Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Section 9 Group 3
So last class we discussed Pomponazzi and Machiavelli. These two dudes were the first to really push for the separation of church and state, especially Machiavelli. He wrote The Prince in 1513 as a job application and it shocked Europe, because at the time great power had been linked with great goodness. The idea was that the leader should be a moral guide for people to follow into heaven and Machiavelli said that a good ruler had to lie because everyone else did. This didn't seem to sit well with most of Europe. During this time the church played a huge role in politics and everything was corrupt. These guys felt like it was time for a change.
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I believe that leaders should not be influenced by their religion when it comes to dealing with their country. Not everyone has the same beliefs and it would be unfair to make rules based solely on one religion. This story kind of reminded me how King Henry VIII separated from the Catholic church to start the Church of England because the Pope would not grant him a divorce.
ReplyDeleteFactual Question: What genre did Montaigne invent?
A: essay
Discussion Question: Do you think it's important to get to know one's self psychologically?
Was he just in his assumption that a great leader cannot be honest?
ReplyDeleteI think, up to that point, people could have been very naive about their leaders. If God appointed a leader, that was the way it should have been, and they must have been a good leader. Their own misfortune (as peasants) was part of God's will, and other unlucky circumstances may have been punishments.
ReplyDeleteThe other option is that Pomponazzi was shocking because it was unprecedented to be that outspoken against leaders, particularly of a religious nature.
Factual Question: What brought Montaigne happiness at the end of his life?
His pupils (Marie de Gournay and Pierre Charron) provided intellectual companionship.
Discussion Question: Are any of Montaigne's philosophical standpoints related to Buddhism?
Ditto.
ReplyDeleteWho said: "Nothing is so firmly believed as that which least is known"?
All leaders are going to associate with the popular religion of the time. This still happens today, it is rare to hear about an atheist president. Our entire law is based off the ten commandments. Religion will never be stripped from society and so never from government. This how ever, creates the complicated question of "which is right for the people?" America's leaders will almost always be Christian's, but there are so many different denominations that there is still conflict within the one religion. So which denomination is best for the people? This is a matter of opinion and not everyone can be happy at the same time. So the system will always be corrupt.
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