Montaigne Response Essay Example for Free

Montaigne Response Essay It is no secret Europeans have conquered not only new lands, but their neighbors on the Continent too, by lying and deceit since the days of Ancient Rome. Montaigne remarked on how â€Å"better bred sort of men†, i.e. the Europeans, are more curious and discover more than their uncivilized counterparts in the New World. Because of their â€Å"superior† breeding, this essentially allowed them to lie and explain things in order to positively affect them. Montaigne remarked on how when meeting a â€Å"plain ignorant fellow† of the New World, he appeared more likely to tell the truth, solely because he was uncivilized in the eyes of the Europeans. As he puts it, the Europeans cannot help but alter the story, never representing things how they are, but how they appeared to them. To contrast this, the Cannibal is just a simple, ignorant fellow, who tells things exactly as they are without distorting any facts or evidence. He is not capable of changing the story to suit his needs. That concept particularly stood out to me because it made me realize that the smarter, more educated, and arguably more civilized someone is, the better they are with words and the more likely they are to alter a story for personal gain. The primitive peoples of the New World were not capable of the high level deception and treachery the Europeans were. That is not to say that they were not capable of being just as cruel to their fellow man as the Europeans were, but as Montaigne puts it, lying, treachery, dissimulation, avarice, envy, detraction, pardon; they were unfamiliar concepts to the Cannibals. One question that transcends time is why some nations or peoples were able to conquer and subject others. There are many theories and arguments to answer this but I am going to make the case that it is because some can deceive and others cannot. For example, white fur traders in the early 1800s were able to get Native Americans addicted to whiskey, often diluted, and â€Å"flavored† with tobacco juice. Still, it had its desired effect and it left many tribes clamoring for more. Once the Native Americans inherent weakness for whiskey was known, fur traders and land speculators used the firewater to obtain Indian lands and furs. What is the theme of this glimpse from the past? The same words Michel de Montaigne used to describe what his Europeans colleagues were capable of; lying, treachery, dissimulation, avarice, envy, detraction and pardon. It seems to be a common theme when one people are taking over another. The concept of European superiority in the 16th century was no doubt reinforced by the magnificent art and culture that was blossoming during the Renaissance. Besides the Orient, the world was unknown, undiscovered and above all, not Christian. The Popes of the time were all too happy to commission expeditions to baptize the New World. The themes of avarice, treachery and cruelty are not exclusive to Europe, however the Europeans were able to export it on a global scale. These themes exist all over the world in every country, they are human traits, but it was the Europeans who left the Continent to conquer and kill, for God, Gold, and Glory. Cunning though they may have been, Montaigne hit the nail on the head when he remarked on European’s ability to distort the facts and to deceive the â€Å"lesser† peoples of the New World.

Characterization within the Drama Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare Hamlet E

Characterization within the Drama Hamlet  Ã‚        Ã‚   The purpose of this essay is to enlighten the reader regarding the characters in Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet – whether they are three-dimensional or two-dimensional, dynamic or static, etc.    The genius of the Bard is revealed in his characterization. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt in Literature of the Western World examine the universal appeal of   Shakespeare resulting from his â€Å"sharply etched characters†:    Every age from Shakespeare’s time to the present has found something different in him to admire. All ages, however, have recognized his supreme skill in inventing sharply etched characters; it frequently happens that long after one has forgotten the exact story of a play one remembers its people with absolute vividness. (2155-56)    Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts† comment on the propensity of the Bard for well-rounded characters in Hamlet: â€Å"We feel that they are living beings with problems that are perennially human† (62).    Hamlet has over 20 characters with speaking roles; in occupations from king to grave-digger; and in 20 different scenes; and with a differentiation in speech, actions, etc. between every single individual character. Where else can such great variety in characterization be found? This aspect of the dramatist is emphasized by Robert B. Heilman in â€Å"The Role We Give Shakespeare†; he says that this variety is â€Å"graspable and possessable to many men at odds with each other, because of the innumerableness of the parts† (10).    The play begins with the changing of the sentinels on a guard platform of the castle of Elsinore in Denmark. Recently the spectral likeness of dead ... ...e.† Essays on Shakespeare. Ed. Gerald Chapman. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1965.    Levin, Harry. General Introduction. The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http://www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos.    Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. â€Å"Shakespeare.† Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1992.    Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. â€Å"Hamlet: A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts.† Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p.: Pocket Books, 1958.         

Negative Effects of Technology on Kids

Are you aware of what’s happening in the present? Youth has becoming more active in using the internet and other modern technology nowadays. But do you know what the effects of this are? After you took long hours in front of the computer, are you dizzy and running out of breath? Feeling thirsty and very hot, your eyes can’t see clearly, and your hands and fingers are shaking and tired of typing? Do you also know that if that is repeatedly happening to you, it may lead to a disorder or illness you haven’t known for sure? Too much radiation is bad for us and has bad effects to our health, so be aware.Technology does not only affect our health, but also other aspects of our life. As I browse the internet, I have come across this article entitled The Effects of Modern Technology on Kids by Lisa Evans. This tackles about the four negative effects of technology on kids. First is the effect on brain development of a child. UCLA Professor Patricia Greenfield said that wh ile students create multitasking ability and visual reasoning skills which enable them to see and process information quickly, their attention span has also decreases.In a result, they are having a hard time to solve more complex problems which require time and concentration. Technology makes the thinking skills weak and although it strengthens visual reasoning skills, it also contributes to poor eye sight. Second is about the disadvantages on immediate access to information. With the internet becoming the source of all, students tend to become lazy and just depend on all the information given from the internet. But anyone who is not so careful and knowledgeable about surfing the internet may lead to a danger.Not all the information there are facts, truthful, and reliable because most of them are edited, and some sites are x-rated or pornographic, so it is very important for the parents to monitor their children about the source they will find. Third, concerning about social relatio nships, modern technology has also affected this. Instant messaging through cell phones and chatting through social networking sites have been a way to communicate of the present generation. Because of this, youth became used to keep in touch with other people impersonally.In addition, they are not anymore going outside their houses to play with other children, and socialize or talk to other people. Last is the effect of technology on the health of youth. More and more students at this time are suffering to neck and back pain because of improper posture using laptops and computers. According to Ken Harwood of the American Physical Therapy Association, there is also an increase in the diagnosis of repetitive stress injuries among the kids with the age of at least 8 years old.In the final analysis, although innovation and improvement on technology brings about development and benefits to people, we can still identify the disadvantages of it to our lives especially to youth. We should be responsible in using modern technology because every act we do affects us. It is better to be careful than to take the risk of doing the things which entertain us, but have negative results. Before we end up regretting in doing the wrong thing, let us think first and follow the right path.

Achieving Knowledge Through Higher Education

Newman presents an argument in which he states that a universitys purpose is to train good members of society. A university educates students to perform well and better succeed in life. Knowledge plays a key part in the advancement of the student. The more knowledge a student has, the more well-rounded they are, the better they will succeed in life according to Newman. The way a student achieves this knowledge is through higher education, which is basically achieved through a university. Higher education is the center and key element of all civilization advancements. That is one of the primary definitions that comes to mind when asked about higher education at a university. Another definition about higher learning at a university is for oneself to learn who he or she really is in life. That person is also responsible for forming some kind of lifestyle according to what he or she has grasped onto from the university way of living. Many people also consider as true that a university is a place to receive a proof that he or she is qualified to work in a particular field of study as a professional. Each person should have the right to attend an educational institution seeking their own interpretation of higher learning. There are some people that have the resources, whether it be wealth or academically, to access higher learning at a university, but for those who do not, they have to be content with what they have learned through earlier years of school to succeed in life. A better understanding of each facet of education comes from understanding the dependence of each subject upon one another. Each subject is a branch of education and every branch stems from the same tree. Some branches diverge and have twigs and branches of their own, but everything is joined at the root. Education is very similar because each branch of knowledge relies on the other in order to advance. For example, science relies on language to document and publish experimental results. If these findings are published inaccurately, other scientists who use these publications in their own research will be misinformed. Each subject relies on another in some way. It is easier to understand each branch of the tree better if you can see how it is involved universally: where it stemmed from, and how it is dependent upon other branches; what branches stemmed from it, and how they are dependent upon it. Newman says,  ¡Ã‚ °true enlargement of mind  ¡ is the power of viewing many things at once as one whole, of referring them severally to their true place in the universal system, of understanding their respective values, and determining their mutual dependence. Newman is saying quite directly that in order to understand something, it must be looked at as one component of a universal picture. He is saying that when something is closely examined, there are no guidelines or basis for comparison, but when it is looked at universally, it is easier to see relationships and similarities making innovations more attainable. For example, the mathematical operations of algebra fulfill many practical needs in science. The ability to find values for unknown variables within sets of equations is a tool that science heavily relies on. The reason algebra is so conveniently practical in relation to science is because it was developed as a tool for science. The tools of algebra would not be present if Diophantus, the developer of algebra, had not been aware of the overall conditions his mathematical system needed to fulfill. Algebra serves society through science and its accomplishments. From building a nuclear reactor to altering chromosomes in a person's genetic makeup, every scientific field originates back to the basic rules of algebra. All of the groundbreaking advancements in society through science are functions of this mathematical tool developed to aid and expand science. Newman says that the purpose of the university is to develop your brain for the future. It broadens your mind and basically trains you for what is to come. It gives an individual a clear conscious to form their own opinions and judgments, a truth in developing them, an eloquence in expressing them, and a force in urging them(73). I agree with what he says throughout this passage. A university doesnt necessarily produce individuals that professionalize in one particular area. It helps the minds of the students develop and turn into mature beings. Higher education exists in many forms of definitions in life, but it is a decision that every person that enters a university must make of which interpretation pertains to his or herself. Everyone will approach it in their own way, but it remains to been seen who will flourish into the world as a well-rounded person on their conclusion. The decisions that we make as individuals dictate the lives that we lead in society.

Capital Punishment misc3 essays

Capital Punishment misc3 essays My opinion on capital punishment is very shaky because of the unstable facts and controversy surrounding this topic. I personally, am caught somewhere in the middle of deciding on being for or against the death penalty. I am for the death penalty for several reasons: I think that we need to get the hardened criminals off the streets and out of our court and jail systems. The death penalty is ultimately the only choice that creates that, even though the accused will be on death row and appealing his/her conviction. I also feel that in some situations the crime of murder is so heinous and vulgar that the guilty party deserves to be put to death. I would like to say that I like the death penalty because it is cheaper than prison, but I would need to see the numbers to compare. My last reason for being for the death penalty is a killer should be killed. I also have a few reasons to be against the death penalty. Does capital punishment really deter crime? I feel that we should not put a person to death just so that person can be the posterboy/girl for crime deterrent. And does a killer really think about that before murdering someone? I also have on my conscience that "thou shalt not kill" is the seventh commandment and killing would be a sin against God, but than again I am not in the jury box, or doing the final deed. I have some further thoughts on capital punishment. I think that capital punishment is far from being cruel and unusual punishment. And in my mind you should be killed for any degree of murder. I don't believe that the death penalty discriminates against minorities because no matter what color skin you can make the choice to commit or not to commit a crime. I also think that we should believe strongly in our court system and know that is has the ability to make the decision of guilt or innocence, and if someone is on death row there should be no doubt in the fact that they belong there. ...

Integrated Natural Sciences(Biology, Physic's,Chemsitry,Human Anatomy) Assignment

Integrated Natural Sciences(Biology, Physic's,Chemsitry,Human Anatomy) - Assignment Example Hence it is very helpful and useful to study science using an integrated approach. 2. Explain the LIMITATIONS of science and how science differs from other areas such as art and religion (Science’s domain is based on evidence; whereas religion and art domain’s center upon belief, aesthetics, etc) Science demands proof whereas the domain of religion and art depend upon beliefs and aesthetics. That is why questions like ‘what is the purpose of life?’ or ‘Does God exist?’ cannot be researched by science. 2. Explain what happens to the gravitational force when there is a change in mass and/or distance. The gravitational force increases/decreases proportionally with the change in mass but is inversely proportional to the square of the distance. 1. Explain the role of gravity in the formation of solar systems and galaxies. Stars start of as a cloud of gas and dust. Due to gravitational forces they clump together and contract. This contraction increases the temperatures and initiates nuclear fusion. Similarly the left over materials clump together to form planets. 3. Why does the same side of the Moon always face the Earth? The gravitational pull from the earth slows down the rotation of the moon. The moon revolves around at the same speed at which it is orbiting and hence the same side of the moon always faces the earth. 4. Explain the relationship between thermal energy and gravitational force in a star’s life cycle. The greater the gravitational pull, the greater is the pressure experiences by the gases which increases their thermal energy. Both the forces are proportional to the product of their charge and mass respectively and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The difference between these two is that gravitational force is always attractive while electrical force may be attractive or repulsive. In transverse waves, the wave propagates perpendicular to the direction of motion, for example,

Observational Research Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Observational Research - Assignment Example Nordstrom Incorporation and Bloomingdale’s are key players in the US’s upscale retail market of fashion industry. The two actors have maintained successful business both online and in their respective physical outlets in different states across the country. This paper is a report about an observational research of the two retailers’ business activities on their official websites and at their physical business locations. The researcher intended to secretly seek answers to unclear marketing issues by disguising as a curious shopper. First, following its founding by Nordstrom John W. and Wallin Carl F. in the early 20th century, Nordstrom’s mission was to serve the upscale market with fashionable items from its head offices in Seattle, Washington. The organization has since grown its business to include stocks of shoes, clothing, handbags, jewelry, and beauty products such as cosmetics and perfumes. In Nordstrom, there were wedding and home decoration products for would-be couples. I realized that the company’s website is stocked with a variety of the goods, but a visit at the physical location of the business revealed much more of the goods available for consumers than could be updated on the online store. On the other hand, I realized that Bloomingdales is also a significant player in the American high-end market. The company was set up in 1861 by Macys, Inc. For more than a century, Nordstrom has been one of its main market rivals in the country. And following the advent of the Internet in the second half of the 20th century, it is clear that Bloomingdales took its products to the online store; a platform upon which it seeks to expand its market share. The performance of the online stores is therefore rated as follows: best (1), better (2), good, (3); bad (4); and worse (5) as written in table 1. The rating is based on the quality of stock and client