Nietzsche Vs. Hobbes Essays - Friedrich Nietzsche, Thomas Hobbes

Nietzsche Vs. Hobbes ANDREW LANGILLE GRADE 13 PHILOSOPHY COURSE, How are the philosophies of Nietzsche and Hobbes different on topics of Christianity, Human Nature, and Morality. The philosophies of Nietzsche and Hobbes' are radically different, Hobbes' philosophy is dominated by loyalty to the crown, riddled with references to the Christian scriptures, and a belief that life is ?nasty, brutish, and short?(Leviathan, 133); while Nietzsche's philosophy was dominated by the pessimistic Schopenhauer, a belief that the human race was a herd, and that ?God is dead?(Thus Spoke Zarathustra, S. 13). Hobbes and Nietzsche look at the world completely differently. Hobbes was a Christian who defended the bible, while Nietzsche called ?Christianity the one great curse?(The Anti-Christ, s. 62). On the topic of human nature Hobbes thought life to be a ?warre...of every man, against every man?(Leviathan, 232) while Nietzsche took a nihilistic approach and declared that ? human nature is just a euphemism for inertia, cultural conditioning, and what we are before we make something of ourselves...?(Human, all to Human, 67). On morality these two philosophers have opposing views, Hobbes views on morality were straight out of Exodus, while Nietzsche holds that ?morality is a hindrance to the development of new and better customs: it makes stupid [people]?(Daybreak, s. 19). These two philosophers lived at different times, in different locations, and their differing philosophies reflect the lives that they lived. Thomas Hobbes was born into an English upper class family in 1588, his father was the parish priest. Thomas was educated by his uncle until he was fifteen, when he was sent to Oxford to continue his studies. In 1608 he finished his formal education and took up with the son of Lord Cavendish, they undertook an adventure which saw them travel across Europe. Hobbes remained in England until the start of the English civil war when he fled to France. The civil war took place from 1642 till 1649, this conflict had a profound affect on Hobbes, particularly the execution of Charles I in 1649. All his writings after this event reflect Hobbes' quest to find a peaceful, stable form of government. Hobbes died in 1679. Fredrich Nietzsche was born into a upper class family in Germany, on 15 October 1844, his father was tutor for the royal family and also a priest. Nietzsche father died when he was twelve, this had life-long impact on him. At age eight-teen he discovered the philosopher Schopenhauer, the basis for much of his early work, and gave up Christianity. He was educated at the University of Bonn, at the age of twenty-five Nietzsche was appointed Professor of Philosophy at the University of Basle. He became close friends with composer Richard Wanger, who's work he enthusiastically supported. Nietzsche most productive years were to be his last, he drove insane by syphilis and died at the dawn of this century. Nietzsche declared in that ?modern Christian civilization is sick and must be overcome?(The Anti-Christ, 156), Hobbes would have found that excerpt to be repugnant having declared that ?God...when he speaks to any subject...he ought to be obeyed? (Leviathan, 492). Hobbes was a Christian, while Nietzsche was a atheist, their views on Christianity are completely opposite. Nietzsche held the belief throughout his life that ?Christianity has taken the side of everything weak, base, ill-constituted, it has made an ideal out of opposition to the preservative instincts of a strong life; it has depraved the reason even of the intellectually strongest natures by teaching men to feel the supreme values of intellectuality as sinful, as misleading, as temptations,?(The Anti-Christ, S. 5) Professor Howard Rainer of Davis University states that ?Nietzsche was uncompromisingly anti-Christian, for Christianity was the most potent force against those values which he prized most highly.? Nietzsche felt that Christianity would hinder the emergence of the ?overman?(The Will to Power, 546), a human being that follows their own path and not the herd's. Hobbes while being a Christian to the end, had a rather pessimistic view of it; Professor Ian Johnston of Malaspina University states that ? Hobbes believed the public religion of the artificial state must serve the need for security to protect the selfish economic interests of the individuals composing it.? Hobbes view of Christianity was quite radical

Nationalism in Europe essays

Nationalism in Europe essays Patriotism and nationalism mean essentially the same thing, only with different obvious connotations. When one thinks of patriotism in America, one thinks of the Fourth of July, fireworks, hamburger cook-outs, flags, war-heroes, and the Republican Party. When one thinks of nationalism, images are quickly brought to mind of the IRA, Al-Qaeda, Spanish Basque Countrys ETA, WWII concentration camps, nearly every war in history, and the Republican Party. It is interesting to observe how this notion is viewed in Europe as compared to the United States. In the United States, pride in ones country is regarded as a virtue. It shows honour, dignity, courage; even moral character. American pride is synonymous to the things America is founded upon: democracy, freedom, pursuits of happiness, and apple pie. It is in turn a reaction to a world in which dictators rule and terrorist groups threaten the lives and safety of innocent people. American patriotism actually becomes a reaction to foreign nationalism which these other groups are based upon, interestingly enough. There are far more flags flying over front yards in American homes than there are in Europe. In Venice, as a matter of fact, I remember seeing more PACE (peace) flags hanging out of peoples windows than I saw Italian flags or, even less, Venetian flags. Europeans seem to be a bit more sceptical of the idea of patriotism and might regard ones pride in his country as nationalistic. Bitterness toward national pride could be a reaction to the conflict between the US and Iraq, where third parties might view both sides motives as nationalistic. There are also the aforementioned examples of the separatist groups of Northern Ireland and Spain, also with which nationalism might be associated. All this makes sense in todays Europe where it almost seems like states are trying to forget their differences in order for everyon ...

Essay on a set topic - choose ONE of the below questions as your

On a set topic - choose ONE of the below questions as your topic. Indicate which one you have chosen - Essay Example In the recent years there have been efforts to try and address the issue of climate change. Countries are being advised to adopt anti-climate change policies. In this context, they are actually required to address the key issues in the society that have prevented the adoption of the strategies. The study would discuss on how the social and cultural processes have impacted while addressing this issue of climate change. How values affects the decisions and actions with regard to climate change, what role culture plays in the strategies for adopting to climate change, and in the process overcoming the barriers to change. The study would also highlight the irreversible losses of cultural and natural heritage as a result of climate change, and finally, what cultural practitioners contribute to the search for creative solutions to the negative impacts of climate change. Discussion Climate change is caused by a variety of factors which include oceanic processes like oceanic circulation, var iations in solar radiation that is received by Earth, volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics, and lastly, human induced alterations of the natural world; the latter effects are currently resulting in global warming, while climate change is often used to describe the human specific impacts (Rothwell, 2006:56). The factors that shape climate are referred to as climate forcings. They include processes like variations in solar radiation, continental drift, mountain building and, variations in earth orbit, and changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases. There are arrays of climate change feedbacks that can either diminish or amplify the initial forcing (Barnett & Adger, 2003:134). The human factors that cause climate change include: an increase in the carbon (iv) oxide concentrations as a result of emissions from fossil fuel combustion, followed by the aerosols and then cement manufacture. The other factors include the following: animal agriculture, deforestation, ozone depletion, an d lastly, land use. They are also of concern in the roles that they play, both separately or in conjunction with the other factors, in affecting the climate, microclimate, and measurement of climatic variables. On the other hand, according to Jones (2009:101) asserts that culture in the context of climate change, refers to the common manner or way a community of persons make sense of the world. Culture has social, material, ideological, and artistic dimensions, all which have an impact on what people think, believe and value, and how they respond to the call of action The determination of knowledge from the social settings requires social constructivism. The term social constructivism is referred as a sociological theory of knowledge that is usually applied to the general philosophical constructivism into social settings. Whereas groups construct knowledge for one another, they collaboratively create a small culture of shared artefacts with shared meanings (Grant, 2007:167). When on e is completely immersed within this culture of this sort, one is all the time learning about how to be part of that culture on various levels (Barab, Dodge, Thomas, Jackson, & Tuzun, 2007: 268). As a consequence, strong social constructivism as a philosophical approach suggests that the natural world has very small and/or non existent role in the construction of scientific knowledge. Recently, scientists have been struggling to comprehend the past and the future climate by utilizing observations and