What was the most outrageous idea that Machiavelli wrote?

What was the most outrageous statement/idea that Machiavelli wrote? 

I think one of the most (if not the most) outrageous ideas that Machiavelli wrote in The Prince is on page 46. Here is were he talks about his idea that it is better to be feared than loved.

Was he right? Why or why not? 

I think in some cases he could definitely be right. I see where he is coming from when he talks about how you are more easily obeyed when you are over people who fear you. He talks about how those who are loved are more likely to be disobeyed because "men, because they are rotten, will break any time they think doing so serves their advantage; but fear involves dread of punishment, from which they can never escape." He also talks about how it would be nice to be loved and feared but as a leader it is more important to be feared. If you are loved there are many people who also hate you. If you are feared, you are more likely to be neither loved or hated. 

Taking that same statement, would Machiavelli's philosophy apply today? Why or why not?

I think Machiavelli's philosophy applies today because many leaders who are loved are also taken advantage of or they are hated by a lot of people too. If as a leader you are feared, you are more likely to be followed and respected. As long as you are not hated but only feared, you can work well as a leader. I think this is what Machiavelli means by it being better to be feared than loved. 

Why I Read- Blog 4

List the top 3 reasons why you read. Then compare that list to what Dante says in Canto V of theInferno about why Francesca and Paolo read? How does our motivation for reading affect what we take from our reading? Are there correct or incorrect motivations for reading?

1. I read for entertainment
2. I read to gain information and knowledge about something
3. I read because I have to for class

In Dante's Inferno, Francesca and Paolo read to pass the time away and it is a way to come together by the books you read.

I feel like if you read for entertainment, you tend to read different types of books. You read those books to almost live another life. You live through the books you read. That is entertaining to me. When you read to gain information, you read more intently and you "read" into the words you read. By doing this you come away from the words with knowledge and greater understanding. When you have to read for a class, sometimes it can be enjoyable and other times it isn't so it can be hard to focus on the content and what you are getting out of it.

I don't think there are correct motivations for reading. I think you are more motivated to read when you find it enjoyable and you feel like what you learned and took away from it was worth your time.

Social Issues Part 2

Below is the comparison of Satire III and ancient Rome's social issues compared to modern United States' social issues.

1. Healthcare
"but nowhere is the effort harder than in Rome, where you must pay a big rent for a wretched lodging, a big sum to fill the bellies of your slaves, and buy a frugal dinner for yourself. You are ashamed to dine off delf"
"Most sick people here in Rome perish for want of sleep, the illness itself having been produced by food lying undigested on a fevered stomach. For what sleep is possible in a lodging? Who but the wealthy get sleep in Rome? There lies the root of the disorder"
This parallels the issue of healthcare in the fact that people have issues about sharing their wealth with the less fortunate so that they can have equal healthcare. This parallels because it talks about paying for things of others and for self.

2. Legalization of Marijuana
"Yet however reckless the fellow may be, however hot with wine and young blood, he gives a wide berth to one whose scarlet cloak and long retinue of attendants, with torches and brass lamps in their hands, bid him keep his distance."
This parallels the idea that legalization of Marijuana is an issue. This is talking about wine or alcohol being an issue in Rome.

3. Obesity
This is unique to our society because it seems to come up with the excess absorption of food which seems to only have really becoming a problem with the increase of fast food opportunities during the 20th century.

4. Abortion
This is unique to our society because abortion in ancient Rome wasn't as big of an issue. Now, it seems like there are more people either wanting to get it done or more people who believe it is morally wrong. In ancient Rome it wasn't illegal but with the spread of Christianity, punishment for abortion spread.

5. Same Sex Marriage
This is unique to our society because homosexual marriages didn't happen in ancient Rome. Ancient Roman males, if they had same sex partners, they were there for entertainment or slavery There isn't as much mentioned about female same sex partners. So people had homosexual partners but they didn't marry them in ancient Rome. Now people want to legalize same sex marriage throughout the U.S. and the world.

U.S. Social Problems

What are the five most challenging social problems facing the United States today?

In no particular order, in my opinion, these are the five more challenging social problems facing the United States today:

1. Same Sex Marriage
Those in the gay community and outside agree that this is a huge social problem. Homosexuals want to get married and the rest of the United States either agrees that they should be allowed to do this or believes it is morally wrong and demeaning of what marriage should be.

2. Healthcare
Many citizens of the United States either agree or disagree with the passing of the Affordable Health Care Act which will allow affordable health care to all of it's citizens. This is also known as Obama Care.

3. Obesity
It seems that the United States is getting fatter and fatter. Some believe that there should be more enforcement in schools and other public areas about regulation of foods so that the community can keep their weight under control. Many United States leaders push for healthier eating and lifestyle choices to keep obesity under control.

4. Use and Legalization of Marijuana

Many states have already passed the law allowing medical Marijuana but more states have also legalized the recreational use of Marijuana. This is concerning many citizens because of it's abuse and misuse as a substance.

5. Abortion 

The issue about whether or not abortion be made legal and whether or not it is morally right or wrong is still a main social issue in the United States. Many believe that a woman should have the choice to whether or not to abort a child and other believe that abortion is morally wrong.

Golden Age

What makes a Golden Age? What aspects of Roman society under Augustus would constitute a Golden Age? What time period of American history would constitute its Golden Age? Why?

     The "Golden Age" of a society is often defined or described by a period of economic prosperity, harmony, stability, and peace. A Golden Age is the first stage of the Age of Man which describes this period of success and incorruption.

     In Rome there was a definite period that could be described like this. Roman society under Augustus has been agreed upon by scholars to be the Golden Age of Rome. Art under Augustus was more idealized. This was shown by how the sculptures were designed in a way to show ideally how a person at the time should look and aspire to be. This in part, constituted a Golden Age in Rome. Augustus also brought back the Ludi Seculares games and as part of these games, they made sacrifices to the sun god Apollo. Worship to the god Apollo signifies that it was a period of a Golden Age during Augustus’ rule. Under Augustus's reign, he subdued the proud and ruled the land in peace. As a result of Augustus’ successful rule, the prosperity in Rome continued on for almost five centuries.

     There is a time period in American history that could be considered its Golden Age. In my opinion, this was the period shortly after World War II when there was economic prosperity throughout the United States. It lasted from the mid- 1940s to the early 1970s. The reason for this was; after the war, there was much needed improvement in United States economics so there were bills passed and steps taken to improve the economy. These efforts after the war worked so in turn, many people had increased income, there were more educated workers, and there was societal peace throughout the U.S. which spilled into other countries. This economic growth was distributed throughout all classes of people and that is why it could be considered a Golden Age for the United States.

A Response to the Production of Oedipus

How does this production maintain the elements of original Greek tragedy?

     The production of Oedipus put on by the Westminster College maintained many of the elements of an original Greek tragedy. First off, they had a chorus who sang and spake in unison. This is how it is described the choruses in original Greek tragedies performed. Secondly, the costumes were able to be changed on each of the actors to then represent another character. In original Greek tragedies, the actors either changed masks or parts of their costumes so that they were able to represent another character. Another similarity that this performance had with an original Greek tragedy was how they only had a few actors and the chorus interacted with the main actor or thespian. Overall this performance incorporated as best they could the elements of an original Greek tragedy and the effect it had was rewarding to the audience. 

Hamartia

What was Oedipus' hamartia?

     Hamartia according to an online dictionary is "a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine." Oedipus' story fits this description perfectly. He tried to outrun his fate and as a result he fulfilled it. In the play excerpt from Greek Tragedies, Oedipus' unknowingly curses himself by saying that whoever is the murderer of King Laius "whether he is one man and all unknown, or one of many-- may he wear out his life in misery to miserable doom" (246-249). This self inflicted doom was part of his downfall. He was ignorant to the fact that he might have been the murderer and so later on when he discovers it was he who murdered the king, he fulfills the curse upon himself reflecting his hamartia.

     Another example of Oedipus' hamartia is when he is trying to get the answer to who killed the king out of the the prophet Teiresias. He accuses the prophet of the murder since he will not answer him and in his anger the prophet reveals all. He says, "I say you are the murderer of the king whose murderer you seek...You have your eyes but see not where you are in sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with" (362; 413-414). This shows that Oedipus is quick to anger. His anger is his hamartia. An additional example of Oedipus' anger is shown when he is telling his story to his wife Jocasta of the man he killed. He says, "And as I journeyed I came to the place where, as you say, this king met with his death....the old man himself wanted to thrust me out of the road by force. I became angry and struck the coachman who was pushing me... And then I killed them all" (799; 805-806; 812). So as we can see, Oedipus fulfilled the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. He tried to escape his fate and in his anger and fear, he fulfilled it and this was his hamartia.