Modern and Classic Philosphy
The semester’s second reflection continues our applied ethics approach and lets you use Omoregbe, Epicurus, Epictetus, Confucius, and/or Ibn Tufayl in response to recent testimonies about several different people in American life. You choose from selected primary sources – some are articles; some are podcasts and described below – read and/or listen to them, then, just as with Discussion Thread #3, think about how TWO of the philosophers’ ideas and concepts and claims provide a lens with which to discuss what you find significant or troubling or inspiring in the articles.
You may find yourself troubled (or reassured) by the philosophers’ ideas and claims and, if so, the articles allow the opportunity to challenge (or endorse) the philosophy.
Or, you may find yourself troubled (or uplifted) by the information and particulars in your selected primary sources and, if so, the philosopher’s ideas and claims allow the opportunity to dig into what you find problematic (or moving).
Some questions to consider as you’re noodling around and getting started might be what does it mean to be an Epicurean? Or a Stoic? Or a Confucian? What do we mean by a philosophic tradition and what do different philosophic approaches provide us? What does your subject/topic in the articles and podcast you choose reveal about human nature and the good life? About moral action and moral thought? About community and obligation? These are just brainstorming questions, not questions your reflection must answer as a little checklist.
The team Blackboard site has a new link entitled Reflection #2 Documents. Housed in the link are three folders: Women Activists, Colin Powell, and First Peoples. Each folder has three documents and those are the texts you use, in combination, with two philosophers we have read since the midterm.
While you are required to use two philosophers, you do not need to use all three sources in the folder you choose. Read them all, yes; but you may find one or two more useful or engaging rather than all three – of course, you may find that all three command your attention.
Let yourself settle on some central theme or commonality you find running through all your three of the sources in the folder you choose (Women Activists, Colin Powell, or First Peoples). That will assist you in brainstorming what you may find puzzling or intriguing, confounding or inspiring, troubling or reassuring about the subject matter or the individual(s).
THEN, you can turn to the two philosophers whose ideas and concepts you know will be most useful for you in exploring what you wish to explore that your initial work with the folder documents showed you to be worthwhile.
Use one of the following:
Women Activists comprises three obituaries on three women activists, Sister Megan Rice, Teresa Miller, and Marie Wilcox. Go to the team Blackboard site, click on the new link entitled Reflection #2 Documents, and then the Women Activists folder.
Colin Powell centers on Powell who died on October 18th of this year. The selection includes the link to the BBC World News that day with coverage about Powell including many special contributions by colleagues as well as journalists. Go to the team Blackboard site, click on the new link entitled Reflection #2 Documents, and then the Colin Powell folder.
First Peoples focuses on three different first people’s nations and includes two obituaries and a link to a WBUR/NPR podcast on the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis. Go to the team Blackboard site, click on the new link entitled Reflection #2 Documents, and then the First Peoples folder.
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Earl Old Person
When Earl Old Person died of cancer on October 13, 2021, residents in his Montana state paid their last respect to him by declaring a four-day mourning period. Earl Old person died at the age of 92 years, having served as Chief of the Blackfeet Nation, a native American Indian tribe. He was the longest-serving official (he served for about 70 years) who had been elected on a tribe basis in the United States. During his time as chief, he championed the tribe's self-sufficiency, economic development, and criticized the federal government for excluding Blackfeet Nation during policy-making and implementation. At the funeral, several people commented on Earl's love for his people and culture. Earl's dedication to his people and a desire for the common good are not characteristic of many individuals. His values, pattern of thought, and understanding of the role and nature of human existence are intriguing and in so many ways similar to and aid in understanding Confucius’s and Omoregbe’s view of philosophy.
Confucius
In philosophical terms, Chief Earl Old Person is described as a Confucian. A Confucian is an individual who practices Confucianism, philosophy, and religion that was influenced by Confucius, an ancient Chinese philosopher (Wolf 183). Based on Confucius’ teachings, a Confucian seeks to and focuses on serving humanity, doing good, and having moral and personal ethics. Serving humanity by doing good and shunning evil is one of the most important elements of Confucianism. Chief Earl Old Person embodied this element as seen in his interactions. According to Risen 1, he questioned the untrustworthiness of the federal government. He also championed Blackfeet Nation's economic freedom and self-sufficiency. Since he represented the people well in Congress, the impoverished Blackfeet Nation was linked to the rest of the country and thus able to access government services as he represented them in Congress. These facts point to his inner drive to value humanity and oppose evil. Therefore, Earl helps understand the elements of philosophy (humanity and goodness) proposed by Confucius.
According to Confucius's teachings on religion and philosophy, human beings exist to serve others. People who serve their interests are highly likely to be hated by many. "He who acts out of self-interest arouses much resentment." (Wolf 184). This statement in Readings in moral philosophy indicates that one attracts much hatred if they are selfish. Chief Earl was loved by many people, as evidenced in the way people dedicated themselves to paying his final tribute by erecting tepees, marching in processions on the street, and celebrating his life (Irvine 2). Throughout his life, Earl helped his community through various projects such as entrepreneurship and education, never looking out for his interests. He also interacted well with people, pointing to his good inner personal ethics. “He drank tea with the Shah of Iran…” (Risen 3). His respect for culture and love for his people made him gather friends and remain popular hence capable of serving humanity. As Wolf 188 states, culture is an important part of humanity as people gather friends through culture.
Chief Earl Old Person valued justice. He believed in the equality of people, regardless of race, background, or ethnicity. This explains why he persuaded the federal government top officials to source capital to invest in businesses owned by the Blackfeet populace. Additionally, he aggressively asserted his tribe’s rights (land and mineral rights) against the national government that had blatantly ignored the Blackfeet Nation (Risen 3). People remember him for championing justice and equality for the sake of the tribal nation (Irvine 7). Such acts reveal that he was just and keen on making sure everyone was equal. According to Confucius, “A gentleman considers what is just.” (Wolf 184). In Confucianism, justice means the personal virtue of being unbiased and unselfish. Being just also means distinguishing men’s actions to determine what is unjust. Therefore, by analyzing Chief Earl’s thought process and virtues, we understand the concepts of Confucianism as first philosophized by Confucius, and how they can apply in daily human practices until they become a tradition.
If a Confucian happens to be a leader...