Thomas Homer-Dixon

There have been many philosophers in our world’s history, perhaps the most famous of them would be Aristotle. Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who contributed to many different sciences including, logic, metaphysics, mathematics, biology, and countless others. Although Aristotle is famous now, he wasn’t very famous in his own time. Aristotle’s beliefs contradicted many of the modern beliefs in his time. Ben Waggoner, a professor at the University of California Museum of Paleontology, states,…

Sappho and Katherine Philips are two of the most influential writers and poets in literature. While both existed in two very different time periods, there are many parallels between the two poets and their writing style and lifestyle. Their poetry was about affectionate and emotional connections with women they cared for, which eventually led them to becoming a symbol for female homosexuality. Many scholars and historians would agree that both Sappho and Katherine Philips’ history are ambiguous…

my dreams." (Homer XXI/XXII 2). Lines like this appear in the text to make the reader worried, about the time Odysseus is taking to confront the suitors; the delay helps prolong the tension. Another time while in disguise Odysseus is insulted by Melanthios a goat herd. He insults Eumaos as well as Odysseus. “No other beggar or stranger has been allowed to hear what we say among ourselves; the wine must have been doing you a mischief, as it does with all those drink immoderately” (Homer XXI/XXII…

The transition from orality to literacy is fascinating because one would naturally assume that a transition has three phases: How Things Were, How Things Are, and How Things Were in Between. In this case, the natural assumption is incorrect. How Things Were is a clearly identifiable stage, obviously separate from the others. In that stage, written language had not yet been invented. It is much more difficult to define How Things Are. Once the transition from orality began, literacy intermingled…

In ancient times, an essential part of Greek pedagogy was the oral dissemination of epic poems that were widely known and revered by all. One of the most prominent poems is Homer’s epic, The Iliad, which successfully embodies the Greek culture and paints a picture of their idealized world. While it tells the story of the final days of the Trojan War, it also reveals fundamental Greek values concerning relationships, specifically between hosts and guests. The concept of hospitality is defined by…

Hymn to Aphrodite by Sappho stuck out to me above all other artworks we discussed. I really enjoyed the raw emotion and the humility of Sappho begging for emotional support. This is a prayer to the goddess Aphrodite, and speaks of times of trouble in Sappho’s life. Sappho is depressed because a woman that she loved has left in order to be married and, in turn, she is heartbroken. Sappho is asking Aphrodite for help in a lyrical poem that has three separate parts, each different in length and…

A closer look at Violence, in “The odyssey” . The Odyssey was written by an unknown writer Homer, long ago. These series of small books tells the stories of the Great Odysseus and his journey back home to Ithaca years after the Trojan War. Odysseus faced very man battels throughout his voyage home, and felt defeated multiple times. While dealing with gods, goddess, and different monsters, Odysseus came across many events where he was forced to fight and deal with constant violence.…

Though these characteristics are not as vivid in the Iliad, these skills are delineated more explicitly in the Odyssey. By continuing to tell Odysseus’ story and showcasing his cunning, Homer himself designates him to be superior in leadership. What Homer could not expect was how pertinent Odysseus’ charisma and self-control would be to the 21st century. While Odysseus’ skills could be used to incite both ethically positive or negative change, they are the tools which…

The idea of individual honor is common all through the Iliad. The honor of each individual in Homeric society was crucial, yet to the hero, his honor was foremost. He couldn’t allow slander, and he felt that he needed to secure his name regardless of the conditions, including death. The hero 's obligation was to battle, and the main way he had of everlasting glory was through heroic acts on the battlefield. The hero was to be ready for the risks of battle, including loss of life. The Homeric…

The Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology holds numerous pieces of artwork from all different time periods. What makes each of these pieces distinguishable are the specific style and details incorporated, as each civilization from each different era had techniques that were followed that would define their artwork as their own. Progression was shown through the use of emerging techniques. This is shown specifically in a piece at the Museum entitled the Attic Black- Figure Amphora,…