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Thursday, January 04, 2007

Giuseppe Mazzini: The Duties of Man

Mazzini founded Young Italy, which was one of the first organized movements that wanted a united Italy. Read this excerpt from Mazzini's essay "The Duties of Man." Why would his ideas appeal to the Italian working class? What is Mazzini's POV? Answer these questions, and also make general comments about the document itself.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Thursday, Jan. 4

posted by RJS at 8:11 AM

7 Comments:

  • Mazzini's ideals would vastly appeal to the working class because he was basically saying the working class has a place in this world pre-ordained by God, that it is the castes, monarchies, and governments who are the evil ones. And that the basic human being who simply fufills the obligations of cooperation and respect towards ones fellows is a noble creature, that the common man is not a tool but a vital part of the larger whole. He gave importance to the role of the worker.
    Mazzini, as a strong believer in nationalistic ideals, firmly believed in the unification of peoples who shared ethnicities, languages, and religon. His ideas seem to almost echo the excerpt from the Communist Manifesto, in so much as he calls those in power the 'evil governments' and views the eventual crumbling of such institions as merely a progression of what should be. An idea I rather liked was the notion that people should defend those in suffering not as an act of charity but as an act of cooperation, not as something one condescends to with the purpose of showing how great one is, but simply because it is what any human being should do.

    By Blogger laura, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:03:00 PM  

  • I find some sentiment in this document which I agree with (unusually) and others which I strongly reject (the norm). Before I begin espousing philosophy, however, a purely acadmeic anaylysis must be completed.
    Of course the working class would like these ideas. He emphasizes giving and (more to the point) receiving charities as equals. Now the idea "I am your equal" does not come from the mouths of the priveledged- not the smart to the dim, the pretty to the plain. Harsh, perhaps, but true. Only people who find themselves (from their POV) lacking in some department will loudly proclaim their equality. As such, the working class- left out of government for centuries- would of course embrace a nationalism which treated all humans as on the same plane.
    I question whether Mazzini offers this idea out of genuine concern for the Italian working class or because it seems to him be the most effective means of gaining the widespread support of Italians across the peninsula. He is a revolutionary- not a eutopian socialist.
    Now- I instantly recoil from anything which advocates progress for the good of humanity. Making ends of such high and greatly imaginary and theoretical ideals can lead to sacrifices and means of more concrete and physical properties simply because no good way of weighing the cost exists. Perhaps an example is in order. Hitler wanted to improve humanity in general. He thrust all his charity and "morality" to the outmost edges of his comprehension. With such a high end in sight, human lives became meaningless. Any sacrifice was acceptable to accomplish that aim, and furthermore, no charity was left for items in his inner sphere of thought- those closest to him.
    Secondly, humanity is not helped by those who try to help while not being in good moral health themselves. To borrow an allusion from Mr. Lewis yet again, life can be described as a fleet of ships sailing to a certain destination. The success (or at least smoothness) of the journey depends on two things- one is in fact that each boat in the convoy assist each other. But the other is that each boat be in good health itself. You will do little good for the fleet if your own boat keeps smashing into the others.
    Finally, the means for unified action where provided when God gave us our laws (not the commandments) and spoke with us directly. Our means for unified action are set in human morality and an innate knowledge of right and wrong, however we may try to hide it. What do nations matter in this scope? It is both larger and smaller than nationalism- it focuses on interactions between individual humans but also puts every human on the same field- but unlike Mazzini, it is simply as our status as a man, regardless of culture, regardless of language, regardless of state.

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:05:00 PM  

  • Knowing that Mazzini's ultimate goal was for a unified Italy to rid itself of Austrian control in its regions and to establish a republic, his founding of the Young Italy organization was necessary. When had a nationalist movement ever amounted to anything if the people of the country weren't untited under nationalist ideals? Mazzini's moving essay, addressed to the working class of the country, stresses the importance of uniting with one's fellow countrymen to accomplish great things, rather than using one's individual powers to accomplish mediocre things. This sort of alludes to the jobs his audience may be working, where several people work together to create a finished product. He also brings religion into it, saying that God blessed each country with a common language and nationality, and that it is wrong to go against this natural state, thereby proving Austria's evils against the peninsula. He speaks of "the votes of free men" transfiguring the boundaries of nations, which might also have given the members of a long underrepresented class some hope for a brighter future in unity. These religious ties, optimism and nationalism obviously prove to be characteristics of Mazzini's romantic republican nationalism. He seemed the most concerned with motivating from below for the people to take action than taking action to change the system from above, as was done under the leadership of Cavour. The reason Cavour proved more successful was that his method of leading economic reforms provided material progress to the Italian working class rather than providing more unrealistic romantic ideals.

    By Blogger Victoria, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:34:00 PM  

  • I'd say it's pretty clear why Giuseppe Mazzini's ideas would appeal to the working class. Mazzini used a common element within the working class to attract followers: God. He told the working class to thank God for the country/home He has given them, prompting the laboring class to create feelings of nationalism. Who would want to disobey the Almighty that they believe in? Mazzini also uses phrases such as "the whole human family", "Humanity", "benefit all Humanity", and "benefit of the whole world" to really show the working class that he doesn't mean just one group of people, nationalities, or class. He really means unification for the benefit of all humanity. The people were interested in Mazzini because he made them feel equal to the wealthy and privileged.
    I think Mazzini saw Italian Unification as a chance for the laboring class; a way to create a sense of nationalism and equality for the workers. He desribed it as "The countries of the Peoples, defined by the vote of free men, will arise upon the ruins of the countries of kings and privileged castes, and between these countries harmony and fraternity will exist." Because Mazzini was a patriot and revolutionary, he constantly aimed for Italian unification.
    Mazzini's ideas are pretty interesting. He wants to improve humanity, not just achieve equality for the working class, and he believes nationalism is the step needed towards a unified Italy.

    By Blogger taylor, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:40:00 PM  

  • Well, this is a bit over-the-top in its optimism, but still admirable in some ways. Firstly, the questions. This would appeal to the working class because it gives them the only way they can have any power due to their lack of money and authority: numbers. We're not all equal, that's why the working class has to unite, because all of the equality has been torn away from them in earlier generations and jealously guarded ever since. Mazzini was a Genoese nationalistic, liberal democratic politician and philosopher. I don't think there's anything sinister in this like he only wants power for himself in stirring up revolutions, that's going a bit far, for he should have pursued a job in the government if he wanted to use politics to gain power, it's much more efficient and quick to rise through the ranks if you actually have something to say. I believe this was just his life-long viewpoint on politics, a desire for a united democratic Italy, which he believed could only come through revolution.

    Back to general commenting, this is just a little bit too optimistic in believing that everything will be solved with a democracy. Democracy isn't always right for every country, as it really doesn't especially matter what sort of government you have as long as those who lead it are effective, benevolent, and generally actually think about the people beneath them in power. One also has to watch out with nationalism at times, as it can border on rascism with the whole "homogeneous state" thing, as a country can never be without minorities. By the way, did Thomas say he recoils from progress for humanity? He gave an example, but he immediately resorted to a shaky Hitler comparison, which is typically going to corrupt any conversation as soon as "nazi" or "Hitler" is dropped into it. No progress for humanity can be trusted? Jonas Salk wanted to make a vaccine for polio. So he did. Yay. I think that one was without fault or any danger...

    By Blogger Unknown, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 10:45:00 PM  

  • He certainly makes me want to unify Italy. "The Duties of Man" appeals to the working class in the most basic of ways. Everyone wishes to be part of a family, to be understood and loved, to feel as though they can make a difference. Mazzini pretty much says the evil government has ruined thei lives and oppressed them. He claims that under a unified state religion will be the protector of their enlarged family. The working class will always feel cheated by the government and upper classes, so hearing that they will be protected and also helping to protect eachother, this is a great relief. The symbol of a family is the epitome of comfort and safety. The idea that a parent figure (god) is looking out for you, and you have your siblings and children and spouses (the other citizens) who all look out for and help one another while respecting and honoring their parents. Mazzini says that God had layed out the country as he wanted the borders to be and that the the evil goverment (too bad it doesn't come with a little black moustache to twirl deviously) has "disfigured it" but appointing their own borders. The Italian people were already against the government, but when they feel their parent figure being disgraced so it makes them feel as though they should do something.
    Mazzini was an Italian nationalist. He was the eldest son of the potential family, there to guide the others toward one another. He was a revolutionary, he wanted change. What could be a greater change than to unite this divided country that he loved so much? As all writings are, this is an embodiment of his beliefs, which are: as a nationalist, that Italy should be unified. And as a revolutionary, that the working class should rise up in the name of god against the oppressive government.
    I definately enjoyed reading this. You could really feel how badly he wanted this. I thought the best (and by best I mean most interesting) part was when he pretty much told everyone what their duties were, and that if they don't fulfill these, then they don't deserve to live. I thought that was great. Obviously not everyone can do that so its perfect in theory but flawed in practice since humans are ...well human.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 11:32:00 PM  

  • I first have to compliment this lovely man in paralleling a mariner to every other person in the world, saying that as the mariner experiences the feeling of inferiority to the sea, everyone feels inferior to some power. That was beautiful.
    Mazzini, being a passionate Italian, wanted to unite Italy and would write such an article to stir the state's people into feeling responsible to make a unified state. He starts off by seeming the perfect family guy. He sees suffering, corruption, and separation, but he has this image of what humanity is capable of and what it is responsible for. It reminds me a bit of paying it forward, where one person does 3 people a favor, and in turn those 3 people each do 3 other people a favor (and it continues as such). He believes people were meant to help each other, but not everyone's going to want to pay it forward. Yet every person has something in common: every person has something they need or something they are suffering from. Mazzini would appeal to the working class because he talks about everyone working together for a common goal beneficial to everyone. Divided, each worker has their own problems that none can overcome. They feel hopeless. Yet since they are the majority at this point, if they were to unite for some common goal, they could overpower and reach what they want to accomplish. He also adds in that romantic bit about God pre-defining countries and evil countries disrupting the boarders. The God had clearly defined with language, culture, and physical landmarks what countries lie where, but just as one kid can see that he doesn't have more ice cream than his friend and will want more ice cream, governments can see that they want more than their mother spooned out for them. Then all the world is at war, no countries are happy, they fight just to keep their skin, let alone their boundaries. Devastating.
    Lovely article though. Optimistic yet intelligent man.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Thursday, January 04, 2007 11:35:00 PM  

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