Beowulf Is A Pagan Work Essay - 519 Words

The poem Beowulf was written in England sometime in the 8th century. It was written during a time when the society was in the process of being converted from paganism to Christianity. The Christian influences are combined with early folklore and heroic legends of Germanic tribes. Yet, the pagan elements in the epic poem Beowulf clearly overshadow the Christian elements, and it is visible in the character’s superhuman personifications, their hunger for revenge, and their strong belief in fate. The main character, Beowulf, is depicted as a superhero in many of his extraordinary battles. During the battle with Grendels mother, when Beowulf realizes that Unferths sword is useless against the monster’s thick skin, he grabs†¦show more content†¦Beowulf is a very old man by now and although he is, in the end, fatally wounded, he manages to deliver the final blow that kills the dragon. His lack of fear to fight the dragon by himself, is portrayed when he tells his friends to stay outside so they will not get injured. Even as an elderly person, Beowulf still has the same extraordinary courage and strength as earlier in the poem. And even with age, he has not lost the qualities that make him universally well known, and an outstanding hero. These battles are examples of epic folklore during pagan times. Another pagan element is visible in the craving for revenge by many of the Anglo-Saxons. Beowulf illustrates this wish for vengeance after Hrothgar loses one of his counselors to Grendel: â€Å"Let your sorrow end! It is better for us all / To avenge our friends, not mourn them forever†. This passage disproves the idea that Beowulf is a Christian poem, because taking an eye for an eye is not at all a Christian belief. Revenge is an idea promoted by Pagans, and was thought to be necessary to avenge to death of a friend. Another act of revenge is seen when Beowulf attempts to defeat the dragon after it wreaks havoc on the land of the Geats, causing much damage. Even though Beowulf was very old, the fame-hungry king was seeking retribution for the fury the dragon had lashed out onto his city. Beowulf is obviously very arrogant andShow MoreRelatedBeowulf as Christian Propaganda1318 Words   |  6 PagesThe literary work of Beowulf is believed, by many, to contain numerous attributes of Christian propaganda. Throughout the story of Beowulf, there are several circumstances and coincidences that distinctly relate to the Christian belief system. One can only imagine that these ideas of Christian propaganda; which include the use of Christian themes and beliefs in works of literary art, were strategically placed throughout the story of Beowulf to help the conversion from the old world pagan religious beliefRead MoreTheme Of Paganism In Beowulf1179 Words   |  5 Pageslongest epic poem ever written in the genre of Old English is â€Å"Beowulf†, it has been composed in the native language as spoken during the Anglo-Saxon reign in England, preceding the Norman Conquest. Beowulf is regarded as a classic tale which relates the defeat of evil and triumph of good. The poem is divided into three acts. Christian and Pagan Influences in Beowulf: The Pagan deities, rituals as well as pagan ideas influenced Beowulf, when it was being created, though the passing down of the epicRead MoreEssay about Pagan Aspects in Beowulf1573 Words   |  7 Pages Scholars have argued about the religious stance of the epic poem Beowulf for centuries. Although the man who put the poem down on paper, known as the Beowulf poet, was a devout Christian, the actual poem itself is pagan. There are many clues in the epic that lead us to this conclusion such as the numerous references to pagan symbols, namely the symbol of fate. Also, the central idea of revenge in the poem opposes the ideas of Christianity. The poem also contains many breaches of the TenRead MoreBeowulf And The Epic s Christian Identity896 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf and the Epic’s Christian Identity Composed in early eighth century by an unknown author the epic poem Beowulf, follows the exploits of the protagonist of the same name. Originally composed orally by a tribe’s scop, the epic of Beowulf delivers insight on the lives and adventures of characters that lived in the sixth century. Although, the tale of Beowulf was formulated during post Roman collapse by presumably pagan people; written around seven hundred A.D., it is probable that a ChristianRead MoreEssay on Christian and Pagan Ideals in Beowulf1343 Words   |  6 Pagespast events. Written down in approximately 1,000 A.D. by an unknown author, Beowulf, originally a pagan fable, became a Christian allegory upon its transcription by Christian monks. However, as scholars have debated over the religious context in Beowulf, the attempts by the monks to turn the epic poem into a Christian parable ended merged, including both original and Christian aspects. Throughout Beowulf, the epic combines pagan ideals of fate or wyrd and the will of God, the similar concepts of theRead MoreEssay about Christian And Pagan Ideals In Beowulf1335 Words   |  6 Pagespast events. Written down in approximately 1,000 A.D. by an unknown author, Beowulf, originally a pagan fable, became a Christian allegory upon its transcription by Christian monks. However, as scholars have debated over the religious context in Beowulf, the attempts by the monks to turn the epic poem into a Christian parable ended merged, including both original and Christian aspects. Throughout Beowulf, the epic combines pagan ideals of fate or wyrd and the will of God, the similar concepts of theRead MoreChristianity : The Rise Of Christianity1512 Words   |  7 PagesAnglo-Saxon tradition, which is from where the epic poem Beowulf is thought to have originated circa 550 AD. Due to the origins of Beowulf being surrounded by Pagan tradition and culture and reliance on the method of oral recitation of the story, the poem holds Pagan influences. Examples of these influences include the monsters that Beowulf faces in the story, idol worship, and burning the dead among many other elements. Also around the time of Beowulf, the rise of the Jesus Movement, which eventually becameRead More Beowulf and The Intent of Christians to Convert Pagans Into Christianity 1069 Words   |  5 Pagesit to keep track of the history of their people. Beowulf is an epic poem that was past down by the Anglo Saxons from generation to generation. The poem is infused with multiple elements of their pagan religion. However, when they immigrated to England and began to tell the tale of Beowulf, the local inhabitants began to listen and put their twist on it. Douglas Wilson states: Through a heroic poem about pagans that never mentions Christ, Beowulf is the opposite of syncretistic compromise. It isRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Beowulf1056 Words   |  5 PagesBeowulf, presumably written by a Christian monk, (Circa 700 A.D.), accurately depicts the strengths, weaknesses, and overall flaws that ultimately lead up to the protagonist’s demise. Rising from Geatland, Beowulf, the legendary warrior who has ended countless monsters reign of terror, gets word of an evil being tormenting Denmark, modern day New Zealand. Not one to be outdone, Beowulf sets sail to with fourteen of the finest warriors he could find. Arriving, he and his men are met by a loyal subjectRead MoreBeowulf Is A Christian Allegory1310 Words   |  6 PagesIt is common opinion that Beowulf was written by a Christian poet. This was probably true because at the time when it was written, most of the few people who knew how to read and write were in the clergy. There are various references within the poem to elements of the Christian religion. However, the story is about Pagan people and certain aspects of their culture are even glorified. The ambiguity of Beowulf’s religious content has caused confusion as to what significance religion had in

milgrams study into obedience - 777 Words

Describe and discuss two factors that Milgram found effect obedience? Refer to empirical evidence in your answer Milgram’s original study into obedience came under to a lot of scrutiny because of both mythological and ethical problems. This meant that the validity of Milgram’s study was put into question. Following the study were further investigations to see what might change and explain the results that Milgram found, both by Milgram himself and other psychologists. Variations to his study throw up interesting theories to the situational and dispositional factors that might affect levels of obedience. One variation of Milgram’s study investigated the role that buffers may have on the level of obedience of a individual. Two†¦show more content†¦The ecological validity in this experiment is greater than that in Milgram’s variation; this means that it can be generalised to everyday situations and can explain why people’s obedience may increase if the level if perceived authority and status increases and when the opposite effect occurs. To conclude, situational factors as seen above have been found to affect the level of obedience that somebody shows. However, there are important dispositional factors that need to be taken into consideration. People with a authoritarian personality may have a disposition to have a higher level of obedience. Milgram found that the among the people who gave the highest shocks did indeed have a authoritarian personality and blamed the leaner for the obedience. Crutchfield lead findings into conformity (1955); he found that conformers tend to have a high authoritarian views and were generally submissive. Obedience involves complex social roles this explains the link between personality, conformity and obedience. Privately a participant may not want to administer the shock, but publically when told to do so is submissive andShow MoreRelatedThe Milgram Study On Obedience1731 Words   |  7 PagesThe Milgram study was considered to be one of the most famous studies, on obedience in the hi story of psychology. The Milgram study was done by Stanley Milgram a Yale University psychologist, whose study was to focus on two things one being obedience to authority, and a persons personal conscience. The results of the study were remarkable, as according to (McLeod, 2007) 65 percent of two-thirds of the participants or teachers continued administering shocks to the highest voltage level of 450 voltsRead MoreBehavioral Study Of Obedience By Stanley Milgram1053 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Behavioral Study of Obedience† by Stanley Milgram (1963) Stanley Milgram Yale University Group 1: Wasis Ali, Christopher Okpala, Michelle Walden, Estefany Majano General Psychology 1010 Ms. Thompson Spring Semester, March 17, 2014 Introduction In 1961, The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology published an article by Stanley Milgram, a researcher at Yale University, and his study testing obedience towards political influence vs towards morals and values taught from an early ageRead MoreStanley Milgram s Obedience Study1325 Words   |  6 PagesPsychology 230 Stanley Milgram’s obedience study has become one of the most timeless experiments and is thought of as a work of art. In this experiment, Milgram examined if individuals would take requests from authority figures regardless if they felt that the requests were ethical or not. Milgram chose members for this study by daily paper advertising for male participants to partake in an investigation at Yale University. In World War II, Nazis justified killings by saying that they were simplyRead MoreBehavioral Study Of Obedience By Stanley Milgram1313 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiment performed by Stanley Milgram titled â€Å"Behavioral Study of Obedience†. Stanley Milgram conducted his study in June of 1961 at Yale University. Three months prior to the start of the experiment, a former Nazi war criminal named Adolf Eichmann was put on trial for his involvement with the Nazi party. At the time, society questioned whether Eichmann and other war criminals could be held responsible for their crimes or if they were simply following orders. Milgram designed his experiment to shedRead MoreThe Fundamental Attribution Error : The Milgram Obedience Study Performed By Stanley Milgram957 Words   |  4 Pagessituation. Studies show that in most cases socially we want to fit in with a group, don’t want to be different, don’t want to be wrong, and in many instances act different than what our typical personality and values are based on influencing social factors. One of the main factors that often contributes to how we act in certain situations is to obey those in authority positions. The studies provided below are examples of the show how behaviors can change based on social factors. The Milgram ObedienceRead MoreAnalysis Of Stanley Milgram s Behavioral Study Of Obedience 965 Words   |  4 Pagessubmission or obedience.   In Stanley Milgram’s â€Å"Behavioral Study of Obedience†, he elaborates on the notion of obedience with accordance to the behaviors of a higher power and his subjects. Milgram’s defines obedience as â€Å"the psychological mechanism that links individual  action  to political  pur-pose.  It  is the dispositional  cement  that  binds men to systems of authority† (371). Milgram’s experiment was conducted with response to the Nazi war trials. Through experimentation, Milgram discovered theRead MoreThe Concentration Camps : Dr. Milgram s Study On Obedience Of Everyday Normal People990 Words   |  4 Pageshe does best to find support for his position from others in his group. The mutual support provided by men for each other is the strongest bulwark we have against the excesses of authority. (Milgram, 1974) In 1963, the Yale psychologist Milgram had performed a very controversial experiment on the obedience of participants towards an authority’s orders. He had discovered that a very small marginal of participants could resist the demands of an authority figure. This experiment was about learningRead MoreOutline the Simalarities and Differences Between Milgrams (1963) Obedience Study and Burgers (2009) Replication1550 Words   |  7 PagesKaren Bullen R2208481 DE 100 Investigating Psychology 1 TMA02 Outline the similarities and differences between Milgrams (1963) obedience study and Burgers (2009) replication. This essay will look at an important key psychological experiment carried out by the renowned social psychologist Stanley Milgram which was carried out in the early 1960’s (Banyard 2012) to determine how far ordinary people would go to inflict pain to a fellow human based on instruction from an authority figure, andRead MoreAnalysis Of Stanley Milgram s Perils Of Obedience Essay1709 Words   |  7 PagesStill, many questions still remain prevalent as to how an individual reaches his or her decision on obedience in a distressing environment. Inspired by Nazi trials, Stanley Milgram, an American psychologist, questions the social norm in â€Å"Perils of Obedience† (1964), where he conducted a study to test how far the average American was willing to for under the pressures of an authority figure. Milgram s study showed that under the orders of an authoritative figure, 64% of average Americans had the capabilityRead MoreStanley Milgram s Research On Obedience863 Words   |  4 PagesStanley Milgram s groundbreaking studies on obedience certainly shocked the world with their electrifying results. The experiment that Milgram conducted included ordinary people delivering â€Å"shocks† to an unknown subject, which caused much controversy to occur and raised many questions in the psychological world. Diana Baumrind, a psychologist at the University of California and one of Milgram’s colleagues, attacks Milgram’s ethics in her review. She decides that Milgram s tests are unethical towards

Literary Analysis The Storm Essay Example For Students

Literary Analysis: The Storm Essay The plot of the story The Storm by Kate Chopin is a conventional everydayplot. The story would not be so interesting if it werent for the last line of thestory; So the storm passed and everyone was happy. What did she mean bythe closing line? My interpretation of the story is that she meant the rocky partof both Calixta and Alcees mariage had passed along with the storm. BothAlcee and Calixta cheated on their spouse, however, they both knew thatwhen the stor was over they would return to faithfulness with their mates.Alcee obviously felt regretful, as indicated when the author writes; It was aloving letter full of tender solicitude. He then went on to say although hemissed them, he was willing to bear the separation a while longer-realizing thattheir health and pleasure were the first things to be considered. These quoteswere taken from the letter Alcee had written to his wife. The storm hadpassed and it looked as if everyone in Alcees situation was going to behappy. As for Calixta, she was extremely happy to see her son and husbandreturn home safely, as indicated in the story; She had clasped Bibi and waskissing him effusively. Calixta then went on to Bobinot and Felt him to see ifhe was dry, and seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safereturn. Calixta had also withstood the storm of her marriage and everyoneseemed to be happy too. Alcee and Calixta both seemed to realize they wereblessed with loving spouses. In their moment of passion they did not realizehow lucky they both were. I feel they both came to grips with the fact thatwhat happened between them was an act of lust and there were no feelingsinvolved. The moment was very arousing to each of them but when the stormwas over so was the act of lust and betrayal. My opinion is, this act was goingto help both Alcees and Calixtas marriage rather than hurt it, as long as theirrespective spouses do not find out what happened during the storm. I bringthis up because both guilty parties involved seemed to come away fromtheincident loving their spouses more and realizing that their choice of who tomarry was the right choice to make. Each xpressed concern for their spouseswell being and the actions they took during the storm didnt even cross theirminds as the storm passed. Sometimes people need a storm to happen intheir lives to help them realize how good they have it. Alcee and Calixta cameaway from the storm realizing that they had each found the love of their livesand it wasnt each other. Neither wanted to loose their love, So the stormpassed and everyone was happy.

Successful Entrepreneur free essay sample

Have you ever known what the elements that make up a successful entrepreneur are? In today’s society, many people have become successful entrepreneurs with many ways. Depending on each other, some of them have strategies at work and more things affect them. Maybe it just a fortune or they really want to get a chance to change their life. No one knows become a successful entrepreneur it is not easy at all. They need to catch an important opportunity, also be quick-minded and have some significant elements such as ethics; professional work environment, real-life experiences, suitable carrier and the last is knowledge. Internal factor In order to achieve the successful in life and career, an entrepreneur needs to have many factors that help him / her can become an entrepreneur successful. The first factor that affect on the success of entrepreneur is ethical because the Vietnamese had said that â€Å"talent without ethic is useless† so ethic plays an important role in success of entrepreneur. We will write a custom essay sample on Successful Entrepreneur or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In business, honesty is the best policy that help entrepreneur can achieve the aim and satisfaction both parties. Besides, another ethical that is patience, it helps him / she does not give up when they got problems, this is virtue that an entrepreneur has to have to overcome challenges in career and life. Moreover, an entrepreneur also needs to be decisive and competitive that affect on the success because an entrepreneur has to make decisions therefore decisive is very necessary. If an The elements that make up a successful entrepreneur Le 4 entrepreneur does not be competitiveness, they will not become successfully because they will not be hard working. The second factor is experience of an entrepreneur from real-life. To become a successful entrepreneur, it requires he/she must have great experience therefore experience of an entrepreneur is very necessary because it influence on the success in career. One advisor (2010) claimed that: â€Å"Every young person eventually needs to consider a path, and working part-time jobs are a good way to gain experience in determining which career field is right for the individual. Part-time jobs are a good way to gain experience not only in a particular position, but are also necessary to succeed in the long-term†. To get experience, an entrepreneur has to get part-time job and this is a good way he/she can gain more experience for future career. The most experienced that an entrepreneur can draw that is from failures in the job or life through that he/she can learn from those failures and it will bring more successful in future. An entrepreneur has to speak or present front of many people therefore she/she needs more experience to communicate or express ideas. It is not easy therefore an entrepreneur must practice many time. This experience will help an entrepreneur get a big advantage in career. Besides, the experience from social life is also very important because through social life experience, an entrepreneur can draw out the way how to behave with competitors, partners, colleagues and subordinates. Another aspect also the last thing of internal factor is knowledge and this thing leads to the success of an entrepreneur. For example, an entrepreneur who needs to communicate with partners from other countries therefore languages is very important because if an entrepreneur is good at speaking languages such as English, Chinese, The elements that make up a successful entrepreneur Le 5 French or Spanish and anything else, it will be a big advantage for communicating in business. In order to become a successful entrepreneur, he/she needs to have knowledge such as computer skill, presentation skill, expression skill, communication skill and more. Besides that, an entrepreneur also needs to have degree because it is so very important that also effect on success of an entrepreneur and it is evidence that he/she is educated and trained. According to Karen Schweitzer (2010), there are many different types of business degrees. Earning one of these degrees can help you to improve your general business knowledge as well as your leadership skills. The last thing, an entrepreneur who needs to have creativity because it helps him/her can go further in business with impression ideas. External factor To begin with, the feature makes an entrepreneur become successful that is professional work environment. It is also very important with an entrepreneur because if workplace is comfortable and sociable, he/she can become more activeness in their work. Besides, it increases ability to complete work early and also affects on the outcome of work. When they work on professional environment, an entrepreneur can become more confidence and dynamically because he/she can be active to give good ideas and reduce stress by work at workplace. For instance, base on Managing business argued that the work environment should be clean, healthy, spacious and hygienic. There are proper infrastructure facilities in an organization. It will help an entrepreneur can work more efficiency and enhance concentrating on work. The last external factor is job that will help an entrepreneur get successful. For example, in order to get success in career, as Bob Reiss (2010) believed that an The elements that make up a successful entrepreneur Le 6 entrepreneur has to have passion with job because passion will help him/her overcome difficult moments and if he/she does not have passion, it will make him/her give up. Besides, an ambitious entrepreneur always want trying to get achieve goals in his/her career. Having a plan and try hard to get success, so this is the reason why to explain for who has a lot of drive, motivation and enthusiasm. Moreover, entrepreneurs always want to get success therefore he/she usually want to face with a lot of challenges in his/her career, life and that is the way an entrepreneur get successful. Depending on occupation, there are many opportunities for entrepreneur; so they must catches it and is also help him/her can be promotion or get higher position in occupation. Conclusion In conclusion, business has enough these factors when they were working if they want to get successful. Moreover, an entrepreneur will become a good person not only at work also social life when they have a high-quality behavior. Furthermore, they will creative a clean, healthy work environment and satisfactory physical condition will help to remove workers stress and irritation at work. All in all, before starting a business, a person should be practice many things with many ways to make yourself become a real entrepreneur or professional careers without thinking about success. The elements that make up a successful entrepreneur Le 7

Understanding the Victim Complex

Understanding the Victim Complex In clinical psychology, a â€Å"victim complex† or â€Å"victim mentality† describes a personality trait of persons who believe they are constantly the victims of the harmful actions of others, even when made aware of evidence to the contrary. Most people go through normal periods of simple self-pity, as part of the grieving process, for example. However, these episodes are temporary and minor compared to the perpetual feelings of helplessness, pessimism, guilt, shame, despair, and depression that consume the lives of persons afflicted with a victim complex. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for people who have actually been victims of physically abusive or manipulative relationships to fall prey to  a universal victim mentality. Victim Complex vs. Martyr Complex   Sometimes associated with the term victim complex, persons diagnosed with a â€Å"martyr complex† actually desire the feelings of repeatedly being the victim. They sometimes seek out, even encourage, their own victimization in order to either satisfy a psychological need or as an excuse to avoid personal responsibility. Persons diagnosed with a martyr complex often knowingly place themselves in situations or relationships most likely to result in their suffering. Outside of the theological context, which holds that martyrs are persecuted as punishment for their refusal to reject a religious doctrine or deity, persons with a martyr complex seek to suffer in the name of love or duty. The martyr complex is sometimes associated with the personality disorder called â€Å"masochism,† regarded as a preference for and the pursuit of suffering.   In this sense, psychologists often observe the martyr complex in persons involved in abusive or codependent relationships. Fed by their perceived misery, persons with a martyr complex will often reject advice or offers to help them. Common Traits of Victim Complex Sufferers Persons diagnosed with a victim complex tend to dwell on every trauma, crisis, disease, or another difficulty that they have ever suffered, particularly those that happened during their childhoods. Often seeking a survival technique, they have come to believe that society simply â€Å"has it out for them.† In this sense, they passively submit to their unavoidable â€Å"fate† as perpetual victims as a way of coping with problems from tragic to trivial. Some common traits of persons with a victim complex include: They refuse to accept responsibility for dealing with their problems.They never accept any degree of blame for their problems.They always find reasons why suggested solutions will not work.They carry grudges, never forgive, and simply cannot â€Å"move on.†They are rarely assertive and find it hard to express their needs.They believe everyone is â€Å"out to get them† and thus trust no one.They are negative and pessimistic, always looking for the bad even in the good.They are often highly critical of others and rarely enjoy lasting friendships. According to psychologists, victim complex sufferers employ these â€Å"safer to flee than fight† beliefs as a method of coping with or completely avoiding life and its inherent difficulties. As noted behavioral scientist, author and speaker Steve Maraboli puts it, â€Å"The victim mindset dilutes the human potential. By not accepting personal responsibility for our circumstances, we greatly reduce our power to change them.† The Victim Complex in Relationships In relationships, a partner with a victim complex can cause extreme emotional chaos. The â€Å"victim† may constantly ask their partner to help them only to reject their suggestions or even find ways to sabotage them. In some cases, the â€Å"victim† will actually wrongly criticize their partner for failing to help, or even accuse them of trying to make their situation worse. As a result of this frustrating cycle, victims become experts at manipulating or bullying their partners into making draining attempts at care-giving ranging from financial support to assuming full responsibility for their lives. In this sense, bullies - looking for someone to take advantage of - often seek persons with a victim complex as their partners.  Ã‚   Perhaps the most likely to suffer lasting damage from these relationships are partners whose pity for the victim transcends sympathy to become empathy. In some cases, the dangers of misguided empathy can be the end of already tenuous relationships. When Victims Meet Saviors Along with bullies looking to dominate them, persons with a victim complex often attract partners with a â€Å"savior complex† looking to â€Å"fix† them. According to psychologists, persons with a savior or â€Å"Messiah† complex feel a consuming need to save other people. Often sacrificing their own needs and well-being, they seek out and attach themselves to people who they believe desperately need their help. Believing they are doing â€Å"the noble thing† in trying to â€Å"save† people while asking nothing in return, saviors often consider themselves better than everyone else. While the savior partner is certain they can help them, their victim partners are equally certain they cannot. Worse yet, victim partners with a martyr complex - happy in their misery - will stop at nothing to make sure they fail. Whether the savior’s motives in helping are pure or not, their actions can be harmful. Incorrectly believing their savior partner will â€Å"make them whole† the victim partner feels no need to take responsibility for his or her own actions and never develop the internal motivation to do so. For the victim, any positive changes will be temporary, while negative changes will be permanent and potentially devastating. Where to Look for Advice All of the conditions discussed in this article are true mental health disorders. As with medical problems, advice on mental disorders and potentially dangerous relationships should be sought only from certified mental health care professionals.   In the United States, registered professional psychologists are certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPA). Lists of certified psychologists or psychiatrists in your area can typically be obtained from your state or local health agency. In addition, your primary care doctor is a good person to ask if you think you may need to see somebody about your mental health. Sources Andrews, Andrea LPC NCC, â€Å"The Victim Identity, Traversing the Inner Terrain,† Physiology Today (February 24, 2011)  Davis, Sheldon E. (September 1945). What Are Modern Martyrs Worth?. Peabody Journal of Education.Seligman, David B. (May 1970). Masochism. Australasian Journal of Philosophy.Johnson, Paul E. (January 1970). The emotional health of the clergy. Journal of Religion and Health.Braiker, Harriet B., Whos Pulling Your Strings? How to Break the Cycle of Manipulation (2006)Aquino and K. Byron, ‘Dominating interpersonal behavior and perceived victimization in groups: Evidence for a curvilinear relationship’, Journal of Management.Messiah Complex Psychology. Flowpsychology.Dangerous delusions: The Messiah Complex and Jerusalem Syndrome. Freethought Nation.

The Devil and Tom Walker essays

The Devil and Tom Walker essays Washington Irving wrote the Devil and Tom Walker in 1824. Irving created fictitious, stereotypical, one-dimensional characters, and put them in unrealistic situations. During this same time period the slave trade was still highly profitable in the United States. This story can be read on two levels. The first could be as a folk tale. It tells an interesting story of a man who chooses to sell his soul to the devil for riches and what happens. In the end, like in all folk tales, there is the final moral that greed will destroy people and their souls. On a deeper level, Irving shows his own personal distaste for the slave trade. In certain passages throughout the short story he blatantly speaks of it. Like when the devil attempts to strike a deal with Tom Walker. The bargain is all the treasure for Toms work as a slave trader. Tom believes that the slave trade is morally wrong and will not agree. At the same time the devil proposes Tom become a usurer. As a loan shark, Tom has no conscience objection and eagerly agrees. This is one of the ways Irving shows the large gray area created by the slave trade between right and wrong. People saw involving oneself in slave trafficking as ethically wrong, but taking money from the poor white public as a simple business transaction. However, both were equally corrupt and morally wrong. Irving saw that even the rich, successful broker who foreclosed mortgages and extorted bonds could easily be in the same league as a vicious, cut throat slave trader and wanted to make the similarities painfully clear. Even the way Irving ends the story, with all of Tom Walkers fortune ending up worth nothing, he shows that even with a highly prestigious career a person can still be as corrupt and vile as the devil. Irving was a purveyor of social change and disguised his opinion as a fable. Which helped to make his feelings covertly known to the masses and enacted to change cultural mores. ...

Illegal Immigration in the United States Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Illegal Immigration in the United States - Essay Example This paper dedicates itself to unveiling the core reasons behind advocacy for the need to educate these children on why policymakers should rethink their priorities as regards this issue. Before proceeding it is important to note that education is a basic right that should be accorded to all irrespective of there race or nationality, income disposition and so on. That said according to law a child born within the boundaries of United States is by birth a US citizen and thus entitled to receive all benefits of a US citizen and that includes proper education. 1 Therefore it would seem rather obvious that all and sundry should accept that there is indisputable need to educate these children. However, this has not been the case as the proposal has been met with robust opposition from a considerable number of people as they see it as potential destruction to the quality of education as well as one that could necessitate a change in the curriculum of education which is both tedious and exp ensive. The government cannot afford to sustain a publicly funded education program for all the children who land in the US with education, the reason being that the taxpayer would be the one to bear the brunt of increased taxes to support the programs.2 It is no secret that the US citizen is an already overburdened taxpayer and an added cost to it would strain most incomes to the breaking point. Away from that, the question begs, what benefits does the United States stand to gain from educating the children of illegal immigrants On the surface it would seem that this step will be counterproductive in that it reinforces further illegal immigration into the US. Nonetheless looking deeper there are some advantages to this. For example, well-qualified children will contribute to the educated and professional workforce in the US which obviously is much needed.3 It makes no sense to turn away potentially gifted individuals who may someday make a significant contribution to the betterment of the future welfare of the United States. Currently, the college ranking of US has dwindled significantly in relation to other industrialized countries and it is projected that this downward trend will continue unless something is done. Governor Jim Hunt has sat many education commissions and panel points out that the baby boomers glory is beginning to fade as many retires and the new entrants into the workforce are not as qualified and educated. Most of them constitute the minorities in the society who are also children of illegal immigrants. From a moral viewpoint, it is the government's ethical responsibility to educate these children. It is all about wanting the best for our children. Employers and church leaders who advocate for this posits that if enterprises depend on labor from illegal immigrants then it is only right that their children be educated in return. These illegal immigrants work so hard to earn a place in the United States and also contribute taxes (direct and indirect tax) to the government. This tax entitles their children to quality education.   Discriminate access to education poses a great danger to the internal security of the citizens of the US. This may sound far fetched but in perspective, it is not. This is because uneducated children of illegal immigrants would be forced to turn to crime in order to make ends meet for them and their families.

The Blue Spider Program and the reasons for its failure Essay

The Blue Spider Program and the reasons for its failure - Essay Example Could adaptive control system theory be the basis of the 'theory of agile systems'" (Alleman, "Herding Cats"). For the successful management of complex interactions, agility is most certainly needed. The case study presented clearly shows a plethora of complex interactions emerging from the mere fact of the behind-the-scenes deception and lack of communications alone. "In most feedback systems, small deviations in a parameter's value from its design value will not cause a problem in the normal operations of the system, provided these parameters are inside the control loop. If the process parameters vary widely because of environmental changes, then the control system will exhibit unsatisfactory behaviors...To be called adaptive, self-organizing features must exist" (Alleman, "Herding Cats"). We might ask ourselves what are these features that must exist We can name them in a list of three. "Identification of the dynamic characteristics of the process. Decision making based on the identification of the process." And "modification or actuation based on the decisions made" (Alleman, "Herding Cat s"). In our notes on the project, we clearly see that Anderson is never able to get a handle on making leadership decisions based upon his obvious need to modify what he is doing. Does he understand the dynamics of management of the Blue Spider Program development Clearly not. He tries to take on too much on his own most of the times (researching instead of managing), while at other times there is lack of given information, administrative mistakes. For a PM to really know how to manage what he is doing would require a solid foundation in theory that is barely available in our present... The Blue Spider Program and the reasons for its failure The theory of management comprises viewing PM as having "a strong causal connection between the actions of management and outcomes of the organization"; assuming "that planned tasks can be executed by a notification of the start of the task to the executor"; and maintaining that there is "a standard of performance; performance is measured at the output; the possible variance between the standard and the measured value is used for correcting the process so that the standard can be reached" (Koskela & Howell). Anderson did not understand the connection between himself and the project’s success or failure. Performance standards were notoriously lacking. These and the aforementioned matters would have to be corrected to ensure future success. The theory of management comprises viewing PM as having "a strong causal connection between the actions of management and outcomes of the organization"; assuming "that planned tasks can be executed by a notification of the start of the task to the executor"; and maintaining that there is "a standard of performance; performance is measured at the output; the possible variance between the standard and the measured value is used for correcting the process so that the standard can be reached" (Koskela & Howell). Anderson did not understand the connection between himself and the project’s success or failure. Performance standards were notoriously lacking. These and the aforementioned matters would have to be corrected to ensure future success.

Financial statements Essay Example for Free

Financial statements Essay 1) Which of the following statements is true? 2) Notes to the financial statements include which of the following: 3) Which of the following financial statements is divided into major categories of operating, investing, and financing activities? 4) If the retained earnings account increases from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, then 5) If services are rendered on account, then 6) An investment by the stockholders in a business increases 7) Using accrual accounting, expenses are recorded and reported only: 8) A small company may be able to justify using a cash basis of accounting if they have: 9) Stockholders’ equity can be described as claims of 10) Common stock is reported on the 11) The Vintage Laundry Company purchased $6,500 worth of laundry supplies on June 2 and recorded the purchase as an asset. On June 30, an inventory of the laundry supplies indicated only $2,000 on hand. The adjusting entry that should be made by the company on June 12) On July 1 the Fisher Shoe Store paid $15,000 to Acme Realty for 6 months rent beginning July 1. Prepaid Rent was debited for the full amount. 13) Use the following data to determine the total dollar amount of assets to be classified as current assets. 14) Use the following data to calculate the current ratio. KoonceOffice Supplies Balance Sheet December 31, 2012 Cash $130,000 Accounts Payable $140,000 Prepaid Insurance 60,000 Salaries Payable 20,000 Accounts Receivable 100,000 Mortgage Payable 160,000 15) In horizontal analysis, each item is expressed as a percentage of the 16) When a change in depreciation method occurs: 17) Which of the following statements is true with respect to financial statement reporting for all cases when a company changes from one acceptable accounting method to another? 18) Which of the following would be considered a change in accounting principle? 19) From an internal control standpoint, the asset most susceptible to improper diversion and use is 20) A very small company would have the most difficulty in implementing  which of the following internal control activities? 21) The reconciliation of the cash register tape with the cash in the register is an example of 22) Deposits in transit 23) Which of the following items on a bank reconciliation would require an adjusting entry on the company’s books? 24) Notification by the bank that a deposited customer check was returned NSF requires that the company make the following adjusting entry: 25) Why do pension and mutual funds invest in debt and equity securities? 26) Which of the following is a debt security? 27) Reed Company acquires 80 Holmes 10%, 5 year, $1,000 bonds on January 1, 2012 for $82,000. This includes a brokerage commission of $2,000. The journal entry to record this investment includes a debit to 28) Reed Company acquires 80 Holmes 10%, 5 year, $1,000 bonds on January 1, 2012 for $82,000. This includes a brokerage commission of $2,000. Assume Holmes pays interest semiannually and the July 1 entry was done correctly. The journal entry at December 31, 2012 would include a credit to 29) A company that owns more than 50% of the common stock of another company is known as the 30) If a parent company has two wholly owned subsidiaries, how many legal and economic entities are there from the viewpoint of the shareholders of the parent company?

Constructivism Essay -- Philosophy, Piaget, Vygotsky

What is Constructivism? Constructivism has been a popular term used in education since the 1990s but can be traced back to a much earlier time than that (Maddux & Cummings, 1999, p.8). Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky are the two theorists who are closely linked to the development of constructivism. Over the past decade, education has seen an alarming increase in the number of students who are qualifying for special education services as well as students who are being labeled as â€Å"at risk† students. Having such an increase in special education the demand to find a teaching style that works best for students with disabilities has become extremely popular. An increase in popular terms and trendy forms of teaching instruction has developed in education. A popular â€Å"buzz† word that has invaded the educational world is Constructivism; even though constructivism is not a new term it does lack a concrete definition. The term constructivism has been used to explain everything from school reform to teaching styles, and most importantly related to a learning theory. As you can imagine the term Constructivism has the potential to develop many misconceptions since it lacks a universal definition. â€Å"Constructivism is an important theory of learning that is used to guide the development of new teaching methods†(Baviskar, Hartle & Whitney, 2009, p.541). The framework of constructivism is built upon the understanding that â€Å"learning is an active process that is student centered in the sense that, with the teachers help, learners select and transform information, construct hypothesis’, and make decisions†(Chrenka, 2001, p.694). It is important to understand that when speaking about constructivism we are referring to a learning theory not teach... ...dent-centered classroom, which allows students to act upon their prior knowledge and learn through hands on experience. If you have ever been involved with or around students with disabilities you may be extremely hesitant to adopt a constructivist view on education. Students with disabilities require a much more structured learning environment in order to be successful. Many education professionals feel that the appropriate learning experience and learning environment for students with disabilities would be one of a more teacher-directed or explicit teaching style. It would not be fair to assume that a constructivist approach to special education would be a complete failure. However, combining multiple constructivist strategies with some explicit teaching strategies you could quite possibly be able to achieve success when teaching students with disabilities.

Common Sense Economics Paper Essay

With the recent developments in the economy there could have not been a better time to pick up this book and read it. I work for a financial institution which had received a good amount of TARP funds. This was followed by media on the company’s allocation of resources for what appears to be a recreational purchase equaling almost the amount of TARP funding. In turn to find out company â€Å"x† had decided that employees will not be receiving a compensation increase this year. After just the first couple of pages I already knew I wanted to dive in to the first part of the book discussing the â€Å"Ten Key Elements of Economics.† This immediately shifted my interest to the first two key elements that: â€Å"Incentives matter† and â€Å"There is no such thing as a free lunch.† There are many thoughts that came to mind while reading along. The incentive for employees was the annual compensation increase. The problem we are facing now is that the labor and productivity supplied are expected to be maintained, while people need to do more with less. As the book explains, it takes time to adjust. However one may argue that the incentive has changed. Now as the economy has shifted and the company has to make budget and staff cuts; the individual incentive has shifted to â€Å"maintaining employment.† Thus there is no longer an increasing financial incentive, with the exception of the existing financial compensation. We must remember that incentives matter, but also that at the same time they can shift based on the factors providing the incentive. The book examines the increase and decrease in gasoline prices. Consumers responded by changing their behavior, consequently shifting incentives. The cutbacks of company â€Å"x† leads right into the element that â€Å"There is no Such Thing as a Free Lunch.† The compensation for the service we provide now is allocated elsewhere. By deciding to stay employed with company â€Å"x† we have employment. Then again if we chose not to remain employed; it will cost us the potential income that could have been earned, so no free lunch. This also makes me consider key element number seven â€Å"People Earn Income by Helping Others.† Nonetheless what happens to the incentive of providing others with valuable goods and services now? With the lack of understanding the shift in incentive I feel the employees will only care about their personal desires. Their interest to improve can result in lower productivity standards, or the search for a new employer. Considering the company standpoint inefficient workers will find other more personally beneficial opportunities. Cited as one of the reasons for reduced product ivity of labor. The employees will provide less valuable service as the company profit will continue to decline. By changing the ways of how the company operates and the rate of compensation it forces employees to focus even more on their self-interest. Now when presented with work, they will find the most efficient way of service. This in turn goes along with economic progress; along with the correct amount of government intervention as discussed in the later part of the book. This can potentially create areas for new employment opportunities, and advancement of the nation as a whole. Any company can bring their numbers back into the black with the correct allocation of the resources and capital. But also with new innovative ways to provide services and goods. With the responsible people in the right positions and the people with a understanding of economic interactions self-interest will lead to a flourishing nation. In conclusion all the above tie into each other as well as the remainder of the book. Unfortunately self-interest with greed and lack of knowledge leads many of us to make imprudent decisions. I knew that incentives matter, but I also understand now that incentives can shift. With the shift in incentives and the self-interest we can grow prosperous. Yet we must understand the interaction and effects of economics as a whole for the small as well as the big picture. The book should be required reading for all that want the privilege of voting. I will be thinking not only of the one side of the economic hand but the other as well, and so should everyone else.

King Kong Remake Analysis Essay

Movies have shown throughout our time that there is a strong underlying theme or message that can be unseen to most. It can be a minuscule significance to some, who focus on the violence and special effects, but once you start looking back at the big picture of certain films, there is so much more. A lot of people tend to focus on what is being filmed instead of how it’s being filmed. The difference is remarkable between the two films King Kong (1933) and the remake of King Kong produced in 2005. The perspective of how the story played out is very different between the two films. On one end, in the original, Kong is portrayed as a violent beast similar to a Godzilla type figure that is a huge threat to civilization. In the remake, it brings a deeper relationship to Kong to humanize his character. The audience can feel his emotions and reactions in a much bigger way to show he might be a powerful beast, but has a big heart too. The difference of how scenes are depicted by each director seems to be complete opposite visions of how the story plays out in each film. It’s interesting to see overtime how the outlook on how man deals with nature has dramatically shifted. Both films underlying messages can be very unnoticed with all the action, adventuring, and amazing special effects going on in the film. This ultimately makes it harder to pick out how power obsessed America was in the original, and how destructive we really are with nature today. It’s very apparent that both movies follow the same story line and plot, but how it is seen through the director’s eyes is very different. In both movies, the humans seem to be very destructive and disrespectful to nature. This is seen a lot more in the remake. Throughout original King Kong you never get that close to Kong to see how he feels and why he feels certain ways. A lot of the scenes with him in it displays very destructive behavior of him killing and tearing things apart. It sets him up as a monstrous figure similar to Godzilla, whereas the other movie personifies Kong as more of a humanized beast that is just looking for love and understanding. The newer film shows this by longer drawn out scenes between Ann and Kong that are almost intimate. Even though Kong cannot talk, the audience can tell how he’s thinking by facial expressions, along with his grunts and roars. It’s understandable the older film wasn’t able to show these certain sides of Kong due to technology and outdated special effects, but they still repeatedly display Kong’s actions and intentions strictly out of violence. In the original Kong, he is captured and put on display in New York City; he breaks out and is immediately enraged by the situation. He begins to run around the city damaging buildings, killing innocent civilians, and causing complete chaos. This again shows how Kong is a problem with society and a huge threat to anyone near him. Putting his image as this out of control beast brings the element that we have to conquer nature to express our true power with weapons and technology. This scene dramatically differs in the new film. Once Kong breaks free of captivity while being put on display on the stage, his focus is not on destroying and causing harm. His motivation is fully on being reunited with his love Ann. When he finally gets back together with her, they show just the two of them playing together in the snow at central park. They are laughing and enjoying themselves in a peaceful setting, showing that Kong means no harm at all. Until all of the sudden police and military forces interrupt the two with bombings, which puts a sense of how we are the evil force in the movie. Putting Kong on display like he was shows how we really do not respect nature. Its seen so much today that we start to treat animals as objects or material things to be used for our pleasure. Whether animals are used for food, or put in an exhibit at a zoo, it’s very apparent the respect for them is fading. A lot can argue that we need these things to survive or for our entertainment but we definitely go overboard. Our country does not think twice to slaughter millions of animals each day just for our benefit. It also wouldn’t be uncommon to see an animal’s head put up on display on a wall similar to a trophy or family picture. This develops a huge consequence because we don’t ever stop to think from the animal’s point of view. It seems to result in a lot of selfish acts by humans who don’t think twice about treating animals this way, which ultimately destroys their true worth of living beings. In the remake of King Kong, Kong is seen as a protector to Ann. He does not let anyone else harm her and never takes his eye off of her. No matter what the situation seems to be, his full focus is on Ann. In the original she doesn’t seem to be his top priority, and seems like he’s more about showing off how strong and powerful he can really be throughout the film. It’s very apparent in the scene where Kong battles two Tyrannosaurus Rex in the jungle on Skull Island. In the original, Ann is sitting off to the side watching from a distance very frightened. Kong continues to battle and barely acknowledges Ann and seems to worry more about his own well-being. There was even a point where she is pinned under a tree during the battle, and Kong doesn’t seem to notice her presence or screams until he’s finished with his fight. It is completely different in the new film. During the whole scene while fighting the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Kong has Ann wrapped up in his hand, and never lets go. He keeps her close to him at all times and makes sure she doesn’t get harmed. It really shows how Kong means well and looks out for her, almost as her guardian as they go around Skull Island. By doing this, the film really shows how Kong ultimately has good intentions with Ann. Seeing how he will defend Ann by any cost, shows that she has a place in Kong’s heart and he really does mean well. Even though Kong shows his loyalty out of violent acts, it’s still very obvious he does this strictly to protect the ones he cares about, bringing the viewers on Kong’s side. It shows how she is a true priority to Kong and his intentions are for the best, making him a more respectable character that doesn’t deserved to be captured. Building Kong’s character up as a protector and intelligent beast really puts the spotlight on us that we are the destructive force. This seems problematic today with all of the poaching and extinctions of our beloved animals, which we are the main contributors to. There are many cases where laws have been established because of people killing animals for clothing or cosmetic purposes. It shows we don’t believe these animals’ lives are worth much. It’s almost every day where you can see a commercial about donating money to help save or adopt some type of animal in need. When in reality, we probably wouldn’t need to do that if we made sacrifices ourselves to help protect our animals and environment. The last scene where Kong is shot down climbing the Empire State building makes arguably the biggest impression on how destructive we really can be to nature. As seen in the original, Kong is a huge problem in society and an untamable beast. This is a big reason why when the military and police forces are called in, they are portrayed as the hero type image saving the day. It shows it in a big way that we won’t be conquered by something like this, and humans can over power nature at the end of the day. However in the remake, it seems to be the complete opposite. Throughout the film the audience grows closer to Kong, and the last thing that is wanted is for him to be harmed. He has shown that he is loyal to Ann and just wants to be loved. That’s why when the airplanes are called in to destroy Kong; it’s almost hard to watch. It’s apparent that Kong did not want to be captured, and we now have to use violent force against him just because us humans can’t respect nature. It really shows how hypocritical we are and selfish the society can be. When captured he was praised and displayed as â€Å"The Eighth Wonder of the World†, but after breaking free, he needs to be killed. Humans never really look back and see how he might be feeling about ripping him out of his home, thinking he is just some type of ignorant animal that is to be put on display for everyone to look at. It definitely symbolizes how power hungry our country is. We are always trying to fix other countries problems and colonize the world when we have enough issues of our own to work out. In the end the military forces and planes bring Kong to his death, which presents another problem of how we use our technology available to take control and overpower situations. A lot of people view Kong as a problem and a threat to society because you see how violent and powerful he can really be. This is true, but that’s the exact reason we do not need to be capturing and taking Kong out of his environment. If we would have just let him be in peace in his own environment where he belonged, there would be no reason for having to kill him, But America’s greed for fame and money overpowers that in this film. It really goes to show how we are the destructive ones that have no respect for nature and it’s ultimately our fault this happened. It’s very vital to the viewers watching to see the significant themes shown throughout the films. It’s surprising how the same story can be displayed but with completely different underlying messages. The newer and drawn out film really enables the audience on how Kong is feeling throughout the film. It makes a huge impact on how you view everything else. Protecting and conserving nature seems to be the least of our priorities and degrades the worth of animal’s lives. Many viewers always look at it as â€Å"Beauty killed the Beast†, when really I believe we killed the beast with our destructive and selfish plans regarding nature’s finest things.

Human Rights1 essays

Human Rights1 essays Human rights are universal, indivisible, and interdependent. Human rights are what make us human. When we speak of the right to life, or development, or to dissent and diversity, we are speaking of tolerance. Tolerance will ensure all freedoms. Without it, we can be certain of none. The raging ethnic cleansing in Kosho is an example of intolerance. The Serbians will not tolerate the Albanians at any cost. They are forcing them from their homes, turning the streets into killing fields. This civil war seems unstoppable because of the intolerance of one race against another. No respect for individual rights, basic human rights. Another example is right in our own back yard. I am speaking of hate crimes, which plague our society. They are no different today than centuries ago when slavery was allowed. One race against another. One religion against another, it is all the same. Hate is the opposite of tolerance. We can only live together through an expression of tolerance of the differences each of us brings into this world. We should embrace the differences and share the differences. For this is how we learn, through each others differences. Tolerance in all cultures is the basis of peace and progress. Our country was founded on the basic idea that all man and women are created equal with liberty and justice for all. We must respect and preserve the rights of all, for when the rights of one is threatened the rights of all are diminished. I would like to leave you with this story to ponder. In Germany, they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up. Remember tolerance and mercy have always and in all cultures been ideals of government rul...

Biography of Max Weber

Biography of Max Weber Max Weber was born in Erfurt, Prussia (present-day Germany) on April 21, 1864. He is considered one of the three founding fathers of sociology, alongside Karl Marx, and Emile Durkheim. His text The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism was considered a founding text in sociology. Early Life and Education Weber’s father was greatly involved in public life and so his home was constantly immersed in both politics and academia. Weber and his brother thrived in this intellectual atmosphere. In 1882, he enrolled at the University of Heidelberg, but after two years left to fulfill his year of military service at Strassburg. After his release from the military, Weber finished his studies at the University of Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1889 and joining the University of Berlin’s faculty, lecturing and consulting for the government. Career and Later Life In 1894, Weber was appointed a professor of economics at the University of Freiburg and then was granted the same position at the University of Heidelberg in 1896. His research at the time focused mainly on economics and legal history. After Weber’s father died in 1897, two months after a severe quarrel that was never resolved. Weber became prone to depression, nervousness, and insomnia, making it difficult for him to fulfill his duties as a professor. He was thus forced to reduce his teaching and eventually left in the fall of 1899. For five years he was intermittently institutionalized, suffering sudden relapses after efforts to break such cycles by traveling. He finally resigned his professorship in late 1903. Also in 1903, Weber became the associate editor of the Archives for Social Science and Social Welfare where his interests lied in more fundamental issues of social sciences. Soon Weber began to publish some of his papers in this journal, most notably his essay The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, which became his most famous work and was later published as a book. In 1909, Weber co-founded the German Sociological Association and served as its first treasurer. He resigned in 1912, however, and unsuccessfully tried to organize a left-wing political party to combine social-democrats and liberals. At the outbreak of World War I, Weber, aged 50, volunteered for service and was appointed as a reserve officer and put in charge of organizing the army hospitals in Heidelberg, a role he fulfilled until the end of 1915. Webers most powerful impact on his contemporaries came in the last years of his life, when, from 1916 to 1918, he argued powerfully against Germanys annexationist war goals and in favor of a strengthened parliament. After assisting in the drafting of the new constitution and the founding of the German Democratic Party, Weber became frustrated with politics and resumed teaching at the University of Vienna. He then taught at the University of Munich. Weber died on June 14, 1920. Major Publications The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (1904)The City (1912)The Sociology of Religion (1922)General Economic History (1923)The Theory of Social and Economic Organization (1925) Sources: Max Weber. (2011). Biography.com. biography.com/articles/Max-Weber-9526066Johnson, A. (1995). The Blackwell Dictionary of Sociology. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.

Virgils Aeneid Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Virgils Aeneid - Essay Example Believed to have been written circa 20 BC, this rhapsody illustrates the virtues of piety and duty on part of the hero. The grand scale and difficulty of the adventure of Aeneas provides several moments of examination of his virtuous qualities. In his mission to find the prophesied place where he is to build a new Troy, he is accompanied by his father, his baby son Iulus and a group of loyal companions. One could liken the sense of duty of Aeneus to that of Augustus. This is particularly true with respect to the filial piety shown by Aeneas, as illustrated by â€Å"his care for and deference towards his aged father Anchises.† (Whitehorne, 2005, p.1) The epitome of Aeneas’ sense of duty is the scene where he leaves the destroyed city of Troy by carrying his father on his back. After his father’s death, Aeneas will pray to the Gods to invoke divine honors for the deceased soul – an act reminiscent of Octavia appeasing the departed soul of his father Julius C aesar after the completion of the civil war. Aeneas’ sense of duty is also witnesses in his relationship toward his son Julus. For example, during the funeral games for Anchises, Aeneas leads the boys’ equestrian event in the first celebration of the Lusus Troiae, the Game of Troy. The death of his father is a crucial event in the moral development of Aeneas, whose sense of responsibility and resoluteness in accomplishing his objectives increases after the event. His sense of piety and duty thus undergoes a transformation for the good. For example, during the later half of the poem, we witness how Aeneas is brave and willing â€Å"to put duty before his own feelings, however great the cost personally as when he obeys the gods and leaves Dido† (Whitehorne, 2005, p.1). The view that Aeneid is a political poem is given credence by the details of his life and adventure. For example, Aeneid illustrates Aeneas’ ability as a politician and â€Å"a maker of alli ances as well as his personal valor (and vengeful ruthlessness) which we see come to the fore in the second half of the Aeneid. There is his foundation of cities and his scrupulous observance of religious rituals.† (Whitehorne, 2005, p1) Since in Ancient Rome, the message and moral content of classic literary works were respected by the ruling elite, the subject was used as a vehicle for politics and propaganda. For example, â€Å"The subject furnished political advantages. The legend unfolded in the Aeneid provided justification for Rome’s complex relationship with the Hellenic world, which involved military and political domination coupled with a certain cultural dependency. Representing Rome as a resurgence of a Troy destroyed by the Greeks gave the Roman conquest of Greece the coloring of legitimate revenge. Virgil did not miss the opportunity to put into the mouth of Jupiter, in a lengthy prophecy addressed to Venus, a proclamation that Rome would destroy the most renowned cities of Greece, which were responsible for the fall of Troy† (Brisson, 1989, p.22) Moreover, the view that the Aeneid has propagandist elements in it is learnt from how its author, Virgil, panders and praises Augustus, the then emperor of Rome. In his book Warrior Politics: Why Leadership Demands a Pagan Ethos, author Robert Kaplan criticizes Virgil for his assumed role as an Augustan panegyrist. But this characterization of the author and his work is contested as it overlooks centuries of critical comment on Virgil’s works, questioning his â€Å"role as a state-sponsored propagandist†. (Harper, 2008, p.117) To narrow down Virgil to a mere propagandist and to equate his work to hyperbole

Changes in Firm's Capital Structure add Shareholder Value Research Paper

Changes in Firm's Capital Structure add Shareholder Value - Research Paper Example The higher the level of debt the higher the level of risk. But nevertheless the higher the level of risk the higher the possible returns on a given level of investment. Shareholder value comes from the demand for and supply of company shares. If the management of the company were to decide in favor of more equity issues, then depending on the demand for the company shares the company value would rise or fall. With that, the shareholder value also would rise or fall. A risk is inevitably associated with the value of the firm viz. managers or agents always prefer a higher level of debt because it increases the value of the firm or its assets. Indeed the risk also increases though from the viewpoint of the manager it’s irrelevant because equity issues would glut the market with company shares and bring down the value of the company. As a result, the existing shareholders cannot be happier. They would get a windfall if they sold their shares now. Similarly when more debt is issued the company becomes entitled to more tax benefits. That, in turn, increases the value of the firm and thereby the shareholder value. The capital market structure of the firm can be examined with reference to a number of theories. The Modigliani-Miller Theorem is the earliest of such theories to consider the relevance of capital structure to determine the value of a firm. In recent times these theoretical constructs have been developed in line with an ever increasing tendency to consider the leverage issue of the company. Leveraging by managers to achieve exclusive personal goals is nothing new. In fact, it’s the conflict of interests between the principals or owners (or shareholders) and the agents (or managers) that have thrust the issue of leverage to the fore. In other words, the complex issues revolving around the capital structure of the firm are basically influenced by this conflict in which managers tend to have more information about the probable outcomes of future investments.

Plasma Membrane and Diffusion Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Plasma Membrane and Diffusion - Case Study Example Diffusion is a means of active transport which results from thermal, random movement of molecular particles from regions of high concentrations to regions of low concentrations(3). There are six factors which influence diffusions in fluids, these includes: Concentration gradient, size of the molecules involved, Distance travelled by the molecules, Temperature of the medium and the molecules, Solubility of the molecule and the surface area of the plasma membrane in which the molecule can carry out its activities, Hence the rate of diffusion is given by the ratio of the product of solubility, gradient, temperature, surface and the product of distance the molecules moves by the square root of the mass of the molecule. Diffusion can be classified into three categories or types, which include; simple diffusion, channel diffusion and facilitated diffusion(3).Simple diffusion occurs when micro or small non-polar molecular particles go through a fluid (liquid or gases) mostly liquids through a lipid bilayer. This diffusion type is characterized by hydrophobic molecules moving to hydrophobic regions without being rejected(3). Hydrophilic molecules do not participate in simple diffusion because they would be rejected when they move into the hydrophobic region of the membrane.Channel diffusion is a type of passive transport which involves channel proteins in which the molecule moves through an open, aqueous pore and it can be regulated. Charged particles and ions can pass through the pore (1).

World Without Public Schools Essay Example for Free

World Without Public Schools Essay Should America have public schools, or would we do better without them? Nothing is more important to this country than the transformation of children into educated American citizens. Thats what public schools are for, and no institutions are better suited to the rolein principle. They used to fill it with distinction. But theres no reason we must have public schools. Granted, the public has a strong interest in educating Americas children, at a cost thats divided equitably among all taxpayers and not borne by the parents of school-age children alone. But these requirements dont imply any need for public schools. We need an Air Force, and the Air Force needs planes. Taxpayers pay for the force and the planes. But the pilots are supplied directly by the government, the airplanes by private companies (with government oversight and assistance). Schooling might be furnished on either model: mainly by public or mainly by private organizations. We know that private schools are perfectly capable of supplying first-class educations. So the question stands: Why have public schools? How should we decide whether to have them or not? Vouchers have been a popular and promising (and controversial) idea for years. Under voucher plans, the public pays part or all of the bill when a child attends private school. But here I am talking about the whole hog, not just the tail and a couple of trotters. If sending some children to private school at public expense is worth discussing, why not sending all children to private school? Why not liberate all the vast resources we spend on public schools to be re-channeled to private schools chosen by the nations parents? Any public school offering an education that parents will actually pay for (of their own free will) would presumably be replaced by a private school offering essentially the same thing. But a vast array of new private schools would germinate also. And a vast number of failed public schools would disappear. I n the system I am picturing, education would continue to be free and accessible to every child, and all taxpayers would continue to pay for it. Parents would be guaranteed access to reasonable schools that cost them nothing beyond what they pay in taxes. It would all be just like todayexcept that public schools would have vanished. Would private organizations be capable of providing enough new schools to replace our gigantic public schools establishment? Private enterprise is alleged to be smarter and more resourceful in America than anywhere else in the world. So lets suppose that private schools can indeed meet the needs of nearly all parents. Do we actually need and want our public schools, or do we keep them around out of fear of the teachers unionsand habit, like a broken childs toy we are too sentimental to throw away? The basic law of public schools Many sources agree that, on the whole, American public schools are rotten. In 2000, a whopping 12 percent of graduating seniors were rated proficient in science, and international surveys rank our graduating seniors 19th overall out of 21 nations. In 2002, the Washington Post summarized a different survey: Nearly six in 10 of the nations high school seniors lack even a basic knowledge of U. S. history. And so on. Our public schools are widely agreed to be in bad shape. But these are only problems of incompetence. Others cut deeper. The basic law of public schools is this: Public schools are first and foremost agents of the public. They exist to transform children into educated citizens as the public understands this termin other words, as a public consensus defines it. Of course the United States is a large country; standards have always differed from state to state. So each state has its own public schools, charged with satisfying the consensus definition of educated citizen in that state. In 1898, Nicholas Murray Butler (soon to be president of Columbia University) described universities in terms that make explicit this connection, one that is almost forgotten today. In order to become greatindeed, in order to exist at all, he wrote, a university [or public school! ] must represent the national life and minister to it. When the universities of any country cease to be in close touch with the social life and institutions of the people, and fail to yield to the efforts of those who would readjust them, their days of influence are numbered. The same is true of any system of educational organization. Public schools even more than universities must represent the national life and minister to it. They must minister to the consensus definition of an educated citizen. And what is a consensus? Unanimity or general agreement on matters of opinion, according to Websters; solid agreement by a large majority. And in states where there is no public consensus or general agreement on the meaning of educated citizen, public schools are in an impossible position. They cant act for the public if the public cant decide how they should act. This is true without regard to whether the schools are working well or badly. Today there are few states or none where a public consensus or general agreement exists on what educated citizen means. Schools exist not only to teach skills but to mold character. (Although many object to this old-fashioned language, few Americans disagree that schools must teach an approach to life, a worldview, a moral framework. ) The culture war that has been underway since the late 60s is precisely a war over approaches to life and worldviews and moral frameworks. Our politics mirror that divide. In the 2004 presidential election, Kerry and Bush differed on politics, but stood also for two different worldviews in the larger senseKerry the globalizing man-of-the-world with his European experience versus the plainspoken, ranch-living, Bible-quoting Bush. In simplest terms, Kerry stood for globalism, Bush for Americanism. As between these divergent visions, the country split down the middle. Its pretty clear that no consensus or general agreement on the nature of education is likely to exist in a country thats so divided. Which suggests in turn that, for now, the age of the American public school is over. Obviously we shouldnt make such judgments on the basis of short-term disagreements or divisions. But Americas culture war has been underway for a generation at least. You might argue that the solution is to have two varieties of public school, roughly moderate left and moderate right, each with its own curriculum, textbooks, and standards, and its own version of a worldview or moral framework to teach children. Every neighborhood or local region would vote on left versus right local schools. In many areas such elections would be extraordinarily hard-fought and bitteryet the solution might work, except that the school establishments bias is so consistently left (and not moderate left either) that it seems unlikely we could trust it to operate moderate right schoolsor even neutral schools, if there were such a thing. (The public schools bias often shows itself in exactly the form of neutrality, as Ill discuss. If you declare yourself neutral as between America and her enemies, or normal sexuality and homosexuality, your neutrality in itself is bias. ) Of course this whole analysis might be wrong. Maybe I misunderstand the point of public schools. Was there ever a consensus in this country on what an educated citizen should be? Maybe we always have been content for the schools to speak for just one section of American society, never the whole. What would the nation look like without public schools? Nearly all existing public school buildings would be leased to private schools. All the private schools in any town or district would discuss programs and fees among themselves (which would not count as illegal price-fixing), and with the public too, via local government or town meetings. Any public school whose staff believes in it would be allowed to keep its building and reorganize on a new basis. Some large public schools, especially high schools, would reorganize as confederacies of separate schools sharing one building: a science and math school, humanities school, arts school, sports school. Many students could attend more than one simultaneously. The Internets most important role might be to help coordinate such complicated arrangements. (Though its also true that a well-designed Internet school might attract students from all over the country. ) One final question: Is there any chance that Abolition will be acted on, or even discussed? Dont hold your breath. Yet it would take just one prominent (even medium-prominent) politician or public figure to get America talking. We desperately need this national discussion. And what could be healthier for Americas public schools than to learn that they might not be immortal after all?

Shakespeares Hamlet Essay: Comparison of Gertrude and Ophelia :: comparison compare contrast essays

Comparison of Gertrude and Ophelia within Hamlet      Ã‚   Shakespeare developed 126 female characters in his dramas. In his tragedy Hamlet there are Ophelia and Gertrude. This essay will explore the similarities or commonality of these two characters.    One obvious feature which both Ophelia and Gertrude have in common is that they are both recipients of Hamlet’s ill-will. T.S. Elliot in his essay, â€Å"Hamlet and His Problems† explains how Gertrude is the object of the protagonist’s disgust:    Hamlet is up against the difficulty that his disgust is occasioned by his mother, but that his mother is not an adequate equivalent for it; his disgust envelops and exceeds her. (25)    L.C. Knight in â€Å"An Approach to Hamlet,† agreeing with T. S. Eliot, comments on the â€Å"obsessive passion† which the prince exercises in his chastisement of Gertrude:    I am of course aware that what Hamlet says to his mother in the Closet scene may be regarded as part of a necessary and proper attempt to break the alliance between her and the smiling murderer; but through it all runs the impure streak of the indulgence of an obsessive passion.[. . .] If with genuine, even with passionate, concern, you want to help someone in great need, someone in desperate ignorance of his true condition, do you, I wonder, say, â€Å"This is what you are: see how ugly you look†? Well, perhaps you may; but certainly not in such a way that you seem about to make an aggressive attack. (70)    In similar fashion, Ophelia is verbally abused by the hero; and this episode is elaborated on in detail later. In the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Hamlet, David Bevington enlightens the reader regarding the similarities between Gertrude and Ophelia as the hero sees them:    Yet to Hamlet, Ophelia is no better than another Gertrude: both are tender of heart but submissive to the will of importunate men, and so are forced into uncharacteristic vices. Both would be other than what they are, and both receive Hamlet’s exhortations to begin repentance by abstaining from pleasure. â€Å"Get thee to a nunnery†; â€Å"Assume a virtue if you have it not.† (9)    As Bevington says, both Gertrude and Ophelia are â€Å"tender of heart,† motivated by love and a desire for quiet familial harmony among the members of their courtly society in Elsinore. At the first social function in the play, Gertrude is motivated out of love for her son to advise:

Learning Denied Essay

Controversy over the special education of apprentices with learning inability into usual classrooms provides substantial evidence in favor of special education. Although the heated debate which has risen over the pros and cons of special education remains intense, arguments supporting special education tend to outweigh those against special education. Protesters of special education think only of the children with a high chance of academic success. In my opinion, the apparent query is who has the right to judge that only mentally advantaged children should be afforded the opportunity of a normal classroom education? After all, more than just academics are learned in the classroom. Social interaction skills, for instance, also play a huge role in the education process. Simply because mentally disabled children do not have great academic potential does not mean they should be stripped from the experience of attending a regular classroom. In an investigation done by eight graduate students, ninety-three students from two inner-city public elementary schools were observed. The reason was to scrutinize the dissimilarities amongst apprentices with learning inability, students with little educational accomplishment, and learners with regular educational success. In each of the 22 classrooms involved in the study, two children labeled as learning disabled were mainstreamed. To some extent unexpected outcome of the trial was that the students with education disabilities showed a better school commitment than the learners with small attainment. In addition, the pupils with learning disabilities demonstrated a huge attention in the school lesson and, as a result, established more awareness from their teachers. The data received from the research investigation proves that disabled children, like other children have the desire and self-motivation to learn. This fact contradicts the statements made by opponents of special education, who claim that learning disabled children in the regular classroom will bring down the level of learning of the average students. Instead, it seems from the outcome of the investigation that the opponents of special education need to admit that it could be the children with low academic attainment, rather than the children with learning disabilities, that bring down the average students’ level of learning. Although children with learning disabilities may not fare as well on tests as low or average achievers, their presence in the regular classroom certainly will not hinder the success of the other students. It is a known fact that students will respond according to the expectations placed on them (Denny Taylor, 1990). Another concern of many protesters of special education is that learners with disabilities have social difficulties. They believe that learning-disabled students that are incorporated into the standard classroom will become outcasts. I agree with who claim that the special education of disabled students results in better socialization skills for the disabled children. In a study of the social relationships of students in special education classrooms, researchers found that learners with disabilities were well incorporated into the regular classroom social setting. The results clearly disprove the concern that students with learning disabilities would be outcasts in a regular classroom. Another advantage of special education pointed out by experts is that exceptional children in a mainstreamed classroom will learn to accept people despite their differences. Nondiscrimination is an important life lesson, and special education provides the opportunity for children to learn it. In addition to reducing discrimination among peers, special education promotes a system of cooperation. Students are forced to work together and create a cooperative, not competitive, environment. All of the previous listed advantages of special education are part of the goal of mainstreaming which is to â€Å"create a classroom/community where all children can work together, learn, and develop mutually supportive repertoires with peers and adults. † Realizing mainstream or special needs education depends on many factors outside and inside the school. Mainstreaming or special needs education should be part of an encompassing development in society, in which the concept of disability and the position of people with disabilities and/or special needs are changing. In this perspective, persons with special needs should be seen as citizens who have rights within the society as a whole, and no longer should they be seen primarily in terms of their need for special care and treatment; the last to be treated for reasons of efficiency and convenience in special settings. Regardless of special need (handicap or disability), everybody should be treated as an integral member of society. The particular services essential must be offered inside the structure of the communal, learning, physical condition, and other services accessible to all associates of society. Without a solid inclusion-oriented people, comprehensive schools are not possible. Inclusion in education should be measured as one of the numerous features of inclusion in society (Mary Konya Weishaar, 2000). Solution to the Issues: A main task for the administration is to generate sufficient circumstances for the completion of inclusive or special needs education. Without sufficient government involvement, and without the government playing a leading role in promoting legislation, giving financial support, and developing policies, inclusive education will only receive lip-service. An obvious, complete, and decisive strategy declaration might take steps as a means to all stakeholders in teaching: policymakers, majors, educators, parents, amalgamations, non-government associations, referring organizations, and other experts. Schools and, therefore, principals, teachers, and parents are the active agents in the process of developing and implementing plans for mainstream or special needs education. Special education depends heavily on how schools organize their education and what teachers do in their classrooms. If the uniqueness of every child is the central focus of the school system, then finding manageable ways to meet those specific, individual needs is the main responsibility of the regular classroom teacher. Special education is not just an issue of placement of a special needs student in the regular classroom setting; it means both innovation and changes in regular schools as well as in special education schools (Arlene Sacks, 2001). Conclusion: The focus of the inclusive, special needs approach therefore is to support the regular special education school system, that is, the management, the regular classroom teacher and others involved in the teaching process. It should be part of a total school-wide reform resulting in some fundamental changes of policy, philosophy, structure, organization, curriculum, the instructional process, and the management of resources of the regular school. The most important meaning in this attitude modification ought to be that a regular instructor senses an ethical and societal obligation, and is capable and prepared adequately to offer teaching to learners with special wants, making utmost utilization of the resources that are offered. In order to achieve this attitude change, pre-service and in-service training should be provided, not only for teachers working in the program but also for principals and other personnel involved. The true coordinators of the special education process are the teachers. Each pair of teachers that work together must have the desire to teach all children in the least restrictive environment. The extra time and planning involved in creating such an environment requires an enormous amount of devotion. Jamaicans owe everything to the caring teachers who go out of their way to help our country’s children. If only everyone could see the benefits reaped from special education instead of showing a stubborn resistance to change, more children would gain the opportunity to succeed in life. Children are our future, and each child, regardless of intellectual capability, deserves a fair chance. References: Taylor, Denny. 1990. Learning Denied. Published by Heinemann. Hofstra University Foreword by William L. Wansart Weishaar, Mary Konya. 2000. Inclusive Educational Administration: A Case Study Approach. Published by McGraw Hill Sacks, Arlene. 2001. Special Education: A Reference Handbook. Published by ABC-CLIO

Kantian Ethics concerning human Cloning Essay

Cloning is a procedure conceived to notion in the late 1960s, but it is only recently that it was fully understood and that scientists have started to figure out how to successfully copy the genetic composition of one organism to another. Since science already knows how to do this, the only problems and obstacles that remains is efficiency and the success ratio of each operation. The cloning process consists of taking the nucleus of an organism, and placing it, along with the DNA that contains all the genetic material, in place of the nucleus of the host egg. The egg then forms an embryo and matures into the same exact â€Å"copy†, at least genetically, as the original organism. Already done on mammals, cloning is something that can be extended to utilize humans as subjects. In the future it will be wholly possible to create human clones to serve whatever purpose they were conceived for. However, presently there are numerous ethical issues surrounding cloning and there are pro blems about the implications of the use of cloning for the purpose of medicine. This issue plagues us so much that the constant objections of bioethicists and political and religious leaders have caused the US Government to propose a ban on all research concerning human cloning until a conclusion is reached on the moral and ethical aspects of the process. (Macer, 2) In this paper, I will discuss how Kantian views and ethics help us understand whether it is morally ethical to clone for the purpose of bettering our lives. Two points have to be distinguished. How exactly will human cloning aid medicine and society, and the implications of human worth and dignity when applied to clones. Kantian ethics were proposed by Immanuel Kant in his critical writing of the â€Å"Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals†. Kant argued that â€Å"non-rational things have only a relative value as means and are consequently called things. Rational beings, on the other hand, are called persons because their nature already marks them out as ends in themselves†¦ for unless this is so, nothing at all of absolute value would be found anywhere†. (Britannica, 473) All persons are able to adjust their behavior to what they reason to be moral behavior, but in using this capacity that all humans possess, they must act upon a categorical imperative to treat all similarly situated  people equally. They must uphold to their moral maxims and make their actions universal law, extending it equally to all persons. Kant reformulates this idea and states that we should â€Å"act in such a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never simply as a means, but always at the same times as an end†. (Britannica, 472) This means that we should never use people as only a means, and that because all persons have intrinsic human worth they should all be considered as ends in themselves. Kant’s vision involves only persons or rational agents. If no ‘person’ or rationality is present then it can be argued that the agent is simply a thing. Something that cannot rationalize and is not conscious of its existence cannot be argued as having human worth. So it is wholly possible, through some applications of science, to create â€Å"headless† clones that are not fully developed in the forebrain and who therefore cannot rationalize or exist consciously. (Friedman, 3) If able to be kept alive after their conception in order to mature, these clones can be used for harvesting of their organs for various medical purposes. Kant would not object to these kinds of clones because his concept of rationality is respected in accordance to the categorical imperative. If only rational agents are to be used as an end, and if no rationality exists, then whatever is left can be used only as a means to further some goal with no ethical wrongdoing involved. Developing a â€Å"headless† clone involves a process that prevents rationality and consciousness from ever being formed. This can be paralleled to other procedures that involve the same block of formation of rationality, particularly any form of birth control. Not allowing the development of â€Å"headless† clones because it is immoral makes any sort of birth control thus immoral too, because they also involve the preventing of the development of consciousness and rational thought. (Friedman, 4) If this imperative were to be upheld to a moral maxim, then we would need to be consistent in our actions and ban birth control just as human cloning is banned now. However, if human clones are developed as persons (with a whole brain and  fully functioning in every aspect) then our perspectives need to be changed to take a more moral view. Is it possible to morally clone a human to become an end in themselves? Suppose the case of a childless family where the mother is unable to conceive for whatever reasons. Somatic cell cloning can provide the family with a way to obtain a child through surrogate birth. (Friedman, 2) Even though copying the genetic composition of one parent and making the child a copy of them is somewhat strange, it is understandable from the parents’ point of view. If they are unable to naturally conceive, they should still be given some sort of chance to have a child. Cloning gives the parents this chance to have a child and have a somewhat normal family as an outcome. In this case the clone is treated as an end. He will grow up to be healthy and hopefully be regarded the same as a naturally conceived child. When he grows up, the clone will not denounce his existence. If asked the question of whether he would have rather not been born, the child would most likely thank cloning for his conception. The similar can be said for a clone that is used as a means for something but eventually becoming an end in themselves. Suppose the case of a family where a serious disease plagues an existing child and that only a specific blood type or a certain type of bone marrow will save him. If no donors are available, the child’s only ticket to survival might be a clone. Using the same genetic composition, his twin can be cloned in order to save his life. If this cloned twin is afterwards discarded, because he no longer serves a purpose or if he dies during the transfusion, this would in turn be highly unethical and immoral. However, if the parents exercise the human right of the clone as a person to exist, they are acting in accordance with the categorical imperative as stated above. They are extending the moral maxim to a universal law, and are treating the clone as a person, justly. The clone then becomes not simply a means to save a child’s life but an end in themselves also . The clone’s rationality and consciousness is not jeopardized. And in the same way as above, the clone would be thankful for having saved someone with his existence and would not regret his life. The immediately foreseeable problems with cloning for the purpose of childbirth might be seen when parents want to dictate the genetic makeup of  their child. They might not only want to eradicate genes that make a person susceptible to certain diseases, but they also might want to eliminate other unfavorable genes. Genes that control a person’s susceptibility to violence or other emotional factors, or genes that control a person’s appearance, such as height, hair and eye color and physical condition. In this way, parents might be able to mold genetically superior children to their liking. This would is most probable to eliminate uniqueness and individuality. There would be no randomness or pureness of nature in humans. Everything would be similar because certain specific qualities would be more favorable and popular. Also gene superiority would label clones as of higher value and might cause discrimination based solely on one’s genetic makeup. Only through tot al anonymity would this be preventable, and this condition is impossible. This problem can be directly related to the categorical imperative so crucial to Kant and Kantian ethics. Because morality must extended to be universal, it is imperative that both the superior clones and regularly genetically endowed humans are treated with similar regard. This however would seem to not be the case; the clones would always be favored in any situation. Therefore, this treatment would be immoral, as it would be immoral to clone human persons for such purposes, which are based only on vanity of people and discrimination of less favored genes. Many ethical issues and moral aspects of human cloning must be observed to get a larger picture of its implications. Kantianism gives us a way of differentiating in which situations will cloning be ethical or, the opposite, immoral. However, Kantian ethics is pretty specific in its situations and it can’t give a much more general and broad understanding of the ethics of cloning. It doesn’t tell us what to do, it only tells us whether something is moral or not. Kantianism is not a guide of morals but it is a very good understanding of them. Bibliography Friedman, Dan. â€Å"Cloning† Macalester Journal of Philosophy Vol. 9, 1999 Gardner, Jennifer. â€Å"To Clone or Not to Clone† http://pages.prodigy.net/darvi/clone.htm (12 Feb, 2001) â€Å"Kant, Immanuel† Encyclopaedia Britannica: In Depth Knowledge 1999 ed. Macer, Darryl R.J., Ph.D. â€Å"Ethical Challenges as we approach the end of the Human Genome Project.† N.p: n.p. 2000 Ruse, Michael, and Sheppard, Aryne. Cloning: Responsible Science or Technomadness? Prometheus Books, December 2000