Enlightenment Socratic Seminar Questions

Enlightenment Socratic Seminar

1)Historians consider the Enlightenment to be a Golden Age because it helped to bring about an end to the Middle Ages. Is this a fair evaluation? Were the Middle Ages better than the Enlightenment in any way? Was the Enlightenment worse than the Middle Ages?
2)Of the core new philosophic ideas of the Enlightenment, which has the greatest impact on your daily life, and why?
3)How would you define the term Scientific Revolution? In what ways was it truly revolutionary? Which is more enduring, a political revolution or an intellectual one?
4)How did Issac Newton reconcile his scientific discoveries with his faith in God? How about Bacon? Are reason and faith compatible?
5)Compare and contrast the philosophies of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. How did each view human nature? Would you rather live under a government designed by Hobbes or Locke? Why?
6)Of the scientists that we have discussed (Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, Bacon, Pascal, Descartes) who is the most important and why?
7)Many of the philosophers of the Enlightenment believed that Absolutism was the best path to natural rights. In class, we looked at the reasons why this system (Enlightened Absolutism) did not work in reality. Is there any way that it COULD work? What would you need? Does Absolutism have any advantages over democracy?
8)Jean Jacques Rousseau believed that people were basically good and that society made them do bad things. Do you agree or disagree? Give examples from your own experience.
9)Explain as many points of specific influence of the Enlightenment on American government as is possible.
10)How did the Scientific Revolution cause the Enlightenment? Was the goal of the Enlightenment a reasonable one?

Preview of Week Beginning 03/22

Enlightenment Continued

Green Day

Mon: Absolutism class research and grading activity. Homework: Wollstonecraft Profile
Wed: Enlightenment Cartoon student product. Homework: Complete Cartoon
Fri: Persuasive Essay Workshop I. Homework: Draft Essay

White Day

Tue: Absolutism class research and grading activity. Homework: Wollstonecraft Profile (Hon) Attempts to Maintain Centralized Power
Wed: Enlightenment Cartoon student product.
(Hon) Socratic Seminar in place of Cartoon activity. Homework: Complete Cartoon

Preview of Week Beginning 03/14

This is a four day week for students, as Friday is a teacher workshop day. I have been profoundly disappointed by general student performance recently, as exemplified by general poor test scores, despite two sessions of review in preparation. I am setting aside a day this week for intensive remediation.

Green

Mon - Part II of the Enlightenment lecture. Quiz. Need 2 Know sheet for homework.
Wed -

White

Tue - Part II of the Enlightenment lecture. Quiz. Need 2 Know sheet for homework. (Hon) Primary source.
Wed - test remediation and reflection. Class performance discussion. (Hon) Learning extension.