Philosophy, Power, and Morality: Towards a better Haiti by Forging and Wielding Biblical Moral Sword
Start Date
19-3-2025 2:10 PM
End Date
19-3-2025 3:00 PM
Level of Education
Undergraduate
Keywords
Haiti, Rule of Law, Artisans, Reconciliation, Hope, Light
Abstract
21st century Haiti, it is the worst of times, an age of foolishness, an epoch of incredulity, a season of darkness, a dry season of despair, and a century of contaminated moral atmosphere. This gradation explains the rationale behind the self-exile of a great number of Haitians to other countries where life is not as invaluable as it is in the poorest country of Central America. This paper is an attempt to mainly pose solutions to the problems of impunity, unauthorized power, and transparent corruption. How does a nation go up after hitting rock bottom repeatedly? Does a “failed state” have a chance to rebuild itself? How do we rise from the ashes like a phoenix? This paper will examine the history and reasoning of some philosophers, poets, and leaders, such as the statesman Cicero [or Plato], President John Adams, and President Václav Havel. Respectively, the literature resources I will use are Cicero’s "De Re Publica", and “How to Run a Country,” John Adams’s Thoughts on Government, Václav Havel’s Power of the Powerless, and Rousseau's Emile. Furthermore, this research will gauge the potential impact of the philosophy combination of the authors mentioned above in the Haitian context. This paper will gauge the normative impact of statesmanship, stewardship, servanthood, and scholarship in a Haitian context. After all, why not strive to dream of the best of times, an age of wisdom, an epoch of belief, a season of light, and a rainbow of hope?
Philosophy, Power, and Morality: Towards a better Haiti by Forging and Wielding Biblical Moral Sword
21st century Haiti, it is the worst of times, an age of foolishness, an epoch of incredulity, a season of darkness, a dry season of despair, and a century of contaminated moral atmosphere. This gradation explains the rationale behind the self-exile of a great number of Haitians to other countries where life is not as invaluable as it is in the poorest country of Central America. This paper is an attempt to mainly pose solutions to the problems of impunity, unauthorized power, and transparent corruption. How does a nation go up after hitting rock bottom repeatedly? Does a “failed state” have a chance to rebuild itself? How do we rise from the ashes like a phoenix? This paper will examine the history and reasoning of some philosophers, poets, and leaders, such as the statesman Cicero [or Plato], President John Adams, and President Václav Havel. Respectively, the literature resources I will use are Cicero’s "De Re Publica", and “How to Run a Country,” John Adams’s Thoughts on Government, Václav Havel’s Power of the Powerless, and Rousseau's Emile. Furthermore, this research will gauge the potential impact of the philosophy combination of the authors mentioned above in the Haitian context. This paper will gauge the normative impact of statesmanship, stewardship, servanthood, and scholarship in a Haitian context. After all, why not strive to dream of the best of times, an age of wisdom, an epoch of belief, a season of light, and a rainbow of hope?
