Magna Carta and Review on the Oration of Dignity of a Man - Assignment Example

Name: Professor: Course: Date of submission: REVIEW Magna Carta Magna Carta was a charter signed in 1215 that required King John of England to declare certain liberties as well as accept his will as not arbitrary -that is, by being into terms that no free man ought to be punished without following the law of the land, an existing right up to now. It was the first document to be forced by a group of people (feudal barons) to the king so as to limit his powers as dictated by the law and protect their own privileges. This move was influenced by an earlier precedent by the name charter of liberties whereby King Henry had come up with specification on limitations of his powers. The charter had therefore being recognized and almost all of its clauses had been repealed as per their original form come the end of the second half of the 19th century (Crowe, John). Currently there are three clauses of the charter that is still in use today in England and Wales although they are commonly regarded as the section of uncodified constitution as described by Lord Denning as the all times greatest document on constitution which forms the basic foundation of the individuals freedom against the authority described as arbitrary. The charter formed the basis for the establishment of the constitutional law .It was crucial in the colonization of American colonies where England legal system was used as an example in many colonies as they sought to establish their own legal systems. Review on the Oration of Dignity of a Man The book discusses conception; an idea regarding the potential and the nature of human beings .It combines and also tries to reconcile the teachings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam into a single and a binding thought. It is a renowned discourse brought into existence in1486 by a philosopher by the name Pico della Mirandola. The oration sought to capture on human capacity and perspective. However, it emphasizes on the importance of human knowledge based on the framework of Neo-Platonism. Considers and outlines the God’s creation works that set an example for human beings to appreciate the chain of being that God demonstrated by creating them .Men could learn by imitating other existing creatures. The basic argument is man could only ascend the chain towards an angel when he is capable of philosophizing and improves his capability to communicate with God. Whenever he is incapable of exercising his intellectual abilities he vegetates. This idea that men could ascend the chain of being forms the basis of existence in the earthly life. This argument is based on the concept that human beings are capable of changing themselves through free will as they have been bestowed with knowledge to make decisions. The assertion is that only human beings were not affected by the outside forces reason being their capacity to make informed decisions and choices using their knowledge. He noted that man has to move in speed to adapt to the changes brought about by institutions and philosophy. Review on the Social Contract Although man is born free he is in chains everywhere and the fact that he regards himself as the master of others he still remains a big slave than they are. Social order is a sacred right which forms the basis of all other rights. However this right cannot be derived from nature and has foundation on conventions. Family is the only entity that is natural of all ancient societies; and even if this is the case, children are always attached to the father for their own preservation. However the natural bond is broken the moment the children get detached from their father. Both parties return equally to independence when the children are released from the obedience they regarded their father and the father released from the responsibilities and the care he had towards the children (Rawls, John). Even if they remain united it will be voluntary rather than natural and the family can only be maintained by convention. Therefore this is a common liberty that stems from the nature of a man. Provision for his own preservation is his first law and attaches more care to what her owes to him and the moment he attains to years of discretion he takes upon his own preservation to himself and as a result he automatically qualifies to become a master of his own self. Therefore the family can be regarded as the first model of the political society where the ruler is represented by the father and children represents his subjects; and despite being born free and equal they alienate their liberty to just for their own advantage. All Quiet on the Western Front All quiet on the Western front is an anti-war novel. However there were many critics on its publication who could not believe that the novel focused on what really happened during the First World War. Such people included Paul Schoolmaster who wanted to rather grip to classical; that is the romantic conception for the war. However, Remarque purposively wrote this novel to shatter that mentality. Although the events are shocking his main aim was to educate. The young men who participated in the war more often than not never recovered from horrific experiences the witnessed during the war. Although they came back home their minds were shattered as well as their bodies. Many civilians could not imagine that the soldiers suffered more than they did and even most veterans were unable to talk about what they experienced during that time since the experiences were unspeakable. They were both the victims as well as the killers. Whatever had happened to them, they had reciprocated to others. The young men who participated in that war are regarded as the lost generation (Ackerman, Bruce). Men died in hundreds and thousands to win land not worth to fight for only to go down and lose subsequently in another war. Therefore the book revolves around the war that was lost by Germans during the first World War which irritated Adolf Hitler, who later issue a stand that the book need to be banned and should not be used in Germany. However its proponent considered it as the best novel to have been written on antiwar in Germany. Review on Leviathan Writers for centuries attached less importance to government and recognized the kings who were believed to have divine powers. This provides justification as to why both men and women come together and form an institution regarded as government. The assumptions however are that the organization of state is driven by choice. The substitute of this is the state of nature where there exists both the right and the law of nature. However these terms are deemed to be independent where the right of nature can be defined as the liberty each and every man has to exercise his own power for the purposes of preserving his life. On the other hand the laws of nature holds that each and every individual in any institution should seek peace with others as he should therefore uphold liberty as he needs to allow others (Braithwaite R.B).These laws are based on reason and are utilitarian rather than morals. A simple argument however; is that if men would carefully scrutinize their thinking on situations then reason should tell them that they ought to give up their natural rights to others doing the same to them which is seen as the best way of preserving oneself although by doing that they may not be in line with human nature. Although on the issue of human nature is cynical, reason is paramount as it outlines that advantages emanate from co-operation but suggests that men should be controlled by an external authority which should not rather outweigh the instinct. Hernan Corte’s Journal Excerption Though there are a few sources explaining the Hernan’s early life his fame emanated from his contribution in the conquest of Mexico and this triggered many peoples’ interest to write about him (Castillo, Bernal). The reliable sources about him can be obtained from the several letters he wrote to the king during his extensive campaigns in Mexico although these letters ought to be looked at carefully because most the information contained therein is his own views Another reliable source can be the biography written about him by his private Chaplin by the name Lopez de Gomara which was written in Spanish many years back after the conquest (Hassig, Ross). Though Gomara has never been to America he wrote fairly well about him. However several historian reveals that Corte was not justly treated as he was regarded as Spanish crown and in reward he obtained nothing despite his efforts to in establishing the new Spain. Corte was however appointed as the governor of Spain by King Charles but to his dismays four other officials from the royal family were appointed in order to supervise him closely in his leadership. On his return to Mexico the country was already in a state of anarchy characterized suspicion in courts of his intention to rebel and he was charged that disrupted his character and paralyzed his plans. He was maliciously accused of killing his wife; however the court proceedings on that case were kept secret (Restall, Matthew). Later on no report about was published either to condemn him or to exonerate him. Work cited Ackerman, Bruce .Social Justice in the Liberal State. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press .1980. Print. Braithwaite R.B. Theory of Games as a Tool for the Moral Philosopher. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.1955.Print. Crowe, John A. The Epic of Latin America. Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 1992. Print. Díaz del Castillo, Bernal. TheTrue History of the Conquest of New Spain. London: The Hakluyt Society.1908. Print. Hassig, Ross. Mexico and the Spanish Conquest. Longman Group: UK Limited, 1994. Print. Martínez, José Luis. Hernán . Cortés Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Fondo de Cultura Económica. . Mexico City: 1990. Print. Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 1999. Print. Restall, Matthew. Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest. Oxford: University Press.2003. Print. Read More