Abstract This study will discuss the life of Jean-Jacques Rousseau as he examines it in his Confessions and in a way which St. Augustine would understand. The thrust of the study will be the religious component present in Augustine's own Confessions and absent from Rousseau.
From the Paper "This study will discuss the life of Jean-Jacques Rousseau as he examines it in his Confessions and in a way which St. Augustine would understand. The thrust of the study will be the religious component present in Augustine's own Confessions and absent from Rousseau. Augustine would likely have read Rousseau's work, identified with his very human failings and longings, and suggested that the French revolutionary turn to God and Jesus Christ for the solace and serenity he obviously has not found in politics, writing, philosophy, and other wholly earth-bound pursuits.
In the middle of his Confessions, Rousseau stops to assess the first thirty years of his life, and to briefly preview for the reader the next thirty years, drawing a stark comparison between the two periods..."
Introduction
Rowe (1993), focuses his discussion on the three important questions that he believes are the conditions of a genuine miracle, the possibility of modern belief in miracles, and the reasonableness of believing in miracles. For most people, these are not issues: those who believe in miracles define them in their own terms, while those who do not believe in miracles are automatically dismissive. Miracles are not primarily considered a source of intellectual debate; belief or disbelief in miracles is a matter of world view and belief system. However, there may be more than one modern world view, with some associated with belief in miracles and others not. Exploring that possibility is the focus of this paper."
Abstract "Before beginning a discussion of Jean Paul Sartre's views on the importance of different types of perception the focus of this paper it will be useful to lay a groundwork that covers the basic overall philosophy of this great French thinker, dramatist, novelist, and political journalist, for his writings about perception are not in any way ancillary to his major philosophical contributions but lie at the core of his theoretical and political positions.
From the Paper "Before beginning a discussion of Jean Paul Sartre's views on the importance of different types of perception the focus of this paper it will be useful to lay a groundwork that covers the basic overall philosophy of this great French thinker, dramatist, novelist, and political journalist, for his writings about perception are not in any way ancillary to his major philosophical contributions but lie at the core of his theoretical and political positions.
Sartre, who was born in Paris, June 21, 1905, and educated at the ?c"le Normale Sup"rieure in Paris, the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, and the French Institute in Berlin, taught philosophy at various lyc?es (essentially analogous to American high schools) from 1929 until the outbreak of World War II, when he was called into military service. In 1940-41 he was ..."
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to examine views of mimetic poetry contained in Book X of Plato's Republic, in Aristotle's Poetics, and Sidney's An Apology for Poetry from a Marxist perspective. The plan of the research will be to set forth the pattern of ideas regarding mimetic poetry contained in each commentary and then to evaluate claims made in each work about its import and value relative to metaphysics, epistemology, literary form and content, and political ends.
I
n general terms, it can be said of mimetic poetry that Plato is against it, Aristotle is engaged by the project of defining it, and Sidney is determined to defend it. But in the view of each, poetry either does or can influence the whole of human experience. Thus mimetic poetry must be seen in the context of society, politics, philosophy, and ethics. "
From the Paper " In Plato's Apology, Socrates is charged as an "evil-doer who . . . makes the worse appear the better cause; and he teaches the aforesaid doctrines to others" (65). It is also charged that Socrates "corrupts the youth; and who does not believe in the gods of the state, but has other new divinities of his own" (74). Clearly, then, if true, from the point of view of the state, Socrates is a traitor to the state because if he is successful in his efforts he will cause many people, especially impressionable youth, to question the very authority of the state, which could lead to rebellion against the state. Whether this is what Socrates intends, this is nevertheless the way his prosecutors see his efforts. In fact, considering that Socrates could have easily fled and saved his life, his actions and decisions right up to the moment of his death are testimony to his loyalty to the..."
From the Paper "Henry David Thoreau, in Walden, or Life in the Woods, describes, among many other experiences, the transcendental life-style he experienced in his two-year experiment at Walden Pond. Although Thoreau did not consider himself, and would never have considered himself, a member of any group which confined his individualism and independence with any sort of dogma, his outlook on life, nature and man's primary concerns in life and nature coincided with many of the essential Transcendentalist principles. His experiences and writings in Walden reflect his alignment with the Transcendentalists.
Transcendentalism is seen by its critics as an abstract and idealized conception in which the world is a spiritual realm where real life is left behind: "See the holes made in the bank yonder by the swallows. Take away the bank, and leave the..."
Abstract This paper examines John's actions and discusses his morality or lack thereof, according to Kant's and Rousseau's theories. The paper explains that John's actions were ultimately immoral, when viewed from a universal perspective, eventhough his deeds may have resulted in immediate overall good.
From the Paper "It is also amply evident that John's crimes, in fact, benefit the people by virtue of first freeing them from a tyrant and later through governing so ?wisely and justly that at his death, every citizen felt as if she or he had lost a parent.? The issue, therefore, is to examine whether an individual's actions that are recognized to be morally wrong can be overlooked if they are simply the means to an end that leads to the larger good of society."
Abstract This paper analyzes Aristotles main treatises - Four Causes (Aristotleian Metaphysics), the Categories of Being (Hierarchy of Being), and the Dynamic Conception of "ousia" (dynamic identity, which is related to the concept of being and the hierarchy beings belong to). It shows that these formed the basis for Aristotle's quest to understand the concept of the being, the essence of their existence in this world, and basically to refute other philosophers? (particularly Plato's view) about the abstract existence of form and matter.
From the Paper "In explaining the existence and the concept of being, Aristotle began formulating his own philosophy of and about the being, particularly in explaining the existence and hierarchy that concrete beings belongs to. This important explanation by Aristotle became the foundation of logical reasoning, which eventually emerged into what is known as the natural philosophy of the sciences. In explaining the existence and hierarchy of beings in this world, Aristotle's natural philosophy thought of the being as a concrete being, in contrast to Plato's abstract forms and concept of the beings. Aristotle based his philosophies on the premise that to explain the existence, hierarchy, and substance of a being, one must make sure that for this being to be explained and studied, its existence, that is, concrete existence must be first proven. The actual existence of a being is the basic premise that the natural sciences studies follow, and in explaining and describing the existence of a being, one also follows Aristotle's logical pattern of reasoning, wherein cause and effect are the primary basis of reasoning in Aristotleian logical reasoning. Aristotle's primary treatises brought about the emergence of natural philosophy, the categorization of the being, and logical reasoning."
Abstract Discusses Tocqueville's observations about public administration in the United States. Argues that Richard Stillman II incorrectly concludes that Tocqueville is condemning American administration. The paper asserts that Tocqueville understood that the weaknesses in American administration were "by design" in order to prevent tyranny and over-centralization.
From the Paper "Often times, it seems that the best critic is an outside observer? one who can offer plain insight without prideful bias. This is demonstrated by the fact that the best-known commentary on American politics and administration was written not by an American, but by a 26-year-old Frenchman by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville. As an outsider, he had a much clearer perspective than those around him and was able to more accurately report on both the strengths and weaknesses of the American system."
Abstract This essay first presents a brief bio of Mead, a famous American philosopher and then examines his philosophy of "self". The paper shows how his theory of the emergence of mind and self is considered as a milestone in social philosophy. The theory - that self is not present in an individual by birth but it develops with the social interaction of an individual - is examined and analyzed.
From the Paper "During the process of social experience and activity, an individual develops relations with other individuals and as a result develops his or her "self". High level of intelligence present in humans help them to develop a self while animals who have lower level of intelligence cannot develop it. In our certain habitual actions, in which no thinking is involved, a certain level of aesthetic experience is present and experiences of these actions may not have any relationship to the self. It is therefore important under these circumstances that an individual must differentiate the experience that takes place immediately and his/her understanding of such instances into the experience of self. In addition to this, individuals tend to organize all of their experiences into that of a self. They do so in order to thoroughly identify their experiences with the self. Individuals also systematize their memories on the basis of the self. Whenever they see certain things or events they always see them with respect to the past experiences. Moreover, Mead argues that self is neither involved in the life of the organism nor is it involved in sensuous experiences. "
Abstract The Jesus Christ of modern faith bears little resemblance to the humble carpenter who wandered Judea in the opening days of the Common Era. This paper looks at how, why, and by whom the change from simple teacher to Eternal Lord began, and where it might be heading.
From the Paper "The Biblical figure of Jesus Christ is one of the most cherished mythological figures in the history of religion. There are few cultures in the modern world that are not, on some level, aware of the story of the demi-god known as the Christ. But the Jesus Christ of myth and the man historically documented as Jesus of Nazareth have very little in common, anymore. Even the man known to the early disciples bears little resemblance to the figure who embodies modern mythology."
Abstract This paper includes examples and source references supporting most fate oriented topics in the text. It shows how Sophocles shed great light on the role of the gods and how the society interacted with its religion and each other. Because the audience already knew the story of Oedipus and his doomed fate, it allowed Sophocles to create irony, and to demonstrate the futility of resisting the Fates.
From the Paper "The Ancient Greeks, as with many societies always put great emphasis on the past and the future. Their religious ceremonies were to gain the favor of the gods, honor the past, and ask for a good future. The more extravagant the festival, the more honor to the god. The Greek people would want to carry the god's favor for many reasons. The gods knew the future, the past, and the present and they embodied many important human characteristics such as jealousy, rage, and vengeance. The gods could protect them from famine, and just as easily expose them and their descendants to the worst things imaginable. No one quality exemplifies the power of the gods more than their control of one's fate. They place a human on a linear line of life, and set them in the straightaway motion of living. This goes against a basic backbone of many other societies, the existence and practice of freewill. The Greek gods deprived its people of this and effectively made people the playthings of the gods. These powers vaulted the gods to a stature that could inspire fear, and also instill reverence for the ceremonies and festivals that were such a large part of Greek life and history."
Tags: greek, tragedy, gods, religion, audience, society
Abstract The paper discusses the two main characters in the ancient Greek play "Antigone" written by Sophocles. It shows how each has powerful views on politics, but they disagree on nearly every aspect of political life and law. One main conflict is that Antigone wholeheartedly believes in divine law, whereas Creon believes fully in Civil Law. The paper discusses issues such as personal principles, breadth of law, freedom, character and political and personal ethics.
From the Paper "Antigone and Creon both understand certain aspects of political life, but neither comprehends all facets of politics. Antigone is pious but unswerving in her principles. Creon desires to create a stabile community, but he is cruel and unfeeling in order to set a precedent. Sophocles does not want us to emulate Antigone or Creon. Antigone epitomizes behaviors that reinforce or destabilize the Polis. Additionally, Antigone celebrates human power in the political system, whether advantageous or not. Individuals possess the powerful and dangerous tool of persuasion that must be used cautiously. Moreover, through the phenomenon of death in the play Antigone, the distinction between what individuals should attempt to control and what should be governed by a higher power, are illuminated. Creon and Antigone believe opposite forces should wholly preside over individuals, and neither will compromise their ideals. The characters in Antigone do not attain a "happy medium" between divine law and law of the Polis. Human limitation should be addressed by incorporating both human and divine law into our lives."
Abstract The paper introduces and analyzes one of the most popular psalms in the Bible - Psalm 90. The paper examines the origins of the psalm, thought to be written by Moses himself. It shows the importance of the message of the psalm and how it is interpreted by Christians. The paper also discusses psalms in general.
From the Paper "The 90th Psalm teaches people to set right priorities for their life. Nowadays, many people are concerned about getting the most of their life. But these people should not forget that on the background of God's eternity their days are a single moment. Even if some people may live to a "ripe old age", it is really so short when compared to eternity. Because of that, men should not waste their efforts in an attempt to maximize the amount of fun they get from their life. This is meaningless in comparison with efforts directed on gaining eternal life. Time passes by unobserved by us, as it does with men asleep. And when it is over, it is nothing. Life is like an illusion. Men's life is short. Any "achievement" one has is temporary and has no lasting value. The message of the Psalm in relation to men's lives is clear. Setting right priorities in relation to God is crucial in terms of adding meaning to one's life."
Abstract The paper examines two different philosophical concepts of the ideal society. It shows how Plato believed that humans are governed by three elements ? bodily appetites, spiritual elements and reason ? and how each person has a dominant element that determines his or her place in society. In Plato's ideal society, only people who are governed by the rule of reason should be allowed to rule as guardians. A society which allows the ill-equipped masses to lead will be chaotic, making it impossible for good people to live productive lives. It discusses how Marx, in contrast, believed that all human beings are creators, the natural essence of all humans is creativity and that human beings have triumphed over nature by creating society and social relations. The only way back to the creative human essence is moving back to a true communist state, one where people, no longer required to labor, are free to once again indulge in creative productive work.
From the Paper "Like the human soul, Plato also viewed society as an organism. In Plato's ideal society, each person's social role will be determined by the element dominant in his or her soul. People who are ruled by bodily appetites would make the best producers ? farmers, laborers, hunters, merchants and the others whose work sustains a populace's physical needs. People who are driven by honor, loyalty, fame and other spiritual elements should be members of a city's auxiliary and military staff (Lavine: 58).
Finally, there are the men and women who are ruled by reason. They are devoid of family ties and do not possess private property. Through years of training, they could enact laws and make decisions based on reason and wisdom, on what Plato termed the ?idea of the good.? (Lavine: 58)."
Tags: soul, elements, humans, guardians, reason, chaos, communism, work
