【古希腊罗马神话】期末问答题

Plato:

1.The objects that we perceive with our senses are simply reflections of the ideal forms. Hence they are shadows, while reality is found in the forms themselves. (sense)

2.We have a soul that survives us after death and that it is permanent. (soul)

3.Individuals could not attain an ethical life unless they lived in a just and rational state. (government)

Aristotle:

1.Our senses give us knowledge through observation and experience. (sense)

2.Universal principles do not exist beyond material things but are a part of things themselves. (sense)

3.The soul and body are one and not separate. (soul)

4.He sought an ideal state through a rational examination of existing governments. (government)

The Roman law has three categories including citizen law which is private law and related to Roman citizens, law of nations which is public law and is applying to foreigners and natural law. Natural law is prior to the state itself and is true law and an embodiment of justice and right according to Cicero and the Stoics.

The Roman law reinforced the fundamental concepts of justice that all men are born equal and should therefore be equal before the law, and that there is a need to assume innocence until guilt is proved. People accused of wrongdoing were allowed to defend themselves before a judge. A judge was expected to weigh evidence carefully before arriving at a decision. These principles lived on in Western civilization long after the fall of the Roman Empire.

What is the Protestant Reformation? Please state the background, major leaders, what they advocated and the significance.

Protestant Reformation is a challenge of the power of church and pope out of humanism started by the posting of NinetyFive Theses.

The humanism of the Renaissance led individuals to question certain practices of the church and the value to one’s salvation of living the life of a monk. The printing press had made it possible to produce Bibles in ever greater numbers, which make the Church’s exclusive right to interpret the Scriptures seem gone. The rise of powerful monarchical states also made some rulers began to question why they needed to listen to a distant authority in Rome.

A growing disrespect toward the clergy appeared. The corruption of the church including the selling of church offices and indulgences made people angry.

Major leaders including Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, Jan Hus and John Calvin.

They advocated for simplification of the church’s doctrines and less power for the priests and argued that it was the authority of the Bible and not the institutional church that ultimately mattered. And Faith alone, without the sacraments or good works, leads to an individual’s salvation.

Protestant Reformation made humanism more popular and led to the kings being more powerful than the church.

The most important tradition is the chasing of knowledge as far as I am concerned. From Greece and Rome to Italy and England, there were always many people wondering what and how to do could make the society better to run and they never refused to make the truth clear. This made the Western culture vigorous and keep pace to the advance of society.

Also, people were accustomed to seek for freedom and power of man and they were willing to fight for them. Though the fight might not be just and the possibility they could win is nearly zero, they fought. I remember David, Sparta, Martin Luther and so on. People have faith in the power of man but not gods. They seek their own salvation.

Last but not least, public rules are highly emphasized. People agree to conserve laws which are reasonable. Their belongings and rights can be protected well as a result. Most of the time the balanced is well kept.