Athenians were the first ones to give power to someone who they think will actually be good for that job, and not simply due to noble blood or force. Athenian democracy was also the first to emphasize individualism. It was the idea that the job should be given to the best. After the Persian war a man named Pericles ruled Athens. He created what is known today as direct democracy where you specifically pick your leaders as it differs from Rome’s republic where you elect people to represent you.
ANALYSIS OF PLATO AND TAO TE CHING AND IDEAL COMMUNITY It is common for ancient philosophers to have strict criteria to comply with in the development and defense of the generation of their respective societies. For example, Plato and Lao Tsu both offer their ideology of what a model community would look like in their books The Republic of Plato, and Tao Te Ching. In their respective books, Plato and Lao Tsu each provide an in-depth analysis of their distinct views of what constitutes an ideal society. Accordingly, both philosophers believe that their version of the ideal community would result in its inhabitants thriving and experiencing the best that life has to offer. In order to create the type of society that both Plato and Lao Tsu desire to emulate, it is critical that the ruler have the characteristics and qualities that will lead the respective societies in harmony with their philosophical principles.
In the last scene he tries to save Kevin, and does by pushing him away from the van but in the process cuts his face, everyone thinks that Edward is attacking Kevin and Jim beats him up. This is a great example of Edward trying to do good but is thought of been evil. Edward is essentially stuck in Limbo, he is the nicest person in the film, but is made out to be the most evil. Jim and Kim are a prime example of two opposite worlds, Jim been dark and Kim been light. Kim is the most innocent person stuck in-between Jim and Edward.
“What is the highest of all goods? It is happiness.” The great Greek philosopher Aristotle developed the normative ethical theory of Virtue Ethics and here argues that happiness is the highest good and what we should all strive to achieve. This theory focuses on the kind of person we should become rather than the actions we should do or avoid and is therefore aretaic. Aretai’ from the Greek essentially means virtue, and this is the heart of Virtue Ethics; that people should concentrate on practicing excellence and being virtuous in order to reach happiness, which is the highest goodness according to Aristotle. Morality is not simply about avoiding the wrong, but is also about doing what is virtuous.
“Outline Aristotle’s theory of Virtue Ethics” Virtue Ethics originates from the Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle who focused not on deontological values of actions being intrinsically right or wrong based on their intention, but on how to develop one’s character to meet the demands of what one would describe as virtuous. Central to the theory is the idea of practising qualities and virtues that are established as ‘good’. Virtue ethics is agent-centred as opposed to act-centred and Aristotle maintains that our final aim, as human beings, is to achieve ultimate happiness, which he calls eudaimonia and describes as human flourishing. The Greek word for virtue, arête, means excellence, and so a virtuous character is one with excellent qualities who continually and undeniably continue to make perfect moral decisions. A virtue is defined as a perfect quality that is habitually carried out by an individual which requires practise and dedication so that one may blossom into a virtuous character, “excellence is not an act but a habit.” For Aristotle, something is ‘good’ if it fulfils its purpose: a good knife is one this is sharps and cuts well.
Aristotle argues that material is what an object consist of and this matter we could not live without. He feels that education is the key and having the experience is good for happiness. Aristotle states that it is important to consider our ethical first principle not merely as a conclusion drawn from certain premises, but also in its relation to the popular opinion (Aristotle, 701). He says how it is important to follow what we believe and because
It is often argued that Socrates believed "ideals belong in a world only the wise man can understand” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates#Politics) making the philosopher the only type of person suitable to govern others. This is completely absurd because all he is trying to do here is get him in power. What a bold statement to say that only philosophers were the only people suitable to govern people. Socrates was in no way subtle about his particular beliefs on government. He openly objected to the democracy that ran Athens during his adult life.
Both deontological and teleological ethical systems use opposing ethical guides yet they both have the same aim, to help people make moral decisions. The most well-known teleological ethical system is act utilitarianism devised by Jeremy Bentham in the 18th century, which focuses on achieving the best short-term outcome. As a hedonist, Bentham created a theory that followed a hedonistic approach and so created the principle of utility which he explains in his book "The principles of morals and legislation", is the idea that an action is good if it creates "the greatest good for the greatest number", he came up with the hedonic calculus to guide
In comparison to Clytaemnestra and Agamemnon, Plato feels that a balance between the three elements “unlike courage and wisdom, each of which resides in one part, making the city brave and wise respectively, moderation spreads throughout the whole (Plato 431-432e)” is a necessity for intelligence. Therefore lust and desire must be contained and the just man needs to continuously seek justice through the exercise of moderation. Aeschylus shows us how Clytaemnestra seeks justice based upon her own actions and motives, lust, money, and power. Plato will argue that the imbalance of her soul (rationalization, appetite, and spirit) causes her to rule the city unjustly and selfishly. The good life cannot be reached within the city if the people do not have their souls
If these things are true , then Nietzsche can feel justified in arguing that Socrates was not a great man and that all of the philosophers that followed him through the leadership of Plato were also symptomatic of all that was wrong with Socrates and with his form of reasoning Read more: http://www.mightystudents.com/essay/Nietzsches.Socrates.essay.65984#ixzz2Q4lr9MXm argues against his ugliness , which appears in both writings on and sculptures of Socrates . If Socrates was ugly and conventional wisdom at the time during which Nietzsche lived was that criminals are ugly , is it not possible to argue that Socrates was not a great man , but , rather