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Iliad Gods Vs Humans

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Do you believe that gods are morally superior to humans? In the Iliad there is a very complex relationship between the gods and the humans. One would commonly believe that the gods help the humans stay moral, however in the Iliad it is almost the exact opposite. This essay, through textual evidence as well as through arguments from authority, will show how the gods are in fact less moral than the humans.
Often those who start or refuse to stop an unjust war are considered to be immoral people, or in the case of the Iliad as immoral gods. According to Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on War, “War can be necessary and proportionate only if it serves an end worth all this death and destruction” (Lazar 3.1). Meaning war may be needed if there is a just reason and if the war will prevent even more catastrophe. The gods in the Iliad time and time again act immoral by provoking unjust wars and frequently encouraging wars to continue that are coming to an end, such as when Athena "stirs" the fighting at the wishes of Zeus, Zeus telling Athena to "Urge on the Danaans" (Book 17, 537-543).
In the Iliad each god has their own self-serving plan for what they wish to happen and every one of them uses the …show more content…
In the book, The Elements of Power: Lessons on Leadership and Influence, author Terry R. Bacon states “Likewise, people with greater sources of power are better able to lead and influence others than people with fewer and lesser sources of power. The more powerful you are the more influence you will have.” (theelementsofpower.com). If one is able to use their power to influence others it is crucial that they use that power morally because it could cause harm to another or in many cases, as seen in the Iliad, harm can be done to large populations with just one

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