Leibnizs theory of truth

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was one of the most celebrated thinkers and philosophers in Western thought in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. His work included studies and concepts in mathematics, ethics, theology, physics and most importantly-logic. His theories on the conceptions of truth and reason remain key pillars on theoretical studies to this day.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Leibniz’s theory of truth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since time immemorial, human beings have always been interested in knowing the conceptions behind human knowledge, intelligence, reality and truth. Plato himself was very concerned about the nature of these qualities in his study of logic (or analytics). However, the containment theory of truth by Leibniz remains a popular view of the nature of truth. According to Leibniz, truth is a product of two factors- a predicate and a subject. Leibniz theorize s that the truth about an individual’s quality is derived from the concept of the individual itself (Zalta 2). The simple version of the theory is that a predicate is true because of the existence of the subject. This means that any statement can be true since one only needs to relate the two individual aspects that form the predicate and subject. For example, when one makes a statement that ‘ this essay was written by a man, the subject here will be the man and the predicate is the act of writing. For this statement to be true, the writing must have been done by a man according to the speaker. Therefore once predicate and subject are linked, the statement becomes true without any attempt to rationalize it in terms of external correlatives. ‘S’ is ‘P’ is a general summary of the theory of truth; where ‘S’ is the subject and ‘P’ is the predicate. Leibniz (a) states that even for those statements that are not naturally i n the form of ‘S’ is ‘P’ could be restated to align themselves to the theory (226). Dorian gives a very good example, â€Å"Pam is writing this essay at 10:21 a.m. on November 9, 2009. This statement is true because writing this essay at this exact moment is part of the definition of Pam. That is, it is part of my essence as Pam to be writing this paper at this exact point in time. In this sense, writing this paper right now (predicate) is contained in the definition of me (subject)† (3). Leibniz goes further as to state that even for statements that show relationship or interconnection, they can be restated in a manner that shows that they refer to the subject and its inherent qualities.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore in a statement where Peter is older than John, the truth about Peter’s superior age continues to stand regardless of the fact that John exists or does not exist. Dorian finds this to be a ‘strange concept’ since it fails to give credence to the existence of extrinsic factors that could also influence the truth (3). From Leibniz’s theory of truth, various inferences can be drawn as to physical and metaphysical aspects. First, Leibniz (a) states that â€Å"nothing is without reason† (226). This is what is generally regarded as the Principle of Sufficient reason without which Leibniz (b) states that â€Å"the universe would not make any sense, and science and philosophy both would be impossible(66).† The Principle of Sufficient reason augments Leibniz’s theory of truth since if there existed something without a cause then there would be no link between â€Å"S† and â€Å"P† and the theory of truth would come to naught. Therefore Leibniz holds that all things whether physical or metaphysical have a sufficient reason for their existence whether kn own to man or not. Several interesting inferences can then be drawn from Leibniz’s school of thought. First, he seems to be advocating for a deterministic view of the world (Leibniz (c) 23). Since no two finite things can interact to bring cause i.e. since cause in itself is inherent in the subject, the only logical discourse that can be drawn from the theory is that God is the author of all things past, present and future. This means that there is what Dorian terms as ‘pre-established harmony’ in things (4). It thus follows that our view of the world as events happening in ‘real time’ is not a reality since they have already been scripted and are happening parallel to each other. Using the theory of truth, the only logical reason for this is that the mind and the body cannot also relate causally. Since all truths are thus a priori, vacuums and empty spaces do not exist. Additionally, the theory that atoms can exist in a free state is not true due to the indivisibility of matter. Each particle in matter has its own complex world and there is no simplicity in any being. Leibniz’s theory also dismisses the existence of space and states that it is an idea. This statement puts into doubt the existence of geometry and other ‘material-based’ studies. All kinds of materiality are also dismissed and there is infinity in matter. In short, Leibniz’s theory of truth eventually becomes extremely rationalist and shuns all kinds of empirical thought.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Leibniz’s theory of truth specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What bears most significance in Leibniz’s theory of truth is that the truth is already existent within the subject. Since there is no relation and causality between things, then naturally, it flows that God is the only cause. It means that He not only created the world as an infinite system, he also guides the intelligence and knowledge of the truth. In Leibniz’s (b) own words; â€Å"Now it is obvious that all true predication has some foundation in the nature of things, and when a proposition is not identical, that is to say when the predicate is not expressly included in the subject, it must be virtually included in it. This being so, we can say that the nature of an individual substance or of a complete being is to have a notion so complete that it is sufficient to include, and to allow the deduction of, all the predicates of the subject to which that notion is attributed† (8). The theory of truth and that of sufficient reason represent a one sided view of the nature of the world and the existence of truth and knowledge. Many critics have dismissed Leibniz’s work as being too ‘rationalist’ or too ‘religious’. Other scholars such as Hume have even come up with extremely opposite views instead focusing on the empirical and ig noring the rational (Dorian 7). Another argument has been that the theory of sufficient reason is a result of human imagination and things are actually not connected and where they are, it is random and coincidental. However, all this criticism cannot take away the fact that Leibniz’s work laid the foundation for modern theorists such as Immanuel Kant, whose theories are more widely celebrated. Works Cited Dorian, Pam. On the Nature of Truth: A comparative essay on Leibniz’ containment theory of truth and Hume’s distinction between ‘relations of ideas’ and ‘matters of fact. 11 Aug 2009. Web. www.personal.psu.edu/ped127/blogs/†¦e†¦/PHIL%20202%20PAPER.docx Leibniz, Gofffried (a). New Essays on Human Understanding (Edited and translated by Remnant and Bennett). Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1996. Print.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Leibniz, Gofffried (b). Theodicy (Edited by Farrer, translated by Huggard). London, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1951. Print. Leibniz, Gofffried (c). The Correspondence with Clarke (Edited by Alexander). Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1956. Print. Zalta, Edward. (Leibnizian) Theory of Concepts. Logical Analysis and History of Philosophy, 3 (2000): 137-183. Print. This essay on Leibniz’s theory of truth was written and submitted by user Fiona Burris to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Three reasons why personal training is the best job for college students

Three reasons why personal training is the best job for college students If you’re a college student, you’ll probably agree when I say that finding a job that lets you balance your schedule around your classes and makes a decent income is really challenging. But what if there was a job that allowed you to work around your own schedule, could bring in upwards of $50 an hour, and could be turned into an actual full-time career? I have good news; there is a career just like this: a certified personal trainer.Here are some of the benefits of becoming a certified personal trainer while you’re in college. 1. Certifications can be earned in a few monthsI know what you’re thinking: â€Å"more classes and coursework while I’m in college? Ugh.† While this is true, think more about the investment you are making in yourself, as well as the flexibility the future will hold, than the prerequisites for getting certified. You also must consider the potential pay of this part-time gig, but we’ll get more into that below.Get ting a nationally accredited personal training certification from a major company like NASM, ACE, or Fitness Mentors can be accomplished in a few short months. You can register for an exam before you go into college (i.e., your summer after high school), while in college, or during summer break and knock out your studies, so they don’t overlap with your regular semesters.Certification will allow you to get a variety of different personal training jobs such as within gyms, as a self-employed trainer, or even on your college campus. Even more beneficial, the skills you’ll learn in exercise science and nutrition will be valuable for your entire life.2. Flexible job marketThere are several places of employment for the certified personal trainer. The most popular of these is obvious: at the gym.But outside of the gym, there are a lot of different places to get a job as a personal trainer. Your college campus may have athlete training programs that you can apply to, but you can also find jobs at retirement communities, local country clubs, condo associations, major hotels, and resorts, at athletic performance centers (outside the college), via online training, and of course, the entrepreneurial route as a self-employed trainer. The list goes on!Depending on your place of employment you may very well be able to train on the days that you have availability. For example, in college, I trained on Tuesdays and Thursdays as well as on the weekends and scheduled my classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I also mixed in a job as a personal trainer at a local gym alongside some private personal training clients.While flexibility is one of the best aspects of a personal training job for a college student, the pay is what is really appealing.3. Personal trainers can work less, and make moreWhen you think of typical college jobs working at the local juice bar or coffee shop, you’re probably lucky if you make $8 an hour. While this may work for some, w hat’s even more appealing about a job as a personal trainer is that you can make considerably more without having to clock in as many hours.The tradeoff is the initial expenses and investment of time in getting certified, but when you read about the potential income, you’ll understand. Take a job at Equinox for example. The personal trainer salary for their lowest tier trainers is $26 an hour. That’s more than double the hourly rate you’d get at a decent entry-level college job and likely to be more than three times what the minimum wage is in your state. At the YMCA, trainers make $15 to $28 per session.It can get even better if you do private personal training. If you run your own personal training business and build your clientele, it’s not uncommon to charge upwards of $50 an hour as an entry-level trainer and more than $100 an hour for a more experienced trainer.You could theoretically make $200 a week and only work four hours. Compare this to working 20 hours at some part-time job and making the same!Work smarter, not harder in collegeAs your parents have probably told you 100 times, â€Å"college is supposed to be one of the best times of your life.† Nobody ever said, â€Å"working in college is the best time of your life,† so why not consider a college job that allows you to make a decent income but also allows you more time for your social life?Consider a job in personal training and how helping people meet their health and wellness goals can also help you reach your personal goals. Learn more about other part-time jobs or search jobs in your area today.About the Author:Eddie Lester is a personal trainer from Los Angeles and the Founder and CEO of Fitness Mentors. With over 10 years of experience and eight different certifications and specializations, as well as multiple years of teaching training at a vocational college, Lester loves sharing his knowledge of practical training experience as well as how to study for PT exams. Lester is the author of Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer.

International Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

International Marketing - Essay Example Spain is the principal olive oil manufacturer in the world. Therefore, the companies producing olive oil in Spain will diversify their markets by exploiting market opportunities. Over the past 20 years, there has been an augment in olive oil consumption in United Kingdom where in 2010; half of the households were consuming olive oil. United Kingdom is the main importer of olive oil in the world (Food & Drink Innovation Network 2010, p. 1). The company will, therefore, expand its market by selling olive oil surplus in United Kingdom. The other objective of the company will be to increase the awareness of its olive oil brands among customers in United Kingdom. United Kingdom is the largest consumer of olive oil in Europe. There are various uses of olive oil as a salads condiment or a cooking ingredient (Harwood & Aparicio 2000, p. 15). The company will seek to inform olive oil consumers concerning the various dietary benefits and outstanding culinary traits of consuming olive oil. The company has to inform consumers about their product, first whether it is extra virgin olive oil, which is utilized principally for dressing salads, for preparing sauces and as a dip for bread. Mixed oil and olive oil are utilized for cooking and preparing tender sauces. Assessment of the Market Over the last twenty years, the consumption of olive oil in the United Kingdom has been increasing constantly. From 1990 to 2009, the United Kingdom share of the global consumption of olive oil increased from 1.9% to 2.9%. All the quantity of olive oil consumed in the United Kingdom is imported. Spain is the leading exporter of olive oil in the United Kingdom. In 2009, half of the United Kingdom households were... This paper stresses that the company has to assess the size of the potential market, the type and level of competition, promotional variations, price, product variations and barriers to trade. The company has also to analyze the cost effectiveness of various modes of transport. The company has to identify marketing objectives, marketing strategies and marketing budget of this market. The company has also to identify the potential customers of olive oil in United Kingdom, identify the critical issues and develop a system of monitoring and evaluating the marketing activities. This essay makes a conclusion that while preparing an initial market plan, the company first identifies the target market. The company will then conduct a market analysis to evaluate the viability of the market. Secondly, the company set objectives it seeks to achieve in the new market. The analysis of the company comprises of the assessment of the market environment. The assessment will identify the prevailing economic conditions, challenges and the level of competition. The company decides the best marketing mix for its products. The company will offer a broad variety of products with different brand names, which will attract new customers. The company will adopt advertising activities, which will persuade consumers to buy its products. The pricing strategy of the company will influence the amount of sales in the target market. The company has to develop distribution channels, which will deliver products to the target customers.

When is marketing a valuable social practice Term Paper

When is marketing a valuable social practice - Term Paper Example There are a myriad of ethical challenges faced by marketers across the globe. Brenkert, a philosopher, points out some of these key challenges. The first challenge is the use of sex and fear during marketing campaigns. A number of critiques believe that some of the marketing materials used to instill fear amongst the public from using a product or associating with other people. The second challenge is deception and invasion of privacy. Marketing has been criticized for aiding greed, providing misleading information as they persuade people to buy products and services they do not need and spent a lot of money that could be used in other areas. It’s also been criticized for neglecting the low-end people in the society and only focuses on the rich tycoons in the society. Since marketers are only concerned by those who are able to buy their products, they are seldom concerned about the poor people. Advertisements are directed to the poor people are very low-quality ones. Finally, it’s been accused of being intrusive and might distract attention of people. With the above challenges and accusations, critiques have regarded marketing as a waste of time, and spend a lot of resources convincing customers to purchase products and access services they don’t need. It has been blamed for promoting consumerism and materialism.

Partnership and collaboration in the promotion of child development Essay

Partnership and collaboration in the promotion of child development - Essay Example When looking at Louisa and James’ family, it can be seen that interactions and finding solutions for various situations can change the overall development of all the children. The scenario that requires specific actions is with Serena and the current situation that she has created with both school and personal development. Scenario of Serena Serena is known as a scholarly student in school and is continuously performing to have average to good marks in school. However, Serena’s personal relationships have recently altered. Serena is a daughter from Louisa’s previous marriage with her birth father, Colin. While Louisa has been in a relationship with James since Serena since she was one years of age, there are different dynamics from the previous relationship. Serena first met her father when she was six months old; however, the interactions were limited. Six months ago, Serena’s birth father, Colin, began to move into more contact with Serena. There have be en several interactions between the two in the past few months. The teachers and administration at the school have noted that in the same few months, Serena is beginning to alter with her studies. Her attendance has altered and she is withdrawn when she is in the classroom, as opposed to having the regular interactions and alertness that was noted from her past behaviours. There may be several reasons associated with this, all which are leading to different behaviours among Serena. The problem that has compounded is one which is directly linked to personal relationships; however, the interference with Serena’s school work is leading to new concerns among individuals and professionals. Providing Integrated Services from Children’s Services The problem that has arisen with Serena is one which requires integrated services to work effectively. The relationship is the basis of this; however, the effects which are occurring with school work are creating alterations in how th e main problem can be approached. The integrated services include the family that is involved in the relationship. It also includes professionals that are working within the school as well as counsellors who may be able to assist Serena to become more alert in school and to separate the personal relationships from the interferences that are occurring in the school (Parton, 976: 2006). For this to work effectively, the integration of the various team members will need to work together with the proper communication and understanding of the complete situation. Protocols and documentation will need to be used to follow with the right communication so the team members can work on the activities on hand while minimizing tensions between the professionals. The inter-personal and professional communication needs to be developed first, specifically which can provide better integrated services for Serena’s situation (Anning, 90: 2006). The two concepts which the integrated services wil l need to use are intervention and protection services. If this is done earlier, than the team will be able to stop any hindrances which may drastically affect Serena’s attendance as well as the potentially hazardous relationship that is affecting her school work. For the integrated services to work, the team defined will first need to define what interventions need to occur (Sloper, 571: 2004). The most well – known factor that is altering with Serena is her attendance and the school work that she is

Poverty and the Welfare State

Poverty and the Welfare State Poverty and the Welfare State. Question 1 Describe critically Murrays analysis of the underclass. How does the population in the USA characterized by his use of this term differ from that in Britain. Question 2 In an essay of no more than 1000 words, outline and critically evaluate the view that the Welfare State tends to create more poverty than it has the ability to solve. your essay must include examples of state policies as well as consider the different ideologies of welfare in Britain Question 1. Murrays articles in the Times magazine in 1989 which outlined his thesis concerning the emergence of an underclass in the UK similar to the one he had already identified in the US has been one of the more controversial texts in social policy recently (Murray, 1989, 1990). Murrays central thesis is that the welfare state through the provision of benefits to unmarried mothers and the cessation of those benefits should these women marry has the effect of removing fatherhood and the influence thereof a father figure from the lives of these children (Murray, 1989). They in turn become dependent upon welfare and so a class of people is formed outside of the norms of wage earning society dependent wholly on the state for support (Murray, 1989). Before we discuss some of the criticisms of this view it is worth noting the peculiarities and differences between Murrays thesis as it relates to the US and the UK. In the first instance Murrays work in the UK is much less racialised than his identification of the population in the US (Murray, 1984). In the case of the US Murrays thesis and identification of the population comprising the majority of the underclass has been that it is a Black population. Murray then identified single black mothers as forming the core of the underclass. While this was a feature certainly still of his analysis of the British underclass it was not as strikingly so as his British version however the later versions of his thesis on the UK underclass also took on these racial overtones, (Murray, 1994). Murray can be criticized on any number of grounds but perhaps some of the most devastating criticisms can be found when we consider research which is actually undertaken on those who constitute the underclass rather than abstract theorizing about the underclass which denotes much of the vague definitions of what the underclass is meant to be (Alcock 1997). In this regard recent work by Edwards and Duncan (1997) for example has demonstrated the degree to which the stereotypes of the composition of the underclass do not match the realities of the lives involved. In their study of single women with children and their uptake of paid work they found that black single mothers living in positively regarded underclass areas (inner city areas of London for example) were more likely to seek work and to regard working themselves as being beneficial for their children (Edwards and Duncan, 1997:33). This was in contrast to single mothers from less predominantly underclass areas that held traditio nal views about rearing their children. These views emphasised the importance of caring for their children through being at home with them rather than outside the home in employment. Consequently the members of this group were much less likely to have work or to seek work or see work as a good. Thus the image of black single mothers creating an underclass through their rejection of a work ethic would seem to be unfounded. Thus even in this small instance fatal flaws in Murrays thesis can be identified, ultimately it can be said that the very vagueness of the definitions of what constitutes the underclass in the literature can it be argued be seen to be reflective of the fact that an identifiable object such as the underclass is impossible to define and serves merely as a critique of welfare arrangements and a moral attack on the nature of those who are marginalized by society. Question 2. With the collapse of communist states across the world in the 1980s a major perceived competitor to the market economy was removed with some like Fukuyama proclaiming it to be the end of history and the triumphant victory of liberalism (Fukuyama, 1992). In the UK as in other European countries of course the welfare state has mediated against the evils of capitalism as set out by Beveridge for some time, serving as Marxists had argued as a bribe of the working class and ensuring the legitimization and continuation of the welfare state (Mishra, 1990). It is not surprising then with all the past attacks on the nature of the welfare state to note that with the end of history there has come a renewed assault on the welfare state in the UK. Criticisms of the welfare state have come from both the left and the right but also crucially from the middle way of social democratic viewpoints. Almost consistent research has demonstrated the failure of the welfare state in reducing relative levels of poverty; in fact the UK today has a divide between rich and poor which is increasing quicker than at any other time in the history of the welfare state (Hills and Stewart, 2005). Thus it has become an almost consistent feature of debate that the welfare state has failed but the reasons given for this failure are completely oppositional. The two most prominent sources of these reasons have been neo-liberalists and social democratic parties. For neo-liberalists the evils of the welfare state far outweigh the evils of the free market so in discussing the view that the welfare state creates poverty it is worth recounting their views on the failings of the welfare state. At the core of many of the arguments thus against the welfare state are notions of desert. Desert is seen as a principle of morals and thus the failings of the welfare state in this respect is a moral failure which in turn leads to the moral turpitude of those the welfare state attempts to help (Lavalette and Pratt, 1997). This moral attack on the poor and the perceived institutions which has lead to their poverty is of course nothing new (Thane, 1992). Since the Poor Law state welfare arrangements have been criticized for the creation of a mentality which is seen to encourage indolence and decrease motivation towards self-sufficiency. The reliance on welfare thus leads to unwillingness to seek work. This in turn has the effect of leading to increased taxation to support those unwilling to work. This then in turn leads to increased difficulties for employers in terms of paying higher salaries to counter higher taxation and so on into a vicious cycle of dependency (Hayek, 1990). Such a trend it is argues lay at the heart of the Oil Crises and the subsequent retrenchment of the welfare state in the UK and elsewhere. Thus for the neo-liberal critique it is the totality of the welfare state which not only fails in reducing poverty but also serves to in fact create more. It does this both in a structural sense by hindering the effective operation of the market but also by creating in those who are recipients of welfare a mentality which causes them to retreat from the fundamental basics of economic life in seeking employment. Thus for neo-liberals measures such as Income Maintenance support schemes serve to create a duality of factors leading to the increase of poverty. Reform of the welfare state for neo-liberalists must be done so that only the bare minimum of services are required for those who are truly in need, such as the young, aged or infirm, (Fitzpatrick, 2001). Amidst these criticisms the welfare state in the UK has undergone revisions also from its social collectivist roots. This may be surprising but we can view this a response to critiques of the welfare state from both left and right and hence theyre emerged consequently an articulation of a Third Way, (Giddens, 1994). This Third Way was to be a radical re-conceptualisation of the basis and functions of the welfare state. As such then it can be seen that New Labour in particular has followed in the footsteps of Thatcher towards reforming the welfare state. But how effective have these reforms been and what is their basis? Perhaps the most potent of these transformations has been in a shift away from the universalism of the early welfare state to a new selectivitist philosophy. Selectivism entails the targeting of benefits through such measures as means-testing and other income threshold schemes so as that ideally those that need it the most benefit from the specified arrangement (Lowe, 2005). If anything their effect on the poorest has been marginal as these people are already in receipt of benefits and the introduction of means tests has had little impacts. Instead a stealth reform of the welfare state has occurred and those who were on the margins, previously covered by the benefit are now excluded on the basis of their income being over thresholds, even if this is just marginal, (Esping-Anderson, 2002). Thus we can argue that this selectivist based reform of the welfare state has worsened life for many by removing the safety net for all that existed previously under a universalist system. What this means in other words is that the Third Way of Labour has in actuality enhanced and widened the gaps between rich and poor and made the effects of poverty worse their reforms in favour of making the welfare state more effective. The pace and scale of the gap and its widening between rich and poor can be considered in this light. Indeed this notion of effectiveness found in much of social policy discourse can often be seen as simply cost-cutting exercises. The effects of which are leading to a situation where it is arguable that we have now seen neo-liberalism by the back door with major consequences for UK policy treatment of both poverty itself and those living in poverty. References Alcock, P. (1997); Understanding Poverty, Palgrave, Basingstoke UK Edwards, R. and Duncan S. (1997); Supporting the Family: Lone Mothers, Paid Work and the Underclass Debate; Critical Social Policy, Vol.7 No. 4 Esping-Anderson, G. (2002); Why We Need a New Welfare State, Oxford University Press, Oxford UK Fitzpatrick, T. (2001); Welfare Theory: An Introduction, Palgrave, Basingstoke UK Fukuyama, F. (1992); The End of History and the Last Man, Penguin, New York US Giddens, A. (1994); Beyond Left and Right: The Future of Radical Politics, Stanford University Press, California US Hayek, F.A.V. (1990); Economic Freedom, Blackwell, Oxford UK Hills, J. and Stewart, K. (2005); A More Equal Society, Policy Press, Bristol UK Lavalette, M. and Pratt, A. (1997); Social Policy: A Theoretical and Conceptual Introduction, Sage, London UK Lowe, R. (2005); The Welfare State in Britain since 1945, Palgrave, Basingstoke UK Mishra, R. (1990); The Welfare State in Capitalist Society, Harvester Wheatsheaf, New York US Murray, C. (1984); Losing Ground: American Social Policy 1950-1980, Basic Books, New York Murray, C. (1989); Underclass; Sunday Times Magazine, 26th November Murray, C. (1990), The Emerging British Underclass, IEA, London UK Murray, C. (1994); Underclass: The Crisis Deepens; The Sunday Times, 29th May Thane, P. (1982); The Foundations of the Welfare State, Longman, London UK

A Comparison of Perfection in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knig

Perfection in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The heroes of both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are fighters. However, the traits they have in common are far less numerous than those that set them apart. As each of the two is dubbed perfect by his contemporaries, it should be possible to draw the picture of both the model warrior and the paragon knight by comparing Beowulf and Gawain. The first question to arise is that of leadership. In Beowulf, the hero is referred to as "prince"*, the "helmet-of-Weders"**, or "master-friend"***. This is not without reason: in the times of the epic, might did literally make right. Therefore, he who was to be an accomplished warrior had to display a leader s qualities as well as combat prowess. As for the knights, they had their appointed ruler, king Arthur, and none thought of challenging him. Neither did any of the knights distinguish himself as a general; all their exploits were done single-handedly. Now, let us focus on combat. Beowulf fights a great many battles during his life, and while some of these are only briefly mentioned (the famous sea-monsters, for instance), the really titanic ones are described fully and with abundance of detail. The clash between the Geats and Grendel may serve as an example here: " Now many an earl of Beowulf brandished blade ancestral, ( ) The outlaw dire Took mortal hurt "* And so it continues for fifty-one verses. And this is but one of the heroe s armed encounters! Clearly, one has to fight much to be a great warrior The matter is quite different when it comes to knights. While Gawain's skill with sword and lance is highly praised throughout the poem, his battles are only hinted at as... ...e himself notices, "nothing is said of Beowulf's wife in the poem, but Bugge surmises that Beowulf finally accepted Hygd's offer of kingdom and hoard, and, as was usual, took her into the bargain"*** - which reflects the lack of concern a true warrior should show when dealing with women. There is, however, a trait common to the warrior and the knight: the two have a set of rules they should obey. And though the regulations that force Beowulf to come to Hrothgar's help are not nearly as neatly organised as Gawain's chivalric code embodied in the "pentangle"****, the idea of being compelled to act in a way dictated by generally accepted rules appears in both poems. We have thereby drawn the pictures of the ideal men of two different ages, and proved in the process how much the notion of perfection has changed from Beowulf to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.