The Core Blog
Questions for session 3
By Ethan Rouen '04J on November 12, 2009
(1) Nietzsche is much more pessimistic than his predecessors about the threat mass society, including democratic politics, poses to individual distinction. Is he right?
(2) What is his alternative solution for advancement of individuality? Is it persuasive?
Questions for session 2
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on October 27, 2009
Below are the questions for session 2. Feel free to discuss them before and after class in the comments section
(1) Mill associates individuality with our inborn potential for natural genius, while Tocqueville at times associates it with aristocratic distinction. Where does individuality "come from," in your view?
(2) Mill cites Tocqueville's idea of the "tyranny of the majority." Do you think Tocqueville portrays it any differently in his book?
Questions for session 1
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on October 20, 2009
Here are some questions to ponder and discuss before and after the first mini course class on Wednesday. Feel free to use the comments section below to discuss. If you have longer comments, please e-mail Ethan Rouen at ecr2102@columbia.edu and he will create a seperate post on the blog. Enjoy.
1. What does Constant think the difference is between freedom in the ancient world and freedom in the modern world? Do you think he is right?
Professor Moyn Weighing In
By Professor Saumeul Moyn on October 6, 2009
Follow Along with the Mini Course for Alumni!
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on October 6, 2009
Coming soon, Samuel Moyn, professor of history, will be posting questions and contributing to the discussion as we join him for his mini course, a three-class lecture discussing "Individuality and Society." The course begins on October 21 and will discuss Constant's "The Liberty of the Ancients Compared with that of the Moderns;" J.S.
Keep on Digging
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on October 1, 2009
He also includes in the letter a thrashing of Wickham, who, he claims, received Darcy's father's money and holds a grudge only because he tried to marry Darcy's sister in hopes of scamming her out of her fortune. Nothing like men scorned, huh?
Drama
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on September 29, 2009
Darcy visits and eventually can't contain his love for her. He bursts out with a marriage proposal, admitting his concern over her social standing, and Elizabeth rightly kicks him to the curb.
Not only is he a complete snob who previously rejected her and focuses so much on money and standing at the cost of love and romance, he also admitted to convincing Bingley not to marry Jane.
Poor Elizabeth
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on September 23, 2009
Making matters worse, when Elizabeth comes to Collins' parish, he and Charlotte treat her well, but Lady de Bourgh lays into her, deciding that she and her sisters were poorly raised. They needed a governess. In addition, some musical or artistic talents - something to entertain the men they should have been reared to serve - would have put them in a better position.
That Was Fast
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on September 21, 2009
Collins and Charlotte are getting ready to be married, and Elizabeth is only slightly hurt when Wickham (I knew it!) starts paying attention to a more wealthy girl.
In these short chapters of Book II, we see the value money has in marriage. It makes one wonder how anyone can end up happily married when feelings take a backseat to standing.
Not Looking Good
By Ethan Rouen ’04J on September 18, 2009
The concern over marriage is all very silly, and it seems like the most foolish decision yet in the book is the one between Collins and his fiancé. I feel sorry for all of these characters and their obsessions, but I feel worst for Elizabeth, who seems above it all, yet keeps getting dragged down into the muck.