4bpaper2 (Ross Kelly)

1) Martin Luther and Machiavelli both represent breaks with traditional sources of authority, and the ideas of both contributed to the rise of absolutism. Write a meaningful essay comparing and contrasting their thinking, and the implications of their thinking . Be sure that your essay has a thesis, and a conclusion, and that all of your points tie together. Questions that you might consider include:

n       where does ultimate intellectual and/or political authority lie – why?

n       How does this thinker’s view of authority relate to his view of human nature?

n        How do these ideas contribute to the rise of absolutism?

n        What problems is this thinker attempting to solve, and how does this quest for solution relate to his views of authority and/or human nature?

n        In what ways is this thinker responding to events/ideas of the past/present day?


2) Luther- Machiavelli-Montaigne-Descartes

Select two of the authors on this list and write a meaningful essay comparing and contrasting their ideas in relationship to the following questions:

--How “medieval” or “modern” are the worldviews of each? (be sure you define what you mean by “medieval” and “modern”)

--to what degree is this author concerned about religion – and why?

--What is the source of ultimate truth for each and why?


For each question you must consider how each thinker reflects changes in his historical circumstances. Your essay should begin with a thesis paragraph, and end with a concluding paragraph.


3) Write a meaningful essay in which you compare attitudes towards non-Christians in the writings of Martin Luther, Machiavelli and Montaigne. Your discussion should attempt to explain each author’s attitude in terms of his own system of thinking as well as in terms of external events that informed his thinking. Be sure that your essay has a thesis paragraph and a concluding paragraph.


4) Medieval theologians believed that there was a single truth in the universe. So did Martin Luther. Montaigne, however, was not so sure. Write a paper in which you compare and contrast Luther’s and Montaigne’s ideas about “truth.” In addition to comparing their two views, your paper should, as well, discuss how Luther’s views could lead to those of Montaigne.


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