Early Greek Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Early Greek Philosophy - Essay Example They believed everything is only so to the eye of the beholder, and so to was it with knowledge itself according to the Sophists. Socrates, however, opposed to the Sophist position. He attempted to understand the nature of such absolutes as Justice, Goodness, or Beauty in discussion with others. Ultimately, his aim appears to be a form of the Golden Rule. If everything is relative and nothing is static, how would it be for one to be on the less than desirable side of relativity? Socrates used a dialectic technique (86). Socrates’ preferred method of debate was that of the question-answer session. He would question his opposition, and based on their answers, formulate additional questions until the relative err or truth in a given belief could be brought to light. This way, it was more as if the student derived his own conclusion from obviated facts than simply believing what is told him or her. The path to wisdom is not necessarily the accumulation of knowledge but more the honing of one’s power of discernment. Socrates believed that much like a midwife helps a mother bring forth a newborn so do teachers assist students in drawing out clarity from things in their own minds (96). As such a teacher can no more bring forth understanding from a person devoid of at least some ideas than a midwife can bring forth life from a woman not pregnant. Socrates augmented this method with strategic use of Irony. Irony is the employment of communication on multiple levels – usually an exoteric and an esoteric. The exoteric level is that of obvious, literal meanings. The esoteric is that of hidden, basic meaning. Socrates applies this method to keep his listeners engaged in his speech throughout the processes of clarification. Socrates’ discussion with Thrasymachus is representative of this process (99). The question he is trying to decide in the discussion with Thrasymachus is whether might makes right. He ultimately argues against Thrasymachus position by

Beowulfs Boasting

Beowulfs Boasting Beowulfs Boasting Beowulfs boasting is not merely to show how great he is but rather to keep true to his word and honor as a man. Beowulf does not boast for the sake of making himself look good. Marie Nelson from the University of Florida defines that there are two types of boasting that can be found in this Anglo-Saxon tale. The first form of boasting is modern boasting which consist of bragging and the second is an act of promising. Nelson states that the first type of boasting helps to establish Beowulfs credibility as a man who can be trusted to do what he says he will do, while type two boasts show the degree to which he commits himself to follow through on his promises (1). Anglo-Saxon boasting differs from modern boasting because modern time boasting focuses on making one look better than someone else. Anglo-Saxon boasting consist of making promises that are to be kept in order to keep ones honor intact. Modern boasting focuses more on displaying ones best attributes for all to see. Boasting is not merely a way to show off to others. Beowulf uses boasting to show loyalty to his liege. He shows his respect for his king, Hygelac, by vowing to keep the honor of his countrymen secure. One thing that always concerns Beowulf is keeping his word. He hopes to keep his word to Hygelac, and return home with his men after successfully defeating Grendel. In lines 199-201, Beowulf states his plans to aid Hrothgar in his troubles and defeat Grendel. Beowulfs community did not [try] to keep him from going along with his plans. (Heaney, line 202) No one questions Beowulfs boast because he has proven himself in the past and his word is valid. The boasting is a way to prove how honest what one says to be true. According to Dr. Kelly Taylor from the University of North Texas, Boasts were taken seriously. Boasts were understood to be serious utterances with personal, social, legal and political consequences. Beowulfs boasting represents a pledge to his King and community that he mu st keep. Beowulf keeps his word throughout the poem as he makes promises to defeat Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon. Modern boasting can be seen in the poem as well. In lines 480-490, there is a description of the Danes boasting about [waiting] for Grendel with their whetted sword. The Danes were bragging to show how courageous they would be when Grendel came to attack but later the reader learns that many of the boasting men were slain by Grendel. Beowulf is a man of his word. Lines 407-426 detail Beowulfs request to Hrothgar, asking his permission to fight Grendel. Beowulf boast to Hrothgar about his abilities and the strength of the mean of Geats. As Beowulf speaks to Hrothgar, the reader notices that he does not sound conceded when speaking to the king but rather humble. However in lines 415-418, the reader recognizes boasting in the contemporary use of the word. He discusses his strengths and how capable he is of fighting Grendel. This type of bragging helps support Beowulfs promise to Hrothgar. Beowulf is selling his skills, as well as the capabilities of his men, to Hrothgar and his community. While Beowulf is convincing Hrothgar to honor him the duty of fighting Grendel, he also mentions he would like to heighten Hygelacs fame and gladden his heart (line 435-436). On line 2145, Beowulf returns from the adventures and presents all his gifts to Hygelac as a sign of loyalty. Beowulfs boasting is a form of honoring his king as well as maintaining his reputation as a great warrior. Beowulfs boast reassure the people of Heorot that they will be safe. The boasting is a morale booster for them. When the people of Heorot thought all hope was lost, Beowulf arrives to raise their spirits. The Oxford English Dictionary defines boasting to mean to speak of with pride. Beowulf restores pride to the people of Heorot with his boasting. This bold speaking allows the people of Heorot to trust Beowulf and have confidence that he can slain the beast they call Grendel. Beowulfs heroic boasting is what makes him a great warrior, it allows him to prove himself and to show what he is capable of. In lines 630-639, Beowulf is speaking to Wealhtheow about his intentions for the battle with Grendel. Marie Nelson from the University of Florida states that Beowulfs promise-boast within these lines defines that Beowulf takes his promises very serious (Nelson 5). Beowulf states I shall fulfill that purpose [of killing Grendel]or meet my death here in the mead-hall (line 636 and 638). The lines state that Grendel will try his best to fulfill his promise and if not he will meet his fate at the hands of Grendel and is willing to accept them. Anglo-Saxon boasting is all about willing to accept fate but using all of ones abilities to keep a promise. Beowulf keeps his promise and defeats Grendel. Another form of the bragging type of boasting can be found in the poem when Grendels arm is put up for display for the country men to view. Although modern boasting can be seen throughout the poem, promise-boasting was more valuable to the Anglo-Saxon men rather than bragging (Nelson 5). Boasting is a form of showing off as well as a form of honesty. Both types of boasting are shown throughout the poem. Beowulf tends to brag less and make more promises. In the end, he succeeded in accomplishing all of his promises and thus confirming his boast. Works Cited Nelson, Marie. Beowulfs Boast Words. Diss. English Department, University of Florida. Florida: Springer, 2005. 23 Jan. 2010. Boast. Oxford University Press. 2009. 23 Jan. 2010. Taylor, Kelly. Boasting. 2004. 23 Jan. 2010.

Benedict Arnold Essay -- essays research papers

Benedict Arnold The name Benedict Arnold has become a synonym for a traitor to one's country. In the first years of the American Revolution, however, Arnold was a brilliant and dashing general, highly respected for his service to the patriot cause (see Revolution, American). Benedict Arnold was born on Jan. 14, 1741, in Norwich, Conn. His father, Benedict, was a well-to-do landowner. His mother was Hannah King Waterman Arnold. While a boy, young Arnold twice ran away to join the colonial troops fighting in the French and Indian War. When he was 21 he settled in New Haven. In time he became a prosperous merchant and a captain in the Connecticut militia. He married Margaret Mansfield in 1767. They had three sons. Arnold played a gallant part in the American Revolution and became a major general in 1777. His wife had died in 1775. Early in 1779 he married Margaret Shippen, by whom he had four sons and one daughter. Arnold lived lavishly and soon found himself badly pressed for money. He then began his treasonable activities. Most historians agree that Arnold did so for money, though he may also have resented lack of further promotion. Whatever his motive, he regularly sent vital military information to the British and was well paid for it. His wife helped him, often acting as messenger. In 1780 Arnold obtained command of West Point and at once conspired to turn over the garrison to the British. He met Maj. John Andre, a British spy, and made final plans. Andre was captured, h...

‘Originally’ By Carol Ann Duffy Essay

Our Life is one long Journey, with good as well as bad times in it. From childhood to old age, we strive forever to experience and learn, often positive as well as negative turns in life often bringing upon one a lot of change. In the poem ‘originally’ by Carol Ann Duffy, one reads about a seemingly sudden change in a Childs life, where one is confronted with leaving their home, their country, to live somewhere else unknown. In ‘Originally’, which is divided into three parts, one follows the experiences of a speaker, who seems to have been forced to leave his or hers home, change and crisis being endured, and how the speaker in the end effect, slowly, adapts. The Poem though seemingly talks about this child leaving its home and changing, the Poem also shows how People all there lives change, starting by growing up to become a teenager, then to an adult and in the end to an aged person. The Poem starts of with a type of introduction; it begins the Poem by setting up a mood, by explaining how she moved with her family. The speakers love for her homeland is exemplified by using domineering words such as ‘own’, which makes it seem as something unique, and also by telling the reader that her brothers were ‘bawling’ the word ‘home.’ A combination of alliteration and imagery in the first line â€Å"red room† and â€Å"fell through the fields† also helps emphasize this. All of these rather unsympathetic words encourage a development of a depression throughout the Poem. The personification of the ‘miles (which ran) back to the city†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ seems to indicate how, while being on this train, makes the child feel worse and worse knowing its becoming more distant from its homeland, and this reflecting that the land is passing so quickly it seems to be running away past. The whole stanza mainly concentrates on the child and its family, except for the last line, this sudden change also brings up strong emotions because from one image of leaving the place you have always known to be your home, one suddenly notices how scared this child must me when the speaker says that it ‘stared/at the eyes of a blind toy, holding its paw’ it shows how terrified it feels and how it only has her old trustworthy bear with her to help her. The Bear being blind seems symbolic, suggesting that the speaker does not know what will become of its family in their new home, and much like an old toy is often blind because it has lost its eyes over the years. In the second stanza one learns about the problem the person had to go through once it had arrived in its new homeland. The first line ‘all childhood is an emigration’ fittingly captures the themes of the entire poem it shows how especially in ones childhood one changes all the time, teenager, Puberty, becoming an adult these are huge changes and can also be compared with types of emigrations. Throughout this stanza one learns about what difficulty the child had learning to adapt to the new culture, the accent sounds unfamiliar, kids do things she has not seen any of her friends do in her old homeland, and it shows how people all there lives are confronted with unknown customs and traditions, and one must nearly always learn to live with them, often to such an extent that you don’t know anything else anymore. The speaker talks about a lot of unusual and seemingly repulsive things like boys eating ‘worms’ or shouting words one doesn’t understand, in the lines before she also talks about Pebble-dashed ‘estates’, meaning very boring and dull housings. All this also seems to point out that the child seemed to have once lived in a better place, maybe the child parents use to have more money and something happened making them loose everything, and forcing them to move to a cheaper living area. This also gets reflected when the speaker talks about its ‘parents anxiety stirred like a tooth in my head’ which is a very effective way of explaining the worries and problems the child was confronted with. In the last line the font is though changed to italics representing the speaker talking and for the last time saying ‘I want our own country’, the speaker saying ‘own’ for the last time also shows how the child still doesn’t feel at home and by wanting its own country, meaning its ‘original’ homeland where it lived in before everything else changed. In the last stanza the Crisis has ended the person has gotten use to its new surroundings and is already feeling at home in this once new place. The mood is still relatively unenthusiastic but the person does start seeing a positive side in things. The speaker incorporates the persons family for a last time, when she says ‘seeing your brother swallow a slug, feel only/a skelf of shame.’ this line links back to the previous stanza with the  imagery of worms and slugs, which is not literal, but a metaphor for fitting in. The simile ‘my tongue shedding its skin like a snake’ tells the reader of the speakers not only of the speakers changed accent but also perhaps refers to many of the speakers old memories and habits which she has had to get rid of as they seem useless in her new home, and the person now in class ‘sounding just like the rest’ also emphasizes it having completely adapted to its (now not so) new surroundings. In the final lines of the poem though the person looks back one last time when being asked, ‘where do you come from?’ by a stranger, remembering its troubles having to adapt and sadness of having leave its once homeland, but now when being asked ‘Originally?’ the child ‘hesitates’ because it doesn’t not anymore if this is now his homeland or if ‘Originally’ means the one he once came from. The poem shows, in this case, how a child had to suddenly move from its homeland to a new place, strange and bizarre, in its view so different and at first seemingly impossible to be able to adapt, but in the end the child does manage to get over all its troubles, and to adapt to a completely new culture, where people do things it thought know one does. The Poem seems to use this child’s story as an example, of how much change people have to go through, and that even though it always seems impossible to be able to learn and adapt, one nearly always manages, and even though one does remember how it had once been, lives with it, and enjoys its new way of living.

New York Incineration Case Study

The way in which New York City (NYC) manages its waste is dominantly based upon landfill. Though this is not the best solution is sparks controversy throughout Staten Island where the waste is ‘dumped' as many claim. Why is this so? NYC has a problem with managing its waste as NYC alone creates 26,000 tons of waste per day half of which is commercial and the remainder is residential. Nevertheless, private companies collect commercial waste leaving residential waste to NYC's department of Sanitation. The sole destination for 13,000tons of residential waste is the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island. The highest mound is 180feet high, twenty inches higher than the statue of liberty! The Fresh Kills Landfill site on the Western side of The Staten Island is the -only- landfill site that remains open. It has served NYC for over half a century it was due to close on the 31st December 2001. It received 12-14,000 tons of solid household waste per day, by a barge from four other boroughs. The key problem with it is that it only has 5% of the city's population and on top of that it is the smallest place. Though not everything about Staten Island is a negative; this could be because the garbage industry provides economic development, jobs and increased spending power follow. To operate the landfill site requires 500 employees whose jobs range from crane and tractor operators to chemists and geologists. Although the daily volume of waste is high there has been a decrease in waste; it has fallen from 21,200tons per day in 1986 to 13,000tons per day in 1995. You can read also Costco Case Study Fresh Kills Landfill site attempts every precaution to ensure that it is environmentally friendly. It does it by following these simple steps: > Monitoring System – Allows checks to be made of the build-up of the landfill gas, as well as the effects of operation on ground and surface water supplies. And landfill slope stability is examined regularly. > Litter Prevention – The barges are covered with nets during transport, while booms contain litter around the waters of the landfill site. Fences around the perimeter of the operation have the same effect on the island. > Landscaping – Ecologists are working to introduce native plant varieties tolerant of the conditions in an attempt to establish the area as a wildlife habitat. > Leachate Treatment Plant – To prevent percolating rainwater from becoming contaminated the plant removes pollutants prior to the water being returned to the waterways. > Construction Debris Recycling Area – Processes 750tons per day of debris, e.g. concrete, asphalt and soil. Steel is extracted from the process and sold for recycling. The product is used to construct the roads throughout the landfill site. > Composting Facility – Garden waste is collected and turned into compost. It is used in the landscaping process around the site. It is also made available to the public free of charge. > Landfill Gas Recovery – Consisting of primarily methane and carbon dioxide, landfill gas is collected and customized at the facility onsite. The methane is purified into pipeline quality gas, which is then sold to a local company. Nevertheless space is limited and a two decade estimate has been put on the Fresh Kills site meaning that a more long-term approach to wasted handling will have to be in effect. Managing waste in the future In spite of predictions in 1996 that the Fresh Kills Landfill site could operate for another two decades, Mayor Guiliani announced the closure of the site in 2001. He proposed that there had to be a new approach in dealing with the City's waste, and he publicised the creation of a task force on the Fresh Kills closure. Five recommendations were put forward: * Increasing Recycling * Promoting waste reduction * Encouraging waste prevention * Refusing the exportation of waste elsewhere * Supporting education about waste and recycling Now there is a recycling drive throughout the City which now means that every household is part of the Curbside Program, where waste for recycling is collected from the roadside. A contracted was negotiated with Visy Paper (NY) Inc., who constructed and now operates a $150million recycled paper mill on Staten Island. It is the largest manufacturing project in NYC in 50years. It employed 1,000people during construction and now has a labour force of 115. Also, NYC's mayor has pledged to not build or renovate any incinerators in the city. But then again, there are still problems because what is proposed of the commercial waste which accounts for the other half? After 2001, it will be recycling waste prevention and waste reduction schemes as good as they all may be, is it really probable that they will be able to ‘absorb' 13,000tons of waste on a daily basis? One person who is not convinced is the state Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge. Garbage Importers & Exporters The state of Virginia is a number two importer after Pennsylvania, with NYC accounting for 60% of Virginia's imports. A survey by Virginia Commonwealth University found that 87% of people were keen to limit garbage imports with only 9% opposing. Mainly the ones opposing argued that there would be a loss of revenue and would hurt communities where garbage is a big business. With imports totalling 4million tons per year there is hardly†¦

How Much Land Does a Man Need Essay Example

How Much Land Does a Man Need Essay Example How Much Land Does a Man Need Essay How Much Land Does a Man Need Essay The chief character of How Much Land Does A adult male Need? is a clear illustration of an insatiate desire for ownerships and wealth which at the terminal destroys the individual. Pahom was populating a life free from anxiety as his married woman said and without clip to allow any nonsensical settee in his head harmonizing to Pahom’s words. As the narrative develops it reveals Pahom’s existent job was indoors him because he was neer content or please with the land and the ownerships he had. At the beginning of the narrative. Pahom was a provincial without land of his ain. working daily to back up his household and believing Our merely problem is that we haven’t land plenty. If I had plentifulness of land. I shouldn’t fear the Satan himself ; when in world the greed within Pahom lied hibernating and he was non cognizant that his desire to obtain plenty of land will necessarily rouse the monster inside him that could neer be satisfied. The first clip Pahom had a land of his ain was a farm of 40 estates. So he became a landholder. ploughing and seeding his ain land. doing hay on his ain land. cutting his ain trees. and feeding the cowss of his ain grazing land. When he went out to plow the Fieldss. or to look at his turning maize. or at his grass hayfields. his bosom would make full with joy . This farm seemed to him unlike any other land. carry throughing his dreams until he heard the narrative of a better topographic point where he will be able to hold more land of his ain. At this minute the greed in him began to blind Pahom to the simpleness of his life and to be thankful and fulfilled for what he had. The 2nd farm he acquired had 125 estates and Pahom. had three times every bit much as at his former place. and the land was good maize land. He was ten times better away than he had been. He had plentifulness of cultivable land and herbage. and could maintain as many caput of cowss as he liked. Obviously greed does non hold bounds and it is a portion of our human nature some posses a greater degree of greed than others but however greed holds no boundaries and the word plentifulness has no significance at all. I wonder what Pahom’s married woman was believing now because in the conversation she has with her sisters. she was more concerned with the enticements of the environing towns but did non see the greed lying inside her hubby that one time. fed leads to destroy. Pahom had it all but Pahom was non happy. he was non content. he was non satisfied with the land he had. His greed lead him in to a way of devastation that is best described by the dream he had the dark before his decease. He thought he was lying in that same collapsible shelter. and heard person chortling outside. He wondered who it could be. and rose and went out. and he saw the the Bashkir Chief sitting in forepart of the collapsible shelter keeping his side and turn overing about with laughter. Traveling nearer to the Chief. Pahom asked: What are you express joying at? But he saw that it was no longer the Chief. but the trader who had late stopped at his house and had told him about the land. Merely as Pahom was traveling to inquire. Have you been here long? he saw that it was non the trader. but the provincial who had come up from the Volga. long ago. to Pahom’s old place. Then he saw that it was non the provincial either. but the Devil himself with hoofs and horns. sitting at that place and chortling. and before him lay a adult male barefoot. prostrate on the land. with lone pants and a shirt on. And Pahom dreamed that he looked more attentively to see what kind of a adult male it was lying at that place. and he saw that the adult male was dead. and that it was himself! He awoke horror struck. Pahom neer had adequate land. he ever needed more to feed the insatiate greed that controlled his life. The following extract from the verse form Who Am I? written by Dietrich Bonheoffer describes better the status of Pahom’s battle: Who Am I? This or the other? Am I one individual today and tomorrow another? Americium I both at one time? A dissembler before others. And before myself a contemptibly woebegone doormat? Or is something within me still like a beaten ground forces? Fling in upset from triumph already achieved? Who am I? They mock me. these alone inquiries of mine Whoever I am. Thou knowest. O God. I am Thine. Time after clip Pahom was non able to bask the fruit of his difficult work as a consequence of the greed devouring him. As the adage says: A greedy adult male hasten after wealth and does non cognize that poorness will come upon him Proverbs 28:22 Pahom died seeking more and more land of his ain and at the terminal his retainer picked up the spade and delve a grave long plenty for Pahom to lie in. and buried him in it. Six pess from his caput to his heels was all he needed .

Overview of the Sentencing Stage in Criminal Cases

Overview of the Sentencing Stage in Criminal Cases One of the final stages of a criminal trial is sentencing. If you have reached the sentencing stage, that means that you have pleaded guilty or were found guilty by a jury or judge. If you are guilty of a crime, you will face punishment for your actions and that is usually sentencing by a judge. That punishment can vary widely from crime to crime. In most states the statute that makes the action a criminal offense also establishes the maximum sentence that can be given for a conviction- for example, in the state of Georgia, the maximum  fine for possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana (a misdemeanor) is $1,000 and/or up to 12 months in jail. But, judges often do not give the maximum sentence based on a variety of factors and circumstances. Pre-Sentencing Report If you plead guilty to a crime, whether as part of a plea deal or not, sentencing for the crime is usually done immediately. This is particularly the case when the crime is an infraction or a misdemeanor. If the crime is a felony and the defendant is facing substantial prison time, sentencing is usually delayed until the judge in the case can hear from the prosecution, the defense,  and receive a pre-sentencing report from the local probation department. Victim Impact Statements In a growing number of states, judges must also hear statements from the victims of the crime before sentencing. These victim impact statements can have a significant influence on the final sentence. Possible Punishments The judge has several punishment options that he can impose during sentencing. Those options can be imposed singularly or in combination with others. If you have been convicted, a judge can order you to: Pay a finePay restitution to the victimGo to jail or prisonServe a time on probationDo community serviceComplete educational remediation, counseling, or a treatment program Discretion in Sentencing Many states have passed laws that provide for mandatory sentencing for certain crimes, such as child molestation or drunken driving. If you are convicted of one of those crimes, the judge has little discretion in sentencing and must follow the guidelines outlined  in the law. Otherwise, judges have wide discretion in how they form their sentences. For example, a judge can order you to pay a $500 fine and serve 30 days in jail, or he can just fine you with no jail time. Also, a judge can sentence you to jail time, but suspend the sentence as long as you complete the terms of your probation. Special Probation Terms In the case of alcohol or drug-related convictions, the judge can order you to complete a substance abuse treatment program or in the case of a drunk driving conviction, order you to attend a driving education program. The judge is also free to add specific restrictions to the terms of your probation, such as staying away from the victim, submitting to a search at any time, not traveling out of state, or submitting to random drug testing. Aggravating and Mitigating Factors Several factors can influence the final sentence the judge decides to hand down. These are called aggravating and mitigating circumstances. Some of them may include: Whether or not you are a repeat offenderWhether or not someone was injured during the crimeYour background and characterIf you express remorse or regretThe nature of the crime itselfImpact statements from the victims The background report the judge receives from the probation department can also have an influence on the strength of the sentence. If the report indicates that you are a productive member of society who made a mistake, the sentence might be much lighter than if it indicates you are a career criminal with no real work history. Consecutive and Current Sentences If you were convicted or entered a guilty plea to more than one crime, the judge can impose a separate sentence for each of those convictions. The judge has the discretion to make those sentences either consecutive or concurrent. If the sentences are consecutive, you will serve one sentence and then begin serving the next. In other words, the sentences are added to each other. If the sentences are concurrent, that means they are being served at the same time. The Death Penalty Most states have special laws regarding the imposing of a  sentence in a death penalty case. In some cases, a judge can impose the death penalty, but in most cases, it is decided by a jury. The same jury that voted to find the defendant guilty will reconvene to hear arguments for and against the death penalty. The jury will then deliberate to determine whether to sentence the defendant to life in prison or death by execution. In some states, the jurys decision is binding on the judge, whereas in other states, the jurys vote is merely a recommendation that the judge must consider before determining the final sentence.