What is the relationship between happiness and meaning an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

What is the relationship between happiness and meaning It is important to have the virtue of wisdom primarily because it will lead one to a better path. I have better understanding of wisdom today because of the information I have learned form the past. Wisdom is the blessing that one have to grow as an individual. Many people are intelligent but being wise is a gift. One can learn many things from books, internet or from the experiences of other people but wisdom is the knowledge of an information and a better understanding to it. One becomes wiser and wiser from all the experiences that he has and from all the challenge that life throws him. It is becoming of an individual to get wiser through his journey in life. My understanding of wisdom grew wiser as the course progresses. Ones capacity to understanding things is evidence that one is also wiser of all the things that surrounds us. It is a challenge for a better discernment in life as one go to a process of learning and understanding. Thus, the wisdom one acquires from all his exper iences is one way for acquiring wisdom. The depth of my understanding of wisdom has indeed become wider as my knowledge also grew wider. It is important to gain knowledge on the things we study and from the things, we learn from other people. We get knowledgeable from others experiences and most especially from our own experiences. We gain wisdom from it and the ability to make good judgment. It is also important to use our wisdom in good use and as well as to share it to other people. The gift of wisdom enables us to have a perspective that leads us to a good discernment of good and bad. From time to time, we get the chance to learn many things, things that influence us in one way or another and that contributes to the development of out character and attitudes toward life. Probably, wisdom also defines the ability of an individual to handle situation that are new or difficult to handle. Life itself is offering us wisdom and it is our own ability to embrace it and treasure. I understand that wisdom is our shield to harsh reality of life and definitely, create a bridge of understanding from all things. Better judgment concludes to better understanding hence wisdom. Need essay sample on "What is the relationship between happiness and meaning" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Part II. In the same way that we acquire wisdom from our learnings is also the ability to acquire happiness and meaning. The relationship between happiness and meaning is their correlation to life. One becomes happy through his search of the meaning of life. One lifes has purpose and this purpose is the meaning of life. You become happy through your purpose or meaning of life. As said in Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, we can discover the meaning of life in three different ways: by doing good deed, by experiencing a value, and by suffering. It is true then that we discover the meaning of life as we do good deeds for the people around us as we realize there value and importance. Our experience of value of our own self is our discovery to the meaning of our own life. If people treat us good, we then realize or value as a person. From another authors point of view of happiness, Aldous Huxley derives happiness from consuming mass-produced goods, sports such as obstacle golf and centrifugal bumble-puppy, promiscuous sex Thus, Huxley gave examples of other sources of happiness and finding meaning in life. There are individual or group of people who may find happiness in these material things. While Socrates view on happiness depends on one self as he has the choice to be evil or to be virtuous. In addition, Socrates correlates happiness to virtue for one can be happy by being virtuous as well. Socrates believes that wisdom is an important component of happiness. He believes that it is important t go through life reflectively as to understand the life that we are living and the life that we need to go through. It is also important that we discuss out virtue to other people as to remind us of the meaning of our life. An American philosopher, Henry David Thoreau was a poor man. His views about happiness and meaning of life are questionable because of his status in life as a poor man. Many would correlate happiness in how rich they become and Thoreau is one of the best example of happiness, for Thoreau lived his life as a poor man yet he knows what happiness is and what the meaning of life is. While Josef Pieper, a Thomist defends his view of happiness only to be found in contemplation. Among all the views, Socrates has explained well the meaning of happiness, how one will find happiness as well as to find the meaning of life. Being happy is also being contented of what you have. Material things is part of our life and many would relate their selves to material things however the true essence of happiness is in our own view of life and how we understand the meaning of it. Life may throw us hardships and difficulties but our beliefs and/or virtue will help us to find meaning in life. Socrates believed that in order to be happy one should be righteous. He also believes that one cannot be virtuous, if one is not wise. In that sense, we learn that in order to be happy, we should understand first our value as a person. We understand it through our discernment hence wisdom. As we go through life, we find also find the meaning of it and understand that happiness is found within us. Our acceptance of the things around us also helps us for better understanding to life and leads, us to happiness the each one of us needs. Material things are part of ones life bit it may not necessarily be the root of our happiness. Indeed, it is our own wisdom that we realize the connection of happiness to the meaning of life. Part III. Huxley views about happiness correlates with the material things. This I guess mislead our understanding to the real essence of happiness and might lead us to the conclusion that happiness is only found in the material things that we have. As the saying goes, money is the root of all evil things. Yes, we need things in order to survive in life but it should not be a basis or the only basis of our happiness. Happiness can also be found from the people around us and from all the experiences that we had and will have eventually. Temptation is just around the corner, our wisdom will help us get through this temptation, and the virtues that we have will lead us to understanding of happiness. My perception of happiness is that an individual should reflect on his life and all the things around us. Simple things leads to greater things and as we realize the value of simple things, we being to understand the value of life and our own life. It is important to appreciate the things around us the favors the people do for us for it will give us the judgment of how wonderful life can be if we are righteous and wise. We relate happiness and meaning differently depending on our understanding but our own life will help us understand that happiness is found in the meaning of our own life. As we search for our meaning, we also pass the road to happiness and appreciation of life. We go through lifes journey for happiness and for our purpose and meaning. References Beebe, J. R. (2003). Socrates on Prozac and Happiness. Huxley, A. (1932). Brand New World. Penguin Modern Classics. Frankl, V. E., (1946). Man search for meaning. Washington Press Square.

Dubai - Ten Geographic Facts

Dubai - Ten Geographic Facts Dubai is the largest emirate based on the population of the United Arab Emirates. As of 2008, Dubai had a population of 2,262,000. It is also the second largest emirate (behind Abu Dhabi) based on land area. Dubai is located along the Persian Gulf and it is considered to be within the Arabian Desert. The emirate is known around the world as a global city as well as a business center and financial center. Dubai is also a tourist destination due to its unique architecture and construction projects like the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial collection of islands constructed in the Persian Gulf to resemble a palm tree. The following is a list of ten more geographic facts to know about Dubai: The first mention of the Dubai region dates back to 1095 in the Andalusian-Arab geographer Abu Abdullah al Bakris Book of Geography. By the late 1500s, Dubai was known by traders and merchants for its pearl industry.In the early 19th century, Dubai was officially established but it was a dependent of Abu Dhabi until 1833. On January 8, 1820, the sheikh of Dubai signed the General Maritime Peace Treaty with the United Kingdom. The treaty gave Dubai and the other Trucial Sheikhdoms as they were known protection by the British military.In 1968, the U.K. decided to end the treaty with the Trucial Sheikhdoms. As a result, six of them Dubai included formed the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971. Throughout the rest of the 1970s, Dubai began to grow considerably as it gained revenue from oil and trading.Today Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of the strongest emirates in the United Arab Emirates and as such, they are the only two that have veto power in the countrys federal legislature. Dubai has a strong economy that was built on the oil industry. Today however only a small portion of Dubais economy is based on oil, while the majority is focused on real estate and construction, trade and financial services. India is one of Dubais largest trading partners. In addition, tourism and the related service-sector are other large industries in Dubai.As mentioned, real estate is one of the major industries in Dubai, and it is also a part of the reason why tourism is growing there. For example, the worlds fourth tallest and one of the most expensive hotels, the Burj al Arab, was built on an artificial island off the coast of Dubai in 1999. In addition, luxury residential structures, including the tallest man-made structure the Burj Khalifa or Burj Dubai, are located throughout Dubai.Dubai is located on the Persian Gulf and it shares a border with Abu Dhabi to the south, Sharjah to the north and Oman to the southeast. Dubai also has an exclave called Hatta which is located ab out 71 miles (115 km) east of Dubai in the Hajjar Mountains. Dubai originally had an area of 1,500 square miles (3,900 sq km) but due to land reclamation and the construction of the artificial islands, it now has a total area of 1,588 square miles (4,114 sq km).Dubais topography mainly consists of fine, white sandy deserts and a flat coastline. East of the city, however, there are sand dunes that are made up of darker reddish sand. Farther east from Dubai is the Hajjar Mountains which are rugged and undeveloped.The climate of Dubai is considered hot and arid. Most of the year is sunny and summers are extremely hot, dry and sometimes windy. Winters are mild and do not last long. The average August high temperature for Dubai is 106ËšF (41ËšC). Average temperatures are over 100ËšF (37ËšC) from June through September however, and the average January low temperature is 58ËšF (14ËšC).

How to Write a Comparison and Contrast Paper †Pro-Academic-Writers.com

How to Write a Comparison and Contrast Paper We often hear phrases that begin with â€Å"In contrast to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Moreover, students often face assignments where they have to compare two or more things based on some reasoned criteria. Since elementary school where kids are asked to compare apple with the orange, we face the question of contrast and choice almost every day. Thus, this type of task is relevant for all ages. We’re going to discuss how to write comparison and contrast essay based on the most relevant academic materials and internet sources. When you write an introduction with thesis, you have to stress what you’re going to compare and contrast. In fact, words â€Å"compare† and â€Å"contrast† are synonyms. You should choose a specific topic in order not to waste time on many other subjects that can be compared. To begin your paper, search for good examples which you can download or view for free on the web. A compare and contrast essay example makes the majority of students wonder whether they need just to compare, just to contrast, or mix those two processes. Some people do not see the difference between these two. So, before you write different essays of this type, you must understand whether there any difference between comparison and contrast. Anyway, you should write about: General information on two topics Similarities Differences Arguments That is why it is recommended to take no more than 2 subjects at a time to write about. Well, some teachers prefer reading short summaries instead of detailed analysis, so they would love to see a comparison essay only. Others make the assignment more complex by asking to point to the similar features in a separate paragraph as well. After all, your essay would be too short with different points mentioned only. How to Write a Compare Essay Introduction and Other Parts? Because it is hard to find two 100% opposite things to compare, you will find at least one similarity for sure. No matter what you are asked to write about, your thesis statement must reflect your professor's expectations. Thus, if I had a desire to write about Social Networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, I'd have to come up with different thesis sentences according to my compare/contrast assignment. The final organization of your essay should look like: Introduction with powerful thesis 3-5 body paragraphs Discussion (if needed) Conclusion Compare and contrast essay is that type of task that do not require massive research and a lot of sources. Of course, if you write about something you know better than others. However, there are some exceptions. Comparing basketball and football, dancing and playing guitar, dogs and beavers  is an easy deal as you basically know the differences and similarities of these pairs. Besides, they are all coming from the same groups (sports, creative activities, and animals respectively). It is recommended to choose your subjects from one field before you write a compare essay. Using research is crucial when the time comes to write compare and contrast essay on things you know worse. I.e., when you are asked to compare more complicated things like balance sheets of company A and company B, you might want more specific information for your further paper. Pick Comparison Contrast Essay Topics We are often asked this question by students and even professionals of all ages. Marketing specialists often need to write about differences between various marketing analysis in order to discover and discuss what works better for company’s profitability. Anyway, how you write your contrast essay depends on how well you understand tutor’s instructions and whether you make a decision to start working for his or her improved academic performance. Does it seem too difficult to write comparison paper all alone? Sometimes it is better to leave the job to someone else, especially when you are not sure in own competence. Under â€Å"someone† students usually mean professional and trusted online academic companies. Today, every student can turn to creative academic writers that are eager to compare and contrast everything at the highest level in just one essay: from two, three to ten subjects at a time. You just need to mention whether you require a more artistic or offi cial approach. The example of a good comparison or contrast essay may be (in case you have to choose topic on your own): Hitler vs. Stalin World War I and World War II Harry Potter vs. Lord of the Rings Russian Literature and American Literature McDonald’s vs. Burger King You need to make your contrast essay related to your course readings, of course. If we deal with philosophy, most probably students would write about different concepts of freedom, equality, and justice in civic life. It also makes sense to find out what is the same and what is different between legal and ethical aspects of human life. Pay attention to the syllabus when you have to write a compare and contrast essay. It is full of great ideas for your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This paper usually has a list of good sources as well. By using them, you increase your chances of getting the highest grade. Let’s look at the structure of your future compare essay once again before you write: The title page should have â€Å"Running Head:† and an abbreviated Title flush left and the Page Number flush right. It works for APA and Chicago style only. Write your title at the bottom of your page and repeat it in the middle before your introduction. Your introduction should have a specific thesis. Compare and contrast things in the body paragraphs. Your conclusion should include a brief discussion of the main points. Don’t forget to cite every source properly and recall all sources in bibliography! Coming back to the question of online services, it is worth mentioning that all of the customers who order those essays from talented academic writers received their â€Å"A’s† as well as valuable experience in composing a contrast paper. Now they know how to write a paper on similarities and differences of several things better than anyone else. Who knows where they would need those valuable skills in their life? As we have told already, comparing and contrasting are those two necessary processes that assist us in making serious steps and decisions. While we write your compare and contrast essays to increase your academic performance, we are assisting you in your decision-making too. Solve your academic problems thanks to our certified English speaking writers – order comparison essay now!

Drug Development Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Drug Development Process - Essay Example Each step should follow the guidelines provided by the Food and Drug Administration. Product for development which has been marketed or studied previously will undergo the same steps. According to the February 1993 report by the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, one company costs $359 million in U.S. To be able to get one new medicine from the laboratory testing to the pharmacist's shelf, the process usually takes 12 years on the average and only 5 in 5,000 will make it to human testing. And only one of the 5 will be approved.(FDAreview.org).. The first step is to analyze the target to be developed. Before developing a drug, you must identify first the state of the disease and the symptoms to which the development of drug will be base to. It is important to identify the target. The key decision if whether the target for therapeutic intervention is one that will have a positive effect on managing the disease in question. There are some companies who want to further develop their product. For example, a drug for diabetes will be developed; the company should specify what would be the added pharmacological action on their drug. This will be the basis for the clinical testing that the new product should undergo. Metabolic pathway is a new approach in addressing and developing enhanced disease, understanding platforms with the potential to design significantly more effective drugs against many human diseases, including cancer. (Schimdt , 2004). There are several factors that controls the level of drug in the individual patients, including environment, patient compliance and genetic differences. . The metabolic pathway will give insight on the possible kinetic problems that may occur by providing which specific enzyme the drug is metabolized. In this step the drug manufacturer will be able to identify the isozymes responsible for the metabolism in humans. Nowadays, there is several computer aided system in testing the metabolic pathways of a drug. 3) Molecular Specificity In this step the molecules to be added in the drug should be specified for further analysis. Added molecules in a drug can alter the potency and efficacy of a drug. To be able to identify the molecules to be added, there are several new technology which can be of help to be able to shorten the period of this test. One molecule can affect the phamacological action of a drug, for example one molecule added to morphine can increase its painkilling effect. 4) Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSAR) The Quantitative Structure - Activity Relationship or QSAR predict and analyze the drug activity. The QSAR represent an attempt to correlate structural or property descriptors of compound with activities. In QSAR the hydrophobicity, topology, electronic properties, and steric effects, are determined empirically, or more recently by computational methods. Activities used in QSAR include chemical measurements and

Dont You Think Its Time to Start Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dont You Think Its Time to Start Thinking - Essay Example 3. Thesis: Society forces the literary deterioration deliberately by wrong applications.  3. Thesis: Society forces the literary deterioration deliberately by wrong applications.  4. Tone: Uses an intellectual tone.  5. Purpose: Emphasizes the responsibility of teachers to help the students to think independently by articulating their ideas clearly.  6. Content: How education is explored and how the educational system functions.7. Clever use of allusions with the example from literature and media to explain social and political awareness.8. Form: Essay; critical writing9. Style: Direct and microscopic examination of the issues confronting the education system. Cultural Betrayal1. Arguments supplemented by rhetorical devices: Examples from media and radio.  2. Point of view: Highlights the turmoil and the churning process going on in the cultural world.  3. Thesis: The importance of culture in building an ethical society that values traditions.  4. Tone: Uses an intellec tual tone, highlighting concern about the fall in moral standards of society.  5. Purpose: Sets the politicians and sociologists thinking to take suitable measures and adverse effects of popular culture on the society.  Ã‚  6. Content: Problems of cultural diversity and how it affects the social institutions like marriage.  7. Clever use of allusions with the example from literature and media to explain social and political awareness.8. Form: Essay; Informal writing.  9. Style: Direct and critical examination of the social and cultural issues.  

My Personal Aspirations Essay Example for Free

My Personal Aspirations Essay When you aspire for your future career, one must consider the important factors that lead to that. Each of these is an important component towards the achievement of success and the necessary foundation towards competence. With all of these mentioned, I believe that a course in Microbiology is an important determinant towards my future profession as a pharmacist. In the end, with this subject I can obtain the necessary skills needed towards addressing the challenges of my future major. Looking closely at the subject, there are many facets in microbiology that I can extract and use in my pharmacy major. One important contribution of such subject is its relative contribution in the overall development of my profession. Since the course deals with the study of organisms, it is an important benchmark towards creating an understanding of how dispensing of medicines can be made – one of the responsibilities of a pharmacist. In addition, the course can serve as an avenue for learning the importance of organisms in the overall development of life. Bio News mentions that microbiology is â€Å"concerned with the welfare of humankind, concentrating not only on aspects of host-microbial interactions influencing disease and immunity, but also on ecological concerns impacting food production and the environment† (p. 1). By establishing a good foundation of this subject, I believe that I can efficiently cater and tackle the needs of pharmacy. Now, I wish to point out what I wish to absorb and develop at the end of the course. The first thing that I want to accomplish in this is to create an understanding of how microorganisms develop and its relative characteristics. By establishing on these precepts, I can then branch out on its other subfields. By studying the form, physiology, and its other facets, I can adequately explore its other branches such as mycology, bacteriology and other (Bio News, p. 1). Also, I want to determine how an understanding in microbiology can lead towards the creation of new and improved ways of delivering cure to diseases. With the constant enhancement of today’s technology, better avenues for cure are becoming more available. In time, there has been an increased understanding among microbiologists of how to create and diagnose bacteria and viruses accordingly (Bio News, p. 1). Due to this, by better appreciating the conditions of how a particular bacterium operates, necessary adjustments can be made. Moreover, I want to personally grow under this course. By the end of this, I wish that I can be able to have the necessary skills to determine what bacteria create diseases and what others contribute to bodily functions. In addition, I want to have at least a familiarization as to what particular organism or bacteria affect a particular part of the body. Bio News furthers that â€Å"Microbiology is responsible for identifying infectious agents in blood, urine, sputum, feces, cerebrospinal fluid, and other body fluids† (p. 1) By familiarizing myself with these concepts and how they affect each processes, only then can I pursue the skills to cope with my pharmacy degree. Lastly, I aspire to learn how to cultivate bacteria to suit my needs as a pharmacist in the future. By taking up microbiology, I can differentiate different types of bacterium and how it affects every organism in the environment. Moreover, I can actively point out the relevant catalysts and how each one can contribute to the creation or degradation of various organisms within a particular ecosystem. Bio News mentions that â€Å"these bacteria are important to humans because they play a role in the ecology of life, by decomposing wastes, both natural and man-made, for example and created nitrogen fertilizer at the root zones of certain crops† (p. 1). Surely, can greatly impact on how I practice my major. After putting my expectations in the subject, I wish to correlate it on my future major which is pharmacy. By having a background in microbiology, I can better exhaust the capabilities and horizons of the pharmaceutical profession. Since the overall goal of such profession is to provide adequate levels of dosage in medicine, having a firm and solid background about the subject can help pave the way for cure among patients in the health care system. By appreciating the two subjects relationship, only then can students taking up a pharmacy major fully comprehend and use all these relevant skills. Also, having knowledge about microbiology can cultivate better relationships among patients. It must be understood that the role of such profession does not only revolve on issues surrounding facilitating cure via compounding medicines. On the other hand, pharmacists play a more active role towards creating betterment for patients. PILLS argues that â€Å"pharmacists not only educate consumers on medication use, but also monitor their patients health to ensure that the patient is getting the full benefits of the drug† (p. 1). To conclude, the microbiology subject can greatly influence and serve as a catalyst for my major in pharmacy. It serves as a tool and a foundation towards better understanding of the scientific explanation for the occurrence of things. Having this background in mind, I can better compound medicine and be a better pharmacist for patients. As PILLS argue, â€Å"from direct patient care and guidance to the forefront of pharmaceutical research, pharmacy caters to many fields† (p. 1). With all of these, having the adequate background and skills can catapult me towards attaining my dreams and fulfilling my role towards patients. Thus, the course in microbiology is an important stepping stone towards a successful career as a pharmacist.

Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijns Self-Portraits Essay -- Painter Painting

The old man sits. His hands are folded nicely in his lap and his facial features stay composed. He wears an overcoat that seems to be a soft velvet, shaded in a reddish-violet hue. Curls peep through the cap on his head, which is pushed slightly back and to the side. His eyes gaze unto those of the observer, telling of his life; the lack of fulfillment, the need for restoration. The color of his face and the cap’s white brim are lit up against a background that nearly engulfs the outline of his body, giving an impression of incompleteness. Although the man’s garment can be seen, it is somewhat hidden amongst the dark colors surrounding. The lines and colors that are so considerably apparent in the creation of the stark whiskers, the distinguished nose and brow, and even the rounded cheeks, disappear in the detail of the body. Although this painting will marvel some, pulling them in as they observe; others will just pass by, thinking, he’s just a man on the wall. Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn painted many self-portraits throughout his career, and about forty have survived. In studying these paintings, one will find that a certain growth and development of his style happened throughout his life. For example, in his earlier self-portraits, he used a technique that is called chiaroscuro, which is the use of deep variations of light and shade. In these early paintings, it is hard to tell what Rembrandt looked like because of the shadows covering his face. The later portraits, however, have a softer, more emotional tone. These paintings are the most moving portraits that Rembrandt did. The one described above was done the same year that he died, 1669. The emotions that come with the painting are incredible and as... ...elf-expression. In looking at these different pieces, one can see that the life of this man and where he was, acts as an important reference to his paintings. So the next time you think, oh, he’s just a man on the wall, take time to look, what do you see? Works Cited Bockermuhl, Micheal. Rembrandt. Germany: Taschen, 2000. Koehler, Wilhelm. Rembrandt. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1953. Krent, Emily, and Danie Mary. Paintings by Rembrant.Web Gallery of Art. Web. 12 May 2015. http://www.kfki.hu/~arthp/html/r/rembran/painting/index.html Pescio, Claudio. Masters of Art: Rembrandt and 17th Century Holland. New York: Peter Bedrick Books, 1995. Pioch, Nicolas. Rembrandt. Web Museum, Paris. Web. 12 May 2015. http://www.ibiblio.org/wn/paint/auth/rembrandt Mjdehaan. "Virtual Exhibition" Novemeber 2014. Web. 12 May 2015. https://mjdehaan1.wordpress.com/

Ethical Issues in the Professions and Business Essay

Professionals and other business personalities all share a common ground of responsibility towards that people that they particularly aim to serve. As individuals handling several procedures of servicing the society, it is undeniable that professionals follow a certain line of responsibilities that lead them towards the procedures of being able to complete the said tasks that they have towards the society that they are serving. To make the discussion concise, there are three major sets of responsibilities that each professional should give attention to. A) The Journalists Each member of the society has his or her own values in life that must be served by journalists. As for a fact, people are rightfully given the chance to know what is happening in the society around them. However, when they are involved in the issues presented by the media, whether they are from the local sectors of the society or that of the well-known personalities, they are entitled to having their own privacy and this too should be well guarded by journalists in their process of presenting the truth to the public. On the contrary, the aim of the institutions that journalists are serving such as media networks is to present as many credible facts as possible. To make the ends meet, it is important for the journalists to measure the impact of the society and their company as well towards their professional being. B) The Teachers Teachers are primarily expected to render service that is connected to sharing knowledge. It lies in their hands the wide possibilities of coming up with effective procedures of handling the needs of their students. The institutions that they are serving however aim for enrolling as many students that the institution could cater to. It is then in the discretion of the teacher on how he or she could be able to give the students the education that they need though applying a process that could cater to a huge number of students in an effective manner. C) The Lawyers It is the service of providing justice to all, that lawyers are particularly expected to render to the society.   Undeniably, the values of the society in this manner are to be highly considered. Serving the truth to those who need to know it and to those who need to be free is the key role that lawyers portray in the arena of justice provision. Once the lawyers are faced with a case that needs to be solved, whether they are in the defendants or the accused side, they must recognize the fact that they are there to render the truth to whoever is entitled to receive it.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck Essay

Published in 1952, East of Eden is a novel written by John Steinbeck, a Nobel winner). It tells the story of the intertwined lives of two families- the Trasks and the Hamiltons amidst a backdrop of California’s Salinas Valley (Steinbeck, 2003). The novel follows the stories of these two American families from the Civil War to World War I (2003). It is said that the novel, which was published ten years before Steinbeck received a Novel, drew inspiration from the Bible and was dedicated to Steinbeck’s sons- Thom and John IV (Pearson, 1995). The title itself was culled from a Biblical verse, depicting Cain as he set out in the land of Nod, east of Eden (Genesis 4: 16 New International Version). Told in third-person point of view by a narrator who sometimes offers annotations, swings among characters’ vantage points and even suspends the story with snippets of human history, East of Eden tackles the universal theme of good vs. evil, the fall of Adam and Eve and the bitter enmity of Abel and Cain. Dramatizing the societal sins of Salinas Valley and the individual members of the Trask and Hamilton clans, the novel aims to resolve the dilemma on how evil may be overcome by choice. Spanning the period between the American Civil War and the end of the First World War, it dovetails the lives of two brothers- the gentle Adam and the rough Charles. Adam marries the scheming Cathy who deceives him and ran off with Charles on the night of their wedding (Steinbeck, 2003). After giving birth to twin boys, Aron and Cal, Cathy leaves her children to Adam and returns to a life of debauchery. The rivalry between the siblings reignites as they vie for their father’s attention and approval (2003). The story is beautiful and revolting as it unravels the universal problem man has to face: choose to be good or remain on the dark side. The tone is somber, philosophical and perhaps even propitious. Showing how illustrious as a writer should be, Steinbeck is able to create characters with various tempers, contrasting them realistically as possible, polar opposites as one may say. There is Adam, who may very well be the archetype of good intentions and Cathy, the scheming prostitute whom Adam fell in love with. It is also Adam who has been deceived the most, reminiscent of the betrayal of the serpent in the biblical Eden. The novel is peppered with shades of Cain and Abel. In the same vein, the agony of parental rejection, an issue touched with the story of the biblical brothers, is again explored in the novel, like the acceptance of Adam’s puppy gift and the rejection of Charles’ knife gift, reminiscent of Abel’s accepted gift and the rejection of Cain. Cyrus Trask favored Adam over Charles, for no distinct reason. Later on, Adam repeats the cycle with his own sons, favoring Aron over Cal. Throughout the novel, the tension is palpable, giving the reader the proper stimulus to continue reading. It also helps that the setting, Salinas Valley is actually a real place, giving a pragmatic voice to the novel. The words used by Steinbeck are easy to read and understand , and is not loaded with so many symbols that would make the reader spend 98% figuring out what the symbols stood for rather than letting the words flow and grasping its essence. There are no flowery words, either. This is a good sign on the part of Steinbeck, allowing the readers to comprehend the gist without resulting in a head ache. The flow of the story is also commendable, especially as it expands from 1860 to 1918. The incorporation of â€Å"timshel† is also appropriate, fortifying the theme of good winning over evil, of human making the power to decide. East of Eden is grounded in pragmatism and the handling of good and evil may be simple but it speaks one universal truth: that there is good and there is evil and that human beings are flawed, perhaps influenced by their genes or shaped by circumstances, but they have the choice whether to follow that footstep and repeat the mistake or make their own paths and break the cycle. References Pearson, P. (1995). East of Eden. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from National Steinbeck Center Website: http://www. steinbeck. org .html Steinbeck, J. (2003). East of Eden. New York: Penguin Books.

Biography of Adolf Loos, Architect and Rebel

Biography of Adolf Loos, Architect and Rebel Adolf Loos (December 10, 1870–August 23, 1933) was a European architect who became more famous for his ideas and writings than for his buildings. He believed that reason should determine the way we build, and he opposed the decorative Art Nouveau movement, or, as it was known in Europe, Jugendstil. His notions about design influenced 20th-century modern architecture and its variations. Fast Facts: Adolf Loos Known For: Architect, critic of Art NouveauBorn: December 10, 1870, Brno, Czech RepublicParents: Adolf and Marie LoosDied: August 23, 1933, Kalksburg, AustriaEducation: Royal and Imperial State Technical College in Rechenberg, Bohemia, College of Technology in Dresden; Academy of Beaux Arts at ViennaFamous Writings: Ornament Crime; ArchitectureFamous Building: Looshaus (1910)  Spouse(s): Claire Beck (m. 1929–1931), Elsie Altmann (1919–1926) Carolina Obertimpfler (m. 1902–1905)Notable Quote: The evolution of culture is synonymous with the removal of ornamentation from objects of everyday use. Early Life Adolf Franz Karl Viktor Maria Loos was born December 10, 1870 in Brno (then Brà ¼nn), which is the South Moravian Region of what was then part of the Austria-Hungary Empire and is now the Czech Republic. He was one of four children born to Adolf and Marie Loos, but he was nine when his sculptor/stonemason father died. Although Loos refused to continue the family business, much to his mothers sorrow, he remained an admirer of the craftsmans design. He was not a good student, and it is said that by the age of 21 Loos was ravaged by syphilis- his mother disowned him by the time he was 23. Loos began studies at the Royal and Imperial State Technical College in Rechenberg, Bohemia and then spent a year in the military. He attended the College of Technology in Dresden for three years and the Academy of Beaux Arts in Vienna; but was a mediocre student and finished none of his degrees. Instead, he traveled, making his way to the United States, where he worked as a mason, a floor-layer, and a dishwasher. While in the U.S. to experience the Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893, he became impressed by the efficiency of American architecture, and he came to admire the work of Louis Sullivan. American architect Louis Sullivan is most famous for being part of the Chicago School and for his influential 1896 essay that suggested form follows function.  In 1892, however, Sullivan wrote about the application of ornamentation on the new architecture of the day. I take it as self-evident that a building, quite devoid of ornament, may convey a noble and dignified sentiment by virtue of mass and proportion, Sullivan begins his essay Ornament in Architecture. He then makes the modest proposal to refrain entirely from the use of ornament for a period of years and concentrate acutely upon the production of buildings well formed and comely in the nude. The idea of organic naturalness, with a concentration on architectural mass and volume, influenced not only Sullivans protege, Frank Lloyd Wright, but also the young architect from Vienna, Adolf Loos. Professional Years In 1896, Loos returned to Vienna and worked for the Austrian architect Karl Mayreder. By 1898, Loos had opened his own practice in Vienna and became friends with free-thinkers such as philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, expressionist composer Arnold Schà ¶nberg, and satirist Karl Kraus. The intellectual community of Vienna at the time of the Belle Epoque was made up of many artists, painters and sculptors and architects, as well as political thinkers and psychologists including Sigmund Freud: all were seeking in some way to rewrite the way society and morality functioned. Like many of his colleagues in Vienna, Loos beliefs extended to all areas of life, including architecture. He argued that the buildings we design reflect our morality as a society. The new steel frame techniques of the Chicago School demanded a new aesthetic- were cast iron facades cheap imitations of past architectural ornamentation? Loos believed that what hung on that framework should be as modern as the framework itself. Loos started his own school of architecture. His students included Richard Neutra and R. M. Schindler, both becoming famous after emigrating to the West Coast of the United States. Personal Life While Loos architecture was explicitly clean in line and structure, his personal life was a shambles. In 1902, he married 19-year-old drama student Carolina Catharina Obertimpfler, a drama student. The marriage ended in 1905 in disaster amidst a public scandal: he and Lina were close friends of Theodor Beer, an accused child pornographer and Loos tampered with the evidence, removing pornographic evidence from Beers apartment. In 1919, he married 20-year-old dancer and operetta star Elsie Altmann; they divorced in 1926. In 1928 he faced a pedophilia scandal–he was accused of having his young, poor models (aged 8–10) perform sex acts, and the main evidence against him was a collection of over 2,300 pornographic images of young girls. Elsie believed they were the same images removed from Theodor Beers apartment in 1905. Loos last marriage was at the age of 60 and his wife was 24-year-old Claire Beck, which also ended in divorce two years later. Loos was also quite ill through much of his creative life: he slowly became deaf as a result of the syphilis he contracted in his early twenties, and he was diagnosed with cancer in 1918 and lost his stomach, appendix and part of his intestines. He was exhibiting signs of dementia during his 1928 court case, and he had a stroke a few months before his death.   Architectural Style Loos-designed homes featured straight lines, clear and uncomplicated walls and windows, and clean curves. His architecture became physical manifestations of his theories, especially raumplan (plan of volumes), a system of contiguous, merging spaces. He designed exteriors without ornamentation, but interiors were rich in functionality and volume. Each room might be on a different level, with floors and ceilings set at different heights. Loos architecture was in stark contrast with the architecture of his Austrian contemporary, Otto Wagner. Representative buildings designed by Loos include many houses in Vienna, Austria - notably the Steiner House, (1910),  Haus Strasser (1918),  Horner House (1921),  Rufer House (1922), and the Moller House (1928).  However, Villa  Mà ¼ller (1930) in Prague, Czechoslovakia is one of his most studied designs, for its seemingly simple exterior and complex interior. Other designs outside Vienna include a house in Paris, France for the Dada artist Tristan Tzara (1926) and the  Khuner Villa (1929) in  Kreuzberg, Austria.   Loos was one of the first modern architects to use mirrors to expand interior spaces. The interior entry to the 1910 Goldman Salatsch Building, often called the Looshaus, is made into a surreal, endless foyer with two opposing mirrors. The construction of Looshaus created quite a scandal for pushing Vienna into modernity. Famous Quotes: Ornament and Crime Adolf Loos is best-known for his 1908 essay Ornament and Verbrechen, translated as Ornament Crime. This and other essays by Loos describe the suppression of decoration as necessary for modern culture to exist and evolve beyond past cultures. Ornamentation, even body art like tattoos, is best left for primitive people, like the natives of Papua.  The modern man who tattoos himself is either a criminal or a degenerate, Loos writes. There are prisons in which eighty per cent of the inmates show tattoos. The tattooed who are not in prison are latent criminals or degenerate aristocrats. The urge to ornament ones face and everything within reach is the start of plastic art. Ornament does not heighten my joy in life or the joy in life of any cultivated person. If I want to eat a piece of gingerbread I choose one that is quite smooth and not a piece representing a heart or a baby or a rider, which is covered all over with ornaments. The man of the fifteenth century wont understand me. But all modern people will. Freedom from ornament is a sign of spiritual strength. Death Nearly deaf from syphilis and cancer by age 62, Adolf Loos died in Kalksburg near Vienna, Austria on August 23, 1933. His self-designed gravestone in Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof) in Vienna is a simple block of stone with only his name engraved- no ornamentation. Legacy Adolf Loos extended his architectural theories in his 1910 essay Architektur, translated as Architecture. Decrying that architecture had become a graphic art, Loos argues that a well-made building cannot be honestly represented on paper, that plans do not appreciate the beauty of bare stone, and that only the architecture of monuments should be classified as art- other architecture, everything that serves some practical purpose, should be ejected from the realm of art. Loos wrote that modern dress is that which draws least attention to itself, which is Loos legacy to modernism. This idea that anything beyond the functional should be omitted was a modern idea worldwide. The same year Loos first published his essay on ornamentation, the French artist Henri Matisse (1869–1954) issued a similar proclamation about the composition of a painting. In the 1908 statement Notes of a Painter, Matisse wrote that everything not useful in a painting is harmful. Although Loos has been dead for decades, his theories about architectural complexity are often studied today, especially to begin a discussion about ornamentation. In a high-tech, computerized world where anything is possible, the modern student of architecture must be reminded that just because you are able do something, should you? Sources Andrews, Brian. Ornament and Materiality in the Work of Adolf Loos. Material Making: The Process of Precedent, 2010. Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, p. 438Colomina, Beatriz. Sex, Lies and Decoration: Adolf Loos and Gustav Klimt. Thresholds.37 (2010): 70–81. PrintLoos, Adolf. Architecture. 1910. Loos, Adolf. Ornament and Crime. 1908. Rukschcio, Burkhardt, Schachel, Roland L. (Roland Leopold), 1939- and Graphische Sammlung Albertina Adolf Loos, Leben und Werk. Residenz Verlag, Salzburg, 1982.Schwartz, Frederic J. Architecture and Crime: Adolf Loos and the Culture of the Case. The Art Bulletin 94.3 (2012): 437-57. Print.Sullivan, Louis. Ornament in Architecture. The Engineering Magazine, 1892, Svendsen, Christina. Hiding in Plain Sight: Problems of Modernist Self-Representation in the Encounter between Adolf Loos and Josephine Baker. Mosaic: An Interdisciplinary Critical Journal 46.2 (2013): 19–37. Print.Tournikiotis,  Panayotis. Adolf Loos. Princeton Architectural Press, 2002

Abraham Lincoln And Emancipation

Abraham Lincoln And Emancipation Introduction One of the speckles which President Abraham Lincoln had during his tenure as the president of the United States was the issuance of the executive order which stalled the rampant slavery in America. This proclamation was named as Proclamation 95 which targeted the enslaved over 3.5 million African American. As a result of this proclamation, these slaves were emancipated and thus their civil rights were immediately elevated to the status of their former masters. This executive order was issued on January 1, 1863. This executive order retired the retrogressive Fugitive Slave Act which was passed in the year 1850 and provided a mechanism over which errant slaves were to be handled. Prior to the emancipation, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 allowed for the immediate return of runaway slaves or be branded as contraband and thus kept in reserved slave prisons. In the year 1861 during the month of December, President Lincoln expressed his delight with the free labor systems in his message. In addition, he also indicated his desire to see universal human rights to all American citizens. This came amidst pressure from various concerned citizens who directly confronted the president to halt the slavery given that it brought more harm than good to the union. The persistent rallies and direct letters addressed to the president pushed him to proclaim emancipation after the Congress passed a law barring any form of slavery in all the states. The returning of slaves, as well as reconviction of former slaves, was abolished and thus those who were considered as un-free citizens obtained their full freedom just like their former masters. They were incorporated in the army as w ell as other state organization which enabled them to begin fending for themselves contrary to the past where they fully relied on their masters for basic requirements Implementation On 22 September the year 1862, the preliminary announcement concerning the official endorsement of emancipation was availed to the Congress members. The official documentation and proclamation came 100 days later. This declaration demanded that all the slaves were to be freed by any means possible even in those states which had yet been reinstated under the federal government. These states included North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina. This executive order was to be implemented immediately even though some slave masters fiercely opposed this move by the president. However, the wave of change was so immense that no hardline slave master could dare face it. Consequences The consequences that accompanied the emancipation proclamation were numerous. However, Paradis (2012) records that the emancipation proclamation did not manage to afford freedom to any single slave. In his own analysis, emancipation was a hoax which rather was meant to tighten the grip on the slave trade. On the flip, the executive order which saw the inception of emancipation proclamation had massive impacts on the journey to realizing full freedom to the African American slaves. As a result, there are numerous accounts which support the fact that freedom to the slaves was witnessed even on the same day when the president signed the emancipation proclamation. Nonetheless, this does not mean that all the slaves got their freedom immediately. Some were informed about their full freedom after a while. In as much as there was verbal opposition by the slave masters concerning the emancipation proclamation, no physical struggle was reported between the slaves and their former masters. In fact, this proclamation set the foundation over which the long-awaited American freedom was to be built. The abolition of the slave trade was very fundamental towards the plight of unity and peace in the United States. During this time, foundational facilities such as schools, shelters, and medical facilities were developed for the former slaves as a quick way of normalizing them into the American society. Previously, the slaves were mercilessly utilized by the authorities as well as private owner to accomplish various activities such social works among others. When the news of emancipation came about, word of mouth was the main medium of propagation. This in effect gave rise to further confusion in slave camps given that many did not believe such a thing could happen. Political Influence The emancipation proclamation was fiercely opposed by Democrats who cited the negative impacts that the proclamation was bound to yield instead of promoting unity and equality among the Americans. Weber in her book published in the year 2008 records that most Democrats predicted increased violence and other forms of civil disobedience that would follow such proclamation. In their own view, the union would remain stronger only if the slavery was further improved. Some Democrats even went to the extreme and thus indicated that the president abused his power by the issuance of such illegal executive order. The aspect of imminent racism further complicated the whole situation and thus varied opinions were generated concerning this executive order. Open disagreements were witnessed from both sides of the party and thus everybody came up with his or her view concerning the emancipation proclamation. This in effect led to multiple splits within both the Democrats and the Republican parties. Not long after the signing of the emancipation proclamation, the president suspended two of his highly ranked party members. In effect, some voters who were strongly affiliated to these two officials, as well as those Democrats who voted for Lincoln, rebelled against him citing fears over the president’s behavior which they perceived as irrational. More effect was witnessed during the 1862 general election where the Democratic Party gained additional 28 seats and also won the governor seat of New York. During this time, Lincoln himself did not see these encroachments into his backyards as a major issue because he regarded them as meager. Confederate Response Given the mixed atmosphere around the emancipation proclamation, the Confederates were not left out in this tussle. Immediately after the inception of the emancipation proclamation, many African Americans were incorporated into the army ranks, a move which profusely angered the Confederates. To prove their disappointment, they enacted a law which targeted African American in the battlefield. This law provided that any African American who was caught fighting against the Confederacy was to be held and charged in court with slave insurrectionist. This civil wrong warranted any guilty party a lifetime imprisonment. Even though some confederates supported this emancipation of the African Americans hoping that it would allow them to be fixed in the army, some could not stomach it and thus they proceeded and murdered African American soldiers as a swift retaliation. As a reiteration of their deep commitment to promoting slavery through any means possible, the confederates collectively agre ed to hike the prices of slaves. Indeed, the Confederates considered the emancipation proclamation as a slap on their faces. International Influence At the moment when Lincoln decided to emancipate the African American slaves, most countries over the world had already abolished the slave trade. This gave him a boost in his quest to create an equal America given that the foreign support was overwhelming. Consequentially, the Confederates lost any glimpse of hope which they had concerning their official recognition from other nations. Even though Britain officially opposed the slave trade in the southern confederate, most of her companies continued to indulge in development activities within the Confederate region. The emancipation proclamation also enabled Lincoln to attract international leaders who previously opposed the ongoing civil war. Above all, the African Americans received a victory that they cannot compare to any. Building bridges and even forgetting about the slavery was massively achieved given the full support that the president threw behind the emancipation proclamation. By the time the civil war was ending, most pe ople were afraid that the traditional slavery laws would be reinstated given that they considered emancipation proclamation as a tool which Lincoln used to win the civil war. However, Lincoln expressed his ambition to abolish in totality any element of the slave trade and thus he managed to secure a second term in office. This is because most citizens pledged to support the former slaves in any way possible that would prevent them from accessing their full freedom.

Consumer Rights and Protection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Consumer Rights and Protection - Essay Example Moreover, the US Federal Trade Commission helps in the passage of the bill by creating the software â€Å"Do Not Track,† which prevents advertisers from monitoring the online activity of web users. The US Consumer privacy bill of rights was formulated after several alleged sharing of consumer information among companies that sell video games and gadgets. This information was randomly solicited and was even just casually asked from visitors who would occasionally visit the sites. The privacy bill will therefore strictly enforce companies to make sure that collected data should not be used for another company, and that disclosures must be presented t consumers at all times. Moreover, the efforts of the United States government in executing the privacy bill of rights is somehow also based on the fact that European governments have done the same with their web companies, email providers and social networking sites. Summary #2 Based on the article, big US banks have been increasing their rates when it comes to the handling of checking accounts. Among these banks include Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Citibank and JPMorgan Chase. Changes involve the introduction of fees ranging from $7 to $25 a month, which translates to around $300 a year. Aside from these, the big banks have their own way of charging hidden fees and interchange fees anytime their services are used by their clients, such as in the use of debit cards while making purchases. In fact, consumers have reacted to these changes with anger and resentment especially because they knew how expensively these banks would normally pay their top executives, like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase who received a salary of $20 million in 2011. The aforementioned big US banks used to charge only small fees for their checking account maintenance. However, there have been amendments in the bank regulations that caused banks to maximize the number of overdrafts, increasing the number of charges and manipulating purchas e sequences so that the customer will have to pay higher fees. The higher fees were in fact viewed by the public as a part of a â€Å"regressive and unfair system† and was something that these banks would strategically employ in order to prey on human weaknesses. However, although consumers will surely suffer from having to handle these charges, there is a solution – resorting to credit unions and smaller banks that are friendlier when it comes to fees. This explains the jolly but somewhat paradoxical nature of the article’s title: â€Å"Higher Fees? Let’s Celebrate!† The jolly tone means that the author seems to be telling consumers that had the big banks not overly abused them, they would not have found better options on where to put their money. Now, since bank clients have been transferring their money from the big banks to the small ones, the greedy and inefficient big banks have to suffer as a consequence. This natural effect is explained by the idea that American capitalism usually does not favor the companies who are greedy and inefficient. Nevertheless, last year only 1 out of 14 Americans were able to make a decision to transfer their checking accounts from the big banks to the smaller banks and credit unions. Thanks to the formulation and passage of many regulations that benefited the consumer: the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act as well as the Consumer Protection Act,