Brinton, The Enlightenment (NYU Classes
Social Foundations III
Study Questions
Lesson 1. Brinton, The Enlightenment (NYU Classes)
1. What is an example, according to Brinton, of an unnatural, artificial way of life that leads to dissatisfaction and discontent? Do you agree that a person's lifestyle could be unnatural?
Class distinction, Religious values and social etiquette
2. In your opinion, can we understand what is best for people through reason and science, and therefore what will make people happiest? Can psychologists help people become happier?
3. How does Brinton contrast the first generation of the Enlightenment with the second generation?
4. Do Christians believe in general human progress, according to Brinton?
5. Why did the Enlightenment intellectuals believe in progress? What did they mean by “progress”?
6. In your opinion, are Americans’ lives better today than …show more content…
In the forest and cavern scene, Faust addresses nature itself, or the Earth Spirit. What is he saying? How does he see Mephistopheles at this point?
6. Does Faust believe in God? Does he believe anything is infinite and eternal?
7. At the well, Gretchen says everything she has done (making love with Faust) has been good and sweet. In the next scene, she feels nothing but deep shame and regret. What happened? Do you think she is a believable character?
8. If you were Faust visiting Block Mountain on Walpurgis Night, watching the storm and the fairies and other beings, dancing with a young witch, how would you feel?
9. When Faust rages at Mephistopheles over Gretchen's imprisonment, Mephistopheles says it is all Faust's fault. Is he right? Or is Mephistopheles a lying devil after all?
10. Why doesn't Gretchen go with Faust when he comes to the dungeon for her? Does she want to live or to die?
11. Faust wants to be free to experience everything. Can such a romantic individualist experience love? Duty? Honor? If Faust loved Gretchen, would he sacrifice his freedom and his thirst for new
Study Questions
Lesson 1. Brinton, The Enlightenment (NYU Classes)
1. What is an example, according to Brinton, of an unnatural, artificial way of life that leads to dissatisfaction and discontent? Do you agree that a person's lifestyle could be unnatural?
Class distinction, Religious values and social etiquette
2. In your opinion, can we understand what is best for people through reason and science, and therefore what will make people happiest? Can psychologists help people become happier?
3. How does Brinton contrast the first generation of the Enlightenment with the second generation?
4. Do Christians believe in general human progress, according to Brinton?
5. Why did the Enlightenment intellectuals believe in progress? What did they mean by “progress”?
6. In your opinion, are Americans’ lives better today than …show more content…
In the forest and cavern scene, Faust addresses nature itself, or the Earth Spirit. What is he saying? How does he see Mephistopheles at this point?
6. Does Faust believe in God? Does he believe anything is infinite and eternal?
7. At the well, Gretchen says everything she has done (making love with Faust) has been good and sweet. In the next scene, she feels nothing but deep shame and regret. What happened? Do you think she is a believable character?
8. If you were Faust visiting Block Mountain on Walpurgis Night, watching the storm and the fairies and other beings, dancing with a young witch, how would you feel?
9. When Faust rages at Mephistopheles over Gretchen's imprisonment, Mephistopheles says it is all Faust's fault. Is he right? Or is Mephistopheles a lying devil after all?
10. Why doesn't Gretchen go with Faust when he comes to the dungeon for her? Does she want to live or to die?
11. Faust wants to be free to experience everything. Can such a romantic individualist experience love? Duty? Honor? If Faust loved Gretchen, would he sacrifice his freedom and his thirst for new