Grace, Free Will, and Human Nature Three Significant...

When the Renaissance dawned over Europe’s Dark Ages, half a millennium of intellectual thought, long unchallenged, found new opponents on all sides. Aided by the printing press, fresh ideas in science, art, and religion spread freely across the Western World, falling under the scrutiny of an ever-expanding population of the literate. With this widespread intellectual excitement came greater individualism, more celebration of human achievement, and stronger focus on the secular world—a major shift from the heaven-focused outlook of the Middle Ages, in which people felt they were little more than the feeble playthings of fate. But are human beings really able to change their destinies through their choices? Are they capable of good? Three†¦show more content†¦He then explains that with the proper preparation, fate can be held at bay, and he provides an example of a river that often floods. Although nothing can be done when the flood has already come, the calamity can be prevented altogether if dikes and dams are built up in strategic places beforehand (Machiavelli 85). In this chapter, he also mentions that, in general, men are successful when their methods are suited to the circumstances. Therefore, if a man can adapt to new situations by becoming flexible enough to know when his usual methods will not work, he will have more power to navigate changing affairs (Machiavelli 85-86). The attitude presented in The Prince brings up an interesting paradox: although Machiavelli champions the free will and cunning of the elite prince, he seems to hold the autonomy of the masses in low esteem, assuming throughout his book that mankind in general is selfish, simple, and unreliable—the opposite of the cool, calculating prince that Machiavelli idealizes. In fact, almost all his advice to the aspiring leader seems to be based on a completely pessimistic view of human nature, perhaps because Machiavelli thinks it safest to assume the worst. For e xample, on page 59, he writes, â€Å"For this may be said of men generally: they are ungrateful, fickle,Show MoreRelatedGreek Mythology s Influence On The Arts And Literature Of Western Civilization2652 Words   |  11 PagesThe stories of the ancient Greeks about their gods, heroes, and explanations of the nature and history of the universe are known as Greek mythology. These stories, or myths, have survived for more than 2,000 years. Greek mythology has had an extensive influence on the arts and literature of Western civilization, which inherited much of Greek culture. Like the myths of many other cultures, those of ancient Greece tell how the world was created and help explain why things happen. 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