Sunday, January 19, 2020

Legality of Suicide and Assisted Suicide :: essays research papers

Suicide has become a big part of American society, year after year more people are taking their own lives for many different reasons. A lot of philosophers have broken down all the reasons of suicides into two different categories, rational suicide and irrational suicide. A rational suicide has been given five basic criteria that usually must be met for the person's act to be considered rational. The five criteria which a person must show for their suicide to be considered rational are, "the ability to reason, realistic world view, adequacy of information, avoidance of harm, and accordance with fundamental interests."(Battin 132) Another opinion of rationality of suicide is, "it is the best thing for him from the point of view of his own welfare-or whether it is the best thing for someone being advised, from the point of view of that person's welfare"(Brandt 118). People have to characterize suicides because a lot of times they don't understand what that person is going through so by grouping them and placing criteria on them it allows them to accept it in an easier manner. A lot of suicides are grouped in the rational category because they are committed so the person can be saved from the pain they may be experiencing from a terminal disease. This seems to be just about the only true rational and morally correct reason why a person should commit suicide. Yet a lot of times these patients are "heavily sedated, so that it is impossible for the mental processes of decision leading to action to occur."(Brandt 123) In other words these patients have a rational reason to commit suicide, yet their mind is not capable of making that decision. So if terminally ill patients are the only ones who have a good rational reason to commit suicide, then where does that leave everyone else? Well just about everyone else commits suicide because of a little thing that enters everyone's life at some time and that thing is called depression. Depression can come from several different things, such as a loss of something like a job, a loved one, a limb such as an arm or leg, or anything else that might be held dear to that person. Other things could be rejection at home or in the work place, abuse, and sometimes even the thought of getting old and not wanting to know what tomorrow holds in store.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Political Islam Essay

The constant failure of western secular ideologies to have a resolve for the problems facing humanity has given birth to the political side of Islam.   Since its inception in to the world, western principles have done nothing but abuse and brutalize Islamic doctrines, traditions, values, and culture.   To add more insult to injury, western ideologies have implanted a fake sound of progress to Islam in its failure to uplift the economic conditions of Islamic societies and nations.   Given the extra-religious motivations, political Islam or more ideally known as Islamic fundamentalism is fueled by a multitude of concerns that pollute Islam in numerous ways possible. In order to expound the symptoms that lead to the foundations of Islamic political thought, John Esposito lists down and discusses varying frameworks for such phenomenon.   He first explains the failure brought about by the secular philosophies justifies Islam’s legitimacy as an alternative form of ideology in governments and societies.   Esposito simply suggests that the Muslims cannot be blamed if ever they result to allegedly unorthodox ways to subsidize because the only choice left for them is to look for another non-corruptive option to uplift their worsening economic, cultural, and moral breakdown (Eposito, 2000). Esposito also contends that the role of armed forces such as the Taliban in Afghanistan have made a vital role in setting the course for Islamic fundamentalism’s resurgence (Eposito, 2000).   The resurfacing of Islam in a more extreme manner has its root cause in other angles apart from the contributions of various militia forces.   Primarily, the rise and dominance of Judeo-Christian traditions in various sects around the world is a plausible angle, this is because Judaism and Christianity have particular doctrines which are at odds with Islam.   Though they do not attack places of worship, Muslims still violate Christian and Jewish laws through their radical behavior. John Esposito (2000) implies that Islam or Islamic Fundamentalism for that matter is a case of civilization collision between two different civilizations.   He furthers that the rising influence of religion in international affairs contributes to the conflicts of civilizations.   In this particular argument, Esposito attempts to generalize the role of religion in other endeavors, but religion has its own interests to pursue.   In Islam’s case, how can its adherents postulate a world order if the doctrines that highly influence their ways of life are incoherent? The clash of civilizations theory is just as the same as clash of interests.   If a person does not concur with the concept of a particular ideology; it is his or her prerogative to disagree and not conform to it.   Esposito’s framework in this sense is as simple as the United States refusal to embrace the concept of communism and the Soviet cause during the 1950s.   Osama bin Laden for instance, expresses a great deal of resentment over the United States and its ideologies, that’s how he justifies his acts of terrorism in various cities and countries, but if he wants to claim Islam as the world order, he is then misguided by his alleged advocacies that would save the world. Democracy’s main concept is freedom; democracy refuses to be shackled by laws that hinder progress.   Religion meanwhile has its own foundations based on what is morally right and morally wrong.   It is quite considerable how Esposito gives a non-biased discussion of whether there is conflict of interest between Islam and democracy.   He concludes that politics is more influential here and not religion, and that failure to support civil society as well as failure to participate in political affairs strengthens religious and secular authoritarianism (Esposito 2000). It is plausible to think that there can be a mediating factor between Islam and democracy; this is due to the fact that both ideologies have a similar cause, which is to pursue the best interests of the people.   It is quite true that Islam and its conformists are on the receiving end of western immoralities; however, it is a person’s own will whether to conform to what certain aspects of western ideologies imply. Furthermore, although Islam and democracy may have some overlapping and conflicting principles, a certain application of mutual respect is possible to satisfy all angles in conflict. In Light of John Esposito’s article regarding the resurrection of the Islamic resentment over western secular ideologies, a number of questions are raised to address the matter: †¢ How is terrorism justified as a counter-measure against the perceived immoral and corruptive nature of western thought? †¢ In what context and up to what extent does â€Å"evil† apply in western ideologies? †¢ If Mohammed were alive today, would he be having a similar response to the nature of western views as modern political Islam conformists do? †¢ Do the Political Islamists simply advocate for the upholding of Islam’s tenets or do they also thirst for global power in other aspects such political and economic? †¢ If Islam in itself postulates a diversity of beliefs, how can Islamic fundamentalists constitute their very core ideas in to the world?

Friday, January 3, 2020

The Idea of Honor in Chaucers The Wife of Baths Prologue...

This essay compares the conception honor in Geoffrey Chaucers The Wife of Baths Prologue and The Franklins Tale from The Canterbury Tales. The problem of honor seems to be timeless in its difficulties. There are many ideas and opinions concerning this delicate subject, which always is popular, along with its ability to frustrate and perplex the human. During the time of Chaucer, females such as the Wife of Bath were asserting their rights against the forces of male chauvinism. Apparently, the battle of the sexes for supremacy is everlasting in its intensity and has always been fought. Consequently, we have both male and female chauvinists, and they appear in Chaucers works. They make for interesting reading. In â€Å"The Franklin’s†¦show more content†¦Aurelius reveals his love to her and jokingly she agrees to his love and embrace if he removes all the rocks from the east coast of Brittany. Aurelius goes to a student-magician and agrees to pay him one thousand pounds if he can do the impossible and remove all the rocks from the coast of Brittany. The magician is successful in the deed so Aurelius goes to Dorigen to ask her to keep her promise. She is shocked and contemplates suicide rather than disgrace herself. During this her husband returns home and learns of what has happen. Even though it causes him great grief, Arveragus tells her to fulfill her promise. Aurelius finds out of his nobility in telling her to do that and cancels the promise, and the student magician also cancels the debt Aurelius owes him. In â€Å"The Wife of Bath’s Tale,† the Wife of Bath is married five times and always tries to have mastery over her husband; however, at the time she gains mastery over a husband, he dies. After explain how she gained mastery over her fifth husband she tells a tale of a young knight in King Arthur’s court who rapes a young girl. The law says he should be killed but the queen and ladies of the court beg and keep him alive. He tells a foul old lady he will do whatever she demands if she saves his life and she does by giving him the answer he needs. The old lady demands that the knight marry her and in agony the knight agrees too.Show MoreRelatedAttitudes Toward Marriage in Chaucers the Canterbury Tales1477 Words   |  6 PagesAttitudes Toward Marriage in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Chaucers The Canterbury Tales demonstrate many different attitudes toward and perceptions of marriage. Some of these ideas are very traditional, such as that discussed in the Franklins Tale, and others are more liberal such as the marriages portrayed in the Millers and the Wife of Baths Tales. While several of these tales are rather comical, they do indeed give us a representation of the attitudes toward marriage at that time inRead MoreEssay about The Ideal of Marriage1238 Words   |  5 Pagesmeaning the wife and the husband are together and living happy in there married life, other married couples may tend to cheat and disrespect each other, meaning that the married couple are not together or are separated may be there opinion of the ideal marriage. In the medieval period Chaucer, writes to his audience the ideal of marriage in his stories. In Chaucers Canterbury Tales he explains the medieval way of a ideal marriage In The Wifes and Baths Tale and The Franklins Tale suggest thereRead More Chaucer Essay2650 Words   |  11 Pages Chaucers The Canterbury Tales demonstrate many different attitudes toward and perceptions of marriage. Some of these ideas are more liberal thought such as the marriages portrayed in the Wife of Bath, the Clerk’s and Merchant’s Tales. Then there are those tales that are very traditional, such as tha t discussed in the Franklins and the Squire’s tales. And lastly there is a tales of that of the Friar and the Summoner which aren’t really involved with marriage but are in the middle of the marriageRead MoreFigurative Language and the Canterbury Tales13472 Words   |  54 Pages1. allegory: a literary work that has a second meaning beneath the surface, often relating to a fixed, corresponding idea or moral principle. 2. alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds. It serves to please the ear and bind verses together, to make lines more memorable, and for humorous effect. †¢ Already American vessels had been searched, seized, and sunk. -John F. Kennedy †¢ I should like to hear him fly with the high fields/ And wake to the farm forever fled from the childless

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Evaluate Ancient and Modern Images and Interpretations on...

b) Evaluate ancient and modern images and interpretations of Cleopatra VII Images and interpretations of a person can change over time. Such movement is paralleled with changes in opinion and morals throughout generations. Cleopatra the seventh is subject to this fluctuation. Ancient images and interpretations differ greatly to the impression left today merely by her name. Chris Dumasis, a modern day historian amplifies this theory in ‘Interpretations of Cleopatra’. She argues, â€Å"women have been demeaned of their true substance since the early time of patriarchal society.† Taken into account, this argument entails that when studying ancient sources it must be understood that at times, only a very narrow view of the events are presented†¦show more content†¦The long nose and pointed chin are two distinct features of Cleopatra that are demonstrated by the image on the coin that sepeate her from those that play her today. In his ‘A.D. 75 Life of Antony’ Plutarch himself professes, â€Å"Her actual beauty †¦ w as not so remarkable that none could be compared with her†¦ but the contact of her presence †¦ was irresistible†. As a consequence, it can be understood that it is ancient sources that possibly provide the truest image of her, being from the period of her life. That is not to say however, that ancient sources have incorporated a complete truth. This can be seen with the evidence provided by Roman and Latin sources. In ‘An Ancient Roman Perspective’, Gemma Wilson’s account for Rome’s feelings towards the Queen is one of great hostility. According to Wilson, â€Å"at best, the Romans viewed Cleopatra with suspicion. At worst, they hated her.† Cleopatra was of coarse despised for utilizing the two public figures of Rome’s world, Caesar initially and then Mark Antony. Peter Roberts describes how it was Octavian that initiated Rome’s hatred towards Rome, relying on ‘sexual slander’ to tarnish her reputation. Many Roman poets continued this tradition of condemnation such as Lucan in ‘Pharsalia’, referring to Cleopatra as â€Å"Egypt’s shame.† Horace continues to embellish this image; â€Å"the queen, with a contaminated gang of creatures’ in his Ode XXXVII, referring to

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Defying Stereotypes A Look At Gender Relations - 1689 Words

Defying Stereotypes: A Look at Gender Relations in the Classroom Cecilia Ridgway, in â€Å"Framed by Gender: How Gender Inequality Persists in the Modern World,† holds that gender exists as an organizing social force. We value certain stereotypes of how people of a certain gender should act and incorporate these expectations into our social relations. Men, Ridgeway explains, are typically viewed as having more â€Å"competence, assertiveness, confidence, independence, forcefulness, and dominance† (Ridgeway, 2011) in social relations. Women, on the other hand, are viewed as valuing â€Å"emotional expressiveness, nurturance, interpersonal sensitivity, kindness, and responsiveness† (Ridgeway, 2011). According to Ridgeway, these gender stereotypes are†¦show more content†¦In doing so, both genders are acting out the social attributes encouraged by gender stereotypes. She explains that the extent to which gender stereotypes impact the faces people assume rel ies on â€Å"gender’s salience, or relevance for them, given the nature of the situation† (Ridgeway, 2011). Gender stereotypes might prove salient when hiring CEOs, for example, but what about in a different setting? Through my study, I sought to understand the salience of gender in the college classroom. I observed one session of an Introduction to Sociology class at Colby College in Waterville, ME. The class had thirteen females and eleven males. The professor was female. I paid close attention to two things: first, how the students prefaced their comments during the class discussion. I expected females to qualify their comments more often by saying â€Å"I think,† or â€Å"In my opinion.† These statements seem less assertive and more fulfilling of gender stereotypes. Secondly, I noted how frequently females refuted statements made by males. This shows an assertiveness that also conflicts with gender stereotypes. The topic of the class discussion was Mi lton Friedman’s 1980 â€Å"Power of the Market† lecture. The discussion began, surprisingly, rather female dominated. A male responded to the professor’s initial question concerning Friedman, but three females offered subsequent

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Celebrity Endorsement Facebook- MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: What is the rate of PORNSAK to be celebrity endorsement for Singapore Nescafe? Answer: It is expected that the endorsement rate for Pornsak would be about $4 million. It has to be said that in the recent time with the increasing popularity of the social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat; the endorsement is no longer depended for a single media like television endorsement or the face for print media (Money 2016). The means of endorsement has changed. It has also been evident that Pornsak is active in these social media and thus, it is expected that the rate of endorsement would include the rate for endorsing the product (Nescafe) in these platforms as well. The rate of endorsement has been estimated to be $4 million because Pornsak is not an international celebrity and he has fame in the market of Singapore and Thailand only. Thus, the rate would not be very high as $25 or $30 million like the other popular celebrities like Beyonce charges. So in order to become the celebrity face for Singapore, it is expected that Pornsak would charge $4 million. References: Money, C., 2016 10 Of the Highest Paid Celebrity Endorsement Deals Available at: https://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/money/10-of-the-highest-paid-celebrity-endorsement-deals/ [Accessed on: 3-5-2017]

Monday, December 2, 2019

Romeo And Juliet From Play To Big Screen Essays -

Romeo And Juliet: From Play To Big Screen Romeo and Juliet: From Play to Big Screen In 1596, William Shakespeare published the tragic tale of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The origins of this story are uncertain but Shakespeares chief source for his adoption of the story was from The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet, a poem by Arthur Brooke (1562). He also knew the story from Palace of Pleasure, by William Painter, which appeared in several editions prior to 1580.(Boyce 563) Shakespeares classic tale is about two young lovers caught in the crossfire of a senseless family feud.(Shakespeare 3) This feud between the two families ultimately is the cause of the two lovers untimely demise. In 1996, Baz Luhrmann produced a modern film of the classic tragedy entitled William Shakespeares Romeo + Juliet. Adding familiar images and common ideas, Luhrmann brought the classic story to modern times. Though Romeo + Juliet has many differences from the original version from Shakespeare, it supports the original characters, themes, dialogue, and key issues of th e classic tale of the star-crossed lovers. There were many differences among the two stories, among these differences were setting, weapons, the classic Balcony Scene, other new adoptions to the film, the concentration on the main characters of Romeo and Juliet, and the implementation of imagery to the storyline. First, the setting of the story is probably one of the biggest differences between the two stories. The original version of the tale is set in Verona, Italy. The newer version is set in a fictitious Verona Beach, California, a city with the appearance of modern day Los Angeles after a riot. The new environment gives familiarity to the viewer, allowing them to relate to the situation at hand, bringing it to a modern time. Another change to the story was the weapons used within the story. The original story used daggers as weapons whereas the newer version uses guns (appropriately titled sword, dagger, etc.). The famed Balcony Scene, where Romeo and Juliet avow their love to each other was dramatically changed in many aspects. In the original version, Juliet appears on the balcony and utters the famous words O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? (Shakespeare 45) Juliet then goes into the speech about names, asking Romeo to deny his fathers name. Romeo is hiding in the shadows below and hears the words of Juliet. After hearing Juliets speech Romeo steps into the light. Romeo and Juliet profess their love for each other and they plan to get married in secrecy. This is a very romantic and heart-filled scene. The new version, on the other hand, takes place in the pool of the Capulets home. The same dialogue is spoken between the two lovers but the sexuality of the film takes away from the true romanticism of the original play. Only part of the scene takes place on the balcony. Only where Juliet is telling Romeo goodnight takes place on the balcony. This, in part, takes away from the story. Many things in the new version were changed to make the transition from old times to new. Guns, letter couri er services, cars, drugs, and policemen all replace swords, messengers, Monarchs, and the Watch. These modern elements neither take away nor add to the storyline. When the characters fight with swords in the original play, the audience understands the magnitude of the hatred between the two families. This same magnitude is conveyed when the characters fight with guns. Because the play focuses on the feuding families and the desires Romeo and Juliet have for each other, time changes, props changes, and slight dialogue, action, and scene changes does not make a substantial difference in the overall plot of the story. One aspect of the play that really bothered many Shakespeare fans was the change of the meaning of Mercutios Queen Mab speech. Mercutios long speech about Queen Mab in the original version, according to Robert Evans, presents what were the main reasons for marriage- money, place, and love- and then presents what in the milieu of Romeo and Juliet was a principle destructiv e force- violence.(Evans 79) In the new version, Mercutio is merely referring to a mood-altering drug called Ecstasy. Also,