per se notum: (Latin, known through itself); A phrase used in scholastic philosophy for that which is self-evident: it is such that to know what it is, i.e. to understand the proposition in question, is to realize that it is true.
Fundamental understanding of the most basic principles that shaped the American experiment is critical to its survival. The words, "we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" give us some insight into the mindset of the men who laid out those principles - the founders of our nation.
It is important to understand the meaning of these words as they were meant to be understood the day they were written. The men who wrote them were not intending to create an enduring document to stand for all time as a charter of a new nation yet that is precisely what they did. How would they see that nation if they were alive today?
I believe we have lost sight of certain self evident truths due to a lack of understanding of our past and a lack of ability to think critically. This is in no small part the result of years of academic folly in our schools and universities - the very institutions that were established to ensure the survival of critical thinking and our history.
Here in Per Se Notum I will delve into our past through primary source documents and examine the meaning of those documents in the context of the day they were created and in the context of current events. I will ask the question, how do the leaders of our nation - the men and women who represent us (notice I did not use the word "leaders") - apply the principles laid out by the founding fathers to modern issues? My hope is that this exercise will provide special insight into current events and to inspire others to think more critically about the decisions made by our representatives.
The section of this site where primary source documents are posted is what I consider the starting point of a classical education. If these documents are not understood, we are lost. They must be read by each and every American citizen and must be on the minds of every holder of political office as they make the decisions that impact our lives. Share these documents with your children; hold these documents up and examine the words and deeds of your representatives with them in mind. Become a critical thinker and, most importantly, teach your children to become critical thinkers for it is they who will inherit what we build today.
Do not let yourself be fooled into believing these documents do not apply today. Their genius lies in their enduring qualities and, as you read them, you will find that the events and issues dealt with by those who wrote them are not at all unlike the issues we struggle with today. You will also find, if you scratch beneath the surface, each and every word was carefully chosen, debated, edited and agreed upon with intent. The meaning of these words is rooted in the classical education of the men and women of the time and thus, if one is to truly understand these documents and their significance, one must understand the classical education that sowed them.
