Saturday, May 16, 2020

Aristotle and Plato are both philosophers and thinkers of...

Aristotle and Plato are both philosophers and thinkers of the Greek tradition but they each came to very different conclusions about the nature of divinity. Plato’s god was subordinate to the ever important forms while Aristotle’s god was selfish. Combined together each of their different philosophies could probably come pretty close to the ideas of the great monotheistic religions of today. Although they belong to different philosophical traditions both Plato and Aristotle share many of the same basic ideas even though their conclusions and ends tend to differ quite a bit from one another. The main idea which sets apart the thoughts of Plato and Aristotle is that of the forms, which must be explained to understand Plato’s divinity. The†¦show more content†¦Another one of Plato’s divinities would be the Demiurge or craftsman god which Plato speaks of in Timaeus. Plato charged this god with the creation of the entire universe. Although the Demiurge is not higher than the forms Plato still credits the craftsman god with bringing order to the universe and endowing humans with immortal and intelligent souls. Second to the Demiurge would be lesser gods which encapsulate the planets in spheres and account for their eternal movement. In summation, Plato’s idea of a god is anything that is immutable, intelligent, and immortal. It is easy to see, then, why Plato seems to see divinities seemingly everywhere in the universe. Aristotle has a much different conception of divinity than Plato. His highest divinity is not the forms but something which he refers to as the unmoved mover, first mover, or prime mover. This prime mover is the common source of all substance, movement, and change in the universe and it has three characteristics: it is composed of pure actuality, has no physical matter, and is eternal. It is necessary for the unmoved mover to be all of these things because his eternality is what allows the universe to be eternal as well: It will be no use, then, to assume everlasting substances, as believers in the Forms do, unless these include some principle capable of initiating change. And even this, or some other type of substance apart from the Forms, is not sufficient; for if itShow MoreRelatedBranches of Philosophy8343 Words   |  34 PagesHistory of Western philosophy The introduction of the terms philosopher and philosophy has been ascribed to the Greek thinker Pythagoras (see Diogenes Laertius: De vita et moribus philosophorum, I, 12; Cicero: Tusculanae disputationes, V, 8-9). The ascription is based on a passage in a lost work of Herakleides Pontikos, a disciple of Aristotle. It is considered to be part of the widespread legends of Pythagoras of this time. Philosopher replaced the word sophist (from sophoi), which was usedRead Morehistory of philosophy5031 Words   |  21 Pagessee  History of Philosophy (disambiguation). This article  may require  copy editing  for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling.You can assist by  editing it.  (April 2013) Philosophy Philosophers Aestheticians Epistemologists Ethicists Logicians Metaphysicians Social and political philosophers Traditions Analytic Continental Eastern Islamic Platonic Scholastic Periods Ancient Medieval Modern Contemporary Literature Aesthetics Epistemology Ethics Logic Metaphysics PoliticalRead MoreHumanist Art And Philosophy Of The Renaissance1774 Words   |  8 PagesHumanist Art and Philosophy of the Renaissance Throughout the ages, people have sought for wisdom and truth through philosophical discovery. The work of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the other ancient thinkers have bewildered and amazed people through centuries of study and analysis. However, with the shift of time and belief systems, the central focus of the European culture concerned not secular wisdom but divine inspiration, causing for the period we now refer to as the Dark Ages. But as theRead More Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Reconciliation of Western and Eastern Philosophy3034 Words   |  13 Pagescome under close scrutiny by modern and postmodern philosophers and thinkers as being flawed at its core. The German philosopher Martin Heidegger came to the conclusion that â€Å"Western philosophy is a great error† (Barrett xi). The manner in which Western thought was founded, the course of its development, and its incursion into every facet of life in the Western world has been and is now being questi oned on all fronts by leading critics and thinkers. Robert Pirsig, in his book Zen and the ArtRead MoreA Critique of Natural Law Essay2522 Words   |  11 Pagesusing theories such as utilitarianism and legal positivism. Plato and Aristotle proved to be of great importance in natural-law thinking from 5th century Greece until the present day. Plato had an idealist view of justice as a kind of absolute which can be understood only by the philosopher and fully realized in an ideal state. Aristotle regarded natural justice as universal, yet ideal. Stoic philosophy, which evolved after Aristotle, plays a great role in the history of natural law. Its emphasisRead MorePlato and Confucius4610 Words   |  19 PagesSeparated by more than 8500 kilometers but only 52 years, two seminal thinkers have shaped the moral philosophy of their respective cultures. While Western ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Plato’s Republic, Eastern ethical theory has been deeply influenced by Confucius’s Analects. David Haberma n describes the Republic as ‘one of the most influential books of all time’ (86). And Bryan Van Norden compares (with considerable fervor) the Analects to ‘the combined influence of Jesus and Socrates’Read MoreFate and Destiny7886 Words   |  32 Pagesby reviewing some historical distinctions made by a variety of philosophers, psychologists and scientists. The paper also discusses some of our contemporary understandings of destiny and concludes that an individual’s stance toward fate and destiny significantly affects one’s sense of life-authorship and vitality. It is common to hear the outcome of events being described as being the result of fate, destiny or sometimes a result of both. But fate and destiny are not just concepts with an entertainmentRead MoreThe Philosophy of Happiness11705 Words   |  47 PagesChapter 1 The Philosophy of Happiness Aristotle on Happiness Since the earliest days of Western thought philosophers have concerned themselves with the nature of happiness. One of the earliest to ask the question ‘what is happiness?’ was Aristotle, who, in a manner typical of philosophers, before providing an answer insisted on making a distinction between two different questions. His first question was what was meant by the word ‘happiness’—or rather, its ancient Greek equivalent eudaimonia. His secondRead MoreDying with Dignity (Euthanasia)2463 Words   |  10 Pages‘Euthanasia comes from the Greek words eu meaning good, and thanatos meaning death, and is known as mercy killing or assisted suicide, usually practiced on a terminally ill person. In some countries, euthanasia is legal and a third person can assist suicide under certain conditions. Many religions and medical practitioners opposed the idea of euthanasia and strongly claimed it to be illegal. The debate on euthanasia i s expected to continue in the future because there are both pros and cons to euthanasiaRead MoreWhat is Philosophy? Essay1828 Words   |  8 PagesThe subject of Philosophy and its subcategories have been widely discussed in both the Western and non-Western world albeit with different focuses. Philosophy includes many different subfields involving investigation into our existence. These subfields include epistemology, ethics, logic, metaphysics, philosophy of science, social and political philosophy, and Metaphilosophy. Epistemology focuses on the study of Knowledge, also known as â€Å"Theory of Knowledge†. Ethics involves the study of moral values

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Chinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart - 1388 Words

Ever since the imperialist age, Africa has been perceived as a type of primitive or uncivilized region. We have been taught and have seen that they are not as modern as our Western world. What do you think would happen when an African author criticizes the work of an old English writer who was known by many as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language? Chinua Achebe, the author of the great African novel,  ¨Things Fall Apart ¨ argues that Joseph Conrad s book  ¨Heart Of Darkness ¨ was a false depiction of Africa and the writing was too racist and made the white race seem superior to the native Africans. The novel â€Å"Things Fall Apart† by Chinua Achebe is about the Ibo people and how they have to face the threat of colonization and the white people’s religion which is Christianity. When Achebe portrayed the missionaries and Europeans, he did not make them sound hostile. Originally, they seemed like passive wanderers in an unknown land not planning to cause any trouble. The Ibo people also did not assume they were threats, either. â€Å" He was not an albino. He was quite different. And he was riding an iron horse.† ( p. 138, Things Fall Apart ) At first, they did not give off any outstanding first impression; the missionaries appeared to be harmless. While Conrad is said to have taken a more extreme approach on writing about the native African people of the Congo, Achebe took a more neutral approach when it came to the conquering nature of the white men onceShow MoreRelatedChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1719 Words   |  7 PagesThings fall apart is a classic novel written around the turn of the century, the novel focuses on the protagonist who we can also call a hero, Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a wealthy and respected leader within the Igbo tribe of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. Strong individual with a passionate belief in all the values and traditions of his people. Chinua Achebe presents Okonkwo as a particula r kind of tragic protagonist, a great man who carries the fate of his people. Okonkwo is a man who is inflexible andRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1033 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Chinua Achebe is a famous Nigerian novelist in worldwide. Things fall apart is Chinua Achebe’s first novel published in 1958, the year after Ghana became the first African nation to gain independence. And this novel is one of the first African novels to gain worldwide recognition. (Phil Mongredien, 2010) This novel presents people a story of an African Igbo tribal hero, Okonkwo, from his growth to death. The fate of Okonkwo also indicates the fate of Africa caused by the colonizationRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart883 Words   |  4 Pagesdehumanize the native population and convince themselves that they are helping. Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart attempts to correct these misguided views of African societies by portraying a more complex culture that values peace, and the art of conversation. Achebe also tries to portray the idea that not all European people they come in contact with are aggressive, and misconstrued in their view of the African societ ies. Achebe tries to show us the value of his society through repeated views into conversationsRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1410 Words   |  6 PagesTeddy Manfre Ms. Blass ENG 209-001 April 24, 2017 Things Fall Apart In 1958, Chinua Achebe a famous Nigerian author publishes one of his most famous novels Things Fall Apart. The novel takes place in a Nigerian village called Umuofia. During the time that this novel is published Nigeria is being criticized by the Europeans for being uncivilized. In response, Achebe uses his brilliance in this novel to express the valued history of his people to his audience. His focus in the novel is on the pre-colonizedRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1015 Words   |  5 PagesIn his novel Things Fall Apart, author Chinua Achebe utilizes his distinctive writing style in order to accurately capture the culture and customs of the Igbo people despite writing his story in a foreign language. Five aspects of Achebe’s style that make his writing unique is the straightforward diction present in dialogue, the inclusion of native parables convey Igbo life authentically, the inclusion of native Igbo words and phrases, detailed descriptions of nature and the usage of figurative languageRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1702 Words   |  7 PagesTitle: Things Fall Apart Biographical information about the author: Chinua Achebe was born in Nigeria in 1930. He had an early career as a radio host, and later became the Senior Research Fellow at the University of Nigeria. After moving to America, he became an English professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Achebe has won numerous awards for his poetry and fiction, including the Man Booker prize and Commonwealth Poetry Price. He currently teaches at Bard College. Author: Chinua AchebeRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1347 Words   |  6 PagesCulture is an Important Element of Society Chinua Achebe is the author of when Things Fall Apart while Joseph Conrad authored Heart of Darkness. Conrad and Achebe set their individual titles in Africa; Achebe is an African writer whereas Conrad is Polish-British. The authors draw strength from their backgrounds to validity the authenticity of their fictional novels. Conrad writes from his experiences in the British and French navies while Achebe uses his African heritage. The theme of culture isRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1248 Words   |  5 PagesChris Lowndes Ms. Cook A.P.L.C. 21 October 2015 We Are Family: Hardships in One s Family in Things Fall Apart Specific attributes correlate with each other to help create or not create the ideal strong family. However, through those attributes arise conflicts and major disputes. This issue of trying to achieve and create a strong family is of immense importance in one’s life, especially in Chinua Achebe’s, Things Fall Apart, a milestone in African literature. For instance, the father leaves his legacyRead MoreChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart Essay1682 Words   |  7 Pagescertain degree of the priest class, libation, holidays, creation stories, divine systems of punishments and rewards. In the novel, Things Fall Apart, written by Chinua Achebe, is a story of tragic fall of a protagonist and the Igbo culture. Achebe demonstrates different examples and situations of where an African culture, in the instances of tribal religions, did certain things because of their tradition is and the way they developed into. African cultures pondered life mysteries and articulated theirRead Mo reChinua Achebe s Things Fall Apart1314 Words   |  6 PagesChinua Achebe masterpiece â€Å"Things Fall Apart† (1959) is the classic story of Okonkwo, a young man who strives to be revered by his village and family but because of his own internal character flaws meets his own demise. In the Igbo culture, family traditions are an important narrative throughout the novel. Okonkwo, the protagonist character of this story, begins with many attributes of what would be concluded as a hero with his cultural society. He is hard working, a material provider, feared and

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Village City Life free essay sample

A village is composed of small population that is not advanced whereas a city is very advanced and has large population. Life in a village is completely different from life in a city. This difference is like distinction between earth and sky. These lifestyles are totally different from each other. It is hard to find similarities between persons of different characteristics and same as with life in villages and cities. Cities are getting more advanced From Village Life To City 8000-3000B. C. From Village to City Over the years of history, there have been many civilizations. And in our report Wwe will look at the earliest civilization. of all civilizations everyday and it has forced people to leave their village pride behind and become more city oriented. City and village life has characteristic that are similar and different. Village life and city life are somewhat provincial. People can t think of a life beyond the boundaries of their village or their city. We will write a custom essay sample on Village City Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Villagers think that villages are the best place to live, and people living in urban places think that they are more fortunate. There are some similarities between both locations. Children in the villages have their desires and ambitions like city children. They also want to be something in their lives. Villagers, like urban people, are hard workers. They know the value of hardwork and that is the key to success. Education is the fundamental step for a child to begin his life. In this technologically advanced society, a person can t do anything without education. Urban Sprawl Urban Sprawl is a problem that will have severe consequences for all life if left unrestricted. The unrestricted development of the United States and the world is rapidly contributing to Children in the cities are fortunate enough to have schools. Every child goes to school with his aim focused, but children in villages don t have this opportunity. Villages can t afford schools. Instead of going to schools, the children go to fields to work and to support their families. Their aims mix with that soil. Maybe some children have dreams to be well educated, but their dreams shatter because they don t get