American Heritage BYU readings

What are the three key elements of a just society according to Sandel?

Welfare, freedom, and virtue

What does Acemoglu and Robinson say about the general welfare of a nation?

Depends on the type of institutions adopted

What are the attributes of a good society according to Plato, St. Augustine, and more?

Community, prosperity, equality, and poverty

What are the different views of human nature and gov't by enlightenment philosophers?

Hobbes (evil, monarchy), Rousseau (noble savage, small institutions, compelled by the majority to uphold democracy), Hume (self-interested, large-scale, cooperation impossible, prisoner's dilemma), and Locke (all men endowed with inalienable rights, 2nd treatise)

What is Harrington's view on gov't?

Should be split into three branches: aristocracy (legislature-senate), democracy (people), and monarchy (executive)

What is the Mayflower Compact?

The people on the Mayflower created their form of gov't and wrote it down

What is Winthrop's argument about inequality?

Ordained by God to help us create a better society, destroy natural liberty and pursue civil liberty

What is the book 'Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America' about?

Written by Fisher, it explores the four British folkways in America

What is Richard Kimball's book 'The Good Society' about?

Visions of the good society from Plato, St. Augustine, and more

What is Richard Kimball's book 'Cooperative Action' about?

Different views of human nature and gov't by enlightenment philosophers

What are the 4 forms of liberty according to Fisher?

Community, soul, hemogenic, reciprocal, total negative

Who is Adam Smith?

Enlightenment philosopher and economist

What is Adam Smith's argument?

Free market leads to maximum welfare

What is Roberts' argument?

Self-interest leads to trade and welfare

What is Paine's main argument in Common Sense?

Support revolutionary cause because kings are not divine

What is the key principle in John and Abigail Adams' Correspondence?

Men and women were not equals

What is Wood's argument in Power and Liberty?

Line between public and private domain has become more clear

What is the book The Quartet: Orchestrating the Second American Revolution about?

The Second American Revolution

What did Ellis argue about Madison?

Madison was able to organize the constitution and establish himself as an intellectual authority figure because of his extensive preparation and study of philosophy, history, and politics.

What is Federalist 10?

Madison's argument that controlling the effects of factions through a large republic is the best way to deal with them.

What did Rakove argue about the convention?

The convention was a miracle that required a long time, George Washington, compromise, and was a difficult process.

What did Elder Oaks argue about the constitution?

The constitution is divinely inspired because it establishes the separation of powers, a written bill of rights, division of powers (federalism), popular sovereignty, and the rule of law and not men.

What did Brutus argue about adopting the constitution?

It would be difficult to take power back from such a large gov't, the large national gov't wouldn't have any barriers from minimizing state power, the constitution gave too many broad powers to the national gov't (such as the necessary and proper clause), and a large republic had never succeeded.

What did Turner argue about the significance of the frontier?

America's geography explains American development and character.

What is Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions?

A declaration made by a group of women abolitionists declaring men and women equal due to the development of American individualism during the 1800s.

What does the 4th of July represent to the free man?

Freedom and prosperity

What does the 4th of July represent to the slave?

Hypocrisy and tyranny

Why did Abraham Lincoln pass antislavery legislation?

Antislavery interpretation of the constitution, radicalization of antislavery legislation, commitment to unify the union.

What are the differences between antislavery and proslavery constitutionalism?

Antislavery: constitution is a moral document, slavery is unconstitutional. Proslavery: constitution is a legal document, slavery is constitutional.

Why wasn't Abraham Lincoln an abolitionist?

He believed in gradual emancipation and colonization.

How did the Civil War affect modern-day America?

Forged the framework for modern-day America.

What did Lincoln declare in the Gettysburg Address?

The future of the nation rests in the hands of the living and their dedication to equality.

What did Lincoln call out in his second inaugural address?

Slavery as the cause of the Civil War.

What did economic changes after the Civil War lead to?

Mass change across the US, increased opportunities for some and challenges for others.

Who were the Progressives?

Group of intellectuals with graduate training within the middle class who aimed to solve social problems via the social gospel and bureaucratic means.

What is 'The subjective necessity of social settlements'?

Essay by Jane Addams on the importance of social settlements in addressing social problems.

What is Wilsonian, 'liberal Internationalism'?

Benevolent imperialism to extend democracy and Christianity.

What is the problem of social and political polarization?

Separation into two teams discourages compromise.

What does Turchin argue about personal self-interest and cooperation?

Relies on social norms and a mixture of self-interest and common good.

What is the problem with the incentives of the FDA?

Inefficient and inconsistent due to being too cautious.

What is the Constitution of Knowledge?

A funnel that filters out truth via institutions.

What are the two biggest enemies of the funnel?

Trolls and false information.

What is the book 'Uncivil Agreement' about?

How politics became our identity.

What is the public goods game?

Illustrates principles of self-interest and common good.

What is the ultimatum game?

Illustrates principles of self-interest and common good.

What is the goal of Wilsonian, 'liberal Internationalism'?

To create a world safe for democracy.

What is the problem with the FDA being too cautious?

It becomes too conservative.

What is the problem with trolls and false information?

They are enemies of the funnel.

What is the book 'War and peace and war' about?

The life cycles of imperial nations.

What is the problem with the FDA being inefficient?

Incentives work against each other.

What is the rattlers and eagles study?

Comparison to modern-day republicans and democrats.

What is the problem with the separation of the country into two teams?

Discourages compromise and encourages conflict.

What is the problem with the FDA being inconsistent?

Incentives work against each other.

What is the book 'Trust, Politics, and Meaning' about?

Gurri's analysis of trust in politics.

What are the principles of the Constitution of Knowledge?

Peer review, replication, specialization, consent, and civic virtue.

What is the cause of the collapse of trust in political institutions?

Decline of traditional social institutions and rise of the internet.

What is Elder Maxwell's argument?

Citizens need to display greater public virtue rather than turn to the gov't for every solution.

What does Elder Maxwell suggest individuals should focus on?

Serving and assisting people in their private sphere.

What must be done to adapt democracy to the digital age?

Reconfiguration.

What is the empty dream that individuals must abandon?

Saving the earth.

What is the title of Elder Maxwell's speech?

America, God Mend Thine Every Flaw.