Xenophon, Cyropaedia

Thursday, October 8th

What does your name mean to you?

My name doesn’t have a specific meaning to me. When I search up the name Kayla it says it means beloved or someone who is God like. When I think of my name I think basic, I think of my personality. My name to me really don’t have a meaning.

Monday, October 12th

Write about the person in your life (someone you know personally) that you would say has shown the most and best leadership in their course of their life. How young were they when they first started showing leadership?

A person in my life that has shown leadership throughout the course of their life is my mother. She shows excellent leadership skills with her motivation, drive, and the push she gives other. My mom started this way when she only 15 as she working two jobs to take a load off of my grandmother. She then had to step it up even more by time she was 18 because then I came into the world. My mother was a great role model for me she worked two jobs supported my private school and she went to college herself. Not only dealing with all that but also my medical insurance because as a child I was in and out of the hospital due to my serve asthma. My mom was a motivated to have the best life she could have for her children because after she graduated with her associates she had my little brother but still continued school and working. She got her bachelors and master’s degree in finances. She showed the dedication it takes to go to school and take of two children on her own. She did the best she could through all the obstacles thrown her in her way and she always told me to stay focus and not to do the things she’s done. My mom always pushed everyone around her to be better than she ever was. She always want the best for everyone, she don’t always say in the nicest way, but she be real about it.

Cyrus right he’s like this great leader and they start to delve into his childhood to where he is now. In Persia they train boys to be like soldier/hunter types who protect the king and land. Cyrus and his mother go to visit his grandfather when he is 12. Cyrus immediately gets attached to his grandfather who dotes on him a lot. Cyrus’ grandfather wants him to stay with him in Media so he does. Cyrus stays in Media for 4 years up until Cyrus constructs a good battle plan. Cyrus is now allowed to go home bc he’s like smart and good at war plans or whatever. Everyone basically loves Cyrus. he’s super smart and very curious. Cyrus talks to his Dad and his dad tells him about how Cyrus’ hunting training relates to the art of war. Also Cyrus met his uncle while in Media this uncle is his mother’s brother. By now, Cyrus’ grandfather is very much dead (I think) and the assyrians want world domination.

Tuesday, October 13th

Class Discussion

Cyrus was a great leader everyone looked to him. The question is why though, why was he looked at as such a great leader.

Windsor: Cyrus was talking about his cup being posioned in chapter 3 section one.

This is important for leadership development because they need to be observant of everything around them. Cyrus criticized them for lacking sophrosune (self restraint). Being able to have self restraint is a great quality for someone in the leadership position because they are able the handle more difficult situations than others. Self control relates to learning while Self restraint relates food. Children learn these qualities from the elders. Cyrus also shows philometheia which is the love of learning being curious and learning quickly.

Naheim: Education passage talks about how they have different school which is similar to us now.

We see different things in leadership then that they see in leadership. We focus on being outspoken and dealing with different conflicts while Cyrus people have men focusing on the justice of their land. They live in a male dominate world, where women have no specific roles besides domestics.Persians punish who doesn't return favors are ungrateful and dont have gratitude.

Arianna: Chapter 6 section 7 talks about mentorships and reminds the whole idea of leadership. This section is where our definition of leadership comes from.

How do leaders gain trust?

Leaders gain trust with their credibility honesty, and being a kind person. Being a kind person can be hard but atleast being honest and not being self involved or treating others with intolerance. These similar characteristics is what made Cyrus a great leader.

How did people build so much trust in Cyrus? How did he get people to follow him?

Naheim: Cyrus is obedient.

Terry: Cyrus is aware of his surroundings. He could bring people into a situation and help them through it because he has good judgement.

When talking of Cyrus he is great listener, he listened and followed every instruction he was given. He stayed aware of everything and everyone around them. People love and trust Cyrus because they know with him he’ll listen to understand and try his best to make every bad situation or problem good. He keeps the people out of harms way. Cyrus also does not feel phthonos which is hostility. Phthonos is anti-mentorship, not being able to realize full potential. Cyrus was able to recognize full potential and even more. Cyrus enjoys the success of others and don’t find it threatening to himself.

Cyrus had the idea reward when they listen and if they do not listen find creative ways to punish them. His father told him that being phronesis is better because it wise and people follow wise leaders no matter what.

Cyrus was gerenerous at heart and really cared about learning. He was taught not to treat others poorly but was taught obey wjat he was told. He learned to protect his land, how to ration, how to be extremely thorough. He respects elders, is honest, and very well educated. People under Cyrus wants do everything they can to please him. Cyrus was known as the child to be eager to learn, have a sense of curiosity about him. To be observant of his surroundings, to take initiative in bad situations and throughout this he became a quick learner.

Comparing

When looking at Cyrus as a leader and comparing him to any of the other stories I’ve read. I feel he is closely similar to Biniti in a way because they both were very intelligent and caught on to things easily. Everyone wanted to be both of their friends and when they knew what was right they did what was right. Also they both led to protect a place, in Binti case it was to protect her university but for Cyrus it was to protect his land. The difference between them is Binti was not raised in a way that she had to protect her land she was raised to follow others but that wasn’t in her nature. They both were very aware of their surroundings, great listeners, and not naive to people around them. Lastly Binti was afraid in the beginning but Cyrus was taught not to be afraid but to be brave.

Wednesday, October 14th

What is a problem that you would like to have phronēsis in solving? . What is your plan for cultivating phronēsis? How will you establish your reputation for phronēsis, so that others will take you seriously?

A situation I would like to have phronesis in is with the political economy because the people who have power at this moment are not politically wise. I want someone who has the wisdom and have been in a political role before to take over. Someone understands the equality but not just one person a whole new system of people. I want my reputation to being small so I can work my way to the top, with having a great background to present myself as that power. I will carry myself with respect and honesty. Be honorable and a listener. Be aware of who I surround myself with and what scene I keep myself in. Cyrus was that person he was honest, respectful, a great listener, and honorable. He was wise with experience and thats why people followed him. They felt they were able to trust him and now worry about an bad outcome with him as a leader.