Jesus and Aristotle Dialogue

“In generosity, we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours” (Thucydides). The claimed kind, favor oriented nature of Athens shown here must have been a point of pride for the people. It contrasts against the militaristic nature of the Spartans and the Persian Empire. This line earned praise from Pericles’ audience not because of his Athenian audience, but because of the honor it gave to the fallen Athenian soldiers. At this point, Pericles concludes his glorification of Athenian culture. “In short, I say that as a city we are the school of Hellas (Greece), while I doubt if the world can produce a man, who where he has only himself to depend upon, is equal to so many emergencies, and graced by so happy a versatility, as the Athenian. And that this is no mere boast thrown out for the occasion, but plain matter of fact, the power of the state acquired by these habits proves” (Thucydides). Pericles ties all of his compliments together as if they were all one logical argument explaining Athenian superiority. His final word on the topic was not a simple boast. He proved it with all of his speech so far. Finally, Pericles holds authority and credibility in Athens as a

Socrates and Jesus were two teachers whose guidance people still follow today. They were both sentenced to death for their teachings even though there were witnesses to their innocence. Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth and practicing atheism by three men, Lytus, Anytus, and Meletus. Plato, Socrates’ student, recorded Socrates’ defense speech. Socrates succeeded in getting some of the jury to see the truth, but in the end, he was sentenced to the death penalty. The Gospel of Luke is a section in the New Testament that reveals the Lord Jesus Christ and all he taught until he was killed. Jesus ' teachings and preaching are brought out as he healed the wounded and sick, and brought hope to the desperate. Jesus was also sentenced to death, but death did not keep him from teaching and after three days he resurrected and continued to teach. These men both died for truth and accepted their punishments. Socrates and Jesus have some similarities in their teachings and experiences, but Jesus focused more on shaping others and taught the “Christian life”, while Socrates shaped his students by teaching them how to take a different path than what the majority follows.

3. How would you personally answer Jesus’ question, “But who do you say that I am?” Describe your own beliefs about Jesus.

     With the possible exception of Plato, Aristotle is the most influential philosopher in the history of logical thought. Logic into this century was basically Aristotelian logic. Aristotle dominated the study of the natural sciences until modern times. Aristotle, in some aspect, was the founder of biology; Charles Darwin considered him as the most important contributor to the subject. Aristotle’s Poetic, the first work of literary notice, had a string influence on the theory and practice of modern drama. Aristotle’s great influence is due to the fact that he seemed to offer a system, which although lacked in certain respects, was as a whole matchless in its extent.

“To stand up for what you believe in is more important than to be scared of imprisonment or death.” – Socrates The Apology

“I think, therefore I am,” is a famous quote by René Descartes who is a French philosopher, mathematician and scientist. Moreover, she is known for making the Cartesian coordinate system. The quote centers on the idea to prove of someone’s existence and to know whether or not any of the physical objects or surroundings are an aspect of reality. The meaning of the quote was to provide reassurance for Descartes that he did, in fact, exist as a result of his ability to think; otherwise he would not.. Similarly, based on this ideal of existence, many popular mainstream films, such as “The Matrix,” by Andy and Lana Wachowski, and “Inception,” by Christopher Nolan were produced. The mission objective is to determine what reality is and whether

These questions rouse the idea of a divine and perfect punishment by the ultimate judge God, and implications of possible imperfections of God’s judgment. Also the way in which the question is answered poses another question, why is Aristotle, a human, and a Pre-Christian is thinker is used to explain God’s divine and perfect judgment?

One of the basic themes of the book is that the thought and the art of classical Athens is full of meaning for people of later generations. It is the full of meaning for nations, cultures and societies beset by broad-scale and profound social and political change and the accompanying confusion and fear produced in the minds and souls of human beings.

“A Worldviews give faith-based answers to a set of ultimate and ground- ing questions. Everyone operates on the basis of some worldview or faith-based understanding of the universe and persons— examined, or unexamined, implicit or explicit, simplistic or sophisticated. One way or

The last Olympic swimmer just touched the wall and the race has ended. Cameras are replaying every single movement from the race and a winner has been clearly decided. Just as these Olympic swimmers will gain a medal for placing, ancient Athens had numerous accomplishments of its own. Athens “prosperity … was due in large part to its stable and effective government” (SOURCE 1). When analyzing the history of ancient Athens, is easy to see how the accomplishments of a democracy, Greek philosophy, and Greek literature all shape Athens.

If you were to ask Jesus Christ whether he has friends, he would most likely say of course I do, I am certainly friends with all of God’s children. However, after reading Aristotle, the question becomes, ‘If Jesus has friends, of which sort are they?’. Aristotle defines friendship as, “Any association of people who spend time and do things together, share in pains and pleasure, and wish for each other’s good,” (Nicomachean Ethics 1166a 1-10). Addressing each aspect of this definition, with the twelve disciples in mind, the reader concludes that they certainly spend time together, share in pains and pleasure, but the sticking point is whether they wish for each other’s good. The answer to that question determines if in fact Jesus has friends what sort they are.

beliefs. Sober uses the example of lightning. He points out that according to the Greeks,

"When the question is asked, what we are to believe in regard to religion, it is not necessary to probe into the nature of things, as was done by the Greek scientists. We need not be alarmed should the Christian not know the number of elements; the motion of the heavenly bodies; the shape of the cosmos; the species of animals and plants; the nature of stones, rivers, and mountains; about time and distance; the signs of coming storms; or about a thousand other things which these scientists have either found out, or think they have found out.

Rene Descartes had attempted to find that something which is certain to. Only to find that our senses are unreliable and our senses can be deceived. He did find that something from which he is fairly certain about, which is the ‘Cogito’. “Cogito ergo sum” which is often translated as, “I think, therefore I am.” This can be better translated as, “I am thinking, therefore I exists.” This world-renowned saying has been called as the ‘First

of the east. The works of Aristotle have left many after him to contemplate his