The Power of Painting in Kate Chopins The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays

The Power of Painting in Kate Chopin's The Awakening The Awakening by Kate Chopin displays the struggle a woman goes through in order to break the current status quo. In this novel, Edna Pontellier releases herself to her deepest yearnings, plunging into an immoral relationship that reawakens her long dormant desires, enflames her heart, and eventually blinds her to all else. As she goes through these changes Edna involves herself in many different activities. Painting becomes one of her favorite pastimes and her artwork often depicts an important person in her life. Her impulse to paint is driven by her current emotion; this would explain the passion inserted into each peace of art. Edna is fascinated by painting and attempts to sketch and paint her friends. She has the opportunity to paint Adele Ratignolle, a woman she claims to be as poised as a Madonna. "Never had that lady seemed a more tempting subject than at that moment, seated there like some sensuous Madonna, with the gleam of the fading day enriching her splendid color" (22). Edna attempts to capture the scene with Adele and replicate it on her sketch pad but falls short. "After surveying the sketch critically she drew a broad smudge of paint across its surface, and crumpled the paper between her hands" (22). Edna in this way is a bit of a perfectionist. She will not accept anything less than faultless. If it does not successfully capture the image in the way that she herself sees it, it is deplorable. Luckily this is a recently acquired outlet and she has accepted the fact that her art might not be as good as it can be. Edna throws away some of her sketches, claiming to be an amateur artis t. If she held herself to a higher degree of talent it would more difficult for her to accept these imperfections. This attitude towards her painting relates just as easily to her attitude regarding life. Towards the beginning of the novel, Edna is more passive about the way she is living, the same way she is passive about throwing out her sketches. As Edna describes her youth and distant life in Kentucky, she paints images in her mind. She desperately wants to paint them, but instead uses the paint of memories.

Mozart Essay examples -- essays research papers

MOZART Mozart is perhaps the greatest musical genius who ever lived. Mozart 's full name is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Most people called him Mozart or Wolfgang. Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, January 27, 1756. Mozart is the greatest musical child prodigy who ever lived. He began composing minuets at the age of 5 and symphonies at age 9. His father took him on a series of concert tours together with his sister, Maria Anna; born four and one-half years before Mozart. She too, was a child prodigy. Both played the keyboard, but Mozart became a violin virtuoso, as well. In 1762 he and his sister, "Nannerl," as she was nicknamed, performed before the Elector of Bavaria in Munich, and at the Imperial Court in Vienna. In 1763 the Morzart's visited Mannheim. This is where Mozart, learned all about the orchestra and symphonies composed there. In London Mozart met the son of J. S. Bach. He played before distinguished audiences, and composed a sacred chorus. In 1770, he began to master the two types of Italian opera: opera buffa (comic opera) and opera seria (serious opera). In 1777, Mozart's family visited Paris. His mother fell ill and died during their visit. In 1782, Mozart married Constanze Weber against his father's wishes. In 1783, Mozart and Constanze visited Salzburg, where he helped Michael Haydn out of a difficult spo...

Hamlet’s Values Prevail Essay

Mark Twain once stated, â€Å"It is curious – curious that physical courage should be so common in the world, and moral courage so rare.† The zealous struggles between internal and external gratification and somatic and ethical honour have incontrovertibly led to man’s continual battle for integrity – pride versus ethics. Religious teachings impart that one show respect to all and utilize the power of oration to convey ideologies; yet religious crusades have instigated the bloodiest and most deadly battles in human history. Man’s universal and timeless question asks whether it is ethical to defend one’s honour through brutality or if the use of language and moral lessons are sufficient to deliver the message. Analogously, William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Hamlet bequeaths enlightenment to its audience of the universal beauties and faults of mankind on the comprehensive debate of integrity. The tragic hero, Prince Hamlet of Denmark, vies to comprehend his uncomfortably altered environment, while he relentlessly endeavors to seek morality, logic, and reason in a world where corruption and greed autonomously dictate action. His mother’s precipitous remarriage, the tormenting death of his father, and the forsakenness Hamlet feels from those he held close lead him to render epiphanic cognizance. Shakespeare’s use of soliloquys bestows unto the audience a voyeuristic view into Hamlet’s personal meditations, highlighting Hamlet’s introspective state. Though his vulnerability and pathos at times render him ineffectual and indecisive, it is purely reflective of his humanity and that is what entices him to the audience. Hamlet is in an internal battle with the imperfections of the world around him. In the hypocritical nation of Denmark, Hamlet is thrust into witnessing indecencies, both externally and in his own home; thus Hamlet’s lack of action is conjured not by feebleness of character. It is the moral contradictions and duplicity in the world before him that hinder his actions; he operates therefore with ethics, prudence, and wisdom. Heroic valor sets Hamlet apart from the supplementary nobility in Denmark. After the enigmatic death of the erstwhile King Hamlet Senior, goes unquestioned, Hamlet’s morals compel him to seek answers. Before Hamlet can pursue the truth he must however come to terms with his mother Gertrude’s remarriage to his father’s brother, Claudius. Disappointment in his mother and grief for his father, lead Hamlet to his first soliloquy, wherein he describes the consequences of suicide and his mother’s immorality. Even in his melancholia Hamlet understand the magnitudes of â€Å"self-slaughter,† as â€Å"the Everl asting [has] fixed / his canon ‘gainst† it (1.2.135-136). His ability to look past the superficial transient benefits of iniquitous actions helps Hamlet to stay firm in his beliefs throughout his journey. Though dismayed as to how â€Å"rotten in the state of Denmark† it is, Hamlet expresses his emotions by reacting to his surroundings in a gallant manner (1.4.90). Upon meeting the ghost of the late King, Hamlet is incensed by the horrific crime his â€Å"uncle-father† has committed (2.2.399). However, Hamlet does not immediately take the words of the ghost as factual; in his second soliloquy he concludes â€Å"the spirit that [he has] seen / may be a devil† and that he cannot trust him without evidence (2.2.627-628). Hamlet decides â€Å"the play’s the thing / wherein [he will] catch the conscience of the king† (2.2.633-634). Hamlet realizes the depravity of slaughtering a man based on the conjecture that he is a murderer. He refuses to place such marginal worth on an individual life as to take it without knowing the truth. In the most famous soliloquy of all the Shakespearean plays, Hamlet debates the value of life and the consequences of death; Hamlet asks â€Å"to be or not to be† (3.1.64). Realizing that death is a misleading and temporary fix, as one knows not of what lies hereafter – possibilities of eternal suffering from â€Å"the pangs of despised love† and life’s unanswered questions – Hamlet concludes â€Å"conscience does make cowards of us all† and with over analysis action is lost (3.1.74-96). Though the ghost’s words attest to be true as the players reenact the murder of the late King Hamlet in The Mousetrap, Hamlet waits to execute his plan. Morality often stifles one’s acceptance and trust in others. As his family has forsaken him, his childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern comply with the will of the king to remove him, and those living within the walls of Elsinore Castle perceive him to be insane, Hamlet has but one true confidant – Horatio. Hamlet’s most enlightening epiphanic moment comes as he prepares for the match against Laertes; he finally untangles the webs of deceit which have been clouding his moral judgment. He responds to Horatio’s worry for the battle’s conclusion by telling him, â€Å"not a whit, we defy augury † he further explains, man does not control fate; if it is meant to happen, it will (5.2.231-238). Hamlet has hitherto looked at life like a slow moving game of chess, evaluating each move he makes by weighing the consequences of the subsequent moves; he now understands he must leave his fate in the hands of providence. Hamlet’s dawdling journey comes to a rapid close in the final act of the play. During the match against Laertes Hamlet is made witness first hand to his â€Å"uncle-father’s† crimes; Claudius accidentally murders both Gertrude, with the wine he had poisoned for Hamlet, and Laertes, by the poisoned sword intended for Hamlet. Hamlet no longer stands idly by whilst the injustices of Claudius tear his country down. Though he too is poisoned by Laertes’ blade, Hamlet fights for the justice of Denmark and slays Claudius once and for all. The tragic resolution leaves a bloodstained Denmark distraught and uncertain, yet the heroic legacy of Hamlet’s valor and morality live on. Horatio recounts Hamlet’s tragic tale as Fortinbras of Norway captures Denmark. Hamlet is buried â€Å"like a soldier to a stage, / for he was likely, had he been put on, / to have proved the most royal† (5.2.442-444). Though Hamlet never wishes to be king, his pure humanity and strong morals prove to manifest his capabilities, even after death. It is integral for any actor playing the role of Hamlet to be well versed in the characteristics of his Hamlet predecessors, and to embrace their qualities while learning from their frailties. Whether on stage or on film, Hamlet is one of the most challenging roles for any actor to play. Two contemporary silver screen adaptations of Hamlet by Kenneth Branagh and Franco Zeffirelli portray the young Prince as a grieving individual vying to keep his virtue as corruption ensues. Branagh presents Hamlet’s famous â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy as the cinematic essence of the unraveling of Hamlet’s layers. Hamlet questions the meaning of right and wrong, while searching for his own purpose within the mirrors. Unfortunately for Hamlet, the mirrors neither hold truths nor divulge answers, thus he is left feeling a forsaken sense of betrayal. Branagh’s acting and directing are impressive in this scene, his emotions depict Hamlet’s internal conflict; he attempts to keep hold of his morals in a world void of any such ethics. Zeffirelli’s interpretation of Hamlet’s renowned â€Å"To be or not to be† soliloquy captures a darke r side the tragic hero. Though Mel Gibson’s superb acting highlights Hamlet’s emotional conflict of where he morally stands, the distrait directorial choice to locate the scene in the family crypt conveys too nefarious a mood and is confusing to the audience. Zeffirelli’s redemption comes in a glorious form – his interpretation of Hamlet and Horatio’s conversation in the play’s final act. Zeffirelli shows an excellent understanding of the play’s overall purpose. He depicts Hamlet’s epiphany as a monologue rather than the end of a discourse between friends. By omitting Horatio from the latter portion of this scene, the audience is able to see Hamlet’s shift in perspective develop on its own. Hamlet overlooks the ocean and its horizon as he decides let his fate rest in the ebb and flow of life. Contradictorily, Branagh, using Shakespeare’s original context, does not enhance the viewer’s perception of Hamlet’s conflict. Rather Branagh chooses to show the intimate relationship between Hamlet and Horatio. Kenneth Branagh’s brand of symbolism in â€Å"Hamlet† delves into the true meaning beneath the pages of Shakespeare’s written word. He surpasses the usual film adaptations of a drama, which fail to provoke the imagination. He probes the audience with strong symbolism forcing thought, questioning, and imagination beyond the physical. Franco Zeffirelli, dissimilarity attempts to engage the viewer by shortening the scenes and speeches apropos to the common Hollywood adaptation. While the pace may be more exciting, it loses in cinematic depth. A great production of Hamlet incorporates the strife between the external forces pulling man from his values and learned morals. Hamlet should be portrayed by his struggle to protect his humanity while those he cares for try to strip the essence of morality from him. As Hamlet traverses grief, the actor should have the emotional depth to connect with the viewer, and versatility to surpass the realm of pure poignancy to enter profundity. Hamlet’s instructions to the players should be heeded by any director â€Å"let your own / discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the / word, the word to the action, with the special / observance, that you overstep not the modesty of / nature† (3.2.17-21). Plays should convey a universal struggle of man and act as a window to the natural world, where the audience members are permitted to view the intimacies of a society contrasting their own – to this rule, Hamlet is no exception. Works Cited Hamlet. Dir. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, and Alan Bates. DVD. Hamlet. Dir. Kenneth Branaugh. Perf. Kenneth Branaugh, Julie Christie, and Derek Jacobi. DVD. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat. Simon & Schuster, 2003. Print.

How does Henry Jekll’s full statement of the case resolve the questions raised earlier on in the novella? Essay

In the late Victorian society (1886) new scientific theories have be developed and disputed because the traditional scientists believe that god created man and that nature should not be tampered with. These new theories might have influenced the author R.L Stevenson to write the â€Å"the strange case of dr. Jekll and Mr. Hyde†. One person that might have influenced him is Charles Darwin who wrote â€Å"the origin of the species†. The novella is about the â€Å"duality of man† because in the story it mentions † that man is not truly one but truly two†. This idea is explained throughout the story and so is the idea good and evil. It explores human nature through the good Dr. Jekll who shows the respectable side of humanity and MR. Hyde is the â€Å"pure evil† side of man. At the start of the chapter, Dr. Henry Jekll is projected into the readers mid as a well-dressed and groomed, professional and respected man. He liked to work, which is shown in the section, which says, â€Å"I was inclined to industry†. And also knew that he would have a good future, for instance Jekll says â€Å"with every guarantee or an honourable and distinguished future â€Å". Jekll thought that to keep his high status in society he would have to lead a double life, this is shown in the paragraph, which says, â€Å"I concealed my pleasures†. This means that because he felt ashamed by â€Å"his pleasures† he had to create a second lifestyle in which he could do the things he wanted to that would have been seen as unacceptable in the eyes of others. Jekll started to dwell on the â€Å"duality of man† which means â€Å"that man is not truly one but truly two†. If you still don’t know what this means. Basically Jekll is saying that there are two sides to man, good and evil. Eventually dr. Jekll â€Å"managed to compound a drug† which would separate the â€Å"polar twins† (two sides of man). You know Jekll thought about it a lot because he says himself between lines 20-22 † I had learned ton dwell with pleasure, as a beloved daydream at the thought of the separation of these elements† The writer is basically saying that dr. Jekll daydreamed about a way to separate the two sides of men. However even after he concocted the potion it took him a long while before he got the courage to take it. We know this in Jekll’s statement; he wrote, â€Å"I hesitated long before I put this theory to the test of practice â€Å". He feared the drug because as he says in the text â€Å"I knew well that I risked death†. This means he doesn’t want to risk his life by taking the drug. Eventually â€Å"with a strong glow of courage, drank off the potion†. After Jekll took the drug he felt â€Å"the most pangs succeeded: a grinding in the bones, deadly nausea.† this quote describes the pains that Jekll feels when he transforms into Hyde. The very first time Jekll turns into Hyde he feels â€Å"younger, lighter, happier in body† the quote explains how much he likes being Hyde at first, because he gets to feel new and indecent sensations whilst he is Hyde. The first thing Jekll notices when he turns into Hyde is that he â€Å"was less robust and less than the good â€Å". What Jekll means by this because he can’t talk normally is that Hyde is a lot shorter and weaker. Dr. Jekll also noted â€Å"Hyde alone in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil†. This means that although everyone else in the world has a little bit of evil in them Mr. Hyde is pure evil. Dr. Henry Jekll mentions â€Å"an act of cruelty to a child â€Å". This is not at all described in detail in this chapter but is in heavy detail earlier in the novella. Later on Jekll tells of how he feels about his mental state with Hyde. â€Å"I was slowly losing hold of my original and better self and becoming incorporated with my second and worse†. This means that Jekll feels like he is losing himself and is turning into Hyde in his mind. After a while Jekll ignores his cravings for the drug but he does say in his state of mind â€Å"that I began to be tortured with throes and longings, as of the Hyde struggling after freedom†. Ounce he does take the drug he refers to Hyde as a â€Å"devil† that â€Å"had been long caged, he came out roaring†. Later while he was Hyde he kills sir Danvas Carew and he says â€Å"with a transport of glee, I mauled the unresisting body, tasting delight from every blow†. After Dr. Jekll realised that† Hyde was hence forth impossible†. Which means Hyde was impossible to control In this chapter there are not that many comparisons between Dr. Henry Jekll and Mr. Edward Hyde. There is however differences between their actions and reactions. For example the first time Dr. Jekll and Mr. Hyde he noticed that Hyde was shorter than Jekll but later on he notices that Hyde starts to grow as he becomes more and more evil. In conclusion I think that this chapter basically explains, in small detail what happened in the rest of the novella and most importantly it is in Dr. Jekll’s perspective which means that we the readers get the full picture because the others E.g. Mr. Utterson , sir Danvas Carew (pre-deceased) and others don’t know what the connection is between the well respected Dr. Jekll and the low life Mr. Hyde

Automobile and Private Cars Essay

Advantages and disadvantages of television The advantages and disadvantages of television Nowadays many people all over the world spent most of their free time watching television; but since its appearance, television has brought to man many advantages as well as disadvantages. First, television plays an important role in our daily activities: it keeps us informed of all current affairs in the world. Events through television are more vivid than those through books and magazines. Second, television helps us enrich our spiritual lives. Our knowledge is broadened in many ways. Through language teaching programs, we can learn the language we like such as: English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and so on. We can become skilful and clever at doing jobs, making cakes or arranging flowers through practical courses taught on television. Finally, television is a source of recreation. Humorous stories and funnyfilms bring us minutes of relaxation after a hard day’s work. For me, sitting comfortably in an arm-chair to watch an international football match on television is more interesting than having to queue for tickets at a crowded stadium. Apart from its advantages, however, television also brings lots of disadvantages to viewers too. First, television viewers gradually become passive in their action. Television may be a splendid media of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other or with the outer world. The world seen through television is only the restricted one: It separates us from the real world. Second, television, with its fascinating power, makes people of all ages sink into oblivion: whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. Pupils and students are so absorbed in television that they neglect theirschool activities. Food is left uneaten, homework undone and lessons unprepared. Housewives are so keen on watching television that they neglect their duties toward their husbands and their children. Instead of watching television, we may use the time for a real family hour. Without the distraction of television, we may sit around together after dinner and actually talk to one another to know and like each other better. Finally, the evil influence of television on the young generation is inevitable; it encourages them to commit crimes. Spectacles of sadism and violence on television lead them to robbery, theft, rape and murder. In a nutshell, television is useful to us when we know how to use it: Be careful not to overindulge ourselves in it and use it in a discerning manner. Today there is some changes in the educational system. In your opinion, how should we change to raise the quality teaching? Education is to draw the best in children and to develop their faculties. Education is a complicated affair as it is supposed to equip children for life. Since life styles are always changing, the contents of education must also be changed accordingly. The school is supposed to provide necessary experiences to the child. When a child leaves the school, he may lead a useful life. But in the traditional school, the child was supposed to learn mainly the 3 R’s. So the chalk bard and the text books were the main stay of theteacher who was to shape the character of the child. Rote memory was insisted upon and examinations were based on this learning technique. There was not much of a difference from year to year on the way children were tested. The examinations conducted did not test all the faculties of the child. So, it was necessary for those who got through examinations to be trained afterwards. In short, children were very rarely taught to learn for themselves. This had continued for so long and the practice had to be abolished. Once this was realized, many new methods of teaching were tired and many new aids had been used for a better education of children. Today the school is a very complicated organization; the teacher is no longer the sole arbiter. The children, instead of being passive listeners, have been made active participants. They are handling, feeling, planning, creating and learning with newer tools and aids. The subjectivity has give place to healthy objectivity. In order to make education relevant and meaningful, children are exposed to almost life like situations. They must know how to live as good citizens and honest members of society. They must know how to live as good citizens and honest members of society. The way the school creates situations with these ends in views is important. On the intellectual side, the library and the laboratory must play a vital role. They complement and supplement more and more, and the use of library and the laboratory must be encouraged through proper assignments. The playing field, various camps, many organizations like the Junior Red Cross, etc. have to be fully utilized to shape the character of the child. Beside the text books, there are other aids for learning. They much be judiciously used. In fact, there are hundreds of ways in which the audio-visual aids can be used with advantage. Examinations must not be used to show weakness but must be a yardstick for proving the all-round education of the student. The questions must be objective and reliable. The examinations must be welcomed by the students. In order to satisfy the diverse population, there must be diversity in programs, approaches, resources and aims and room for experiment. Examinations should be a challenge for students. The world is shrinking and nobody can feel parochial. So education must equip students for world understanding and world citizenery. Science and technology must find their places in any scheme of education. Any system of education must help turn out a fully developed and all-rounded personality. The difficulties in learning English and how to overcome them. Beginners of foreign language always meet difficulties from the outset. For me, I had to overcome these problems when I started learning English. English pronunciation is my first obstacle. The pronunciation in English puzzles me a lot because the same letter has different sounds. For example the letter â€Å"a† in â€Å"bath† is not pronounced in the same way of that in â€Å"bathe†. The â€Å"ou† in â€Å"South† is also different from â€Å"ou† in â€Å"Southern†. Generally verbs and nouns are pronounced differently although they are written the same. Record is a good example to illustrate it. In order to solve this puzzling question I carefully study The A.P.A (The International Phonetic Alphabets) which helps me pronounce English words correctly. In order to have an accent just like the native speakers, I often listen to tapes and repeat after them, trying to imitate them. Moreover, myeveryday conversation with the foreigners I meet in the street will enable me to acquire a proper accent. Compared with French, English grammar is much easier. However, this does not mean that learners meet no difficulties in learning it. It took me a long time to learn how to master the tenses in English grammar, to endeavor to do as many grammar exercises as possible and read various grammar books. In writing English, English language has its own style. In order to drillwriting skills, I have tried to read famous novels of distinguished America and English writers. I enjoy the humorous style of writing in Mark Twain’s masterpieces, the elaborate and polished style of George Eliot and the sentimental and lyrical style of John Keats. After long and hard years of English study, how pleased I feel when I am able to read English and American authors without any obstacles and difficulties at all. Your favorite hobby Everybody has his or her own hobby. For me, my favorite hobby is reading books. My father was not only a writer but a researcher as well. He had a great collection of books on many fields: literature, science, art, fiction and non-fiction. After his death, I inherited the most valuable treasure which has been preserved carefully up to now. As I have a large collection of books of my own now, I usually spend hours reading and thinking about facts described in each kind of books. Sitting comfortably in an arm-chair in the library with a book open on my knee, I recall my father who was absorbed in his reading, perusing the poems of John Keats, William Words Worth, Chateaubriand and Lamartine. I still hear his sonorous voice reciting rhythmical lines of poems in Kim Van Kieu’s story while his face was radiant with ecstasy and raptures. Through books I see many countries rise and fall. Kings and Presidents pass before my eyes and I can follow the history of nations. Each book has a story to tell me of remote countries and strange people. I am greatly indebted to books indeed. For me a good book is not only a true companion but also a well-experienced teacher guiding me through my life. It has the miracle to relieve my suffering and my hardship and reveal to me strange and new horizons. Reading books broadens my mind and improves my knowledge. Instead of indulging myself in futile entertainments, I am often keen on reading books which are always a source of comfort and relief to me and I am determined to preserve my father’s valuable treasure for my posterity. In a few words, the reading of books contributes to the moral and intellectual formation of a man’s personality. A shopping day We live in the suburb of HCM city. Twice a week my mother and I usually take a bus to HCM city to do some shopping. Yesterday was my mother’s off-day. Early in the morning we took a bus to town. We were in town just after seven and we had the whole morning for shopping. First, we went to the ready-made clothes department. My mother bought two white shirts for my father, a pair of blue jeans for my brother. I chose a pink woolen sweater. I liked it very much because it perfectly suited my complexion. At this department prices were moderate and we did not need to bargain. Before leaving, my mother bought herself two pairs of gloves. Next, we went straight to the shoe department. The shop-assistant greeted us warmly. He showed us pairs of shoes of really good quality leather. Leather shoes and sandals of various sizes and colors were on sale. The store was crowded with customers. They were either looking at the shoes or buying them. We both chose fashionable pairs of shoes and left. It was nearly eleven o’clock. We called at a little cafà © by the street-side to have lunch. After lunch we went to the park nearby. We took a rest on the bench in the shade of tall trees, waiting for the shops to be open again in the afternoon. At 2:00 p.m. we returned to the shopping center. We went to the Chinaware department. My mother needed a dozen of dishes and bowls. Enameled chinaware of different beautiful patterns attracted housewives’ attention. Finally, before returning home, we went to the stationer’s. My mother bought lots of stationery: ink, pens, ball-point pens and writing pad. On the way to the bus station we called at the fast food department to get some ready-cooked food for the family when we got home. Returning home, I felt quite tired but how interesting a shopping day it was!e Life in the city, compared with life in the country In my opinion, urban life or rural life has its own advantages and disadvantages. First, living in the city we may enjoy those benefits. – Communication and transportation systems are better. There are so many means of communication and transport that we can choose the ones we like best. We can get in touch with a friend or talk to him by phone without having to go out of home. – Thanks to electricity network and running water, our material lives are more comfortable. Supermarkets, markets and shops are found everywhere and we can buy anything we need providing that we can afford it. – Urban life provides us with all sorts of entertainments: televisions, radios, movies, theatres, concerts and famous recreation centers. – Living in town we can improve our knowledge easily by attending any schools, universities or evening classes where experienced teachers and professors are ready to satisfy our thirst for knowledge. Besides its advantages, urban life also has its disadvantages: – Our health is in danger: pollution by factories and heavy traffic may cause serious diseases to all of us. – Evil influence upon the young generation by obscene video films is inevitable. – Violent deaths happen regularly in such a crowded city with all kinds of vehicles. On the contrary, rural life seems ideal to all of us, especially to the old. – We can enjoy fresh, cool air and behold beautiful landscapes in the country. – How safe and delighted we are when we can sleep a sound sleep at any time of the day without being disturbed by sirens of cars or by deafening noises from manufacturing factories. – Our social lives in the country are easier: we can eat the food and vegetables we grow, the chickens and goats we raise. The countrymen lead a very simple life and they are quick at mutual help in any case. Apart from these advantages, living in the country we may meet lots of difficulties too. – Communication and transportation are obstructed by lack of means of transport or by floods in the rainy season. – Our knowledge is limited by being short of mass media. – Our social and physical lives are not as comfortable as those in town because of lack of electricity and medical care. In a nutshell, our love for town life or country life depends on our outlook and age. As for me, I always prefer rural life to urban life. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Private Cars. Nowadays, as people’s life quality develops, more and more families can afford to buy private cars. On one hand, private cars can make the travel more convenient, A case in point, if you have a private car, you will not have to go to work in a crowded bus everyday and still worry about if you are going to be late. And when you want to travel in someplace, driving by yourself in your own car is the most convenient and comfortable way. While on the other hand, private cars can be very expensive and the price of petrol is getting higher and higher, taking a bus is a less expensive way when travelling. When a city has too many private cars, it becomes easy to cause traffic jam, especially when people go to work and go home after work. And you may need to wait for hours in your car.What’s more, more and more private cars also means more and more pollution to the environment. The gas that cars discharged is a serious pollution to the atmosphere. All in all, there are both advantages and diaadvantages of private cars. In my opnion, you can use your own car when it is necessary and if you are not in a hurry, you can take a bus instead.the birth of cars have made an enormous change to our life.in the past,we travel from one place to another only by foot,nowaday,cars can do it .its goes withour saying that the invention of cars bring great benefit to all of us. But as proverb goes:no garden without weeds.car is not exception. owing a car has a lot of advantages.for one thing,car provide us the most convient way of transportation.we can get around freely without spenting a lot of time.emotionally,i always found driving is so exciting.for another,its the comfortable to drive a car. In winter.drivers always can stay warm and dry even in rainy whether,in addition,drivers are usuall y safe in their cars when they are out at night. Cars bring the human merits,their side-effects graudually come to the surface.firstly,to run a car need a lot of oil,which is getting less and less.the increasing number of cars contribute the lacking of energy. Secondlly,as more and more cars are used,the traffic ecpecially in big cities is getting heaver and heavier,which lead to the serious social problem–traffic jam.in addition,the inceasing numbers of cars ,which excaust sent a huge quantities of carbon monoxide into atmosphere.it make the air of cities unbreathabe,it strip people contact with frensh air. therefore,the new energy should be explored to replace the oil so that our en vionmental pollution can be avioded .and the strick law should be issued to keep the numbers of cars under control.thus,our heavier traffic can be solluted! —- There are some advantages to owning a car in an urban area. First, sitting in your car is much more comfortable than having to wait a long time for the arrival of the bus or train. In bad weather the driver of the car is warm and comfortable and is always guaranteed a seat. Second, in urban areas it is much safer to be in your car, especially at night, than having to walk down a dark street to get to a bus stop or train station. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to owning a car. First, a car is expensive. Gasoline is not cheap and car insurance rates in urban areas are very high. There are other expenses to be considered too, such as car maintenance and repairs as well as having to pay for parking. Second, owning a car causes a lot of worry and stress. If you leave your car in the street it might get stolen or its parts might get stolen. It is also very stressful to be driving on the freeway or in traffic jams and there is the constant fear and stress of being involved in an accident. Advantages & Disadvantages About Social Networking. 1. Purpose: To inform about social networking. 2. Main Idea: By the end of my speech the audience should get an idea about the advantages & disadvantages about our every day’s use of the social network. 3. Developed Main Ideas: There are 2 points I want you guys to be informed about. Social networking is a wonderful task we can do on the internet, although, there are advantages & disadvantages that comes with it. 4. Sub points: The advantages of social networking: – keep in touch with friends and family – be informed about around the world – get feedback about ideas or thoughts – ask questions, get fast answers – helps you learn more diversity and get exposure to multiple points of view.

The Kantian View of Animal Ethics

Kant’s Ethics of Metaphysics: A Response To the Charge of Speciesism I. In this paper I will present the charge of speciesism contended by many animal right’s activists. I will attempt to substantiate Immanuel Kant’s view on animal morality and justify how his philosophy is not in violation of speciesism. Furthermore, I will explain how the Kantian view still grants animals some moral consideration through the designation of â€Å"indirect duties†. Lastly, I will present a difficulty with accepting the Kantian view of â€Å"indirect duties† towards animals.Moral quandaries regarding animals are still demanding the attention of many philosophers as they attempt to modify and inspect the relationship between morality and social policy. Contemporary applications of this issue can range from experimentations on animals for developing medicines (or even cosmetics) to whether human beings should avoid eating animal-based foods. There is a vast spectrum of moral issues that arise with respect to animals. However, most of the morally questionable situations are contingent on one fundamental question: do animals even have moral rights?And if so, to what extent? Although animal moral considerability has peaked the interest of many contemporary philosophers, such as James Rachels and Peter Singer, the question is really an age-old question that can be traced back to Plato and Aristotle. Immanuel Kant has probed the question of whether an animal has moral considerability. Kant continuously makes the distinction between humans and animals throughout his best-known contributions to moral philosophy.Therefore, I will address and present the counter-argument to the charge of speciesism, one of critical arguments of the animal rights movement, through a Kantian lens. II. One of the prevailing charges on humanity proposed by champions of animal rights is that humans act in violation of ‘speciesism’. The term, first coined by psycho logist Richard Ryder in 1973, is used to describe an arbitrary bias that humans have towards their own species (Homo sapiens).The argument is as follows: to assign primacy to humans by considering only a human to be within the system of morality is similar to other types of discrimination, such as racism and sexism. Just as in racism and sexism the dominating force arbitrarily assumes itself as the normative ideal, in this case whites or males respectively, so too human beings arbitrarily assume themselves as the ideal and to be the only species deserving of morality. Therefore, because there is no legitimate basis for this distinction, other species of animals should be equally included within the system of morality.Ryder believes that those in violation of speciesism â€Å"overlook and underestimate the similarities between the discriminator (humans) and those discriminated against (animals or any other species). † His argument assumes that most animals are fundamentally th e same. Of course those who charge humanity to be guilty of ‘speciesism’ acknowledge that there are obvious differences between humans and non-humans. They just believe these differences to be irrelevant for delineating the scope of a moral system. Man’s higher intelligence, being the most conspicuous difference, should have no authority on morality.If intelligence were the decisive factor then it would follow that people who are intellectually superior should be treated with superior moral standards. Moreover, some apes could potentially have more intelligence than a human if the human was insane or otherwise intellectually compromised. Thus, although intelligence is the distinguishing factor between most human beings and non-humans, it cannot be the sole criterion for defining a moral system . III. It would appear that aside from intelligence (that has no moral bearing) there is no fundamental quality that separates humans and non-humans.Therefore, animals real ly should be treated with equal moral standards, and those who do not equate moral rights are guilty of speciesism. Philosopher Michael Pollan challenges Kant with being in violation of arbitrary discrimination of animals; â€Å"none of these (Kant’s) argument evade the charge of speciesism† (pg 439 Vice and Virtue). So we are left with the daunting question: is there any validity to Pollan’s claim? At first it would appear that Kant presupposes human beings as the only species worthy of morality without giving any explanatory criterion. Kant evelops one of his foundational doctrines called â€Å"The Categorical Imperative†, which can be summarized in the following sentence: â€Å"Act in such a way that you treat humanity in such a way, whether in ourselves or in others, as an end in itself† (Groundwork II). It seems that Kant believes that human beings bar none deserve what he calls ‘respect’ or what we are calling moral consideration . However, after a closer examination it becomes apparent that Kant is not guilty of speciesism at all. In a remarkably similar excerpt Kant says, â€Å"as rational beings, we must always at the same time be valued as ends (pg 239 4:430).It is almost as if Kant just substituted the phrase humanity with rational beings. When both excerpts are read in conjunction it becomes apparent that Kant includes human beings into his moral system not because of an arbitrary nepotism towards his own kind (homo sapiens) but because of a human being’s attribute of rationality. In other words, Kant’s criterion for moral considerability is rationality and not intelligence. When Kant says to treat humanity in such a way, he is referring to a human’s rational nature, which happens to be the unique quality of human beings and is thus presented as rationality’s synonym.According to Kant, rationality is not the same as intelligence and is what makes human beings worthy of mora l consideration and animals unworthy. Rationality is the ability to be governed autonomously and make advised decisions of what is right and wrong. It is not the ability to display reasoning skills. Therefore, a being, such as a chimpanzee with excellent cognitive abilities, cannot exercise rationality, which is Kant’s basis for morality. Human beings, on the other hand, belong to a ‘Kingdom of Ends’, where moral laws are meticulously chosen by each individual.This capability to discern and choose which laws have absolute moral worth binds all human beings in a cohesive moral community. Each member of this community has the authority to legislate and decide which laws are unconditional and then subsequently act in accordance with those laws. Not even the highest functioning chimpanzee has the capability to decide whether an action can be universally applied. Nor can a chimpanzee mull over the question â€Å"what ought I do? †. Thus it follows that a person only has obligations towards other beings that can obligate themselves, or act rationally.Kant chose rationality as the marker that defines the line of required morality because of its pureness. Rational knowledge is not influenced by history, anthropology or psychology. It is not qualified by emotion. Other potential values, such as intelligence, have the possibility of being used immorally; â€Å"Intelligence and wit are doubtless in many respects good and desirable but they can also become extremely harmful if the will†¦is not good (pg 231). † Consequently, a being’s rationality, the ability to decide whether an action is ‘good’ universally, is the only incorruptible value that could define the scope of morality..Now that it is clear that Kant is not guilty of speciesism, since his moral system is predicated on the standard of rationality, one can still ask how Kantian Ethics views animals. Kantian Ethics prescribes indirect duties towards animals . This means that it is wrong to act maliciously towards animals because it will damage a person’s sympathies. Damaging ones sympathies will inevitability lead to a failure of ones duties to others. On the one hand, animals cannot be granted direct duties, for they lack rationality. Their moral value is categorized in a sort of limbo between inanimate objects and human beings.On a practical level, a Kantian might perform the same actions towards animals as a Utilitarian would. But Kantian Ethics is problematic for many philosophers, at least in theory. Christina Hoff offers an example where a â€Å"kind† man spends his life fulfilling his duties to himself and towards other human beings except he secretly burns stray dogs to death. Despite how disturbing and wrong this seems, Kantian ethics does not consider this man as having committed any wrongful action in and of itself. The suffering of the dogs is only problematic as it affects our duties to rational beings.It is difficult to challenge the Kantian view of animals on philosophical grounds. The Kantian moral system is consistent in that it is rooted in the assumption that rationality alone has absolute moral value. To challenge this assumption would involve dismantling Kant’s entire moral system by showing why rationality is inadequate as the supreme value. When Kant is concerned with damaging our sympathies he is only concerned in so far as sympathies ability to promote rationality and the ability to fulfill ones duties. He does not award sympathy any independent value.Yet, to allow, even if just in theory, the scenario of the man burning dogs seems against common morality. To be indifferent to an animals suffering is intuitively immoral. An animal rights champion would be more likely do adopt a Utilitarian view, which incorporates suffering into the fabric of its moral system. IV. Consequently, Kant can evade attempts to label him guilty of speciesism. Kantian ethics does have a crite rion that differentiates humans and non-humans. With rationality as its hallmark, Kantian Ethics views animals as deserving of only indirect moral considerability.As Christine Korsgaard explains in her essay Kantian Ethics and Our Duties to Animals, â€Å"moral laws may be viewed as the laws legislated by all rational beings in the Kingdom of Ends (pg 5) Animals incidentally do not share this capacity for rationality. But if they did, they would surely be included. Interestingly, when referring to animals he ambiguously labels them as a human being’s analogue. Perhaps Kant was identifying that animals have similar qualities such as intelligence that link us together. But animals are analogues and not exactly similar.As such, Kant grants animals some moral considerabilitiy, through indirect duties, but not equal moral considerability. A being earns moral considerability only through the capacity to implement the Categorical Imperative and exercise an autonomous level of cogni tion, not through reasoning skills or mathematical abilities. Therefore, animals rightfully have moral limitations. Works Cited: 1)Ryder, Richard. â€Å"Richard Ryder: All Beings That Feel Pain Deserve Human Rights | World News | The Guardian. † Latest News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian | The Guardian. Web. 27 Dec. 2011. 2)Kant, Immanuel, and H. J. Paton. Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. New York: Harper & Row, 1964. Print. 3)Sommers, Christina, Frederic Tamler Sommers. Vice and Virtue in Everyday Life. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2003. Print 4)Korsgaard, Christine M. â€Å"Fellow Creatures: Kantian Ethics and Our Duties to Animals. † Www. Tannerlectures. utah. edu. University of Utah Press Volume 25/26. Web Author’s personal website 5)Sebo, Jeff. â€Å"A Critique of the Kantian Theory of Indirect Moral Duties to Animals. † Animal Liberation Philosophy and Policy Journal Volume II Pp. 1-14, 2004. Web.

Hacker Hunters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 6

Hacker Hunters - Essay Example The contemporary era is the era of information technology, where fast and speedy flow of information is the key to success for the great brands and multinational organizations carrying vast business volume and sound corporate reputation at global level. The most meaningful way, Gates observes, to differentiate your company from your competitor, the best way to put distance between you and the crowd is to do an outstanding job with information and management. How you gather, manage, and use information will determine whether you win or loose. (1999: 2) Fast information technology provides the retailers a comprehensive, an accurate and detailed picture of the entire socioeconomic, cultural and corporate scenario. Since the well-reputed organizations undergo data stealing and accounts hacking dilemma at the hands of cyber criminals, they devise and review strategies and implement them in an affective way in order to protect their products and services from going into the hands of hacker s and criminals. The big retailers seek support from the information technology in order to escape cyber crimes conducted by the hackers. In addition, executive information system and decision support systems are also applied by the big retailers to protect their data from hacking by cyber crimes including elevation of privileges, hoexes attacks, malicious coding and others. Before articulating the plans to avoid hacking of data, the organizations should look into the nature of theft committed by the cyber criminals. The big organizations apply different strategies and techniques to avoid identity theft. They often make alterations in the data safety programs, so that the access to the data related to their sales and clients’ personal information could be made secure. Sales automation force (SAF) is also applied by the retailers where all the date related to the sales of their products is preserved and monitored regularly in an organized way, which indicates the level of sales as well as all the necessary information related to the product volume a client maintains at their institution on daily basis. When an organization offers its customers the ability to purchase products over the internet, it certainly looks for implementing the appropriate security. Transactional information technology and phishing methodology is exercised by the organization s and big retailers for the protection of their data and products.