gogol

Let us look more closely at Cleanthes, the "model of perfect virtue." We are told that Cleanthes is a man of honor and humanity who treats everyone fairly and with kindness. He is dedicated to his profession, which, in combination with his insight into the nature of people, promises "the greatest honours and advancement.custom written papers of academic quality is rare. Buy custom service, essay and paper writing, here! " He is sociable, witty, well-mannered, gallant, knowledgeable, and cheerful. He "preserves a perpetual serenity on his countenance, and tranquillity in his soul," for despite trials, misfortunes, and dangers, "his greatness of mind, was still superior to all of them." Hume makes the image of Cleanthes clearer by offering a list of vices he does not have: "celibacy, fasting, penance, mortification, self-denial, humility, silence, solitude, and the whole train of monkish virtues." These, Hume claims, serve no purpose, and in fact hinder an individual by stupefying the understanding and hardening the heart. The question before us is whether there is anything in Hume's moral theory which precludes a female Cleanthes. Hume remains relatively silent concerning the subject of women. However, he offers a discourse on the virtue of chastity in women and also offers scattered remarks concerning woman's nature. I will turn to these passages in an attempt to determine whether the Humean moral person is as likely to be a woman as a man. In his essay "On the Rise and Progress of the Arts and Sciences," Hume offers an aside on the topic of gallantry. Having discussed the Roman custom of honoring first the person of the greatest distinction, Hume refers to the modern notion of offering respect and deference to one's inferiors, what he calls "gallantry." Arguing against the Roman custom, Hume argues that modern gallantry is both generous and natural, in that it keeps us from causing injury to others and renders intercourse between people more agreeable. "A polite man," Hume tells us, "learns to behave with deference towards his companions, and to yield the superiority to them in all the common incidents of society." Hume then turns to the relations of the sexes, arguing that in this arena, gallantry is crucial. "As nature has given man the superiority above woman, by endowing him with greater strength both of mind and body, it is his part to alleviate that superiority, as much as possible, by the generosity of his behaviour, and by a studied deference and complaisance for all her inclinations and opinions.It is not difficult to Editing essay with the assistance of experienced paper editors! Make your essay error-free! " He argues that such gallantry is wise as well as generous, for without it women would be little other than the slaves of their husbands. "Barbarous nations display this superiority [i.e., of man over woman], by reducing their females to the most abject slavery." Hume explains that such conditions preclude all possibility of discourse, sympathy, friendship, and gaiety between the sexes. The natural affection between the sexes thus requires the gallantry of men in order to achieve its fullest satisfaction.