, Research Paper
Different Viewpoints on Human Nature
Throughout history there have been arguments about anything and everything that is disagreeable. People innately have there own and often different opinions. A prominent discussion topic throughout history has been the nature of mankind. Many have written works about human nature but few are discussed in greater detail than Candide, The Prince, and Essay on Man. Voltaire, Niccolo Machiavelli, and Alexander Pope, who wrote these three works respectively, concur with each other on many view points. But it is their differences that make the works unique.
Voltaire wrote Candide in 1759 during the period known as the Enlightenment. It is a story that has a deeper symbolic meaning about life and human nature. At face value it seems to be an optimistic tale that speaks highly of man. But when looked at closely, it envelops a whole new meaning. It is full of sexual allusions and darker views on human nature and man himself. This wasn’t exactly a new concept, it was just brought about in a different and unusual way. Candide is different from the other works in the fact that it was written as a story about a baron’s son, which Voltaire uses as a third party media to get his views across. Both Machiavelli and Pope were straightforward in their works. Another difference between Voltaire and the others is his sarcasm. Candide translated into English means optimism. In this work, Voltaire was not saying that people are good. He says that people are greedy, power driven beings that put themselves above others. Yet his literal words all seem happy and joyful. He uses his wit and sarcasm to get his point across.
The Prince, written in 1513 by Niccolo Machiavelli, is an essay about how to rule a state and keep its adjuncts content. Whether it be a princedom, a republic or a mixture of the two. In his essay, human nature and how it interacts with the prince is discussed greatly. Machiavelli tells the prince that he should be as greedy and as devious as can be gotten away with. He explains how to gain and control states and gives examples of how his points are proven. Machiavelli’s main point is that there are classes of people and that people are in a certain class for a reason. He says people should remain that way so that all the roles are filled. He differs from the others in this aspect and also in his view that people are ignorant fools. Another way Machiavelli differs from the other two is religion and god. Where as Alexander Pope tries to intervene god in human nature, Machiavelli says to ignore it and try to become as powerful as one can without thought about what moral consequences could occur.
Alexander Pope wrote his work, Essay on Man in 1733. He talked about man in relationship to the universe and how human nature dictates who we are. He differs in his views by focusing on a different perspective. Pope looks at mankind as a miniscule almost non-existent speck when compared to the universe, a much larger entity. Yet, it is so much more than just a grain of sand on a beach. Each person has a duty and if a duty is not done then the whole picture can be disrupted. So while man is small, it is not in the least insignificant. Pope also tends to discuss God and religion a lot when talking about human nature. He is a religious person and believed god created the earth. He says it is human nature to be greedy but we must restrain ourselves from breaking gods laws. Pope wrote this essay totally to the point. It is in rhyming poetic form yet is titled Essay on Man and strays not far from its main topic.
Pope, Machiavelli, and Voltaire are considered three of the most intelligent people to have lived. Their essays about the theories of mankind and human nature were astounding considering the time period we are talking about. They disagree about many of the concepts of human nature, yet agree on the basics. Mankind is greedy and self loving. It is hard to have concurring opinions when talking about a topic so abstract as human nature. It is difficult to prove the nature of man now, yet alone in the 16th or 18th centuries. Human nature will be debated and quarreled over for many years to come.
Другие работы по теме:
Man Sized Job Essay Research Paper ManSized
Man Sized Job Essay, Research Paper Man-Sized Job was written by Sharlot Hall (1870-1943). It is a poem that defines a woman?s work from a man?s point of view. Poems like this were uncommon in the late 1800?s ? early 1900?s, especially if women wrote them. The two aspects of this poem that I would like to analyze are the vocabulary used and the male chauvinistic point-of-view.
Tapeworm2 Essay Research Paper Biological RelationshipIn nature
Tapeworm2 Essay, Research Paper Biological Relationship In nature you see many biological relationship in which two living aninamls have a relationship. One animal will benefits from the other aninaml that animal which lives off the other benefits from that animal or could suffers. A tapeworm and a human are example of a parasitism.
Whatever You Want Essay Research Paper Art
Whatever You Want Essay, Research Paper Art is an expression of life, which means it expresses emotions. Creation that allows for interpretation of any kind is art. I have read that art is a human skill as opposed to nature, a skill applied to music, painting, poetry etc… I believe that nature is art as well. If something is made a certain way, it is beautiful in its own right.
Romantics Vs Realists Essay Research Paper Views
Romantics Vs Realists Essay, Research Paper Views of Nature Romantics verse Realists and Naturalists have different views of nature. In this essay I will portray how Romantics see nature, and then how Realists and Naturalists together see nature. It will show how Romantics had a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature.
Locke Essay Research Paper In the Second
Locke Essay, Research Paper In the Second Treatise of Government, Locke explains different ways in which human beings can live together. He suggests there are two ways and he describes them as “the state of nature” and “civil (or political) society.” “Civil Society” can exist in many forms although there is only one “state of nature.” The determination of the best form of government is dependent on the recognition of these two types of societies.
Human Nature Essay Research Paper My belief
Human Nature Essay, Research Paper My belief about human nature is best summarized by the thoughts of Fr. Montaigne. I think that the idea that man is a hypocritical and contradictory is
Morality Does Need Religion Essay Research Paper
Morality Does Need Religion In his essay, C. Stephen Layman clashes two views of morality: that of the secular point of view and the religious point of view. Layman starts out by defining the two different stances. The secular point of view states that there is no after life and that morality was an emergent phenomenon.
The Mind Body Problem Essay Research Paper
First and foremost, the field has witnessed the formation of two relatively distinct, yet overlapping, perspectives and paradigms for empirical inquiry into well-being that revolve around two distinct philosophies. The first of these can be broadly labeled hedonism (Kahneman et al 1999) and reflects the view that well-being consists of pleasure or happiness.
The Communist Manifesto And Karl Marx And
Frederick Engels Essay, Research Paper The Communist Manifesto and Karl Marx and Frederick Engels In The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Frederick Engels present their
My View On Animal Rights Essay Research
Paper Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself. –Froude (1818-1894) When
The Examination Between The Human Being Essay
, Research Paper The Hungry Soul: Eating and the Perfecting of Human Nature, by Leon Kass takes a unique view of examining the body and soul by focusing on the eating habits of human beings. He uses this in order to distinguish humans from animals and the divine element (God). In this book, Kass touches on the point of sanctified eating.
Shooting An Elephant Essay Research Paper Human
?Shooting An Elephant? Essay, Research Paper Human Nature In “Shooting an Elephant” , human nature is the same as it would be in just about any story that we would read or hear. Human nature is no different in Burma than anywhere else in the world. In this story we see different degrees of human nature, from completely normal to in some cases extreme.
Locke And Hobbes Essay Research Paper Hobbes
Locke And Hobbes Essay, Research Paper Hobbes point of view on human nature and how a government should be run is a more realistic way of looking at things than John Locke?s theory. Both Hobbes and Locke see human nature differently, Hobbes sees people as being run by selfishness whereas Locke says that people are naturally kind.
Thomas 2
Thomas & Hobbes Essay, Research Paper Thomas Hobbes, a mathematician, and John Locke, a philosopher both had great ideas on human society. Hobbes had a more pessamistic outlook on on human nature. Locke saw men living in a state of nature which was basically reasonable an cooperative. In my opinion hobbes ideas on human nature as being competitive prove more true.
True Human Nature Essay Research Paper True
True Human Nature Essay, Research Paper True Human Nature Reading Lord of the Flies, one gets quite an impression of Golding?s view on human nature. Whether this view is right or wrong, true or not, is a point to be debated. This image Golding paints for the reader, that of humans being inherently bad, is a perspective not all people share.
The Prince Essay Research Paper The PrinceWhat
The Prince Essay, Research Paper The Prince What is Machiavelli’s view of human nature? While reading The Prince, I have come to a conclusion that Machiavelli demonstrates a view of governing a state that is so different from that of humanists of his time thought. The humanists of Machiavelli’s time believed that an individual had a lot to offer to the well being of the state and should be able to help in whatever way necessary.
Human Nature In The Legends Of King
Arthur And His Noble Knights Essay, Research Paper When John Stienbeck translated the tales of King Arthur he realized that he needed to maintain the elements of human nature that appeared through out the original stories. There are many examples of human nature in the sections of the book that we have read, there are good and bad aspects of human nature portrayed through the book and I will only mention a few.
Grendel Essay Research Paper In the novel
Grendel Essay, Research Paper In the novel Grendel, John Gardner?s use of the first-person point of view completely alters Grendel from the manifestation of Beelzebub into a keen quasi-human being. This transformation is shown through Grendel?s feelings toward fellow creatures and enemies. Also, the rational side of this monster is exhibited through Grendel?s own self-exploration.
Tech Essay Research Paper Imagine thirty or
Tech Essay, Research Paper Imagine thirty or forty years form now. Biotechnology has really advanced. Scientist can now clone people and also change their DNA strands making them better or perfect all around. Do you think that it is safe to tinker with Mother Nature? Is it wise to try and control Mother Nature? Better yet can she ever be controlled? Whether or not she can be controlled is a big of deal.
Some Views On Sartre Essay Research Paper
Sartre’s View 1. Existence Precedes Essence/ Subjectivity is the Starting Point o Freedom for Self o You are the center of your own value system o As a free agent, you spin your web
Divine Discontene Essay Research Paper Each and
Divine Discontene Essay, Research Paper Each and every human strives to be better.A desire, a subconscious power, known as divine discontent leads them to dedicate themselves twoard becoming better or achieving greater goals. Divine discontent leads some to happiness, and others who do not succeed to failure.
People Or Penguins Essay Research Paper Essay
People Or Penguins Essay, Research Paper Essay Summary: People or Penguins In the essay People or Penguins author William F. Baxter held the view that environmental issues should be human-centered and cost beneficial. In other words, his observations are that our affect on the environment is irrelevant except as it affects human interest.
Rousseau Origin Of Inequality Essay Research Paper
The Origin of Inequality In Rousseau s Discourse on the Origin of Inequalities , Rousseau tries to explain the birth and evolution of inequality between humans dating back to savage man in the pure state of nature. Rousseau proposes that it was not man that progressed toward inequality as much as it was the state of nature itself.
Lord Of The Flies Human Nature Essay
, Research Paper Lord of The Flies: Human Nature “We are all murderers and prostitutes – no matter to what culture, society, class, nation one belongs, no matter how normal, moral, or mature, one
Human Nature Is Inherently Bad Essay Research
Paper Human Nature Is Inherently Bad There are many theories as to Human nature. One of which exists, under the thoughts of a prominent philosopher, and founder of Psychoanalysis Sigmund
On Lying In Bed (Essay On This
Essay Written By G K Chestert Essay, Research Paper In this short essay, G.K. Chesterton is able to display his absolute understanding of human nature. He explains this nature through humor and wit in this particular essay, On Lying in Bed. According to this essay, Chesterton has developed three parts to human nature.
Environmental Ethics Essay Research Paper The anthropocentric
Environmental Ethics Essay, Research Paper The anthropocentric approach is criticized for “limiting values to the human realm,” for being biased toward the nonhuman world, and for its failure “to provide a satisfactory basis for a moral philosophy of ecological obligation” because it is concerned with human self-interest (Lecture).
Poem Human
’s Hate Essay, Research Paper When I think of a human trait. I think of human’s hate. Although it’s our nature, I think its awfully immature. Hate is something thats lated through the ages, we learn about it everyday turning through out history pages. teh color of you skin, we can’t help what shade we were born in.
Human Nature In Society Essay Research Paper
The roots of human nature are sunk deep into our history and experiences. When in our own lives we are to find the basis of our human nature, we must look to our early years, the formative years. Now take for example if we placed a newborn in the wild or in a high-class, well-mannered, wealthy family. The human nature of the newborn in the wild will be exactly that, wild and chaotic.
Human Nature Essay Research Paper Human NatureThere
Human Nature Essay, Research Paper Human Nature There is no perfect person in the world, but the celestial and most sacred person has their faults. But my belief is that everyone was born free of sin, because of course, when you’re a baby, you don’t do anything wrong. But I believe that humans aren’t essentially good or bad, but rather, both.
Human Nature Essay Research Paper Shawn Gullberg
Human Nature Essay, Research Paper Shawn Gullberg Dr. Katz 4-01-01 Human Nature Man is constantly attempting to be better, faster, stronger, and smarter. This has been occurring for many years and has become human nature to strive forward and advance. It is uncommon for an individual to be reasonable and make the decision to stay within his limits.
Animal Rights Essay Research Paper Animal RightsNo
Animal Rights Essay, Research Paper Animal Rights No animal should be killed unless it is for food. None of the animals of this planet deserve to die. The only animal that can do bad is humans. Just because we think we rule the world this does not mean we are allowed to kill the creatures of the world we live in. Humans believe that they are the best of all animals, this is an extremely arrogant point of view.
Destructors Human Nature Essay Research Paper Human
Destructors Human Nature Essay, Research Paper Human Nature Human nature is at the heart of every political ideology. It is the system that springs up from the core ideas depending on a particular attitude regarding human nature. Human nature at the root is what we are, and what it means to be human, if anything.