...Plato: Illuminating the Human Condition In “The Allegory of the Cave,” Plato starts his writing with, “and now, I said, let me show a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened…” (66). The definition of allegory is “the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also: an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression” (Merriam-Webster). Plato’s works were written before the birth of Christ. Yet it is just as relevant today as it bears witness to the complexity of human life and sheds light on the human condition—certainly a timeless topic for exploration. Plato’s writing depicts how we, as human beings, view, understand, and experience life and the things around us in our own unique way, and how we all struggle to make the right choices for ourselves, as it’s often easier to take the path of least resistance. When we see the sun, do we all see the same sun or see the same color? When we dream, do we all experience the same dream and give it the same meaning? These thoughts and feelings require us to look at our existence in a metacognitive way. As the story begins, there are prisoners living in a cave, bound by chains, and surrounded by fire. They can only see what is right in front of them. There is an opening in the front of cave that allows the light in. The prisoners can choose to see the light outside and yearn to be out of the cave, although most of them believe it is easier...
Words: 1029 - Pages: 5
...The Human Condition and the Consumption of Humans To be human, many crucial characteristics, both conscious and instinctual, must develop and intermingle to support what we call typical human behavior. What we perceive to be genuine feelings are backed by hundreds of thousands of years of evolutionary pruning of certain instinctual patterns. These patterns describe who we are, how we think, and what we do in a way specific only to our species. The wonder of curiosity, the meaning of life, the fear of death, the search for gratification and prioritizing the wellbeing of other; these traits make up the human condition. The human condition in a nutshell is society’s personal and social features, good and bad, that have guided our ancestors throughout our long and ambiguous trudge up the evolutionary path. These features have provided every culture in history with an instinctual baseline for ideas to flourish from; schools of thought that have had the power to inform and improve, or unfortunately, to segregate and destroy. Our entire historical track record is littered with people preaching rights and wrongs, both with convincing justifications for their beliefs and actions. Situations that breached the moral and ethical limits of that time, permitting proceedings that may not have benefitted the whole of society, but that sculpted the purpose of our understanding and existence today. Our background, seemingly a battle over two sides of the same coin, all stems from humans’ specifically...
Words: 1180 - Pages: 5
...Many people may ask themselves “Are we insane living in a sane world, or are we sane living in an insane world?”. The following works of literature can be used to help find the answer for life experiences. The Zoo Story, by Edward Albee depicts the story of two men Peter and Jerry who meet at Central Park. Other stories such as Hills Like White Elephants, The Old Man at the Bridge, and A Clean, Well-Lighted Place, by Ernest Hemingway, each reflect a tale of human conditions experienced by many. Human condition can be defined as the positive and negative aspects of existence as a human being. Events that go coincide with human condition would be birth, love, and even death. The condition of human beings is something that has caused people to...
Words: 1103 - Pages: 5
...Namer wearing the Red crown of lower Egypt with the decapitated bodies of enemy troops sprawled out to the side.This portrays Namers victory over his enemies and his unification of the two crowns under a single man. Beneath the king are two large serpopard’s, a mythical hybrid between a lioness and a serpent. Both upper and lower Egypt worshiped these creatures and the intertwining of their necks is an additional representation of Egyptian unity under Narmer. At the very bottom of the palette a bovine image is seen knocking down the walls of a city, further commemorating Namers military victory. This ancient artifact displays the critical role of a ruthless warrior in the forming of one of the greatest civilizations in all of human history. Although human beings should always strive to avoid violence, the use of force is essential to to building complex civilization. Violence is crucial to the development of a civilization because it is not only an effective means to attain power but is also an excellent tool to demonstrate in the purest sense the authority of a regime. To build a civilization there must exist some form of government. And governments are most effective when their citizens not only recognize but obey their leadership. Therefore I would argue that governing through the use of...
Words: 1539 - Pages: 7
...If you ask anyone what the state of the human condition is you may get varying results, some say we're better then we've ever been with the rise of civil rights, and equal opportunity for all genders, creeds, and races. Some may tell you that we're worse than we've ever been, albeit for some of the same reasons stated above, or for reasons such as governmental corruption, theft of data, and countless hackings into our private accounts. But I think regardless of what you think of the current condition, there are a few things we need to think about before we go about trying to better our world. Human Pride. Pride is a word that has so many connotations to it. One can be proud of an art project they created, then, after selling said item, they become wealthy, gaining renown and respect across the art crowd, the person can then take that renown as tangible and physical proof of their superiority over their fellow artists, valuing only the renown gained and forgetting what made them create in the first place. We've seen this time and time again, whether it be Orson Welles' higher than thou attitude after gaining popularity, or John Lennon's "Bigger than Jesus" quote. Pride changes people, and, in my belief, for the worse. Obviously people are still people, we all make mistakes and sadly some of us decide to only see the good side of ourselves and fearing to see whats wrong is wrong. Pride is the biggest perpetrator of broken promises and war that...
Words: 535 - Pages: 3
...Leadership & the Human Condition: Necessity or Luxury? MB 520 Self Leadership Abstract For many leaders, as they lead others, they cannot neglect the element of the human condition. Human condition is a phrase often used with respect, the generality of situations humans encounter in interacting with each other and the world. The human condition is composed of all human experiences (i.e. key events, characteristics, situations, etc.) which also can relate to the biological, social, intelligent, realistic, self-aware, responsible, and meaningful being to the existence of human survival. The question is, however, when leaders include the human condition in their leading, is it a luxury or necessity? This can be answered by examining the myths, leadership styles, curiosity, different personalities, and delving deeply into the leader’s self. Keywords: human condition, being, biological, social, intelligent, realistic, self-awareness, responsible, meaningful, luxury, necessity, myths, styles, curiosity Leadership & the Human Condition: Necessity or Luxury? Leaders cannot exclude the element of human condition when leading. Human condition is the generality of situations that humans face in interacting with each other and the world. Human condition is sum of all human experiences and relates different types of beings (i.e. biological, self-aware, realistic, etc.) to the existence of human survival. Is leading by including the human condition a luxury or necessity? By...
Words: 910 - Pages: 4
...The definition of the human condition is that it encompasses the unique features of being human without having to consider one’s gender, race, culture or class. It captures the unalterable part of humanity that is inherent and innate to human beings. This consists of concerns such as the meaning of life, the search for gratification, the sense of curiosity, the inevitability of isolation or awareness regarding the inescapability of death. It can be summed up as the fundamental issues of human existence. My personal perspective on what the human condition is, is the state we are in. It refers to what we need as humans and the experiences we go through for instants the need for basic necessities like food, shelter, drugs, sex etc. We want to experience love and the feeling of belonging to someone, we need that sense of security. Maya Angelou, a remarkable renaissance woman who is hailed as having one of the greatest voices of contemporary literature explores in depth the different elements on the human condition in her anthology, ‘And Still I Rise’. From the first section, ‘Touch Me, Life, Not Softly’, we are immediately introduced to the painful aspects of being in a romantic relationship. In her poem, ‘A Kind of Love, Some Say’ it discusses the complexity of being abused by the one you love. The title itself suggests it’s still considered as love however it’s a different “Kind”. This shows how humans, despite how bad some circumstances are, need to feel like they are loved...
Words: 1600 - Pages: 7
...The Lottery and Bartleby, the Scrivener Gothic Literature is known for its presentation of hidden darkness of the human condition. The appearance of Gothic literature can often include parts that shock or place terror in the reader. However, its important to also understand that the human condition can be determined while reading different pieces of Gothic literature. In the short stories Bartleby, the Scrivener, written by Herman Melville and The Lottery, written by Shirley Jackson are both pieces of Gothic literature that can compare to each other because they discover different human conditions. When reading The Lottery we are introduced to a beautiful summer day, where the residents of a small town gather for an event known as the lottery. Mr. Summers is the man who controls the lottery and who is the man to bring the black box to the gathering area. While Mr.Summers stands and shuffles the papers inside it, the residents make sure they are carful to keep distance from the box. The residents are joined by Tessie Hutchinson the main character and who is Bill Hutchinson's wife, when the lottery begins the men are called by their family names to draw from the black box. Old Man Warner who is the oldest man in town criticizes that the lottery is necessary for a good harvest, and that people in the other towns are stupid for entertaining the idea. Once the drawing is finished, Mr.Summers directs that the men look at their paper to see who has been picked. It has been revealed...
Words: 1510 - Pages: 7
...Differences in Humanities and Other Modes of Human Inquiry University of Phoenix Lakesia Harris Professor Bovinet HUM/102- week 1 September 8th 2014 Differences in Humanities and Other Modes of Human Inquiry Define the term humanities. The definition of Humanities is described as the study of people processing and documenting, the human experience. Since humans have had the ability, we have utilized philosophy, literature, art, religion, history, language, and music to understand and record the world in which we live. The symbols of expression have become some of the subject matters that usually fall under the umbrella of humanities. Gaining knowledge of the records of human experiences, gives one the opportunity to feel a connection to those who came before our time, as well as the contemporaries. (Stanford Humanities). Distinguish the humanities from other modes of human inquiry and expression. Humanities are described as academic disciplines that study the human condition, by using methods that are largely analytic, speculative, or critical. It differs from others that utilize an empirical approach, or evidence or consequences that have the ability to be observed by senses. (Weegy.com). : List a current example of each type of the following humanities and explain why each example you give reflects current developments in politics, socioeconomics, and technology * Art-In today’s development in art it includes: “digitization and computerized/graphic arts...
Words: 722 - Pages: 3
...Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a great Danish philosopher who attempted to understand what motivates a person to make the decisions they do throughout their life. His work was based on the idea that the human condition is objectively “absurd”, and that “truth is not to be found in objectivity, but in subjectivity, or passionate commitment to an idea” (236). Human nature seeks for meaning of existence, but objectively this is impossible to comprehend become of the complex and immeasurable answer to such a contemplation. Kierkegaard believed that meaning could only be found through one’s personal development and search for a uniquely subjective meaning of existence. He categorized three types of subjective responses to this absurd condition, being aesthetic, ethical, and religious. These three responses represent stages of life that a person must go through to reach a point where they are most connected with their true identity, represented with a connection with a higher power in the religious stage. Before a person can reach this point, they must go through the other stages in succession to build and develop their subjective meaning of life out of the innately absurd condition. The first stage of life that a person goes through is the aesthetic phase, defined by an overwhelming desire to fulfill one’s own self interests. In the aesthetic phase, Kierkegaard describes the decision-making process being based on the immediate, positive repercussions of one’s actions. For example...
Words: 314 - Pages: 2
...was another world beyond this changeable and destructible one in which we live, one consisting of unchanging eternal Forms. He asserted that what we see and touch are only very distantly related to the ultimate realities that exist. He created the famous comparison of the human condition with that of prisoners chained facing the inner wall of a cave, so that all they can see are simply shadows of objects in the cave, knowing nothing of the world outside. “To Plato, there was no natural sense on how men ought to live, education was to be the key to the construction of a better society; from the "educated" would arise the elite to rule society. Plato thought it essential that a strict threefold class division be maintained. In addition to the rulers, the Philosopher-kings, there were to be "Auxiliaries" (soldiers, police and civil servants) and the "Workers" (the rest of us).” - Luigi Miraglia (1846-1903), professor of the Philosophy of Law in the University of Naples "I do believe that there are gods and that in a far higher sense than that in which any of my accusers believe in them." – Plato, the Republic Most Christians would have to agree in some way or another to the way Plato describes the human condition. In that we can only see one version of what we have here on Earth. That there is indeed a perfect flower, perfect sky, perfect water, etc, but we have to wait to get to Heaven to indeed experience them. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former...
Words: 308 - Pages: 2
...Son of God gave up divinity or ceased to be God.” This caution is well founded, as one does not wish to accidentally end up on the heretical side of the Arian controversy. However, the flip side of this objection is just as important: one must be cautious against ending up an ally to Apollinarius as well. The full divinity and full humanity, as expressed in the ecumenical councils, such as the Council of Chalcedon in 451, is of the utmost importance in this discussion. As a result of this fear and the implications involved, there are two main camps in Kenotic theology: there are those who, instead of negating his metaphysical attributes, see Jesus as “covering up” his divinity; and there are those who see, insofar as he identified as fully human, a self-limiting Christ, to the extent that his divine attributes were unavailable to...
Words: 1368 - Pages: 6
...perfectionism…” Even though I don’t think I have a disorder I’m pretty conscious with the fact that I do have a fear of failure. In fact, when it comes to perfectionism, I end up spending more time on the final presentation and every little detail rather than focus on the excellence of a project. Age is a very important in determining level of grit in a population. Individual experience about when being persistent allows you to figure out which things are worth doing. It may be worth someone you may be paying for services or solution to a problem, but it may not be worth pursuing a modeling career at the age of 30 and being 60 pounds overweight. Learning to pick my fights is not a reflection of my grittiness, but somewhat realistic of the human condition, which is almost always disappointing. Most of the tips listed on ways to improve grit said I was “realistic optimist” (Jotski, K.). This worked for me a couple quarters back when I chose to be the leader for a debate. SOURCES 1. James, K- http://www.forbes.com/sites/margaretperlis /2013/10/29/5-characteristics-of-grit-what-it-is-why-you-need-it-and-do-you-have-it/ 2. Malcolm, S- http://thebamalliance.com/blog/grit-your-success-Malcolm/ 3. Joktski, F-...
Words: 312 - Pages: 2
...|PERSONALITY SPECTRUM I |Name: |Patrina Taylor |Date: |8/18/2010 | STEP 1. Rank order all 4 responses to each question from most like you (4) to least like you (1). Place a 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the space next to the responses. 1. I like instructors who a. 4 tell me exactly what is expected of me. b. 3 make learning active and exciting. c. 4 maintain a safe and supportive classroom. d. 4 challenge me to think at higher levels. 2. I learn best when the material is a. 4 well organized. b. 3 something I can do hands-on. c. 2 about understanding and improving the human condition. d. 3 intellectually challenging. 3. A high priority in my life is to a. 4 keep my commitments. b. 4 experience as much of life as possible. c. 3 make a difference in the lives of others. d. 4 understand how things work. 4. Other people think of me as a. 4 dependable and loyal. b. 4 dynamic and creative. c. 4 caring and honest. d. 3 intelligent and inventive. 5. When I experience stress I would most likely a. 3 do something to help me feel more in control of my life. b. 2 do something physical and daring. c. 4 talk with a friend. d. 4 go off by myself and think about my situation. 6. I would probably not be close friends with someone who is a. 2 irresponsible. b. 3 unwilling to...
Words: 374 - Pages: 2
...PERSONALITY SPECTRUM I | Name: | Andre Taylor | Date: | 9 May 2010 | STEP 1. Rank order all 4 responses to each question from most like you (4) to least like you (1). Place a 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the space next to the responses. 1. I like instructors who a. 4 tell me exactly what is expected of me. b. 4 make learning active and exciting. c. 3 maintain a safe and supportive classroom. d. 4 challenge me to think at higher levels. 2. I learn best when the material is a. 4 well organized. b. 4 something I can do hands-on. c. 2 about understanding and improving the human condition. d. 4 intellectually challenging. 3. A high priority in my life is to a. 4 keep my commitments. b. 2 experience as much of life as possible. c. 3 make a difference in the lives of others. d. 2 understand how things work. 4. Other people think of me as a. 3 dependable and loyal. b. 3 dynamic and creative. c. 4 caring and honest. d. 2 intelligent and inventive. 5. When I experience stress I would most likely a. 3 do something to help me feel more in control of my life. b. 2 do something physical and daring. c. 2 talk with a friend. d. 4 go off by myself and think about my situation. 6. I would probably not be close friends with someone who is a. 1 irresponsible. b. 1 unwilling to try new things. c. ...
Words: 373 - Pages: 2
