Poli Sci Midterm

When I think about a political community, I usually associate it with elections, politicians, and advertisements that bad mouth candidates from the different political parties. Politicians try to persuade citizens to vote for them by making promises that they may never fulfill. But a political community is more than that. A comparison of Aristotle and John Locke’s nature and purpose of a political community has given me a new insight. I learned that, even though the political community is responsible to provide security, its main purpose is aimed for the highest good of all its citizens, which is virtue and happiness.

However in Plato’s Euthyphro, it can be argued that Socrates plays a similar role. In the Euthyphro, Socrates discusses piety in general and what makes things and people pious. Socrates claims he wants to learn more on the subject so that he may better defend himself against the treasonous charges against him. In a way, Euthyphro represents the traditional Athenian way of thinking. He believes in and supports all of the gods and does not submit to Socrates’ prodding of the subject, although he does walk away from him in frustration at the end of the dialogue. However it can safely be said that most Athenians would agree with Euthyphro’s opinion of the gods and to disagree could most certainly be punishable by law, as Socrates was. Socrates’ search for the definition of piety is a difficult one that tests Euthyphro’s patience and ultimately leaves the characters and the reader without an answer. Every time Euthyphro proposes an answer, Socrates is quick to counter it with some thought. Interpreting Socrates’ tone and meaning here is important. Some may see Socrates to be quite demeaning in these instances, almost teasing Euthyphro because he claims to be so pious yet he cannot even define the word. In this way, similar to Aristophanes’ Clouds, Socrates plays a subversive role in the Euthyphro.

In the ancient Greek world, religion was personal, direct, and present in its citizens’ daily lives. During this time, they participated in animal sacrifices and offerings, created myths to explain the beginning of the human race and gave reverence to their gods by building temples which controlled the urban landscape. They also participated in local festivals and sporting and artistic competitions. Religion was never out of the presence of ancient Greece’s citizens. While they may have made up their own mind on the terms of their religious beliefs, some may have been completely confused if these gods actually existed. There were certain fundamental beliefs that must have been sufficiently widespread, in order for the Greek government to function. In ancient Greece, gods existed, they influenced human concerns, and they welcomed and responded to acts of godliness and worship.

Socrates is charged for not regarding the gods correctly, creating new deities and corrupting the youth of Athens, so he

The relationship between gods and mortals in mythology has long been a complicated topic. The gods can be generous and supportive, and also devastating and destructive to any group of humans. Mortals must respect the powers above them that cannot be controlled. The gods rule over destiny, nature, and justice, and need to be recognized and worshipped for the powerful beings as they are. Regardless of one's actions, intentions, and thoughts, the gods in Greek myth have ultimate power and the final decision of justice over nature, mortals, and even each other.

The Republican party is known as one of the two primary parties, the other being the Democratic Party.The Republican party became associated with the Laissez-faire capitalism, to lower taxes and conservative social groups in the 20th and 21st century.In the 1870’s the party had acquired the acronym GOP, widely known as the “ Grand Old Party.”Moreover, the parties official logo is the elephant it came from a cartoon by “Thomas Nast.”They oppose abortion and same-sex marriages, and they look to values found in Christianity.

Political philosophy is the attempt to understand the foundations of society that we are in today. In order to understand current political situation we have to try to read and recognize early writings on political philosophy, Some of the earlier works by Plato called "The Republic", in the piece there are conversations between characters Socrates and Glaucon, Aristophanes, Adeimantus where they try and explain ideas and views of justice and what a truly just man and/or just "state" would appear How we come to the decisions as human beings that would be for the greater good of a man and/or state.

One of Socrates’ key points at his trail explaining his past charges was that for a long time after the Delphic oracles declared him the wisest he has since strived to prove this declaration false by seeking others wiser than him (p.32). While much of Socrates’ reflection on the past explains his motives and beliefs, his cross-examination of Meletus begin an interrogation in which he attempts to fight his newer charges. Accusing his accusers and Meletus of not entirely being sincere with their legal actions. Socrates would ask Meletus who influence the youth to do well (p.36). Followed by Meletus’ response, Socrates would then challenge Meletus’ notion that everybody in Athens except for Socrates would be an ideal good, however, it can never be one person, but a group of people, whereas one person can be more beneficial in educating the youth using an analogy of horses and horse trainers (p.37).Socrates is also noted as saying that his accusers never reached out to him to be counselled on any unintentional things he has done but more so have no interest in doing so. Moving on to speaking on deities, Socrates challenging Meletus’ accusation, states that his beliefs of spiritual beings, particularly off sprints (e.g. children of gods) conflict with Meletus’ claims (p.40). Furthermore, Socrates’ sole belief in spiritual entities prove Meletus’ claim that Socrates believes in no god at all false. Even more so Socrates goes on succeed in showing Meletus’ own personal knowledge on the issue being questionably vague reflecting much inconsistencies, which he believes was never the issue of topic, but more so to formally indict him with something for trail

1. What kinds of political systems are there and what are the social functions of political systems?

Ancient Greece was filled with so much character, from their religion to even the stories that followed them through generation to generation. One important thing to remember is how they took their religion very seriously and believed very much in their goddesses and their gods. This strong belief carried out into their everyday lives, where they began to believe that everything that happened within their day, was from the gods. With such a love and respect for these gods, they held them up on a pedestal and gave them all their respect and looked at them only as positive. These gods that play a role in their life, often act more as a spiritual guide more than anything. They take on mortal disguises to allow them to help the world without becoming noticed. As we can see in The Odyssey, the relationship between gods and mortals is close knit, but the main difference that is evident, is the power between the two. The gods may not be able to cause death upon a mortal, but they can do everything to lead towards that. In the book, the gods can make or break your day. We see within several relationships between the gods and mortals, that the power from the gods can be not only positive, but also negative. Each mortal has been influenced in some way by the gods, for either the greater good, or bad. Which goes without saying, that the Greek take their theology in believing in the gods, very seriously.

The year is 399 B.C.E the stage is Athens and these are the words that famed philosopher Socrates spoke as he stood in an Athenian court room accused of corrupting the youth of the city, of not believing in the gods and introducing new gods, and of making the weaker argument appear stronger. In Plato’s apology, these words

Socrates expresses in Euthyphro that accusations of him making up gods and destroying gods is a serious charge and this charge is bringing brought to the court. To me this brings up some more questioning because being pious is doing right by the God, being impious is doing wrong by the gods, but if he is accused of making up and destroying the gods, then the gods were to his pious and impious standards? This being said this shows the seriousness of this charge.

According to his accusers, Socrates didn’t believe in the same Gods as the Athenians and that he made up different spiritual beings. This accusation is false for many reasons. First, Socrates stated many times in

Politics in itself is a means to an end, in which case the end is the formation of a public policy. It is the process of trying to influence the decision makers in order to implement changes that will improve the lives of communities, populations and clients (Godfrey 84). In short, politics refers to

e.g.: If person A has political power over B, then A is able to motivate, inspire, incite,