The Worldly Philosophers

“Let them keep their prodigious opinion of themselves and the bare name of Aristotle, whose five syllables delight the ignorant” (Petrarca 247). From ancient times, numerous scholars have exalted Aristotle because of his various contributions to topics and debates that seem to have withstood time until the early Renaissance period. Petrarch acknowledged Aristotle’s importance, but viewed him as only human and deferred true knowledge to God. Montaigne had similar feelings, describing humans as…

ideas were based on social order and the idea that men could become better by practicing five main virtues: Gravity, Generosity, Sincerity, Earnestness, and Kindness. Confucius inspired followers who spread his ideas that it was important to give up worldly goods in order to obtain spirituality. He also famously promoted the idea of treating others like you would want to be treated. During the Han Dynasty, Confucianism became the doctrine of China and has left a great and permanent impact on…

Our comprehension of fickle Fortune and the role it plays in our lives are questions that both Boccaccio and Boethius attempt to answer. In his Consolation of Philosophy, the medieval philosopher, Boethius, believes that we should not embrace fickle Fortune’s goods because they can easily be taken away. A devout Christian, Boethius sees Fortune as a spiritual test on our path to finding God and eternal happiness. In the Decameron, Boccaccio takes a more earthly view, claiming that Fortune is…

In the first century of the common era, ancient Rome witnessed the emergence of the new major philosophy of Stoicism. Founded by Zeno in Athens, the tenets of Stoicism focused on the eradication of emotion, and particularly fear, which would lead to a life committed to self-betterment. Seneca and his contemporaries took these ideas and expanding on them, marking a shift from the Epicurean philosophy studied a generation previously. While Seneca lead an active life as tutor to Emperor Nero and…

almighty father in the Heavens, to obey His commandments, and to apply bible principles in their everyday lives. With hopes to be favored in God’s eyes, medieval Christians turned to religious authorities for guidance on not only spiritual, but also worldly matters. Papal authorities, asserted, “individualism was identical with arrogance, rebellion, and sin”(1) , and in order to impede sinful actions, the Church restricted individual expression and “advocated unfaltering faith and unquestioning…

Existentialism and Invisible Man Ralph Waldo Ellison is an American writer. He was born March 1, 1914, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and died April 16, 1994, New York, New York. He studied music for three years at Tuskegee University and left in 1936 to move to New York. While in New York he befriended Richard Wright and was influenced to start writing. In 1952 Ellison published Invisible Man, which was the only book published during his life time. The idea that Ellison seems to stress in the novel is…

thinks he might find it. St.Thomas makes it clear that happiness cannot be found it worldly materials like “ wealth… honor… glory… power” due to it not satisfying a man's desires completely. When it comes to the "body" it cannot correlate with the ultimate end because "one [part of the body] order[s]…

If the ancient philosopher, Epicurus, gave the Sermon on the Mount, found in the New Testament, he would say: “Blessed are those who are untroubled and unperturbed, for they shall find serenity.” His enthusiastic follower, Lucretius, used his superb poetical gifts to draw his readers into the desire-reducing materialism of Epicureanism. He challenged others to live their lives by cultivating a balanced, peaceful way of being. Lucretius believed the attainment of this peace of mind was through a…

Flannery O’Connor, the prolific American writer, has covered quite a bit of ground in her body of work. She focuses on the South, exploring its cultural norms and social dynamics. But all her forays into life in the Post-Bellum South center around one thing: God. O’Connor works Christian values (or the lack thereof) into nearly all of her stories, especially the ones we have read in class. The author is committed to a very particular strain of Catholicism, and seems to dole out punishment to…

Antigone is “a woman who defies King Creon’s edict without any fear, doubts, or regrets,” Fanny Söderbäck, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Siena College, asserts (Söderbäck 2). “This courageous woman, the fruit of incest, has fascinated philosophers in the nineteenth century, inspired playwrights in the twentieth century, and intrigued feminist thinkers and activists for decades” she continues (Söderbäck 2). Antigone is viewed as more than a sister whose loyalty to family “pits her against…