Cabrillo College Claudia Close Non-Western Philosophical Traditions – Philosophy 14 Spring 2012

Case Study #1: Gandhi, Iqbal & Syria

Read the stream of attached articles from NPR detailing the escalating violence in Syria

then answer the following questions. Answers should be 1 paragraph long (approximately

one third to one half page) and each supporting quote should be no longer than one

sentence and unique – you may not use the same quote twice. In citing the quote, all you

need do is indicate the page from the text. The completed assignment should be two pages

long, using 12 pt. fonts and single spacing. This exercise is worth a total of 60 points. This

is due on March 14th.

1. For Mohandas Gandhi what would constitute a meaningful life? Should or does

government play a critical role in one’s ability to secure that life? Briefly explain

your answer. (15 pts)

1b. Cite a supporting quote from the text to support your answer above. (2pts.)

2. For Mohammed Iqbal, what would constitute a meaningful life? Should or does

government play a critical role in one’s ability to secure that life? Briefly explain

your answer. (15 pts)

2b. Cite a supporting quote from the text to support your answer above. (2pts.)

3. If the UN could consult with Gandhi, what do you think he would advise them

regarding the Arab League proposal? Briefly explain your answer. (5 pts)

3b. Cite a supporting quote from the text to support your answer above. (2pts.)

4. If the UN could consult with Iqbal, what do you think he would advise them

regarding the Arab League proposal? Briefly explain your answer. (5 pts)

4b. Cite a supporting quote from the text to support your answer above. (2pts.)

5. Which approach, Gandhi’s or Iqbal’s, do you prefer? Briefly explain your answer.

(2pts.)

FIND A STATION

The State Of Syria: Civil War Or Vicious Stalemate?1 by Kelly McEvers

January 26, 2012

STR/AP

Syrian army defectors wave the Syrian revolution flag Thursday, shortly after they defected to join the anti-regime protesters.

One thing that's certain about the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad is that there is nothing

romantic about it.

Unlike Egypt, there's no Tahrir Square filled with hundreds of thousands of people calling for democracy.

Unlike Libya, there's no Mad Max warriors in the desert fighting a dictator with guns they've welded to the

backs of their pickup trucks.

Instead, grim news seeps out piecemeal from unofficial sources. Most of the reports are little more than

body counts, with most of the fatalities blamed on the Syrian security forces.

1 http://www.npr.org/2012/01/26/145915554/the-state-of-syria-civil-war-or-vicious-stalemate

The Syrian government has largely barred the international media. Analysts in the region say that since

the uprising began last March, the Syrian regime has managed to keep the violence just low enough to

keep the story from bursting onto the international stage.

But that doesn't mean the situation has been getting less violent. In fact, it seems to be getting worse as

the protest movement remains steadfast in its call for the ouster of Assad.

Assad's government continues to crack down on protesters. But now soldiers are defecting from the

Syrian army and fighting on behalf of the protesters. More and more, the conflict is at risk of turning into

something that no one wants — a civil war.

EnlargeAhmed Jadallah/Reuters/Landov

A woman throws rice as a Syrian soldier carries the coffin of a comrade during a funeral at the military hospital in Homs, Syria, this week. The soldiers

were killed by gunmen, a Syrian government official said.

Assad's Vow To Crush Enemies

Last month, the Arab League decided to send a group of observers to Syria as part of a peace plan. But

that hasn't worked. Activists say hundreds more people were killed, even while the observers were there.

Assad then made one of his few speeches in recent months. But he did not offer any real concessions or

reforms, and instead vowed to crush his enemies with an iron fist.

The Arab League mission was looking doomed. Then, earlier this week, the Arab League, which is based

in Cairo, came up with a new plan. It calls for Assad to transfer power to a deputy who would oversee a

national unity government. Parliamentary elections would follow.

The Syrian regime immediately rejected the plan. Assad, it appeared, is nowhere near stepping down.

Salvaging Arab League Plan

But analysts note that Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, initially took the same position in his

country. It took months of protests, which turned violent, before he finally handed power to his vice

president. Now, Saleh is heading to the U.S. for medical treatment. Some believe it was his quiet exit

from power.

Paul Salem, head of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, says there are two reasons the Arab

League plan for Syria might actually be useful.

"One is that it's on the table. So if in a few of months the regime is really in trouble, they have a fallback

option ... rather than utter collapse they can say, 'Well, let's discuss something middle of the road' and

save parts of the regime or parts of themselves," Salem says.

That's what Saleh did in Yemen.

Secondly, Salem says he thinks it helps undermine the Syrian regime's propaganda, which is "that there

is no middle way, this is a conspiracy, the Arabs are out to get us, and we have to fight. Here, the Arabs

say, 'No, we're not out to get you, we're proposing a very reasonable way forward that actually saves

you."

It could also save the country from all-out war.

A Role For The U.N.?

Now, diplomats from Arab countries and Europe, the U.S. and Turkey are pushing for a U.N. Security

Council resolution that uses this Arab League plan as a framework.

While that might sound like more paper-pushing that would fail to stop the violence, Peter Harling of the

International Crisis Group says it's the right next step.

"The only way to convince this regime it's about time to negotiate and not simply to talk about possible

reforms is to have a consensus within the international community," says Harling, who is based in

Damascus.

Up to now, the Assad regime has been bolstered by the fact that Russia threatens to veto a Security

Council resolution critical of Syria.

Harling says the time has come for Arabs and the West to draft a resolution the Russians can accept — a

resolution that would write off any possibility of a Libya-style intervention — but one that still blames the

Syrian regime for the crisis.

"And that approach would be extremely welcome in terms of forcing the regime to realize it cannot just

forge ahead with its current course of action that will lead the country towards disaster," he says.

U.N. officials say such a resolution could be voted on as early as next week.

Violence Escalates Outside Syria's Capital2 by Kelly McEvers

January 30, 2012

Syrian government troops battle to regain control of communities on the fringes of Damascus.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

It's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Audie Cornish.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

I'm Melissa Block. And we begin this hour with escalating violence in Syria. Forces loyal to the Syrian

government are mounting an offensive. The move comes as an increasing number of army defectors are

fighting back. Over the weekend, these defectors gained control of some suburbs surprisingly close to the

Syrian capital, Damascus, but NPR's Kelly McEvers reports from Beirut that government troops are now

storming those towns.

KELLY MCEVERS, BYLINE: Activists and witnesses in Syria say government troops have stormed into

the east of Damascus where they faced fierce resistance from rebel fighters before those fighters fell

back. Witnesses say the rebels, armed only with rifles, are no match for the much more powerful army.

2 http://www.npr.org/2012/01/30/146099705/bloody-weekend-in-syria-spurs-international-attention

MCEVERS: This video from the town of Kafar Batna shows smoke rising from residential areas as

shelling and gunfire echo in the streets. Witnesses say security forces are going house to house and

rounding people up and arresting them.

Rebels had been manning checkpoints, claiming to be protecting unarmed protesters. These rebel

checkpoints reached within just a few miles of Damascus before government troops launched the

offensive. The fighting comes as the Arab League has decided to suspend the work of its monitors in

Syria. The monitors had been in the country to determine whether Syria was complying with the peace

plan, but they deemed the situation too dangerous to continue. The past two days have been some of the

most violent yet in the 10-month antigovernment uprising that's beginning to look more and more like a

civil war.

The United Nations says at least 5,400 people have died since March. The U.N. Security Council will

meet tomorrow to discuss a new draft resolution on Syria. That draft supports an Arab League initiative

calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to abdicate power to a deputy, who would then help form a

new national unity government. But Russia says it will not support a measure that basically calls for

regime change. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Rice, urged Russia to change its position.

AMBASSADOR SUSAN RICE: We have seen the consequences of neglect and inaction by this council

over the course of the last 10 months, but we certainly think that it's vitally important for the council to

stand up and support a process that the neighboring states all have come to us and said please support.

MCEVERS: Russia, today, proposed that members of the Syrian government and opposition should

come to Moscow to negotiate an end to the crisis. The opposition said it refuses to negotiate with a killer.

Rice said the time has passed for such negotiations.

RICE: More and more innocent people are dying. We've seen horrific reports of women and children and

their bodies on display as a consequence of government sponsored violence. That needs to end.

Kelly McEvers, NPR News, Beirut.

Leaders Try To Break U.N. Deadlock Over Syria3 by Michele Kelemen

January 31, 2012

3 http://www.npr.org/2012/01/31/146159663/leaders-try-to-break-u-n-deadlock-over-syria

The U.N. Security Council convened Tuesday to discuss the Syrian crisis, but the prospects for a

resolution aimed at halting the violence seem dim. Russia is vowing to veto an Arab-backed resolution

that calls on President Bashar Assad to step aside to make room for a national unity government.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Now, the international effort to end the violence in Syria. The head of the Arab League joined Secretary of

State Hillary Clinton at the United Nations today. They're trying to break a deadlock. The problem is

Russia. As NPR's Michele Kelemen reports, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution last year to

condemn the Syrian government's crackdown, and it doesn't like the new draft currently under

consideration.

MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Though Russia is a major arms supplier to Syria and has close ties to

Bashar al-Assad's regime, Western diplomats are hoping Moscow won't want to turn its back on its other

friends in the Arab world. So today, Arab officials took the lead, spelling out their proposals for ending the

conflict. Qatar's prime minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, called for the Security Council's help,

saying, through an interpreter, that the Arab League tried for months to resolve this on its own.

PRIME MINISTER HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL-THANI: (Through Translator) Our efforts and initiatives,

however, have been all useless because the Syrian government failed to make any sincere effort to

cooperate with us, and unfortunately, the only solution available to it was to kill its own people. The fact of

the matter is that bloodshed continued, and the killing machine is still at work.

KELEMEN: The Arab League is now proposing a political roadmap, calling on President Assad to hand

power to a deputy who would then open a dialogue with the opposition, form a unity government and

prepare for new elections. The Arab League's secretary general, Nabil el-Araby, urged council members

to adopt a resolution endorsing that plan.

Syria's ambassador rejected outside intervention, saying his country can solve its own problems. Russia

has raised objections to the Security Council resolution as well but says it's willing to negotiate. Russia's

foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who did not attend today's session, told the Australian Broadcasting

Corporation that Russia wants to avoid another Libya.

SERGEI LAVROV: We would be guided by the facts. We would also be guided by the need to avoid

taking sides in a situation of internal conflict. The international community unfortunately did take sides in

Libya, and we would never allow the Security Council to authorize anything similar to what happened in

Libya.

KELEMEN: Western diplomats accuse Russia of throwing up straw men. The draft U.N. Security Council

resolution on Syria does not endorse military action and only holds out the prospect of sanctions.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says it's time for the international community to send a clear message of

support for the people of Syria.

SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON: Now, I know that some members here may be concerned that the

Security Council could be headed toward another Libya. That is a false analogy. Syria is a unique

situation that requires its own approach, and that is exactly what the Arab League has proposed.

KELEMEN: And while Russia's foreign minister argues that countries should drop their, quote, "obsession

with regime change and press all sides in Syria to renounce violence," Secretary Clinton blames

President Assad for most of the bloodshed.

CLINTON: To date, the evidence is clear that Assad's forces are initiating nearly all of the attacks that kill

civilians, but as more citizens take up arms to resist the regime's brutality, violence is increasingly likely to

spiral out of control.

KELEMEN: Secretary Clinton describes the Arab League plan as the best effort of Syria's neighbors to

chart a way forward and says the Security Council should give it a chance to work. Michele Kelemen,

NPR News, Washington.

Russia Says U.N. Draft Resolution On Syria Has 'No Chance' Of Adoption4

February 1, 2012

by EYDER PERALTA

4 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/02/01/146195724/russia-says-u-n-draft-resolution-on-syria-has-no-

chance-of-adoption

Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images

The United Nations Security Council meets on Syria on Tuesday at the United Nations

in New York.

The United Nations Security Council meets on Syria on Tuesday at the United Nations

in New York.

The resolution in front of the United Nations Security Council that would call for the

ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad will be vetoed by Russia.

Reuters reports that as the violence continued in Syria, Moscow's envoy to the European

Union Vladimir Chizhov said the resolution had no chance of adoption unless it

explicitly rejected a military intervention.

"[The draft] is missing the most important thing: a clear clause ruling out the possibility

that the resolution could be used to justify military intervention in Syrian affairs from

outside. For this reason I see no chance this draft could be adopted," Chizhov said,

according to Reuters.

As Mark reported yesterday, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton threw her weight in favor

of the Arab-League-backed resolution in a speech she gave at the U.N. yesterday.

Clinton said that member nations had a choice, "stand with the people of Syria and the

region or become complicit in the continuing violence there."

The U.N. estimates that at least 5,400 people have been killed since the uprising started

in March. The Guardian, which is live blogging the events today, reports that the Syrian

government has launched another bloody offensive against protesters and army

defectors around Damascus.

The paper spoke to Emad Mahou, a Syrian activist, who said at least 18 people were

killed by security forces in the Barada valley, not far from Damascus.

He described the scene like this:

"A huge, huge number [of troops] belonging to the Republican Guard were invading the valley of Barada, Wadi

Barada, with tanks and they were bombing two cities, Basemah, and the second is Deir Qanoun....There are around

11 houses [which] fell down to the ground on the heads of their residents. After five or six hours there were

negotiations between the army and the civilians there. They [the army] said get out and take your martyrs and wanted

men from the ground. When they got out to take them they [the army] started to shoot them."

Keep scrolling down for grading

rubrics, further instructions, a sample

response and general suggestions!

General Suggestions for Writing Case Studies5

How not to write your paper:

I. The Paragraph Authors often complain that the most difficult sentence to write is the first one. Your opening sentence should tell your reader your thesis. Then you just need to answer the question as thoroughly and succinctly as possible given the length allowed. Look at the following sample case study question and response. (drawn from Philo. 10)

Sample Question:

1. Tony Hayward was the chief executive of oil giant BP, the leaseholder of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig when it exploded April 20, 2010. During this time he returned to England to participate in an elite Yacht Race and on May 31st, six weeks after the spill began, Mr. Hayward uttered on camera, “I’d like my life back.” In one paragraph, explain whether Ayn Rand would have supported Hayward’s actions and comments.

1b. Cite a supporting quote from the text to support your answer above.

A good response:

1. Ayn Rand would not have supported ex-CEO of BP, Tony Hayward’s actions or comments during the Deep Water Horizon Gulf disaster. Ayn Rand supports the idea that we have obligations only to the pursuit of our own happiness. This does not imply that we should gratify any and all desires we may have. Rand is primarily interested in those who are capable of innovation and invention – of excellence. Their happiness is not linked to merely making money or to the pursuit of witless pleasures. Hayward’s indulgence in yacht racing, unconsidered public remarks and incompetence in his management of the oil spill and the subsequent media fallout did not result in his eventual happiness. Rand argues for the freedom from self-sacrifice in order to excel and become a powerful person of value. Her idea is to

5 Please note that these guidelines are for my class assignments. Individual instructors may have other format preferences and

you should consult with your teacher for the details before completing your assignment.

avoid becoming a sacrificial animal. Hayward certainly, in pursuing momentary pleasures, sacrificed his career and long-term pursuits. In the end, Hayward was fired from his BP position and transferred to Russia; not a country particularly well known for yacht racing. 1b. “When you felt proud of the rail of the John Galt Line…what sort of men did you think of? Did you want to see that Line used by your equals – by giants of productive energy such as Ellis Wyatt, whom it would help to reach higher and still higher achievements of their own? Yes, said Reardon eagerly.” (p.220)

II. Format You do not need to re-type the question. Please number each response corresponding to the assigned questions. Place the corresponding quote below each response labeled appropriately – see example above.

III. Tone/Voice Ever since George Carlin pointed out that “using your own words” would result in a

private and hence meaningless expression, I’ve had to give up on the phrase, however a certain degree of originality is still important. Your task is to explain a concept as if you were the Teaching Assistant for this class. If you simply repeat the text or my lecture, you haven’t helped your imaginary student. You need to clarify the argument/concept in a way that demonstrates that you really understand it and can express the same ideas in a way that is different than has already been explained by the text or by me.

IV. Quotes Quoting is a way of supporting your interpretation of an argument or theory. Relevance to your response and to the question asked is critical. Quotes can be edited but be careful not to take the quote out of context, thus altering the intent of the author. The length of the quote must be appropriate to the length of the assignment: short papers require shorter quotes. All quotes must come from the text or the original author’s works, not from my lectures or power points. Quotes need only be cited with the page in our text where it was found (see example above).

V. Length Part of the criteria for success is efficient use of the space allowed. If you write a single sentence for a one/third page assignment, you have not satisfied this criterion. However, this is not an invitation to use the additional space for stream-of-consciousness or irrelevant information not pertinent to the assigned issue. If you are having difficulties with the length, it is usually because you have not recognized or developed sufficiently the various issues involved. Conversely, if your draft is too long, you need to whittle it down to just the relevant essentials, perhaps editing out the anecdotes or redundancies; more is not always better! I am very willing to help if you submit drafts sufficiently before the due date.

Standards (Rubrics) for Grading Case Studies

Excellent (100-90% of points):

Well organized with strong structure: The paper provides adequate context and the paragraphs flow logically from one to the next with each paragraph taking on just one task. By “logical flow,” I mean that you should demonstrate how and why one premise leads to the next and directly relates to the conclusion.

Clear focus No irrelevant or “garden path” excursions. The paper answers what the question is asking and keeps strictly to those issues.

Complete – Fully answers the question and/or includes all relevant premises You will not get full credit if you answer only part of the question even if that part is really good! The excellent paper includes all the relevant premises – with no logical leaps or missing supports. The excellent answer is as thorough as possible making the most effective use of the space allowed.

Texturally correct – Stays true to the author’s intent/argument While we don’t usually refer to philosophy answers as “right” or “wrong” (except on your objective exams!), strong

mischaracterizations are possible. The excellent characterization of an argument is as close to the original intent

as possible.

Clear – Explains the answer comprehensibly The primary task of this assignment is to demonstrate that you have understood a theory or argument by explaining it clearly. The best papers will make something clearer – more understandable without oversimplifying or mischaracterizing the point

Effective use of language I value straightforward, clear writing with no undefined jargon, tortuous grammar or derivative language. I will not be awarding points for flowery style or effusive jargon. This means using ordinary, garden-variety language, which is as simple and straightforward as possible. This also means that you need to be using your own “voice” and not quoting or closely paraphrasing my lectures or the texts. The excellent paper cites all quotes and close paraphrasing and supports those with supplementary explanations.

Well Supported Your central claims should be supported with reference to the text. These supports should be relevant and of appropriate length to the assignment – short assignments imply very short, pithy quotes. Quotes must be taken from the philosopher’s own works rather than from the secondary commentary or from lecture.

Demonstrates insight into the issue I must admit that this is the most difficult to explain. The excellent paper will demonstrate a certain level of discernment or understanding which goes beyond just explaining the argument. Insight means that the paper documents the student really understanding what the issue is all about. To a certain extent, the student has taken ownership of the concepts and has presented an explanation that is uniquely their own.

Good (89-80% points) The good paper will demonstrate all the above qualities but perhaps to a lesser degree or, will demonstrate some of the above qualities excellently, but not all of the qualities will be presented at a consistently high level.

Satisfactory (79-70% points)

The satisfactory paper will present all of the above qualities but not as strongly as the good paper or, some qualities may be stronger with some not as strong. Insight is not usually present. Needs Work (69-60% points) This paper is weak on many of the desired qualities. Really Needs Work – Pretty Much Unacceptable (59-0% points)

This paper presents few if any of the desired qualities.