Perspectives on Human Values: The Renaissance: Final Paper: Montaigne

  • December 12, 2001
  • James Skemp
So far this semester, we have looked at four different writers of the Renaissance period. Of all of them, I personally found Montaigne to be the most interesting and appealing author. For this final paper, I will be discussing Montaigne’s use of the self and the main points of the pieces that we read, followed by what I think about Montaigne’s writing. The first piece that we read by Montaigne was Essay 14 in Book I: “That the taste of good and evil things depends in large part on the opinion we have of them”.

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Chapter Synopsis - Chapter XIX, John Locke

  • November 3, 2001
  • James Skemp
For my chapter synopsis, I read Chapter XIX. Of the Dissolution of Government for John Locke. This chapter deals with dissolving the government; how governments are dissolved, and what do to when they are. He says that governments are either overturned from without, or from within. When a foreign force conquests the commonwealth, the current government can not survive. Therefore, we return to the state of nature, and are free to survive alone, or find another way to survive, with another government.

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Ancient Philosophy: The Importance of Socrates

  • October 30, 2001
  • James Skemp
The following paper was written for an Ancient Philosophy course that I took in college. I have not reviewed it since. Although none of Socrates actual writings exist, what we can get from Plato about Socrates shows the importance that Socrates played in not only the past, but also the influence that he has today. In this paper, I will be discussing the main reasons that Socrates had such an influence on philosophy.

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Ancient Philosophy: The Importance of Socrates (First draft)

  • October 25, 2001
  • James Skemp
This was the first attempt at The Importance of Socrates. Although none of Socrates actual writings exist, what we can get from Plato on Socrates shows the importance that Socrates played not only in the past, but also the influence that he has today. From Plato, we are able to learn some of the reasons that Socrates is important. In this paper, I’ll be discussing the main reasons that Socrates was persecuted, in the hopes that this will shed some light on why he was so important.

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Erasmus' Understanding of Authority

  • October 10, 2001
  • James Skemp
This paper was written for the class Perspectives of Human Values: The Renaissance for the mid-term paper. This paper will explore Erasmus’ understanding of authority.  First of all, Erasmus’ view on the Bible and Scripture will be discussed.  Secondly, what he has to say about the Spirit will be discussed.  Lastly, Erasmus’ view on church will be discussed.  Since Erasmus’ primary focus in his paper was on the Bible, that too will be the focus of this paper.

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One Page Response Paper - Erasmus, "On the Freedom of The Will"

  • September 19, 2001
  • James Skemp
This paper was written for the class Perspectives on Human Values: The Renaissance.  For this short response paper, we’re asked to summarize “On the Freedom of The Will” by Erasmus. To sum it up very shortly, free will. Throughout the book, Erasmus is trying to show us that the Bible is filled with examples that strength the idea that an individual has free will, or the choice to do as they want, whether it be good or evil.

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Division of Labor for Presentation: Nukes (5/4/01)

  • May 4, 2001
  • James Skemp
Probably not worth much, but here's an outline I did for a Social and Political Philosophy course, with Dr. Fiala, for who was doing what for a presentation. Ralph is Ralph Gadbois, and that's about all else I remember. Perhaps this will help someone else, someday ...  Ralph: History of nuclear weapons MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) Oppenheimer Pictures of nuclear explosion. Tobin: Ethics of nuclear weapons Arguments against nuclear weapons Chris:

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Rousseau's Social Contract and the Foundation of Western Culture

  • March 7, 2001
  • James Skemp
“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.” (Rousseau, Chapter I). Jean-Jacques Rousseau and The Social Contract had a large impact on Western Civilization in the late 18th century. Rousseau based his ideas on some of the writings of previous philosophers, trying to form a good political theory. The Social Contract was developed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau around 1762, during the time of the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment. The Social Contract was based on the ideas of Baron de Montesquieu and John Locke.

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