? Greeks, Christians, And Romans? Essay, Research Paper
“Free Will and its effect on the Greeks, Christians, and Romans”
Free will is defined as: Voluntary choice or decision; freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention (Webster’s Online Collegiate Dictionary). Free will had an effect on the Greeks, Christians, and the Romans. Three stories, Oedipus the King, the Bible, and the Aenied, respectively, that we have studied and that fall in each society are examples of how free will is altered by different societies and how it effects their lives.
Oedipus the King was written by a Greek, Sophocles. During this time, the Greeks believed that everything was done for the gods, they did not have free will over their lives. There are many examples in the play in which the gods are controlling and tell the people what they should do or how they should live their lives. At the end of the play Oedipus asks Creon to banish him from Thebes:
Oedipus: Drive me out of Thebes, in exile.
Creon: Not I. Only the gods can give you that.
Oedipus: Surely the gods hate me so much-
Creon: You’ll get your wish at once…(Oedipus 639 lines 1168-71).
Creon and Oedipus discuss here how they have no control over their lives, decisions and all. The gods are the ones who make all of the choices. Oedipus, along with the rest of the Greeks, believed that he had no say in the way his life was going to turn out. He believed that it was destined for his life to end the way it did, with him being cursed and banished from Thebes.
The Bible is the word of God for the Christians. There are many examples of free will throughout the Bible. Christians believe that God gave us free will to do as we please, but whatever we do should be for the glorification of God. One very important example of free will that effected all Christians is in the book of Genesis. Adam and Eve have been told by God to not eat the fruit off of the tree in the garden:
We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, nethier shall ye touch it, lest ye die…when the woman saw that the tree was good for food…she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat…God asked, Hast though eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat (Genesis 53 book 3)?
God told Adam and Eve what to do, but he allowed them to make their own decisions and suffer the consequences of the choice that they made. They had free will to do as the wished and had an understanding God to watch over them and let them learn from their mistakes.
The Aeneid was written by the Roman, Virgil. During this time, the Roman’s believed that they did not have free will, the gods told them what to do with their lives. Aeneas believed that his mission, to found a city that would be the Roman state, was imposed upon him by the gods.
The god’s interpreter…has brought
Commands down through the racing winds!…
With my very ears
I drank his message in!…
I sail for Italy not of my own free will (The Aeneid 857 lines 468-75).
The gods told Aeneas that he should found a city. He did not necessarily feel that he was forced, he just knew that what the gods told him to do was right. But, like the Greeks, the Romans did not have free will to do as they pleased. They were simply told what to do by the gods, not destined or fated like the Greeks.
Although the degree of free will was different in each society, the Greeks, Christians, and Romans were all effected in one way or another. Whether it was the gods controlling their lives or God watching over their lives, free will had a very strong imprint on how each society lived their life.
Genesis. The Bible. The Norton Anthology: World Masterpieces. Ed. Lawall. & Mack.
New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1999. 51-72.
Merriam Webster’s Online Collegiate Dictionary. 2000. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary. 8 October 2000. www.m-w/cgi-bin/dictionary
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. The Norton Anthology: World Masterpieces. Ed.
Lawall. & Mack. New Tork: W.W. Norton & Co.,1999. 596-640.
Virgil. The Aenied. The Norton Anthology: World Masterpieces. Ed. Lawall. & Mack.
New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1999. 814-895.
Другие работы по теме:
Law Of Demand Essay Research Paper There
Law Of Demand Essay, Research Paper There are many different products that are in demand for teenagers today. Normally at different times there are different products that are high
Columbine Essay Research Paper Columbine Cause and
Columbine Essay, Research Paper Columbine: Cause and Effect The Columbine tragedy has struck another victim last week. If all thoughts were that the tragedy was behind us, no one has considered the effects of the massacre. A student that was injured in the massacre was making progress on recovering, when backlash from the tragedy struck.
Cause And Effect Of Becoming Law Enforcement
Officer Essay, Research Paper The decision to become a Law Enforcement officer is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It can effect the way you live in many ways. Your decision to carry a badge and gun in protection of life and property will change you forever. Your family, friends, and the way you live will be altered to accommodate this decision.
Not For Free Essay Research Paper Obtaining
Not For Free Essay, Research Paper Obtaining things for free is fast becoming a thing of the past. This is especially true online. Internet users were shocked in early November when Napstar, a company associated with free music online, announced a plan to begin charging for money for its popular service. It is also rumored that Scour Exchange, another free music service, will soon be charging for their services .
John Milton Essay Research Paper John Milton 2
John Milton Essay, Research Paper John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” describes the fall of man in a poetic lyric. His book closely details the character God, Satan, and how Adam and Eve came do their downfall. God’s first human creation, Adam, was given all luscious gifts of paradise, including free will. The Tree Of Knowledge was Adam and Eve’s only forbiddance.
Oedipus Rex 3 Essay Research Paper OEDIPUS
Oedipus Rex 3 Essay, Research Paper OEDIPUS REX There are those in the world that will have you believe that fate controls the lives of all of us. Still, there are those who insist that each individual has complete control over there own lives; a free will over there own destinies. Oedipus attempts to dodge his fate and change his life for the better, an act that has the reverse effect.
Freedom Essay Research Paper Free to me
Freedom Essay, Research Paper Free to me means that you have no restrictions, no laws, and no boundaries controlling you. You can do basically what you want, when you want. If people were to follow my idea of freedom though, the world would be a chaotic place to live.
Religious Freedom EsatablishmentFree Exercise Cl Essay Research
Paper Freedom of Religion under the First Amendment has been up for interpretation throughout most of the history of the United States. The two controversial parts of Freedom of Religion are the Establishment clause and the Free Exercise clause. The purpose of this paper is to critique the Supreme Court s reasoning behind it s interpretation of these two clauses.
This Is One Of Them Essay Research
Paper … Art And Music (33) Free essays on art, music, dance and more Biographies (152) Free essays on famous historical figures Creative Writing (100) new
Gibb
’s Free Energy Cycle Essay, Research Paper The second law of thermodynamics states that energy transitions are imperfect. No matter what, energy is lost. In machines an 75% loss of energy is considered average. In biological reactions there is usually a 60% loss. Since all reactions are constantly losing a percentage of the energy they give, it is necessary to have a constant intake of energy to make up for what is lost.
Greenhouse Effect Essay Research Paper Greenhouse EffectThis
Greenhouse Effect Essay, Research Paper Greenhouse Effect This effect is the result of certain atmospheric gases letting sunlight through to the earth’s surface, while not letting energy radiated outward from the earth’s surface. This results in a net buildup of solar energy in the Earth’s atmosphere, because the flow in is greater than the flow outwards.
Geographic Features Of A Region Has Important
Effects On Development Essay, Research Paper Geographic Features of A Region Has Important Effects on Development The geographic features of a nation or region have an important effect
Jane Eyre Childhood Essay Research Paper HOW
Jane Eyre Childhood Essay, Research Paper HOW DOES OUR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AFFECT OUR LIVES Certainly every experience we have not only in our childhood but also in our entire life affects it either in a positive or a negative way. Experiences in our childhood are more important because those are the ones that bring up our character and personality.
Bignerds Essay Research Paper Why nuclear fusion
Bignerds Essay, Research Paper Why nuclear fusion is so cool……. For a fusion reaction to take place, the nuclei, which are positively charged, must have enough kinetic energy to overcome their electrostatic force of repulsion. This can occur either when one nucleus is accelerated to high energies by an accelerating device, or …
Fate Vs Freewill Essay Research Paper The
Fate Vs. Freewill Essay, Research Paper The argument has been made by some religious people that every person’s fate is predestined, and everyone is subject to the fate God wills them. Others have argued that everything in life is based on free will where each person decides their own fate. Still others have strayed towards the middle, claiming it is a combination of both.
DWorld Essay Research Paper Praise and Blame
D-World Essay, Research Paper Praise and Blame in World D In World D, a world in which people recognize that they do not have free will, it is still possible to maintain a system of praise and
Advertisin Essay Research Paper Advertising No Effect
Advertisin Essay, Research Paper Advertising: No Effect or Negative Effect? No effect! If someone told you to jump off of a bridge would you do it? Maybe. If they told you to destroy your life and body by smoking a cigarette, would you? Possibly. But any of these descisions you make are not forced upon you by them and they have no impact on if you do what they say or not.
Spear Fishing Essay Research Paper Cause or
Spear Fishing Essay, Research Paper Cause or Effect SPEAR FISHING Free dive spear fishing is a very enjoyable sport. This great outdoor sport is a perfect way to keep the body very healthy. It can effect the body in many positive ways. It works as a great cardiovascular exercise; a great way to relieve stress; and a delicious way to get the proper nutrients the body needs to stay healthy.
Freedom Not Always The Answer Essay Research
Paper Freedom, not Always the Answer It is a popular misconception that the northern states, in pre-Civil War days, were not prejudice. In fact, in some cases, the opposite is true. The North and South both had their shares of racism. It didn’t matter where you were at. If you were a black, you weren’t human. Even free blacks were despised, feared, and thought to be less than human.
Photoelectric Effect Essay Research Paper Photoelectric EffectPhotoelectric
Photoelectric Effect Essay, Research Paper Photoelectric Effect Photoelectric Effect is the formation and liberation of electrically charged particles in matter, usually metals, when it is irradiated by light or other electromagnetic radiation. The term photoelectric effect designates several types of interactions.
Smoking Essay Research Paper Smoking in public
Smoking Essay, Research Paper Smoking in public places should be illegal, and today, we the affirmative team, will give you many reasons to prove why. People have been smoking cigarettes for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t
Civics Questions Essay Research Paper 1
Civics Questions Essay, Research Paper 1. How is government authority in the United States limited? Give one example. The government can not interfere with those rights granted to the people through the Constitution
Slave To Pain An Essay On Beloved
Essay, Research Paper Slave to Pain Sethe, now free from slavery has become a slave again, but this time instead of being a slave to a white master she is a, slave to her own pain. The sources of her pain are numerous, including the stealing of her milk, the murdering of her child, Beloved, attempting to kill the rest of her children, and two of her children leaving her because of it.
Article 23 Essay Research Paper Universal Declaration
Article 23 Essay, Research Paper Universal Declaration Of Human Rights ARTICLE 23 -Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment-
Oedipus Fate Vs Free Will Essay Research
Paper Oedipus the King, was written by Sophocles between C.A.496-406B.C. In this play, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles? belief that fate will control a man?s life no matter how much free will exists.
Fate Overpowers Free Will Oedipus The King
) Essay, Research Paper Concerning the question of fate vs. free will, Sophocles felt that a person has no control over the course of his life. In the play Oedipus the King, Oedipus is a great example of Sophocles’ belief that fate will control a man’s life no matter how much free will exists in the man’s heart.
Free Rider Problem Essay Research Paper The
Free Rider Problem Essay, Research Paper The Free Rider ProblemThe free rider issue has become one of the most serious economic issues today. The free rider is a lazy type person who wants the benefits that others bring in without having to do the work. The free rider typically takes advantage of a public good.
Personality Development Essay Research Paper Luke BrotzmanDevelopmental
Personality Development Essay, Research Paper Luke Brotzman Developmental Psychology Dr. Frangicetto 4/24/00 Personality Development What theory of Human Development makes a person what they are? Why does a person do what they do? Where does personality come from and how does it grow? These are some frequently asked questions when discussing the topic of personality.
WHAT CAUSES A CRISIS Essay Research Paper
Title of Paper : crisis Grade Received on Report : 92 WHAT CAUSES A CRISIS? Such a question may at first seem unanswerable because there are so many different kinds of unpleasant situations into which we humans can get ourselves. In one word, however, the
Sports World Should Be Drug Free Essay
, Research Paper Critique on ?The Sports World Should be Drug Free? This article was derived on the question: Why the sports world should be drug free? Barry McCaffrey?s answer to this question is based on a simple assumption that drug usage in sports has a direct impact on children which will ultimately lead to downfall of sports.
Death On Demand Reaction Paper Essay Research
Paper Death on Demand Reaction Paper Death on Demand was quit interesting. Throughout the novel several economic concepts were cleared up therefore, helping me to better understand them. But also, at the same time I was further confused about several others. I was especially intrigued by the following four concepts, and the characters in the novel helped my understanding of them grow.
Be Healthy And Drug Free Essay Research
Paper Be Healthy and Drug Free To be healthy and drug free means much more than it sounds. It means turning down peer pressure, not using drugs, and not feeling the need to use