Saturday, November 30, 2019

Jesuits in China

The Jesuit Mission The Jesuits in China represented one of the most significant events in the relations between China and the West. The Mission had a great impact in so many ways resulting in the revolution of China in a variety of fields.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Jesuits in China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Moreover, it has always served as a near perfect example of the interactions of two totally different cultures in the late imperial period. The missionary efforts in the county also played a huge role in the introduction as well as the spread of western knowledge, culture and science in China (Brockey, 2007). It is now an established fact that the mission was the foundation of the Christian culture in China. Up until the nineteenth century, before the Catholic and Protestant missions had gained influence in China, the Jesuit missionaries were very influential members of the Chinese societ y. In the 16th century, various prominent Jesuit missionaries initiated missions in China by communicating with Chinese scholars who were representatives of Confucianism. They also introduced mathematics, astronomy, visual arts and western science (Hsia, 2009). The role of Matteo Ricci As evidenced by the impact of his works in China, Matteo Ricci is the most famous Jesuit missionary. He was a great scholar who was able to influence many people through his intelligence and humble personality (Spence, 1984). Ricci’s contribution to the development and cultural exchange in China included the maps of the world and China that he drew. This fascinated the Chinese, and he went a step further to translate Chinese classics into English for the European readers. His approach to the mission was somewhat different which made him stand out as he did not try to force the Chinese to convert but engaged them in conversation and presented them with gifts such as clocks hence building up curi osity among the Chinese. Within no time, the Chinese were interested in finding out more about Europe and Christianity. Scientific Achievements The Jesuit mission in China was a blend of Christianity and scientific competence, not to mention, eastern and western science. In this respect, the Jesuits were regarded very highly in China. As a matter of fact, in the seventeenth century, two Chinese emperors displayed their admiration and respect for the missionaries by living close to them and giving them high ranking posts with great responsibilities in China (Cohen, 1999). For instance, Ferdinand Verbiest, a renowned mathematician and astronomer was among one of the missionaries who stimulated Chinese researches in scientific fields. He was given the position of president of the mathematics bureau. In the performance of his tasks and duties, he made a draft of the solar and lunar eclipses; worked on the invention of a steam engine for ships, and he even reformed the Chinese calendar ( Hsia, 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another influential Jesuit missionary who won favor among the Chinese officials was Antoine Thomas. He had been trained by Verbiest and had great achievements to the scale of establishing a new itinerary between Europe and China and he also established the base of the metric system (Hsia, 2009). Philosophical Achievements The Jesuits also had accomplishments in the field of humanities. In the 17-18th centuries, they translated some of the Chinese classics for the many interested European readers. The result of this was a rich cultural exchange between the two belief systems despite the fact that communication was still poor at the time. Some of the Chinese philosophical texts were an inspiration for many European writers. The likes of Leibniz were inspired by the Chinese books which contributed to his reflection on a world language, as well as his binary system in mathematics (Brockey, 2007). The Rites controversy This was a struggle that broke out after the death of Ricci and lasted well over ten decades. Early in the eighteenth century, a dispute arose within the church regarding rituals and offerings to the emperor; this was at the time considered by the church to constitute idolatry (Spence, 1984). It was among one of the main reasons why the promising mission of the Jesuits in China stalled (Spence, 1984). The root of the problem was based on Ricci’s contention that converts were still allowed to practice the ceremonial rites of Confucianism and ancestor worship which he considered to be purely social and political in nature (Spence, 1984). The Dominicans, however, were of the contrary opinion, regarding Ricci’s position. In fact, they ensured that the case was taken to Rome leading to much more controversy. Over time, the Jesuits appealed to the emperor concerning the issue and he agreed to en dorse Ricci’s position. The emperor’s confusion was quite clear; missionaries were in dispute within his jurisdiction, therefore, he decided that the justified reaction was to consider expelling all foreign Christians from China. Thanks to the discovery of the Nestorian monument in 1623, the Jesuits had the emperor rule against all missionaries who opposed Ricci’s position (Brockey, 2007). The monument was influential in proving that Christianity was indeed not a new religion in China as the Chinese often expressed. The monument was solid evidence that Christianity had been introduced into the country about a thousand years before.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Jesuits in China specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Age of inquisition The Spanish Franciscans did not give up the fight against the Jesuits. Eventually, they were able to convince the Pope at the time that Jesuit mission s were dangerously accommodating Chinese practices that were not entirely consistent with Christian practice. This raged on until 1742 when Pope Benedict XIV officially forbade the worship of ancestors and disagreed with the Jesuits (Brockey, 2007). As a matter of fact, once Pope Clement XIV dissolved the Jesuits, many Christians were persecuted and the congregation scattered. Despite all this, the congregation remained strong. In addition, the financial policies of the Jesuit missionaries also contributed to a lot of controversy especially among the Chinese on the nature of the religion. There was tension between the locals and the foreigners as the missionaries were involved in a variety of business ventures. They were landlords of various properties; organized money lending operations and greatly contributed to the development of the silk industry in China for trade with the West (Stockwell, 2003). Conclusion As has been mentioned, the Jesuits approach to missionary duty was tact ful and genius. Their approach, which included the accommodation of some of the Chinese practices, was their strong point. They had managed to plant a church with totals well into the hundreds of thousands by 1901 (Brockey, 2007). All in all, they succeeded in rendering not just Christianity to the Chinese population but spreading western culture and education, especially science as they were well educated and equipped with skills in western knowledge, literature and culture. They also managed to deal with the tensions that emerged when the two civilizations came together, and the results are still evident to date with Christianity still prevalent in China. References Brockey, L. M. (2007). Journey to the East: the Jesuit mission to China, 1579-1724. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Cohen, J. (1999). The sextants of Beijing: global currents in Chinese history. New York: W.W. Norton Co. Hsia, F. C. (2009). Sojourners in a strange land: Jesuits and their s cientific missions in late imperial China. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Spence, J. D. (1984). The memory palace of Matteo Ricci. New York, N.Y.: Viking Penguin. Stockwell, F. (2003). Westerners in China: a history of exploration and trade, ancient times through the present. Jefferson, NC: McFarland Co. Publishers. This research paper on Jesuits in China was written and submitted by user Xavi A. 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.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Religions Vs. Cults Is There A Difference Professor Ramos Blog

Religions Vs. Cults Is There A Difference Religions are such a touchy subject. There are thousands of religions in the world today, but they all differ in ideology. Anytime anyone brings up a matter of his or her â€Å"beliefs,† everyone seems to get uncomfortable and changes the subject. Cults, are an even touchier subject. Every time someone says â€Å"cult,† our brains automatically associate with Heaven’s Gate, Children of God, People’s Temple, David Koresh’s Branch Davidians, or Aum Shinriyko. What is a cult, exactly? What makes a religion a religion? Is there that big of a difference? I am going to explain what a religion is, what a cult is, and the commonalities and differences between cults and religions. This is important because when someone is looking for something to believe in or follow; one must know exactly what they are getting into. Converting to a religion is a big commitment, so people need to be aware of what they are getting themselves into and to notice to signs of a possible faux religion. According to the Lexico Dictionary, the definition of religion is, â€Å"the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods† (Religion). Having faith in a god, or numerous gods, usually means that is a religion. A religion has a set of beliefs that lay out a set of guidelines on how to reach the path to God, or the gods. Eric Dietrich Ph.D. states in his 2015 article, â€Å"Why Are There So Many Religions?,† â€Å"that there are tens of thousands of religions on planet Earth today† (Dietrich 2). The fact that there are so many religions in the world can be a little confusing. A theory of why there are so many variations of religions is that, â€Å"we are each seeking our own path to God, and our own paths vary because we vary† (Dietrich 2). Mostly all religious groups always feel like they are practicing the right religion over the others in the world. It is hard to say which is wrong and which one is right. The basic ideology of religion varies since they all are so different. The oldest religion, that is still being practiced today, is Hinduism. Hinduism’s ideology is, â€Å"the goal to become free from the law of karma† (Adamson). Hindus believe in numerous gods and goddesses, karma, and reincarnation, so in other words, one’s soul will continue to rebirth on Earth until the soul has fully reached spiritual perfection and can finally rest at peace. A more familiar religion in America is Christianity. Christians believe in the one almighty God, and the basic ideology is to worship only Him, follow the Ten Commandments, and to live for God. Even though these two religions are vastly different, they are similar in that they believe in a higher supernatural power, which is not here on Earth, and they also try to follow a peaceful way of life to reach the path of their god. In retrospect, even though each religion may be different in names and whom they exactly believe in , they both are very similar in the fact that they live for someone higher than them. â€Å"The term cult used to refer to a minor religious sect that practices its own peculiar rituals,† but, â€Å"nowadays, it suggests a secretive and dangerous group† (Galanter 1). Cults have always been a taboo to society. There is always a bad connotation with the word cult. A cult is traditionally defined as a new religious movement. From the beginning of religion, any branched off religion that was not the original religion, was considered a cult. Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity were all technically associated with being a cult at the beginning of their debut. They only became religions when they got enough real estate and followers. Cults have basic ideology as well because they â€Å"align themselves with mainstream religions† (Coughlin). Members of cults believe in a higher power, but the higher power is usually the leader of that cult. They promise the path to a divine afterlife alongside God, or themselves, the leader. These religious groups, cults, are so appealing to people because â€Å"they offer the simple path to happiness, to success, to salvation by following their simple rules,† and â€Å"each member contributes to the power of the leader by trading his or her freedom for the illusion of security and reflected glory that group membership holds† (Zimbardo 2). The lines between a religion and a cult are very blurred. Because cults are based off of well-known religions, or religious beliefs, that we all are very familiar with, so it comes down to logistics to see the differences. The first difference is that cults â€Å"can be financially exploitative, like Scientology, which requires its members to literally buy into the religion at different checkpoints on their road to total faith† (What’s 2). Although, orthodox churches do ask for offerings or donations, but it is not mandatory to prove your faith to that church or god. On the other hand, these orthodox churches will have an â€Å"alms-giving policy that requires members to donate ten percent of their earnings out of charity† (What’s 4). Understandably, every organization needs money to operate, religion or cult. Another difference is that religions believe in worshiping the followings and teachings of a supernatural power, whereas a cult will have the leader , here on Earth, be the higher power. This contrast is where the idea of manipulation comes into play. Many argue that cults will twist the words of the religious beliefs they run off to make them have faith in â€Å"committing suicide upon command or destroying the cult’s enemies,† anyone not in favor of them (Zimbardo 4). Mainstream religions continuously preach to do no harm to others or yourself. In these popular religions, committing suicide or murder is a cardinal sin and against all teachings, and any act of it will be automatic damnation to Hell. Philip G. Zimbardo Ph.D. states in his journal, â€Å"What Messages Are Behind Today’s Cults?,† â€Å"that the major difference between a religion and a cult is what happens when a member tries to leave† (Zimbardo 4). His theory is that if a member of a conventional church isn’t happy with the way the church is being ran, or even disagrees with the teachings, one can choose to leave the chur ch in search of a new path, no problem. If one doesn’t agree with a cult’s teachings once they have already pledged their allegiance and attempts to leave, that member is now looked at as a traitor and can be held hostage, be punished, or even killed for their unsupportive feelings toward the group and it’s leader. These points of differences are very subtle, but they are a big factor is what distinguishes the two groups. The resemblance of a religion and a cult are so parallel, that they overlap in many concepts. Both groups â€Å"demonstrate great zeal and unquestioning commitment to their leader. Doubt, skepticism, and debate are discouraged and sometimes even punished. Current members are always looking to acquire new members and money. There’s a mentality that there are two kinds of people in the world: this in the group, and everyone else† (What’s 1). No one in a mainstream religion wants to hear that there are so many similarities in religions and cults, but this is reality. The two groups practice rituals and ceremonies, have reverence for spiritual leaders, have dogmatic adherence to myths, have a system of moral laws, have supernatural or deistic beliefs and have a veneration of sacred symbols. â€Å"A religion is an old cult. A cult is a new religious movement,† (What’s 3). Religions and cults go hand in hand. Even though people may not want to admit it, every religion started off as a cult because it was anew way of thinking. With all these new teachings and more options to follow, it allowed people all over the world to choose what worked best for their lifestyle. It is true, we all think differently and we all have a different outlook on which higher power is looking down on us, guiding our every move. Even though cults have now gotten a bad reputation for the radical groups that have been associated with them, all cults are not bad. Cults are the beginning to a new movement and a new path to salvation. Without the start of cults, branch offs of mainstream religions, we would not have any of the religions we have today. Adamson, Mariyln. â€Å"Connecting with the Divine.†EveryStudent.com, www.everystudent.com/features/connecting.html. This article gives the run down of the five major religions in the world still practiced today. It covers Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. I am using this information from this article to compare and contrast the different religions today and how they are similar and how they are different. I want to prove that even if religions are not the same, the ideology is basically the same, with the exception of a few particulars. This is more of a blog post, but I feel like it is credible because the author has done religious studies and has traveled to many countries to study religious culture. Coughlin, Sara. â€Å"Where Is The Line Between A Cult A Religion?†The Difference Between A Cult And Religion, Explained, 31 Aug. 2018, www.refinery29.com/en-us/cult-vs-religion-difference. This article explains the differences from cults and religions. It really highlights the more modern cults that have a bad name. I think this article does a good job of comparing and contrasting the things alike and different from religions and cults. I am using this article to show some of the different points it makes aside from the journals, since this article in particular describing the bad cults that can be very manipulative and harmful. Although this source is from an online article that is just more opinion based, the author did an interview with Janja Lalich, Ph. D, who is a professor of sociology ar California State University, Chico. The author quotes the doctor and their findings in the research that they have conducted about cults over the years. Dietrich, Eric. â€Å"Why Are There So Many Religions?†Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 7 Apr. 2015, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/excellent-beauty/201504/why-are-there-so-many-religions. In this article, it breaks down the estimated number of how many religions there are in the world. It also continues to explain why the number of religions in the world is so high. The main point of the whole article is that everyone has a common goal, which is to find the path to their God, but everyone’s paths do not always align. There are many ways to findings one purpose, so that is why there are many different derivatives. I am using this information in my report to show the number of current religions in the world. I want to show that religion is such an open statement and can be interpreted in many different ways. This source is not scholarly, but it was written by, Eric Dietrich Ph.D., whom is a professor of philosophy at Binghamton University and is a current editor in chief of the Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence. I think his words are valid since he teaches philosophy of religion. Galanter, Marc.Cults: Faith, healing and coercion. Oxford University Press, 1999. This book is a sequel to the study of cults with updated research. In this book, the author goes into detail about what a cult actually is. Cults never used to be a bad, awful, terrible thing, it was just a new movement of a religious culture. Nowadays, cults are always associated with a bad reputation, but it is more complicated than that. I am using this information in my report to explain how cults came about and how they took a total left turn into what we know today. I am trying to prove the point that religions and cults are not that much different if you lay out all the facts that this book displays. This is a reliable source because it is scholarly. Marc Galanter wrote this book and he was a Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he taught religion and law. â€Å"Religion: Definition of Religion in English by Lexico Dictionaries.†Lexico Dictionaries | English, Lexico Dictionaries, 25 June 2019, www.lexico.com/en/definition/religion. This is an online dictionary sponsored by The English Oxford Dictionary, so I feel like it is a credible source to get a proper, and valid, definition. I wanted to use the definition of religion to have my audience get a better understanding of what exactly a religion is. Tremlin, Todd. Minds and Gods: The Cognitive Foundations Of Religions. Oxford University Press, 2010. In this book, it lays out a plethora of different types of religions and every single one of their ideologies. It explains the foundations of the religion in Sri Lanka all the way to the Catholic Church teachings. This book highlights the commonality between all the types of religions, which is the beliefs in gods. I am using this research within my report to explain the base foundations of religions and how they really are similar once you get down to the base of all the different teachings. It also goes into depth about the power of the mind and how religion goes hand in hand with what you believe to be right or wrong, or even which god is valid and which one is not. This is a scholarly book that was written by a Professor at Central Michigan University, whom is also the head of the religion program. â€Å"Whats the Difference Between Religion and a Cult? Is There?†Guff, 2015, guff.com/whats-the-difference-between-religion-and-a-cult-is-there. In this article, it does a good job of really comparing and contrasting cults and religions. It lays out soe base foundations and asks the reader to really think if those characteristics of a cult or a religion. This article states that the lines distinguishing cults and religions are really blurred, since technically, all religions were cults at one point in time. I am going to use the information form this article post to really drive the point that there is no difference between a cult and a religion because of ideologies are very similar, almost identical. This source is just more of a blog post, but I do believe that this post is credible because they do cite researchers that have done their research on religions. Zimbardo, Philip. What messages are behind today’s cults.(1997). In this journal, the author talks about the ideology and the appeal about cults. This author explains why a person might voluntarily join a â€Å"cult.† It also explains how the ideology of cults can easily be manipulated by it’s leaders into thinking this is really a new revolution. I am using this information to highlight the rational perspectives of the people who get wrapped up in these â€Å"new religious movements.† There are always two sides to the story, and in all cases, cults aren’t necessarily meant to be a bad thing. This information is from a scholarly source. The journal is written by Dr. Philip G. Zimbardo, who is a renowned social psychologist at Stanford University, and is also apart of the American Psychological Association.

Friday, November 22, 2019

AIDS and Philadelphia (1993)

Later, the virus can enter the host's bloodstream through a hole in the surface of the tissue. The risk of this happening is the biggest among anal sex, whether it is between two men or between men and women. HIV is transmitted by direct exchange of blood or blood products This type of infection is most common when injecting drug users injecting drugs Hemophilia patients and other people receiving blood transfusion, As well as the fetus of the mother of HIV. Since the onset of AIDS epidemics, AIDS has caused considerable interest and controversy. This scene is taken from the box office income of Philadelphia. The 1993 TV series has become the first movie to discuss publicly about AIDS, crossing the wall of the movie. Philadelphia is also a representative example of homophobia in the workplace (irrational fear and hate against homosexuals). Homosexuals desire equal and equitable treatment in the workplace (Mc Naught 65); recognizing this, the movie is doing very well. Philadelphia cla ims that it meets all four criteria and is a successful high quality social drama. (Social drama is a movie including reality (modern) social problem.Social drama must deal with conflict as some plots contain solution to the problem.) Philadelphia is preparing to conduct a critical analysis of Philadelphia movie (1993). Please answer the following questions. * Homosexual myths and stereotypes, and those living in HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) will help promote him to be dismissed by the company? * Prejudice, discrimination, oppression and institutional discrimination. * Including analysis of gay and lesbian other issues such as granting legal authority, violence against them, out, race, AIDS. * Proposed Strategy ... Star Wars became an American classic in popular culture. George Lucas is a wonderful person behind the movie, and he suggests everything we call now Star Wars. He is the creator of this wonderful phenomenon in popular culture. He can not do it by himself, but many people are involv ed in film production. Music is the most important factor in making movies. As he heard, Lucas decided to pass this responsibility to the famous composer John Williams When Philadelphia was released in 1993, it helped to change these perceptions. The movie is the story of a young gay attorney, acted by Tom Hanks, who was fired by his company after discovering that he had AIDS. This is the first Hollywood movie to deal with AIDS and homophobia. Until there were few people who wanted to discuss the theme, it helped to delete themes. Gary Bell, advocate of HIV, says:

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Rewrite the essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rewrite the - Essay Example The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is one of the most renowned museums in the U.S and the world in terms and it is home to many timeless masterpieces, which preserve generation’s worth of history. My visit to this museum captured my interest especially in relation to the arguments of Walker Percy in his text, The Loss of The Creature. Walker’s text inspires me in relation to the presented arguments about human behavior and social interaction with; He demonstrates that, when one contemplates objects in a natural environment they are likely to appreciate and benefit more. He uses the analogy of a boy cutting up a dogfish he found on the beach with a knife whom he argues, has greater advantage over â€Å"pupil who finds the dogfish on his laboratory desk† (Percy 2). The museum is a close attempt at recreating a natural environment and this make the visits there comparatively adventurous and romantic therefore, they can easily relate to Walker’s subject matter in the text. The museum was rich in history, and I wanted to apply the different perspectives outlined in the text in order to assess their credibility. The collections in the museum were overwhelming and amazing such that at some point, I had to stop paying attention to the text’s argument in order to experience the true nature of e very single item housed in the museum. The aspect of reality was partially ignored by the humans highlighted in Walker’s text (Bartholomae and Petrosky 436). Being aware of this factor and basing this story on the text, I can undoubtedly admit that I experienced every bit of reality in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Fine art collections in the museum date back to several centuries ago, and these artifacts remain informative of prehistoric and historic periods. On the same note, over-the-years artifacts have been availed to the museum for display to the visitors.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Calendar effects (seasonalities). January Effect , The Day of the Week Literature review

Calendar effects (seasonalities). January Effect , The Day of the Week Effect, The Holiday Effect - Literature review Example Literature Review For the day of the week effect in stock market returns, Gibbons & Hess (1981), Fama (1991), (Grossman and Stiglitz 1980)), French (1980)), Lakonishok and Levi (1982)), Rogalski (1984)) and Keim and Stambaugh (1984)), Harris (2002), Lakonishok and Smidt (1988), Allen and Karjalainen (1993) have exhibited the impression of this phenomenon. However, according to Kenourgios & Samitas (2008) latest global level studies indicate that this market irregularity is loosing its sheen to the extent of showing no symptoms of visibility or its effect has considerably reduced in developed stock markets since it was first registered in the 1980s (e.g., Chang et al., 1993; Schwert, 2001; Steeley, 2001; Kohers et al., 2004; Hui, 2005)). Generally, it is taken for granted that the apportioning of stock returns is the same for all days of a week but it is not that crucial an assumption for achieving market equilibrium. Empirical research indicates unequal stock returns on different day s of the week, particularly weekend effects on Monday returns. It could be because Monday’s return is computed over three in stead of one day causing the mean and variance to be higher than other days, which could be approximately three times higher. Although Fama (1965)) has compared daily mean returns but he has found Monday’s difference on stock returns to be 20% more than other daily returns, which is similar to what other researchers have focussed on (Gibbons & Hess, 1981). Background At the ground level, the theory of efficient capital markets is the same i.e. the theory of competitive equilibrium used on asset markets. It is based on the Ricardian principle of comparative advantage. The same notion in financial markets is applied with the only assumption of getting competitive advantage because of the gaps in information, not â€Å"fully reflected† in prices, thus, setting the basis for profitable trading rules (LeRoy, 1989). Fama (1991) has reviewed mark et efficiency literature by selecting the relevant research in the previous 20 years. He has taken the market efficiency hypothesis, which simply means that security prices are totally predictable as based on given information. It works on the assumption that information and the trading costs are mostly 0 (Grossman and Stiglitz 1980)). Another assumption of the efficiency hypothesis is that prices indicate information to the level where marginal benefits of accruing profits on the basis of information are less than the marginal cost (Jensen 1978)). There is so much opaqueness that one cannot measure market efficiency due to various versions of market efficiency to be reflected by going back on any type of efficiency hypothesis within the given information and the trading costs. There are other models that present a straightforward approach towards this issue. French (1980) also tested two models on stock returns as based on calendar time hypothesis and trading time hypothesis for a period between 1953 and 1977 for daily returns on Standards & Poor’s composite portfolio not matching with the models, indicating positive average return for the four days while negative return for Monday. Harris (2002) has studied weekly and intra-day designs in stock returns by employing transaction data for large and smaller firms. Findings indicate negative Monday close-to-close returns from the Friday close to Monday open for larger firms while for small firms it happens majorly the same for the whole of Monday trading.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Metaphysics Essay Example for Free

Metaphysics Essay Plato vs. Freud on Metaphysics Plato and Freud have made great strides in their respective fields of study. Both men have made a lasting impact on the way we now as humans view the world that we live in. Plato and Freud have similarities in views that they share but they also have some differences metaphysically. Plato believes that what is ultimately real are ideas, he believes that images are imperfect representations of the perfect concepts. While Freud believes what is physically real is by the evolution of man. Freud ultimately puts his faith in what he can see and analyze in front of him instead of what he cannot. Freud developed a â€Å"talking cure† which he would let the hysterical patient talk freely about the earliest occurrences which would then entirely eliminate the patient’s symptoms.†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦developed the idea that many neuroses (phobias, hysterical paralysis and pains, some forms of paranoia, and so forth) had their origins in deeply traumatic experiences, which had occurred in the patient’s past but which were now forgotten–hidden from consciousness. The treatment was to enable the patient to recall the experience to consciousness, to confront it in a deep way both intellectually and emotionally, and in thus discharging it, to remove the underlying psychological causes of the neurotic symptoms.† Plato answers the question of metaphysics by saying of ideas and ideal forms and Freud answers the metaphysical question through his belief in hu man nature. For Plato what is ultimately real are ideas and Ideal forms. Plato believes that the object was constantly changing so the ideal form is what was ultimately real. Everything in existence has a form of perfection for itself. All things in the physical world work in their existence to approach their perfection. An object, living or dead, always works in some way or another to meet its nature. For example, if you have a brand new table in your house the brand new table itself is not perfect. It is not perfect because the table itself is in a constant state of change. There is however a perfect ideal form of the table that does not change. â€Å"It is most of all from Plato that we get the theory of Forms, according to which the world we know through the senses is only an imitation of the pure, eternal, and unchanging world of the Forms.† While on the other hand Freud believes ultimately what is real is physical matter the whole universe is in evolution, which means he believes in no God or Gods. He concludes that all religious beliefs are illusions that have little proof. Freud also believed that the evolution that man had endured from the beginning to where he stood presently is what is ultimately real. â€Å"The psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, whose practice began in 1885, believed that each person’s subconscious mind was fraught with desires stemming from earlier phases of evolution. These desires, suppressed by modern society, accounted for much of neurotic behavior. Likewise, an individual’s personality was at least partially determined by heredity.† Freud believes that evolution plays a very pressing role in the lives of humans and that is what is real in the world. Further, what is ultimately real about humans is that man is the highest and most complex of all living creatures whose personali ty is composed of three interacting parts—the Id, the Ego and the Super-ego. The Id (or it) part of the psyche is the primitive instinctive component of personality. It consists of all of the inherited biological components of personality including the sex life. The Id is impulsive and unconscious and responds immediately to the instincts of human beings. The personality of a newborn child is all id and later it starts to develop ego and superego. The ego develops in order to mediate between the unrealistic id and the external real world. It is the decision-making component of personality. The ego only satisfies the id on the realistic terms sometimes compromises to avoid negative consequences of society. The superego incorporates the values and morals of society, which are learned from ones parents and others. It develops around the age of 3 – 5 during the phallic stage of psychosexual development. Through all of these different stages in personally there are some check and balance stages that go along with stages. For example if the id wants somethin g that is wrong and the ego lets the person have such thing, guilt can come into play. â€Å"The superego consists of two systems: The conscience and the ideal self. The conscience can punish the ego through causing feelings of guilt. For example, if the ego gives in to id demands, the superego may make the person feel bad though guilt.† Freud and Plato have made great strides in influencing the world after their work in their respective fields was completed. Freud has influenced many great psychologists after him and Plato has done the same in his respective field of philosophy. Freud influenced the minds such as: Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, Karen Horney, Alfred Alder, Erik Erikson, and Carl Jung. Freud’s influences in his field were great toward the constant search for a deeper analysis of how the mind works. â€Å"His work supported the belief that not all mental illnesses have physiological causes and he also offered evidence that cultural differences have an impact on psychology and behavior. His work and writings contributed to our understanding of personality, clinical psychology, human development and abnormal psychology.† Plato as well left a lasting impression on philosophers after him. He gave great insight to know the world around him works and functions. Plato’s ideas were used to jus tify some religions and certain academic subjects. Plato gave a lot to the teachers and scholars after him. â€Å"In his lifetime he was the most celebrated teacher of his day. After his death his ideas were taken up by countless other thinkers. Philo of Alexandria used Platos ideas to give a philosophical framework to Judaism. Early Christian writers eagerly embraced Platos thought as the best available instrument for explaining and defending the teachings of the Bible and church tradition. Of the Christian Platonists, St. Augustine of Hippo was the best known and most influential. Platos influence spread into Islam as well, through the writings of the philosophers Avicenna and Averroes.† Freud and Plato are not just polar opposites they have things in common as well. They both thought that trouble in the human soul/mind arises when the three parts dont work in harmony with each other. Plato thought that the key to such harmonious relationship was to yield control to the rat ional soul; after all, he was the founder of the rationalist program in philosophy. Freud, on the other hand, concentrated on dealing with the id by means of psychoanalytical techniques. The difference of these men is clearly seen but they also have ideas that intertwine them. Plato thought the human soul, which we now call the mind, was made up of three parts: appetitive, rational, and the spiritual soul. Freud in turn in his career built a system around Plato’s comparable ideas. The system was: id similar to the appetitive soul, ego similar to the rational soul, and superego similar to the spiritual soul. Both men have given the world a foundation to build upon and expand their theories. References Brickhouse, Thomas, and Nicolas D. Smith. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Plato []. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Thornton, Stephen P. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Freud, Sigmund []. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. KR, Holmes. Result Filters. National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. Lorenz, Hendrik. Ancient Theories of Soul. Stanford University. Stanford University, 23 Oct. 2003. Web. 27 Feb. 2014.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams Es

Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, author Tennessee Williams does a wonderful job developing the character of Stanley Kowalski. To me, his character seemed most like that of a true person. On the other hand, Stella, Stanley's wife, is mainly displayed as being the loving type, and because that is basically the only character trait she displays, it is difficult to really understand her as a person. The character of Stanley Kowalski is developed much like a real person, having numerous personality traits. One characteristic of Stanley is his rudeness and cruelty towards Blanche, Stella's sister. It is very apparent that Stanley does not care for Blanche. Scene eight mentions Blanche's birthday party, and surprisingly, she receives a gift from Stanley. This gift, however, is not one that most people would appreciate. Blanche is very surprised to get a gift from Stanley, and as she opens it she says, "Why,why-Why, it's a-" . This is the first indication that there is something the matter. Because Blanche can't finish her sentence, Stanley lets everyone know that it's a "Ticket! Back to Laurel! On the Greyhound! Tuesday!" . Blanche obviously couldn't finish her sentence because she was insulted that her birthday present implied that she was not welcome by Stanley. Even Stella knew how rude and cruel Stanley had acted towards Blanche. Stella lets Stanley know, "You needn't have been so cruel..." . In scene ten, Stanley says to Blanche, "Take a look at yourself in that worn-out Mardi Gras outfit, rented for fifty cents from some rag-picker! And with the crazy crown on! What queen do you think you are?". This quote shows that Blanche's p... ...takes the only remaining course to maintain his territory; by raping Blanche he establishes the physical domination he attempted, unsuccessfully, early in the play, and the psychological domination he attempted, later, by using Blanche's own guilt against her. From our first introduction to Stanley, when he tosses the bloody package to Stella, to our last, when he rips the lantern off the light just before the doctor and nurse take Blanche away, we see this man as an expression of animalistic territoriality. He uses every tactic possible to exert his power over a fragile, but threatening woman. Finally, using brute force and sexual dominance, he appears to win. In fact however, the winner is ambiguous if even in existence. A rift has developed in the only relationship that Stanley values - that between him and his wife, with no promise of a better future.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Hunter’s in The Snow Essay

The story Hunter’s in the Snow is a fiction published in the year 1982. The author Tobias Wolff tells the story of three men Tub, Frank and Kenny who decide to go on a trip to the woods for hunting. As I read on I find that as the story develops the character unveils. The presentation of the characters does not reveal much and I come to know about the characters only through their actions and I keep guessing about their real self. The three characters who appear to be good friends at the surface have hidden secrets which they conceal from each other and these truths later on lead to their destruction. As the story develops I am surprised to know that they have bitterness for each other which are emphasized in the apt setting of the cold, drab winter time. Their arrogant conversations expose the inhuman complexities of the human nature which is as freezing and unemotional as the winter snow. There are a lot of autobiographical elements in the story and Wolff‘s life is seen within the characters. The opening seems fascinating to me, Tub had been waiting for an hour in the falling snow (Wolff 1) and this draws my curious mind into the story and I am eager to know what follows. The story also makes me reminiscent of my days of hunting with my father during the winter. The dialogues between the hunters remind me how we used to enjoy Mukherjee 2 talking and making fun. I like everything until Kenny appears to be going crazy. He starts hating certain things and shoots at them. It’s pathetic to read when he tells Tub; I hate you (Wolff 78) and before Kenny could pull the trigger Tub shoots Kenny right in the stomach and knocks him over backwards. But the most scheming part to me seems the way in which Frank and Tub behave after the incident. They stop at a coffee shop; forget that they have lost their notes and map and that they are driving in an opposite direction to the hospital. It is strange that with the conservations between the two friends I also become oblivious of the fact that Kenny is bleeding in the car. The efficacy of writing by the writer in relating the conversations between Frank and Tub is so heartfelt and the things revealed so shocking and horrendous that I almost forget the dying Kenny and when at the end I come to know he’s dead it does not surprise me much. The weakness of the story is the narration which is very distant and the speaker just states fact. It’s the setting and dialogues that give insight into the characters. The story is no doubt interesting but inhuman. I read the story Bullett in the Brain and this one attracted me too . The author presents his characters normal and sensible this moment and mad people the next moment. But the story instead of giving me answers to different life situations feels my mind with a lot of questions. It may appear normal that the men who are instinctively primeval are befitting with the primordial settings of the woods but I really cannot come to terms that how Frank and Tub stay so cool and talk on divorce, lust and such things while stuffing themselves with coffee and pancakes while Kenny bleeds to death. I really feel hatred towards them. May be to get rid of persecution they had to let him die. Therefore the story really does not end but it continues to develop in the hearts of readers like me who are eager to find the answers.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Beauty and the Beast

We have discussed before a question whether art necessarily has to improve us morally and concluded that not all art has moral impact, or is morally relevant. But think about the following questions, please explain each in detail: 1) Is a work with a moral message a better work because of this, than the work without any moral relevance?I believe that on general terms a work is better with a moral message than without one, meaning that its having a moral message is not the only measure of a work of art but that it is better because it reflects a consciousness, a responsibility on the part of the artist, of trying to make a statement, of sharing his stand to all the eyes that will look at the art work. An artist will eventually die, a work of art has more chances of surviving through the years, and it will be his testament.If it will survive then it would be better if it can show the coming generations a grain of truth on the human condition. 2) Could an immoral work be praised as arti stically successful? Personally I do not believe that an immoral work could be praised as artistically successful. Should art have no meaning but simply satisfy aesthetic taste? Could we look past the effect of a work of art and just choose to look at aspects of it and not its wholeness including the statement it makes?An immoral work goes against the goodness that we recognize as beautiful – and in this it seems that human nature is innately good, as we associate what is good with what is beautiful. It is only when we disassociate with what our emotions and our instinct tells us that we take a calculating look and examine a work based on rigid standards. 3) Are goodness and beauty in any way related in real life? I believe that in goodness we see beauty, but not all things beautiful truly have goodness.We know of beautiful faces but have evil hearts, but we also know of good hearts but may not come in what society brands as beautiful. However, when there is goodness in heart and spirit, we feel safe and good about ourselves and others as well, and we see the beauty in things. After all, all things have beauty and goodness in the – as long as we look for it – and what is good is the beautiful in them.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How to Use Fois in French Idioms

How to Use Fois in French Idioms The French word fois  means time or instance and is used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say at the same time, just in case, think twice before doing something and more with these idiomatic expressions using   fois. la foisthe time; the instance une foisonce, one timedeux fois, trois fois, etc.twice, three times, etc.une fois, deux fois, trois fois, adjugà ©Ã‚  ! (auction)Going, going, gone!une / deux fois par semaine / anonce / twice a week / yearune fois tous les deux jours / semainesonce every other day / weekdeux / trois fois moins detwo / three times lessdeux / trois fois plus detwice / three times more / as muchdeux / trois fois sur cinqtwo / three times out of five2 fois 3 font 62 times 3 equals 6 la foisat the same time; all at onceautant de fois queas often as; as many times asbien des foismany timescent fois annoncà ©often proclaimedcent fois mieuxa hundred times bettercent fois pirea hundred times worsecent fois rà ©pà ©tà ©often repeatedcent fois tropa hundred times too; far toocette fois-cithis timecette fois-lthat timedes fois (informal)sometimesdes fois que (informal)just in case;  there might beencore une foisonce more; once again; one more timelautre foisthe other dayla dernià ¨re foisthe last timela premià ¨re foisthe first timela seule foisthe only timela toute premià ¨re foisthe very first timemaintes foismany timespeu de foisrarely; a few timesplusieurs foisseveral timessi des fois... (informal)if perhaps...une nouvelle foisonce againune seule foisonly once; only one timeavoir cent / mille fois raisonto be absolutely rightavoir trois fois riento have hardly any money; to have hardly a scratchà ªtre deux / trois fois grand-pà ¨re / grand-mà ¨reto be a grandfather /grandmother two / three timesfaire deux choses la foisto do two things at oncefrapper quelquun par deux foisto hit someone twicepayer en plusieurs foisto pay in several installmentspayer en une seule foisto pay all in one go, make a single paymentprà ©fà ©rer cent fois faire (Je prà ©fà ©rerais faire...)to much rather do (Id much rather do...)sy prendre / en deux fois pour faire quelque choseto take two attempts to do something / tries to do somethingsy prendre / en plusieurs fois pour faire quelque choseto take several attempts to do something / tries to do somethingy regarder deux fois avant deto think twice beforey regarder plusieurs fois avant deto think very hard beforeÇa va pour cet te fois.Ill let you off this time. / Just this once.Cest bon pour cette fois.Ill let you off this time. / Just this once.Cest trois fois rien  !Dont mention it!Encore une fois non  !How many times do I have to tell you no!Il à ©tait une fois...Once upon a time...Il y avait une fois...Once upon a time...Je te lai dit cent fois.If Ive told you once, Ive told you a hundred times.Non mais, des fois  ! (informal)1) Do you mind! How dare you!2) You must be joking!Revenez une autre fois.Come back some other time.Tu me diras une autre fois.Tell me some other time.Une fois nest pas coutume. (proverb)Just the once wont hurt.Une fois que (quelque chose aura lieu), on peut / je vais ...Once (something has happened), we can / Im going to ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Through The Eyes Of The Native Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Through The Eyes Of The Native - Essay Example They sided with the British because they stuck an agreement with King George III to protect them from Americans who were getting their lands from them. Because of this, the Native Americans saw this as a positive development because this would serve as their defense against the Americans, who they think were robbing them of their territories. The Iroquois was led by Joseph Brant or Thayendenaga, a Native American who was educated in Moor’s Indian Charity School. He worked as an English translator and was the chief of the Mohawk tribe3. The British lost the Revolution and in the Preliminary Articles of Peace in 1972, when they were making agreements with the Americans, they have failed to mention the plight of the Native Americans. This shocked Brant as they also learned that the British were selling them out to Americans. The British also failed to keep their promise of setting aside their lands, as in their previous treaties 4. They were â€Å"sold† to the Americans, as a result. Because of this, we can conclude that the American Revolution was a catastrophe for the Native Americans. They were used and they were made victims of a broken promise. They allied with the British with the hope that they could have helped in defending their native culture and territory but in the end, they were sold to the Americans too, without even them knowing it. In the end, we can say that they would have been better off on their

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example The entire process of investigating demand and supply patterns of given product in a given business environment, and establishment of businesses to address the potential and existing demand entails the process of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship refers to the act of collecting and incorporating business ideas aimed at achieving purposeful and unique innovation in the production of a given product or service (Carsrud and Malin 7). Innovation in the context of entrepreneurship may result in various advantages such as introducing new or improved product in the market, new production techniques, and identification of newer markets for a product or service as well as identifying new source of supply of raw materials. It is imperative to understand that entrepreneurship is not only about starting of new business organization, but can also involve ideas to improve the state and performance of an existing organization. Importance of Entrepreneurship to America Entrepreneurship is a powerfu l tool for economic growth in any country. It is because of entrepreneurship and presence of globally acclaimed entrepreneurs that the American nation tops the list of world’s best performing economies. ... Since entrepreneurship involves creation and introduction of new ideas, it has helped the development of research and innovation in the American economy. About two out of three innovations in America are as result of entrepreneurship. These innovations have eased production processes while improving the quality of products, accomplishments that have collectively spurred the growth rate of the American economy (Bordogna 13). Since entrepreneurship entails creation of new opportunities, it has empowered and facilitated the development and growth of national wealth (Miller). Income earned by entrepreneurs and their employees has expanded public expenditure as people purchase raw materials and finished products of entrepreneurship, encouraging national production. Bordogna adds that entrepreneurship has helped in providing self sufficiency to the American populace as people can afford and easily find what they need for their consumption (13). Self –sufficiency in the American econ omy also relates to increased local production of goods and services that ensure cheap and affordable prices for goods and services. Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs are individuals with the brains bearing or capacity to exhibit entrepreneurial skills. Entrepreneurs identify business opportunities, gather and collect ideas that they use to establish businesses or improve state of particular firm. For entrepreneurs to emerge successful in implementing their ideas, they have to exhibit or posses particular characteristics. Unique ambition is one of the defining characteristics required of an entrepreneur. Ambition helps entrepreneurs to face the potential competition in the given industry with aims on achieving the desired goals (Gitman and Carl 14). Entrepreneurs are