Thomas Hobbes s Views On Human Nature And His Ideal...

Thomas Hobbes describes his views on human nature and his ideal government in Leviathan. He believes human nature is antagonistic, and condemns man to a life of violence and misery without strong government. In contrast to animals, who are able to live together in a society without a coercive power, Hobbes believes that men are unable to coexist peacefully without a greater authority because they are confrontational by nature. â€Å"In the nature of man†, Hobbes says â€Å"there are three principal causes of quarrel: first, competition; secondly, diffidence, thirdly, glory† and then he goes on to list man’s primary aims for each being gain, safety and reputation (Hobbes, Leviathan, 13, 6). For men, the common good is not the private and they can only be happy if they are better off in comparison to others. â€Å"Men are continually in competition for honor and dignity, which these creatures are not; and consequently amongst men there ariseth on that ground, envy and hatred, and finally war† (Hobbes, Leviathan, 17, 7). Due to these instinctive desires and behavioral patterns, he believes that the natural condition of man is troublesome and can only lead to a state of chaos and conflict. This state is undesirable and should be avoided. So while men continue to live without a common power to keep them in awe, they will be in a continuous state of war, which is every man against every man. Here, all men are each other’s enemies and the ideas of right and wrong along with just and unjust doShow MoreRelatedMonarchy Vs. 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He believed that as long as they adhere to his rules, they remain valid. As a result of looking through Thomas Hobbes’ view on monarchy and John Locke’s view on democracyRead MoreThe Human Nature Of The Prince, Thomas Hobbes And James Madison1447 Words   |  6 Pagesancestors. Furthermore, human qualities such as strong emotions come from what we think is important to us. Actions, whether they are good or bad, also derive from our most inner thoughts. The question now is what type of reasoning is natural to us all? This human nature is a topic explored by thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, Niccollà ² Machiavelli in The Prince, Thomas Hobbes and James Madison in The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Human nature is the force that pushesRead MoreThomas Hobbes And Jean Jacques Rousseau1728 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough Thomas Hobbes and Jean Jacques Rousseau are both considered Enlightenment thinkers, their ideas vary greatly in the political continuum. 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The Nature American Street Gangs Essay - 1366 Words

Hagedorn, M. J. (1996) examined the nature American street gangs. The research shows historical evolution of gangs’ prevalence in US and major reasons for their enormous growth in various regions. Gangs erupted from economically under privileged communities while others inherited their gang background from their families and continued in America. The gang culture evolved and attracted hundreds of people mainly youth. Hagedorn stressed upon the equal division of economic development and job throughout major gang area. Furthermore, he examined that the growth of gangs in the country began after the influx of migrants after world war two. Huff, C. R. (1989) evaluated the changing organizational structure of American gangs during the course of time. He addressed the need for creating an environment of mutual understanding among different communities and ethnic groups. 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Poem Interpretation Free Essays

string(128) " are all a reflection of his actions but it can also be that he is putting on a challenge for the rest of the people to follow\." The poems of Robert Frost reflect a journey, his own personal journey. But more than that, it describes a period of American exploration. â€Å"Desert Places, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and The Road Not Taken† reveals the poet’s thoughts about the occurrence of changes during his time. We will write a custom essay sample on Poem Interpretation or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is a revolutionary period for the United States. The Industrial Development is underway, and it fuels a new age in American History. A country is on its way towards progress, and so is Robert Frost’s claim in the literary circle. IN A CAPSULE There is an emotional attachment found in the poem, â€Å"Desert Places. † It may describe a situation out in the cold but inner feelings become a far-reaching instrument on what the poet thinks about things. The portrayal of loneliness is best described in a deserted place on a dark and snowy evening. Treading the road alone brings a heavy feeling. No one is on sight but there is much to overcome. The inner will is far difficult to tame than the elements along the way. Mr. Frost points out that the actions to deal with certain situations are up to the individual. While there are external factors and influences to consider, what keeps the event in check remains a personal decision. The poet exemplifies a brave stand to never succumb to outside inhibitions while at the same time controlling his inner fear. In â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,† Robert Frost brings his loneliness into the scene. He is deep in the woods but the snow is still there. His horse is there to keep him company. The place is dark alright, maybe darker than what is seen in the â€Å"Desert Places,† but fear to move onwards has been controlled. â€Å"Lovely woods† is a great description for keeping things in control. But what makes the poem different is that, it is about pursuing dreams and keeping promises. The individual doesn’t stop for anything. His travel continues. His appreciation for what he sees in the woods may have been inspired by the dreams and promises. With those things in mind, he just keeps going and going if only to bring some truth to what he needs to achieve. â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is a piece about choosing sides. It is about options. The poet may have been crossing different paths during his time that he shares his views on what road to take. Robert Frost may have recalled a fateful decision that he made in the past which had a profound impact on his later life. One important note that the poem emphasizes is staying true to something that has already been decided. There are no explanations to consider. Only a statement rings true that taking a side has brought a positive outcome. The poem goes straight to the context of hitting the mark. There are no complaints and no explanations are necessary to back up the road earlier chosen. EVOKING IMAGES A shadow of doubt is cast initially among the three poems. It reveals how human Mr. Frost is to harbor hesitant and uncertain feelings. He goes on to describe the difficulties of finding dreams and making things happen. The literary pieces evokes feelings of being lost in the storm and managing to locate the right track and come out of it all, not necessarily unscathed, but nevertheless victorious. Perhaps people can sympathize what all three poems depict. There is a sense of urgency to do things. A variety of feelings will lead an individual to the unpredictable and the unspeakable. But it is the inner conviction that wins it in the end. A determination withstanding the faces of hardship and difficulty as portrayed by the falling snow and the dark nights will be the vital factor to turning things around. Emotions frequent the poems of Robert Frost. Individuals share in the experience of braving the odds and gaining victory against adversity. People’s inner selves vary but all feel the same way. It is how a person responds to the challenges and the tides of the times that make his life worthy. The poems are timeless, and can be a source of inspiration for generations to come. But it is up to the reading public how they interpret Mr. Frost’s words. Literary masterpieces such as the three poems have a whole lot of meaning to consider. It is as deep as many other pieces can be. It is what makes people human. And it is what keeps the poet man as well. The words itself can bring forth fire and fury. Everyone is on familiar ground. Mr. Frost fuels that desire to conquer and achieve things beyond people’s dreams. This is what binds individuals together. Goals are shared. It is inspiring to address the powerful and brilliant message that the poet instills in the minds of the willing literary enthusiasts. Fear is still felt by the individual. Mr. Frost points that out in the â€Å"Desert Places. † The line which states that â€Å"They cannot scare me with their empty spaces,† evokes a sentiment of being afraid. It is a common feeling. But the biggest difference among readers and followers is how to manage or react to that type of situation. Even the horse in the â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening† wondered about the individual’s doubtful and untrusting attitude towards adversity. Numerous challenges are everywhere. It can be devastating all of a sudden but making dreams come true can be worthwhile. REPRESENTING THE WORLD Most masterpieces inspire people. A poet reveals his thoughts and feelings to many for the purpose of helping others cope up with situations. It is more than poetry. There is nothing more frightful than being stalked out of one’s goals. It all begins with the road. Hardships come and unveil the true character of the individual. Robert Frost seems to be putting the words into his mouth. It can be that his poems are all a reflection of his actions but it can also be that he is putting on a challenge for the rest of the people to follow. You read "Poem Interpretation" in category "Papers" He is merely showing the way, showing his emotions to be used as the basis for everybody to look into and get motivated. It is Mr. Frost who gets to speak in his poems but in reality, he is representing each and everyone. People share common dreams. People feel the same fear. The same difficulties lie ahead. The same situations present itself in everyday life. The only denominator is the approach an individual makes while undergoing the various scenes that the poet has depicted for the rest of the people. His marvelous words are written for everybody. If there is a thing in this world that needs changing, it is solely the character of man. People have to be reminded every now and then about certain ideas and information which regards to daily living. Almost always, life is being taken for granted. Robert Frost’s words are just in time to voice essential lessons repeatedly into the minds of many individuals. While his poems are written in the past, the values contained on it are as valuable today as it has been yesterday. One thing worth taking note among Mr. Frost’s poems is the way his masterpieces are told doesn’t complicate things further. It may not bring forth the light of enlightenment but at least it puts a sense of purpose to everything it says. The titles of the poems possess a degree of hiding the content a bit. â€Å"Desert Places† marks that inner fear inside most individuals. But until reading those words until the last stanza, the reader will wonder what Mr. Frost is up to in the first place. Literally, many people will think that the title may correspond to some scenery in the Middle East. But it is not. The reading public must therefore think in order for the poet’s words to sink in. â€Å"The Road Not Taken† keeps people which path the poet choose. His idea of bringing the main thought of the poem is to reverse things a little to allow thinking. There is a twist but never to a level of great difficulty. Mr. Frost has taken the less traveled road which leaves many wondering what happened to the other path. In â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,† the poet again is diverting the attention from the true focus of the lines. Perhaps many are waiting for his story about the reason why he stopped during a snowy situation. But the answer to that may have led the readers to Mr. Frost’s effort to keep going in order to make his promise a reality. Poems may be a mind-twister. But it allows individuals to look deeper. There are details that lead some lines astray. However, it is meant to be as it is just to make the poem a remarkable journey and adventure. SYMBOLISM The three poems are written as narratives. Perhaps based as personal experiences of the poet, a story from each is learned. But always, Robert Frost is hiding something in between the lines. It is not necessarily on purpose, however, there is a need for the reader to uncover some contents of the poem which allows a greater understanding of the piece in its entirety. There are thoughts in between the lines which can be interpreted as mere distractions. The truth is, the ideas are supporting the content of the main thought. There is a real meaning behind most words in the poems of Mr. Frost. Loneliness must never be taken as it is, literally, that is. It can be an emotion of someone craving for attention. It can be a personal journey. It can even be finding oneself in the process. There is whole lot of meaning to the words in between the lines. The familiarity of the poems can be attributed not merely that all are written by the same poet. Robert Frost presents an approach which an individual can relate to in real life. By being in the middle of a snowy night, anybody can put himself on that situation. By being along and driven cold, most individuals press on to achieve their goals. The poems of Mr. Frost are founded on simple yet understandable narrative which presents a scene for readers to follow. It can be that the readers are themselves the heroes in their very own situations. Overcoming difficult situations are present in the â€Å"Desert Places† where the poet not minding the danger presented by the snowy night in the woods continues on with his trip to somewhere. A similar scene is depicted in the â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening† where the individual plunges on no matter what. â€Å"The Road Not Taken† tackles two paths along the way. Still the difficulty of choosing and going ahead with the decision is clearly seen and observed. Robert Frost’s poems uncover scenes of overcoming adversity. It is a symbol of what America stands for, a country on its way to prosperity and development. For always, the room for improvement is being acknowledged in this country. America is a work in progress. The Industrial Revolution during the 18th and 19th Century propels the United States to its seat as a world leader and superpower. With a mixture of different cultures, it continues to thrive amidst the pressures coming from numerous differences among the races within its domain. America is constantly innovating and developing. Robert Frost portrays the need to pursue dreams and turn them into reality. When a person comes to America, his ideals become a symbol of what the poet says. Everybody who goes to the United States is looking for something bigger. That someone is making the best of everything to live a comfortable life. Along the journey towards progress await the hardships and difficulties of making it big. During the Industrial Revolution, people rush out and risk doing things to reach the American dream. It is the age of inventions. Industries are revolutionized, and lives will never be the same again. That progress continues until today. And it continues to inspire through the words of Robert Frost. In search for a better life, immigrants are knocking on the American doors annually. While new to this country, visiting citizens blend well with their counterparts in doing things no matter how hard they are. To achieve dreams, taking risks mean everything. Mr. Frost points to hard work as the vital factor in pursuing goals and objectives. Roles and responsibilities must play its part to build dreams a reality. The poet is on hand to guide the rest of America into staking their claim for a place in the United States of America. CONCLUSION The deep woods and the falling snowy are very much a part of American culture. Simply said, the way these things are describe in the three poems reflects Robert Frost’s upbringing. He walks through the woods on a snowy night just like any American. How heavy and hard it is to trek the roads ahead make no difference at all as long as the individual marches on in search for his place in a progressive world, one which America and Mr. Frost represents. BIBLIOGRAPHY Collection of Robert Frost’s Poems Retrieved September 13, 2007 from http://www. everypoet. com/Archive/poetry/Robert_Frost/robert_frost_stopping_by_woods_on_a_snowy_evening. htm Poems of Robert Frost Retrieved September 13, 2007 from http://www. poemhunter. com/poem/desert-places/ Poems by Robert Frost Retrieved September 13, 2007 from http://www. internal. org/list_poems. phtml? authorID=7 How to cite Poem Interpretation, Papers