Welcome to the Modern Philosophy Commentary internet log for Belmont's Fall 2014 History of Modern Philosophy class. Here we will post our 100-400 word commentaries on the passages of text that interest us most from the readings.

Posts for each week should go up by Friday night, since we will assume that readings for the next week will begin on Saturday and Sunday. Do not post for a past week after Monday's class. After Monday's class all posts should be on the readings of that week.You may skip or miss any two weeks you choose, bringing the total required commentaries to 12. They cannot be made up later in the semester, so keep up as we go.

Here is a sample post:

“Throughout part II of The Leviathan, Hobbes offers many reasons why a monarch is
preferable to an assembly. Perhaps the most fascinating is that the monarch is more likely
to solicit frank and good advice (Leviathan Ch. 25). The monarch can call secret councils
with any subject he likes to get advice on any matter. He or she has total freedom
to pursue the truth by any means necessary. The assembly, by contrast, has to reach
consensus and relies on oratory and rhetoric, arts of persuasion. Hobbes would likely be
critical of our democracy in part because the art of persuasion is more important than the
truth of the counsel given. But is Hobbes right? Does monarchy have this distinct advantage over democracy? We tend to think that deciding as a group will make a decision better and more fair for the group. But does group decision making offer any advantage for pursuing the truth?”

Here is another written by a student last year:

"When the seafarers first arrive at Bensalem [in Francis Bacon's New Atlantis] they are denied entrance, although help would be provided if asked for, but they could not come ashore. Soon after they are approach by the Governor who asks, “Are ye Christians?” (242). The seafarers answer yes and then are allowed ashore, and then allowed to learn of Bensalem. I feel it must be asked, what if they answered negatively? This island is based on the “pure” tenants and ideals of Christianity, which if this were the case then the people would help regardless of the faith of those asking help. 

One need only look at Mathew 25: 34-36 to see that those seeking help must be given it, without question of who they are. Yet, the nature and degree of the help given rests upon the seafarers being Christian. Why does Bacon do this, if he seeks to idealize Christianity?" 

As you can see, both open up a question through commenting on a passage. This points in the direction of further writing and discussion. This is not necessary but it is often more engaging to read and spurs more thought about the passage.

AAD