Student Information Sheet: The Concept of Worldview and
Social Contract.
A Worldview is a description of reality providing "natural and
believable" knowledge which is generally accepted by the
members of a cultural group because it meets their needs,
creates order and coherence, and provides a basis for
predictions.
Know that a worldview acts as a template providing people with a
set of beliefs about dealing with the reality in which they find
themselves:
- Spiritual beliefs defining the meaning and purpose of existence;
- Moral beliefs about people's rights and obligations
- Social beliefs about the organization of individuals into society
- Intellectual beliefs about determining truth and beauty
- Economic beliefs about creating and distributing wealth
- Political beliefs about making and enforcing decisions within
society.
Worldview: Critical Attributes
A worldview must contain a description of reality.
The description:
Must meet the needs of people (survival, security,
friendship/love, respect, and self-fulfillment),
Must create order and coherence within reality.
Must provide a basis for making predictions about events within
reality which:
Helps people feel more secure with each other, and
Makes people less confused by or afraid of things they cannot
directly control;
Must define an individual's relationship to the surrounding world;
Must define what is important for maintaining or improving life as
it is understood; and,
Must provide "natural" and "believable" knowledge which is
accepted and shared by members of the cultural group.
Social Contract: Critical Attributes
A social contract must contain an agreement between the
members of a group which:
Must determine who the leaders and the followers are
Must define the rights and duties of each member, either by,
stating them clearly and explicitly, or by, arriving at an
understanding that is assumed and accepted by those involved in
the agreement.
Student Information Sheet: The French Canadian Worldview.
The French Canadians who lived in eighteenth century Quebec
accepted these ideas as their fundamental beliefs:
Spiritual beliefs
The Church in New France believed that:
The Church was more responsible to the Pope than it was to the
King (government) in Paris.
The Pope in Rome should, alone, define religious belief, practices
and worship.
The Catholic religion is the one true religion, and Protestants and
non-Christians should not be allowed to live in the colony.
There should not be any questioning of Church doctrine. The
notions of scepticism, philosophical doubt, and worldliness which
were affecting the Church in France should be rejected as a
dangerous heresy.
Political beliefs
It was widely accepted that loyalty to the Intendant and
Governor meant accepting that they had the right to govern in
place of the King.
On the western frontier, initiative, independence, and a reckless
and undisciplined courage was admired.
Many in New France began to see themselves as distinct and were
often resentful of French neglect, patronage, arrogance.
The elites of Quebec clearly believed that representative
government would be a serious mistake.
The English colonies represented both an economic and political
threat to the well-being of New France.
Economic beliefs
The fur trade in New France was based on the belief that a
centralized monopoly was necessary for its survival.
Among the middle class, the years of war had made profiteering
and earning a "quick buck" an acceptable practise.
The English represented a significant threat to the economic
well-being of New France's major industry, the fur trade.
It was necessary to maintain "good" relations with the First
Nations in order to secure the valuable furs.
Following the British Conquest:
The elites in Quebec believed their best interest lay in working
with the British colonial merchants to preserve and expand the
fur trade wherever possible.
Quebec was united in the belief that the maintenance of
Quebec's fur trade monopoly was critical to their future.
Social beliefs
The Quebec elites believed in the maintenance of an
authoritarian society, while those in the lower classes were not
prepared to accept any expansion of paternalism particularly if it
meant expanded fees and duties.
The Church defined and controlled many social practices.
Student Information Sheet: The British Worldview.
The British in the eighteenth century accepted these ideas as
their fundamental beliefs:
Spiritual beliefs
Great Britain was a sovereign Protestant nation in which:
The King was the head of state and defender of the faith.
Any right of control by the Pope over British society anywhere
must be rejected.
People had the right to an individualistic, personal relationship
with God without any intervention by priest or church.
Political beliefs
Britain should remain a monarchy because its supporting
institutions (aristocracy, army, gentry, the church) represented
the best traditions for guiding society.
The monarch in governing society is obligated to accept guidance
from an elected assembly (Parliament).
Parliament must be supreme in British society and cannot have its
power limited in any way by any other institution.
The behaviour of all individuals and institutions (including the
King) within society must conform to the rule of law.
The British middle class believed that government including the
monarch should be accountable to an elected assembly
particularly in the raising and spending of taxes.
Economic beliefs
The British government's policies were based on mercantilistic
beliefs:
That an imperial system of trade and political power would build
up Britain's power and prestige throughout the world.
That colonies should serve the interests of the mother country.
That colonies should be taxed to pay for their own defence.
Many British business people had come accepted the new beliefs
underlying a market controlled economy.
They advocated more private entrepreneurship and less
government interference.
They believed that competition and profit are better guides for
economic production than government control.