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 \u201cA Paradise Built In Hell\u201d by Rebecca Solnit as his guide. Through the lecture he wanted us listeners to understand that \u201cif people are fundamentally good, why would we need government?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He mentioned Thomas Hobbes, a famous political philosopher who says human beings \u201care in a state of war which life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.\u201d After, Dr. Mintun brings to our attention that \u201cif there was no one watching over us, we would all be at each other\u2019s throats,\u201d referring back to Hobbes stating, \u201cit\u2019s a war of all against all.\u201d But Mintun uses Solnit book to peel back the idea that society isn\u2019t so bad after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mintun gave examples from the book or \u201ccase studies,\u201d stating that certain disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the fire in San Francisco should raise chaos but instead humanity use these situations as \u201cbuilding blocks.\u201d Dr. Mintun calls humans \u201csocial creatures\u201d or people who look to their neighbors when situations like these come about. He said, \u201cif you have a disruption in society, you actually get to see people\u2019s true reflections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With our society growing day by day, it raises the question, \u201cshould we be scared if there is no change in government style?\u201d Dr. Mintun mentions \u201cwith gut instinct, yes, but is proven wrong more than we think.\u201d He refers back to the book to help us understand that people come together when things are going downhill. Mintun says, \u201cthere\u2019s no shortage of examples when times get scared, but you also see a lot of people coming together in times of need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Mintun says, \u201ceveryone should strive to do better,\u201d and left us all with a quote from the book. \u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With transformative text being founded in Purdue, Dr. Doug Julian, TAMUT English Professor has brought it here to inform and direct everyone that \u201ctransformative text is more than just an old book,\u201d but the understanding that any type of text can be transformed for teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If interested next Thursday on the 10th<\/sup> Dr. David Yells will be discussing \u201cThe Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous\u201d by William Wilson and that following Thursday on the 17th<\/sup> Liz Patterson is breaking down \u201cGreenlights\u201d by Matthew McConaughey. Both held in UC 217 from 12:20-12:50. You do not want to miss it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 \u201cA Paradise Built In Hell\u201d by Rebecca Solnit as his guide. Through the … Continue reading