Thursday, October 31, 2019

The pearls illusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The pearls illusion - Essay Example The author dexterously manoeuvres the plot of the book so that the readers can identify with the more selfish nature of the man who relish the failures of the downtrodden and even make efforts to subdue and overpower the dreams of the poor so that the rich can become richer and continue to maintain that status. The book portrays the ‘ambitions’ of protagonist ‘Kino’ which are intrinsically linked with providing his son with education and a better life. The book shows how the simple wishes of the man, especially the ones who are poor, turn into ambitious ventures when confronted with the surreal realities of the time. The author has used the story telling mode to convey the changing moods of the protagonist and has profusely used the surreal elements to weave the magic in the ordinary life of the hero. Steinbeck, in this powerful book, has shown the irony of the pursuit of superficial material gains that blinds the man to the most important objective of life, of being happy. Through the character of Kino, author skilfully takes the readers through the experiences of day to day struggle of a poor man and shows how he develops the illusionary desires and ambitions to overcome his poverty so that he can provide a more comfortable life for his son and family. ‘Bu t the pearls were accidents, and the finding of one was luck’ becomes the powerful motive of the protagonist to dream. The book is a story of Kino and his wife Juana who go to the sea in search of ‘pearl of the world’ so that they can provide proper treatment for their son, who is bitten by the poisonous scorpion. They find the most coveted pearl and thereon begins the saga of the dramatic events that turn their lives upside down. Everybody in the small village is attracted to the pearl and wants a share of the riches that it represents. The people like the doctor, who had earlier refused to treat Coyito, Kino’s son and the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Language and regions of the brain that contribute to language Essay

Language and regions of the brain that contribute to language - Essay Example This inability to speak is aphasia, while inability to produce speech is termed as Brocas aphasia or expressive aphasia. The individual displaying such damage also display problem in understanding speech and they have gross grammar misunderstandings. Individuals with Wernickes area defect can speak well but are not able to recognize and understand what others are saying. This is also known as receptive aphasia and such individuals respond with strange or meaningless words. This area is also related with speech comprehension. Individuals find it difficult to name things as they are poor in mental dictionaries. Brocas area is intimately connected with the Wernickes area by band of nerves known as arcuate fascilicus. Some individuals display damage in the arcuate fascilicus resulting in aphasia called conduction aphasia, such individuals can recognize the speech, also they are able to create coherent speech, but cannot replicate the words they

Sunday, October 27, 2019

The Role Of Pleasure In The Happy Life

The Role Of Pleasure In The Happy Life Choose two philosophers covered so far and use their work to discuss the role of pleasure in the happy life.   I choose to pick Epicurus as one of the philosophers to be discussed because he is one of the most important figures in philosophy to be discussing on the topic of pleasure, it is interesting to discover just which category does Epicurus belong to. Was he just an ethical hedonist? Asserting merely that human actions ultimate purpose is to bring us happiness and that should be the only purpose or goal we serve or to achieve while adhering to doing good in the process .Or is he something else, something more profound? Epicurus is without a doubt, a hedonist, however he is somewhat of a different kind of hedonist, he draws a distinction between intense physical pleasure, and he also states that if one engages in intense physical debauchery too much, its going to end up hurting you. Epicurus promotes the idea of ataraxic that is: having the peace of mind, free from stress or turmoil, he proposes that physical indulgences in eating ,drinking, or sex orgies, can bring more negative consequences than pleasure, but mental pleasures, like listening to music, discussing philosophy with your friends etc, can last for as long as you want to with no negative consequences.For Epicurus, mental pleasure carries a greater pleasure and value than physical pleasure, he also further classifies active pleasure and passive pleasure. For example, you want to eat because you are hungry or drink because you are thirsty and then the passive pleasure, such as freedom from anxiety and pain. Epicurus thought passive pleasur e was more important than indulging in active pleasure, for example, a true epicurean delight would not be having an orgy, but instead researching scientific questions, perhaps. Epicurus concept of pleasure was twofold: in the opinion of researchers, Epicurus distinguished two kinds of pleasure- a static pleasure or a pleasure in a state of rest and a kinetic pleasure or a pleasure in motionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦an Epicurean by the name of Lucius Torquatus, gives a definition of two different kinds of pleasure, one of which suavitate aliqua naturam ipsam movet et iucundi-tate quadam percipitur sensibus, thus being a pleasure in motion, while the other, static pleasure, percipitur omni dolore detracto. Here Torquatus draws a distinction between two different states to either of which, in his opinion, the notion of pleasure can be applied firstly, a state presupposing active stimulation of pleasant sensations and secondly, a state negatively defined as the absence of pain and suffering. Epicurus referred to as kinetic those pleasures which accompany the process of satisfying ones desires and regarded as static pleasure the state experienced when the desires are sati sfied. In another place he gives a quotation from Epicurus about pleasures accompanying gustatory, auditory and visual sensations, and this time he regards these pleasures as pleasures in motion, speaking now about physical motions in the sensory organs. Besides, the traditional interpretation of kinetic pleasure contradicts Epicurus idea that it is impossible simultaneously to experience pleasure and pain; for example, if a man is feeling pleasure while satisfying his hunger, then, apparently, at the same moment pleasure has to be accompanied by pain from hunger that has not yet been fully satisfied. (Nikolsky, 2001) Epicurus believed we can all find a way to be happy, the problem is simply we are looking at the wrong place, unlike many philosophers, Epicurus idea of happiness actually sounds rather fun, he didnt think we should feel guilty about wanting to feel a pleasurable and enjoyable life, we seem to be thinking the key to happiness is really pretty easy, that is having a lot of money. But before we reach for our wallets, Epicurus wants us to stop and think.Epicurus was committed to a life of happiness, he likes sex, laughter and beauty but he points out that happiness is rather a tricky issue and a philosopher might help you find it than a credit card ever could. Epicurus was in favor of pleasure at all, short of many of his many Greek contemporaries, his philosophy became synonymous with a luxurious eating lifestyle. Epicurus said that pleasure was the most important thing in life, but if we analyze Epicurus we actually found that he lived simple, far from a luxurious life, having survived on breads and plain water as a way of life, Epicurus thought we dont really know what we need and so forth prey forth to many substitute desires, such as spending lavishly on a shopping spree. But often according to Epicurus, the key to pleasure comes pretty cheap, the first one is friendship, he stated that friendship is a major source of happiness, but in order to achieve that, one needs to live with his friends at all times, the second thing Epicurus thought we need is freedom, Epicurus left Athens with his friends and started a commune, according to Epicurus, we must free ourselves from the prison from everyday life politics, their lives were simple, but at least they enjoyed their freedom in their self-sufficient ways. The last ingredient is an analyzed life by which he meant a life in which we take time off to reflect on our worries, to analyze what was troubling us, our anxieties can be diminished if we give us time to think things through, and to do that ,we need to take a step back from the noisy commercial world. According to Epicurus, as long as you have enough money to sustain the basic sustenance, that is more than enough to have pleasure in a happy life, Epicurus states that even bread and water can confer the highest possible pleasure when they are brought to hungry lips. Obviously, Epicurus means by this the state of satiety, but he does not in any way separate it from pleasure from eating and drinking that leads to this state.( Nikolsky, 2001) so if we are so easily satisfied, why arent we happy? The answer is seductions in which our goal to become happy and live a pleasurable life become influenced. When we are quickly lured by bright lights and fancy clothing, our desires are subconsciously detoured in our search for pleasure. Thus, the Epicurean view of the physical nature of pleasure as a whole varies little from that of other philosophers: in Epicurus opinion, pleasure is experienced when the atoms of a human body, acted upon by a certain force, find themselves in their proper places, i.e.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦when the organism attains its natural state under the effect of some influence. Epicurus links pleasure not only with the process but also with the result of restoration, i.e. with the natural state which the organism attains. (Nikolsky, 2001) Next, I would like to refer to a famous philosopher by the name of Aristotle as my second candidate. For Aristotle however, the idea of pleasure and happiness comes from what is considered favorable, what is considered as good. The concept of virtue comes into place here, and we must have these virtues in order to achieve eudaimonia which is the Greek word of happiness .For Aristotle, a prime criterion to living a happy or pleasurable life is to find out what are the ultimate goal or purpose, and thus the way to be happy. Aristotle proposes 3 points, it has to be self-sufficient, it has to be a final goal and it has to be attainable. In this case, one has to develop the virtues in order to achieve a happy life, virtues are themselves the means to an end. Aristotle clearly distinguishes himself from the hedonists when he claims that there is no such thing as undifferentiated pleasure. Pleasure cannot serve as the final goal of our actions because pleasure is not one thing, i.e., the word pleasure as applied to specific instances of pleasure is not univocal. Pleasures differ in nature just as the activities which they accompany differ in nature. The pleasure which we take in eating is simply the same kind of thing as the pleasure which we take in thinking. They are simply different kinds of pleasures and as such it seems that there can be no comparison between them as pleasures. Yet Aristotle clearly believes that such a comparison between different pleasures is possible. He speaks of contemplation as being the most pleasurable activity. But if Aristotles critique of hedonism rules out the possibility of saying that contemplation brings with it a greater amount of pleasure than does eating ( since these pleasures differ qualitatively a nd not quantitatively), what can he mean by saying that contemplation is the most pleasurable activity? (Gonzalez, 1991) According to Aristotle, our ultimate goal is happiness, that is our telos, and happiness is in itself the ultimate good, the ultimate thing we should strive for. In book 1 of Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, he states that while happiness is self-sufficient in itself, there is varying degrees of happiness, if we indulge our senses in sensual pleasure, that is considered superficial and on the same level as animals, it is important to consider happiness as not as one brief moment but rather as a whole integral lifelong process. On a side note, Aristotle regards happiness as an activity rather as a state, in order to be happy and live well, one need to have the right virtues to incline towards a certain disposition, a certain lifestyle. In chapter 4 of book 10 Aristotle describes what constitutes a sensation which is most perfect or complete and therefore most pleasurable: there is a corresponding pleasure for every sensation and similarly for thought and contemplation: the most pleasurable activity will be the most complete and the most complete will be the one which takes place between a well-disposed subject and the best of those objects which are proper to it.Pleasure completes the activityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The activity of sensation will be most complete when its subjective and objective conditions are the best possible. It is important to recognize that the superlative here implies the possibility of degrees in the completeness and pleasure of an activity. Aristotle is not claiming that an activity can be complete and pleasurable only if it satisfies certain conditions; he is instead claiming that these conditions must be satisfied in order for the activity to be most complete and most pleasurable. (Gonzalez, 199 1) For Aristotle, The question traces back to why we want to be happy, why we want to be virtuous? Why is happiness the ultimate telos? To illustrate, we spend our money on things which we fancy to get pleasure, it all boils down that all our daily activities focus on one and only one purpose, that is to be happy .But happiness itself is a rather intriguing and complex concept, and Aristotle states only through exercising our rational soul, through a life of contemplation as our activity, can happiness be found, and that is what distinguishes us from the animals. In Book 10 of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle further goes into depth why he thinks contemplation is the ultimate rational answer to pleasure and happiness. The way Aristotle sees things is different, for example, when you encounter an object or entity, would you consider it in aspect of its purpose, or its functions or the process that the object undergoes? Aristotle views everything as telos, he believes everything serve some kind of telos or purpose, he thinks the telos of a plant is to keep growing from the intake of nutrition, the telos of life, so what distinguishes us from plants and animals is in our ultimate telos to contemplate and behave accordingly, to employ the rational faculty of the soul, and this in turn consists of the study of modern day philosophy, as an example. The pleasures involved in the activities are more proper to them than the desires; for the latter are separated both in time and in nature, while the former are close to the activities, and so hard to distinguish from them that it admits of dispute whether the activity is not the same as pleasure. (Manser ,1960)

Friday, October 25, 2019

Skepticism and the Philosophy of Language in Early Modern Thought Essay

Skepticism and the Philosophy of Language in Early Modern Thought ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the importance of skeptical arguments for the philosophy of language in early modern thought. It contrasts the rationalist conception of language and knowledge with that of philosophers who adopt some sort of skeptical position, maintaining that these philosophers end up by giving language a greater importance than rationalists. The criticism of the rationalists' appeal to natural light is examined, as well as skeptical arguments limiting knowledge such as the so-called 'maker's knowledge' argument. This argument is then seen as capital for favoring a positive interpretation of the importance of language for knowledge. The revival of ancient skepticism in early XVIth century has been considered one of the major forces in the development of modern thought, especially as regards the discussion about the nature of knowledge and the sciences. Richard Popkin in his History of Skepticism from Erasmus to Spinoza (1979) has shown that skeptical arguments were influential in the attack against traditional scholastic conceptions of science, opening the way to the development of the new scientific method. The dispute between those who embraced skepticism and those who tried to refute or surpass it was central to the philosophical scene well into the XVIIIth century. However, the importance of the discussion of the nature and role of language in this process and its relation to skeptical arguments has scarcely been examined. My objective in this paper is to extend Popkin's analysis of the role of skepticism in the formation of modern thought to the consideration, in general lines, of some of the main features of early modern theories a... ...ld,A. et Nicole, P (1981). Logique, ou l'Art de Penser, Paris, Vrin. Descartes,R., (1996) RÃ ¨gles pour la direction de l'esprit, Principes de la Philosophie, in Ouevres, Paris,Vrin,. Kant,I. (1952) Critique of pure reason, Great Books of the Western World, Chicago, Encyclopedia Britannica. Jolley,N. (1988) The light of the soul, Oxford, Clarendon Press. Lennon, T. (1993) The battle of gods and giants, Princeton Univ.Press. Montaigne,M. (1952) Essais, Great Books of the Western World, Chicago, Encyclopedia Britannica. Perez-Ramos,A. (1988) Francis Bacon's idea of science and the maker's knowledge tradition, Oxford Univ.Press. Popkin,R. (1979) The history of scepticism from Erasmus to Spinoza, Berkeley & Los Angeles, Univ.of California Press. Zagorin, Perez (1984) "Vico's Theory of Knowledge: A Critique," Philosophical Quarterly, vol.34, no.134.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Rose

Lee is unafraid to show emotion, especially when writing about his father or his wife. The images Lee finds, such as the rose and the apple, can refer to the life-span off human. Life (on the tree branch), falling off tree (Life- span), then how death Is portrayed by using the ground as the end of life. Even his father's blindness and death can become beautiful. From what I gathered from the poems in Rose, was Lee grew up in a strong tight-knit family environment.He is not afraid to describe is feelings with colorful adjectives, and has a powerful relationship with his mother and father throughout his poems. It is clear that Lee grew up in an atmosphere where there is a certain level of humility, love of speech, from where he also searched for wisdom understanding. Lie-Young Lee's poems are very beautiful and meditative. The way that Lee captures love & longing, subtle forms of love, nuances of parental relationships, and the sadness and reflection that makes it meaningful and though t provoking to the reader.Lee draws on his own life experience in such a way that readers will wonder if he is ring to extract those experiences from his inner self. While these poems are deeply personal, they are also universal in their appeal. Like a child who possesses a sensual, adult relationship with the world, Lie-Young Lee shines with an open gentleness and delicate Iverson 2 sensitivity. Nothing escapes his keen eye and, as he so greatly illustrates, the greatest art is all around us. Lee's poetry results in a clarification or awakening of feelings that summon the reader's desire to examine his or her feelings, and by examining them, express them.Therefore, by reaching into our own self-awareness, we are able to eek redemption. We forgive ourselves. Young Lee's poetry is lucid in the way he captures the details of living with accuracy and tenderness, it moves the reader to awe . Lee reveals the way our families create who we are in a manner that heals the reader and makes u s examine our own lives. Lee often writes about his father and his own attempt to understand his connection to him and the heritage bestowed on him. Lee also uses many forms of symbolism throughout his work. For example, in â€Å"Dreaming of Hair,† the hair is an evil thread of death.This Lee sees the simple image of his father braiding his mother's hair. Lee's work is filled with these varying symbolic representations of the ordinary. This is one of things that make his work so unique and interesting. The poetry of Lie-Young Lee consists of simple forms that create a natural and earthy feel for the reader. The symbolism and imagery in his work comes from the deep well of experience and Lee writes in a style that gives the reader a sense of his urgency – almost as if Lee is trying to purge himself from what lies within him. Because of this, Rose is a very interesting and thought provoking read.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Elements of Democracy and Constitutionalism Essay

The 16th president of the United States of America explained it succinctly. Democracy, that is. Democracy is a government system adopted by many nations. It is perhaps one of the oldest forms of political rule, one that transcends over time.. Democracy and constitution are just two of the numerous theories that origin in Greece, one of the oldest cradles of civilization. Democracy takes its root from the Greek word which means rule by the people (Johnston, 1987). It is different from other types of government system such as dictatorship or totalitarian (1987). Democracy occurs when people choose its government, or those who will lead them. Democracy dates back to prehistoric times. Some anthropologists, for instance, have unearthed democracy in tribes (1987). It is called â€Å"primitive democracy† wherein a tribal council rules a certain tribe (1987). The council is usually composed of families and clans (1987). The Iroquois Confederacy, which ruled some parts of the United States, is another example of democratic institution (1987). It is even said that the Confederacy contributed to the creation of the US constitution (Cook, 2000). Democracy has several political, economic and social characteristics. One of its vital political characteristic is that men are equal before the law, meaning everyone is entitled to equal right, to participate in all political decisions (Johnston, 1987). Each has the right to vote or choose. During the Athenian government, adult male citizens convened to address public issues. As democracy continued to become popular, especially in Europe and America, the right to vote was adopted, but was limited to male land owners (1987). It was only during the 20th century, wherein women in nations practicing democracy were given the right to suffrage (1987). Another prominent element in democracy is freedom of expression. This pertains to the liberty to express one’s self through speech, press and assembly (Johnston, 1987). Through freedom of expression, views on certain issues would be addressed. The English, French, and American revolutions were geared towards achieving freedom of expression (1987). Basic to democracy is the idea of majority rule. In a democratic nation, a consensus should be achieved. While the majority is generally followed, minority rights are also taken in consideration (Johnston, 1987). The minority’s purpose is not to contest the majority but to give alternatives (1987). Furthermore, one economic characteristic of a democracy is to have equality not just in political areas but in economic as well. Democratic nations have labor unions to address the welfare of the workers (Johnston, 1987). Some countries like the United States passed laws on regulating employment-related issues such as wages and Social Security (1987). Likewise, democracy affects the social distinctions of a nation. Democracy curtails differences on sex, wealth, birth, race and religion (Johnston, 1987). The 14th Amendment to the United States, for example, states that a citizen must be granted all rights (1987). In Greece where the term democracy derived, democracy arose when the middle class comprising merchants, started to gain power (Johnston, 1987). It used to be that tribal systems were dominant in Greece (Rabb, 1987). The period, which was known as â€Å"Age of Kings† had mini-monarchies in Greece (1987). However, by 1000 BC to 500 BC, people started to rethink about the government. By this time, the idea of popular government had started to crop up (1987). A popular government is defined as a government wherein people should not be under the control of others (1987). This popular government concept is the precursor of what is not democracy. Athens was the place where the Greeks first experience democracy (1987). As stated earlier, Athenian democracy practiced voting, although was limited to citizens and men only (1987). It was also during this time that Socrates, the great Greek philosopher, was sentenced to death (1987). When Alexander the Great of Macedonia conquered Greece, the popularity of democracy faded. During the Roman period, the Roman tribune was tasked to stand in for the people or the plebian (Johnston, 1987). The plebian comprised the lower class. It was the Romans who idealized that citizens should be equal before the law (1987). In 16th century, the growth of European trade proved to be a platform for democracy to expand (Johnston, 1987). Throughout Europe, the rising middle class started demanding for recognizing their rights (1987). In England, for instance, free enterprise capitalism developed (1987). In France, advocating on democracy was prohibited especially since the country had absolute monarchy as its type of government (Johnston, 1987). However, some French writers and philosophers started propagating the idea of democracy (1987). Voltaire wrote on the freedom of speech; Baron de Montesquieu drafted a model of a government structure wherein the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are of equal power; and Jean Jacques Rousseau advocated on an equal society (1987). These are just examples of ancient democratic practices. Another Ancient Greek political idea is the constitution. The great Greek philosopher Aristotle used the term constitution to pertain to government forms- either good or bad (Safra, 20002). According to Aristotle, monarchy and aristocracy are good constitution whereas tyranny, oligarchy and democracy are bad constitution (2002). A constitutional government has several elements-procedural stability, accountability, representation, division of power, openness and disclosure (Safra, 2002). Procedural stability means that basic laws of the government must not be changed randomly (Safra, 2002). The government must provide it citizens the laws so that its citizens would know the consequences (2002). Accountability pertains to the government’s responsibility to its citizens (Safra, 2002). It is executed through processes such as elections, fiscal accounting, and referendum (2002). Representation states that the people who have been elected should serve as representatives of their constituents (Safra, 2002). Elections ensure that citizens are well represented by those elected. Constitutionalism allows division of power [of legislature, executive, and judiciary] to ensure check and balance in the government (Safra, 2002). Since democracy sits in constitutionalism, there should exists openness and disclosure in the government. Citizens cannot participate in a constitutional government if they are not privy to the workings. It is therefore necessary to have openness and disclosure in the government, to have access to pertinent documents. Constitutional government has been practiced by several countries. Former colonies of Great Britain in Asia and the Caribbean such as India and Nigeria had adopted constitutional form of government (Safra, 2002). European countries such as France, Germany and Italy have likewise adopted this form of government. In France, for example, its previous government had been absolute monarchy. The constitution of the Third Republic was established in 1870 (Safra, 2002). It was followed for roughly 70 years until the German invasion (2002). In the constitution of the Fourth Republic, the average cabinet life became shorter because the government had to deal with the Algerian independence movement (2002). The constitution of the Fifth Republic provides power to the president to abolish the Parliament (2002). The U. S. constitution, on the other hand, copied most of its phrases from the British constitutional vocabulary (Safra, 2002). The English constitution was the effect of custom rather than a premeditated consultation. Parliament was the product of the Curia Regis or the King’s Council (2002). The US constitution was amended for its own use. The constitution states that the US government has three branches – executive, judicial and legislative. It was signed on September 17, 1787 (Constitution of the United States, 2000). The US constitution serves as the foundation of the US government. It is divided into three parts- the preamble, articles and amendments (2000).