Values through History

Greek Values

• Curiosity – great advances in science• Rationalism – man can learn through reason• Education – started most major fields of study• Wisdom – started study of philosophy• Liberty – invented democracy; resisted Persian

invasions • Courage – fighting seen as very honorable• Civic Duty – participation in democracy• Religion – worshipped their gods• Aesthetics – architecture, sculpture, pottery• Fitness – first Olympics

Roman Values

• Greek values institutionalized • Administration – roads, tax collection, towns laid similarly, trade• Law – written • Civic duty – fighting, participation in republic• Civic benefits – citizenship for all, bread & circus• Courage – bravery in battle all-important • Discipline • Bloodthirsty – gladiatorial games• Honor – preserving one’s principles & reputation• Aesthetics – architecture, murals, mosaics• Religion – worshipped their gods• Paterfamilia – father had absolute power in families

Fall of Roman Republic

• Senate selfishness & squabbling – couldn’t pass laws

• Corruption – votes for sale • Extreme inequality – wealthy killed reformers

Fall of Roman Empire

• Too large & expensive to defend

• Barbarians “pushed in” by Huns• Taxes to maintain armies too high• Slaves (prisoners of war) led to mobs of theunemployed (formerly peasants) in cities• Bad emperors – no workable system of succession

ChristianityBeatitudes

(Sermon on the Mount)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn,for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hungerand thirst for righteousness,for they shall be filled.

Beatitudes

Blessed are the merciful,for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,for they shall be calledthe children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecutedfor righteousness' sake,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Catholic Church

Cardinal Virtues • Faith• Hope• Charity• Justice• Prudence (caution)• Temperance (moderation)• Fortitude (courage)

Deadly Sins• Pride • Anger• Envy• Covetousness• Gluttony• Sloth• Lust

Catholic Church

Corporal Works of Mercy• To feed the Hungry• To give drink to the thirsty• To clothe the naked• To shelter the homeless• To visit the sick• To visit the imprisoned• To bury the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy• To pray for the living & the dead• To comfort the sorrowful• To instruct the ignorant• To counsel the doubtful• To admonish the sinner• To bear wrongs patiently• To forgive all injuries

Monasticism St. Benedict’s Rule

Vows of monks:• Poverty • Chastity• Obedience

Monks’ spent their time in:• Prayer • Study• Work

Medieval Realities

• Order had completely broken down • From very large scale order (empire) to very

small scale order (manors)• Manorialism - self-sufficiency, little trade• Safety – main concern; dangerous outside castle• Fighting – kings, nobles & church were always

vying for power• Law & Justice – at discretion of Lord• Almost no limits on what kings, nobles or thechurch could do

Medieval Values

• Loyalty between lords and vassals (feudalism)• Obedience – everyone was someone else’s vassal, and had to obey• Service – based on exchange of services • Courage – during constant fighting • Stability – very fixed, stable system• Catholic Church values – permeated all

of life, ideally• Code of Chivalry – governed knights, supposedly (did not apply to howpeasants were treated)

Charlemagne’s Code of Chivalry

To fear God and maintain His ChurchTo serve the liege lord in valor and faith

To protect the weak and defenselessTo give succor to widows and orphans

To refrain from the wanton giving of offenceTo live by honor and for gloryTo despise pecuniary rewardTo fight for the welfare of all

To obey those placed in authorityTo guard the honor of fellow knights

To eschew unfairness, meanness and deceitTo keep faith

At all times to speak the truthTo persevere to the end in any enterprise begun

To respect the honor of womenNever to refuse a challenge from an equal

Never to turn the back upon a foe

Protestant Values

Reformation: • Eliminate “indulgences”• Eliminate corrupt clergy• Reduce or eliminate church

hierarchy• Personal relationship with God• Personal salvation• Services in local languages• Education – read Bible• Simplicity in worship

Renaissance Values

Humanism:• Based on a return to Greek & Roman rationalism and classic learning• Humans have worth and dignity (vs. humans are sinful)• Happiness on earth is important (vs. a focus on the afterlife)• Individuals should control their own lives (vs. control from nobles and church)• Church and state should be separate, with state governing (vs. church and state always fighting for control)

• Class mobility (vs. you are born into a certain social class and stay there)

Renaissance Values

• Individual achievement is important (vs. family and social class are all important)• Education is important; a well-rounded person is the goal (vs. only priests can read and write)• Classic texts read by laymen; humanists become educators to the world (vs. classic texts are studied in monasteries)• Freedom of ideas (vs. ideas not in accordance with church doctrine are dangerous and must be stamped out)

• Individuals can determine right and wrong (vs. the church determines what is right and wrong)• Art may be non-religious

Rationalism

• Man can figure things out through reason!

• Philosophy rules!

• Science – learning though observation and experimentation!

Opposite of:• Magical thinking

• Religion

• Custom

• Tradition

• Authority

Enlightenment values

• Knowledge, reason and science can improve society (as opposed to church).

• Liberty – people should no longer be controlled by nobles and the church.

• Education – people should have a liberal arts education and be well-rounded.

• Individual achievement – more important than family and social class.

Enlightenment

Science started to dominate• Rationalism • Scientific Revolution

Education became important• Liberal arts education• Think for yourself!

Liberty was desired • No more monarchy!• Republicanism!

Enlightenment

Businessmen were powerful• Part of long-term trend• Everyone needs money, including kings

Nobility started to lose its domination• Ability more important than social class• Birth didn’t determine one’s occupation

Church started to lose its domination• Science was equally appealing • Deism became popular

Enlightenment

Philosophers

Thomas Hobbes• Social Contract theory (vs. “divine right”)• People’s greatest fear is social chaos. In a

natural state, people are at war, and life is “nasty, brutish and short.”

• A “social contract” in which people give up some rights in order to have their other rights protected, is a great benefit.

• A strong, absolute ruler is needed to keep order.• The “social contract” cannot be rightfully broken.

Enlightenment

Philosophers

John Locke:• People have the “natural rights” of life, liberty

and property.• Government should be for the benefit of the

governed, with the consent of the governed. • If government fails to preserve the rights of the

people, the people have the right and duty to “break the social contract” and replace the government.

Enlightenment

Philosophers

Baron de Montesquieu• Wrote that government power should

be divided between three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

• His book, The Spirit of Laws, was harshly attacked throughout Europe.