Dr. Daniel Mintun is one of the Political Science Professor here at TAMUT who helped students understand the meaning of changes in human nature using the book “A Paradise Built In Hell” by Rebecca Solnit as his guide. Through the lecture he wanted us listeners to understand that “if people are fundamentally good, why would we need government?”
He mentioned Thomas Hobbes, a famous political philosopher who says human beings “are in a state of war which life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” After, Dr. Mintun brings to our attention that “if there was no one watching over us, we would all be at each other’s throats,” referring back to Hobbes stating, “it’s a war of all against all.” But Mintun uses Solnit book to peel back the idea that society isn’t so bad after all.
Mintun gave examples from the book or “case studies,” stating that certain disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the fire in San Francisco should raise chaos but instead humanity use these situations as “building blocks.” Dr. Mintun calls humans “social creatures” or people who look to their neighbors when situations like these come about. He said, “if you have a disruption in society, you actually get to see people’s true reflections.”
With our society growing day by day, it raises the question, “should we be scared if there is no change in government style?” Dr. Mintun mentions “with gut instinct, yes, but is proven wrong more than we think.” He refers back to the book to help us understand that people come together when things are going downhill. Mintun says, “there’s no shortage of examples when times get scared, but you also see a lot of people coming together in times of need.”
Dr. Mintun says, “everyone should strive to do better,” and left us all with a quote from the book. “A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which humanity is always heading.”
With transformative text being founded in Purdue, Dr. Doug Julian, TAMUT English Professor has brought it here to inform and direct everyone that “transformative text is more than just an old book,” but the understanding that any type of text can be transformed for teaching.
If interested next Thursday on the 10th Dr. David Yells will be discussing “The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous” by William Wilson and that following Thursday on the 17th Liz Patterson is breaking down “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey. Both held in UC 217 from 12:20-12:50. You do not want to miss it!