Tuesday, Jan. 26: Sumner, The Forgotten Man

Due Tuesday, Jan. 26:

Read these three excerpts of arguments by William Graham Sumner:

• Reply to a Socialist, 1904
• The Absurd Effort to Make the World Over, 1894
• The Forgotten Man, 1883

In your written response, answer these questions:

1. As you read these three texts, list 3-5 things that Sumner accuses socialists of getting wrong.
2. Why, according to Sumner, is it foolish to try to remake the world? What does he recommend instead?
3. Describe “the forgotten man” in 5-7 sentences.
4. Name 2 to 3 ways, according to Sumner, that we hurt the forgotten man when we try to use public policies and public resources to help others. Why does this hurt the forgotten man?
5. What does Sumner suggest we should do instead?

In class, we will discuss these questions and others:

1. What sources of American argument does Debs draw upon? Lockean liberalism? Civic republicanism? Biblical religion? Humanitarian Enlightenment?
2. Which does he leave out or argue against?