4 Matching Annotations
  1. Nov 2017
    1. The 5th duty prescribed to the commissioners is to propose such general provisions as may be properly enacted by the legislature, for the better organising & governing the university.

      I find this statement quite interesting because it seems a lot like the necessary and proper clause found in the Constitution. Jefferson, leader of the Democratic-Republican party, despised the necessary and proper clause because Federalists found it as a way to have the the federal government do more than what it is strictly allowed to do in the Constitution- following a broad construction philosophy. Jefferson's party followed a strict construction philosophy. I find this quite interesting for Jefferson to include something in his University that he seemed to have quite disliked in the past. However, perhaps I'm reaching here.

    2. Ideology Military General grammar Naval Ethics

      I didn't mean to highlight Military, Naval, and General grammar, but just Ideology and Ethics. I find these two subjects interesting because they are so broad. In sociological terms, ideology are the actual things that we face in every day life and we actually think about, as opposed to hegemony which is the background knowledge of society (so, ideology is basically the foreground). Outside of that definition, ideology is very broad, and so are ethics. As someone noted above in the document, Jefferson's influence is seen throughout this document and in what the students at the University would learn. In such subjective matters as ideology and ethics, could Jefferson's influence be significant in these classes? Could he only teach what is right in Ethics and Ideology? I wonder.

  2. Oct 2017
    1. Ideology is the doctrine of thought

      Merriam-Webster's definition for ideology is "visionary theorizing." Another definition says that it is a "systematic body of concepts especially about human life or culture." I find this statement about ideology very interesting in the sense in that it views ideology as how we think in general. In my sociology class, my professor is very peculiar on when to use the word ideology. I think it is a word that has been interpreted several different ways throughout history and it is very interesting that it ends up on this list. Regardless, it is something that is very important to teach. I think Jefferson knew that and he wanted to teach it for that reason. However, Jefferson is known to have his own views (like everyone) especially in politics. These views often contrasted greatly with many others. Would he teach "his ideology" or ideology in general?

  3. Sep 2017
    1. It has been undergoing, with time, those gradual changes which all languages, antient and modern, have experienced: and even now, needs only to be printed in the Modern character and Orthography, to be intelligible in a considerable degree to an English reader. It has this Value too above the Greek and Latin, that while it gives the notion of the Mass of our Language, they explain its innovation only

      I find it interesting the emphasis that Jefferson puts on language. The topic of language has been one that I have found interesting. Jefferson recognizes that language, not just English, is essential to understand because language is how we understand the world. Information has been changed and manipulated throughout the years partly because language always changes and through miss-translation. Jefferson here acknowledges that language changes throughout time, focusing on Anglo-Saxon, which is an essential language to understand because it is a product of change.