Chapter 1 – Exploring Different Ways of Thinking.

Unit One – Should Ideology be the foundation of identity?

Course Description

The principles of liberalism have played a significant role in the development of modern democratic societies. Developing a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of modern liberal thought and the tenets of competing ideologies is important in the development of active, informed and responsible citizens. This understanding will enable students to effectively investigate, analyze and evaluate government policies and actions and develop individual and collective responses to contemporary local, national and global issues. As such, students will explore the origins and complexities of ideologies and examine multiple perspectives regarding the principles of classical and modem liberalism. An analysis of various political and economic systems will allow students to assess the viability of the principles of liberalism. Developing understandings of the roles and responsibilities associated with citizenship will encourage students to respond to emergent global issues.

What is an ideology?

An ideology.. is a system of thought based on beliefs and

values that include ideas about how the world works, how we should live together as a society, how we should treat one another, and what society could become in the future.

What is ideology?

Over the centuries, many people have thought about, talked about, written about the following three questions when thinking about their beliefs and values:

1. What are humans like, and why do they act the way they do?

2. What is the nature of society?

3. What is our role as individuals in society?

In trying to answer these questions, people create ideologies (systems of thought based on beliefs and values)

What is ideology?

On the blank side write: ideology

On the lined side: the definition

What factors influence ideology?

Beliefs – the ideas and understandings that a person holds to be true, often influenced by such things as one’s culture, language, religion, gender and worldview.

Values - the ideas and understandings that people hold to be important or fundamental to who they are as individuals or members of a group.

Post – it Activity

Collectivism and Individualism

Generally speaking, ideologies of collectivism place the needs of a collective, or group, before those of any individual member of the group. Ideologies of individualism, however, value the individual above a whole group.

Identifying the Grey Area

• Controversial issues often have no easy solution. Seldom is an issue just black or white, or is someone clearly 100 % right or wrong.

• Sometimes conflicts originate because individuals and societies are unable or unwilling to consider the grey area between two sides of an issue.

Identifying the Grey Area

After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 on the United States, often referred to as 9/11, President Bush said, “you’re either with us or against us in the fight against terror.”

He saw the issue as black and white, but was there a grey area?

Yes•I am loyal to my country and I will fight to protect it.•There are rights my country grants me that I am willing to die for•Sometimes military force is the only solution to a conflict.

But…•Is the war on our soil or in another country?•If I do not risk my life, will other people’s lives be endangered because of my inaction?•What will the war accomplish?•Were there any other realistic options?

No•life is sacred and killing another human being is wrong•Everything can be talked through, even complex misunderstandings between countries.•Nothing is solved through violence.

If my country needs me, should I sacrifice my life in a war?

Beliefs, Values, and Identity

Who you are, based on your collective and individual experiences, creates your identity, determines your beliefs and values, and ultimately allows you to embrace ideology.You then act according to your set of beliefs and values and your ideology: “you walk your talk.”Different beliefs and values fit together like a puzzle to create your identity.

Puzzle Assignment

As you explore your beliefs and values in this chapter, you can create your own puzzle diagram.

But first we must explore the factors that influence your beliefs and values.

It is important to remember that these factors will affect our collective and individual beliefs and values.

Puzzle Assignment

The factors: culture, language, religion, spirituality, environment and relationship to land, gender, media, ideology.

Consider how each of these might have shaped your beliefs and values, and your identity.

How does Culture influence Beliefs and Values?

Culture is a combination of beliefs, customs, practices, and social behaviours of a particular group of people. Family and the society in which a person lives form integral parts of our cultural experience. This shared cultural experience may profoundly influence what ideology an individual or a group chooses to adopt.

Example of Beliefs

An artist from a rural community will expose their beliefs and values in their work because it is part of their identity and how the relate to the worldview.

Language

Language and culture play an important role in shaping each person and each society’s beliefs and values.

A common language and culture often unite people.

Language Example

Because language is important in shaping our identities, Francophone parents in most provinces of Canada have fought for the right to have their children educated in French.

These parents know that their children’s loss of the French language would mean the loss of their Francophone identity.

Religion and Spirituality

A religion is a formalized set of collectively-held beliefs and practices, linked to social groups and institutions that centres on the worship of and faith in a god or gods that tries to explain human existence and our place in the universe.

Spirituality can be closely tied to religion. Spirituality is a way of relating to the soul or the spirit, or perhaps to religious or sacred things rather than worldly things.

Religion and Spirituality

In many cases, people’s beliefs and values originate in a religious or spiritual tradition. Many people use religious or spiritual values to decide whether what they believe is good or bad behaviour.

A famous catholic priest on stated that,“you are not a human being in search of a spiritual experience. You are a spirit being immersed in a human experience.”

Environment and Relationship to the

Land

Another factor that may influence your beliefs and values is your relationship to the land or the environment.

For example, if you and your ancestors lived in the same area for hundreds of years, your connection to the land might be different from someone who is a newcomer to the area.

Environment and Relationship to the Land

As many traditional Aboriginal practices are dependent on a relationship with the land, some aboriginal peoples have an understanding and respect for the environment and people’s interrelationships with the land and nature.

Or perhaps it’s a simple as having a special place where you like to relax, reflect, or unwind.

Gender

The way people understand gender is affected by their experiences, what they believe and value, and what their society says about gender.

Often times society will create laws about what is “appropriate” gender-based behaviour.

This can + and – affect the way people express gender, such as whether they follow traditional or non-traditional roles or how they express gender orientation.

Gender - Reflect

How do you think men’s and women’s roles have changed over the last 100 years?

Do you think there are still roles that people see as being more appropriate for either men or women? What are they?

Gender

The specific qualities or behaviours that make up a gender role vary from one society to another. They may include particular beliefs and values such as career choices that are acceptable for a man or a woman.

To address inequalities and defined roles, a movement arose called feminism – the organized struggle for the equality of women.

Media

Media refers to the tools used to pass along information and ideas.

There are many types of media such as print media (books, newspapers, magazines) and electronic/digital media (radio, television, movies, the Internet, email, CDs, MP3s, and video games).

Sometimes the words media or news media are used to refer to the journalists and reporters who deliver information and opinions about what is happening in your community, across the country, and around the world.

Media

Advertising media is used to describe the many different ways that individuals, companies, and organizations promote their products, services, and ideas.

Many sociologists agree that media outlets have a strong influence on our beliefs and values.

For example, advertising influences what we buy and how we see ourselves. Body image for instance could be seen to be heavily influenced by images in the media.

Media

How and what news is reported can also affect how people interpret world events.

News can present issues from certain points of view or perspectives that may challenge our beliefs and values.

Ideology

How have groups and individuals’ beliefs and values been influenced by new ideas and ways of thinking?

Sometimes historical expressions of beliefs and values evolve as philosophers challenge old ways of thinking and common beliefs, or as scientists make discoveries and develop new theories.

For example, when Charles Darwin introduced his theory of evolution, it changed the way many people thought about where human beings came from and how different species interact with one another and their environments.

Reflect and Respond

On a separate piece of paper, respond to the following questions.

1. From your point of view, what impact do images in advertising and entertainment media have on the self-image and values of young people?

2. How much influence does advertising media have over your consumer choices and your beliefs and values?

Reflect and Respond

Name: Date:Write the questions followed by your answers.Make sure to answer using complete sentences rather than point form.Hand in to me upon completionYou may not begin working on the puzzle assignment

Factors Acronym

Let’s work together to create an acronym that represents the 7 factors that contribute to our values and beliefs.

CultureLanguage Religion/spiritualityEnvironment/relationship to the landGenderMediaIdeology

Review

Thursday we talked about:• The 7 contributing factors that influence our beliefs

and values as individuals • More specifically in terms of ideology we briefly

talked about Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution.

• When a scientist or philosopher changes their beliefs, collectively we tend to change ours as well. Example: 2012 – the end of the world.

Ideology

Sometimes people begin political movements simply to influence group’s and individuals beliefs and values.

Throughout history, people have acted on their collective or individual beliefs and values.

Sometimes these actions have shaped history.

Ideology

Acting on beliefs and values does not have to involve revolution or armed conflict.

Some people immigrate to new lands to protect their values, rather than staying to face persecution.

This was the case for the Hutterites – a religious group that came to Canada.

Other groups chose to stand up to their government when it does not recognize the rights of their group which was the case with the Métis and their leader Louis Riel.

Ideology

Historical or social change can also occur through political movements.

For example, people might form political parties, labour unions, or groups that campaign on specific issues, such as the group that campaigned for women’s suffrage – also known as the right to vote and the Famous Five

The Famous Five

In 1917, Emily Murphy was appointed as judge in Alberta – the first female judge in the British Empire.

Male lawyers challenged her authority and declared that she was not a person under the law.

The Famous Five – Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby, and Nellie McClung too the government of Canada to court asking for a rule as to whether women were persons.

The Famous five

In 1928, the Supreme Court declared section 24 to be accurate which stated that “The governor general shall…summon qualified Persons to the Senate.”

Section 24 did not state anything about women.

The 1928 Supreme court decision was eventually overruled in 1929.

Kuwaiti Women

In June 2006, the women of Kuwait voted for the first time.

Political analysts predicted that the women’s vote would exert a great influence on issues such as corruption, economic development and women’s rights.

Reflect and Discuss

How can political movements for change help shape a society’s collective belief or value regarding what is “right” or “acceptable”

Beliefs in Values + Constitution

What is the constitution? When Canada was formed in 1867

by the Fathers of Confederation, they used the phrase, “peace, order, and good government,” in the Constitution Act to define the legislative power of Parliament.

For some Canadians, this this phrase accurately describes an important aspect of our collective identity and “Canadian Culture.”

Beliefs in Values + Constitution

An important part of the Constitution is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982).

Being a pluralistic society is reflect in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it suggests that we are a people who believe in seeking peaceful solutions and working collectively to address issues.

This is also known as a pluralistic society – historically it is valued that everyone’s opinion needs to be taken into account.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Canada is a protective country and the Charter says so. You will find things like:- “every citizen has the right to vote in an election.” (section 3)- “every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination…based on age.” (section 15)

Balancing Beliefs and Values

The whole idea of “Who am I?” can be a highly complex question that includes notions of both collectivism and individualism which you communicated in your puzzle assignment.

Finding a balance of your own interests along with the interests of others is part of who a person is.

Balancing Beliefs and Values

A person’s identity is a complex balancing act between many competing factors: priorities, cultures, influences, languages, beliefs and values.

Our balance of these competing factors on our beliefs and values is known as “Canadianism”

What factors influence collective and individual beliefs and values? Sect. 1

In Summary: Collective and individual beliefs and values are shaped by 7 main factors.Sometimes these beliefs favour collectivism and sometimes individualism. People form individual beliefs and values that shape their identities. When these beliefs and values are shared with others, they become collective.These beliefs and values are the basis of various ideologies, or systems of belief.

Section One Summary:

Understanding how people express their beliefs and values and what this reveals about their identities will help you consider the Chapter issue: On which beliefs and values should my ideology be based?

Chapter 1, section 1 Definitions

Ideology Individualism Collectivism beliefs Values Feminism Canadianism 7 Factors Acronym

Understanding Ideologies

Section 2 Question for inquiry – what are the foundations that form an ideology?

In this section…Themes of ideology Characteristics of

ideology

Ideologies with -ism

Feminism Environmentalism Communism Liberalism Functionalism Positivism

Section 2

In the first half of this chapter, you explored beliefs and values, how they are formed and how they can shape a person’s identity.

In this section, you will explore how these beliefs and values relate to ideologies.

Ideologies

Ideologies are systems of thought that try to explain how the social world works, how we should live together, how we should treat one another, why we should or should not care about society and others, and how society ought to be in the future.

Ideologies

The formation of ideologies involves the creation of new ideas and ways of thinking.

Regardless of what ideology we discuss (feminism, communism, or environmentalism), each started with a small group of people who shared a new way of thinking.

Sometimes people who share common beliefs and values come to embrace the same ideology.

Snapshots

One view of what really makes humans human is their awareness of their own existence.

Why do we exist? And What is the meaning of life? Are questions people have though the ages.

What would your response be to this boys statement?

I know how I was born; I want to know why.

Main themes of ideology

In section two, we will be looking at the different themes of ideologies. Ideologies can be grouped according to the theme they tend to emphasize.

These themes are the foundations on which people base their beliefs. They include:1. nation 2. religion 3. class 4. relationship to the land and the environment.

Main themes of ideology

The themes of an ideology are those things that people who believe in ideology care deeply about.

The themes who also suggest which ideas might be rejected by the people who believe in the ideology.

In some cases, one or two themes might take precedence. For example, our relationship to the land and the environment is a predominant theme of environmentalism.

Nation

A nation may refer to a recognized country (such as Canada) or a group that sees itself as a nation: a group within a common culture, history, language, customs, and goals (such as the Métis or Quebecois).

A nation is concerned with sovereignty (independence), self-preservation, its own identity, citizenship, citizen participation, and the rights of its citizens.

For example…

Sometimes a nation may hold extreme views of its own rights in the world and these views may conflict with the views of others.

German Nazis believed in a fascist (dictatorship) ideology that proposed the rebirth of a nation based on its racial purity and strength.

In 2006, the House of Commons passed a notion saying that, “this House recognizes that the Quebecois form a nation within a united Canada.”

Religion

Religion is a key theme of some ideologists. Many religious beliefs and values pertain to ethics

and morality. Religious observance may or may not play a major

role in people’s lives; however, the basic beliefs of religion are important because they answer questions about human nature, the way the world is, and the way the world should be.

Some states are governed according to religious beliefs and values, which can sometimes lead to conflict or wars being fought over religion.

Class – Social class structure

Social class refers to the way society is structured.

In our society, class is usually based on occupations or the amount of money people have.

Often people will refer to the working class, the middle class, or the upper class.

Class – Social Class Structure

Sayings such as “She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth,” refers to a person’s social class.

Communism is an ideology that proposes that the working class should rise against the upper class, so that ultimately all classes are removed and people are equal.

Relationship to the Land/Environment

This theme is expressed both philosophically and practically.

For thousands of years, people, such as Aboriginal peoples have relied on an inter-relationship with the earth’s resources as a part of their survival and beliefs and values.

Relationship to the Land/Environment

The process of industrialization, especially in Western Canada, requires the earth’s resources.

People who believe in the ideology of environmentalism do not share this view and worry that we are using up our resources and damaging the environment.

Characteristics of Ideology

In these next few slides, we will examine the characteristics, or distinguishing features, of ideology. These characteristics of ideologies include:

-interpretations of history-beliefs about human nature-beliefs about society-visions of the future

Interpretations of History

History is the story of how we got to be who we are and of what society was like in the past.

Just as two people viewing the same accident will tell police two different accounts of the accident, people interpret the past differently based on their core beliefs and values.

People who share an ideology, however, are likely to interpret the past in a similar way.

Interpretations of History

A nation interprets its history, and this interpretation then becomes part of the nation’s ideology.

Interpretations of history are often demonstrated in acts of patriotism in which citizens celebrate their history as a group and share it with the rest of the world.

For Example…

During Remembrance Day ceremonies, Canadians honour our military history and the men and women who have made sacrifices on behalf of our country.

A common interpretation of history in our society is the belief that human beings are progressing and improving over time. Some people however question this notion of progress and view our technological advances as having negative consequences.

Beliefs about Human Nature

We have all seen a news clip or a scene from a movie that makes us question, “How could someone do that to another human being?”

History is full of cases of inhumanity, and violent actions toward others still happen today.

But history is full of extreme humanity. There have always been people who have devoted themselves to helping others.

Beliefs about Human Nature

All groups act based on their ideologies, and every ideology attempts to answer the questions:

-what are humans like? -what should society be like?

Beliefs about Human Nature

Thinking of what humans are like and of what they are capable of is something that people have done for centuries.

Philosophers, scientists, politicians, religious leaders, comedians, cartoons, singers, writers, and so on have all had something to say about humanity.

Wednesday Agenda

1. QQ2. New slides from Section 2: Influential

philosophers, Beliefs about society, Visions of the Future

3. Chapter One Quiz PREP – outline, summary, and practice.

Influential Philosophers

Over the centuries, many people have thought about, talked about, and written about human nature and in doing so, they have contributed to the development of ideologies.

Some of these people have had a more profound impact on future generations than others.

Influential Philosophers

Plato, for instance, is still one of the most influential philosophers for Western thought – even over 2300 years after his death.

In the next few slides we will look at three other philosophers who have had a profound impact on shaping Western ideologies: Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679)

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher living during the English Civil War.

The war was a bitter struggle between the king and the Parliament that ended when King Charles 1 was beheaded.

These events profoundly impacted Hobbes. He believed that human nature is characterised by fear, violence, and dangerous self-interest.

In other words, extreme individualism where people only look out for themselves and will hurt anyone that get in their way.

Thomas Hobbes

Hobbes with his negative view of human nature, believed that it is dangerous to allow people to be free to do as they wish and that we all need security more than we need freedom.

Hobbes’ solution was a society where people give up their freedom to one person who is responsible for everyone’s security (a king in Hobbes’ time, or a dictator). Hobbes did not think it was possible to have both freedom and security.

John Locke (1632-1704)

John Locke, another English philosopher, had a very different view of human nature. He lived during the Enlightenment period and his ideas influenced events such as the American Revolution.

His ideas can be seen in the Declaration of Independence.

Unlike Hobbes, Locke believed that people are rational, intelligent, and reasonable.

John Locke

Most of the people living during his time believed that power rested in God and the king (who it was believed was chosen by God to rule, and therefore had absolute power.)

Locke, on the contrary, believed that the source of power was people themselves, which was a revolutionary idea in the 17th century.

Locke believed that individuals possess the ability to be reasonable and make rational decisions.

John Locke

Locke also believed that the other reason governments exist is to protect life, liberty, and property, which is why people give up their natural state of freedom to be part of a civil society.

Locke believed that any government action had to be justified by the approval of the majority of the people in society or popular consent.

John Locke

The idea of popular consent is what sets Locke apart from most thinkers of his time.

In summary, Locke, with his positive view of human nature, believed in democracy.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a philosopher from Geneva, Switzerland, who was very interested in the common good.

He believed that people are inherently good and have been corrupted by civilization and society.

Most importantly, he believed that humans are naturally free and are equal in principle.

Famous Words..

“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.”

As Rousseau saw it, private property and ownership of land had led to jealousy and corruption. People had lost their compassion for one another, become selfish, and based their happiness on the opinions of others.

Rousseau

Rousseau wanted to strip humans of all of those aspects that he thought were the result of the influence of society.

He wanted humans to go back to the characteristics that made humans good and equal.

He thought that if this could be done, the most effective and legitimate forms of government could be determined.

Rousseau

Unlike Locke, Rousseau was bitterly opposed to the idea of a representative assembly (elected democratic representatives)

Instead, he believed that people should make laws directly. If this were achieved, Rousseau believed that people could enjoy a level of freedom close to what they enjoyed in the state of nature.

Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau

These philosophers had very strong views on human nature and came up with an ideal form of government based on their beliefs.

Beliefs about human nature are not universal, but it could be said

that every individual in every culture has had beliefs and values about the basic nature of human beings since the beginning of time.

Beliefs about society

A universal question that all ideologies address is “what is the nature of society?”

Ideologies are the foundations on which all societies are structured, for good or bad, because ideologies are ways of understanding how we should interact with one another.

Beliefs about Society

Part of examining the nature of society is determining whether you view it more from a collectivist or an individualist standpoint.

In a capitalist society like Canada’s, there is a focus on individual achievement and personal wealth. These achievements could be perceived as one way in which all individuals in a society have an opportunity to succeed, for the common good of all society.