... quite extensive. Of notable interest was the seeming drift toward pessimism as the years went on; Socrates and Plato were arguably the most optimistic, and then came the ever-pessimistic Machiavelli, and finally we ended up with Dostoevsky and Huxley, whose grim outlooks on human nature were somewhat unnerving. First we covered Socrates by reading The Apology. This piece of literature ... of society is converted to the light and will henceforth be content with their lives. That is where the fairy tales ended. After reading Plato, we moved on to Machiavelli's The Prince. Machiavelli seem...

• Word Count: 923
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... is in the interest of the stronger is the most convincing that Socrates encounters. Socrates does not have a strong defense to this argument. Thrasymachus is a precursor for later political theorists. Machiavelli adopts this line of reasoning by claiming that justice is relative. This argument is also a basis for Marx's concept of class structure. The dialogue then shifts to Glaucon and Adeimanius ... ...

• Word Count: 1216
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... it sometimes better to do something that may seem wrong if it is for the overall good of the people. The machines in The Matrix are like the prince that Machiavelli presents in "Qualities of the Prince", that try to keep people in control by giving them overall happiness in surreal world, while in reality they are slaves born with a purpose ... ...

• Word Count: 1354
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School