Strange New World 8 Flashcards
(119 cards)
1
Q
What does the United States Declaration of Independence declare as inalienable human rights?
A
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
2
Q
How does the document describe the dominant Western approach to what it means to be human?
A
It captures the importance of life, personal freedom, and the pursuit of happiness
3
Q
What has changed regarding the definitions of life, liberty, and happiness?
A
They have changed in terms of their actual content or definition due to expressive individualism
4
Q
What is the normative modern ‘self’ referred to in the text?
A
Expressive individualism
5
Q
True or False: The concept of happiness remains unchanged since the Declaration of Independence.
A
False
6
Q
Fill in the blank: The rise of _______ has changed the understanding of life, liberty, and happiness.
A
expressive individualism
7
Q
What are the three categories that capture the essence of being human according to the Declaration?
A
- Life
- Liberty
- Pursuit of Happiness
8
Q
What implications arise from the changing nature of what it means to be human?
A
Significant implications for how life, freedom, and happiness are to be understood
9
Q
What is expressive individualism?
A
A philosophy that impacts views on personhood, life, and death
10
Q
According to expressive individualism, what is required for true personhood?
A
Self-consciousness and the ability to think, feel, and desire
11
Q
Who is Peter Singer and what is his stance on embryo personhood?
A
A Princeton University ethicist who acknowledges embryos as life but denies they are persons
12
Q
What characteristics does Peter Singer associate with personhood?
A
- Self-consciousness
- Ability to express oneself
- Ability to conceptualize
- Intentional action toward the future
- Deliberate actions that further one’s own happiness
13
Q
Which groups does Singer argue lack true personhood?
A
- Embryos
- Newborn babies
- Adults with advanced dementia
14
Q
What ethical framework tends to emerge in a world of expressive individualism?
A
Utilitarianism
15
Q
Define utilitarianism.
A
The philosophy where the morally defensible position is that which gives most happiness to most persons involved
16
Q
How does utilitarianism justify abortion or euthanasia for disabled children?
A
It may increase the net happiness for the adults involved
17
Q
What happens to the ethical consideration of those with advanced dementia according to utilitarianism?
A
Their loss of mental faculties leads to a loss of personhood, making euthanasia a moral option
18
Q
What is the implication of euthanasia for those who decide life is no longer worth living?
A
It can be seen as a moral act rather than murder
19
Q
What recent trend has been observed regarding assisted suicide in Western countries?
A
Increased acceptance and legalization based on criteria of suffering
20
Q
Fill in the blank: In the world of psychologized selfhood, _______ can be a criterion for euthanasia.
A
mental suffering
21
Q
What potential future scenario regarding euthanasia is suggested for those severely depressed?
A
It could become a plausible and accepted part of our culture
22
Q
What has been shocking about the speed of the sexual revolution?
A
Its rapid developments and societal impact
23
Q
What freedoms are currently under pressure in many Western democracies?
A
Freedom of speech and freedom of religion
These freedoms were once considered self-evident goods.
24
Q
In which decades was the author taught that freedom of speech and religion were primary values of Western society?
A
1970s and ’80s
The author grew up in Britain during these decades.
25
What did the author find shocking regarding liberties in Western society?
That liberties would become highly contested and seen as problematic by significant numbers of people
## Footnote
This reflects a significant cultural shift.
26
How were religious people regarded in the author's youth compared to now?
They were regarded as foolish or hypocritical, not as dangerous or bigoted
## Footnote
This indicates a shift in societal perceptions of religion.
27
What was the reaction to the edict against Salman Rushdie for alleged blasphemy?
It was met with near universal abhorrence and condemnation in the West
## Footnote
This reaction highlights a different attitude towards freedom of speech at that time.
28
What cultural phenomenon is frequently reported in the context of freedom of speech today?
Cancel culture
## Footnote
This phenomenon involves social media backlash against individuals for expressing certain views.
29
What is the connection between the sexual revolution and freedom of religion?
Growing antipathy toward freedom of religion
## Footnote
The text suggests that this change is rooted in broader societal narratives.
30
What legislative proposal in Indiana in 2015 sparked controversy regarding religious freedom?
Religious Freedom Restoration Act
## Footnote
The act aimed to protect business owners with religious objections to LGBTQ+ lifestyles.
31
What was the reaction from corporate America to the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act?
Swift and widespread condemnation
## Footnote
This reaction was based on concerns about discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees.
32
What was the outcome of the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act?
A watered-down version was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence
## Footnote
This compromise reflected the pressure against the original proposal.
33
What significant ruling did the United States Supreme Court make in 2013?
United States v. Windsor
## Footnote
This case challenged the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and its exclusion of same-sex partnerships.
34
What was DOMA and who signed it into law?
Defense of Marriage Act, signed by President Clinton in 1996
## Footnote
DOMA excluded same-sex partnerships from the state-recognized definition of marriage.
35
Who was Edith Windsor and what was her claim against DOMA?
She married her same-sex partner in Canada and sought federal estate tax exemption after her partner's death
## Footnote
Her claim was denied under DOMA's exclusion of same-sex marriages.
36
What was the outcome of Windsor's lawsuit regarding DOMA?
Her claim was upheld by both a district court and the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 2012
37
What action did the Justice Department take regarding DOMA before the Supreme Court case?
Announced that it would not seek to defend DOMA
38
What did the bipartisan legal advisory group of the House of Representatives do in response to the Justice Department's decision?
Voted to take up the suit to determine the constitutionality of section 3 of DOMA
39
What was defined in section 3 of DOMA?
Marriage as being between a man and a woman
40
What was the Supreme Court's ruling regarding section 3 of DOMA?
The court ruled it was not constitutional, overturning the principle that marriage was exclusively between one man and one woman
41
What was surprising about the Supreme Court's majority opinion on DOMA?
The characterization of the motives of the opponents of gay marriage as irrational bigotry or constitutional animus
42
What evidence did the Supreme Court cite regarding DOMA's purpose?
It imposed a disadvantage, a separate status, and a stigma upon same-sex marriages
43
How did the Supreme Court view religious objections to gay marriage in Windsor?
Dismissed them as irrational bigotry
44
What foundational case did Windsor provide the legal background for?
Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)
45
What did the Supreme Court find in Obergefell v. Hodges?
Same-sex marriage to be protected by the Constitution
46
What principle was foundational to the Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges?
The autonomy of individuals to choose whom they want to marry
47
Which earlier case established a position related to individual autonomy in marriage?
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)
48
Who authored the majority opinion in the case of Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey?
Justice Anthony Kennedy
49
Fill in the blank: The Supreme Court characterized the objections to gay marriage as _____ or irrational bigotry.
constitutional animus
50
True or False: The Supreme Court's decision in Windsor was completely unexpected due to public attitudes.
False
51
What is at the heart of liberty according to the text?
The right to define one's own concept of existence, meaning, the universe, and the mystery of human life.
52
What does expressive individualism imply?
Individuals can define for themselves what gives them their identity, purpose in life, and sense of meaning.
53
How did earlier rulings on marriage relate to personal autonomy?
They saw the restriction of marriage to one man and one woman as oppressive, bigotry, and hindering personal autonomy and happiness.
54
Was gay marriage considered inevitable in 1992?
No, but earlier rulings cleared the ground for it.
55
What is the distinction between tolerance and equality in the context of LGBTQ+ identities?
Tolerance is passive disapproval, while equality requires equal recognition and affirmation of identities.
56
Why has cake baking become a contentious issue?
A Christian baker's refusal to make a cake for a gay marriage is seen as a denial of the couple's constitutionally protected identity.
57
What does the modern psychological construction of identity emphasize?
It emphasizes that people are defined by their thoughts, feelings, and desires.
58
How have words taken on a new cultural power?
In the context of psychological identity, hurtful words are seen as assaults upon the person.
59
What challenge do religions like Christianity and Judaism face in contemporary society?
They operate with different grammatical and syntactical understandings of identity, particularly regarding sexual ethics.
60
How does the Christian perspective on homosexuality differ from that of a gay individual?
Christians may see homosexuality as a set of practices, while gay individuals view their sexual desires as part of their essence.
61
What does the phrase 'love the sinner, hate the sin' imply in the context of modern identity?
It does not work because the sin is seen as part of the sinner's identity, making it impossible to separate the two.
62
True or False: Christians who do not understand the shift in identity perception may find themselves confused.
True
63
What did Thomas Jefferson say about the impact of others' religious beliefs on him?
It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god.
## Footnote
This reflects Jefferson's belief that personal religious beliefs do not cause financial or physical harm.
64
How does the contemporary view of personal beliefs differ from Jefferson's perspective?
In today's world, personal beliefs are tied to inner psychology, making feelings important in conceptualizing harm.
## Footnote
This shift implies that disagreement in beliefs can be seen as a form of oppression.
65
What is the broader challenge to religious freedom discussed in the text?
The challenge to religious freedom is part of a broader challenge to traditional freedom of speech.
## Footnote
This indicates that the issues surrounding religious expression are reflective of larger societal changes regarding speech.
66
What does the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protect?
Freedom of speech with qualifications.
## Footnote
Qualifying cases include Schenck v. United States and Brandenburg v. Ohio.
67
What is the classic example used to illustrate limitations on free speech?
Shouting 'Fire!' in a crowded theater.
## Footnote
This example illustrates that not all speech is protected under the First Amendment.
68
What did the ruling in Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) establish?
Speech likely to cause imminent lawless action is not protected.
## Footnote
This ruling further clarifies the limitations of free speech protections.
69
How is oppression viewed differently when it shifts from physical to psychological?
Oppression at the psychological level leads to a different notion of political freedom.
## Footnote
This perspective emphasizes how culture shapes individual ideas and intuitions.
70
Who is Herbert Marcuse and what was his contribution to the discussion of tolerance?
A New Left philosopher who wrote 'Repressive Tolerance' in 1965, critiquing traditional notions of tolerance.
## Footnote
Marcuse drew heavily from Freud's ideas to formulate his political philosophy.
71
True or False: The text suggests that the current push against freedom of speech is surprising to traditional conservatives and liberals.
True.
## Footnote
This reflects the broader societal changes regarding self-conception and freedom.
72
What does Marcuse argue about traditional liberal concepts of free speech?
It is a confidence trick that gives the impression of true freedom
## Footnote
Marcuse critiques the idea that freedom of speech exists when, in reality, there are limits imposed by the ruling class.
73
According to Marcuse, what happens when one advocates for Marxism in a Western democracy?
Such advocacy is allowed until it threatens to disrupt the status quo
## Footnote
This highlights the limits of free speech in practice.
74
What metaphor does Marcuse use to describe the concept of freedom of speech?
Similar to 'bread and circuses' of the Roman Empire
## Footnote
It serves as a distraction from real injustices.
75
What does Marcuse identify as a perversion of tolerance?
When it protects and preserves a repressive society
## Footnote
This can neutralize opposition and prevent awareness of better life options.
76
Where does Marcuse believe efforts to counteract dehumanization must begin?
At the place of entrance where false consciousness is formed
## Footnote
This involves stopping the words and images that feed this consciousness.
77
What does Marcuse advocate for in terms of censorship?
Censoring speech that upholds injustices of the status quo
## Footnote
This includes economic, sexual, racial, and other forms of injustice.
78
What is the broader implication of Marcuse's perspective on speech?
It calls for policing of philosophies and worldviews, not just insulting language
## Footnote
This aims to outlaw narratives that contradict his vision of a just society.
79
Fill in the blank: Marcuse believes that narratives which reinforce attitudes deemed unjust should be _______.
[censored and silenced]
80
True or False: Marcuse only seeks to outlaw the use of pejorative epithets.
False
## Footnote
He calls for a more thorough policing of speech, including broader philosophies.
81
What groups does Marcuse suggest might be marginalized by certain narratives?
LGBTQ+ people, women, ethnic minorities
## Footnote
He argues that speech perpetuating the status of heterosexual white males should be suppressed.
82
What is the emerging discomfort on college campuses regarding freedom of speech?
New-style progressives argue that freedom of speech allows bigotry and hatred to be expressed with impunity
## Footnote
This contrasts with old-style liberals who view it as vital for a free society.
83
According to traditional notions of education, what role do students play?
Students are seen as raw material in need of training to become adult members of society
## Footnote
This involves imparting skills and knowledge necessary for fitting into the larger social framework.
84
What did the traditional vision of liberal arts education include?
Teaching the great classics of culture, including literature, art, music, and philosophy
## Footnote
This was intended to shape the student's understanding of what it means to be human.
85
What premise does Rousseau-style thinking propose about culture?
Culture is what makes us inauthentic by perverting the voice of nature
## Footnote
This view leads to the rejection of traditional educational ideals.
86
How is history perceived in the context of the Rousseau-style premise?
History becomes a tale of oppression, not a source of contemporary wisdom
## Footnote
It is viewed as something to be overcome rather than embraced.
87
What incident at Middlebury College exemplifies the tension over freedom of speech?
The violent confrontation during Charles Murray's speech in March 2017
## Footnote
This incident involved protests and an injury to a faculty member responding to Murray.
88
What was the reaction of students to the invitation of Charles Murray to speak?
It provoked campus protests viewed by critics as justifying racial and class prejudice
## Footnote
Students felt the discourse was hegemonic and alienating.
89
What did the Middlebury students express about their voices in campus discourse?
They felt their voices were often ignored in the face of hegemonic discourse
## Footnote
They believed collective engagement would be more effective.
90
Fill in the blank: The best antidote to bad ideas is a context where good ideas can compete freely with _______.
[bad ideas]
91
True or False: Old-style liberals and new-style progressives share the same view on freedom of speech.
False
## Footnote
Old-style liberals see it as vital, while new-style progressives view it as a means to legitimize bigotry.
92
What is the so-called 'free market of ideas' on campus identified with?
The reinforcement and maintenance of one specific ideology
## Footnote
This ideology is implied to be racist, sexist, classist, ableist, and homophobic.
93
What recent trend has been observed in liberal arts colleges regarding racist views?
Racist views are not staples of classroom teaching
## Footnote
Academics have faced dismissal for inappropriate social media behavior.
94
How do modern politically-favored identities view challenges to their legitimacy?
As assaults on their legitimacy
95
What significant transformation in higher education curriculum has been noted?
A shift away from traditional themes like the Reformation and Renaissance to topics like pornography, feminism, and colonial violence.
96
Which university is considering revising its music curriculum due to a focus on white, European composers?
University of Oxford
97
What is the broader trend occurring in higher education on both sides of the Atlantic?
A rebellion against traditional curricular canons in the humanities
98
What do historians welcome regarding their viewpoints and interpretations?
Challenges to their own viewpoints and interpretations
99
What significant contributions did Marxists like E. P. Thompson make to history?
Highlighting the role of the working classes
100
Why is African American history important in the context of U.S. history?
It shows that U.S. history cannot be told solely from the perspective of white males.
101
What key motif of the American experiment is discussed in relation to history?
The ideal of freedom and its inconsistent realization in American culture
102
What is the ultimate goal of the so-called 'canon wars'?
To replace the traditional canon and challenge the concept of canon as exclusionary and oppressive.
103
What does the post-Marcuse world challenge about traditional courses?
The elitism and privilege associated with courses like the Reformation or Beethoven.
104
True or False: The purpose of the canon wars is to enrich the historical discipline.
False
105
Fill in the blank: The voices of ______ are a vital part of the American story.
people of color
106
What is expressive individualism?
A cultural belief that emphasizes personal psychological well-being and self-creation over traditional values.
107
How does modern intuition view psychological narratives?
As potentially oppressive if they obstruct psychological happiness or self-perception.
108
What intrinsic virtue does victimhood possess?
It unlocks a major source of cultural power.
109
How are freedom of speech and academic freedom perceived in the context of oppression?
As licenses to oppress and marginalize the weak.
110
What is suggested to be true freedom?
Closing down traditional virtues in favor of victim-centered authoritarianism.
111
What has been the dramatic impact of expressive individualism on concepts of life and liberty?
Transformation and inversion of old notions like sanctity of life and freedom of religion.
112
How is happiness perceived in the modern context?
As an individual pursuit centered on personal psychological well-being.
113
What paradox arises from the notion of self-creation of identities?
Some identities must contradict each other, leading to conflicts over legitimacy.
114
What conflicts exist between different identities?
The traditional Christian identity may threaten the identity of those who identify as transgender.
115
What forms of social control have emerged from radical individual freedom?
Authoritarian practices in education, workplaces, and government.
116
What implications does the current cultural climate have for the church?
It challenges the foundations of freedom of religion and speech.
117
True or False: Freedom of speech is widely regarded as a foundation of a free society by everyone.
False
118
Fill in the blank: The existence of contradictory identities requires a decision on which identity is to be given _______.
[legitimacy]
119
What are some examples of social institutions that have adopted authoritarian practices?
* Elementary schools teaching gender ideology
* Ivy League schools abandoning traditional curricula
* Workplaces requiring sensitivity training on transgender issues
* Big tech companies boycotting states for religious freedom legislation
* Local schoolboards promoting ideological uniformity
* National governments broadening civil rights legislation
