CVSP 203 Final, Spring 2000

CIVILIZATION SEQUENCE 203 FINAL EXAMINATION TIME: Two Hours June 5, 2000 Ms. R. Fakhry Short-answer Questions Comment briefly on three of the following quotations, in light of your readings in this course: 1. “But though this be a state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence... The state of nature has a law to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions...” “By pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it.” “...Thus I have stormed through life; at first with pride and violence, But now less rashly, with more sober sense. I’ve seen enough of this terrestrial sphere. There is no view to the Beyond from here: A fool will seek it, peer with mortal eyes And dream of human life above the skies! Let him stand fast in this world, and look round with courage: here so much is to be found!... Let both his pain and joy be in his forward stride Each moment leave him still unsatisfied!” “\fE]ven though there might never yet have been a sincere friend, still pure sincerity in friendship is nonetheless required of every man, because this duty, prior to all experience, is contained in general in the idea of a reason that determines the will by means of apriori grounds... Moreover, worse service cannot be rendered morality than that an attempt be made to derive it from examples.” “When, therefore, capital is converted into common property, into the property of all members of society, pesonal property is not thereby transformed into social property. It is only the social character of the property that is changed. It loses its class character.” II. Choose one of the following essay questions: What, for Hobbes, Locke and Marx are the means which are employed to acquire, protect and perpetuate private property? In your opinion, is it possible to abolish private property and substitute it with what Engles calls ‘social property’? According to Marx, the clash between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is inevitable and inescapable. Discuss the reasons that led Marx to this conclusion. How would Locke view the two classes, and what grounds would he suggest to resolve the antagonism between them? If Kant were to evaluate Locke’s and Marx’s solutions to the conflict between the two classes, which one would he find morally acceptable? UI. Answer the following essay question: (Obligatory Question) Analyze the character of Faust, then place him in the ‘commonwealth’ you think he fits best: Kant’s “Realm of Ends’, Locke’s ‘Civil Society’, Hobbes’ ‘Leviathan’, Mill’s Society or Marx’s ‘Utopia’ (or Communist state). Give convincing arguments to justify your answer. Bonus Question You are a C.S. 203 teacher, and you are preparing an exam. Write two questions you would give your students. What texts would you choose for the course, and why?