The tragic events unfolding this year have captured less attention compared to other troubling news. However, to comprehend the circumstances surrounding Renee Nicole Good’s death, the White House’s interest in Greenland, and the potential control of Venezuela by oil companies supported by the US military, we must also consider an email received by Martin Peterson, a philosophy professor at Texas A&M, regarding his course Contemporary Moral Problems.
Peterson was notified that his syllabus violated the college’s regulations, which were enforced in December as part of a broader wave of censorship encouraged by the Trump administration. He was given a choice: either modify the syllabus to exclude sections on race ideology, gender ideology, and certain Plato readings or teach a different course.
The controversial material included excerpts from Plato’s Symposium, a significant work where Socrates and his companions discuss the nature of love at a banquet. One particular passage by playwright Aristophanes describes the origin of love and sexuality, proposing that humans were once physically joined in pairs until being split in two by the gods. This narrative, originating from the fourth century BC, has been a subject of philosophical contemplation for centuries, offering insights into love, sex, and human longing.
The discourse on what it means to be human has been a cornerstone of Western civilization. Despite historical conflicts, there has been a consensus on the transcendent importance of this question, which is now challenged by figures like Donald Trump and the American right.
The 250th anniversary of the American belief in the equality and inherent dignity of all individuals is a stark contrast to the current ideologies that undermine this notion. The vision of American identity as nothing more than a shared history and a common future disregards the foundational principles that define the nation.
The administration’s dismissal of high ideals in favor of power reveals a disturbing perspective that diminishes the value of human existence and reduces individuals to primitive instincts. This cynical approach disregards the principles of civilization and promotes a worldview based on brutality and dominance.
The rejection of basic human entitlements and the prioritization of profit over democracy highlight the moral bankruptcy of those in power. The erosion of democratic values domestically and the exploitation of vulnerable populations abroad reflect a dangerous disregard for fundamental rights and human dignity.
In the face of these challenges, the path forward lies in political engagement to uphold the values that define a just and compassionate society. While the prospect of a grand revolution may be distant, the commitment to advancing a republic that respects and uplifts our humanity remains essential. The American project, despite its adversaries, will endure because our lives hold value beyond measure.
