Nicholas Schweers

Maj Brown

9/21/18

Capstone Project Proposal

 

1- Basic Information

a- Nicholas Schweers

b- “Tragedy in America: How Reason can Bring Us Back Together”

c- Maj Knepper:

2- Background and Rationale

a- I am an English Major at VMI, but the courses that I most directly effect this project are Rhetorical Traditions (one and two), American Literature, and Philosophy.  Between my understanding of rhetoric and how it should be used properly, philosophy, and the philosophy/rhetoric behind tragedy, I believe that I am particularly well equipped to find solutions to tragedy-esque political issues. The main focus for this issue will be using rhetoric to convince two completely polarized groups to engage in rhetorical discourse with each other.

B- I am invested in this topic because it is so utterly important. Todays’ world is characterized as bitter, divided, harsh, and many other negative attributes.  One of the main catalysts for many of these issues is the complete disregard of the legitimacy of other’s opinions. In a world dominated by pathos-based arguments, there is no room for anything that does not agree with your own particular emotional bias. Without the ability to be challenged in thought and feeling, those with opposing views will completely polarize themselves and have to resort to physical action to bring about any change. The conflict between the NFL, and their athletes who seek to kneel during the National Anthem, is, and will remain to stay at a stand-still. While neither side is particularly more in the right or wrong than the other, the debate is tearing the country apart. The issues make it seem as though there is no way to compromise between the two groups. Hegel’s idea of Tragic hero’s and how their tragedies could have been prevented perfectly fit this model, and my familiarity with these traits will hopefully allow me to strive towards a more peaceful and tragedy resistant nation.

3- Project Proposal Abstract

A- Today’s world, dominated by a constant barrage of bad news, has failed to realize that rhetoric and logic are the common tools that allow us to make wise and efficacious decisions. Situations such as kneeling for the National Anthem could be greatly changed if the media’s use of pathos was not the soul dictation of the people’s minds. The people (mass media and its audiences) tend to not look at situations from all sides, focusing often on their own feelings, allowing them to make poorly informed, emotionally controlled decisions. Both sides use little to no arguments from their opposing views, creating a completely polarized argument which is almost impossible to settle. Hegel realized that decisions informed by emotion could often lead to disaster, particularly when they are made in opposition to another emotionally based, yet equally relevant idea. By understanding Hegel’s philosophical and rhetorical ideas on deciding between two (nearly) equal but opposite goods, people may be able to make rational decisions that will benefit society as well as not cause consternation throughout the nation. Focusing on the kneeling for the National Anthem, I will use Hegel’s ideas to show both sides of the argument, how they are both wrong, and how they are both right. As commonly found in Hegel’s dissection of two opposing goods, this debate comes down to a group you identify with (Family) and the greater good of all (Nation/nationalism). Both sides are founded in a protection of values, and desires of promoting peace and care for all. But since they are opposing, they are both causing consternation, fighting, and hate, all in the name of doing good. After dissecting both sides of the argument, I aim to find a way to resolve the argument most peacefully, and with the greatest outcome of good. This paper is an attempt to involve philosophy, rhetoric, and evaluation of the current events to find how to most effectively promote peace, prosperity, and most importantly agreement between two completely opposing ideas of the National Anthem in the modern day United States.

 

4- Preliminary Bibliography

G.W.F. Hegel, from Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art (1835)

In Hegel’s “Aesthetics: Lectures on Fine Art”, he provides his standard understanding of “Tragedy”, how the tragic hero is formed, and begins showing how Tragedy could have been avoided if the hero and the opposing side just sucked up their emotions and worked together, or even just talked. Essentially, Hegel states that true Tragedy stems from two equal and opposing ideas/actions that are both equally good. When they are pitted against each other, to side with one good would inherently mean that the other good is forsaken, resulting in a net loss. It is tragic, for if either side would have compromised, there would have been a much greater amount of good produces. Yet, since neither side compromises, there is destruction on both sides, and some amount of good is usually done, but it is done too late for the repercussions to be appreciated, for both sides have been grievously wounded in the process. The keys to avoiding these tragedies are discourse and compromise. I will use Hegel to evaluate the modern day National Anthem crisis, and hopefully find a way to peacefully and effectively resolve this issue.

Wagoner, Nick. “Collin Kaepernick Protests Anthem over Treatment of Minorities”. The Undefeated. ESPN.COM News Services, August 27, 2016.

This article largely goes over the reasoning behind Collin Kaepernick’s decision to not stand in respect for the National Anthem. It is his form of protest against the poor treatment of minorities in the United States. He could not stand for the National Anthem of a country that had minorities lying dead in the streets while their shooters barely get reprimanded. This article writes about Kaepernick but also those other Athletes who sacrificed their own careers in order to get their message across to the public. In many ways, the actions which Kaepernick took make him a sort of martyr for this social justice movement. This movement, unfortunately, has caused great debate in the United States, largely stemming from the fact that he chose to not respect the National Anthem which is a sign of the sacrifice’s and freedoms that Americans have made and enjoy every day.

Carroll, Charlotte. “NFL Says Social Justice Issues Raised By Colin Kaepernick ‘Deserve Our Attention and Action’”. NFL. September 04, 2018.

 

While much of the Rhetoric in this argument seems to point towards the NFL handling this inappropriately, while it seems that the NFL is handling this more reasonably than most people on either side of the argument. This article cites the NFL as promoting discourse, discussion, and peaceful talks between both sides. It seems that the NFL understands that compromise is the solution to this problem.  Citations such as this help me shape my paper, closing in the target group that I am looking to study. Instead of studying the NFL, I will look more deeply into those who seem completely opposed to Kaepernick’s views, most likely the far right activist groups that have such a large presence in social media.