Newell-Fonda High School
Newell, Iowa
Teacher: Connie Doonan
The Ideal Society
Ruth A. Christiansen
12th Grade
An inner longing for safety, companionship, and purpose holds a magnetic power over people in cultures around the world. Being connected to others within a community meets the basic need humans have for one another. For centuries people have dreamed, talked, and written about the ideal society, but can it really be created? Even though it may never be realized, the deep longing to understand our need for others and our place in the world drives many great minds to continue searching for the perfect society. A perfect society would offer safety and security like a fenced-in backyard provides for a young, innocent child. Just as the confines of the fenced yard sets limits to create opportunity under control, the ideally structured society should provide a safe haven for the growth and pursuit of purpose for people. An ideal society would provide the framework for mankind to explore, learn, and expand within the boundaries that could offer protection and defense.
Down through the ages, philosophers have debated the ideal society. Plato wanted to achieve the perfect society with one ruling class in control. His foundational thought was that man’s position in society was based on class rather than individual characteristics. Aristotle held to the idea of small governments. His ideal was rooted in the principle of individual happiness in social harmony with others. He believed this social union would advance the development of all humans. Modern day philosopher, Peter Gabel strongly believes in the value of community connection as the root for society. In contrast, Rand bases her novel, Atlas Shrugged on the principle of the individual being the ultimate power.
In today’s world one can find almost any example of how religion and government co-exist. For instance, Scruton discusses the preeminence of religion in Islamic cultures. Their government is totally subservient to the Islamic clerics. There is no separation. For the devout Moslem, their duty is to Allah alone, and the role of their government flows completely out of what the Islamic clerics decide. In the Western world, societies have what Scruton calls a social contract in which the citizen has a basic obligation to the state. Alongside that is the individual’s duty to their religion. According to Scruton, the obligation to the government and religion are independent of each other.
In an ideal society, the government serves as the fence around the communities of people. Like the backyard fence, the government should offer protection for those contained within its borders. In order to develop a sense of national security and safety, the government needs to build and maintain a strong national defense. Along with protection, the government must provide fair and equal law enforcement and a system of justice for its people. As the fence around society, the government should be a fixed structure and have specific and limited functions without becoming intrusive on its members. When a government acts within a limited structure, people are able to live independently and provide for themselves and their families. Law enforcement keeps people from imposing on the rights of others, or causing others harm. An important element of law enforcement is providing justice to individuals that have been harmed by those who ignore the law.
For people to live in harmony with others, they first must live in harmony with themselves. Inner peace can only be realized by understanding the meaning behind life. When the universe was created, mankind was made with a deep longing for purpose and fulfillment. Man was not meant to be alone, but to satisfy his innermost desires by developing relationships with others. As social beings, humans need to develop relationships to satisfy [their] thirst for love and acceptance. However, human relationships are not enough to fill our innermost void. Being connected in a spiritual sense, allows one’s soul to be involved with something outside the boundaries of the protective fence. It offers hope. Within an ideal society, people would have the freedom to follow their own religious pursuits. With the benefits of religious liberty, men and women could live out and practice their faith without fear of persecution.
The framework of a great society is built with educated minds. Education has its birth in the family unit and grows to include institutionalized learning. Educating the mind requires a structured plan along with opportunities for exploring in the realm of undiscovered ideas and thought. True education develops learners who can think for themselves. In the profound words of Aristotle “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
The structure of an ideal society would give people the freedom to live and work in peace with others and have the opportunity to reach their potential. The government’s role would be limited and provide unity in purpose and defense. People could enjoy the freedom to follow their religious beliefs in safety and at the same time, respect the diversity of other people and their viewpoints of God. Equally important, citizens would have the opportunity for an education to achieve their potential. In addition, society should serve the human need for developing meaningful relationships with others. Like the backyard fence, an ideal society would establish the necessary protection for its citizens and at the same time, make available freedom for growth through advancing education and exploration.
Works Cited
Khurana, Simon. Aristotle Quotations: Philosophy in Aristotle Quotations. About.com. 2004. 12-7-04 <http://quotations.about.com/cs/aristotlequotes/a/bls_aristotle.htm>.
Answers To Questions Re: The Required Reading
Peter Gabel
Question 1
Number the “fault lines” mentioned in paragraph one, #1 to #7 according to your personal priorities.
1) Role of Government
2) Abortion
3) Taxes
4) Health Care
5) Welfare Reform
6) Environmentalism
7) Gun Control
Question 2
In paragraph three, what is meant by “defeat of community”?
“Defeat of community” is where people withdraw from meaningful relationships because of the pressures that society and our economic system place on individuals. These pressures tend to cause isolation rather than unity among people.
Question 3
Do you sense “the pain of isolation” in the adults in your community? Explain.
Yes, I think people are often acting like they have connections and genuine relationships with others, when in reality they are actually isolated and suffering from loneliness. Relationships are often only superficial and lacking in real meaning and purpose. Isolation seems to be significant among the elderly members of society because they are often separated from family and frequently considered non-productive in our current society.
Question 4
Discuss your feelings about the SAT in light of paragraph six.
In Peter Gabel’s viewpoint, he wants equality of outcome, not equality of opportunity. I think you must separate the idea of fairness from the issue of standardized testing. Either you lower the standard for everyone, or end up placing students in educational positions they are not prepared for. In order for individuals to survive and thrive in an advanced learning environment, they must be able to meet the criteria needed to perform at the expected level. There has to be some objective way to measure students’ knowledge. The SAT is just one measure of intellect at one point in time. Once a student is in college, it doesn’t affect their performance. Standardized testing may not be the best way to measure intellectual ability and potential success at college, but finding another alternative would be difficult.
Question 5
In considering a future career, what are your “prime motivations”?
The primary motivations for my future career include achieving the ability to earn an income, using my talents and abilities, and having interaction with people. In addition, I would like to have a reasonable degree of job satisfaction and be able to contribute to the welfare of my family and the community.
Question 6
What do you think about a less “objectified” legal system?
Gabel wants to make the case for a less adversarial or confrontational legal system. He questions whether we should have an objective standard. I think if you don’t have rule of law, then the majority takes over. If 51% of the people are persuaded to pass any law, regardless of whether it is right or wrong, the result will be anarchy and chaos.
Question 7
Would you describe yourself as an idealist? Why or why not?
Yes, only in the large sense of the word. I have strong viewpoints and opinions, but I don’t think of myself as a person who lives by ideals rather than practical considerations. I try to live my life according to a set of standards and ideals. The traditional view of an “idealist” wishes our society and the world could be different by living a certain way or obeying a “higher calling.”
Question 8
Share an anecdote about a local idealist over age 40.
A former neighbor, Merle, fit into the category of an idealist because of his radical ideas regarding the way agriculture is structured through government programs. He believed the government should make it impossible for farms to become bigger, but instead, they should be forced to become smaller so more people could partake in the farming lifestyle.
Roger Scruton
Question 9
How does Scruton describe the differences in political culture of Islam and the west?
Scruton describes the Western model where people within a certain territory are bound together by a social contract. He states that Western societies are controlled by rule of law that binds people in obligation to each other. In contrast, people in Islamic cultures are bound together by rule of law with an obligation completely dependent upon God. Obligations are not to other individuals, but totally to God (Allah). In Islamic culture, civil and religious law is inseparable; religion and state are equal.
Question 10
What does Scruton suggest are the prerequisites in Western societies for citizenship?
1) Sense of patriotic public spirit.
2) Commitment to the preservation of the social contract.
Question 11
What is the danger to the Western social contract that Scruton identifies in the last paragraph? Do you think the Western social contract involves “patriotic self-sacrifice”? Should it do so, in your opinion? Why or why not?
Scruton identifies the danger as an erosion of national unity. The Western social contract does involve patriotic self-sacrifice. If people cease to view themselves as Americans first, then their willingness to give of themselves in self-sacrifice in defense of their country will be greatly diminished.
Yes, I think Western social contract should involve patriotic self-sacrifice because it is necessary for the defense of our country. If people aren’t willing to defend their country through self-sacrifice, then the country will cease to exist.
Ayn Rand
Question
Comment on the quote taken from Ayn Rand’s book, Atlas Shrugged. Do you agree with it? Why or why not? Have you read Atlas Shrugged?
No, for a society to flourish there has to be a certain level of caring about others. The only point I would agree with Ayn Rand is regarding personal responsibility. People must be responsible for their own actions and well-being. Otherwise, her viewpoint in this isolated quote is totally self-focused and represents an extreme viewpoint. She casts people as totally unfeeling and uncaring towards each other. If in reality people practiced or lived by this philosophy, there wouldn’t be any community or society. No, I have not read Atlas Shrugged.