Ancient to Medieval

Ancient to Medieval

Essay 2

In 3-4 carefully crafted pages, analyze Thrasymachus’ comparison of the tyrant and the ordinary criminal from the Republic in relation to Augustine’s comparison of Alexander the Great and the pirate from Two Cities. In doing so, you will want to focus on the following two passages, and situate each passage within the context of the speaker’s wider thought.

In Plato’s Republic, Thrasymachus asserts:

“Consider this type of man, then, if you wish to judge how much more profitable it is to him personally to be unjust than to be just. And the easiest way of all to understand this matter will be to turn to the most consummate form of injustice which makes the man who has done the wrong most happy and those who are wronged and who would not themselves willingly do wrong most miserable. And this is tyranny, which both by stealth and by force taken away what belongs to others, both sacred and profane, both private and public, not little by little but at one swoop. For each several part of such wrongdoing the malefactor who fails to escape detection is fined and incurs the extreme of contumely, for temple robbers, kidnapers, burglars, swindlers, and thieves are the appellations of those who commit these several forms of injustice. But when instead of these opprobrious names they are pronounced happy and blessed not only by their fellow citizens but by all who hear the story of the man who has committed complete and entire injustice. For it is not the fear of doing but of suffering wrong that calls forth the reproaches of those who revile injustice” (p. 51)

In Two Cities, Augustine states:

“Indeed without justice, what are kingdoms but great robberies? For what are robberies themselves, but little kingdoms? The band itself is made up of men; it is ruled by the authority of a prince, it is knit together by the pact of the confederacy; the booty is divided by the law agreed on. If, by the admittance of abandoned men, this evil increases to such a degree that it holds places, fixes abodes, takes possession of cities, and subdues peoples, it assumes the more plainly the name of a kingdom, because the reality is now manifestly conferred upon it, not by the removal of covetousness, but by the addition of impunity. Indeed, that was an apt and true reply which was given to Alexander the Great by a pirate who had been seized. For when that king had asked the man what he meant by keeping hostile possession of sea, he answered with bold pride, ‘What thou meanest by seizing the whole earth; but because I do it with a petty ship, I am called a robber, whilst thou who doest it with a great fleet art styled emperor…” (p. 140)

In analyzing their views, please explain what Thrasymachus and Augustine seem to agree on, and how their overall views differ in important respects. Make reference to relevant historical ideas, events, and/or figures that we have discussed in class in crafting your analysis.

Your papers are expected to be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font. You can find the Grading Rubric that I will use on Canvas. Your papers will also be submitted to Turnitincom, so make sure you adhere to academic integrity in your work. This paper is worth 20% of your final grade. Let me know if you have questions. Good luck!

If you cannot access Canvas when the essay is due, please email it to me.