ones, or that the other ones may not be present in someone at all. They may only rely on the rational.
My questions:
Factual:
True or False, President Hoover deported female atheist and philosopher Emma Goldman to the Soviet Union. (True)
Discussion:
Hubert Harrison said, "Entre nous, I doubt whether I will ever be anything but an honest Agnostic because I prefer, as I once told you, to go to the grave with my eyes open." What is your stance on agnosticism? Do you think that agnostics tend to be more open or was Harrison's statement more of a contradiction?
Yes, with a little rouge...he would have been HOT!
ReplyDeleteI will answer Shannon's question:
I believe this idea of asking "how" over "why" can be explained through Comte's ideas of sociology because this is something sociology is concerned with and strives to ask. That is, asking how something is constructed instead of why, because for all intents and purposes we know why it is constructed, will yield more results as to the actual construction itself. Therefore, I do believe that asking how over why does yield more results and also more poignant questions.
My questions:
Factual:
T/F: The 1920's saw a burst in creative activity among African American artists, writers, and social commentators based in Harlem in New York City/
True
Discussion:
How were African Americans in Harlem encouraged to become more creative and how has this changed Black culture within American culture?
I will answer my own question:
ReplyDeleteMaybe Compte observed that when people have faith, reason doesn't always matter. This would of course come from his observation of society. Perhaps he thought society might be better in some aspects with religion.
Americana Factual:
True or False? Mark Twain didn't believe in God.
False
Americana Discussion:
Hubert Harrison said "there are needs, not merely ethical but spiritual, inspirational…these also must be filled," while Emma Goldman argued that humans are stronger without religion as they are faced to answer fundamental questions on their own. Who do you tend to agree with more and why?