The Psychology of Political Theory

Throughout history there have been various views of man in terms of his social relationships and subsequent forming of political structures. Aristotle (in his Politics) observed, “man is by nature a political animal.” Man’s behavior can be studied according to psychological principles. Given this fact, the political behavior of people may be subject to Freudian [...]

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On Consent

John Locke and Socrates talked about consent; how people tacitly consent by doing nothing, and expressed consent, when people state their consent.  I do not think that tacit and expressed are the only kinds of consent that we should consider. Take homework for example- I do not expressly say that I am not going to [...]

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Does everthing come down to the TRUTH?

I want to know what you guys think about this. I feel like the reason that Hobbes talks about is very similar to the truth that Socrates talks about. Like what Socrates says about the truth, Hobbes says the the reason is something that we just know and we use that to act and make [...]

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Majorty Opinion and Truth in the US Government

We have been discussing in class whether majority opinion or truth should prevail in the laws of society. While Socrates argued for truth, the Athenians as a whole believed in majority opinion. It is easy to say that we want society to function through truth. But how do we determine what is truth?  Isn’t the [...]

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MLK and Socrates- more different than you’d think

Upon reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s letter from a Birmingham Jail, as well considering the readings, lectures, and discussions about Socrates that I have been exposed to, it has become evident that they actually have very different methods of achieving their goals and of teaching.  First, MLK is a far more public person than Socrates.  [...]

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Execution Controversy

“Dead man walking”.  This phrase resonates in the minds of inmates as they approach the destination of their execution. But should it? Arguments highlighting the morality and constitutionality of capital punishment swarm the media and commands answers. The current issues facing lawmakers today finds relevance in Athens trial against Socrates. An article that surfaced in [...]

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Why?

There are obviously disagreements over whether Socrates was contradicting himself, and if whether what he did was right or wrong.  I’m not even going to post what I believe because I feel that it isn’t going to prove anything. For centuries people have been bickering over the choices he made and what was going through [...]

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Contradictory Arguments

Socrates clearly denies that he is guilty of the charges brought against him, so why does he turn down Crito’s proposal for escape?  In The Apology, Socrates asserts, “hardly anything of what [my accusers] said was true” (17b).  Socrates states his innocence and then the Athenian court pronounces him guilty, so it would appear by [...]

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interesting…

these people don’t even know what they are talking about. they are wise with the knowledge that they dont have. Socrates talked about people like this.

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Socrates knew what he was doing

Why would Socrates want to die? It can’t be because he hates life itself and wishes to abandon it, for he states “one should never do wrong in return, nor do any man harm, no matter what he may have done to you” (49d). By leaving life while he has the chance to live, Socrates [...]

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