Thursday, August 27, 2020

Business studies Just desserts case study Essay Example

Business concentrates Just pastries contextual analysis Essay Example Business concentrates Just sweets contextual investigation Essay Business concentrates Just sweets contextual analysis Essay LTD has developed quickly as of late, and Martha Barnes, who maintains the business, is hesitant to assign authority meaning the workforce is developing however their are no new administrators. This will make a level authoritative structure with wide ranges of control for every director. Accordingly there will be a huge remaining task at hand for every individual. It says that a portion of the supervisors are exhausted. On the off chance that they wont appoint any position they should select some new directors as exhausted won't be persuaded and their yield won't be as high as it could be. Martha is rigid about preparing her present staff. This is probably going to name staff as they will be working with the organization and not advancing. Named staff are probably going to negatively affect the viability of the workforce rather than a positive one and this could thusly influence the entire business on the off chance that she doesn't propel the staff the nature of their yield could drop and that would thusly influence the organizations name as they accentuation that they are acceptable quality. Something else is that Just Desserts is money position has deteriorated not improved and as opposed to improving their present staff they are simply going to get new staff so the spats may begin to stress over their employer stability. Anyway this could be acceptable on the grounds that they can get new staff with aptitudes that their staff as of now dont have. On the off chance that they utilize the opportune individuals as they appear to be resolute to do, they may utilize the correct kind Of individual who will inspire the workforce and might have the option to propel staff To synopses then I believe that enlisting isn't the best choice since it is probably going to designate staff likewise their money position is showing signs of improvement the enrolling cost will isn't justified, despite any potential benefits considering the way that rather than better their staff.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Pet food recall Essay Example for Free

Pet food review Essay An ongoing review over the United States and Canada has pet proprietors in free for all. In excess of 60 million jars and pockets of pet food have been reviewed as they have been connected to 10 feline and 6 pooch passings as of late. The producer sells food under 95 unique brands, including Wal-Mart, Iams, and Safeway. Starting at yet the particular fixing connected to the pet passings has not been resolved. Hypothesis interfaces the liver disappointment of the felines to a wheat gluten fixing. The FDA said that wheat gluten itself would not cause liver disappointment, yet on the off chance that it was sullied with metal or form poisons it could cause liver harm. The CEO of menu nourishments, Paul Henderson gave an announcement saying, â€Å"Our hearts go out to the entirety of the pet proprietors across Canada, the United States and Mexico for any misfortunes they experience and unquestionably for the concern this episode might be causing† (â€Å"Company behind pet†, 2007). Pet owner’s desires when purchasing pet food are to keep their pets cheerful, sound, and all around took care of. A considerable lot of the items reviewed were fabricated under the best pet food names in the business. Pet proprietor Chris Wood says â€Å"We love our pets simply like youngsters. They are not cautious enough with the fixings they put in pet food. That’s scary† (Molina, 2007). Pet’s are mates that owner’s have a profound obligation to think about. Suggestions brought about by this review incorporate concern for one’s pet, finding another brand of food not fabricated by menu nourishments, and in the more awful case situation losing one’s pet to liver disappointment. The concern alone is requiring significant investment and vitality from pet proprietors over the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Pet proprietors are restoring the reviewed food as well as are avoided potential risk that cost a great deal of cash to guarantee the security and prosperity of their pets. A veterinarian at the Animal Medical Center on the East Side of Manhattan, Dr. Ann Hohenhaus, said one feline kicked the bucket there throughout the few days of kidney disappointment connected to the reviewed food. Hohenhaus said the Animal Medical Center has tried 143 creatures for renal disappointment since stressed pet prop rietors began taking their felines and canines in for blood and pee tests on Saturday (March eighteenth, 2007)†(Mathews, 2007). Retailers are taking all measures to console pet proprietors. After the review â€Å"PetSmart senior supervisor Gary Brown stated, ‘Everything on our racks is 100 percent alright for your pet’(Molina, 2007). Petsmart is offering a full discount on all food bought between December 3-March 6. A Long Island family whose multi year old bull mastiff, Princess, passed on because of the review are suing Menu Foods. Princess ate only Nutro Foods every last bit of her life and died from liver disappointment. The family is totally crushed by their misfortune. The family recorded a claim â€Å"Wednesday against Nutro and maker Menu Foods. The claim, documented in state Supreme Court in Nassau County, looks for unknown compensatory and corrective harms, said Bobbs lawyer, Kenneth Mollins†(Mathews, 2007). Regularly customers put a lot of research and energy into items they buy. At the point when a shopper makes a buy they accepted the maker is offering an item that will be agreeable and fulfill guidelines. Menu nourishments switched to another provider for wheat gluten. As of the March 6, 2007 gave review Mend Foods has indeed changed its wheat gluten gracefully and is by and by loading racks with premium pet food. Menu Foods expects misfortunes of 24-60 million dollars for this review and claims that will win because of the polluted pet food.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Essay Writing - Essay Writing Topics For Grade 8

Essay Writing - Essay Writing Topics For Grade 8Although writing essays can be a tiresome and frustrating experience, there are essay writing topics for grade 8 that will help you attain high grades. Essay writing is a skill that can be learned by all students in the class, as long as they are given a challenge to make them sharpen their skills. Here are some great essay writing topics for grade 8 that have proven to be successful among many students.Grade 8 is an important time in a student's life; they are going to have to study and learn about subjects such as society, politics, science, math, history, geography, world geography, religion, philosophy, history, music, arts, and a lot more. This makes the student feel as if they are learning a lot. A great way to allow students to apply what they have learned is to incorporate their writing skills in this area.Students often use essays to express their opinions about things that they hear. They need to know how to write an essay and where to start before they begin this endeavor. One way to help students is to provide them with different types of topics that they can include in their essays. Here are a few examples of essay writing topics for grade 8.Essays are not only used to express opinions. They are also used to share experiences. A great way to help students learn how to write essays is to include stories about their life experiences. This will help students get a good understanding of how people can use words to create an essay. Besides stories, students can also use essays to share their experiences in sports or any other subject.Students should also consider using essay writing as a challenge. They should not be afraid to follow an outline or written outline when creating their essays. Also, they should be able to tweak and adapt what they have written to better meet the needsof the instructor and the teacher.Essay writing is a skill that cannot be learned. It takes practice and patience. Because of t his, students should consider doing their assignments outside of the classroom when they are not in class.The more they learn from other students, the more prepared they will be to take on any assignment that comes their way. Students who excel in this subject will be able to use the information they have learned throughout the years to help them excel in school. It takes a long time to learn a subject; students need to be prepared to go beyond what they are taught. If they are able to avoid wasting time by trying to figure things out, they will be well on their way to success.Many students do not like to spend time in class, so they find it easier to move on to more complex lessons when they are in grade eight. However, if they want to excel in this subject, they need to be prepared to continue learning the material once they have been introduced to it. The more information they have available to them, the better prepared they will be to succeed in this area. The quicker they begin to grasp the concept of learning, the faster they will be able to successfully complete the class.

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Play Descartes Meditations On First Philosophy

In this paper, I will explain the role doubt plays in Descartes’s philosophy. Descartes’s Meditations on First Philosophy is a book containing six different meditations. The idea of doubt is seen through every meditation. The first meditation is composed almost completely of doubt. Descartes begins with explaining his problem. What he knows, or what he thought he knew, is based completely on false things. How can he continue to â€Å"know† these things if they are based on false assumptions? How can he go on knowing that anything he’d believed to be true could actually be false? Descartes then goes on to ask: then what is true? What is really true? He then decides that he will tear down his old â€Å"House of Knowledge† and build a new one based entirely on something that he can know is true without a doubt. Descartes’s tool that he uses to tear down his old house is doubt. He doesn’t use reasonable doubt, like we use today in courts. Descartes uses possible doubt. This means that he will disregard anything that could possibly be doubted in order to find something that cannot. If something can be doubted, Descartes believes that it can be false. After he finds something that cannot be doubted, then he can build a new house of knowledge and attempt to establish something firm and lasting in the sciences. So, Descartes begins to tear down his old house using this tool of doubt. He begins with the senses. He establishes that they are sometimes deceptive, that one could be insane, andShow MoreRelatedEssay about Biography f Rene Descartes864 Words   |  4 PagesRene Descartes was a brilliant man who was born on March 31st, 1596. He was born in a small town in the South of France, named La Haye. Rene Descartes lived from 1596-1650. He was the son of an intellectual councilor in Parliament, named Joachim Descartes. His mother, Jeanne Brochard, died when he was only 1 years old. Rene Descartes was 8 years old when he attended the Jesuit College of Henry VI in La Fleche. Rene studied science, grammar, mathematics and literature which led him to become a famousRead More Weaknesses of Descartes Arguments Essays1641 Words   |  7 PagesDescartes was incorrect and made mistakes in his philosophical analysis concerning understanding the Soul and the foundation of knowledge.   Yes, he coined the famous phrase, â€Å"I think therefore I am,† but the rest of his philosophical conclusions fail to be as solid (Meditation 4; 32). Descartes knew that if he has a mind and is thinking thoughts then he must be something that has the ability to think. While he did prove that he is a thinking thing that thinks (Meditation 3; 28), he was unable toRead MoreArguments For The Existence Of God1137 Words   |  5 Pagespe rsonal experience, and some on philosophy. Descartes offered two arguments towards the existence of God: an informal proof in the third meditation and the ontological proof in the fifth meditation. Descartes believed that with the employment of a rational method of inquiry which applied some of the methods of analytic geometry to the study of philosophy, our ability to attain certainty and validity about our knowledge would be greatly increased. For Descartes to include a second and distinct proofRead MoreThe Role of God in Descartes Epistemology1356 Words   |  5 Pages The presence of God, and more so the role god plays in our lives, has forever troubled philosophers. Some completely neglect the existence of god, others toy with the idea, and some use religion as the basis of their epistemology. Throughout this essay, I aim to critically examine the role of God in Descartes’ epistemology. Renà © Descartes’ epistemological contribution to western philosophy attempted to inaugurate a coherent method of questioning whereby knowledge of the world is attained independentlyRead MoreThe Dream Inside Of A Dream By Christopher Nolan1683 Words   |  7 PagesFinal Paper: Descartes The possibility of having a dream inside of a dream is an idea that has been discussed far and wide. However, before Inception came out in 2010 by director Christopher Nolan, many people in the modern world may not have ever considered this idea. Nonetheless, this idea of â€Å"a dream inside a dream† has been around since 1640, when Rene Descartes published Meditations. In Inception, Christopher Nolan uses Descartes ideas to enhance the storyline of his film. In this paperRead MoreThe Cartesian Circle is Wrong1586 Words   |  7 PagesRene Descartes meditations on the existence of God are very profound, thought-provoking, and engaging. From the meditations focused specifically on the existence of God, Descartes uses the argument that based on his clear and distinct perception that cannot be treated with doubt, God does exist. In the beginning of the third meditation, Descartes proclaims that he is certain he is a thinking thing based on his clear and distinct perception, and he couldn’t be certain unless all clear and distinctRead MoreEssay on The Concept of Power in International Politics1578 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom clear and distinct perceptions, and from simplicity, Descartes attempts to prove in â€Å"The Meditations† that the mind is distinct and separate from the body. This view is now known as Cartesian Dualism. In this essay I will outline Descartes’ main arguments, some of the criticisms of dualism, and my opinion as to which argument I perceive as the most convincing. The first argument in Cartesian Dualism is the Argument from doubt. Descartes starts by concluding that although he can conceive the possibilityRead MoreDescartes s Meditations On First Philosophy Essay2099 Words   |  9 PagesFirst published in Latin in 1641, Renà © Descartes philosophical study, entitled Meditations On First Philosophy, poses a question that continues to be both continously relevant, and hotly debated, in the field of philosophy. One of Descartes main queries in his meditations is as follows; how can we be fully assured that we know anything at all? Descarets theorises that, whilst not all knowledge may provide probable doubt, we can never be fully certain that there is no room for doubt, and if we cannotRead MorePhilosophy And The Modern Philosophy2035 Words   |  9 PagesUpon talking about the history of modern philosophy, one of the most important philosophers, who is considered as the father of the philosophy in this period, is Descartes. He was a pioneer for the movement of the new trend of philosophy and became a break between the medieval philosophy and the modern philosophy. Being educated in the environment of medieval philosophy, specifically in the school of Jesuits, Descartes received the system of scholastic philosophy as his foundation for making a new startRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1961 Words   |  8 PagesIn Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, I will be considering if Descartes resolution to the â€Å"dreaming argumentâ₠¬  seems acceptable to trust. The First Meditation is where the â€Å"dreaming argument† is first mentioned and then gets resolved later in the Sixth Meditation and the Objections and Replies. I will be touching on the idea that our experiences could be dreaming experiences based on personal experiences and thoughts I have had regarding this topic. Then I will go on to explain how it is

Friday, May 15, 2020

There Is A Plethora Of Theories That Can Be Employed To

There is a plethora of theories that can be employed to explain crime but none is more applicable and relevant in my mind than the theory that A neighborhood or any form of A location is more than if not as much of A catalyst for crime in that area coupled with the deterioration of the educational system leads to A cycle of insurmountable poverty that in turn leads to crime. Crime is A direct product of poverty. Where there’s an impoverished population with almost nowhere to turn there’s a rise reason for crime to be present in that area. Coming from A city where the education system has failed so many people such as Baltimore I know what it’s like to witness people who lack the knowledge confidence in their city back themselves into A†¦show more content†¦He even went as far as describing those individuals who are born to eventually become criminals with specific anatomical features such as â€Å"sloping forehead, ears of unusual size, asymmetry of t he face, prognathism, excessive length of arms, asymmetry of the cranium and other physical stigmata. Specific criminals, such as thieves, rapists, and murderers, could be distinguished by specific characteristics that â€Å"born† criminals had less sensibility to pain and touch; more acute sight; a lack of moral sense, including an absence of remorse; more vanity, impulsiveness, vindictiveness, and cruelty; and other manifestations, such as a special criminal argot and the excessive use of tattooing. In closing I oppose these theories is firstly due in part to the fact that in the case of Lombroso s theory he’s basically trying to predict A future of crime for people based on inherited traits that can’t be changed or altered in any way possible and that their just â€Å"born primitive†. And on top of all of he firmly believed that just these traits alone basically predetermined what your life would end up inevitably being stating that â€Å"A person who is the criminal type cannot refrain from committing crime unless he lives under exceptionally favorable circumstances.† This throws me off because I alone much like most people have at least one recollection of someone who came from unfavorable circumstances and made A successful life for themselves despiteShow MoreRelatedThe Decline in the Rate of Unemployment Is Due to Adverse Factors in the United States Economy1360 Words   |  6 Pageswas a drop in unemployment rate is that the labor force declined by 312,000. In macro economics, labor force is defined as the actual people who are available for work. This includes the employed and unemployed. Retrospectively, the drop in labor force indicates a drop in the summative value of unemployed and employed population. Izzo (2013) posits that the indication of the decline in unemployment was a long term discouragement and loss of hope of the labor force. Consequently, people are not willingRead MoreThe Inequality And Health Care 1107 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The United States is world renowned for having the best health care if not the most accessible. Citizens have at their disposal a plethora of hospitals, physicians, and therapists to improve their well-being. Statistical data was taken back in 2010 under the Central Texas Region and studied health care coverage and income in regards to the community. The data displayed in the surveys heavily suggest that income/ health in general have a high correlation. The issue that arose with theRead MoreChild Development By John W.867 Words   |  4 Pagesfoundation on the science of child development, looking at the theories and the psychologists behind them. Figure 2.12 offers an at a glance comparison table of all five types of theories – their methodologies and problems. The opening story in this chapter about the lives of Erik Erikson and Jean Piaget highlights how an individual’s experiences impact on the path they will take in life (as is shown in their two very different theories), a pertinent point to make at the outset of this book. ResearchRead MoreApplication Of Leadership Theory Paper1606 Words   |  7 PagesApplication of Leadership Theory Paper Ethical Leadership in the workplace has a tremendous impact and influence on people who are following the leader. Therefore, ethical leadership is the ability, to consistently examine oneself in terms of values, behaviors, and conduct in leading people, within an organization. It is important to note, that ethical leadership has the ability to influence other people, attitudes and a leader also has the ability, to transform people, in unique ways, by settingRead MoreMisogynistic Perspective In Lolita879 Words   |  4 PagesCritic Robert R. Kirsch describes Lolita as a ‘savage satire on the inadequacy of psychological realism.’ As Humbert’s nympholepsy is a primary focus of the novel, human behaviour is a common concern for critics. Thus, Lolita has been subjected to a plethora of psychoanalytical readings. For instance, Elizabeth Dipple, professor of English at Northwestern University, argues that Lolita follows Humbert’s journey from ‘narrow sexua l obsession to moral apprehension.’ Upon initial interpretation, my strongRead MoreClassroom Use Of Technology Has Exploded Over The Past Few Years851 Words   |  4 Pagesmodern classrooms utilize at least a few different types of technology. Laptops and computers, tablets, smartphones, interactive boards, and other learning devices have become integral to the education system. In 1983, Dr. Howard Gardner proposed a theory of multiple intelligences. Gardner, a professor of education at Harvard, theorized that an individual’s intelligence cannot simply be defined by a simple IQ test. Instead, he believed that there are several different types of intelligence, includingRead MoreRobert Nardelli s Leadership Style1338 Words   |  6 Pagesleadership style that bordered on the edge of being considered unethical and was considered by many as not being beneficial for the company overall. By evaluating Robert Nardelli’s leadership style against known leadership theories such as trait, behavioral, situational and contingency theories it is easy to dissect his leadership style and make a final decision as to how ethical he was as a leader. Robert Nardelli took over as CEO of Home Depot during a time when the housing market was finally coming backRead MoreDoes Democracy Work?856 Words   |  4 Pagesother political system, it is subject to a plethora of flaws. For instance, it is no secret that voters tend to make illogical decisions – not out of sheer malice, but as a result of being wrongly informed. Politicians also make erroneous choices, whether they do so because they are dishonest or simply out of touch with the true will of their constituents. Further, anyone who has studied the government of a parliamentary democracy knows gerrymandering can have a powerful say in determining electionsRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1337 Words   |  6 Pagesmedia profile (Baer, 2014), it makes sense. Facebook, the most popular social media platform has 864 million people log onto its website every day (Noyes, 2014), without question, social media is a relevant part of many individual’s lives. Th ere is a plethora of social media sites available with a variety of functions. Some sites are meant for strictly sharing photos, some allow for anonymous communication, others are meant for building professional connections and some even allow for dating. For referenceRead MoreThe Decision For And Against Privatization Of Public Enterprises1180 Words   |  5 Pagesshould be priced prior to cross-subsidization. While there is a plethora of pricing strategies that businesses employ, your pricing will depend on the goals of your business and the market. Because your profits will need to cover all of your expenses, your pricing will need to reflect your product cost, operating expenses, rent, site maintenance, payroll costs and loan interest fees, along with many other factors. Cross subsidization can also take the shape of increasing the price of a particular product

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Descartes Meditations On First Philosophy - 1961 Words

In Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, I will be considering if Descartes resolution to the â€Å"dreaming argument† seems acceptable to trust. The First Meditation is where the â€Å"dreaming argument† is first mentioned and then gets resolved later in the Sixth Meditation and the Objections and Replies. I will be touching on the idea that our experiences could be dreaming experiences based on personal experiences and thoughts I have had regarding this topic. Then I will go on to explain how it is possible to tell which state you are in from what Descartes has stated in his meditations and the experiences that have helped me to conclude this debatable matter. I believe that Descartes’s resolution is an adequate and in this paper I will explain why. The First Meditation is where Descartes first introduces his â€Å"dreaming argument† in the Meditations on the First Philosophy. Descartes explained how he was convinced that when he was dreaming, he was sensing real objects. He was almost positive that he was awake and sitting by the fire, but then later realizes he was dreaming, although he was fully convinced it was real experience he had. Descartes tell us that this sensation he had felt could be dream images but then mentions how even dream images are created from waking experience, an example being a painting. When a painter is making an imaginary creature, like a mermaid, the parts or this mermaid are taken from real life things like a woman and a fish and put together creatingShow MoreRelatedDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy807 Words   |  4 PagesConner Ruhl Professor Copley Philosophy 1000C 4 May 2015 Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy Rene Descartes was the first great philosopher of the modern era, He had a new approach which was focused on scientific and mathematical truths. Descartes came to reject the scholastic tradition, one of which he was educated, due to his pursuit of mathematical and scientific truth. Much of Descartes work was done to secure advancement of human knowledge through the use of the natural sciencesRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1079 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes argues for the ideas and philosophical beliefs behind skepticism. In his writings, he describes the fallibility and importance of the body of man and through extension the senses with which we observe the world. This paper will first show that within Descartes’ writings the body is an extension of the mind. Secondly, this paper will prove that the senses are a false form of understanding which leads to the deception of the mind. FinallyR ead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1318 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophical Questions November 2, 2017 Cogito Ergo Sum Descartes Meditations on First Philosophy and his questioning of our existence in reality is a question which philosophers have tackled throughout time. Cogito ergo sum or I think therefore I am, a phrase brought about by Descartes is the backbone of his whole philosophy of our existence in reality. As long as we are thinking things, we exist. When we look at this approach to our existence we must first deny that any sensory data that we receive is believableRead MoreDescartes Meditations Of First Philosophy857 Words   |  4 PagesChristopher Joao Philosophy- 201 Mr. Jurkiewicz 4 March 2016 Descartes’ - Meditation #2 Rene Descartes was a French philosopher born in 1596. He is considered by many the father of modern philosophy and continues to have tremendous influence in the philosophical world to this day. The book, Meditations of First Philosophy, consist of six meditations and describes one meditation per day for six days. In meditation two, he claims that we have better knowledge of our own minds than of the physicalRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1264 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy is a first-person record of Descartes’ descent into the bowels of disbelief, in order to eradicate all flawed belief from his life. In his first meditation, Descartes explains his argument for universal doubt, which leads him to doubt every truth he has ever established. Even the veracity of his sense perception is doubtful, as he renders those perceptions useless by arguing that in dreams, sense perceptions create the wildest of fantasies that can not beRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1712 Words   |  7 PagesDescartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy (1641) contains six Meditations. In the first two of these Descartes addresses doubt and certainty. By the end of the second Meditation Descartes establishes the possibility of certainty by concluding that he is a â€Å"thinking thing† and that this is beyond doubt. Having established the possibility of certainty, Descartes attempts to prove the existence of God. The argument he presents in the Third Meditation for the existence of God has been nicknamed theRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1536 Words   |  7 Pagesdid I formerly think I was? A man, of course. But what is a man?† (Descartes 340). This question that Descartes addresses in Meditations on First Philosophy is important because it outlines his core philosophical view in his work. His philosophy primarily focuses on dualism, which is the concept that there is another world that exists with ideal forms and is separate from the world of perception. The part of dualism that Descartes focuses his work on is the distinction between the soul and the bodyRead MoreDescartes Meditation On First Philosophy943 Words   |  4 Pages In the third meditation of Descartes Meditation on First Philosophy, Descartes argues that his idea of God must have come from God himself. One can also wonder whether that very own argument could also apply when Descartes has an idea of the Evil Demon. In this paper, I will argue that Descartes would not think that his having an idea of the Evil Demon proves that the Evil Demon exists. In his paper, Descartes was trying to find the source of his idea of God in order to prove that GodRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1080 Words   |  5 PagesRene Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, God is not mentioned until the third meditation. Descartes point of view on God simply claims his existence through the act of being. According to his claim, God must, essentially, exist as well as being an outcome of His own creation. Descartes was greatly interested in the idea that God’s being promoted an external force that controlled all beings that supported his presence. Descartes declarations, presented in his Meditations on First PhilosophyRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy922 Words   |  4 PagesIn Rene Descartes’ excerpt, Meditations on First Philosophy, he proclaims, â€Å"It is beyond question that I shall reach the truth if I think hard enough about the things that I perfectly understand, keeping them sep arate from all the other matters in which my thoughts are more confused and obscure† ( §104). When Descartes made this statement in his fourth meditation, what was he conjecturing by the term â€Å"perfect?† According to the standard interpretation, perfect encompasses all required or desirable

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

For A Crush free essay sample

When I look back four years ago, I am simply astonished by what I’ve achieved linguistically. Four years ago, writing this essay would have been inconceivable; four years ago, the only English words I knew were ‘hello’, ‘yes’ and ‘no’. Four years ago, applying to an American university would never have skimmed my mind. To every story, there is a beginning: Mine starts when my father, upon a nice sunny day, suddenly decided to enroll me in an American high-school. Moving from Congo to Morocco had already been an ordeal and here was my father, putting me in another situation of hardship. When he announced his decision to me, I tried to give him my best questioning look, as if to inform him that he was going insane. â€Å"I’m a French-speaker!† my eyes yelled though my mouth stayed shut, sealed by a perpetual sense of fear for the man. We will write a custom essay sample on For A Crush or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page However, my dear father was too riveted in his new folly to notice. I tried to seek support in my mother but it seemed my father’s enthusiasm had convinced her. â€Å"Learning English will offer you many opportunities† my father preached. â€Å"The best way to learn is to be in an English environment†. Despite this zeal my father was displaying towards my brothers and I going to an American school, I still was skeptical. Plus, at that time, I could care less about the opportunities a language would offer me. However, the master of the house had taken his decision and I had to abide to it. Summer passed in a blink and as the first day of school approached, I felt more and more stressed about it all. How would I manage being in a school where most of the people wouldn’t understand me? I was mad at my parents for setting me into this trap; into this land of perdition. How would I manage to communicate and make new friends? In my small thirteen year-old brai n, schemes of revenge against my parents sprouted: Play dumb and not try at all. If I could prove to my parents that being in an American school wasn’t beneficial for me, perhaps would they put me back in a regular French school? It is on that revolted note that I started my first year at American Academy Casablanca. Unexpectedly, being on a different system of education wasn’t terrible at all. Most of the students spoke both French and English and would help me translate what I wanted to say and what the teachers were saying. My brothers loved it too. It was something different that appealed to them. However, I didn’t want to give up on my plan. I made no effort in acquiring new language skills and wasn’t planning on doing any†¦ until I met her. Her name was Amna and she was a Pakistani girl. When I first met her, I was immediately charmed. She had so much kindness and warmth in her that I simply wanted to be her friend†¦ or more. However, so mething was wrong: I couldn’t communicate. This changed my perspective of being in an American school and of speaking English in general. I hated myself because I couldn’t speak English and more because I couldn’t speak to her! My inability to express myself in English rendered me speechless in front of her. The best move I could manage was an extra-kindly smile and she would only answer that with her warm and kind grins. This tore me. I became jealous at the other students that could speak both French and English; I wanted to be like them! Books, dictionaries, CDs and DVDs! I bought them all. It had to happen; I had to master English! My decision was taken and I fought to make my resolution come true. My parents were all happy and supportive and I didn’t think of my father as fool anymore. He was right: English could open many opportunities. And at that time, the opportunity I wanted to have was to talk to this girl. After a semester, my English started to improve and the more I learned about it, the more I became fascinated by it. English was beautiful, I realized. I liked it. As I became more and more fluent in it, I started to converse with Amna and we became great friends. In getting to know Amna, I discovered a very intelligent and well-educated girl whose English flowed perfectly into beautiful sentences. The simple fact of being her friend challenged me. I passed from wanting to be able to converse with her to wanting to be better than her. Because of Amna, I pushed myself harder, practiced even more in order to reach her level. Amna has been the propellant of my passion for the English language. We still are great friends and she yet knows the impact she’s had on me. In a way, it is thanks to her that I am able to write this paper. When I reflect on the past, it is with a smile that I discern what one could do for a crush.

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Gender As A Socially Constructed Accomplishment1 essays

Gender As A Socially Constructed Accomplishment1 essays Gender As A Socially Constructed Accomplishment Gender is a very strange topic in todays society. Many people dont know what to do with people who are transvestites or transsexuals and they often times hate them because they are different. People always think that there can only be two types of gender: masculine and feminine. People also feel that these genders most always correspond to a persons sex. So if the person is a male, then most people wouldnt accept that person into society if they acted feminine. For human beings there is no essential femaleness and maleness, femininity or masculinity, womanhood, or manhood, but once gender is ascribed, the social order constructs and holds individuals to strongly gendered norms and expectations. Individuals may vary on many of the components of gender any may shift genders temporarily or permanently, but they must fit into the limited number of gender statuses their society recognizes. (Lorber, Night To His Day: The Social Construction of Gender, For Individuals, Gender Means Sameness, Page 463) ...a defining feature of reality construction is to see our world as being the only possible one. (Kessler Many people dont realize that gender is a socially constructed accomplishment. People make up methods in their heads about ways that people should be and if one doesnt act they way the other person deems that one should, then they do not fit into that persons reality. Every society classifies people as girl and boy children... (Lorber, Night To His Day: The Social Construction of Gender, Page 460) People always try to guess what gender a person is. If one doesnt know and is unsure of anothers gender than they keep on looking at them trying to find clues on about that persons g...

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Despite the criticisms often levelled at the Community institutions Essay

Despite the criticisms often levelled at the Community institutions and their powers to legislate, it should be remembered that ultimate power still lies with t - Essay Example The legal scheme said to be designed by the Treaty at the outset has been assessed as having shortfalls in its objective of ensuring that the EC law be properly applied by the Member States. Article 169 procedures as a legal instrument in fighting against all the failures to fulfill obligations accordingly is not appropriate. This implies the need to create additional means to enforce and supervise the EC law (Gil Ibà ¡Ãƒ ±ez, 1997). To date, the Community and its underlying legal order can only hold on if that legal order is safeguarded and complied with and the Community law directly applied, with its primacy over national law (ABC of community law, 2004). For all its imperfections, however, the European Community legal order is said to have greatly helped in solving the political, economic and social problems of the Member States (ABC of community law, 2004). But there is yet the tag and pull when it comes to location of power in most aspects. Different institutions cooperate and govern the European Union and the most important of these are the Council, the Commission, the European Parliament and the Court of Justice. (EU Law, n.d.). With its own set of legislation, the European Community also has the laws of its member states. EC Law is concerned with treaties, regulations, and decisions of the European Court of Justice (Ibid). Made within the part of the European Union called the European Communities (EC), the EC Law is only the legislation that is applicable, hence called EC law. Based on the Treaties, it is the fundamental rules of the EU serving as agreements between the Member States. EC law comprises four different fields, namely primary law (the Treaties and the accession treaties of the new Member States), secondary law (all existing legal acts accepted by institutions of the European Union), international agreements between the European Union and

Friday, February 7, 2020

Physical and Psychological abuse on a child cause devasting and even Essay

Physical and Psychological abuse on a child cause devasting and even fatal consequences - Essay Example Abusers often raise abusers so it seldom stops in one generation. The goal would be to figure out what allows some abused children to grow up not being an abuser and use that to help others. Much more attention needs to be spent on child abuse. It needs the same attention as other public health issues, such as smoking and obesity. Only then can we find a cure for the problem that causes such pain for many. Children who have been abused may suffer long term effects. Those effects may be different for different children but the victimization creates symptoms ranging from self-doubt to self-loathing In some cases the effects of being a victim never go away while some with the correct support may turn this self-doubt or self-loathing into that of survival. Many studies have been done in an effort to predict what might be the effects for each child as they grow older This paper will discuss what child abuse actually is, how prevalent it is and what the long term effects are recent studies will be used to support information presented. Studies show that children who have been abused suffer long term affects, such as self doubt and self loathing as modes of survival. Child maltreatment or abuse is defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) as the abuse of power that might harm the childs health, survival, dignity, or development. This is the basis for their definition of violence against children which broadens the scope from just violence to include social and environmental harm (Widom, et. al., 2008). This definition involves most kinds of violence against children as most of them are power issues. Putting a child in a position of having no power strongly affects tat childs self esteem causing him to b less assertive against the perpetrator. Philip Hyden (1999) describes the symptoms of abuse that might be seen in the emergency room. There are many possible approaches to reporting child abuse but unfortunately

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Explore Shakespeares presentation Essay Example for Free

Explore Shakespeares presentation Essay When exploring the parental relationships in Hamlet, the focus will inevitability lead back to the character of Hamlet. His connection, in one way or another, to the other characters allows one to observe Hamlets behaviour and motives. The relationships between Polonius and his children, Leartes and Ophelia, are recognized, but Hamlets filial relationships carry more weight in terms of importance. The character of Hamlet is a key figure who plays a central role amongst the three parental relationships he is a part of. These relationships give rise to issues of obedience and parental responsibilities. Denmark being a Christian country, expects its countrymen to follow the guidelines of the religion. One of the Ten Commandments states that one must honour thy mother and father. Hamlet becomes increasingly rude towards his mother because of her recent marriage to his uncle Claudius, and openly states that she is her husbands brothers wife (14;4;3). According to the laws at the time, as stated in The Book of Common Prayer, to marry ones brother in law was forbidden. The audience echo Hamlets moral outrage but he comes to passionately loathe his mother, disgusted at her incestuous desires. Hamlets disgust erupts at the fact that his mother re-married but two months after his fathers death. As a loyal and loving son to his father, Hamlet is devastatingly crushed that his mother could so quickly and easily replace the man in both their lives he loves and respects with an undying awe. This leads Hamlet to regard his mother as a pernicious woman showing that he believes her to be joyful of her husbands death. His language amplifies a sense of assonance, sounding the hiss of a snake. A snake is considered to be a dangerous, life-threatening creature associated with agility and evil. The cold blooded reptile might be an image Hamlet associates with his mother, who he feels swiftly and cunningly conspired to murder his beloved father with a malevolent nature, rendering her incapable of any kind of remorse. Hamlet arrives to a point of such hatred that he cannot bear even to have any relation to his mother. For him would it were not so, you are my mother (15;4;3) showing that he destroys the filial bond of mother and son. The monosyllabic words of his language here, give his speech pace, which could suggest Hamlets thoughts to be controlled by overwhelming emotion, making them irrational. However, the pause in mid-sentence reduces this pace and give his speech confidence, showing that he clearly has no value for his mother. The audience soon fail to continue to sympathise with Hamlet, as his continual lack of respect builds up to a point at which Gertrude fears for her life at the hands of her own son and terrified, questions whether Thou wilt not murder me? (20;4;3). By now Hamlets behaviour has become intensely violent, so violent that Gertrude chooses to use the word murder instead of kill. This suggests Hamlet has a clod blooded and sadistic nature, undoubtedly dishonouring his mother and failing to obey the duties of his religion. This sin projects Hamlets character into committing further sins. He pities and sympathises with the o poor ghost of his father. His language reflects a deep and profound sorrow for which he must hold his heart, causing his feelings to be repressed. As a result Hamlet believes that he was born to set it right suggesting his eagerness for revenge. It shows that Hamlet believes it is his filial duty, which he intends to complete with utmost loyalty. Hamlet idolises his father finding no wrong whatsoever in him despite Denmark having died with all my imperfections on my head. The ghost is a representation of Denmarks uncompleted life in the sense that he died without confessing his sins. This suggests that the ghost is suffering a great deal of pain and stress, which Hamlet indubitably suffers from too. The fact that his father died this way generates more sympathy from Hamlet and therefore adds to his craving for retribution. His sinful vengeance accumulates allowing his violence to be expelled through the murdering of Polonius, yet another sin. One parental duty is to watch over your child, protecting them from harm. Voyeuristically, Polonius watches Hamlet, in an effort to be whiteness to any inappropriate behaviour, so that he can protect his daughter from Hamlet. However, Hamlet sights a rat who he kills without any consideration. Hamlet displays an immense amount of disrespect to Polonius, who is a potential father in law to him. He relates a possible father figure to an animal, drastically decreasing his status, furthermore, paralleling him to an animal detested by many because of its vermin infected reputation. Perhaps Polonius could be infected with the disease of evil, due to the aiding of Claudius conniving scheme to remove Hamlet from the country. With that in mind, as a justification for murdering Polonius, Hamlet refers to himself as a scourge and minister (177;3;4) implying that he has carried out the Lords work. Now Hamlet believes his father to be God like suggesting he believes himself to be the son of God, giving himself a religious pedestal upon which his actions can be justified. The impact of the atrocity committed is exceeded only by the colossal immorality of Hamlets character, resultant of his unethical relation to the holiest religious figure, revealing a disturbing amount of arrogance on his part. His rash behaviour means that his consideration for whom the rat may be comes after he has killed him. It is only then that he questions, is it the King? . The fact that he does not ask exactly who it is, combined with the fact that it is Claudius who he asks of first, strongly shows his avid yearning for his uncles death. This then allows the audience to see Hamlets unshaken dedication to his father. Polonius covert presence gives a tangible sensation of claustrophobia. This reflects the suffocation Hamlet suffers from due to the many combined parental figures that exist in his past and present. Shakespeare would stage the play with the use of many soldiers to intensify the claustrophobia. Despite its added cost, it helped to create a sense of unease amongst the audience who then could relate to the way Hamlet felt trapped for I must hold my tongue. The audience observe the way his feelings have become ineffable. This does break Hamlets heart causing him an immense amount of anguish, which is added to by his mounting frustration from his inaction towards his much greatly repulsed uncle. Hamlet is irate with himself for crying so many tears of mourning without any action, contrasted with The Player who would drown the stage with tears in his situation. This suggests Hamlet feels inadequate which angers him. He chooses to relate The Players tears to drowning, which is to be consumed. As his own feelings are ineffable and so repressed, one can assume Hamlet relates The Player to his potential display of mourning. It can be said then that his grief has come to consume him. Yet for a consuming amount of grief, Hamlet remains Like John-a-dreams increasing his fury. This suggests he regards his aspirations to be empty and without accomplishment. Although, at one stage he Draws his sword, and very nearly completes his vendetta, but decides against it, not wanting to do this same villain send to heaven, due to Claudius confessing his sins at this point. Understandably, to a certain degree, Hamlet desires the worst for Claudius. Yet to continually delay, and then finally reach a point at which he can satisfy his frustration as well as his aspiration, and then not, questions the depth of his feelings. Sigmund Freud is the father of psychoanalysis and invented the concept of the Oedipal complex. Based on the Greek mythological story of Oedipus, the complex explores the possible deep seeded sexual desires sons may have for their mother, resulting in jealousy and hatred towards their father. Despite his superficial eagerness for revenge, Hamlet remains inactive with regard to fulfilling it. This eagerness could in fact be a veil for his jealousy towards Denmark, his father. It could be said that in killing Denmark, Claudius satisfies Hamlets desires with regard to the Oedipal complex, therefore rendering Hamlet incapable of killing him, explaining his inaction. Hamlets sexual desires for his mother can also be interpreted from the immense jealousy he has for his uncle. Hamlet craves his uncles death for murdering his father and taking his crown, but surreptitiously for sleeping with his mother. Furthermore Hamlet displays a great sense of misogyny in appearing to loathe his mother. He believes she is subject to frailty implying that she is weak for giving in to her sexual desires for Claudius. The irony, however, is that Hamlets frustration is rooted in the inability he suffers from, to admit his own incestuous weakness. So much so is his frustration that the ghost of Denmark must remind him to leave her to heaven (86;5;1) and being that more than once, this indicates an intense abhorrence for his mother. With this in mind, it is therefore debateable as to who Hamlet is more enraged with Gertrude or Claudius? In a natural order, children are obedient and loving towards their parents. Hamlet however detests his mother and dishonours her while at the same time, sinfully desires her sexually. This reflects the disorder of the whole play, much of which is related to the disorder in parental relationships. Hamlet calls Claudius his Uncle Father which is sarcastic yet uncertain and leaves Hamlet confused. His sarcasm is disrespectful and dishonourable towards Claudius as he is acting as Hamlets father. Hamlet tells Claudius to find the corpse of Polonius ithother place yourself referring to hell and therefore literally tells Claudius to go to hell. In retrospect, Shakespeare does not represent one single parental relationship to be happy and without disorder. It is Hamlets poignant sorrow that gives rise to the sinful disrespect he aggressively displays towards his mother. His sorrow comes from the untimely loss of his so excellent a King father. The next best father figure, being his uncle, not only murdered his father, but also marries his mother. This deserts Hamlet, who is tragically left torn between whether to kill or thank Claudius. It could be said that Hamlets only reason to kill Claudius is for his crown and wife.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

History of aspirin :: essays research papers fc

History Of Aspirin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aspirin is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world.. For centuries people throughout the world. Aspirin was discovered about 3500 years ago.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A collection of 877 medicinal recipes, The Ebers papyrus, before Christ, from the middle of the second millennium had been bought during the last century from an Egyptian street vendor by Georg Ebers, a German Egyptologist Georg. He recommended an infusion of dried myrtle leaves for rheumatic and back pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  More than a thousand years later the father of all doctors, Hippocrates of Kos, prescribed a juice extracted from the bark of the willow tree for labor pains and also for fever and pain. The active substance in this juice, which does in fact ease pain, is what we know today as salicylic acid. Being derived from the Latin word for willow, its name gives a clue as to its origin : Salix. It is now known that it is precisely salicylic acid that is contained in the myrtle leaves which the Egyptians used to treat and relieve pain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Advantages of Aspirin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aspirin helps relieve pain from headaches and arthritis, and reduces fever from infections. It also reduces inflammation due to illness or injury. The drug interferes with blood clotting, and thus it is useful in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and other disorders that involve blood clots.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Disadvantages/Hazards of Aspirin   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aspirin is a relatively safe drug when taken as recommended. But it can be irritating to the stomach lining and cause some stomach bleeding. A few people, are allergic to aspirin and can become very sick if they take it. Aspirin should not be given to children with chicken pox or influenza. Reyes Syndrome is a serious condition that can be caused if used during the conditions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Related Careers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  - Dispensing Facilities - Retail Outlets - Institutions - Manufacturing - Pharmacy Technicians Recruiting Firms - Research and Academia - Temporary Placement Firms - Wholesalers/Distributors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Environmental Issues   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  EPA findings concluded that groundwater and soil at the site are contaminated with pharmaceuticals. Also, the EPA concluded that people who drink or come in contact with the water from the wells tapping the aquifer may be at risk. The company is required to complete immediate cleanup which includes installation of replacement wells, 22 groundwater monitoring wells and a fiberglass reinforced concrete pad around the tank area to prevent rainwater from seeping into the ground. In addition, vacuum extraction wells will be employed to withdraw carbon tetrachloride from the soil.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Obama’s Election and First 100 Days

The American politics proved to be dynamic and changing over the years. The changes was seen huge in a sense that voters no longer consider race and color as a basis on selecting leaders in the country. Many people across the globe are even greatly involved of the latest presidential election since changes in public opinion are evident. In the context of Obama’s election and the first one hundred days of his service as President of the country, we may analyze the American politics in terms of voting behavior, public opinion, elections and political parties. Primarily, the election of Obama as the President can be attributed to his desire to serve the country. Being a community organizer and tough politician in Chicago, he was able to develop a political clout that brought him to where he is now. He is prepared to face the challenges before he ventured into the highest executive post in the country. It is difficult to analyze the development of American politics without understanding the behavior of candidates since it is a factor that affects winning the most coveted seat in American political leadership. In the case of Obama, he persuaded some influential politicians that could endorse him into the presidency. In other words, the determination of Barack Obama to defy all things that would prevent him to win in the presidential elections helped him legally seized power from the past President. Thus, within two years up to his candidacy, he made sure that he would not be involved on nasty and huge political issues to build a name for the voters to choose during the elections. In connection, there are additional factors that led to the victory of Barack Obama in the Presidential elections. These factors include voting behavior, public opinion, election machineries and political parties. In terms of voting behavior, it is apparent that voters are more aware of their rights as well as benefits compared to the past. When Barack Obama rendered his electrifying speech at the Democratic National Convention four years ago, voters and commentators stated that Barack Obama would become the first black President of America (Liberty Lounge 1). This comment catapulted voters to watch over their new leadership prospect and decide to take side on him. The behavior of the voting public is glued on the possibility of electing a black President since Barack Obama was able to shield himself from political detractors along the way. Even young children are aware of the popularity of Barack Obama which made their parents think of the possibility of making him the next President of the country. With that, young voters showed a huge difference in the presidential elections. In fact, young voters volunteered to organize campaign activities for Obama and aided in raising funds for his political machinery. The efforts of these young people contributed so much for the election of the first black President. Many voters also gave comments that the election of Obama is revolutionary, historic, and record breaking. Gone are the days when elections for President are for white Americans only. The American voters are now willing to entrust their future to a black leader in a country wherein race and color resulted to chaos and dilemmas so many years ago. This phenomenon is historic and revolutionary because its huge impact to the voters marked the start of gaining more cooperation, freedom and liberty. On the other hand, public opinion shaped and molded the way for Barack Obama to be elected as President. The role of the news media on his success is vital since the voters could not have considered voting him if not for the massive campaign through news media and other channels of public information. In fact, modern technology magnified the candidacy of Barack Obama. It is also undeniable that Obama expertly utilized interactive social technology. Other means of electoral campaign for Obama includes employing blogs, click-to-donate tools, phone brigade, text brigade, door-to-door campaigns, and even online updates on the election (Sarmiento 1). Besides, presidential and vice-presidential debates that are televised aided voters in choosing their candidates for the elections. Above all, the television media, radio, and print media has done their job well in keeping the electorate informed on the differences of the official candidates for President in America. Hence, public opinion easily shaped the choice of the people for their leader. With respect to political parties in relation to American politics, it is worth to mention that there is a shift from Republican to Democratic. It is clear that citizens and individuals in the United States nowadays were aligned to Democratic Party principles in terms of their political orientation. In the year 2008, majority of the voters leaned to the Democratic Party (Sarmiento 1). The fact is that there were 29 states and the District of Columbia which are involved with increased Democratic Party affiliation (Liberty Lounge 1). Barack Obama is identified with the Democrats and was chosen by the majority of the citizens in the country. In American politics, the aspect of public opinion, political parties, electoral campaigns, and electoral behavior. In these past few days within the first one hundred days period of the leadership of Obama, it is apparent that these aspects of American politics are identifiable. We take a closer look on the results of the electoral behavior and public opinion after the elections. Since Obama inherited economic problems from the past President, he faced tremendous scrutiny from the public on how he would carry on despite the problems. Many activists warned the new administration to refrain from overreaching to the people. It is evident that within the first one hundred days of Obama as President, he started implementing policies in order to save the economy which was questioned by some people. He also initiated the repair of the broken healthcare system, ending two wars, fixing poverty and inequality dilemmas, and wiping the stained US reputation in the world. Although the presence of both Democratic Party and Republican Party within the American political system stimulated the political processes, there is no way to prevent Obama in implementing his ways to improve the country. As conclusion, it is evident that Obama won the elections because of his charismatic aura and ability to render electrifying speeches. This also includes the apparent willingness to inherit economic problems from the past administration and to help the people cope up with the crises. The American political system has also changed from being conservative to a more revolutionary one. Race and color is no longer a barrier in attaining political power in the country. Hence, Obama’s election and first one hundred days may be tremendously scrutinized, yet it marked the start of more revolutionary governance in consonance to the will of solving economic problems as a primary goal. Works Cited â€Å"Analysis: Organization, strategy keys to Obama victory†. 5 November 2008. Liberty Lounge. 4 May 2009 < http://www.libertylounge.net/forums/36978-post-election-analysis-why-obama-won.html.>. Sarmiento, Rene. â€Å"10 Lessons Learned from the US Presidential Elections†. 19 January 2009. ABS-CBN News. 4 May 2009 < http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/features/01/19/09/10-lessons-learned-us-presidential-elections >.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Sophists Definition and Observations

Professional teachers of rhetoric (as well as other subjects) in  ancient Greece are known as Sophists. Major figures included Gorgias, Hippias, Protagoras, and Antiphon. This term comes from the Greek, to become wise. Examples Recent scholarship (for example, Edward Schiappas The Beginnings of Rhetorical Theory in Classical Greece, 1999) has challenged conventional views that rhetoric was born with the democratization of Syracuse, developed by the Sophists in a somewhat shallow way, criticized by Plato in a somewhat impractical way, and rescued by Aristotle, whose Rhetoric found the mean between Sophistic relativism and Platonic idealism. The Sophists were, in fact, a rather disparate group of teachers, some of whom may have been opportunistic hucksters while others (such as Isocrates) were closer in spirit and method to Aristotle and other philosophers.The development of rhetoric in 5th-century B.C. certainly corresponded to the rise of the new legal system that accompanied the democratic government (that is, the several hundred men who were defined as Athenian citizens) in parts of ancient Greece. (Keep in mind that before the invention of lawyers, citizens represented themselves in the Assembly--usually in front of sizable juries.) It is believed that the Sophists generally taught by example rather than precept; that is, they prepared and delivered specimen speeches for their students to imitate.In any case, as Thomas Cole has noted, its difficult to identify anything like a common set of Sophistic rhetorical principles (The Origins of Rhetoric in Ancient Greece, 1991). We do know a couple of things for certain: (1) that in the 4th century B.C. Aristotle assembled the rhetorical handbooks that were then available into a collection called the Synagoge Techne (now, unfortunately, lost); and (2) that his Rhetoric (which is actually a set of lecture notes) is the earliest extant example of a complete theory, or art, of rhetoric. Platos Criticism of the Sophists The Sophists formed part of the intellectual culture of classical Greece during the second half of the fifth century BCE. Best known as professional educators in the Hellenic world, they were regarded in their time as polymaths, men of varied and great learning. . . . Their doctrines and practices were instrumental in shifting attention from the cosmological speculations of the pre-Socratics to anthropological investigations with a decidedly practical nature. . . . [In the Gorgias and elsewhere] Plato critiques the Sophists for privileging appearances over reality, making the weaker argument appear the stronger, preferring the pleasant over the good, favoring opinions over the truth and probability over certainty, and choosing rhetoric over philosophy. In recent times, this unflattering portrayal has been countered with a more sympathetic appraisal of the Sophists status in antiquity as well as their ideas for modernity.(John Poulakos, Sophists. Encyclopedia of Rhetoric. Oxford University Press, 2001) The Sophists as Educators [R]hetorical education offered its students mastery of the skills of language necessary to participating in political life and succeeding in financial ventures. The Sophists education in rhetoric, then, opened a new doorway to success for many Greek citizens.(James Herrick, History and Theory of Rhetoric. Allyn Bacon, 2001) [T]he sophists were most concerned with the civic world, most specifically the functioning of the democracy, for which the participants in sophistic education were preparing themselves.(Susan Jarratt, Rereading the Sophists. Southern Illinois University Press, 1991) Isocrates, Against the Sophists When the layman . . . observes that the teachers of wisdom and dispensers of happiness are themselves in great want but exact only a small fee from their students, that they are on the watch for contradictions in words but are blind to inconsistencies in deeds, and that, furthermore, they pretend to have knowledge of the future but are incapable either of saying anything pertinent or of giving any counsel regarding the present, . . . then he has, I think, good reason to condemn such studies and regard them as stuff and nonsense, and not as a true discipline of the soul. . . . [L]et no one suppose that I claim that just living can be taught; for, in a word, I hold that there does not exist an art of the kind which can implant sobriety and justice in depraved natures. Nevertheless, I do think that the study of political discourse can help more than any other thing to stimulate and form such qualities of character.(Isocrates, Against the Sophists, c. 382 BC. Translated by George Norlin)