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Analysis of slavery in the united states
Criticise of Plato political philosophy
Criticise of Plato political philosophy
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Recommended: Analysis of slavery in the united states
The strides that have been taken regarding human rights have made it impossible to forget the many memorable landmarks throughout history. Events dealing with civil liberties are especially important in the United States. The Revolutionary War and the passage of the nineteenth amendment are two such occurrences. The history of both the United States and human rights has not come without a fight. Americans have adapted to changes in living styles which allowed the country to battle through shifting times in order to survive.
One of the first instances of the evolution of rights is made apparent in the expressions of Plato in the story Crito. Plato was accustomed to politics in the Athenian world; however, he chose to excel in philosophy. Plato believed that knowledge demonstrated truth and goodness in all people. In Crito, Socrates uses his knowledge as he attempts to explain to Crito that he must serve his prison sentence. Socrates believed that if he disapproved of the law in which he broke, he had ample time to do something about it, but he chose to live and abide by the rules and therefore must suffer the consequences to carry out true justice.
During the time of Socrates, the people and the government went hand-in-hand; they were in agreement. If a person chose to reside in a city, it meant that that individual decided to follow and carry out all laws that had previously been enforced by the government. The city of Athens provided education, protection, and the mere existence of life to Socrates. In return, he was under the idea that he was required to serve his community. Since Socrates had accepted the Athenian culture into his life, he believed that he should be punished for committing wrongful acts against the city’...
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Locke, John. “The Second Treatise of Civil Government.” Translated by Jawaid Bazyar
Online. Internet. Jan. 1999. Available. http://www.constitution.org/jl/2ndtreat.htm.
Plato. The Trials of Socrates. “Crito.” Translated by Reeve, C. D. C.. 2002 edition: p62-78.
“The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen Colonies.” Indiana University School of
Law in Bloomington. Online. Internet. April 2002. Available. http://www.law.indiana. edu/uslawdocs/declaration.html.
“The Virginia Declaration of Rights.” From Revolution to Reconstruction. Online. Internet.
March 2003. Available. http://www.usconstitution.net/vdeclar.html.
“Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” Department of Public Information. Online.
Internet. Dec. 1998. Available. http://www.un.org/rights/50/decla.htm.
Many people have gone through their lives conforming their beliefs and practices for the sake of fitting in or for the happiness of others, but Socrates was not one of these people. In “The Apology” Plato shows Socrates unwillingness to conform through a speech given by Socrates while on trial for supposedly corrupting the youth of Athens and believing in false gods. Although the title of the dialogue was labeled “The Apology,” Socrates’ speech was anything but that, it was a defense of himself and his content along his philosophical journey. At no time during the trial was Socrates willing to change his ways in order to avoid punishment, two reasons being his loyalty to his God and his philosophical way of life.
* Plato. "Crito." Annotated Text. The Last Days of Socrates. Ed. Kent Anderson and Norm Freund. Anderson and Freund, Clarke University, 4 Jan. 2007. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. .
Socrates argues that he could not have intentionally corrupted Athenian youth through two premises: The first being that he would certainly not want to live amongst ...
In the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, he conveys numerous different examples of how alcohol controls many of the Indians lives who reside on the reservation. In the book, it illustrates how a multitude of Indians who live on the Spokane Indian Reservation are impoverished; they live a life that to many of the readers are vastly different. For example, the Indians barely have enough money to eat on a regular basis. Now, the people who live on the reservation need a way to relieve stress from their daily life, and they end up alleviating stress by drinking an abundance of alcohol. The problem is when a number of the adults on the reservation drink too, much they end up hurting not only themselves but
When I say the words ‘totem pole’ what comes to mind? Do you picture big, tall poles reaching high into the sky with scary looking faces carved into them? Well that’s only half of the story behind the totem poles. The Native American culture expresses shame in various ways. The Native Americans were shamed in boarding schools, they shamed various other people with totem poles, and they feel shame with alcoholism. Boarding schools drained the minds and culture out of the Native Americans that were forced to attend them. Alcoholism is killing off the remaining Native American tribes that are still here.
Socrates political, moral and social obligations are linked to a theory called the Social Contract Theory. The overall intent of the social contract is meant to enhance the society we live in and promotes a sound, balanced, law abiding society. Socrates illustrates to Crito, that he must accept his punishment administered to him by Athens law. Furthermore, he exemplifies that the laws he has obeyed his entire life, allowed him to thrive within Athens (Friend). He indicates that he made a conscious decision, when he reached the age of maturity, he would reside in Athens. He was fully aware of the laws and how the Athenian government handled justice. Although, the social contract is not signed legal binding contract, Socrates feels fully obligated
In Plato’s dialogue Crito, you can find Crito offering escape from demise to Socrates. This would be enough to make most men succumb to their survival instinct and flea but Socrates takes a different path. Socrates reasons through the escape with Crito. He logically comes to the fact that one shouldn’t do wrong when wronged or do harm when harmed (49b-c). He then draws the conclusion that escaping prison would harm the citizens, laws, and whole city of Athens (50b). As Athens is his home, Socrates feels he owes everything to his city, he feels compelled to follow the laws and decisions of its courts. He likens a home city to a parent, saying that to bring violence against one’s city would be sacrilegious as it would be with a parent (51c). In Socrates’ mind he would not wrong Athens because it made him the man he stands to be. All the knowledge, wisdom, and high regard he holds is because of Athens, and so he refuses to
Socrates refuses to disobey the law. He believes in the correctness of the cities laws. He believes it is never right to act unjustly. He thinks that if you do not agree with the laws of the area that you are living at, then to leave and go somewhere else. He argues that the government could be seen as “his parents, also those who brought him up,” (Crito, 51e), since he has lived there his entire life and when you live somewhere for so long you should “persuade us or to do what we say,” (Crito, 52a) or leave. Socrates tells Crito that
Socrates reaches a conclusion that defies a common-sense understanding of justice. Nothing about his death sentence “seems” just, but after further consideration, we find that his escape would be as fruitless as his death, and that in some sense, Socrates owes his obedience to whatever orders Athens gives him since he has benefited from his citizenship.
Socrates: A Gift To The Athenians As Socrates said in Apology by Plato, “...the envy and detraction of the world, which has been the death of many good men, and will probably be the death of many more…”(Philosophical Texts, 34) Throughout history, many leaders have been put to death for their knowledge. In Apology, Socrates- soon to be put to death- says he was placed in Athens by a god to render a service to the city and its citizens. Yet he will not venture out to come forward and advise the state and says this abstention is a condition on his usefulness to the city.
"Plato." The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume I. 6th ed. NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 1992. 726-746.
The second argument that supports Socrates decision to stay in prison is that of the repercussions to the city of Athens. If Socrates escaped, the Athens city together with its fabric, laws, would be annihilated. By the extension, destruction of the Athens’ city equally destroyed the lives of people of Athens. Socrates argues that harming others is similar to harming ones soul because such an act constituted an unjust act. Therefore, it was a wiser decision to meet death rather than escape.
Throughout history, our society’s socialization, or lifelong social experiences, has been debated upon quite vigorously. It is quite evident that we all obtain certain characteristics and abilities through heredity factors, but many still argue that this is not the only explanation for how our lives are determined. The argument of nature versus nurture is still being discussed by many, although both have been seen to have an impact on our life experiences.
Alex Hayley, a prominent writer, once said “In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future”. Wes Anderson’s masterpiece, The Royal Tennenbaums, is a contemporary film that reveals the immense impact that family members hold over each other’s lives. Margot, the eldest of the children, is the adopted member of the Tennenbaum household. Regardless of this fact, Margot is denied the opportunity to feel like a member of the family, as she lacks the affection that she deserves from her inattentive father, Royal. Tragically, she yearns to be a part of the family that may never truly accept her. Furthermore, in order to cope with her unsatisfactory life, Margot escapes to drama and writing, continuously creating fictional characters whose lives are not bound to loveless relatives. Likewise, feeling emotionally shut away from her family (her father, in particular), Margot begins to hang her head down and isolate herself even further. It is not long before she takes shelter in secrecy, concealing her emotions, and refusing to let others see her true nature. In a never-ending pursuit for finding love, and ultimately, her identity, Margot begins to reach inner peace and re-shape her future. Even with numerous obstacles and setbacks, she is able to turn her life around, showing that destiny is meant to be made, not accepted.
When Socrates was brought to trial for the corruption of the city’s youth he knew he had done nothing wrong. He had lived his life as it should be lead, and did what he ne...