Fukuyama tells us that by "the time of St. Bernard's death, the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys" and had "accumulated great wealth"... (Fukuyama 4)
How are the building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth indicators of democracy?
(Remember to answer based on what you've read and understood. When using an idea of Fukuyama's, use quotes and a page number.)
Trishanna Yankannah
ReplyDeleteProfessor Modeste
JRSM 301, Junior Seminar
Fukuyama’s Text
• How are the building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth indicators of democracy?
From the beginning of time, religion has always played a major role in the development of society. Chiefly, because there was little or no separation between the church and the government. This can be seen through the Cistercian Order during the middle ages. The Cistercian’s were a Monastic Order that broke off from the Benedictines. Their aim was to return to a more strict observance of the Benedictines rule. This included a combination of prayer and spiritual contemplation, manual labor, and scholarly study in their daily lives. This made the Cistercians accumulate rapid growth and popularity. Their property was assimilates to the church estates and was exempted from all taxation. These things enabled them to accumulate great wealth. This in turn led to the up rise of democracy. Chiefly, because like many great leaders and nations before, the Cistercian Order became corrupted and soon would need reform. This brought on the desire for democracy and the separation of government and church relations. Furthermore, emphasizing the point that “the principle of equality is apprehended first through religion and democracy is basically a secularized form of Christianity” (Fukuyama 4). The more abbeys and the more wealth they accumulated the more the need for democracy would prevail. This is due to the failure or decline in these religious establishments. Once they gained great wealth it would prove that something more than religion was needed for a strong stable government. Thus leading to the separation between the church and the government which would come at a later time in history. Thus proving to be indicators of democracy. According to Fukuyama democracy is the secularized form of Christianity. However, Christianity was first needed in order to promote a democratic government or society.
Religion seems to have always played a part in Democracy especially when we hear the phrase that "all men are created equal." The phrase is something that Jesus often implied. However, I feel like the building of abbeys creates democracy in the sense that the abbeys are figurative for all religions. An abbey is "the building or buildings occupied by a community of monk or nuns" (Google Search). Having said that, monks are not Christians and therefore, "the time of St. Bernard's death, the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys" (Fukyama, 4) does refer to Christianity but when we look into it, it could also refer to the fact that Democracy is tolerant of all religion. The accumulation of wealth sort of goes hand-in-hand with religion in the sense that where there is religious freedom, there is also an abundance of multicultural societies and therefore a country that is democracy would get more money coming in from its inhabitants.
ReplyDeleteAlthough we live in a society that has a separation of church and state, the line isn’t as visible as people want to believe. Invested in the idea of the American dream of rags to riches, throughout history we were blind to what had been in our faces all this time, religion grows within power substantially. The principles of morality people greatly agree with comes from democracy, but looking closely we can determine that the lineage of that morality comes from a set of laws in common with the beliefs within Christianity. The dream of rags to riches is seen as a great conquest, so if the building of abbeys leads to an accumulation of wealth, then it could be argued that democracy is present. Personally, democracy is a freedom to do whatever you choose and excel in what you want to do, but that does not really exist in the system that our superiors have founded. “The principle of equality is apprehended first through religion and democracy is basically a secularized form of Christianity,” (Fukuyama 4). Fukuyama explains that the idea of democracy can be argued to form from the basic idea of Christianity, in which we could argue that the separation of state and church was not fully divided because they were already combined at a basic ideology.
ReplyDelete“The principle of equality is apprehended first through religion and democracy is basically a secularized form of Christianity,” (Fukuyama 4). We can go as far as bible times and say Christianity was once before the "government", because most of our laws and democracy are based on laws also written in the bible for example the ten commandments play a major role in our democracy and juridical system. There are two America's today as silly as it may sound but the way I see it we have Rich and Poor fighting for equality, the other America politics and religion trying to correct and make "things right," but also fighting for "equality."
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReligion pretty much sets the tone for creating a democracy. "Tocqueville makes clear that Christianity had arrived at an essential insight about human equality and that it was therefore no accident that democracy grew first on Christian soil." (Fukuyama 4) Also Fukuyama continues to bring up more references throughtout the reading "Toqueville makes it very clear that the long march toward democracy that he descrubes is primarily a characteristic of the Christian Nations." Also Abbeys is building or buildings created by monks or nuns. So pretty much it was driven by religion hence why he used Christianity as he list point.
ReplyDeleteThe accumulation of wealth comes from all societies participating in internal and foreign trade (Fukuyama 2). In the essay, Adam Przeworski hypothesizes that “countries are much more likely to remain democracies as they become wealthier” (Fukuyama 2). I agree with the quote because it’s true, the reason for a downfall can usually always lead back to the economy and if the country is wealthy, the democracy will not have much to worry about. Tocqueville goes onto explain that it was no accident that democracy grew first on Christian soil because Christianity had an essential insight about human equality. Christianity was the “democracy” in earlier times and now, in present day, we can compare our laws to the laws of Christianity and see how Christianity shaped us – we have only simply evolved their laws and made them our own.
ReplyDeleteQUIZ 1-
ReplyDeleteFrom the beginning of time, religion has always played a major role in the development of society. Chiefly, because there was little or no separation between the church and the government. This can be seen through the Cistercian Order during the middle ages. The Cistercian’s were a Monastic Order that broke off from the Benedictines. Their aim was to return to a more strict observance of the Benedictines rule. This included a combination of prayer and spiritual contemplation, manual labor, and scholarly study in their daily lives. This made the Cistercians accumulate rapid growth and popularity. Their property was assimilates to the church estates and was exempted from all taxation. These things enabled them to accumulate great wealth. This in turn led to the up rise of democracy. Chiefly, because like many great leaders and nations before, the Cistercian Order became corrupted and soon would need reform. This brought on the desire for democracy and the separation of government and church relations. Furthermore, emphasizing the point that “the principle of equality is apprehended first through religion and democracy is basically a secularized form of Christianity” (Fukuyama 4). The more abbeys and the more wealth they accumulated the more the need for democracy would prevail. This is due to the failure or decline in these religious establishments. Once they gained great wealth it would prove that something more than religion was needed for a strong stable government. Thus leading to the separation between the church and the government which would come at a later time in history. Thus proving to be indicators of democracy. According to Fukuyama democracy is the secularized form of Christianity. However, Christianity was first needed in order to promote a democratic government or society.
In addition, the Enlightenment was also an indicator of Democracy. It emphasized reason and individualism. The new scientific view of life and the function of society enabled people to drift away from the traditional way of thinking. For example, the elimination of the monarch and support of a Democratic government. According to Fukuyama “democracy is somehow a rational or self-evidently just form of government that arises from a more scientific understanding of human things” (Fukuyama 3). This was due to the fact that It gave everyone equal opportunities or social mobility rather than just being beneficial to the elites in society. This supported the new way of thinking that all men are created equal through God. However “no degree of enlightenment will free human thought from the assumptions guiding the age that the thinker lives in” (Fukuyama 3). This statement simply means that no amount if knowledge can change what is destined to be, such as, Slavery or the Holocaust. However, leadership is always needed and therefore will always impact the way people of a certain society and time think. This explains why the enlightenment period like Christianity indicated Democracy. Leadership and the ever developing human mind seeks to find ways to improve daily living. Democracy has proven to be successful, at the time and continues to be in some modern society which has enable it to spread to many nations.
Quiz 1
ReplyDeleteThe abbeys are defined by “A church that is connected to other buildings where monks or nuns live or once lived,” (Merriam Dictionary). The religion as a whole expands rapidly. Today, the Christian population spans over 2.18 billion followers alone, which is more than a fourth of the Earth’s population. If we head back over a span of a century, 66.3% of the populations in Europe were Christian in 1910(Google search) If we go further back in time we can safely deduce based on numbers that the religion itself was a higher percentage based on the limitation of choice you had. When different points within the structure of systems, such as democracy, come to light with six drives included. These six drives expanded on democracy through the exemplification of economic growth, property rights, technology, war & conflict, enlighten, and religion. These drives intertwine with the system that we know as democracy. Quoted in such “This particular incident is, of course, purely sociological: There is no essential connection between Christian doctrine and the behavior of St. Bernard or the Cistercians, who may have been motivated by worldly ambition.”(Fukuyama)The sociological structure plays more to the surrounding ideas within society, during that time frame which were dominant by Christianity. The abbeys, which in itself would be considered a sanctuary for followers, consisted of daily prayer, manual labor, and biblical studies, of which made it a self-sustainable environment. These common daily routines made the abbey expand in economic growth and popularity. Fukuyama further emphasized “The principle of equality is apprehended first through religion and democracy is basically a secularized form of Christianity.”The idea of democracy, at its core, is a set of principles derived from Christianity. We can argue that all the growth in the abbeys is tied to religion.
I Previously Said:
ReplyDelete"Religion seems to have always played a part in Democracy especially when we hear the phrase that "all men are created equal." The phrase is something that Jesus often implied. However, I feel like the building of abbeys creates democracy in the sense that the abbeys are figurative for all religions. An abbey is "the building or buildings occupied by a community of monk or nuns" (Google Search). Having said that, monks are not Christians and therefore, "the time of St. Bernard's death, the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys" (Fukyama, 4) does refer to Christianity but when we look into it, it could also refer to the fact that Democracy is tolerant of all religion. The accumulation of wealth sort of goes hand-in-hand with religion in the sense that where there is religious freedom, there is also an abundance of multicultural societies and therefore a country that is democracy would get more money coming in from its inhabitants."
QUIZ 1 ADD ON:
The point that "it still produced a higher degree of social equality than societies that were poorer and had fewer avenues for social mobility" (Fukuyama, 2), the it being a bourgeoisie, relates to six because it talks about an equal society and religion talks about an equal society and how all people are created equally. The point that was made about "it was driven by war and conflict" (Fukuyama, 3) relates to the Cistercians, who branched off of the Benedictines. The Cistercians were able to come about because of conflict that they had with the Benedictines, who they believed were no longer perceiving religion in the same way. By doing this, the Cistercians created a type of Democracy where people were able to choose what they wanted to be; they were either Benedictines or Cistercians.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnalis Batista
ReplyDeleteJRSM 301
10/5/13
Quiz 1
Fukuyama
How are the building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth indicators of democracy?
The building of abbeys and their accumulation of wealth became indicators democracy such democratic drives that lead abbeys into such wealth are the economic growth of the land, property rights and the growth of personal property, war and conflict also became another big issue because abbeys where such consider nuns and monks and so on, and religion took over the majority of the say in when it came to human equality.
• Adam Prezeworski's stated that "Countries can make the transition to democracy at any level of development but they are much more likely to remain democracies as they become wealthier, with $6000 per- capita GDP representing something like “take off point” for democratic stability. (Fukuyama 1)
• Secondly driving by property Right: “Once property right gave them and the decline of feudal and tenure stoked the fire of invention.”(Fukuyama 2) Property rights gave them authority and gained power for themselves to owe the human luxury’s and desires such as war and fashion they yearn for. “War, which had been the inclusive domain of the aristocracy and the source of its power, could then be pursued by the non-noble.” (Fukuyama 2)
• “The principle of equality is apprehended first through religion and democracy is basically a secularized form of Christianity,” (Fukuyama 4). We can go as far as bible times and say Christianity was once before the "government", because most of our laws and democracy are based on laws also written in the bible for example the Ten Commandments play a major role in our democracy and juridical system. There are two America's today as silly as it may sound but the way I see it we have Rich and Poor fighting for equality, the other America politics and religion trying to correct and make "things right," but also fighting for "equality."
• The religion factor in Tocqueville’s view is this “Even the most enlighten minds must rely on authority lest they be parlayed by the need to analyze and experience everything for themselves.”(Fukuyama 5)
Quiz 1
ReplyDeleteQuoted from Fukuyama, it says "the time of St. Bernard's death, the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys" and had "accumulated great wealth"... (Fukuyama 4)
The increase of abbeys and wealth has something to do with the government practice of democracy. In addition, these events show some indication of democracy because they fall under some of the drivers to democracy. Without a doubt, the increase of abbeys are driven by religion. “It is perfectly possible for an important insight about the human condition to be apprehended through religion rather than philosophy, and for it to spread across the world through cultural means rather than as a result of progressive enlightenment.” This quote tells us that the human condition can be easily understood by religion instead of philosophy. This quote shows how there can be an interpretation of a separation between religion and democracy, but in fact are closely related. However, there are a lot more drivers that apply to this even tthan just religion. For example, the building of abbeys fall under the growth of property rights. The quote "Tocqueville argues that the growth of personal property and the decline of feudal land tenure stoked the fire of invention. Once property rights gave them an incentive to create, innovators could satisfy the human desire for luxury, war, and fashion and thereby gain power for themselves..." (Fukuyama 3) states that when there is a growth in property that people can now satisfy the wants of others to gain power. Moreover, the increase in wealth falls under the drive of economic growth. For example, "In Adam Przeworski's updating of this hypothesis, countries can make the transition to democracy at any level of development, but they are much more likely to remain democracies as they become wealthier, with $6,000 per-capita GDP representing something like a "takeoff point" for democratic stability..." (Fukuyama 2). This quote tells us that the growth of wealth can be the take-off point in which a form of democracy becomes stable. In addition, the driver of enlightenment also applies to this event. For example, “Tocqueville suggests that the spread of enlightenment and the growing importance of what is now called "human capital" in affairs of state aided the spread of democracy.” (Fukuyama 3) This quote suggests that with the spread of ideas and the increase of human understanding, in relevance to the state, has some influence in the spread of democracy. It is hard to contemplate the close relations between government and religion, but knowing more in depth can make having relationships with other countries a lot more easily.
Chelsey Tejeda
ReplyDeleteJRSM
Professor Modeste
Quiz 1:
The building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth became indicators of democracy by obtaining power and wealth. When citizens are given power and the opportunity to have wealth this is what makes it democratic. As mentioned in the first reason Driven by Economic Growth. “Countries can make the transition to democracy at any level of development, but they are much more likely to remain democracies as they become wealthier” (Fukuyama 2). At this time many countries were being a commercial or agrarian country, including the United States. The falling of other countries and their religion caused the evolution of democracy and the relationship between democracy and Western Christianity. This is why Christianity is the number one religion in America because their beliefs match the way that the democratic system is. As quoted from Fukuyama “Protestantism, in particular, paved the way for democracy by giving believers direct access to God and undermining the authority of an autocratic church.” (Fukuyama 4). This quote from Fukuyama explains that the Christian religion made a way to democracy by giving their people a closer relationship to God rather than a dictatorship such as the autocratic church. Having the building of the abbeys and accumulation of wealth became the indicators of democracy because that’s what democracy is all about people who are equal, such as the abbeys having the accumulation (opportunity) to gain wealth.
Abbeys today are recognized as churches or houses previously occupied by nuns or monks. Through abbeys, it became a generally accepted idea that "all men are created equal." Since all men are perceived to be created equal, there can be no form of hierarchy in a society, and every individual has the potential of gaining some sort of power. "...at around that date the clergy opened itself up to all people, poor and rich, and insinuated itself into the government, enabling people of humble origins to reach the top ranks of power." (Fukuyama 4). Christianity, as referenced throughout Democracy in America by Tocqueville, is "a source of the belief in human equality and to the sociological impact that the Christian church had on the spread of democracy over the centuries." (Fukuyama 4) My understanding of the quote is that the Church continuously had a huge impact on the society as a whole, and that they were more prone to follow whatever the Church believed.
ReplyDeleteThe accumulation of wealth contributed to the spread of democracy through economic growth. Because of economic growth, wealth was now being distributed among the entire nation. This distribution of wealth was due to the "extensive and internal trade" (Fukuyama 2), which occurred in what Adam Smith called commercial societies. Another contribution to growth was the need for new professions, which included, but wasn't limited to, the need for laws and lawyers because of new regulations. "Tocqueville argues that the growing complexity and the need for stability in such societies encouraged the growth of laws and lawyers, and a division of labor that allowed for the growth of a bourgeoisie with independent sources of wealth and power." (Fukuyama 2). Because of this new distribution of wealth, wealthy commoners gained the ability to have a share of the kings & lords power, wealth, and land. Adam Przeworksi's hypothesis states that any country has the capability of becoming a democracy, but they are much more likely to remain a democracy once they reach a $6,000 GDP, or a total value of goods produced and services provided yearly, that allows for domestic stability.
How are the building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth indicators of democracy?
ReplyDeleteChurches that are connected to buildings where monks or nuns live or once lived are abbeys. "By the time of St. Bernard's death, the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys, accumulated great wealth, and been responsible for much of the material progress made in France during that century."(Fukuyama 6). This shows that democracy is intertwined with religion because they expand from the same idea. As more abbeys been found, the more wealth they had, the more powerful democracy will be proven. "Tocqueville seems to have something specific in mind from French history; according to him, at around that date the clergy opened itself up to all people, poor and rich, and insinuated itself into the government, enabling people of humble origins to reach the top ranks of power." (Fukuyama 6). In Europe there are class differences that really divide people but according to religion we are all the same. Ranks of power means people can go up in class relates to (Fukuyama 2), "Once property rights gave them an incentive to create, innovators could satisfy the human desire for luxury, war, and fashion and thereby gain power for themselves." Meaning when they were given property rights, the more powerful they will get to more access. Technology just keeps improving day by day and keeps us up to date. "Tocqueville points to the development of firearms, printing, the post, and sea travel (which opened up the riches of the Americas to those without power) as technological innovations that tended to disperse power to common people. " (Fukuyama 3). A great example of this is the social media like the MOOCS gives us educational access to students for free, which gives equal opportunities. In (Fukuyama 1), "In Adam Przeworski's updating of this hypothesis, countries can make the transition to democracy at any level of development, but they are much more likely to remain democracies as they become wealthier, with $6,000 per-capita GDP representing something like a "takeoff point" for democratic stability." Basically means that in order to become modern democracy wealth, don’t fix what’s not needed to be fixed. Where money is made, $6,000 per capita GDP, there is always going to be some type of democracy.
Quiz 1
ReplyDeleteReligion pretty much sets the tone for creating a democracy. "Tocqueville makes clear that Christianity had arrived at an essential insight about human equality and that it was therefore no accident that democracy grew first on Christian soil." (Fukuyama 4) Also Fukuyama continues to bring up more references throughout the reading "Tocqueville makes it very clear that the long march toward democracy that he describes is primarily a characteristic of the Christian Nations." Also Abbeys is building or buildings where monks or nuns live. Fukuyama states "In Adam Przeworski updating of this hypothesis countries can make the transition to a democracy at any level as development but are much more likely to remain democracies as they become wealthier, with $6,000 per capita GDP representing something like a "takeoff point" for democratic stability." (Fukuyama 2) For example if we take the USA back then it once had a $6,000 per capita and look where the result of it today we are a democracy and one of the wealthiest countries and continuing to become wealthier. Fukuyama also goes on and says it was driven by enlightenment. "Tocqueville suggest that the spread of enlightenment and the growing importance of what is now called "human capital" in affairs of state aided the spread of democracy." (Fukuyama 3) Basically human capital according to the free dictionary means economics, the abilities and skills of any individual, especially those acquired through investment, education and training enhance potential income earning. Generations of generations influence this as they pass down their knowledge and skills to upcoming ones to go out and be smart and earn and make a decent living. Teachers ,parents and grandparents definitely play a role in this. It goes hand and hand with religion. This keeps a democracy going in a country because no matter what knowledge and skills will forever be passed down.
As you may or may not know democracy is equality of rights and privileges, a system of government by the whole population of all the eligible members. Basically giving the people free will as they gain the sense of independence within that county or state. When a country built in the form of construction work, they generates capital and offer jobs opportunity for its citizen, thereby giving the country and its citizen the sense of independence to participate in matters that concerns them. The more abbeys (which are homes for nuns) that were being built the more capital the country had. Tocqueville argues that “The growing complexity and the need for stability in such societies encouraged growth of law and lawyers, and of division of labor that allow for the growth of a bourgeoisie with independent sources of wealth and power” (F2). The building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth are indicators of democracy in a sense that the people saw the need to invent and own property as Tocqueville argues that “the growth of personal property and the decline of feudal land tenure stroke the fire of invention. Once property rights gave them an incentive to create, innovators satisfy the human desires for luxury….. and thereby gain power for themselves” (F3). As humans it is in our nature to feel powerful in any way we can whether it’s individually or collectively. Therefore the building of abbeys offers that sense of power and belonging. I also feel that this quote reveals the main purpose of the passage Democracy in America, considering the fact that Tocqueville arguments are surrounding Christianity and its importance influence on democracy. And this is showed throughout and as a result, “the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys, accumulated great wealth, abbeys been responsible for much of the material progress in France during that century” (Fukuyama 4). Once again the building of abbeys generated capital for the French government as well as its people as they gain stability.
ReplyDeleteHow are the building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth indicators of democracy?
ReplyDeleteBuilding of abbeys and accumulation of wealth are indicators of democracy because it brings people together through religion and at the same time helps the wealth of that particular country. By letting each individual in that country express their religious beliefs and at the same time give back to strengthen the wealth of that country we can see that building of abbeys and accumulating wealth are the epitome of great indicators of democracy. In Fukuyama’s Driver of Democracy he states “Tocqueville argues that the growing complexity and the need for stability in such societies encouraged the growth of law and lawyers, and of a division of labor that allowed for the growth of a bourgeoisie with independent sources of wealth and power”. By designating different jobs and responsibility the United States began moving towards a democratic society despite.
In his second driver of democracy Fukuyama states “Once property rights gave them an incentive to create, innovators could satisfy the human desire for luxury, war, and fashion and thereby gain power for themselves. Giving people the right to invent things to progress the country’s economy was a great indicator of democracy because this lead to the era of great innovations thus putting the united states on the map. By satisfying human desire this lead to the United States to accumulate more wealth thus leading them into a more democratic society. When one institution gains power for its self diversifies the country, which is what democracy is build upon. The next example in Fukuyama’s Drivers of Democracy was “The development of firearms, printing, the post, and sea travel as technological innovations that tended to disperse power to common people”. These technological innovations expanded the United States to the rest of the world thru sea travel. In this time such amenities were only available to the wealthy and by letting commoners use these inventions it paved another milestone on the road to democracy. The next driver of democracy that Fukuyama addressed was enlightenment. “The spread of enlightenment and the growing importance of what is now called "human capital" in affairs of state aided the spread of democracy”. The last great driver of democracy was Christianity. Fukuyama states “By the time of St. Bernard's death, the Cistercians had founded 338 abbeys, accumulated great wealth, and been responsible for much of the material progress made in France during that century”. The creation of abbeys was one of the most powerful drivers of democracy then as it is now. It is the prime example of what democracy is based upon. Creating abbeys unites people with the same belief system thus progressing that society on its own. Until this present moment Christianity is the biggest religion being practiced. Just like president Abraham Lincoln said, ”A house divided against itself cannot stand." Religion brought everyone to together and eventually if it was not up to religion who knows what would have been of this country today.
Cory Peralta
ReplyDeleteJunior Seminar
How are the building of abbeys and accumulation of wealth indicators of democracy?
Well, this reading convinces me that religion definitely influenced democracy. Basically, democracy Is where people get to decide who is their leader. When people elect someone that is religious... don't you think that he/she will support the religious community? I think so, especially since our democracy enforces freedom of religion.
Tocqueville says that “The growing complexity and the need for stability in such societies encouraged growth of law and lawyers, and of division of labor that allow for the growth of a bourgeoisie with independent sources of wealth and power”. I think he is saying that because of the ability to be able to work, even people in small towns can have places where they can do what they want to do. During the time of feudalism, people were divided by class. The church put piles of restrictions when it came to buying property. This obviously completely shut down a poor persons desire to but some land near the important people.
Also Tocqueville talks about technology. Technology is also an indicator of democracy. It also contributes to wealth. Technology helps us to go overseas and expand our resources and ideas throughout the whole world. Which is also a very subtle way of spreading religion... and democracy.