Thursday, January 23, 2020

Racism in the south Essay -- essays research papers fc

Antebellum is defined at Dictionary.com as "Belonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War."1 In the Antebellum period in the South, many people owned slaves. In the south, plantations were "the most basic unit and the most vital element of the Southern antebellum economy."2 But at the heart of these plantations were the slaves. So vicariously, the slaves of the South were the most vital part of the Southern economy. Slaves, although taken from Africa, were still able to hold onto their religious traditions and beliefs. They would incorporate their traditions into the Christian belief structure that the south had already setup. They kept their dances, chants, songs, etc. by disguising them into their master's religion, thereby ensuring that it would be passed down from generation to generation. The slaves weren't treated as even close to equals to their masters. Their masters would live in the mansion of the plantation, while the slaves would dwell in recklessly built cabins that were separated from the rest of the plantation. These quarters were where the African American culture began to take shape. They began to be inspired to want what the white man wanted, and what they were denied. Slave labor was handed out by what each slave itself was capable of. If a slave were to finish a job early, he would be able to get the rest of the day off for recreational purposes. Not only that, but if a slave were to finish two jobs in one day, then he would receive the next day off. This day was commonly referred to as a "Holiday." This rewards system created a more competitive edge to work in the fields, making the slave production increase. This also made the slaves more content, and less persuaded to run. On the other hand, there were punishments also. "Exceptional misbehavior also warranted the attention of the slavemaster and his wrath."2 The beatings, whippings, etc. were unpredictable. The beatings didn't need an explanation. It wasn't like the law was going to step in, because it was your property and you could do whatever you wanted with it. It would be like if you were to throw your computer out of a 10-story window. Its your property and you can do whatever you want with it. That was their view on slaves at the time. The plantation owners primarily bought the male... ...s."3 Most slaves worked on plantations, but about 20% of the slave population of the south worked in the cities. They often were only domestics, but they sometimes were tradesmen. Some were sold out to other people for a day or up to several years. Obviously nobody likes to be enslaved, so they did try to slow down the southern economic machine. They would destroy crops, dismantle machinery, slow their work pace, etc. Others went for a more direct approach. They killed or mutilated themselves so that their property value would go down. Thousands of slaves ran away. They would hide in swamps or forests for weeks or months. Some escaped to the north where they would be free. Slavery in the south was the economic heart. The slaves were treated as if they weren't human, and were only property. The Antebellum period in the South was an important period in history. It will never be forgotten. Sources Cited 1 URL: http://www.cc.colorado.edu/Dept/HY/HY243Ruiz/Research/Antebellum.html 2 URL: http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=Antebellum 3 URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2956.html Racism in the south Essay -- essays research papers fc Antebellum is defined at Dictionary.com as "Belonging to the period before a war, especially the American Civil War."1 In the Antebellum period in the South, many people owned slaves. In the south, plantations were "the most basic unit and the most vital element of the Southern antebellum economy."2 But at the heart of these plantations were the slaves. So vicariously, the slaves of the South were the most vital part of the Southern economy. Slaves, although taken from Africa, were still able to hold onto their religious traditions and beliefs. They would incorporate their traditions into the Christian belief structure that the south had already setup. They kept their dances, chants, songs, etc. by disguising them into their master's religion, thereby ensuring that it would be passed down from generation to generation. The slaves weren't treated as even close to equals to their masters. Their masters would live in the mansion of the plantation, while the slaves would dwell in recklessly built cabins that were separated from the rest of the plantation. These quarters were where the African American culture began to take shape. They began to be inspired to want what the white man wanted, and what they were denied. Slave labor was handed out by what each slave itself was capable of. If a slave were to finish a job early, he would be able to get the rest of the day off for recreational purposes. Not only that, but if a slave were to finish two jobs in one day, then he would receive the next day off. This day was commonly referred to as a "Holiday." This rewards system created a more competitive edge to work in the fields, making the slave production increase. This also made the slaves more content, and less persuaded to run. On the other hand, there were punishments also. "Exceptional misbehavior also warranted the attention of the slavemaster and his wrath."2 The beatings, whippings, etc. were unpredictable. The beatings didn't need an explanation. It wasn't like the law was going to step in, because it was your property and you could do whatever you wanted with it. It would be like if you were to throw your computer out of a 10-story window. Its your property and you can do whatever you want with it. That was their view on slaves at the time. The plantation owners primarily bought the male... ...s."3 Most slaves worked on plantations, but about 20% of the slave population of the south worked in the cities. They often were only domestics, but they sometimes were tradesmen. Some were sold out to other people for a day or up to several years. Obviously nobody likes to be enslaved, so they did try to slow down the southern economic machine. They would destroy crops, dismantle machinery, slow their work pace, etc. Others went for a more direct approach. They killed or mutilated themselves so that their property value would go down. Thousands of slaves ran away. They would hide in swamps or forests for weeks or months. Some escaped to the north where they would be free. Slavery in the south was the economic heart. The slaves were treated as if they weren't human, and were only property. The Antebellum period in the South was an important period in history. It will never be forgotten. Sources Cited 1 URL: http://www.cc.colorado.edu/Dept/HY/HY243Ruiz/Research/Antebellum.html 2 URL: http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=Antebellum 3 URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2956.html

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Carol Ann Duffy Notes

The poem closes with reminders of oppression, control and confinement. Possibility that was once limitless for the dolphins now has ‘limits' imposed upon it that will become impossible to bear. The realisation will probably hasten the creatures' death, signalling that there is as much at stake from a psychological perspective as there is from the physical circumstances. Stifling of natural impulse and behaviour can have fatal consequences. The ‘plastic toy' is a further reminder of the indignity visited on this majestic creature of the ocean. The phrase until the whistle blows is potentially ambiguous. In one level it simply refers to the controlling device used by the keeper but on another the poet might be reminding us that this sort of cruelty will continue until somebody exposes it for what it is. Duffy does effectively ‘blow the whistle' on such practices. The final line, with its reference to ‘our mind', neatly links the plural possessive pronoun with the singular noun ‘mind' indicating a collective voice for a species. The tense change to ‘we will' draws attention to the contrast between what the dolphins had, what they have now and can expect in the future. As a result, the dolphins assume an almost mythic status in that they appeal to archetypal impulses in us and in nature; they are not just the creatures who form part of it. ‘The Dolphins' may just as easily be read as a poem about human disillusion, betrayal and loss of direction as it is about animals. As an interpreter of experience it offers us a new language into which we would do well to translate ourselves. Foreign Duffy's preoccupation with language is dealt with here form the perspective of its cultural significance as much as its ability to say anything. To the immigrant, the country to which he or she has moved out of economic necessity will always be ‘foreign' but the indigenous population will regard them as foreigners. The fact that living in a foreign culture is something that is not easy to get used to is emphasised in the opening line of the poem. Despite living in a city for ‘twenty years' it remains ‘strange'. The immigrant is aware of his or her own ‘foreign accent' as it sounds to others. The strain of thinking in one language and having to translate into the speech of another cannot always be sustained and this is sensitively pointed out through the physical detail in the final stanza: ‘And in the delicatessen, from time to time, the coins / in your palm will not translate. ‘ The breakdown in communication in an everyday, exposed transactional situation is intensified through the words ‘Inarticulate' and ‘point'. Duffy's empathic feeling for such people is further expressed in her presentation of other actions such as ‘writing home', a way of maintaining contact with others of the same culture. The ‘local dialect' in the immigrant's ‘head' is coupled with the memory of his or her mother singing. These are details with which any sympathetic person might identify and throw into sharp relief the actual experience of seeing racist graffiti ‘sprayed in red' (line 12). Duffy's use of the simile, ‘Red like blood' to describe the paint is effective because of its monosyllabic directness of observation. It also resonates with a famous and terrible speech given by the Conservative politician Enoch Powell who, on 20th April 1968 warned that increased immigration into Britain would result in a ‘river of blood'. There is, then, a stark contrast between the uses of language as a sign system of cultural inclusion (stanza 2) and its deliberate use as a weapon of racial exclusion (stanza 3). The ‘hate name' of the racists is sprayed on a ‘brick wall' the harshness and unyielding nature of which is symbolic of the mentality of those who do such things. The unfamiliar, snowy weather and artificial ‘neon lights' create the impression for the immigrant that the country moved to is ‘coming to bits'. This image of fragmentation is, though, not entirely imaginary as he or she has a life splintered from all that is familiar and constantly experiences a sense of alienation. The italicised words at the close of the poem give voice to the immigrant but this only gives away a difficulty with English. The unfinished verbs, ‘Me not know' and ‘It like they only†¦' are drawn attention to by Duffy in order that the reader may ponder what it would be like to face the same language problem. The final words of the poem, ‘Imagine that' remind us of the opening and there is quite a clear impression that Duffy is adopting an undisguised didactic stance. As a skilled and empowered user of the English language herself she is drawing attention to the lot of those who are marginalised because of their deficiency in its use. Head of English The poet is introduced to the class by the Head of English who has very fixed views about what poetry should be. As in ‘Comprehensive', the school in question is a multi-ethnic institution. It is significant that the teacher should be dismissing the live woman poet because she does not conform to the Keatsean ideal in the teacher's mind. She is not dead and she is not male. How anyone with ‘English second language' is expected to relate to dead white English men is clearly a challenge laid down in the poem. The five six line stanzas are indicative of a controlled, contained environment, the institution and the teacher are reflected in this. Duffy does not choose to use rhyme throughout (as the teacher predicted) but reserves some obvious rhymes for the teacher to use. This is a very subtle use of a poetic technique to satirise someone who is complaining about its absence from modern poetry. So, simultaneously, Duffy is using a poetic technique to show that the teacher is wrong about it being absent from modern verse whilst showing that the rhyme, being obvious, is the sort needed by the teacher. The reference to Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) is significant for a number of reasons. His poems do rhyme very regularly, and a number of them are redolent of British imperialism and nationalism in the Victorian period. This is actually grossly offensive in a multicultural context. ‘Winds of change' is a wittily ambiguous phrase since it refers to the words of Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister 1957-63 speaking of political events such as the civil war in the Congo following the granting of independence from Belgium. It also tells us that the teacher is referring to flatulence, as well as reinforcing her own entrenched views. Duffy is ironically drawing attention to the fact that Calliope, ‘the Muse' and source of afflatus, breath of inspiration for poets is interrupted by an unwelcome allusion to noxious gases. The control possible in adopting a persona in the dramatic monologue is clear. Single word sentences, a hallmark of Duffy's verse, work very well in capturing the terse, rude attitude of the teacher. ‘Still. ‘ (stanza 2); ‘Right. ‘ (stanza 4); and ‘Well. Really. ‘ (stanza 5) show that she is singularly unimpressed by what she has heard. Here, it is what is implied by Duffy's economical use of language that is so effective in building an impression of what this woman is like. The idea of someone being in charge of an English Department who cannot see that it is she who actually has the ‘outside' view is worrying. The fact that she devotes a whole lesson to assonance also indicates the deadly boring teaching methods she employs. She obviously teaches technique out of context in the same way that she cannot accept modern poetry as belonging to a literary tradition. Like any poor English teacher she views tradition as something strictly to do with an unreachable past. It is striking that it is the silent space between the fifth and sixth stanzas that the poet has been allowed to read. Despite having encouraged pupils to ask questions ‘after all we're paying forty pounds', the teacher's response to the poet's reading is telling as she instructs the class to ‘run along'. The reader wonders just what ‘insight' the teacher has actually gained. Also, her pupils are unlikely to derive much from her teaching. More worrying, though, are the entrenched attitudes of a person who should not be in charge of the most expansive of subjects studied at school.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Mental Health Issues Are Treated Fairly By The Criminal...

This assignment will examine if individuals with mental health issues are treated fairly by the Criminal Justice System, taking into account the provisions of the Mental Health Act, the roles of professionals within it and the development of how people with mental health disorders are, and have historically been, viewed in society. Individuals with mental illnesses were initially segregated or incarcerated. The West has seen mental health views change as society has developed and medicine advanced. The first asylum dates back to the Bethlam Hospital, in 1247. Early views of society linked mental health (conditions such as epilepsy) to evil forces or witchcraft. It could be argued this was early evidence of labelling and stigma. Society†¦show more content†¦In contrast, the nature vs nature debate heavily influences this subject. Are people born with mental illness or is it developed or is there an overlap between the two? Hans Eysenck argued that there were similarities between how a mental illness is acquired and the development of criminality; schizophrenia is often hereditary, however not all siblings will inherit it and it can be acquired without any hereditary element. Both genetic and social factors, such as drug or alcohol abuse can lead to mental illnesses and as society has developed, the latt er is now much more prevalent. Systematic care was not seen until 19th Century, moving away from institutions to a system that was more segregative, centralised and managed (Rogers, A. Pilgrim, D. 2001). The Victorian era saw scientific theory replacing religious belief around mental illness and psychiatry emerged as a new discipline. The first link between mental and physical illness followed the 1926 Royal Commission on Lunacy and Mental Disorder which stated that Mental and physical illness should now be seen as overlapping and not as distinct . The 1959 Mental Health Act was the first evidence of community care and in the 1960s, following advances in medicine and drug treatment, more focus on rights of individuals, and advances in social science and philosophy combined to start deinstitutionalisation. Treatment for people with mental illness has developed from incarceration in

Monday, December 30, 2019

Diabetes Mellitus A Group Of Metabolic Diseases...

Diabetes Mellitus is â€Å"a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. It is a disease which is caused by the insufficient insulin secretion or decrease in the peripheral effects of insulin. It is a serious problem in terms of morbidity and mortality. The hyperglycemia is associated with long term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. It’s associated with many complications which includes blindness of the eyes and amputations of the extremities. It is also associated with neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases which lead to mortalities. Since diabetes is one of the most†¦show more content†¦It more commonly affects the adults, especially elderly. Type 2 diabetes is also determined by several different genes. Many patients with type 2 diabetes have the family history of diabetes mellitus. Maternal history also plays a major role in the prevalence of the disease. The main issue is the sensitivity of the peripheral tissues decreases to the circulating insulin which is also called as insulin resistance. The most common symptoms of diabetes mellitus are chronic elevated blood glucose level. Glycosuria is a condition in which the kidneys excrete increased glucose as they are unable to reabsorb the excess amount. This leads to fluid and electrolyte excretion which leads to electrolyte imbalance and dehydration. Loss of glucose leads to increase in the use of fats and protein for the energy, which leads to accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood which leads to ketoacidosis (could be fatal). Generic Name Insulin Trade Name Humulin (R/N), Novolin (R/N) Drug Class Antidiabetic agent Pharmacokinetics Well absorbed from subcutaneous administration and metabolized by liver spleen, kidney and liver. Indications Diabetes mellitus Mechanism of Actions Binds to the receptors located on the target cells triggers changes in cellular activity Increase the glucose uptake by cell membrane of the skeletal muscle cells and fat cells, increased protein synthesis Side Effects Hypoglycemia, allergic reactions SignificantShow MoreRelatedThe Management Of Patients With Diabetes1303 Words   |  6 Pages Diabetes mellitus MANAGEMENT The management of patients with diabetes is classified in the current review under the following categories: a) Non-Pharmacological, b) Pharmacological, c) Monitoring of glycemic control, d) Prevention, e) Clinic organization and f) Referral and admission. The psycho-social impact of the disease should not be underestimated. Doctors should learn the communication skills as well as the skills of breaking bad news to patients when informing them of the diagnosis forRead MoreEar Infection: Overview of Otitis Externa1152 Words   |  5 Pagesit to not get proper air. Otitis externa is diagnosed by a culture taken from the ear canal. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment begins with, antibiotics or steroid drops. These drugs are used are used to treat the inflammation in the ear. This condition is very painful, because of the inflammation and swelling of the auditory canal. Patients may also complain of hearing loss and purulent (pus like) drainage from the ear. To cure the condition and not have it return patients must keep theRead MoreDiabetes Mellitus : Long Term Damage1144 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction The term diabetes mellitus describes a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiology, characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The effects of diabetes mellitus include long–term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs (1). There are two main types of diabetes (2-6); Type 1 diabetes (T1B) usually develops in childhood and adolescence and patients requireRead MoreDiabetes, The, And Epidemiology Of This Disease2070 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION Diabetes is one of the fastest growing and costly medical conditions that is present in our world today. Researchers suggest that over that last five to ten years, the numbers continue to increase rapidly. The rate of increase has been so rapid in the developed and developing world that it has become a worldwide concern- one of epidemic proportions. During this paper we will be discussing what diabetes is, its clinical manifestations, the pathogenesis and epidemiology of this disease. We willRead MoreLifelong Changes Necessary for Diabetes Mellitus1751 Words   |  7 PagesDiabetes Mellitus is a common chronic disease requiring lifelong behavioral and lifestyle changes. It’s a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from lack of insulin, of insulin resistance, or both. It is a major public health problem worldwide and also a leading cause of new cases of blindness, end stage kidney disease, and foot or leg amputation. 3 General classifications of Diabetes Mellitus are: type 1 and type and Gestational. 1. Identify and compare risk factors forRead MoreDiabetes Mellitus Type 1 And Type 21675 Words   |  7 Pagesto The American Diabetes Association, â€Å"Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels† (p.1). There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Insulin management is needed for type 1 diabetes, because it isRead MoreDiabetes Is A Group Of Metabolic Diseases1505 Words   |  7 Pages Diabetes in African American Populations Melanie Barber, MSN Student MPH 855 Principles of Epidemiology Department of Baccalaureate Graduate Nursing, Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY November 21, 2016 According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The chronic hyperglycemia associated with diabetes results in failure of variousRead MoreThe Complications Associated With Diabetes Mellitus ( Dm )2460 Words   |  10 PagesAbstract This paper explores the complications associated with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) including altered tissue perfusion. Altered tissue perfusion occurs as a result of DM and can cause many complications such as diabetic foot ulcers. Although altered tissue perfusion is not the only cause of ulcers, it contributes to the acceleration and degeneration of tissue once an ulcer forms. This paper also covers nursing diagnoses, individualized nursing interventions, patient and treatment goals as wellRead MoreTaking a Look at Peripheral Neuropathy1118 Words   |  4 Pagesnerve disease, a proper diagnosis is needed for the definition to be specified. The overall prevalence of the condition is about 2400 (2 ·4%) per 100 000 population, but in people older than 55 years, the prevalence rises to about 8000 (8%) per 100 000. (Simpson, 2010) Yet this does not include traumatic peripheral nerve injuries meaning that the number of peripheral neuropathy in our society is greater. In first w orld countries, the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy is diabetes mellitus. DiabetesRead MorePatients With Impaired Glucose Tolerance2168 Words   |  9 Pagesdeveloping type 2 diabetes. Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks in excess is associated with an increased risk. The type of fats in the diet is also important, with saturated fats and trans fatty acids increasing the risk and polyunsaturated and rnonounsaturated fat decreasing the risk. Eating lots of white rice appears to also play a role in increasing risk. Nutrition recommendations for a healthy lifestyle for the general public are also appropriate for persons with type 2 diabetes. Because many

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Elizabeth City State University And Saint Augustine s...

Elizabeth City State University and Saint Augustine’s University both have good Sociology Programs. Elizabeth City’s mission is to promote economic, social, and environmental progress for the people of northeastern North Carolina, the state, and the nation. Saint Augustine’s mission is to sustain a learning community in which students can prepare academically, socially and spiritually for leadership in a complex, diverse and rapidly changing world. Elizabeth City State University and Saint Augustine’s University are two colleges that share similarities and have differences when it comes to tuition, graduation rates and organizations that are offered on campus. Elizabeth City State University was founded in 1891. Elizabeth City is a comprehensive public university. The campus is 90 acres and is located in Elizabeth City State University. Saint Augustine’s University was founded in 1867 and is a private university. Saint Augustine’s University it is a church affiliated historically black college. Saint Augustine’s Campus is 110 acres and is located in Raleigh. Saint Augustine has a college chapel that is a county historic site. Both schools offer a variety of programs. Elizabeth City State University and Saint Augustine’s are both accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges is the regional accrediting body in the 11 U.S. Southern states (Alabama,Show MoreRelated The Protestant Reformation Essays3075 Words   |  13 Pagesthe church had dealt with similar challenges before. In the 1500’s a new series of attacks on the church’s authority had started to destroy Christianity creating both political and cultural consequences. At the center of the changes happening in Germany was Martin Luther who lived between 1483 and 1546. His life began simply enough. His father was a merchant and his grandfather was a peasant. Luther originally went to university to become a lawyer, when he had, â€Å"the calling† to become a not-so-humbleRead MoreThe Reformation Essay2676 Words   |  11 Pagesdemanded the freedom to educate their children in their own way. The desire for greater religious freedom was contributed to the separation of church and state. This argument of the separation of church and state has been going on for quite some time. Early efforts to reform the church started in the 1300s at Oxford University. John Wycliff stirred up controversy in teaching the freedom of religious conscience of the individual believer, who stood in faith directly before God in 1370Read MoreThe Day Of One Of The Church s Greatest Saints2573 Words   |  11 PagesJune 22nd is the feast day of one of the Church’s greatest saints, Thomas More. St. Thomas More was one of the most gifted men of his day; he was a devout Catholic, brilliant scholar, writer, lawyer, accomplished musician, and loving father. In addition to his many talents, his popular image is one of a man, principled, steadfast, courageous, who placed his own conscience above his king’s demands. It was in London that Thomas More was born on 7 February 1477, the only surviving son of John MoreRead MoreEssay about The Roanoke Colony3826 Words   |  16 Pagesall of London was abuzz with chat of the New World’s wonders.Queen Elizabeth, impressed with the results of the reconnaissance voyage, knighted Raleigh as a reward. The new ground was named â€Å"Virginia† in respect of the Virgin Queen, and the next year, Raleigh sent a gathering of 100 militia, miners and scientists to Roanoke Island. It was a late 16th century attempt for England to establish a permanent settlement. Queen Elizabeth 1 was queen at the time. The attempt was put together and financedRead MoreA World Lit Only by Fire Outline Essay8153 Words   |  33 Pagescontrad- icted each other. b. They also found that Genesis implies multiple gods. i. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux said that gathering knowledge was pagan and unholy, unless it was â€Å"sanctified by a holy mission.† c. Christians were often blamed for the fall of Rome. C. Aurelius Augustinus (Saint Augustine)-Bishop of Hippo, Catholic prelate 1. Wrote De civitate Dei (The City of God) a. Wrote that Rome was being punished not for the new Christian religion, but forRead MoreMandinka Empire21578 Words   |  87 PagesSouth, are every bit as significant as the linguistic infusions of the Norman Conquest into what became English. Long before studying the Mandinka as an anthropologist in west Africa, I was exposed to their legacy in the United States through my contact with the Gullah of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, my home town. The correlation between a white minority and the Mandification of the 1 See Djinns, Stars and Warriors, Mandinka Legends from Pakao, Senegal, published by Brill Press in 2003, containingRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesupdated: April 26, 2016 Logical Reasoning Bradley H. Dowden Philosophy Department California State University Sacramento Sacramento, CA 95819 USA ii iii Preface Copyright  © 2011-14 by Bradley H. Dowden This book Logical Reasoning by Bradley H. Dowden is licensed under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. That is, you are free to share, copy, distribute, store, and transmit all or any part of the work under the following conditions:

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Candide and Free Will Free Essays

Voltaire’s Candide is a novel that is interspersed with superficial characters and conceptual ideas that are critically exaggerated and satirized. The parody offers cynical themes disguised by mockeries and witticism, and the story itself presents a distinctive outlook on life narrowed to the concept of free will as opposed to blind faith driven by desire for an optimistic outcome. The crucial contrast in the story deals with irrational ideas as taught to Candide about being optimistic by Pangloss, his cheerful mentor, versus reality as viewed by the rest of the world through the eyes of the troubled character, Martin. We will write a custom essay sample on Candide and Free Will or any similar topic only for you Order Now This raises the question of whether or not the notion of free will is valid due to Candide’s peculiar timing of his expression for it. Some readers might think that Voltaire’s novel Candide suggests that belief in free will is absurd. However, a close reading of the text suggests that Voltaire does not deny free will altogether. Candide is in complete control of his actions and ideas during times when an agreeable reality poses not to be enough, which explores Voltaire’s message that true reality is the ability to identify the deficiency of human conventions. Candide’s journey to attain the balance between submitting his will completely to the opinions and actions of others and taking control of his own life through blind faith highlights the notion of free will throughout Voltaire’s novel. Throughout the novel, Voltaire represents mankind as being consumed by immediate personal problems. When the characters of Candide virtually have no troubles or dilemmas, Voltaire illustrates how they do not express their happiness and contentment for it, but rather portray their feelings of boredom and a desire to involve themselves within the complex social constructs of the world. In chapter eighteen when Candide and his valet Cacambo enter the glorious city of El Dorado, Candide expresses the city’s extravagance and how it is incomparable to any other, even when compared to his overvalued Westphalia. Voltaire described â€Å"the public edifices raised as high as the clouds, the market places ornamented with a thousand columns, the fountains of spring water†¦which were paved with a kind of precious stone which gave off a delicious fragrancy like that of cloves and cinnamon† (45) to illustrate the decadence of El Dorado, and how it was virtually a utopia that no man could resist. However, Candide held enough free will within himself by opting to leave the splendor in order to â€Å"recover Miss Cunegonde† (46). This event solidifies some readers’ opinions that belief in free will is absurd, for Candide uses it for irrational and perverse means by hoping for a finer future. El Dorado serves as a symbol to Candide that there is more the world has to offer after having been taught that he was already living in the best of all possible worlds while in Westphalia. The fact that he came across such magnificence paradoxically influenced his choice to leave since he thought he could find better than El Dorado, which demonstrates the faults of human conventions about how Candide could not distinguish between true and optimistic realities when he already had quite possibly the best world right in front of him. Once again, this substantiates readers’ ideas that free will is outlandish and nonsensical. â€Å"If we abide here we shall only be upon a footing with the rest, whereas, if we return to our old world†¦we shall be richer than all the kings in Europe† (46). He is not aware of the ramifications of his actions, of his professed free will, and believes that only good things will come to him as a result of his foolish autonomy. Voltaire presents the characters as having emotional lives that shift between worries and boredom with almost no periods of prolonged happiness. Pangloss’ influence instructs Candide to submit to blind faith that the outcome of all will be well, and that all events happen for a reason. â€Å"It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for all being created for an end, all is necessarily for the best end† (1). Under these assumptions Candide says, â€Å"There can be no effect without a cause [†¦] The whole is necessarily concatenated and arranged for the best† (6). This philosophy that everything is fated to be good omits the validity of free will that Candide later claims to have since he is man and therefore above the animal world, because no matter what man does in part to shape the entirety of his future, Candide was taught that the outcome is predestined to yield an optimistic and hopeful reality. The belief that everything happens for a reason and where the reason is good is incompatible with the act of free will. Therefore, any efforts of free will are futile because they cannot change the predetermined outcome, making its concept essentially nonexistent. This logical cycle strengthens and endorses readers’ ideas that free will is incongruous with faith. Candide is a naive character that is in complete control of his ideas and actions despite the influence from others. In chapter two when he is captured by Bulgarians and given the choice between death and running the gauntlet, he groundlessly uses his free will to receive an intense degree of torture and anguish. He was asked which he would like the best, to be whipped six-and-thirty times through all the regiment, or to receive at once twelve balls of lead in his brain. He vainly said that human will is free, and that he chose neither the one nor the other† (4). Candide tries to argue that having free will meant not having to choose, because being a human retaining that free will meant he had the choice not to make a choice. How ever, his attempts are thwarted when he is forced to make a decision for his fate, where â€Å"he determined, in virtue of that gift of God called liberty, to run the gauntlet six-and-thirty times. He bore this twice† (4). During a time when death clearly presented itself as the unusual superior choice, Candide foolishly picked the lesser of the two options. By choosing â€Å"four thousand strokes, which laid bare all his muscles and nerves, from the nape of his neck quite down to his rump† (4), Voltaire proves to readers that having free will is an absurd notion. He reinforces readers’ ideas that preserving belief for free will only leads to self-destruction due to Candide’s imprudent use and inappropriate application of it. Voltaire’s Martin provides a slightly more realistic albeit largely negative slant of the world that readers can more easily identify with. Martin says that the world has been formed â€Å"to plague us to death† and that â€Å"it is a chaos – a confused multitude, where everybody seeks pleasure and scarcely any one finds it† (54-55). In chapter 21, Candide asks Martin if he believes â€Å"that men have always massacred each other as they do to-day, that they have always been liars, cheats, traitors, ingrates, brigands, idiots, thieves, scoundrels, gluttons, drunkards, misers, envious, ambitious, bloody-minded, calumniators, debauches, fanatics, hypocrites, and fools† (55). Martin is deeply struck with pessimism, feeling the world is doomed to evil and destruction, and responds with a valid question as an answer: â€Å"Do you believe hawks have always eaten pigeons when they have found them? † (55) Martin’s insight to the fixed cycle of nature demonstrates how he perceives man’s nature to be just like one of beasts. Candide firmly counters and says â€Å"there is a vast deal of difference, for free will† (55) Candide, though easily influenced, senses that there is something more which exists between the contrasting worlds that both Pangloss and Martin have presented to him, which is free will. However, this claim is inconsistent with his belief that blind faith is the key to an optimistic reality, because once again, faith and free will are concepts that counteract and negate each other. At this point, readers’ opinions that free will is a meaningless and hollow notion is underpinned because of the fact that it is the only aspect that Candide cares to explore as the sole difference between man and animal that ultimately proves to be insignificant since man does not use it wisely or properly. In chapter two, Voltaire describes how â€Å"it was a privilege of the human as well as the animal species to make use of their legs as they pleased† to justify going for a walk (4). Here, Candide states that animals in fact have their own will to walk, which contradicts what he says to Martin in chapter 21on the discussion about what differentiates man from animal. Throughout Voltaire’s satirical novel Candide, readers are exposed to the two major themes regarding fate and free will, and how each belief is exemplified through various hollow characters such as Pangloss, Candide, and Martin. Candide frequently wavers between the two beliefs, and Voltaire ultimately comes to the conclusion that people have free will and must shape their own future based on their actions in the present rather than pursuing the idea that blind faith driven by desire will lead to optimistic results. In the end, Candide achieves equilibrium by accepting that he must exist between spiritual devotion and unpredictability through free will, when he says, â€Å"we must cultivate our garden,† as Voltaire famously declares in the ultimate chapter (87). This seemingly superficial parody engages the reader and makes them reflect about whether or not free will is actually free will and what aspect of Candide is in control of it. Readers perceive how human nature is incapable of constant happiness because of how desire handicaps free will, and are ultimately made aware of how Candide must create his own reality based on action rather than blind faith. How to cite Candide and Free Will, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

The Challenges of Big Data for Business - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: What are the ethical and security issues surrounding big data? Answer: Big data is nowadays utilised by many big organisations which uses diverse sources of information to create, develop and store knowledge. Tailored services are provided to the organisations which does not only increase the efficiency of the companies but it is also cost effective. But Big data has been criticized due to its ethical and security issues. As per Martin (2015), Big data has several ethical issues at different levels like at Supply chain level and Industry level. It raises a bunch of ethical issues which are related to piracy, confidentiality, transparency or identity. For example, supply chain sources Big data analysis let the businesses know about the intimate and personal details about people which sometimes create privacy issues. The Big Data analytics are also used to influence the behaviours. It takes the decisions which do not account human involvement (Martin, 2015). The analytics of big data are not 100% accurate which can let the organisations take inappropriate decisions. It also discriminates among the job candidates or in promoting the candidates because automated analysis is done. The retention of huge data for the purpose of analysis may result in the destruction of civil liberties because the privacy has been lost due to big data. The data controllers may misuse the data. There is a framework of Big Data ethics which involves Identity, Privacy, Ownership and Reputation. The companies need to understand these issues and develop adequate approaches to handle them. The technologies should be used properly in der to avoid any ethical issue or to avoid the security conce rns (Nunan Domenico, 2013). References Martin, K E 2015, Ethical Issues in Big Data Industry, MIS Quarterly Executive. Nunan, D Domenico, M D 2013, Market research the ethics of big data, International Journal of Market Research, 55(4):505