Wednesday Wisdom

WHO

Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858, in New York City. Roosevelt was born into a wealthy and prominent family. His father, Theodore Roosevelt Sr., was a philanthropist, and his mother, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, came from a wealthy Southern family. He was homeschooled due to health issues, which he overcame through physical exercise and outdoor activities which gave him a lifelong love of the outdoors. He attended Harvard University, where he graduated in 1880. He began his career in the New York State Assembly and then served as a New York City Police Commissioner where he brought new technology and a logical approach to solving crime which was chronicled in Caleb Carr’s historical fiction “the Alienist”.

Roosevelt made his appearance on the national stage, first as Assistant Secretary of the Navy where he promoted the United States preparedness at sea and expansion of naval bases worldwide. He was also a vocal advocate for the Panama Canal that would connect the two great oceans that surrounded the United States. He abruptly resigned his post to fight in the Spanish-American War. He formed the Rough Riders; a volunteer cavalry regiment and he gained national fame for their charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba in 1898

Following the Spanish American, Roosevelt was elected Govenor of New York in 1898. President William McKinley was elected in 1900 and with Roosevelt as his vice president. Roosevelt was sworn in as Vice President on March 4, 1901and seven months later on September 6, 1901, President McKinley was shot by an assassin. Upon McKinley's death, Roosevelt was sworn in as the 26th President of the United States, becoming the youngest person to hold the office at the age of 42. Adhering to the tradition of two terms, Roosevelt supported William Howard Taft in 1908. In 1912, upset that Taft was not upholding his previous ethical reforms, Roosevelt ran as a third-party progressive party the Bull Moose party, dividing the Republican part allowing Woodrow Wison to gain the Whitehouse. Violence struck again as Roosevelt was shot in the chest before a speech in Milwaukee, but he went on to deliver a 90-minute speech. The bullet struck Roosevelt in the chest but was slowed by two items in his breast pocket, a metal eyeglass case and 50-page folded copy of his speech. Roosevelt pulled out a bloody manuscript and started his speech saying "Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don't know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot, but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose." The bullet remainder lodged in his chest for the remainder of his life.

The Speech

On domestic policy Roosevelt was known for his progressive reforms, which included trust-busting (breaking up monopolies), regulating railroads, and ensuring consumer protection. His domestic program, focused on conservation of natural resources, control of corporations, and consumer protection. He advocated for a strong international presence and military power, famously summarized by his motto, "Speak softly, and carry a big stick." He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for mediating the Russo-Japanese War.

Theodore Roosevelt delivered his "Duties of American Citizenship" speech in Buffalo, New York, on January 26, 1883. The speech was aimed at urging Americans to actively participate in politics and public life. Roosevelt emphasized that good citizenship required personal virtues such as honesty, courage, and a strong sense of duty. He argued that every citizen should devote a reasonable share of their time to political life, stressing the importance of standing up for the country and being involved in the community.

However, Theodore Roosevelt's most powerful and famous speech is known as "The Man in the Arena" is an excerpt from his complete speech "Citizenship in a Republic," delivered at the Sorbonne in Paris on April 23, 1910.

Roosevelt gave this speech a year after leaving his presidential office, during a tour of Europe. The speech emphasizes the importance of active participation and effort in life, rather than criticism from the sideline. "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..."

The speech was complete with stoic values on effort and perseverance over criticism. He emphasized embracing failure as part of the process of achievement. Roosevelt went on encouraging daring and noble efforts, even if they result in failure.

The speech was part of a larger work discussing citizenship, the nature of success, and the importance of character in individuals and nations. The speech resonates with many because it celebrates those who make sincere efforts and take risks, rather than those who merely criticize from a position of safety. It encourages people to engage actively in life's challenges, accepting that success is measured by effort.

2024 - Why should you care?

Why does philosophy matter? It’s not a perfect recipe nor is it a map for living one’s life. The study of philosophy allows for critical thinking across many disciplines and more importantly guides decision making. Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was influenced by various philosophers and intellectual currents of his time. His worldview and policies were shaped by a combination of his education, personal experiences, and the intellectual environment of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Emerson and Thoreau and the transcendental movement aligned and influenced with his love and his wanting to protect nature. Roosevelt introduced national parks and the concept of public spaces which are a lasting legacy. Roosevelt admired the works of Emerson, who through his writings emphasized self-reliance, individualism, and a deep connection to nature. These ideas resonated with Roosevelt's own love of the outdoors and his belief in the importance of rugged individualism and personal responsibility. Roosevelt's conservation efforts were also guided by a philosophy of stewardship, believing that natural resources should be preserved and responsibly managed for the benefit of future generation. Roosevelt. was also influenced by the ideas of John Stuart Mill, particularly his views on liberty and utilitarianism. Mill's advocacy for individual freedom and the greatest good for the greatest number resonated with Roosevelt's progressive agenda and his belief in balancing individual rights with social welfare. Roosevelt was well-read in classical philosophy, drawing inspiration from the works of ancient philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and the Roman Stoics like Marcus Aurelius. He admired their teachings on virtue, duty, and the role of the individual in society, which influenced his own ideas about civic responsibility and leadership.

Teddy Roosevelt, known for his robust moral principles, championed ethics in public service, advocating for fairness, integrity, and the elimination of corruption during his presidency. We could certainly use Teddy Roosevelt in the “arena” today.

And now you know...

Thank you, Dad, for the gift of curiosity.

Philosophy is the art of thinking, the building block of progress that shapes critical thinking across economics, ethics, religion, and science.

METAPHYSICS: Literally, the term metaphysics means ‘beyond the physical.’ Typically, this is the branch that most people think of when they picture philosophy. In metaphysics, the goal is to answer the what and how questions in life. Who are we, and what are time and space?

LOGIC: The study of reasoning. Much like metaphysics, understanding logic helps to understand and appreciate how we perceive the rest of our world. More than that, it provides a foundation for which to build and interpret arguments and analyses.

ETHICS: The study of morality, right and wrong, good and evil. Ethics tackles difficult conversations by adding weight to actions and decisions. Politics takes ethics to a larger scale, applying it to a group (or groups) of people. Political philosophers study political governments, laws, justice, authority, rights, liberty, ethics, and much more.

AESTHETICS: What is beautiful? Philosophers try to understand, qualify, and quantify what makes art what it is. Aesthetics also takes a deeper look at the artwork itself, trying to understand the meaning behind it, both art as a whole and art on an individual level. A question an aesthetics philosopher would seek to address is whether or not beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

EPISTEMOLOGY: This is the study and understanding of knowledge. The main question is how do we know? We can question the limitations of logic, how comprehension works, and the ability (or perception) to be certain.