Abstract
The Great American Experiment began almost 250 years ago, not necessarily in pursuit of a new nation per say, but more on the grounds of courageous expedition into the unknown – a grand test-case for what a nation could be – and continues to be so courageous and experimental well into contemporary society; the experiment being whether unfettered personal autonomy can indeed exist congruently with social, cultural, and national security. Frankly, all available data suggests that such lofty ideals are ultimately not possible, and that Americans are left, nearly a quarter of a millennia after the fact, with the sobering task of spearheading a whole new world order in which the ideal of personal liberty is charged with the formidable task of achieving an equalizer – a reasonable balance – in a world where threats exist not only at the personal level but in the international theatre. At what point do we come to acknowledge that unrestrained liberty is not a sustainable method by which to manage a society of millions that simply yearns to live free from the threat of harm? At what cost does such security arise; and, what, if anything, are we truly willing to relinquish in terms of personal liberty in order to feel safe in our beds at night? These are the daunting questions facing politicians, philosophers, lawmakers, and contemporary Americans on every social level along with our counterparts across the globe. Where we go from here, and where we ultimately arrive, may well constitute the next Grand Experiment.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Charles Zelden
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-12-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2013 5:30 PM
The Needs of the Many
Alvin Sherman Library
The Great American Experiment began almost 250 years ago, not necessarily in pursuit of a new nation per say, but more on the grounds of courageous expedition into the unknown – a grand test-case for what a nation could be – and continues to be so courageous and experimental well into contemporary society; the experiment being whether unfettered personal autonomy can indeed exist congruently with social, cultural, and national security. Frankly, all available data suggests that such lofty ideals are ultimately not possible, and that Americans are left, nearly a quarter of a millennia after the fact, with the sobering task of spearheading a whole new world order in which the ideal of personal liberty is charged with the formidable task of achieving an equalizer – a reasonable balance – in a world where threats exist not only at the personal level but in the international theatre. At what point do we come to acknowledge that unrestrained liberty is not a sustainable method by which to manage a society of millions that simply yearns to live free from the threat of harm? At what cost does such security arise; and, what, if anything, are we truly willing to relinquish in terms of personal liberty in order to feel safe in our beds at night? These are the daunting questions facing politicians, philosophers, lawmakers, and contemporary Americans on every social level along with our counterparts across the globe. Where we go from here, and where we ultimately arrive, may well constitute the next Grand Experiment.
