Kwame F. Bell
Philosophy 101
Dr. Elizabeth Laidlaw
Fall 2012
In Callicles argument on the Superior Individual, Callicles reasoned that in nature as well as humanity the strong dominates the weak. Also known as Moral Realism, Callicles argument on the Superior Individual is in fact one of interest because it is often deemed true, regardless of the false fallacies that exist. It is often believed that in nature as well as in humanity, strength and weakness are viable factors in determining levels of success, social roles and survival etc. Although, both strength and weakness often measure one’s ability, in this case it provided a glimpse into the falsehoods in Callicles claim. Although logical, I will prove that Callicles argument
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On one account, the Regulatory theories, laws of nature are statements of the uniformities or regularities in the world; and on the other account, the Necessitarian theory, laws of nature are the principles that govern the natural phenomena of the world.” This conveyed that by way of the Regulatory theory we describe what’s best for human nature and determine the way of the world, whereas the Necessitarian theory provides us with the ability to describe the world’s obedience to the laws of nature. [Emphasis added] Callicles metaphysical claim on moral realism appeared to fall within the regulatory theory and the necessitarian theory because it was simply subjective. What’s best for one may not be best for another, thereby contradicting what’s best for humanity and nature. Suppose Callicles insisted that humanity has a choice to follow the laws of nature then the premise would be true because who’s to say ones beliefs are superior over another. But Callicles claim fell short and seemed almost judgmental, for Callicles felt that humanity “ought” to follow the laws of nature. The use of the term “ought” like must and should silenced one’s ability to reason, almost shunning different belief systems. Take nature in its entirety with and without human interaction, there’s a unique process for which it flows, which brings me to my first objection: Humanity is not compelled to follow the laws of nature.
For example in plants we note that they participate in
Ironically, both Eumaios and Philoitios are among the weakest physically, yet their strength appears more possessive than the suitors. In contrast to the ostentatiousness that fuels the suitors’ empty strength, Eumaios’ and Philoitios’ humble nature establishes a meaningful strength by remaining loyal to Odysseus, despite the circumstances. One understands through their devotion that having meaning behind one’s intentions contributes largely to achieving manhood, and consequently, how being meaningful elicits a more genuine strength.
How much power does Nature have? In the article, “The Politics of the Natural in the U.S History and Popular Culture” Noel Sturgeon analyzes several points in how nature is being used to make certain aspects “natural” and create a distinction in social identities. He gives a emphasizes in Nature being a tool of power for the reason people create laws or “natural laws” that create a separation
Regarding Socrates view one should not obey the law just because it is the law. As I said before you have two choices, but one of them is the moral option. We say that it is moral, as it was taught to us this way, but one doesn’t really think about their own opinion in reference to it.
His theory would have made more sense had he introduced his facts in an opposite manner. If he had mentioned viewing nature as a part of a whole, like the brain and lungs of one body, I think the legal aspect of nature having right would have made more sense. Humans are feeling and emotional beings. If someone could connect feelings to nature, it might be easier to see it as having, or needing, the same rights as others objects and people unable to talk for themselves. We have feelings for infants and people in a vegetative state so we could lend those feelings to nature. Many people do not have these feelings for towards and for nature though. That is the importance of nature being given a guardian to speak up for it, even when it might not be in the best interest of a human or
“Nature” is an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and published by James Munroe and Company in 1836. [1] “Nature” has a total of 41 pages. The essay consists of eight parts: Nature, Commodity, Beauty, Language, Discipline, Idealism, Spirit and Prospects. Each part takes a different perspective on the relationship between humans and nature. In this essay, Emerson emphasizes the foundation of transcendentalism, “a religious and philosophical movement that developed during the late 1820s and 30s in the Eastern region of the United States as protest against the general state of spirituality and, in particular, the state of intellectualism.” [2] “Transcendentalism suggests that the divine, or God, suffuses nature, and suggests that reality can be understood by studying nature.” [3] “Transcendentalism is closely related to Unitarianism, the dominant religious movement in Boston at the early nineteenth century. Transcendentalism evolved as an organic consequence of the Unitarian emphasis on free conscience and the value of intellectual reason.” [4] Emerson divides nature into four stages: commodity, beauty, language, and discipline. These define the ways by which humans use nature for their basic needs. The historical significance of “Nature” was that transcendentalism club led the celebration of the American experiment as one of the individualism and self-reliance. [5]
Traditionaly, the state of nature argument functions as a heuristic device. Simply put, it is a teaching tool used to characterize the initial situation of humankind’s coming together into social organization —this situation may be more or less antagonistic, or more or less harmonious depending on what the particular theorist understands as “human nature” in the absence of rules of jjustice. 6 Those individuals who are traditionaly
Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were the giants during the 19th century American Transcendentalism movement. Their influential work brought upon shared beliefs on concerning spiritual perspectives, government interference, and the ideology of cultural values in American society. Nature has a multitude of meaning if looked at it from all angles, but deeper within nature is the reflection of what you exert while in it. However they agree on the human condition, the two authors speak with different tones that reflect how nature affects the entirety of man’s spirit. While both Emerson and Thoreau practice the spirit of the human condition, Emerson focused his energy on how “[nature’s] philosophical import [is]…unchanged by man” (215.) where Thoreau implied that we are “subjects of an experiment” (1051).
In a way his demand proves that the ancient Greek men felt they were higher-ranked than a
For years, philosophers have tried to define justice. In Plato’s The Republic, Plato discusses the equality of the sexes, abolition of family, rule by philosophers, life and while doing so, attempts to describe what justice is. In Book I, the search for the answer to what is just is set up through discussion done mostly by Socrates, Cephalus, Polemarchus and Thrasymachus. Thrasymachus contributes to this conversation by establishing what he thinks justice means, especially in regards to government and law. Thrasymachus argues that justice is “the advantage of the stronger” (Plato 338c). Through discussion with Socrates, who opposes this view, Thrasymachus offers his definition and explanation of the argument. I believe that though Thrasymachus’s
In life we are all confronted with the idea of nature along with society. Although both have their pros and cons they work together to give us freedom and order among individuals.
They say for example, "...By a law of nature...if you were as strong as we are, you would do as we do." Athens arguments are of a higher form than the Melians, because they can be proved or disproved.
In Plato’s Republic Book 1, Thrasymachus argues that morality is the advantage of the stronger. To support his view, Thrasymachus first claims that the governments, which are the stronger parties, always pass laws based on their own interest, and then argues that subjects must always obey these laws, therefore morality is the advantage of the stronger. Socrates gives two sets of counter arguments. First, by differentiating apparent advantage and actual advantage to the stronger, Socrates argues that the obedience to the laws by the subjects can be occasionally not in the actual interest of the rulers. Second, by claiming that all craftsmen only consider the welfare of the recipients of expertise instead of their own interest,
The role of nature, by name, basically states that all human behavior is simply just instinctive, as if we are all encoded to act and react a certain way to life experiences. As the book states, through this side of the debate, it is our “nature” to do the things we do. This of course
Nature as w e know it means different things to different people. To an economist, natural is often seen as a resource to be transformed and put in readiness for human use. An alternative view is that humans are stewards who should care for natural things as well as making use of nature’s bounty. Another view is that nature of animism, which sees nature as a living thing, something to be respected and not controlled. Some native American’s view the earth as a sacred place could be called animist. Another alternative view is that the entire planet earth is a self correcting system based on a symbiotic relationship between the earth and the living beings(Peacock,
The state of nature is the state were humans existed before government was ever created. There once was a period were there were not any rules, or laws to obey. In a state of nature there are no social goods. No farming, housing, technology, or education. With a state of nature there must be guaranteed that no one will harm one another, and people must rely on other 's to keep their word, and not go back on what they say. Living in a state of nature was no way to live honestly. A state of nature was total anarchy. The human condition is something we can not help, equality of needs, and scarcity are a few examples of human needs that are not reversible. There were three theorist who had different views on the state of nature. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Each theorist had some similar and different views