The Importance Of Social Harmony In The Pursuit Of Freedom

John Greavu Professor Joan Tronto POL 1201 19 December 2013 Marx and Gandhi: The Importance of Social Harmony in the Pursuit of Freedom In response to prompt #7: Pick two thinkers from among Marx, Fanon, and Gandhi, and write an essay in which you answer this question: what is the best way to achieve human freedom? You should consider: a) How do individual freedoms relate to collective freedoms? b) How do individual and collective practices of self-discipline and education create or impede human freedom? Although a generational, geographical, and cultural gap exists between them, Karl Marx and Mohandas Gandhi seem to agree that the best path to freedom is one where communal unity is the prime focus. For Marx, the existence of classes†¦show more content†¦Finally, in addition to eliminating classes, personal property, and transferring the ownership of production means to the people, Marx thinks a free public education system would further the development of individual freedom. Marx calls for: â€Å"Free public education for all children. Elimination of factory work for children in its present form. Associating education with material production, etc. etc.† (Marx 20). An educational system as such would help to â€Å"level the playing field†, as those families who were previously in no position to afford schooling for their children, can now do so. More knowledge of the world can only broaden one’s freedom, never limit it. To Gandhi, there was only one rou te to real freedom, or swaraj: the powerful force of truth, love, and nonviolence—satyagraha. In India’s grasp for independence from the British Empire, â€Å"Mahatma† Gandhi writes, â€Å"Truth is soul or spirit. It is, therefore, known as soul-force. It excludes the use of violence because man is not capable of knowing the absolute truth and, therefore, not competent to punish† (Gandhi 50, 51). If one wishes to achieve swaraj, one must gain the sympathy of the oppressors and â€Å"win [them] over with love† (Gandhi 47). A true satyagrahi (or freedom pursuer), Gandhi writes, requires extraordinary self-discipline, analogous to that required of the proletariat to overthrow bourgeois society: . . . [A] satyagrahi needs many more virtues like self-control,Show MoreRelatedThe Declaration Of Independence : The United States1552 Words   |  7 Pages The Document that Lead to Freedom America is known by people all over the world as a country that firmly believes that everyone has the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This however was not always the case for the United States. It was once ruled by King George III, and the American people were under the control of the British Parliament. It is what the founding fathers of our country fought for, that made it possible for the United States to be what our country is today.Read MoreClassroom Is A Balance Of Freedom And Discipline1559 Words   |  7 Pagesmanipulatives, and some might be absorbed in research. The elementary classroom is a very busy community filled with inquisitive minds solving the why, how and when of everything. To have all this happening within one classroom there has to be a balance of freedom and discipline. The teacher or guide has carefully prepared the environment and herself. This preparation allows the children to act independently and freely in accordance with the sensitive periods and human tendencies of the 6-12 year old childRead MoreFeminist Ideals in Zora Neale Hustron ´s Eyes Were Watching God1430 Words   |  6 Pageshistoric event, American women have not ceased fighting for equality and free will in every aspect of their lives. While first-wave feminism involved suffrage and political equality, second-wave feminism combatted social and cultural inequalities. Despite limitations to their personal freedom, women have overcome adversity to advocate for and acquire a more equal position in society. Among these progressive women stands Zora Neale Hurston, whose works are viewed as essential to the continuum of AmericanRead MoreSocial Theories : Structural Functionalism, Marx ism, And Existentialism915 Words   |  4 PagesNumerous social theories emerged to explain society and the human condition during the 19th and 20th centuries. Deeply embedded within the social experiences and predicaments of prominent theorists, the perspectives and priorities understood to be significant indications of society’s inner workings varied tremendously. These theories developed a specific view point on the importance of ideals such as culture, production, structure, language, and individualism within society. The role of the individualRead MoreThe Implications to the Pursuit of Prosperity1770 Words   |  7 PagesThe Implications to the Pursuit of Prosperity It would be an understatement to summarize the late 18th century western world as changing; in the midst of revolution, rather, might offer a more appropriate summation for the day’s context. This period in history marked some of the utmost significant transformations and insurrections ever to rock western society. The Industrial Revolution, namely, brought industrialization to new heights while the American and the French Revolutions combatted monarchyRead MoreThe Decay of American Dream in The Great Gatsby1289 Words   |  6 Pagesa successful and happy lifestyle which is oftentimes symbolized by the phrase â€Å"from rags-to-riches†. It originated out of the ideal of equality, freedom and opportunity that is held to every American. In the last couple of decades the main idea of the American Dream has shifted to becoming a dream in which materialistic values are of a higher importance and status. The Great Gatsby is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1925 duri ng the â€Å"Jazz Age†. Jay Gatsby is a parvenu who worked himselfRead MoreAnalysis Of Martin Luther King Jr. And King s I Have A Dream Speeches1335 Words   |  6 Pagesappropriately. A history of Tommy Douglas and Martin Luther King Jr. reveals that they were both heavily involved in their county’s political scene during their time. Interestingly, they both were Baptist Ministers who were involved in pushing for a social change, Douglas on how Canadians vote unwisely, and King on how America condones racial injustice. Perhaps the fact that they were parish ministers contributed to their oratory skill, which is arguably inspiring and compelling. Douglas was a CanadianRead MoreSiddhartha And Antigone Essay1227 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough direct experience. Their sense of meaning within a community stems from how an individual’s ideas are received by the public. The reception within a community that a person faces can lead to conflict when their core beliefs are incompatible with social norms. The balance between obligations to a sense of self and meaningful contributions to society is achieved through acceptance of conflicting values. Siddhartha and Antigone both showcase the complex role an individual plays in society. In SiddharthaRead MoreCultural Competency And Health Care1462 Words   |  6 Pagescultural competency is quite important to the worldwide healthcare due to the cultural differences. In Melbourne, Australia, Monash Health is a community service in the local government area (LGA) of Monash. In order to demonstrate the features and importance of cultural competency, details of this community (Monash) are going to be described, for example, the main countries of birth, demographic composition, languages spoken and organizations and services. The cultural characteristics and cultural valuesRead MoreAristotle Essay1238 Words   |  5 Pagesdevelop superior political theories. The conclusion Aristotle came to in his effort to write the perfect constitution was that it was necessary to first pay attention to the development of the parts of a society (the citizens). Once the parts are in harmony the emergence of th e whole is the next logical step. In developing political theory Aristotle begins by addressing issues of personal character on a microscopic level believing that in turn this will assist the state on a macroscopic level. Developing