Historical article review and analysis

¶ … Anarchy, V is for Vendetta: Images of Guy Fawkes and the Creation of Postmodern Anarchism," argues that the image of Guy Fawkes, as well as the word "guy," have become "free floating signifiers" which have been incorporated into modern society in a variety of ways. Originally meant as a means of reinforcing the British state, the remembering of Guy Fawkes has evolved over time to include meanings that were not originally intended. For example, the name "guy" has evolved into a term of varied meaning and "the image of Fawkes has become a major icon in modern British political culture." (Call 2008, 155) In today's world the image of Fawkes has become symbolic of resistance to the increasing intrusion of the modern state into the lives of ordinary people. From a symbol of the power and authority of the British state, the image Guy Fawkes has evolved into a symbol of varied meaning, including the complete opposite of it's original intent.

In the 17th century, rationalism, or the use of reason to deduce the facts, was an innovative idea that the article "Descartes the doctor: Rationalism and its therapies" argues was used by Descartes in his medical practice. The ultimate aim of most 17th century philosophers was to use their knowledge to increase the effectiveness of their medical practices and Descartes believed this as well. As a result of his knowledge of the natural sciences, Descartes understood "the hybrid status of medicine: as a science and as an art." (Shapin 2000, 152) Science may form the foundation of medicine, but it takes art to formulate the correct understanding of the symptoms and the right treatment. Ultimately the article claims that rationalist ideas were at the core of Descartes' understanding and through experimentation he came to realize that medicine needed a combined approach of science and art to fully utilize the knowledge that his philosophical studies taught him.

While David Hume claimed, and was considered by most, not to be a Deist, the article "Hume, Skepticism, and Early American Deism" argues that Hume's writings heavily influenced the thinking of American Deists. Deism claims that a rational understanding of the natural world concludes that an all-powerful deity exists and many of America's founding fathers were self-confessed Deists. Hume rejected the idea of a Deity and based his beliefs on human rationality as the highest authority. However, the article claims that many of Hume's arguments, especially those against miracles and in favor of skepticism, heavily influenced American thought. Although many in America were openly hostile to Hume's writings, many "also found much of it useful, important and persuasive," and incorporated into their Deist-based philosophy. (Fosl 1999, 184) As a nation built on immigration, America's philosophy and belief system also originated from somewhere else and evolved into a unique system of its own. It did this by incorporating bits and pieces of existing philosophies and merging them into a new, uniquely American system. In the case of Hume, the article claims that American Deists took the bits and pieces of his writings that supported their cause and discarded the rest. In this way the writings of the openly non-Deist David Hume became an important part of the American Deist philosophy.