Analysis Questions: The Hindu Caste System

Analysis Questions: “The Hindu Caste System”

There are four differences between the caste system and other social class systems. There is the sanction of divine law and hierarchal organization. The caste is separated and movement to different ones are difficult. Heredity also plays a major role in the caste system.

The Laws of Manu is a collection of Hindu rules created by Manu, a demigod. Manu was a “manifestation of Brahma” and was a representation of divine commands for the Hindu people.

The four basic castes are

Brahmanas=priests and scholars

Kshatriya=nobles and warriors

Vaisyas=farmers and merchants

Sudras=laborers and servants

The second birth refers to human birth and a second birth lying in Hindu mysteries. The Brahmanas, Kshatriya,

There are prisoners in a cave who have never seen the outside world. They are bound and can only see a wall in front of them, the wall having casted shadows upon itself from the passing people who block the light behind. The prisoners play a game, guessing the shadows that are thought to be real objects. One of the prisoners escape, live and understand the outside world, and return to tell the others only to find out they don’t believe him. The prisoners in the cave represent people trapped in misunderstandings of life. The escaped prisoner represents a philosopher, one who knows the truth yet is rejected when he tries to explain. Socrates’ point of view shows how the story goes often times when philosophers try to do what they were meant to do. The government (master of the prisoners) are stuck knowing only what they see which oftentimes isn't the truth. They “fight with one another about shadows only and are distracted in the struggle for power” referring back to the game in which the correct person is the master. Socrates states how even the master (government) needs a philosopher to direct him in the right path and show him what is real and what is fake. Socrates point of view expresses the narrow view people have compared to himself and other

Philosophy came up with new ideas that were better accepted and put a different view of life in people’s minds. Science made many new discoveries adding much knowledge to the people. They could finally understand who they were and the world around them with a better sense of knowledge.

Religious beliefs changed from Greek culture to Zoroastrianism. Greek polytheism was the central belief at the time, but its content was concerning to the humans. The gods and goddesses had complete control over the humans and afterlife was dreaded. Zoroastrianism came from the east with a monotheistic view. It told people that they could make right or wrong choices and stated about a better afterlife than Greek beliefs. Many converted mixing up the culture of the people dwelling together.

Athenian and American democracy have a few similarities. The power was in the hands of the people and there were three branches of government. They were the same three branches in with similar duties; legislative branch passed laws, executive branch enforces laws, and judicial branch settled trials. There were differences in the way these branches operated but they had a very similar