The, Virtue, By Socrates And Meno - 1009 Words

In this paper, I try to discuss the sixth chapter in the book which focuses on the definition of virtue. This passage mainly goes through dialogues between Socrates and Meno, who debated with each other in order to make a certain definition of virtue. In the passage, Socrates gave his opinion of virtue and tried to make Meno understand his ideas, while Meno held his opinion. In fact, virtue is rather difficult to be defined. Even though both Socrates and Meno had contemplated what virtue, it is still hard to give a definition of it. Also, trying to make a certain definition of virtue is also the broad aim of the whole book---Plato’s Meno. This book was written by Plato, which is filled with Socrates’ dialogues. It aims to make sure the essence of virtue. From this portion in the book, I can see that the aim of this passage could make a difference in helping reach the entire aim of the book. In this paper, I prepared to explain the content of the passage as well as some important concepts. What’s more, I aim to mark out the difficult and important ideas, thoughts I have gained in the process of reading. At the same time, I will also cite my personal experiences in order to support the ideas in the passage. At first, I will talk about the contents of this passage. This passage is concerning what virtue is. The argument is whether virtue could be learned by or gift by God. Socrates believed that virtue was gift by God and it was hard to cite a universal definition of virtue.Show MoreRelatedDiscussion of Virtue in Meno by Socrates664 Words   |  3 PagesPlato reveals the views of Socrates on the query of whether virtue is knowledge and whether virtue may be taught in a number of dialogues, mainly in Meno. In the dialogue, Socrates creates several differing arguments on virtue, which include the definition of virtue and questions on whether persons can attain it. In addition, Plato demonstrates the means by which virtue can be obtained, as well as ponders on whether persons are born virtuous, whether virtue may be taught or it is an added factorRead MoreDefining Virtue in Socrates Meno Written by Plato1050 Words   |  4 Pages Meno’s definition of virtue that appeals most to me is explained by him wherein courage, temperance, and wisdom are virtues. First these are virtues because virtues are qualities that define good and bad behavior. Courage is a good quality because it takes courage to deal with different situations and ordeals encountered on a daily basis. Courage is needed also to stand for what is morally correct in spite of being mistreated or ostracized due to the opposing opinions from people. For exampleRead MoreEssay about Meno and the Socratic Method1413 Words   |  6 PagesMeno was one of Plato’s earliest of dialogues, written in depth the book is founded around a central question: If virtue can be taught, then how? And if not, then how does virtue come to man, either by nature or some other way? Socrates addresses this inquiry by questioning a person who claims to understand the term’s meaning (Platos Meno). The purpose of this essay is to relate the Socratic method performed by Socrates in Plato’s dialogue The Apolo gy, to Meno, by illustrating its effect on theRead MorePlato s Meno As A Socratic Discussion On Human Sexuality And Age1686 Words   |  7 PagesPlato s Meno is a Socratic discussion on the definition of human virtues where the main participants are Socrates and Meno. Other speakers in the dialogue include an Athenian politician, one of Meno s slaves, and Socrates’ prosecutor Anytus, who is a friend to Meno. Meno wants to understand the broad definition of human virtues and while visiting Athens he initiates the dialogue on virtues with Socrates. The discussion begins with Meno inquiring from Socrates whether virtues can be learned. MenoRead MoreSocrates Vs. Plato : The Essential Themes Of The Meno1633 Words   |  7 Pagescontext that is crucial to understanding the essential themes of the Meno, largely because the dialogue sits nearly at the beginning of western philosophy. Socrates and Plato are working not so much in the context of previous philosophies as in the cont ext of the lack of them. Further, this is very probably one of Plato s earliest surviving dialogues, set in about 402 BCE (by extension, we might presume that it represents Socrates at a relatively early stage in his own thought). Nonetheless, in orderRead MorePlato s Meno And Nietzsche On Truth And Lie1720 Words   |  7 PagesIn Plato’s Meno and in Friedrich Nietzsche’s On Truth And Lie In An Extra-Moral Sense, both writers touch upon the theme of â€Å"truth† and â€Å"knowledge†. In Meno, Plato writes of a dialogue between his late mentor, Socrates and politician Meno. In the Meno dialogue, through a dialectical method, Socrates’s manages to prove to Meno he knows nothing of virtue while On Truth And Lie In An Extra-Moral Sense, Nietzsche analyzes how language isn’t â€Å"truth† and Knowledge is an invention as a means of survivalRead MoreSocrates and Virtue999 Words   |  4 PagesAt the beginning of Meno Socrates and Meno are discussing what they think the true definition of virtue is. They debate over this matter for quite some time and Meno continues to throw definitions, of what he thinks virtue is, at Socrates. It seems like every time Meno would come up with what he thought virtue was Socrates would shoot it down. Socrates would not come out and say this is not right, he would merely ask him a series of questions in order for Meno to realize it on his own. One afterRead MoreEssay on MENO: PLATO600 Words   |  3 PagesSocrates, can virtue be taught?1 The dialogue begins with Meno asking Socrates whether virtue can be taught. At the end of the Meno (86d-100b), Socrates attempts to answer the question. This question is prior to the division between opinion and knowledge and provides to unsettle both. Anytus participated in Socrates and Meno conversation about virtue. Socrates claims that if virtue is a kind of knowledge, then it can be learned. If it is something besides a kind of knowledge, it p erceptibly cannotRead MorePlato s Meno : True Opinion Vs.983 Words   |  4 PagesPlato’s Meno: True Opinion vs Knowlege Socrates was one of the most influential and thought-provocative people in all of Ancient Greece; he was so monumental in his teachings that his theories and argumentative styles are still utilized today. One of Socrates’ most influential students was Plato, another ancient philosopher that followed Socrates through Greece and kept record of his arguments and teachings, who would go on to be some of the most significant philosophical academia to ever be publishedRead MoreSocrates791 Words   |  4 Pagescomedy, Clouds, Aristophanes portrays Socrates as a Sophist: a duplicitous charlatan eager to take peoples money for teaching them to flout the laws and defy moral norms. The conflation of Socrates with the Sophists is based on a superficial similarity between the interests of Socrates and the sophists concerning education and virtue, but which fails to distinguish between the moral relativism of the Sophists and the belief in absolute moral standards held by Socrates (and hi s puppet-master Plato).

Michelangelo, A Biography Essay - 1536 Words

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born on March 6, 1475. He lived almost a full century and died on February 18, 1564; he was still working six days before his death. During his life, the western world underwent what was perhaps the most remarkable period of change since the decline of the Roman Empire. The Renaissance saw changes in all aspects of life and culture, with dramatic reforms sweeping through the worlds of religion, politics, and scientific belief. Michelangelo was one of the advocates of this new philosophy, while creating some of the most beautiful and very famous artwork pieces ever created. He was born at Caprese, in Tuscany, he was the second of five sons of Lodovico di Leonardo (a civil servant) and Francesca†¦show more content†¦Other influences on his young mind included two members of the church: one was his local priest and the other was an opinionated monk named Fra Girolamo Savonarola. Michelangelo first heard Savonarola preach in 1492, the year in which his first patron, Lorenzo de Medici, died and Michelangelo returned to his fathers home. The monks sermons and his subsequent violent death had a lifelong effect on the artist and many of his works; the loss of Lorenzo also deeply affected his artistic consciousness. At the age of 21, he made his first trip to Rome, a city that was both to play a prominent part in his life and create many frustrations for him. This time he spent five years in the city, creating some of his best known works. In 1496-97, he completed his first important commission, Bacchus. ( Martindale 78) In 1497-98, Michelangelo created the Pieta, a masterpiece of sculpture that could not be further removed in content from the witty Bacchus. The Pieta is heralded as one of his greatest achievements. The sorrowing face of Mary, contemplating the lifeless body of her eldest child, still wrings the heart today. He took the subject out of a religious context and placed it in a humanist light emphasizing the grief of Mary and the mortality of her dead son. On August 16, 1501, the new republic commissioned Michelangelo to make the statue of David. He was asked to sculpt it from a single block of marble. David isShow MoreRelated Biography of Michelangelo Essay3799 Words   |  16 PagesBiography of Michelangelo The second of five brothers, Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475, at Caprese, in Tuscany, to Ludovico di Leonardo di Buonarotto Simoni and Francesca Neri. The same day, his father noted down: Today March 6, 1475, a child of the male sex has been born to me and I have named him Michelangelo. He was born on Monday between 4 and 5 in the morning, at Caprese, where I am the Podestà  . Although born in the small village of Caprese, Michelangelo always considered himselfRead More Biography Of Michelangelo Essay1685 Words   |  7 PagesMichelangelo Buonarrati nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The typical stereotype of artists of the past, is a lonely, tormented outsider, who creates his art through his pain and anguish. Well Michelangelo was just that. In fact the stereotype is modeled after him. He was an unsociable loner who didn’t have many friends, lovers, or even assistants to help him. His temper and rudeness drove others away from him and kept him lonely. However, even though he was not the most likeable or social guy, heRead MoreHow Does Baxandall Indicate The Product Essay655 Words   |  3 Pagesfor the biography of a â€Å"master† like Michelangelo or Leonardo? How are their biographies presented similarly in The Agony and The Ecstasy and Da Vinci’s Demons. How does the identity of the â€Å"master† serve as a metaphor for Florentine civic identity? Michelangelo is viewed as a person who is unlikely to complete any commissions. He is described as a character that has difficulties when it comes to relationship and love to engage in sexual relationship with the male counterparts (Michelangelo LeonardoRead MoreEssay about Michelangelo880 Words   |  4 Pagesbiography on michelangelo â€Å"Trifles make perfections, and perfection is no trifle,† Michelangelo once stated. He is one of the greatest artists of all time and is unmatched by any other. Michelangelo is the creator of works of sublime beauty that express the full breadth of human condition. Yet, he was caught between conflicting powers and whims of his patrons, the Medici’s of Florence and Papacy’s in Rome. Michelangelo was born on the sixth of March in 1475, the second of five brothersRead More Michelangelo Buonarroti Essay713 Words   |  3 Pages Michelangelo Buonarroti nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, was a very influential man of his time and of all time. Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475, in a small village a part of the Florentine territory known as Caprese. His father originally did not support his artistic ability, but just a while after Michelangelo’s 13th birthday, his father allowed him to be an apprentice for a famous painter, Domenico Ghirlandaio. Unfortunately there was some conflictRead MoreEssay on Raphael Sanzio Inspired1449 Words   |  6 Pagessurrounding colleagues and then he would combine them with his own personality to create some of the best works from his era. Raphael Sanzios work of the Italian High Renaissance era is the result of influences and incorporation of techniques of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Pietro Perugino, and Leonardo DaVinci. Raphael Sanzio is most well remembered for his dynamic works from his time. Raphael was born in Urbino in the province of Umbria in 1483. Fortunately for him, his father, Giovani di Santi, wasRead MoreMichelangelo Buonarroti Essay2343 Words   |  10 PagesMichelangelo Buonarroti 1 Michelangelo Buonarroti is one of the most famous sculptor, painter, architect and poet during the High Renaissance. He is most famous for his sculpture of David and his fresco painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo led a very interesting life and had a huge impact on art as we see it today. Michelangelo was considered a contributor of the Mannerism movement. Mannerism is defined as â€Å" an art style in late 16thRead MoreMichelangelo Pieta Essay1407 Words   |  6 PagesMichelangelo’s Pieta Michelangelo once said, â€Å"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.† These words have uttered in my mind over and over again, as I read them; a man with such talent and grace in his work giving glory to a higher being, whose work is more divine than we can ever imagine. A work of perfection is hard to come by in the lives of mere men, but Michelangelo’s Pieta was so close to perfection that the images in which the sculpture portrays almost comes to life.Read MoreEssay Comparing the Three Statues of David 955 Words   |  4 PagesComparing the Three Statues of David The pieces of art I will be comparing and contrasting are the three statues of David, by Donatello (Donato di Niccolà ² di Betto Bardi), Michelangelo (Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni), and Bernini (Gian Lorenzo Bernini). The statues are modeled after the biblical David, who was destined to become the second king of Israel. Also most famously known as the slayer of the Philistine giant Goliath with a stone and a sling. The sculptures are all basedRead MoreThe Story of Michelangelo Essay1090 Words   |  5 Pagesparticularly person stood out and has done great things with his life. Michelangelo wasnt some original person, he was a creative, leader, rebellion, and over all a life changing person that wanted to make a difference in the world. Michelangelo had brought his own style and technique into the public eye, which changed the Renaissance with his originality. In the 1500s, the world of art had started to change in the time period that Michelangelo had lived. Gothic styles that had taken over the times before

A Brief Note On The Modern College Tuition - 1071 Words

The Modern College Tuition Yale University is among the most prestigious in the country; a union of Ivy League schools upheld by nothing but their name and age. Though these schools like Yale are famously known as an expensive path for an equal education, they receive a surprising number of applicants. While there are several options for avoiding a crippling college expense, the price of a school like Yale is beyond steep. Like any business, you want to generate as much revenue as possible compared to your expenses, so while the cost of a college degree can be expensive, it clearly has a demand comparable to that of its price (Heakal). Tuition alone is an obstacle, but when the expenses are all totaled together, you can certainly see the†¦show more content†¦Room costs $8,200 and board costs $6,400, totaling to $14,600. It shall be considered that this steep price is for use of the housing facilities located Yale’s campus; quite a convenient location to live when you must walk to multiple auditoriums daily. When combined, these expenses total to $65,725 every year at Yale University. This means that even if your required education fit into four years, it would already cost $262,900 (â€Å"Estimated Cost†). Without the benefits of financial aid, Yale acknowledges the heavy responsibility of the parents to provide the money necessary to pay for the education: â€Å"Yale believes that both parents have a responsibility to contribute toward their child’s college education, even if they are divorced or separated† (â€Å"Parent Contribution†). As this is stated directly on Yale’s website, it very accurately reflects how it expects the students to be dependent upon their family in order to receive an education at their school. In modern society, it is fully inappropriate for it to be the responsibility of the parents to provide a fixed proportion of their income for their child to go to a prestigious school that takes a certain level of brilliance to attend. Education has become more of a business than a liberty in the past couple of decades, and as seen by the evidence provided, it has merely encouraged dependence on someone else – a state anyone in busines s tries to avoid. Fortunately, there are several ways one

Sat Math Test Free Essays

What is the probability that Scott wins? 5. Maria is 6 times as old as Tina. In 20 years, Maria will be only twice as old as Tina. We will write a custom essay sample on Sat Math Test or any similar topic only for you Order Now How old is Maria now? 6. If a. ND c are positive numbers with a=b/ca, what is the value of c when a=44 and b=275 7. In thro figure above, all of the line segments meet to form right angles. What Is the perimeter of the figure? 8. A car going 40 miles per hour set out on an 80 miles trip at 9:00 a. M. Exactly 10 minutes later, a second car left from the same place and followed the same place and followed the same route. How fast, In miles per hour, was the second car going if it caught up with the first car at 10:30 a. M. ? 9. Five people shared a prize of $100. Each one received a whole number of dollars, and no two people received the same amount. If the largest share was $30 and the smallest share was $1 5, what Is the most money that the person with the third largest share could have received? 10. There are 12 men on a basketball tea, and In a game 5 of them play at any one time. If the game Is 1 hour long, and If each man plays exactly the same amount of time, how many minutes does each man play? 5 8 10 . A square, not shown, has the same perimeter as the quadrilateral above. . What is the length of the side of the square? 250 12. In the figure above, if AS bisects REST. What is the value of W ? 13. If it is now 1:15, what time will it be when the hour hand has moved through an angle of 100 ? ICC 14. In the figure above, rectangle ABACA has been partitioned into four triangles. If UDF= BEEF , what is the value of x+Y ? 15. Jean spent $125 for a camera and some film. The camera cost $100 more than the film. What percent of the cost of th e two items did Jean spend for the camera? How to cite Sat Math Test, Papers

A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls Essay Example For Students

A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls Essay Robert Nozick, in his essay Rights and the Entitlement Theory, discusses the rights of individuals and just acquisition. He makes it clear that these rights and/or acquisitions cannot be taken away by anyone, either by an individual or by a collective identity such as the state. Individual people and the state have an obligation to not interfere with ones rights or just acquisitions. As long as one does not interfere with anothers life and intrinsic rights then no one else shall interfere with anothers life, it is a reciprocal obligation. Furthermore, the government should be involved minimally in the life of the individual. According to Nozick, the state should be †¦limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts, and so on†¦(p. 210). Also, according to Nozick each individual has the right to choose what to do with what one has, as long as it was acquired justly. We will write a custom essay on A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Therefore, if a freely organized group of people owned a (communal) house, assuming they acquired it justly, what would give anyone else the right to take it away and redistribute it (And moreover, in this specific instance what other rights and/or just acquisitions are violated) In 1993 the administration at Denison University decided to make the fraternity houses non-residential. Fraternity members that had acquired the houses justly would no longer be able to live in them. I believe the acquisition of the houses from one generation to the next was just because initially someone financed the house, and then through initiation to the fraternity, and thus through a belief in the fraternitys ideals, they earned residency in the house. Moreover, they paid for utilities, upkeep, and basic needs of the house. Despite this just acquisition the school, or government in this example, according to Nozick unjustly took back the houses. This leads to the essay A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls. In his essay Rawls discusses the principles of justice and equality in society. Rawls wants everyone to start in a specific hypothetical situation with two principles of justice, among other things. The first principle is as follows: each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty compatible with a similar liberty for others (p. 551). And, the second principle is as follows: social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both (a) reasonably expected to be to everyones advantage, and (b) attached to positions and offices open to all (p. 551). According to the first principle everyone has the right to basic liberties; included in these liberties is †¦freedom of the person along with the right to hold (personal) property; and freedom from arbitrary arrest and seizure†¦ (p. 551). The dilemma arises again, how does the University account for the seizure and redistribution of an organizations private property For Rawls, the first principle comes before the second, his ordering means that a departure from the institutions of equal liberty required by the first principle cannot be justified by, or compensated for, by greater social and economic advantages (p. 51). Here, I believe it is evident that the University, out of benefit of better social and economic advantages, unjustifiably seized the fraternity houses. The University benefited economically because they could use the fraternity houses to accommodate students; and they benefited socially because frats were no longer a central theme in Denison society. According to both Rawls and Nozick the school had no right in seizing the houses. Moreover, according to Nozick the state, Denison University Administrators, is supposed to be protecting against such unjust acts. .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 , .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .postImageUrl , .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 , .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:hover , .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:visited , .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:active { border:0!important; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:active , .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2 .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u491c4a4354470f7081100eea3f4e3af2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: None Provided41 EssayThis is the most evident violation of basic rights within this example, however there is a more serious violation of basic rights that many seem to overlook. In Nozicks theory of rights and entitlement is the notion of side constraints. Side constraints upon action reflect the underlying Kantian principle that individuals are ends and not merely means; they may not be sacrificed or used for the achieving of other ends without their consent (p. 210). In terms of my example I believe the University was exploiting the fraternities as ends and not merely means, because they used the fraternities for their own means without consent. While at the same time they deprived the fraternities of the means by which they had been working towards some end. Yet another aspect of Nozicks essay comes to the surface here, the notion that each person is free from any interference concerning the pursuit of ones own life (p. 209). It seems, according to the above-mentioned authors notions that the University is being unjust. First, by taking away private property; then by indirectly denying the freedom to associate; by exploiting the fraternities as means to their own ends; and finally, the freedom from interference concerning the pursuit of ones own life. This questions the University as a just and fair state. How can the University have the right to take away basic liberties It seems to me that Denison University is acting more like a dictatorship than a democracy here. It uses the Denison population as means for its own ends, and the University simply becomes an economically driven dictatorship. Perhaps it could be argued that the seizure of the houses was more of an Utilitarian move; the school gets more revenue from room and board and the students get a better education.

Everyday Heroes Essay Example For Students

Everyday Heroes Essay When someone mentions the word hero, people picture Hercules, Batman, or even Superman. You might picture a knight in shining armor riding into the sunset with a beautiful woman along side. Some people picture the skinny models who prance around in clothes and always look beautiful featured in Vogue, and Cosmo. Other people picture the CEO of a top company, making over ten million a year. Some might even picture an ex-president, or even their teacher. But when I hear the word hero I dont picture any of those things. When I hear the word hero, I look past all the fame, and fortune. I look past how beautiful my heroes are, or even how ugly they might be. My heroes have no memorial named after them, no tree planted in their name, as a matter of fact, they rarely get a Thank You for the work they do everyday. My heroes arent the kinds of people who have had their 15 minutes of fame, and I have uttered but maybe one or two words to them in my life. My heroes are the kinds of people who arent recognized in our everyday lives, because what they do is in some weird way common, yet at the same time uncommon. My heroes are the kinds of people who do the little things in life. The people who hold the door open for you, say Hello to you, a tiny smile or even just a little wave can make my day. My heroes are the kinds of people who do their deeds not out of how much recognition they might get, but out of the kindness of their heart. No thought is involved in the things they do, they do them just because that is the kind of person they are, sweet and kind to everyone. My heroes are the kinds of people who do the little things in life, because its the little things that count. Words/ Pages : 327 / 24

Xunzis Conceptions of Human Nature

Xunzi also known as Xun Kuang was a Chinese philosopher during the China’s classical period. He was one of the Confucian philosophers who were under the reign Emperor Xuan in China. Xunzi made significant contribution to modern philosophy because he contributed to the development of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Among many of his philosophical works is his view of human nature.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Xunzi’s Conceptions of Human Nature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to Xunzi, people are evil in nature while their goodness is acquired through training. He states that the nature of human beings is evil from birth and possesses qualities like selfishness, anarchic, and antisocial traits. However, the society shapes and trains an individual to attain moral standards of the society. Furthermore, Xunzi argues that the society achieves this by influencing a person in a posit ive way. Therefore, the paper analyses the arguments presented by Augustine, Pelagius, and Zhu Xi concerning Xunzi’s view of human nature. According to Augustine, since human beings are not perfect, they are bound to make mistakes and errors. In his philosophical work titled â€Å"The City of God,† which explains how the first human beings transgressed in the Garden of Eden. Augustine elaborates the infallible human nature. He asserts that, even after God gave men the freedom to eat any other fruit in the garden and leave the one that was in the center of the garden, they still went ahead to eat the forbidden fruit; hence, making the mistake of disobedience. The â€Å"Yahist Legend,† further explains the mistake by presenting an occasion where God tells humans to eat of all the trees, which were pleasing to consume except the tree of life. According to Augustine, human beings have an imperfect nature and are bound to making mistakes. The concept is evident from what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden as they committed the mistake of disobedience, and regretted their actions latter when God questioned them. In addition, Augustine notes that human beings are remorseful. After disobeying God, they became repentant as they hid and covered themselves with stitched leaves from figs. Humans remained subject to God, and thus, they received another chance of redemption through Jesus who is the son of God.Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, since actions have repercussions, man and the woman received punishment from God after disobedience. In the Garden of Eden, the Adam and Eve had the freedom to eat of any tree except the tree in the center of the garden. The consequence of disobedience was death. Therefore, the man received a sentence of hard work and death as a punishment for the wrongdoing. Since God is just and merciful, he g ave Adam and Eve another chance. Thus, Augustine displays human beings as infallible, remorseful, and ready for corrections. In his letters to Demetrius, Pelagius notes that the reference to the creator is paramount when determining the good human nature. According to Pelagius, people love and admire authority. He further explains this phenomenon by asserting that men marvel at the strong and big animals that are subject to their authority and control. Additionally, human beings love freedom, which was the initial desire of God. In his letters, Pelagius notes that God wanted human to feel free and do what pleased them. However, the level of freedom reduced when humans sinned and disobeyed God. Moreover, in his letters to Demetrius he quotes the book of Deuteronomy where God gave human beings the freedom to choose between life and death. Pelagius also highlights that human beings love appreciation and praise. This is the nature of humankind as presented by Pelagius. Pelagius explains that individuals do not like policies and conventions. He says that people love working in a free environment without rules and regulations. According to Pelagius, humans love engaging in activities voluntarily without undue coercion. In the letters of Demetrius, he gives an account of some people who had a good human nature like Enoch and men who demonstrated bad morals such as Adam and Simeon to discuss the human character and nature.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Xunzi’s Conceptions of Human Nature specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, Pelagius highlights that the ultimate determinant of good human nature is the creator. He also asserts that humans who have a good nature portray good morals that accrue from the good nature. He further asserts that individuals with good manners sometimes make mistakes because no human being is perfect. Zhu Xi approaches the discussion of human nature u sing the mind and a river. The scholar asserts that when the river is still or calm, it denotes a composed nature of the individual’s mind. Subsequently, Zhu Xi relates human desires and feelings with waves and flow of water in a river or a lake. According, to Zhu Xi, some waves are bad and torrential whereas others are less likely to cause any harm, as they are mild. These waves reflect the good and bad desires that people express. In the writings, Zhu Xi notes that nature precedes an activity and feelings then succeed. Hence, the mind helps in uniting nature, feelings, and activity when humans undergo through pre-active and post-active states. Moreover, Zhu Xi says that, in many cases bad moral values overrule the good values. In explaining how bad morals destroy good moral values, Zhu Xi used a dam to demonstrate that when the dam bursts it causes extensive destruction. Furthermore, Zhu Xi explains that the mind controls all the operations of an individual whether good or bad. According to Zhu Xi, the mind is a ruler and has the presence of understanding, respect, love, and morality. However, stirred the mind produces feelings like fury, contentment, happiness, and sadness. Therefore, the mind is like the supreme controller of the whole body, and thus, controls the activity of the person. According to Zhu Xi, human nature is subject to the reflexes in the mind, which is the controller of all the activities that an individual performs. Hence, according to Zhu Xi human nature greatly attributes its outcomes to the mind. Thus, Zhu Xi clearly elucidates the nature of human beings and presents the existing diversities.Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Xunzi, human nature is evil and it is only through training that a person can acquire good attributes. In addition, Xunzi notes that from birth, humans display bad qualities like self-centeredness, lawlessness, and antisocial traits. However, through continuous training and molding by the society, a person then acquires moral values and learns to behave in a disciplined manner. Furthermore, Xunzi believes that an individual can acquire and employ moral values and personality traits from the society. The prime objective of acquiring moral values and traits is to override the innate antisocial and evil traits. Xunzi also perceives that a state or a country requires rules and regulations so that it can shape and mold the behavior of an individual, which is evil. In his assertion, Xunzi perceives that since human nature is ugly, absence of state and regulations can render a man uncivilized and wild. Pelagius thought that when determining good human nature it is vital to ref er to the supreme creator who is God. He presents that some of the human requirements include love for authority, freedom, and control. In the words of Augustine, human beings are not free from mistakes as they are not perfect. According to Augustine, humans require companionship and authority. He also states that men are erroneous and employs the case of the first humans who disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit. On the other hand, Zhu Xi uses a river or a water body to bring to the fore the discussion of human nature. According to Zhu Xi, the mind acts like the controller of human activities and dictates what an individual performs. Thus, Pelagius, Augustine, and Zhu Xi have different thoughts concerning human nature as opposed to Xunzi’s view. While Xunzi states that human nature is bad and evil, Pelagius, Augustine, and Zhu Xi explain that human beings have innate traits that are good, but are not acquired in training as asserted by Xunzi. The research paper focuses on the characteristics that human beings demonstrate. It discusses perceptions of Zhu Xi, Augustine, and Pelagius concerning human nature according to the argument of Xunzi. According to the three individuals, human beings are not perfect, and therefore, they are bound to making mistakes and errors. Pelagius and Augustine use biblical excerpts like that of Adam and Eve to explain the imperfect and remorseful nature of human beings. On the other hand, Zhu Xi relates the human mind to a body of water and discusses human nature using the relationships of human mind and river. Contrarily Xunzi believes that human nature is evil from birth and requires training and control in the evil state so that an individual behaves in a morally upright manner. 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