In this seminar we look at the troubled boundary between the value of
individual liberty and the value of living in a democracy. Within
variously interpreted limits, we all cherish the freedom to do and
say what we want, and we often, not always, acknowledge the
responsibilities associated with these freedoms. But at the same
time, for most of us individual liberty is not a solitary virtue, and
we face problems and threats that we are not capable of handling
alone. This tension raises the question of whether our freedoms make
sense only within the framework of a pluralistic society and a
democratic political country. If so, then what are our
responsibilities to our society and country? And what restrictions on
our liberties might be warranted in the name of the greater good? In
this connection we will look at the current debate and the government
actions on combating threats from terrorism. We will specifically
consider Benjamin Franklin’s comment that “those who would give up
essential liberties to purchase temporary safety deserve neither
liberty nor safety.”
	There will be four types of assignments. The first is to come
to class prepared to discuss the reading and associated issues. The
second is to take an examination towards the end of the semester. The
third is to participate in a group project. Finally, and this is the
intellectual core of the seminar, there will be a series of short
(two page) papers on various issues arising from our readings and
discussions. (There will be no final examination.) I would be pleased
to discuss the nature of the seminar and the associated assignments.