HISTORY SAQ

According to Plato, why should stories and storytellers be controlled?

Young children are easily molded by what they hear, so storytellers and stories should be supervised and approved or rejected based on their influence.

What did we discuss in seminar about Plato?

Whether libraries should restrict children’s access to certain books.

What does this seminar discussion show about Plato’s argument?

His concern with controlling stories applies to modern debates over protecting children by limiting what they encounter.

According to Aristotle, what is a natural slave?

A natural slave can apprehend reason but does not possess or direct it himself and is therefore naturally suited to being ruled.

What did we discuss in seminar about Aristotle?

Whether AI could be considered similar to a natural slave.

What does this seminar discussion show about Aristotle’s argument?

Performing useful tasks may not be enough for self-direction; genuine participation in reason matters.

According to Cicero, how are human roles determined?

Cicero says people have roles arising from their common human nature and from their individual circumstances and choices, with reason helping determine the duties appropriate to those roles.

What did we discuss in seminar about Cicero?

We agreed that people can step outside their assigned roles, while also discussing who should lead and why someone would remain a leader.

What does this seminar discussion show about Cicero’s argument?

Nature does not permanently determine social roles because people can assume roles by choice.

According to Augustine, how do the two cities relate on earth?

The two cities are intermingled on earth, and the Heavenly City makes use of Babylon’s earthly peace while remaining oriented toward God and eternal things.

What did we discuss in seminar about Augustine?

We used lawyers as an analogy for people participating in earthly society while ultimately belonging to the Heavenly City.

What does this seminar discussion show about Augustine’s argument?

Christians can participate in earthly institutions without making the earthly city their ultimate purpose.

According to Aquinas, what is the first precept of natural law?

Good ought to be done and pursued, and evil avoided; all other natural-law precepts are based on it.

What did we discuss in seminar about Aquinas?

We asked how we can determine what is good and evil if natural law begins with this general principle.

What does this seminar discussion show about Aquinas’s argument?

Human reason must identify particular goods and evils rather than merely knowing the general principle.

What are the four kinds of law according to Aquinas?

Eternal, natural, human, and divine law.

How does Aquinas’s account of natural law relate to non-believers?

Natural law can be approached through human reason, not dependent solely on revealed faith.

According to Vitoria, what is the foundation of dominion?

Vitoria grounds dominion in being made in the image of God, with rational capacity supporting the exercise of dominion.

What did we discuss in seminar about Vitoria?

We examined the tension between Vitoria recognizing Indigenous rational capacity and claiming incapacity for self-government.

What does this seminar discussion show about Vitoria’s argument?

Indigenous social organization creates an apparent contradiction between the evidence of their capacity and Vitoria’s claims of incapacity.