American Intellectual Hist

1. According to Horatio Alger, what does it take to succeed in the American economy? 

If you work hard and get lucky you can move up in society. This text was American propaganda to show that by being selfless and working hard can improve your economic and social class. The main character of the text, Johnny was poor. He began working odd jobs to save up for a sewing machine to help his moms living. Then when he selflessly saved a girl’s life, he was rewarded by her rich father with a sewing machine. Although this act got him the machine, he was still working hard to make a living and it shows that to succeed in the American economy you need to work hard and get lucky.

2. What are the values the Beecher sisters want to instill in their readers? Their book serves as a guide for women on managing their homes and promoting moral and cultural values within the family. They emphasis the importance of women in shaping the domestic sphere, providing practical advice on household management, childcare, education, and social responsibilities. Also advocating for women's empowerment through education in order to better fulfill their traditional roles with intellectual development.

3. Why is William Graham Sumner regarded as a Social Darwinist and a conservative? 

1. Sumner uses the concept of survival of the fittest in his analysis of society → individualism and competition as essential for societal progress with emphasis on empirical study. Draws analogies from natural selection to explain the development and persistence of certain social phenomena

2. He valued pragmatic solutions grounded in the understanding of ecisiting social conditions. He was a strong advocate of individualism and limited government intervention, especially in the markets. 

4. How does Frank Lester Ward try to disprove what Sumner argues in “Sociology”? 

Sumner: examines the nature and scope of sociology, emphasizes scientific approach to studying social relationships, pull yourself up by the bootstraps

Ward: writes with sumner in mind, and does agree with darwinism but he has a more cooperative approach to social development

-the evolution of societies was not solely dependent on external factors but was significantly influenced by the collective intelligence and moral sentiments of individuals.

sumner is more of the conservative you should pull yourself up by the bootstraps, ward is saying its easier to say pull yourself up by the bootstraps when you cant do it yourself

Example —> mitt romney 47 percent of americans who believe that they are entitled to  to health care and whatever. those are the people who pay no income tax —> personal responsibility to care for their lives

5. What is the meaning behind the title of Henry George’s book Progress and Poverty? 

Progress: advancement occurring during the industrial revolution→ increased productivity, overall economic development

Poverty: stark contrast→ benefits of progress not being shared equitably among all members of society and poverty persisted even amidst wealth

Shows the coexistence of economic advancement and widespread poverty

6. What is progressive and what is conservative about Andrew Carnegie’s The Gospel of Wealth? 

Progressive Aspects: Social Responsibility of wealth→ advocacy for wealth to use their resources for the betterment of society

Conservative: Support for Capitalism and limited government intervention → believes in power of entrepreneurship and the free market to drive economic growth and innovation

-individualism and personal responsibility→ individuals should take ownership of their own actions

7. What does Jane Addams think the poor as well as recent immigrants need? 

-acess to education→ importance of education in empowering individuals to improve their lives

-social support→ recognized the importance of social connectiolns and support networks→ social settlements provided a sense of community and belonging, offering emotional support and solidarity to those in need.

-healthcare services

-housing and living conditions

-employment opportunities

In all → they need holistic support across various aspects of their lives in order to thrive adn views social settlements as the means for this

8. What are the methods for fixing belief that Charles Sanders Peirce describes in his essay? 

Four Methods:

Tenacity: involves holding onto a belief simply bc it has been held in the past, individuals stick to what they already believe, even in the face of conflicting evidence

Authority: accepting what people in how have to say, people adopt beliefs bc they trust the source, regardless of personal understanding or evidence

A Priori: a belief fixation involves adopting beliefs based on preconceived notions, prior assumptions, or intuition, method doesnt necessarily rely on empirical evidence

Scientific method: argues the scientific method is most reliable way to fix beliefs. Involves a process of inquiry, observation, experimentation, and validation through evidence.

9. Why does James think that we can be justified in believing in things we are unable to prove?

Pragmatic argument: some cases its reasonable to belief something that doesnt have conclusive evidence if the belief has practical consequences AND if there is a genuine option to believe it or not. 

10. How does John Dewey connect his critique of philosophy with a critique of class relations? 

By advocating for a pragmatic approach that focuses on practical consequences and social inquiry. Critiques traditional philosophy for its abstract nature and emphasizes the importance of addressing concrete social problems → specifically inequalities stemming from class divisions. Sees education as a key tool for social reform, aiming to empower individuals to challenge and transform class based injustices through critical thinking and democratic participation

11. What can we learn from Chief Joseph that we can’t learn from Frederick Jackson Turner? 

-Chief Joseph highlighted the injustices faced by Native American tribes, particularly the violation of treaties and agreements made with the U.S. government

He expressed the deep sense of betrayal felt by his people due to the government's failure to honor these agreements.

-assimilation

-horses analogy —> not their horses to sell kind of thing

TURNER→ the significance of the american frontier

Frontier thesis= frontier is what makes America american→ -pragmatic, self-reliant, individualism, resourcefulness, adaptability

-doesn't talk about who was in the frontier first → Native Americans, and their impact on shaping American values today

-the frontier is the outer edge of the wave-- the meeting point between savagery and civilization→ where he would view the Native Americans as savages → and chief joseph’s speech highlights the humanity of his people and how they are hurt by westward expansion

12. What is the “frontier thesis” and how does it attempt to explain American values? 

-influenced by american institutions by promoting a spirit of self-government and decentralization

-fronteir is what makes america american → pragmatic, self-reliant, individualism, resourcefulness, adaptability, text by turner gives stereotypical version of americans

-fronteir is the outer edge of the wave → the meeting point between davagery and civilization

13. Why is it possible to read “The Strenuous Life” as a response to Turner? 

Roosevelt argues: frontier experience shaped american democracy (individualism, etc) and with its disappearance nation needs to find new ways to define itself

-advocates for vigorous and active approach to life, promotes embracing challenges and essential elements of american character

-basically urging americans to maintain that frontier spirit

-Underscores the idea that struggle and effort are not just inevitable but also essential for personal and societal growth

-stand for your country take part in affecting world affairs

-frontier is the end of vitality

-space is new frontier

14. What does W. E. B. DuBois mean by “double consciousness”? 

Double consciousness= internal conflict of being both American and black and experiencing oneself from two different perspectives at the same time

-comes from the social and historical conditions of racism and prejudice, where African Americans are forced to navigate in a society that views them with these stereotypes 

-creates struggle of self acceptance and within a society that may not fully acknowledge their identity

15. How does The Passing of the Great Race exemplify eugenicist thinking? 

-distinct races with varying levels of intelligence and ability, and he expressed concerns about the perceived decline of what he considered the "Nordic race."

-selective breeding and immigration policies

--society progresses through the actions of great man at the head of the snake (best and the brightest)

16. What is Randolph Bourne’s critique of the idea of the melting pot? 

-think SALAD BOWL more than melting pot

-problematic rich tasteful variety becomes formless shapeless mess

-main point —> in getting rid of everyone's culture replacing it with a cheap culture, taking everyones rich varieties and you all boil it down to the lowest common denominator

17. Who does Charlotte Perkins Gilman criticize in “The Yellow Wallpaper”? 

-house plant comparison: physicians in that time didnt consider the stuff that is going on inside your head… had to see a physical manifestation→ and women are not meant to just stay inside and suddenly get better

-​Criticizes her husband: who is also her physician, exercises control over her life, making decisions about her treatment without considering her feelings or agency. *reflects the broader societal context in which women were often confined to rigid gender roles

18. What is radical and what is conservative about “A Marriage Under Two Roofs”? 

Radical: don’t parent kids together, mom and dad don’t live under same roof, advocates for wives to have a separate, independent life from the husband 

Conservative: still perpetuates how marriage is important, its not as progressive as people make it out to be & hides it from other people, leave together to put on facade

19. What, according to Langston Hughes, is the plight of African American artists? 

-african american artists should be free to explore and express their own unique experiences and cultural identity, rather than conforming to the expectations set by others

-tension between american middle class values and african americans who wanted to express their raw authentic cultural experiences

20. What is “soldiering” and how does Frederick Winslow Taylor propose to fix it? 

soldiering —> affecting wages bc prosperity of the establishment in jeopardy, blaming management more than the workers if the workers are “quiet quitting”

Fix→ emphasis on training and development of each individual, relationship between employer and employee —> so that each workman will do his best ALSO NEED a more efficient manager→ if “quiet quitting” is allowed to go on, it is the employer fault, they need to manage more efficiently

For example: if a manager doesn't explain how long a task is, then it is up to the employee to figure out how long a task should be

21. In what ways does The New Housekeeping reflect Taylor’s ideas? 

Household tasks = standardized

& principles of scientific management applied in the home

Taylor’s ideas combined with Frederick’s:

Taylor literally mentions the “principles of scientific management” —> emphasis on principles and science applying scientific thinking to more and more sectors of life (LIKE HOUSEHOLD TASKS)

Taylor says: rule of thumb —> someone learns from someone else, he tries to come in and figure out what is the most efficient thing 

^& Frederick is telling us the most efficient thing for housekeeping tasks to streamline the homemaking process→ both like efficiency!

22. Why does John Watson think he needs to help mothers raise their children?

-belief that parental behavior could significantly influence their children's development 

-specifically mothers bc he saw them as primarily responsible for child-rearing in the context of early 20th-century society. 

-believed that by educating mothers about the principles of behaviorism and providing them with practical advice, he could empower them to raise healthier and more well-adjusted children.

23. How do work and money shape life in Middletown?

Middletown→ -two sociologists setting out to find the most average town in america, america in a little jar —> if you understand this you understand american as a whole

-social and monetary status becoming intertwined→ ex. when you move to a new place, people don’t know you but people know money—> rise of brands, look to see what your wearing to see, nice appliances

-working to work and money and status and stuff → more money = more leisure time

 24. Why does John Crowe Ransom describe the South as the least American part of the US?

-south is last area of culture, people who aren't just interested in making money and getting rich, people who have some involvement in some flair of living, going out hunting

-in the north they are worse they have wage slavery

^your boss doesn't care abt you → BUT in the south they care and take care of their families

-the south is the place where capitalism is the least developed

-most of america hasn't had experience of defeat and reconstructed

-in past people thought of it as the least american part

-managed not to get industrialized

-ransom writes this in 1930

25. What is the relationship between the title and the political message of Waiting for Lefty?

see capitalism failing

-taxi drivers underpaid and unhappy

-should they strike?

-source of problems is that people cant get what they want and need is cuz everything is commodified

Relationship to TITLE: dont wait for the mysterious person to lead you to organize and protest this, do it yourself right now

-Odets presented characters who were disillusioned with the American dream and were often thwarted in their efforts to improve their lives by economic systems that favored the wealthy.

-Odets' plays served as a call to arms for audiences to recognize the need for solidarity and activism in the face of economic injustice (BIG MESSAGE IS STRIKE)

-socialist

 26. Who are the “children of light” and who are “the children of darkness”? 

Neibhur:

Children of Light represent those who pursue justice, righteousness, and the common good, while the Children of Darkness embody those who prioritize their own self-interest, power, and domination over others.

While the Children of Light seek to build a just and equitable society, they often face obstacles and challenges from the Children of Darkness, who exploit power imbalances for their own gain.

27. How does Arthur Schlesinger describe American liberalism in The Vital Center? 

-liberalism = centrism

Liberalism is directly connected to centrism. In order to describe or achieve liberalism, according to Schlesinger, you will have to describe/achieve centrism. Centrism is all about the rejection of totalitarianism and the reassertion of the ultimate integrity of the individual. This constitutes the unique experience and “fundamental faith of contemporary liberalism.” 

Liberalism in Vital Center Description:

• Pragmatism: Prioritizing practical solutions over ideological purity.

• Moderation: Avoiding extremism and radicalism in political positions.

• Balance: Seeking a middle ground between competing interests and viewpoints.

• Consensus-building: Fostering dialogue and cooperation among different political factions.

• Commitment to democracy: Upholding democratic values, institutions, and processes.

-individualistic

proceduralist

negative

28. Why does Daniel Boorstin think it’s good that Americans don’t have a political philosophy?

it allows for flexibility and adaptability in governance

-Boorstin believed that the absence of a rigid political ideology in American society enabled citizens and leaders to focus more on practical solutions to problems rather than being bound by ideological dogma.

 29. Who is Norman Mailer’s “hipster” and why does he act the way he does? 

50s hipsters—> white people who live this edgy lifestyle traditionally associated with black people

so many people get boring and conformist —> only way is to rebel and do drugs and drop out of society!

*the hipster emerges as a counter-cultural reaction to the uncertainties and declining morals of postwar America.—> its really about the south tho

 *He sees the hipster's adoption of black culture and rebellious acts as expressions of a larger rebellion against mainstream society's limitations.

*main point here: the rebellious imperatives of the south

30. Why, according to David Riesman, is there such sadness in the suburbs? 

-people in the suburbs getting complacent and comfortable for ex: suburbs politics is apolitical space and gets reduced to school board issues and stuff

-homemaker wife = unhappy stuck with kids

-doing stuff just to conform in the suburbs → for example:  hate gardening but we have to do it for the neighbors —> we are doing things for other people

-lack of individuality in suburbs

-what he points out is that the traditional american recipe—> you're unhappy just get more make more money whatever

31. How does “The Port Huron Statement” envision the function of the university in society?

-university system is not what they want it to be

-adversarial critical counterweight

1)democratic participation→ students actively engaged in decision-making processes of institution and society at large

2)social responsibility→ university active role in addressing society issues like poverty/racism

3)intellectual freedom→ students should feel free to explore ideas and challenge norms without fear of reprisal

4)critical thinking

5)social transformations

 32. What does Thomas Kuhn mean when he talks about “paradigm shifts”? 

paradigm: refers to a set of beliefs, assumptions, values, methodologies, and practices that define a particular scientific discipline at a given time. (framework, model)

^specifically is a framework that you are operating on, basis of which you set assumptions

example: four humors thats the paradigm, now we see illness based on viruses ans bacteria not an imbalance within the body

paradigm shift = when suddenly you get a new puzzle and you can’t take parts of an old one to put in new one, completely different image —> paradigms you are trying to solve this problem with this picture of the world, you are operating within one of those, and suddenly when it shifts there may be all different pieces 

33. What is Personism and how does it relate to other mid century American art movements?

-personism = avoiding a translation (poem has been made artistic and translated from and idea, then translated from an emotion), AND he's trying to avoid the translation process entirely

In essence → person is at last between two persons instead of two pages

Relation:

50s and 60s postmodernism → how do we actually get the art of poems if we cut out everything else

-having a coke with you implications —> actually better than writing a poem about it, two impulses here, one is to make the everyday a subject for art, to essentially to think of art that is something not just in museums, tendency to put art on a pedestal (take it out of life and put it in museum, almost sterile)

 34. Why does Andy Warhol celebrate Coca Cola? 

-p​​resident=coke=bum=average person DIFF from pre modern times where aristocrats eat better

-consumer culture: identity comes less from what you make, post modern times in consumer culture you are identified by what you consume, what you buy

-everyone is eating same hot dog but still class distinctions

-pop art= tomato soup = daily lives as individuals, fact we can all relate to it makes it remarkable, can find art in day to day things

-stigma of jobs, whos actually creating the products, something youd think as a lower class job—> so many intelligent people could gain so much from being in a lower class job

35. Why does Orientalism depend on what we now call “othering”? 

36. What are Catherine MacKinnon’s views on pornography? 

She believed that pornography depicts women as objects for male, reinforcing their inferior status in society. Women also are 

37. How would Allan Bloom likely think about American universities today?

-american universities today are all about inclusion → breakdown in traditional values in american education/society

Allan Bloom would be critical of American universities for the same reasons he was critical of them then. He would argue that today’s focus on diversity and diverse perspectives in universities are an extension of moral relativism, which he strongly opposed. He believed it undermined the pursuit of truth and critical thinking. He also believed that education should be grounded in classics and would be critical of the career centered structure of universities today. 

38. What is “the end of history” and why does Fukuyama think it will be a very sad time?

History is essentially a big ideological struggle between different systems of government and this has reached its endpoint with liberal democracy. He believes liberal democracy with its emphasis on individual rights and economic freedom is the most successful system. 

He thinks this will be a sad time because this lack of struggle might lead to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction. 

-life gets its meaning from the willingness to sacrifice yourself for the cause→ theres nothing like this left after history and theres no grand causes→ all thats left is sitting at home and blah