Abstract
This paper addresses how Plato and Aristotle, although from similar traditions, differed in their perceptions of happiness. The comparison is done by addressing Aristotle?s ?Nicomachean Ethics? and Plato?s ?The Republic?.

Tags:ethics, greek, nicomachean, philosophy, republic, true, happiness

Abstract
There are many similarities between Gilgamesh, the legendary Babylonian king, and Odysseus, the Greek warrior famous for his cunning and fortitude. The paper shows that both characters' stories are told in poetic epics ("The Epic of Gilgamesh" by an anonymous author and ancient Greek writer, Homer's "The Odyssey"). The paper shows how both characters are engaged in quests - Gilgamesh, who is partially divine, does not wish to die and searches for a way to achieve immortality, whilst Odysseus is fully human and even rejects an offer of immortality in order to continue his struggle to return home after the end of the Trojan war. Both epics also feature the interference of the gods who encourage, assist, or thwart the two heroes and debate among themselves about the courses they should take in regard to the relatively insignificant human beings. The paper shows that the endings of the two epics are different--as might be expected from the differences in the two characters' goals. However, the basic themes of the endings have much more in common than might be expected. Gilgamesh is eventually convinced that immortality is something reserved for the gods. His partially mortal parentage means that he must die and that he should, therefore, take pleasure and pride in what is best about life rather than worrying about living forever. The paper shows that Odysseus is also intent on restoring order by returning home and in doing so, he makes the best of life, accepting fate and eventual death.

From the Paper
"The episodes involving the offers of the goddesses also provide similarities and differences. In the case of Gilgamesh Ishtar "looked with longing" on his beauty and begged him to be her "bridegroom" (6.6-7). But Gilgamesh boldly rejected her, despite the list of beautiful things that she promised him, because he was aware of the sad histories of all the men and animals that she had taken for her lovers in the past. In the case of Calypso and Odysseus, however, the goddess is not accused of falseness and her offers of everything wonderful are quite serious. She does indeed want Odysseus to remain with her forever and makes the offer of immortality. He would be ageless and would "preside in our house with me / and be immortal"."

Tags:Humbaba, Cyclops, Ishtar, Calypso, Enkidu

Abstract
This paper examines how Aristophanes' use of gender portrayal and sex created his most popular play, "Lysistrata". It looks at how the women outwitted and outsmarted the men on all aspects and how they were the heroes and ended the Peloponnesian War after decades of fighting. They ended it by crippling Greece's economic status and weakening the males by means of a sex strike. It shows how, in Aristophanes' humorous battle of the sexes, he proves that women can solve any problem with their brains and beauty.

From the Paper
"The alliance of the females, led by Lysistrata, was very powerful. They physically and mentally dominated the males throughout the play and ultimately convinced the men to end the war. The women had the power to seize the Akropolis, where the money reserves were kept, and hinder Greece into spending more money on the war. When the Commissioner approached the Akropolis to gather more currency, Myrrhine acted forcefully and broke a "lamp over his head" (Aristophanes, 63). This shows the physical power and aggressiveness of the women in Lysistrata and their ultimate ability to change the economic status in Greece. "

Tags:peloponnesian, war, sex, strike

Abstract
This paper discusses Plato's and Aristotle's views on the human soul. The paper makes the basic argument that both philosophers had different positions on the mind-soul relationship, the characteristics of the soul and the origin of the soul. The only thing they agree on is that souls come from other souls.

From the Paper
"The human soul has been a common topic of debate for philosophers ever since philosophers have existed. Both Plato and Aristotle theorized about the human soul. In most cases they presented very different arguments on the nature of the human soul. However, there are also a few similarities between their arguments. This essay will look at the arguments that both Plato and Aristotle made about the human soul. The three areas in which these philosophers differ are in terms of the relationship between the body and the soul, the nature of the soul and the ultimate origin of the soul."

Tags:plato, aristotle, soul

Abstract
The following paper draws parallels between Homer's "Odyssey" and the Coen Brother's "O Brother Where Art Thou?". In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in a liberal way, changing scenes, settings and characters. The writer compares the original epic and the original screenplay and discusses dozens of small but meaningful comparisons. For instance, Odysseus and his men descend into Hades where they encounter several ghosts from Odysseus's past; in the film the boys meet a fellow inmate who they thought was dead. Odysseus from the original epic and Ulysses from the film (played by George Clooney) both have to prove to their wives that they are true: Ulysses must bring Penny the ring to redeem himself. In the Odyssey, Book 23, Penelope declares that "there are tokens with which we two alone are acquainted," (Butler trans.). Although it was written millennia ago in ancient Greece, the parables of the Odyssey remain extant for a reason: Its themes are universal and accessible and adaptable for all time. The Coen brothers' movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" exemplifies Homer's timelessness, as well as their own versatility.

From the Paper
"Homer's Odyssey is more than an epic tale of a man "who wandered far and wide," across the sea; it is an archetypal journey with universal and enduring import. It is not difficult to find parallels between Odysseus's adventures and modern ones, for ultimately the Odyssey transcends its details. Homer erected a narrative structure that lends itself to adaptation and reconstruction. Most notable to modern reinterpretations of Homer's Odyssey is James Joyce's Ulysses, which focuses on and develops the relationship between father (Odysseus/Leopold Bloom) and son (Telemachus/Stephen Dedalus). In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in an equally liberal way, changing scenes, settings, and characters. But whereas Joyce's version of the Odyssey is microcosmic, its journey more psychological than physical, the Coen brothers' O Brother Where Art Thou? rambles through a decidedly physical and farcical tale. At first glance the film resembles Homer's epic little: only certain elements are obvious like George Clooney's character's name (Ulysses) and the three sirens by the river. A deeper investigation of the film and the original text reveals numerous, if more subtle, references."

Tags:Depression-era, Mississippi, prison, American, south, sepia, camera, filters, jailbird, husband, estranged, family

Abstract
This paper discusses the development of Theseus and his myth which resulted in his becoming a founder-hero, credited with uniting the tribes of Attica to form the Athenian polis. The writer explains how the story of Theseus grew and was modified as the city he represented grew and was re-created after Athens' own ideals and in her own image. Plutarch's "Life of Theseus" already shows developments and additions as it relates variants, some conflicting, of some of Theseus' actions. Many of these changes attempt to explain certain less than heroic actions by Theseus, and others are aimed at representing Theseus as the Heracles of Attica. The writer concludes that the incorporation of Theseus in recent novels shows that the myth still posses qualities that are of interest to modern society.

From the Paper
"Perhaps the most well-known and recognized adventure or deed of Theseus was his battle with the Cretan Minotaur. This event is also shown to have been added to, changed and developed as different writers have told their own story and present us with a number of different variants. Plutarch presents us first with the view in which he says "most writers agree on" . This was that tribute was given from the Athenians to the Cretans; in this the Athenians were to give seven youths and seven maidens every nine years . Without going into any great detail, Plutarch notes here that the "most dramatic" of the stories declare that these youths and maidens were destroyed by the Minotaur, which lived inside a labyrinth."

Tags:democratic mirror Ariadne, funeral games, Aristotle adventures argonaut portrayal modification

Abstract
The writer examines the story of "Medea", which shows that civilized men ignore at their peril the world of instinct, emotion and irrational experience and that carefully worked out notions of right and wrong are dangerous, unless they are flexible and allow for constant adjustment. The paper shows the parallels between pride and passion; both of which make Medea's "evil hearted plots" materialize, and both of which lead to her corruption.

From the Paper
"The hypocrisy of neglected ideals has often been condemned as a major sin; however, in the moral world as in the romantic, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved. "Medea" opens with an oppressed victim claiming sympathy of Chorus and the audience, yet as the action develops inevitably, and the punishment shows itself twice as wicked as the crime, sympathy changes sides, and the audience are left with only one comfort. Since the worst has been reached, there can be nothing worse to follow. Here, "many matters the gods bring to surprising ends. The things we thought would happen do not happen; the unexpected god makes possible?""

Tags:jason, pride, passion, god, philosophy

Abstract
This paper discusses how Greek myths are seen by western civilization as great works of art and beauty. It attempts to analyze why there is a continued fascination with them. It looks at how myths are the basis of our societal and religious practices and are therefore intrinsically treasured institution. It shows how philosophy has contributed to the understanding of the myths by interpreting them as universal allegories about humanity and existence, thus ensuring the continued fascination. It also examines how through psychoanalysis the characters in myths serve as examples of the human?s unconscious desires. Myths are true works of art that can infinitely adaptable and infinitely important as we change our values.

From the Paper
"Psychoanalysis is another field that has adopted the universalthemes and stories of the myths this time to explain the inner workings of our consciousness and thought processes. Sigmund Freud and then later Carl Jung both used the Greek myths to elaborate on their own theories of the mind. Myths according to the strain of psychoanalysis preached by Freud can explain unconscious desires; the characters in myths serve as examples of the human's unconscious desires. The Greek myths served as a good universal basis for the experience of the human condition, thus allowing them to be useful in psychoanalysis."

Tags:freud, jung, art, religion

Abstract
This paper examines how in Virgil's "Aeneid" Book 4, epic and tragedy, are inextricably linked by the use of similes, the relationship between civic duty and responsibility and the intervention of fate and the gods. It looks at how Aeneas, whose epic journey carries him past Carthage, inspires love in Dido who suffers a whole range of emotion, from love, to confusion, to hatred. It also explores the tragic element with Aeneas, who must sacrifice his love for Dido to pursue his destiny to found Rome.

From the Paper
"The essential basis of the tragedy is that Dido sacrifices everything for her personal love for Aeneas. She ultimately fails to understand Aeneas' argument about his duty because in her eyes personal considerations override everything else. She allows herself to be drawn into a position from which she can find no way back and has allows herself to become embroiled in a net of circumstances. The element of pathos is very great in the first half of the book as Dido allows herself to let her emotions run free, and in the second half it continues, together with a feeling of horror and terror as she becomes a typical fury of vengeance rather than a queen or woman."

Tags:dido, rome, carthage

Abstract
This paper examines the different moral values presented in the epic poem, "The Odyssey" by Homer and the ways in which these values are presented through some of the characters. It shows that while the "Odyssey" is indeed a moral epic, the moral position of the main characters themselves, namely Odysseus and the Gods, can at times be questionable. It evaluates how the "Odyssey" seems to portray the idea that obstacles and hardship arise out of moral weakness, self-control is overwhelmingly important and sufferings come about when a person gives in to temptation as well as love and the importance of family and home.

From the Paper
"Another moral element present in the poem is "dike". Justice. In the end, evil will be punished. Good will triumph. Odysseus murders all the suitors and his disloyal servants. It has often been debated whether his actions were justified. Based on the moral value of "dike", the poet obviously meant the murders to be justified. Evil must be punished, and what better way than to have evil punished by good. The suitors had broken many moral laws. They courted the wife of a great hero, made themselves at home in his palace, ate his food, slept with his servants and conspired to kill his son. They had to receive their punishment, their "nemesis"- retribution from the Gods. "

Tags:epic, odysseus, odyssey, god, evil, temptation