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Week 1 Reading Questions (Plato, Hobbes, Rousseau, Smith, Freud):
These are the views that typically frame our assumptions about human nature. Answer these questions in your own words. Feel free to wander from the questions to bring up side issues that you think we might want to discuss as well as feel free to skip any questions that you find less interesting. Never feel obligated to answer every question; focus your energy, instead, on the issues that compel you. For this week, everyone should answer parts A and B.
As for format, please write in an informal, conversational style, although be careful to be clear. Single space your answers, but please separate each question and include a sub-heading so I know which question you are answering at a glance (a great shortcut would be to simply write your answers right into this document; just don’t forget to save your work to your computer for emailing to me).
A. First let me ask you a couple questions about the class:
1. What issues, readings, or events would you like to see covered this semester? If you would like some hints at ideas, though I would surely love to hear fresh ones, you can look at what we’ve covered in past semester of this class on my website: go to and then click on “Jeff’s courses” and then “Honors”.
2. What issue, reading, or event would you, perhaps, be willing to prepare for the class? See our website for the core readings and topics I am hoping to get covered, but, of course, you can always suggest new ones. Remember, per the syllabus, your job is preparing the questions and class discussion for one of our class discussions. You will also be reading and commenting the student responses to your reading. What role you play in the class discussion is up to you; I will hardly be the “teacher” in our class discussions, so I surely don’t expect you to.
B. According to you (and please add your reasons/support for your views):
1. Are humans naturally good or bad?
2. Are humans good or bad as we find them today in society?
3. What enables people to carry out acts of evil?
4. Why do the vast majority of people remain bystanders?
5. What could motivate someone to devote themselves to rescue work?
For the following, please read all of our reading selections for this week but then pick 2-3 of them to respond to in writing, using the respective prompts below. It is usually best to pick the one(s) you agreed with the most and the one(s) you disagreed with the most:
C. According to Plato’s Glaucon:
1. Are humans naturally good or bad? Does the ring reveal our true nature?
2. Are humans good or bad as we find them today in society? How do we tend to act in society, and what causes this?
3. What enables people to carry out acts of evil?
4. What compels the vast majority of people to remain bystanders?
5. What do you think of Glaucon? Do you agree? How would you respond?
D. According to Hobbes (a major influence on the US founders):
1. Are humans naturally good or bad?
2. Are humans good or bad as we find them today in society? Is this the reason why most people lock their doors, fear of humans?
3. What enables people to carry out acts of evil?
4. What compels the vast majority of people to remain bystanders?
5. What do you think of Hobbes? Do you agree? How would you respond?
E. According to Rousseau (a major influence on the French founders):
1. Are humans naturally (in their savage state) good or bad? Explain the psychology of sympathy. How does the savage react to suffering?
2. Are humans good or bad as we find them today in society? What are the chief causes of this? How does the civilized person react to suffering?
3. What might enable people to carry out acts of evil?
4. What compels the vast majority of people to remain bystanders?
5. What could motivate someone to devote themselves to rescue work?
6. What do you think of Rousseau? Do you agree? How would you respond?
F. According to Smith (a major influence on modern U.S. political economics):
1. Are humans naturally good or bad? Explain the psychology of sympathy.
2. Are humans good or bad as we find them today in society? What happens to their natural sympathy? What are the civilized person’s main motivations?
3. What might enable people to carry out acts of evil? How does distance affect this?
4. What compels the vast majority of people to remain bystanders? How does distance affect this?
5. What could motivate someone to devote themselves to rescue work?
6. What do you think of Smith? Do you agree? How would you respond?
G. According to Freud:
1. Are humans naturally good or bad? What drives us and how do we naturally feel about others?
2. Are humans good or bad as we find them today in society? What does society do to our drives? What are the pros and cons of society?
3. What enables people to carry out acts of evil?
4. What compels the vast majority of people to remain bystanders?
5. What could motivate someone to devote themselves to rescue work? What might Freud say to such people?
6. What do you think of Freud? Do you agree? How would you respond?
H. Summary:
1. What else should we discuss on our first day?
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