Starship Troopers 13

Study Guide Questions for Chapter Twelve (Part 2)

If you are looking for the beginning of the study of Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of available book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

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Last line of Reading: “In the meantime the M.I. will be in there, on the bounce and swinging, on the side of our own race.”

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Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Wisdom, Virtue

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What had most interested Johnnie about his History and Moral Philosophy class?

2. According to Johnnie, what had Mr. Dubois been trying to teach him in his highschool History and Moral Philosophy class?

3. What was “the M.I. answer” to Major Reid’s question about unreleased prisoners?

4. How did the “Federation” get started?

5. Why, according to Major Reid, did letting “the intelligent elite run things” ultimately fail?

6. According to Major Reid, to whom do “all systems” of government seek to only give “franchise” to?

7. According to Major Reid, what is the difference between their “voters and wielders of franchise in the past?”

8. According to “one of the older cadets” why has there “never been a revolution against” their system of government?

9. What did Johnnie say must be accepted if one wants to talk meaningfully “about morals, war,” and politics? 

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Why might “a much higher percentage of colonials” sign up for Federal service than those on Terra (Earth)?

2. Why is it important for Johnnie to think about the “why” behind fighting now? Consider the discussion between Sergeant Zim and Ted Hendrick at the beginning of chapter 5 (during knife throwing practice) when answering this.

3. When discussing the different systems of government that have been tried and found wanting, what did Major Reid mean by referring to the “divine right of the common man?”

4. Why did Major Reid think “authority and responsibility must be equal?”

5. What did Major Reid mean by saying, “you will find it much easier” to give sight to the blind “than to instill moral virtue – social responsibility – into a person who doesn’t have it, doesn’t want it, and resents having the burden thrust on him?”

6. What did Johnnie mean by the claim, “All wars arise from population pressure?”

7. What was Johnnie’s point about “planned parenthood?”

8. In your own words, what do you understand this book to be teaching about the nature of, and basis for, morality? 

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Acknowledging Johnnie’s point that “Men are not potatoes,” do you agree with his conclusion that it is worth risking many lives, perhaps even millions, to save one prisoner? Why or why not? 

2. Consider the concept of “sovereign franchise” in this book, which equates with a person gaining the right to vote and, therefore, wield power. Who should have the ability to vote? Do you believe that it is a natural human right and that everyone should be able to exercise the right to vote? Do you think that ability should be earned by hard work? Should one be able to purchase the right to vote? Should one have to pass a test demonstrating intelligence and competence in a certain knowledge base? Again, should someone have to have demonstrated long term social responsibility (perhaps through employment, ownership of property, or service in the armed forces) in order to vote? Think through these, and other possibilities, and defend your view while also undermining competing theories and perspectives.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Genesis 1:26-31. Johnnie referred to Man as “a wild animal.” Aristotle called man “a rational animal.” Moses (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) called man an image bearer of God. To what extent are these various definitions compatible or incompatible? What are the implications of affirming one or more of these definitions of man, particularly as it relates to the questions of moral obligations (or duties)? If one were to ground the concept of human “rights” (and not just moral obligation) which one of these views would best support the claim to man having certain rights? How would you answer Johnnie’s claim that morality depends on accepting his definition of man? Feel free to bring other Scripture passages to bear on this issue.