1. Religion has changed from an explanation of life, accepted as fact, to an old theory in question.
The advancements in means of traveling have led to increased trade and expansion.
The scientific revolution has led to a much increased qualtiy of life.
2. I feel that the most important and impacting thing on this list was the change from food shortages to food surplus. The abundance of food led to the most important thing, free time. People no longer needed to spend their whole lives looking and hunting for food. People were now able to do other things with their time. This also led to huge population growth. People were able to think about life, leading to curiosity and reason. They could also invent things like boats and art, leading to trade and a higher quality of life.
The surplus in food was the item on the list that made everything else possible. As the qualtiy of life started to improve so did optimism and oppurtunity. Philosophers and scientists emerged observing the world and asking questions. Theories and methods evolved, explaining life, and replacing the religious explanation. As trade and globalization started growing so did the expansion of horizons, explorers, and cultural diffusion. Understanding of our world was improving, and soon we had the world we know today.
3. The Age of Enlightenment led to a much greater understanding of human kind and the world we occupy. People were able to build off of eachother's ideas and observations to progress our understanding of life. The new ideas and theories that drove the age of enlightenment allowed humans to have a higher quality of life. New technologies and innovations gave way to better education, entertainment, and oppurtunity. Population, trade, and optimism were growing. All were a direct result of the Age of Enlightenment.
4. Denis Diderot created the Encyclopedia, which spread the ideas of Enlightenment. In the encylopedia he supported religious toleration, and called upon society to be more tolerant and humane. http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/12/the_bourgeoisie_egalitarianism.html This article says that Diderot was trying to change human nature through his encyclopedia. The author says that it takes more than an encyclopedia to change human nature, it takes revolutions and guillotines. He says that Diderot believed that for total equality to be achieved, the destruction of the middle class was more important than the abolition of religion or the elimination of aristocracy.
5. I believe that an experience that has had a profound impact on making me the person I am today was the splitting of my parents. This was a huge and very hard change in my life. I had a really tough time during that time in my life, and I believe that it has made me a stronger person. As Kanye said, "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger." The divorce has changed just about every part of my life, the experiences I have had after the divorce are experiences I would have never had if my parents had stayed together. Therefore, this experience/change has made me who I am today. The toughest parts of the divorce were the most impactful, and they have made me who I am today.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Leadership
King Duncan is a good and honorable king. He is good to his people and he is very loyal. He is liked by all of his kinsman. Macbeth has a very hard time killing him because he is such a good and loyal leader. "We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honoured me of late"(1.7.31-32). Duncan's honorable and loyal way of leading his people has made him very likeable. This way of leading, though, isn't a good one if you want to keep power. His loyalty lead him to his death. He had been betrayed before Macbeth too, but still he continued to trust others. "Assisted by that most disloyal traitor the Thane of Cawdor"(1.2.52-53). The Thane of Cawdor betrayed King Duncan and Duncan still didn't change his leadership and this cost him. King Duncan is a good leader, in the sense of being honorable and loyal, but not in the sense of maintaining and gaining power.
I think that Machiavelli would find Macbeth to be a good leader after he kills Duncan. Before killing Duncan he was nervous and indecisive, but after that he became what Machiavelli would consider a good leader. Machiavelli said, "The ends justify the means." Machiavelli has been using any means to gain his power, killing Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family. He does anything to become king. Machiavelli also said, ""It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." Macbeth, unlike Duncan is only concerned about people loving him. Macbeth said he wants to be the devil, he wants to be feared. I think that Machiavelli would find Macbeth to be a great leader.
I think that Machiavelli would find Macbeth to be a good leader after he kills Duncan. Before killing Duncan he was nervous and indecisive, but after that he became what Machiavelli would consider a good leader. Machiavelli said, "The ends justify the means." Machiavelli has been using any means to gain his power, killing Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family. He does anything to become king. Machiavelli also said, ""It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." Macbeth, unlike Duncan is only concerned about people loving him. Macbeth said he wants to be the devil, he wants to be feared. I think that Machiavelli would find Macbeth to be a great leader.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Act 1 of Macbeth
Machiavelli said that it doesn't matter if you are good, you only need to appear good. Macbeth's wife Lady Macbeth most embodys this idea. When she learns of the prophecy that her husband will be king she plots a way to make this happen. She tells her husband to appear good but be evil. "Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't"(1.3.63-64). Lady Macbeth will do anything for power and she wants her husband to be the same. The idea of Appearance vs Reality in Macbeth is seen throughout the first Act. All of the characters must appear good to gain honor and trust, but they must do bad things to keep and gain the power that they want. This is just like what Machiavelli explained in The Prince.
During the time period of Macbeth the roles of men and women were very different. Through Shakespeare's writing we can tell that pretty much all of the power belonged to the men and almost all of the decisions were left to them as well. The women during this era were usually in charge of house duties, such as taking care of the kids and keeping the house in order. In the play, Lady Macbeth wants to do things that usually only men can do, she says that she wants to be unsexed. "Unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty"(1.3.39-41). Lady Macbeth doesn't like that she is a woman because she isn't able to do anything to gain the power that she so badly wants. She tells her husband what to do to gain the power, because he is able to do these things because he is a man.
Loyalty and Honor is a very large theme throughout the play Macbeth. All throughout the play Shakespeares shows us how important it is to be honorable and loyal. People will like you and respect you if you are honorable and loyal, and they will kill you if you are not. Being loyal can sometimes be dangerous though. King Duncan is loyal to Macbeth for being brave and honorable by giving him more power. This makes Macbeth no longer fearful of King Duncan, and it makes him want even more power. While King Duncan and Macbeth are talking Macbeth is plotting to kill him. Machiavelli says that it is human nature to be greedy and fickle, he says that humans will do anything thing for power. If this is true than you really shouldn't trust anyone. King Duncan has made this mistake before when he trusted the last Thane of Cawdor and now he is doing it agian trusting Macbeth. Loyalty and Honor are what everyone wants to be percieved as in Macbeth, but if you are actually these things it will be tough for you to keep your power.
During the time period of Macbeth the roles of men and women were very different. Through Shakespeare's writing we can tell that pretty much all of the power belonged to the men and almost all of the decisions were left to them as well. The women during this era were usually in charge of house duties, such as taking care of the kids and keeping the house in order. In the play, Lady Macbeth wants to do things that usually only men can do, she says that she wants to be unsexed. "Unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty"(1.3.39-41). Lady Macbeth doesn't like that she is a woman because she isn't able to do anything to gain the power that she so badly wants. She tells her husband what to do to gain the power, because he is able to do these things because he is a man.
Loyalty and Honor is a very large theme throughout the play Macbeth. All throughout the play Shakespeares shows us how important it is to be honorable and loyal. People will like you and respect you if you are honorable and loyal, and they will kill you if you are not. Being loyal can sometimes be dangerous though. King Duncan is loyal to Macbeth for being brave and honorable by giving him more power. This makes Macbeth no longer fearful of King Duncan, and it makes him want even more power. While King Duncan and Macbeth are talking Macbeth is plotting to kill him. Machiavelli says that it is human nature to be greedy and fickle, he says that humans will do anything thing for power. If this is true than you really shouldn't trust anyone. King Duncan has made this mistake before when he trusted the last Thane of Cawdor and now he is doing it agian trusting Macbeth. Loyalty and Honor are what everyone wants to be percieved as in Macbeth, but if you are actually these things it will be tough for you to keep your power.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He lived his life for politics and patriotism. He is now associated with corrupt, totalitarian government. He wrote a book called The Prince to gain influence with the ruling Medici family in Florence. He started out as a secretary for the Florence government, but his position quickly rose and he was soon engaging in diplomatic missions. He met many important politicians such as the Pope, the King of France, the Prince of the Papal States, Cesare Borgia. When the public saw the book they were outraged, and he leaved with a bad reputation for the rest of his life until he died in 1527. http://www.ctbw.com/lubman.htm
I think the quote that is most relevant to leadership today is "It is not essential that a Prince have all good qualities, but it is most essential that he should seem to have them." Leaders today must be elected in to office in most nations, so they have to earn the votes of the people. To do this they must seem like they are good people and good leaders. The people aren't going to vote for someone who seems like they are a liar and a bad person. The most important thing for leaders is to seem good, they need to seem like they are honest and fair and that they have good morals. Even if the leader isn't this way, they need to be able to convince everyone that they are. The voters want someone who they can trust in office to do the right thing.
I think that the quote "The ends justify the means." is bad advice for leaders today. In todays world everything that a ruler does is being closely watched and scrutinized. People are watching to see that you do the right thing and if you don't you will quickly lose your position. The ends definitly won't justify the means if what you do is not moral in the eyes of the people.
I think that the quote "Before all else, be armed." would have been helpful for the Incas. The Incas let their guard down thinking that they didn't need their weapons and this lead to their downfall. If they had had their weapons the story of Pizarro and the Incas might have been different. The Incan leader did not believe that being armed was a top priority and this was his mistake. Being armed should have been the most important thing to him to keep him and his people safe, but it wasn't and the Incas paid for it.
helpful site: http://www.ctbw.com/lubman.htm
I think the quote that is most relevant to leadership today is "It is not essential that a Prince have all good qualities, but it is most essential that he should seem to have them." Leaders today must be elected in to office in most nations, so they have to earn the votes of the people. To do this they must seem like they are good people and good leaders. The people aren't going to vote for someone who seems like they are a liar and a bad person. The most important thing for leaders is to seem good, they need to seem like they are honest and fair and that they have good morals. Even if the leader isn't this way, they need to be able to convince everyone that they are. The voters want someone who they can trust in office to do the right thing.
I think that the quote "The ends justify the means." is bad advice for leaders today. In todays world everything that a ruler does is being closely watched and scrutinized. People are watching to see that you do the right thing and if you don't you will quickly lose your position. The ends definitly won't justify the means if what you do is not moral in the eyes of the people.
I think that the quote "Before all else, be armed." would have been helpful for the Incas. The Incas let their guard down thinking that they didn't need their weapons and this lead to their downfall. If they had had their weapons the story of Pizarro and the Incas might have been different. The Incan leader did not believe that being armed was a top priority and this was his mistake. Being armed should have been the most important thing to him to keep him and his people safe, but it wasn't and the Incas paid for it.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Effective Leader
The most effective type of leader for me is someone who is motivating. They are able to make me do things which I didn't think were possible. A leader to me is someone that is intelligent and knows what they are talking about, and is able to make others around them better. They are confident in everything they do and are fully committed to all of their actions. An effective leader for me is someone who is inspiring. They need to be commanding and harsh when needed, but also compassionate and sympathetic at times. For me, a good leader is someone who knows how to motivate their followers and is able to make those around them better.
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