Bibliography

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant/

http://www.iep.utm.edu/kantmeta/

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-hume-morality/#BriOveKanEth

http://www.biography.com/people/mark-twain-9512564

http://www.biography.com/people/john-locke-9384544

http://www.unlhumanrights.org/01/0102/0102_04.htm 

Twain's use of Kant's insights

CDW 1:

Twain uses Kantian ethics to justify Huck’s actions when he runs away and aids the runaway slave, Jim. When Twain says, “But mind, you said you wouldn' tell—you know you said you wouldn' tell, Huck." "Well, I did. I said I wouldn't, and I'll stick to it. Honest INJUN, I will. People would call me a low-down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum—but that don't make no difference. I ain't a-goin to tell, and I ain't a-going back there, anyways. So, now, le's know all about it." (42) He creates the external conflict of Huck vs society, setting Huck apart as Twain refers to him as a “low-down Abolitionist.” Through Kantian ethics, portraying Huck as a “low-down Abolitionist” could resemble Huck’s pursuit to Kant's “highest good” as someone who sees blacks and whites equally. From reading this quote, readers can infer that Huck understands the consequences of his actions, but still wants to “know all about it” throughout Huck and Jim’s adventure.


CDW 2:

Twain uses Kant’s “comparative concept of freedom” to exemplify Huck's actions when he attempts to rescue Jim from Silas Phelps farm. This “freedom” Twain relates to is Kant’s definition of personal freedom. When Twain says, “ And then think of ME! It would get all around that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again I'd be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame. That's just the way: a person does a low-down thing, and then he don't want to take no consequences of it.“ (193) He displays Huck’s actions not as a societal freedom but exploits personal freedom Huck exemplifies when he wants to free Jim. Huck states that he will “lick his boots for shame” he realizes the consequences that the people will making fun of him for getting Jim his freedom, but doesn't care since it is all for good measure. This relates to freedom’s definition being broad, that there are many freedoms than what society gives us; Huck's “helping a nigger to get his freedom” symbolizes personal freedom as his actions acted on solely on himself. This act of personal freedom creates a change of local color that causes Huck to see JIm as more than just property but as a human being.

Twain's use of Hume's insights

CDW 1:

Hume felt that knowledge itself is very complicated and that the world, as we know it, is driven by our sensory perceptions and hence cannot be relied. Hume viewed the mind as an empty vessel which was constantly bombarded by our senses, resulting in an array of neurological impulses that are knit together to form more complex ideas. Huck says,“I h’aint seen no fog, nor no troubles, nor no islands, nor nothing.”(Twain 77) to put forth Twain’s views on the perception of the world.This quote explores Hume's empiricist views on inductive logic. The statement itself casts a doubt on one’s senses. Huck states that the fog “don't look natural nor sound natural” and by this implies that our senses cannot be trusted because it may at times mislead us of the world around ( in this case the fog). Huck exclamation - “don’t look natural” also integrates Hume’s Bundle Theory with solipsism whereby the author explores Hume’s description of the world as a “bundle of properties”, which are perceived by our senses; and, when Huck does not trust these senses and questions the world around him, he embodies the concept of Solipsism, the idea in which one question his or her own reality.


CDW 2:

Twain explores Hume’s concept of “sense darda” to establish his religious views using Huck as a medium.“ After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people.”( Twain 16) . In these lines the author satirizes the concept of God and Religion. Twain being an atheist himself supports Hume’s similar views on religion. When Huck states “ I don’t take no stock in dead people.”, he implies a sense of callousness about those who are revered because his inability to get to know them. He implies that without perceiving someone’s existence, he cannot acknowledge them or even worship them for that matter. This has striking parallels to Hume’s logic that without actually using our senses to perceive those around us we cannot actually know “them” and therefore “they” do not exist. Ultimately the idea of God is deducted to nothingness!

Twain's use of Locke's Insights

CDW 1:

Mark Twain clashes law and society to expose the lack of social freedom of the citizens. As soon as “the widow rung a bell for supper,” everyone “had to come in time” (Twain 7). Each person had to follow a rigid order of waiting for the “widow to tuck down her head” and grumble a little over the victuals” (Twain 7). The “bell” getting “rung” symbolizes the law’s prevalence throughout the land. Being forced to “come in time” instantaneously indicates the expectations of the authorities; reaching the table later than expected would often result in punishment. This completely violated the settlers’ natural rights, those listed out by John Locke. The inability to “go right to eating” when reaching the dinner table acts as a violation of the natural right of freedom (Twain 7). It also offers a satirizing of the idea that we have inherent freedom even when we are constantly bound by the microcosm we call society.


CDW 2:

As the novel progresses, citizens start to overcome the barriers of racism through dialogue. Although it took fifteen minutes for Huck Finn to be “humble” himself “to a n****r,” he eventually does apologize for his actions (Twain 98). In fact, Huck claims to “do him no more mean tricks” after this apology because he realizes that his actions were racist and unjust (Twain 99). Huck even claims that he “wouldn’t done that one if [he’d] knowed it would make him feel that way” (Twain 99). This acknowledgement makes Huck recognize the effects of his actions on another person. The act of a white man apologizing to a black man was an unconventional starting point to break down the barriers of racism. This directly ties into John Locke’s idea of universal freedom; in such a world, there would be no inequality from racism and classes. Huck’s apology acts as a starting point to reach this universal freedom, as it is one of the preliminary efforts to dissolve racial inequality. 

Locke, Hume, and Kant

Locke:

John Locke is known as one of the most influential philosophers in American history with his works; Second Treatise of Civil Government and The Social Contract. He attended the Oxford where he studied medicine, eventually writing philosophy about politics, epistemology, and education.He was among the first to advocate the view that people have natural rights simply because they are human beings, and that these natural rights should be protected by the government. Locke’s important piece of political philosophy is his Second Treatise of Civil Government. But in his first treatise, Locke explicitly refuted the idea that kings rule according to divine right (from God), and argued that human beings have natural rights upon which the government may not infringe.


Hume:

Hume was one of the greatest and the most enthusiastic advocate of John Locke. This Scottish philosopher was the greatest supporter of Locke’s empiricist ideals; in fact, most of his theories are extreme analyses of Locke’s theories on the subject. 

Though Hume was an avid believer of the rationalist school of thought, he constantly challenged various schools of thought using his empiricist theories. Another revolutionary idea that Hume had regarding the world was the concept that all objects have certain properties and without such properties there is nothingness. This was a very controversial concept in those times because it implied that Hume was an atheist. He believed that the definition of God or a superior being was far from objective and that since the “properties” were changing constantly from person to person he realised that God must be nonexistent. Though this view was not readily accepted in his time , Hume played an important role in establishing a different outlook on religion.
Hume was a supporter of the enlightenment. He agreed completely with many ideas of the enlightenment but was always against one aspect of scientific reasoning. He called this theory, the induction fallacy or more commonly known as the is-ought controversy i.e. - any theory proposed on the grounds that it was experienced multiple times by the senses is invalid because one cannot really know the truth until one experiences it themselves. An example that illustrates Hume’s thought process is as follows - One cannot conclude that the sun rises in the east just by using previous experience as proof. This is because one does not really know if the sun will rise in the east until he experiences it which will then just become another observation not supporting the theory in anyway.

Kant

Immanuel Kant was a gifted philosopher, creating ideologies revolving around our highest moral good to what freedom is to his perspective. Kant helped shaped thousands of minds in many societal concepts. 

Kant's definition of freedom revolves around his "comparative concept of freedom" where he states "I am free whenever the cause of my action is within me. So I am unfree only when something external to me pushes or moves me, but I am free whenever the proximate cause of my body's movement is internal to me as an “acting being” (5:96). By this excerpt, he means that if your own actions are controlled by external means, than you do not have freedom. Only when your actions are cause by your internal self as an "acting being," then you may be free. 

Kant's definition on ethics revolves around the "categorical imperative" which essentially states that " do not do to others unless you want them to do the same to you." For example, if one husband were to have an affair, then he is also saying that it is okay for his wife to do the same. Other philosophies on Kantian ethics is that Kant says that to determine the amount of moral worth an action has is to look at the intent behind the action, not what is the action. He also argues that there is a moral high ground known as his "highest good" and that humanity continually strives for it. 

Mark Twain and Huck Finn's Satire/Irony

Mark Twain, also known as Samuel L. Clemens was born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri. He is the author of two major classics in American literature known as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Aside from an author, he also had other occupation such as: riverboat pilot, journalist, lecturer, entrepreneur and inventor.

Irony:

Twain exploits three forms of irony. Dramatic irony, which character actions and words reveal something to the audience that the character themselves. Situation Irony, which something else happens from the expectation of something. The last form is Verbal Irony, a way of saying something that that means something else; saying something that has means different from what it implies.

One instance of dramatic irony is when Huck made Jim hide in the canoe with a blanket over him. In this quote, "When we was ready to shove off we was a quarter of a mile below the island, and it was pretty broad day; so I made Jim lay down in the canoe and cover up with a quilt, because if he set up people could tell he was a nigger a good ways." (Twain 58) Although Huck sees blacks and whites as equals, he still holds true that they are different when he says " people could tell he was a nigger a good ways." Being said, this exploits how society thoughts can affect personal ones, even from the ones most innocent of them. 

Next, one instance of situation irony is when Huck states that when they get to the free states, that everything will be fine. When Twain states, "We could sell the raft and get on a steamboat and go way up the Ohio amongst the free states, and then be out of trouble." (75) He assumes that when Huck and Jim are "amongst the free states." they be "out of trouble." But in reality, Huck and Jim do not know what is in store for them. This can relate to the innocence in the American Dream regards to the "pursuit of happiness;" as Huck is joyful that there will be positive experiences in their journey.  

Finally, an instance of verbal irony is when Huck points out the mistreatment of slaves. When Twain writes, " How is servants treated in England? Do they treat 'em better 'n we treat our niggers? '' No! A servant ain't nobody there. They treat them worse than dogs. " (158) Twain sets Huck as the only person to acknowledge the unfairness of slaves stating that they were worth less than animals because slaves were treated "worse than dogs." This exemplifies Huck unique thinking as an oddity from the typical southern slave owner. 

Satire:

Twain expresses satire to mock the essence of humanity during pre-Civil War times. For example when Sherburn was about to be lynched, he begins to talk about the their lack in individuality and that their morals and influence. There Twain mocks the lack of individualism of society stating that they are easily swayed by what is around them. 

Another instance is where Twain mocks the idiocy and cruelty of human society. When Twain states, "'See? He'll be drownded, and won't have nobody to blame for it but his own self. I reckon that's a considerable sight better'n killin' of him. I'm unfavorable to killin' a man as long as you can git aroun' it; it ain't good sense, it ain't good morals. Ain't I right?'" (65 - 66) He exploits the idiocy and cruelty of human when he compare someone to "be drownded, and won't have nobody to blame for it but his own self. I reckon that's a considerable sight better'n killin' of him." This new found perspective can be lead to be that humans hate towards each other was not entirely logical due to the idiocy of the populace at the time

Intro into Regionalism

Regionalism

Regionalism is a literary era that accurately represent the speech, manners, habits, history, folklore, and beliefs of people in specific geographic areas. It focuses on a major concept of local color which details mannerisms and behavior of places across time. As time progressed, many events caused social changes which had an impact on the local color. Especially in the south in the 19th century, with the end of the Civil War and growing Industrialization, made the south experienced change from the norm as with forced labor and work methods. Although these events helped changed society, it did not necessarily change the local color with the populace. Though the civil war was over and LEGALLY slavery was abolished, many people still harbored feelings of resentment towards opposite color. Meaning that although they the populace was on mostly on equal terms in regards to freedom, it still did the change the thoughts between races. Even that problem still persist on towards today even, societal changes in the 19th century served as a first step towards changes in local color.

In the 19th century, regionalism was conveyed on multiple platforms. One things was through its language which Mark Twain expressed in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In the book Huckleberry Finn and Jim embark on an adventure to escape societal norms and achieve freedom in accordance to their beliefs. Huck Finn, inquisitive young boy represents the human personification of change in local color where he questions the resentment between whites and blacks. While Jim represents the sentiment of white Americans before the war. He also highlights the dehumanization that African American population felt before the Civil War. Through Twain ideas, he showcases changes in local color by contrasting southern societal norms to the relationship between Huck and Jim.