Soon, Aivan Sisinio A.

Ph.B- IV
Author: L. Scott Smith
Title of Essay: Reexamining Americas Public Philosophy

In this essay Scott Smith tries to examine Americas public philosophy again by
illustrating how public philosophy shaped peoples mind through time. It is a must for us
to go back in time to see on how Americas public philosophy has develop because it is
important to make things clear for the public. Smiths purpose of this essay is to clearly
define system of ideas, which explains a nationals political and social outlook in
Americas public philosophy. We will hear some influential social and political figures on
how they have contributed Americas public philosophy. Individualism, liberty, equality,
and democracy are the main keywords we are going to tackle in this essay in regards to
main topic.

Liberalism is Americas public philosophy, but according to Smith the term

liberalism suffers from multiple ambiguities. He proposes that it can be enlightened by
an explanation and analysis of the meanings it has assumed at key moments during its
historical development and thereby evaluated in terms of its usefulness as the nations
public philosophy.

American liberalism can be trace back into the Reformation, where people ask for
an equal treatment for all. People should be treated as equals, should treat one another as
equals, should relate as equals, or enjoy an equality of social status of some sort. They
vision political power as the right to make laws for the protection and regulation of
property. For John Lockes liberalism, individualism plays a big role, a social theory
advocating the liberty, rights, or independent action of the individual. Lockes individual
is of course free to pursue his own economic self-interest. He envisioned a society,
where people have freedom to carry out his own personal pursuit to satisfy their own
particular interest, goals, and desires without the fear of intrusions from the authorities.
He really endorses privacy of an individual for it is there right to do so and protect own
personal interest. Later, Smith has pointed out that the practical success of the American
government has nothing to do with Lockean liberalism at all, but it is no doubt that
Lockes Liberalism pave way and help shape up American ideology of the government.

After laissez-faire capitalisms powers develop, America grew in a land of

profiteers; even William Jamess words call it Americas bitch goddess. The Economy
progress so well big corporations were built and huge wealth was immersed but later on
was under criticize by populist thinkers for their lack of consideration of helping the
small, primarily agrarian, producer. Although this problem was noticed and made an
effect of change but in the end it did not last long. That is why some notable figures did
not lose hope and made a movement to fight for their rights and the rights of the people.
Most notable accomplishment they made is knocking down against monopolies and

unfair business practices, supported womens right of suffrage, prohibiting child labor,
securing the safety and benefits of the laborer.

It is not exemption that Religion, specifically Christianity, plays an important role

in American history. One reason for the importance of this topic is that religions often
make strong claims on peoples allegiance, and universal religions make these claims on
all people, rather than just a particular community. According to Tocqueville it was a
necessary to moderate the pursuit of self-interest of people. In this sense the role of
religion is to tear people away from the materialism that is natural to those societies and
lead them to higher goals. A religion that can fulfill this prescription is what one might
call religion properly understood, by analogy with Tocquevilles well-known concept
of self-interest properly understood.

From the late 19th to the 20th century citizen saw reform movements as an ideal
way to change Americas social, economic and political systems for the better. The First
to emerge were the Populist who were driven by farming competition. The Populist and
Progressive movement were similar because supporter from both parties had been
cheated by industrialization. Members of both parties wanted economic equality and
equal opportunity. Their differences originate from the issues that created the movements
and the class supporters. The Progressive principle emerged out of the Populist
foundation in the social economic equality.

Smith would explain liberalism evolved from a philosophy of small government

and expansive liberty to an all-encompassing project of reform, administered by a large
centralized government, which in turn relegated Christian faith to little more than an
irrelevancy.