Essay about Plato vs. Machiavelli - 1695 Words

Plato vs. Machiavelli A longstanding debate in human history is what to do with power and what is the best way to rule. Who should have power, how should one rule, and what its purpose should government serve have always been questions at the fore in civilization, and more than once have sparked controversy and conflict. The essential elements of rule have placed the human need for order and structure against the human desire for freedom, and compromising between the two has never been easy. It is a question that is still considered and argued to this day. However, the argument has not rested solely with military powers or politicians, but philosophers as well. Two prominent voices in this debate are Plato and Machiavelli, both†¦show more content†¦The appetite is concerned with the pursuit of bodily pleasure. This aspect of the soul is satisfied only by the creature comforts such as food, sex, and drink (167). These three divisions are found in the individual, but in varying degrees. Som e will lean more towards the appetite, while other are spirit-driven, and still others find greater fulfillment through the intellectual pursuits of reason (168). Plato clearly favors the reason in his three part soul, since it is with reason that one can grasp the Forms, which themselves are the ultimate in beauty and truth. To this end, the State, like the individual, has three parts that correspond to the parts of the individual soul. The lowest of the parts is the appetite, which is comprised of the common people. These would be craftsmen, laborers, and farmers who perform the menial tasks essential to the functioning of the State. Those who make up this part of the State are best left to their own devices, to enjoy and pursue physical and material pleasures, because they are not capable of grasping the Forms. The second tier, the spirit, would be comprised of soldiers. It is the soldiers who have a slight understanding of the Forms, but not enough of one to allow reason to dictate their actions. Soldiers fight to the death to defend the State because of their emotional ties to it. In fact, Plato proposes that the government raise children,Show MoreRelatedMachiavelli Vs Plato1614 Words   |  7 PagesRowan DeGasperis Brandon Ives GVPT241 Due: 10/13/17 Socrates’ View on Machiavelli’s Ideologies Niccolà ² Machiavelli and Socrates are two thinkers who are highly regarded, respected, and renowned by today’s scholars due to their roles in shaping their separate versions of an ideal political system during their respective times of uncertainty, political fragmentation, and violence. Although their opinions vary, the men laid the foundation for present day political establishments and opened up the doorRead MoreEssay about Plato vs Machiavelli1052 Words   |  5 PagesOf the many disparities between Plato and Machiavelli, the distinction of virtue versus virtu sticks out like a sore thumb. Virtue was the political bases for Plato: All men should behave virtuously at all times. Whereas Machiavelli believed virtu was the basis for political prowess. What was best for the state as a whole was the main concern, and the ends always justified the means. Plato’s object was the creation of a utopian society--a civilization that abhorred war and centered itself uponRead MoreCompare And Contrast Socrates And Machiavelli1419 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates vs. Machiavelli: The meaning of truth As philosophers, both Socrates and Niccolo Machiavelli developed theories in response to the warring political environment around them. 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Socrates respondsRead More Order vs. Freedom in Political Systems 1963 Words   |  8 PagesOrder vs. Freedom in Political Systems Order and freedom are both necessary and beneficial towards the citizens and society with the aim to promote harmony, yet they both contradict each other. This contradiction has existed throughout many years and it is still hard to decide which one is ideal for the society. This essay will discuss and analyze if order or freedom is more important for political systems. Many believe that order should be applied by the government; though it should be allowedRead MoreLiterary Masterpieces Matrix1186 Words   |  5 Pages|at war with man as he | | | |Illad is mortality. 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The Prince1842 Words   |  8 PagesSocrates vs. The Prince Niccolà ² Machiavelli, a Florentine philosopher and political aficionado from the 16th century and Socrates, a classical Athenian savant who lived during the 5th century B.C., are both judged as being forefathers to modern western political science and thought. The two great men both came from erratic epochs within their respective nations of Italy and Greece: wars, transitions of power, and domestic conflicts left their countries void of sustainable leadership and in desperateRead MoreSocrates Vs Machiavelli2003 Words   |  9 PagesSocrates VS Machiavelli The debate on how people should rule has been going on since the dawn of time. Many agree and many disagree but they all agree that we should have a ruling force of some kind but what and how much has been very controversial. Niccolo Machiavelli and Socrates were two very important and revolutionary political philosophers for their time. 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Poaching Of Alberta And Its Effect On All Living Unites

Unit. (noun) An individual thing or person regarded as single and complete, but which can also form an individual component of a larger more complex whole. Let’s focus on Alberta as the complex whole that is made up of multiple units of individuals. For out complex whole to successfully operate, the individual units must balance the existing system. We, as Albertan’s, have to work together and respect each other and our surroundings, which will allow us to make the most of our beautiful Alberta landscape. Including the mountains, prairies, desert badlands, vast coniferous forests, and more than 600 lakes. As one complex unit, Alberta must strive to preserve our lands and way of life. A small crack within the system will have detrimental effects on all living unites. Which brings us to a very important crack that needs to be addressed: poaching in Alberta. Hunting holds great importance within Alberta. As a tradition and a sustainability resource, residents of Alberta thrive off of either the thrill of hunting or the resources it provides. Controversies aside, hunting is an important activity for the Alberta lifestyle. We (as a whole) live off of the culture of its community or the products of the sport. Our industries, our lifestyles, are benefitted by hunting, whether you’re a hunter or not. However, we all reap the benefits only when the sustainability of hunting is maintained through rules and regulations put in place by the Wildlife Act of Alberta. As a cohesive unit

Having an Addictive Personality Free Essays

Addiction is a relationship you have with an object. When reading this book, I learned how people begin to form addictions, factors that have come to be known as an addictive personality, and how to recover from an addiction. The more you learn about addictions, the better you may live a healthy and safe life. We will write a custom essay sample on Having an Addictive Personality or any similar topic only for you Order Now An addiction is well known as a compulsive need for a habit forming substance or event. Many addictions come from alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, and also sex. There are many stages leading to this harmful habit.It starts with experimentation, casual use, compulsive use, then addiction takes place. The two main types of addiction are psychological and physiological addictions. Psychological addiction is coming to depend emotionally on the feeling a drug or action may give you. A physiological addiction is when your body has marked physiological needs for increasing doses. Drugs such as heroin, cocaine, nicotine, and alcohol are all physiological addictions. Many people ask the question, â€Å"Why get started? † The many reasons people do drugs are caused by emotions, social pressures, or stress may impact your decision.When you are suffering from an addiction, you focus more on the addiction than you do on others. An addiction is an illness that can isolate you from sharing the emotions you originally feel towards others. You may ask, â€Å"What is an addictive personality? † This definition has no â€Å"right† way to characterize itself. An addictive personality is a change resulting from the addictive process that takes place within a person. The most likely signs of changes are depression, irritability, and paranoia. All of these factors are important when you consider addiction.The most common types of addictions are gambling, eating, sec, alcoholism, and drugs. Gambling may be an enjoyable social activity for some people but social pressures can contribute to a gambling addiction. Food addiction is a common thing to abuse because food is easily available. A sex addiction can be caused by having a low opinion of oneself, a need for escapism, difficulty coping with stress, and a memory of an intense â€Å"high† felt during sex. Alcoholism is the most widely abused addiction in the world. Alcohol produces a drunken â€Å"high† that often allows people to forget the troubles they faced before drinking. The last type of addiction is drug addiction. People start using drugs for many reasons including curiosity, peer pressure, and the first pleasurable effects of the drug. Drugs that people are mainly addicted to are heroin, cocaine, marijuana, LSD, and many more. There are four main stages of addiction. Experimentation or the experimental stage is marked by doing something only a few times â€Å"just to see what it’s like†. Casual use is defined as a few times a month or less. Dependence is a more intense phase of addiction. In this stage, the person does something on a regular basis. Addiction is the next stage. This is the most devastating stage of all. Once you reach this stage you are considered an addict, or someone who has this type of relationship with a substance or action. Recovery from an addiction is very possible. The first step to recovery is admitting that there is a problem. After that, it is helpful to join a support group, enter counseling, or find another recovery program that suits your needs. How to cite Having an Addictive Personality, Papers