FOREWORD
In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland there is a scene in which
Alice, walking along, comes to a fork in the road. Pausing, she
asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me please, which way I
ought to walk from here?” The Cheshire Cat answers, “That
depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” “I don’t much
care where— ” says Alice. “Then it doesn’t much matter which
way you walk,” says the cat.
Which road to take, in this journey of life, is a problem which
confronts all young people. In one sense all teaching rests on the
premise that what path one takes is important, and the making of
judgments as to which path is best can be even more important.
In this text we shall undertake the study of some political,
moral, and economic theories. These basic ideas, as put forth by
some of the great thinkers of western civilization provide sign
posts to the many and varied roads which can be taken in forming
opinions on some very important questions. What is the proper
relationship between the citizen and the state? How can we best
judge right from wrong? Does every man have a price? If we
accept the concept of majority rule, how do we deal with the
desires of those in the minority? If we reject the concept of
majority rule, what do we choose as the alternative? Capital
punishment, abortion, war and peace, love and sex, free enter
prise, communism, socialism— the issues are endless.
Since the issues are endless, the questions unlimited, and the
ideas complex, this study shall be a presentation of the basic
ideas and concepts put forward by some well known philoso
phers. We shall not attempt an in-depth study of philosophy;
rather the goal is to make students aware of the important ideas
of western philosophy, to undertake an analysis of the validity of
the thoughts encountered, and to expand the number of options
available in the making of intellectual choices.
In terms of the subject matter the goals of this study are
modest. The major objective will not be met— we will fall short
of the goal. But that too is part of the process which students must
recognize. We often fall short of our goals— but if we know
where we are going, at least we will know what road to take—
and in that regard we are one step ahead of Alice.
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