Comparing the Republic to the Modern Society Essay Example for Free

Comparing the Republic to the Modern Society Essay The relevance of The Republic to our modern society In Plato’s The Republic, Plato illustrates what his ideal city would look like. He describes the educational systems, ideal legislators and the purposes of democracy. The republic influenced many people to understand the purpose for democracy, and it led to new philosophical schools of thought. Although this work was written hundreds of years ago, it still affects our modern world today. One of the most important things that Plato stresses is the importance of education. Without education of the masses, democracy would cease to exist. When Plato was forming his ideal society, he stressed the importance of education for several reasons. Most importantly, educating citizens led to a peaceful, well-run republic. For Plato, education was not about information intake and data storage. Rather, education was drawing out the knowledge that was already in the student. He said that â€Å"the power and capacity of learning exists in the soul already† He gives an allegory of prisoners in a cave, who have never seen light before. They become free, come out of the cave and see the light. They understand that the shadows are just reflections of real things; they are not the real things themselves. They ascend up to a mountain and see the world for what it really is. Plato uses this story to illustrate what education does for the human soul. We are all born in a dark cave, chained to a wall and cannot see the light. We still around all day looking at shadows, which appear to be so real to us. Education breaks the chains of ignorance. We can ascend to the top of the mountain and look out onto the beautiful world. According to Plato, after the prisoners’ ascend all the way to the top of the mountain, â€Å"they must be made to descend again among the prisoners’ in the den and partake in labors and honors, whether worth having or not. † Plato notes that once a person is educated and has received knowledge and truth, they should go back and teach those who do not know. This still relevant today because we need to not be so focused on how high we climb up the ladder, but we need to be concerned with how we help others achieve their goals. This allegory is also used to describe justice. The prisoners’ in the cave do not know what real justice looks like. The people on the mountain tops must come down and give understanding to those who are lacking it. Plato goes on to describe the type of leader that would be perfect to run the ideal city. The type of leader that Plato describes is someone who is â€Å"wisest about the affairs of the state, and by whom the state is best administered and who at the same time have other honors and a better life then that of politics. â€Å" The ideal leader in Plato’s time is not much different from the ideal leader in our time period. We still want someone who knows and understands the problems of the state or country, who will be a good leader, and will be able to put the welfare of his people before his own. These characteristics are still what many people look for in a dependable leader. Plato describes that a good leader should not be caught up in their own wealth, they should care about their people. This is a very foundational idea that is still important in America today. We desire to have a leader who will be humble and care for us, instead of one that has a hidden agenda. According to Plato, economic self-interest and political power must be kept separate and not be allowed to work in combination to the disadvantage of the state. In mapping out his utopian society, Plato stresses the importance of democracy. In a short piece called democracy considered, Plato talks about how oligarchies decay into democracies and democracies decay into tyranny. Tyranny is formed from pursing one’s pleasures and appetites. Plato claims that â€Å"a man who is deranged and not right in his mind will fancy that he is able to rule, not only over men, but also over gods â€Å"He describes here that a man can not be a leader if he is deranged and thinks that he is the center of the universe. Plato then shows how democracy and tyranny differ. In describing the differences, Glacon says â€Å"They are the opposite extremes for one is the very best and the other is the very worst. † The republic shows many similarities to today’s society. We still have many of the same ideals in education and in government. This piece of work was criticized at the time it was written by is now honored and very influential. It was one of the first writings that began western thinking and formed many new beliefs that influenced the renaissance.

What Will Be The Name? :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Attack on America† â€Å"World War III† These may seem unbelievable, but they are only two of the real life events thundering into the minds of many. Although I am not a fortune teller, I’m still able to voice my opinion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So far we’ve lived through the age of innocence, next was the age of experience. What is next? My assignment is to name the age of what the last twenty years of the century will be called. The age of loving to hate sounds good to me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society our language is vulgar. Not as if to say we’re the only generation that says bad words, I just think that today we use bad words as common language. Men have less respect for women then before. Women are having kids without being married at young ages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There was a time when you could walk down the streets safely, leave your front doors unlocked and trust your house to be in good shape the next morning. You pretty much have to be aware of everything these days . It’s almost impossible for us to get along in the world today. The terrorist attacks are showing that world peace will never take place. As a teenager it makes me not want to have children of my own, afraid of what disaster I’m bringing them into.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We all pretty much still engage in the same entertainment as before. The only difference might be that technology is way better. The rides and rollercoasters are

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Obesity rates are soaring throughout the United States. â€Å"Today, two thirds of American adults are obese or overweight†(Brink and Querna 620). This quote is explaining how obesity has become a concern for many people in our culture. The obesity rate among Americans has gotten worse over the years. The topic of weight is very prevalent among people in today’s society. Everywhere you look you see people of different weights and appearances. Obesity affects Americans of all ages, sexes, and racial/ethnic groups. This essay is targeting all Americans but talks mostly about the children and teenagers. Obesity can cause serious medical conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Of the four essays in the â€Å"What (and How) should we eat† this essay’s argument has all three rhetorical appeals and pathos being the strongest in my opinion. The Essay establishes credibility by explaining some examples of relevance to the issue under debate. Like when Brinks and Querna say, â€Å"It’s everywhere†. Tank up your car, and you walk past soft pretzels with cheese sauce†. â€Å"Grab a cup of coffee, and you see doughnuts, danishes, and cookies the size of hubcaps†. Stop at Staples for an ink cartridge, and you confront candy bars at the register†. Stroll past the receptionist’s desk at the office, and find somebody’s leftover Christmas cookies, Valentine’s Day candy, Easter Peeps, birthday cake, or vacation saltwater taffy†(620). This is a very true statement because everywhere you look; there is an increase in high calorie sweets on the counters of any store. Americans believe that Obesity is becoming a serious issue here in the United States because a lot of his arguments are very true. This goes back to Americans believing that something should change or else there is going to be big health risk in their life. The essay uses pathos because it is incorporating fear into the target audience when it says â€Å"What’s worse, they project that the rise in obesity rates among children and teens could knock off as many as five years from today’s average of 77 years as overweight people in that generation  grow up and die prematurely. Diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and some cancers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Brinks and Querna 620). This will cause the target audience to think twice about eating a high calorie meal because dying young scares a lot of people. This is a good strategy to know about obesity because fear is one of the strongest emotions for every human being. Eliciting fear into Americans will make them think twice about eating unhealthy. The essay also establishes logos because it has an abundant of statistics everywhere. One Example of this is â€Å"the early 1980s, food production came to an average of 3,300 calories a day available to every person. Then farm policy changed, and farmers no longer plowed food under or slaughtered animals to be entitled to subsidies. Today, America produces enough food to allow every man, woman, and child 3,900 calories a day†( Brinks and Querna 621). This quote is explaining how we have the opportunity to eat a lot more than we used to and is one of the reasons why people are turning obese. These Statistics are precise because there has been an increase in the amount of food we can eat. The essay also establishes authority because it quotes some high status professors. One example is â€Å" ‘Food is never just the physical product itself, it’s invested with national meanings, associated with comfort and nostalgia. There are class associations. Food can be elegant or cultured’ † (Stephanie Hartman 621). She is a professor who teaches a course at the University of America in Washington D.C. call ed â€Å"Food and Media†. There are many other quotes that the authors use in his essay. Since they are of high status, the target audience feels that they must trust what they are saying since they teach in those fields. It does have some bias though because evidently you can ignore the food and choose not to eat it. But the authors talk about how hard it is to say no to food when it says, â€Å"Riddled with anxiety, we take our meals with equal parts pleasure and guilt. We might say an internal no a dozen times a day, then give in to the Krispy Kreme near the bus†¨stop on the way home†( Brinks and Querna 622). Bringing awareness to the issue is the first step in creating a solution to the problem. This essay effectively employs Aristotle’s three main rhetorical strategies to gain the assurance of Americans that obesity is becoming a serious issue here in the United States. He specifically uses a strong use of logos to convince the target audience about this growing issue. Susan Brinks and Elizabeth Quernas  expertise of ethos, logos, and pathos have successfully informed Americans about Obesity.

Othello Reflects the Context and Values of its Time Essay

Texts and their appropriations reflect the context and values of their times. Within Shakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello, the evolution of the attitudes held by Elizabethan audiences and those held by contemporary audiences can be seen through the context of the female coupled with the context of racism. The role of the female has developed from being submissive and â€Å"obedient† in the Elizabethan era to being independent and liberated within the contemporary setting. The racism of the first text is overtly xenophobic and natural, whilst the â€Å"moor† is unnatural whereas the updated context portrays Othello’s race as natural and racism as unnatural. Therefore these examples show how Shakespeare’s Othello, and it’s†¦show more content†¦Through a reading of the modern context of the female within Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello there is an analysis into how the context and value s of the Elizabethan era have changed into those of the 21st century. Immediately there is an update in context and values with the absence of the father figure. This absence can be seen as a metaphor which Sax used to show the update in context, in that women’s liberation and independence has evolved so that society deems women as a equal to men and thus by extension the patriarchy personified within Brabantio is non existent. Othello’s questions why they â€Å"don’t talk about the past and who they have been with.† Dessie replies â€Å" I am a blank sheet waiting for you to write your name on me.† The image of a sheet is a symbol for her purity and innocence, showing her chastity and faithfulness to Othello and thus depicting her as the angel within the angel/whore dichotomy. However within this scene Othello is kneeling shown through a high angle shot looking down on him whilst Desdemona is portrayed as dominant in his questioning of her chastit y with a low angle shot of her face. This is because the new context transforms the value of women’s independence and freedom. The marriage withinShow MoreRelatedPower, Race and Women in Othello by Shakespear and Sax1443 Words   |  6 Pagesforeigners during Elizabethan times fostered misogynistic and racist values, which is evident in the way Othello’s blackness becomes a symbol of alienation to which all characters in the play must respond. †¢ Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a â€Å"Barbary horse,† depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that â€Å"an old blackRead MoreOthello - A Play That Transcends Time Essay941 Words   |  4 Pagesworld of Shakespeare’s Othello. It is through my exploration of these perspectives and their relationship with changing morals and values that has enriched my understanding of the play. One such reading of the play challenges the marginalisation and objectification of woman in a patriarchal Venetian society, while taking into account the changing role of women in modern society. Another interpretation of Othello examines its post colonial elements through the protagonist Othello, and his insecuritiesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello At The Globe Theater Essay1404 Words   |   6 Pagesof Othello at the Globe Theater. Othello, published in 1604, was performed at the Globe Theater in England, which provides a racially xenophobic cultural setting based on English class values as a basis for the play. Early 17th century England was an isolated island that interpreted privilege and class status on white racial perceptions that often demonized or subjugated people of the African race. The major source of xenophobia is directly related tor racial purity in the threat the Othello presentsRead MoreOthello : An Aristotelian Tragedy And Tragic Hero1604 Words   |  7 PagesOthello, an Aristotelian Tragedy and Tragic Hero When reading a story, specifically a tragedy, what stands out? Tragedy often enables its audience to reflect on personal values that might be in conflict with civil ideas, on the claims of minorities that it neglected or excluded from public life, on its on irrational prejudices toward the foreign of the unknown (Kennedy Gioia, 2103, p. 857). Readers feel sympathy for the characters, especially the tragic hero. Othello, the Moor of Venice isRead More William Shakespeares Othello1440 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Othello A significant moment in Othello demonstrates the theme of binaries questioned in many of Shakespeares works. Addressing the Duke and senators, Othello says: Let her have your voice. Vouch with me heaven, I therefore beg it not To please the palate of my appetite, Nor to comply with heat--the young affects In me defunct--and proper satisfaction, But to be free and bounteous to her mind; And heaven defend your good souls that you think I will your seriousRead MoreOthering Frankenstein Essay1887 Words   |  8 PagesRomantic and Enlightenment context of its time, Frankenstein is a masterfully crafted novel which seamlessly explores a variety of themes and ideas. In the text Shelley uses the process of othering to explore the ideas of somatic alterity, class, and gender as aspects of othering. Shelley’s exploration of these ideas allows for various readings of the text, including post-colonialist, Marxist, and feminist critiques. These ideas and readings are also seen within the text Othello by William ShakespeareRead MoreMidterm Essay Questions757 Words   |  4 Pagesaddress essay question #4: Choice 1: (a) Othello Choice 2: (a) The Epic of Gilgamesh (b) Old Testament: Genesis (c) Medea Choice 3: (a) The Canterbury Tales (b) Metamorphose 1. Consider the concept of â€Å"wild person† in context with Enkidu in the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh†. Now think about the concept of â€Å"foreigner† or â€Å"outsider† as they are relate to characters in Medea and Othello. For this essay question you will define the term â€Å"barbarian† in context with those readings, connect it to a themeRead MoreElizabethan Times- Othello2055 Words   |  9 Pagesand closing scenes of your Shakespearean text reflect the Elizabthan values/ beliefs? The Venetian society in which the Shakespearean play, Othello is set in is a clear representation of the writers context. The values, attitudes and beliefs that Shakespeare reveals in the opening and closing scenes of Othello, are the exact to the ones accepted by the Elizabethans of the sixteenth century. With the limited number of Black people being around, in Othello we can see the racist remarks that are beingRead MoreOthello, The Shakespearean Tragedy Of Great Eclat2570 Words   |  11 PagesOthello, the Shakespearean tragedy of great à ©clat, the work that has captured the recognition of many spectators, readers, and observers. Fascinated by the popular analysis, and multiplex of themes, ranging from jealousy and love, or perhaps honor and betrayal, Othello has become intrinsic to the way one lucubrates the literary and theatrical arts, and has become indispensible in understanding Shakespearean literature. However, taking the analysis further than the ostentatious front put on by ShakespeareRead MoreOthello - Values and Attitudes2518 Words   |  11 Pagesquot;If Othello didnt begin as a play about race, history has made it one.quot; The Venetian society that Othello is set in is representative of the writers context. The attitudes and values that Shakespeare reveals through the text are those same attitudes and values of Elizabethan society in England in the sixteenth-century. Although Othello is set in Venice and Cyprus, the attitudes and values shared in the text are probably reflective of the attitudes and values of Shakespeares own