Arabic Poetry

The signs of love indicates that love can easily be seen from looking into one's eye. This adds proof to the idea that love is indeed possible at first sight. It is added that "the eye is the wide gateway of the soul."The central idea of this story is that love is blind and causes us to act differently. This is a central theme for the two readings. In The Dove's Necklace, the idea that people become more suspicious and un trustworthy when they are in love. They question and interrogate their lover to ensure the truth comes out. "Lovers have evil thoughts of one another ; each suspects every word the partner utters and misconstructs it willfully." Once love emerges it is seemed to be infinite. "Love cleaves to such people's hearts and once it lays hold of them never looses grip." Love causes us to act different than we normally would especially to your lover specifically. Betrayal is not easy to overcome as most lovers would act violent and act upon blind fury. Love at first sight is condoned in this reading. "Often it happens that love fastens itself to the heart as a result of a single glance." As a result of this it is assumed that love will not last as long when you fall in love after a single glance. "The quicker they grow, the quicker they decay."

The Dove's Necklace carries into the Poems. The two of them stress the importance of the cause of one's relationship and admiration for one another. "Ibn Hazm states, "It's only cause is the will, and no one knows any cause but that, when we discover that a thing is its own cause, then it is an existence that is unperishing."The Dove's necklace states, "Every love affair must necessarily have some original cause" It is stressed by the two readings that the cause and foundation for love plays a huge part in the outcome and success of it. In the poem Ibn Hazm it is stated that, "...When we find its cause is something other than itself its destruction will come about when we lack that which gave it existence." This quote is the central theme or idea for both stories, it's a common ground.

Plato's Republic

It is suggested that the best of the kings are the best philosiphers, warriors, and that they sustain the vaule of their ethics. The ruler should also focus on virture and aspiration, as this is was the foundation for this greek culture. Their idea of the perfect government is a very Sparatan-like one. Their focus is to ensure power for the ruler. The role of the people is to be warriors. Occupations such as farming and other forms of manual labor will not be compensated for. Their idea of an equal economy amongst the people is presented. Their obligation is to be a fit, strong warrior. Escentially, the people will be fighting for money and the desire to be wealthy will be their life goal. This is because whoever has the most money will be the most powerful and can rule over poorer people. The people who do not have power or money succomb to being what they considerd evil. Socrates entitles these people"drones." 

Eventually the oligarchy dissolves into a democracy because their are few rich people left and the country is in poverty and the "drones" rebel against the rich and they are killed. Now the power is determined by the property you obtain. The freedom of speech is given to everyone, founding the idea of democracy. The democratic man succombs to his "unnecesary desires" but in the end appreciates all the luxorious things money can buy. The idea that we are persuaded by wrong and selfish desires founded our form of government. We live and work for money and power as oppose to trying to stabalize peace and harmony as well as equality.