What are the main causes of social exclusion Essay Example

What are the main causes of social exclusion Paper Social exclusion occurs where individuals become excluded from mainstream society, thus placing them at a disadvantage in terms of life chances. Contrary to the common view that social exclusion is confined only to council estates, individuals from teenage mothers to older adults of various socio-economic levels and family types can easily become excluded from society. This essay shall explain the common occurrences of social exclusion within council estates and their causes. I shall then proceed to discuss the strategies used by various housing organisations to combat the problem. According to the government the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Social exclusion is a shorthand term for what can happen when people or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as unemployment, poor skills, low incomes, poor housing, high crime environments, bad health and family breakdown1. We will write a custom essay sample on What are the main causes of social exclusion specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What are the main causes of social exclusion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What are the main causes of social exclusion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To be excluded from society is not a situation exclusive to residents of council estates suffering from disrepair; individuals become excluded from society when various factors2 prevent or limit their ability and opportunity to participate in the mainstream of society. The following are commonly reported examples of social exclusion. One of the most common examples of social exclusion occurs in council estates, where the residents are generally not content with their living conditions but feel it is the best they can gain. They typically spend most of their time in the home or around the estate, rarely venturing out of the surrounding area. The majority of their life surrounds socialising with family and friends. This estate life is therefore important to them because it occupies such a large part of their lives and provides the large majority of their social contacts. Such a resident will have relatively low levels of aspiration and motivation, which is commonly the result of feeling stuck in low-level employment3 or having to rely on social security and other benefits for a relatively long duration. This is known as the benefits trap. They are also poorly qualified4 and skilled, sometimes with low levels of literacy. The type of people who live in this situation do not perceive the high rates of joblessness or increasing disrepair on their estate as significant problems and take it all in their stride. As a result, they accept: o The level of crime, caused mainly by drugs misuse and the anti-social behaviour of other residents. o Their actual and expected levels of relatively low personal achievement and educational attainment. o Qualities in their environment that wouldnt normally be accepted within mainstream society, such as prolonged disrepair and noise pollution for instance. o High levels of pressure from peers to conform to their activities and standards. The main cause of this common example of social exclusion was the major shift from the manufacturing industries to service industries, mainly over the last two decades. This shift was propelled mainly by the fall of the Keynesian economics and the rise in free market economics. The Thatcherism approach adopted by the conservative government of that time also increased the competitiveness of the services sector, thus improving the sector for the public and making the sector more efficient and profitable. This made many redundant from society as a large proportion of people that were skilled in the manufacturing sector made unemployed and left in a generally unsuccessful search for employment. This is because they are not skilled or experienced in the service industry. This was further worsened by the use of ineffective5 and inflexible housing policies; the under funding of public services, which in turn led to the deterioration and withdrawal of public services from housing estates. As a direct result, those that could move out of the area6, did move out of the area, resulting in the residualisation of the social renting sector as council housing becomes a service for those who can not afford to buy (Forrest and Murie, 1990)7. The housing estates have become poorer places with more unemployed residents, less adequate services and a poorer physical and social environment. When those with the opportunity leave the area, it becomes much more difficult to reverse the process of residualisation through renewal and regeneration of the estate. On the other hand, various factors such as inertia, the feeling of little worth and not being able to aspire to achieve more, lack of security, poor educational facilities for children, poor job prospects and a worsening environment, are all valid reasons to move away. Having grown up in the area, however, many feel tied and are reluctant to leave, despite the fact that the quality of the area has deteriorated. It is easy for single parent families to become excluded from society, when there is little or no support available within reach. This is another common example of social exclusion. Most of the young people in such a situation who had been jobless since leaving school had also experienced a troubled upbringing and an unstable family background; many came from broken homes and had been brought up by various different adults, the partners of one of the birth parents, for example. This causes disruption in the childs life on various levels including education. Many studies into this area display a relationship between poor childhoods leading into a poor adulthood, causing repeating generational life cycles. This leads onto the next common example of social exclusion There has been an increasing governmental interest of the government in the anti-social behaviour of teenagers growing into anti-social young adults. More positive attitudes to work and life can be found amongst young people whose parents were working or had worked for most of their lives but on a low wage. There is increasing awareness of the social exclusion of pensioners, especially those found on council estates. They are scared to leave their home, and so choose not to unless absolutely necessary. There is no adequate support for them and there are recently reported high levels of poverty8 amongst pensioners, as those with supplementary incomes rely solely on governmental assistance. About one million pensioners have no income other than the state retirement pension and benefits. Their vulnerability is underlined by figures showing that they spend about half as much on food as those with private incomes. Those with supportive children rely on them to perform basic task such as essential shopping and they are usually the main source of their social contact. Without this, they become prisoners in their own home, paranoid and reclusive, increasing their risk of mental and physical health problems. Other types of individuals that can become excluded from society are ethnic minorities being both a minority in the country neighbourhood, ex-offenders and the homeless and their difficulties with rehabilitation, people with language difficulties, medical problems, and mental health. Due to their heavy dependence on their local area, local facilities of all types are needed. The stigma and reputation of areas further affects residents in seeking jobs and in a variety of other contexts (Lee, 1998)9. Typical qualities as described by Professor Paul Spicker of poor estates are10: o Vandalism As a result of the inadequate space for children and teenagers to play, both in or out of their home. o Rubbish It may cost money that the local authority does not have to pay for the removal of large items of rubbish (such as old furniture). o Home maintenance The maintenance of homes and gardens costs money for equipment, which many poor people do not have. o Lack of community facilities Shops and facilities are not economically viable and so are not invested in. o Empty housing Housing is left empty because the area is unattractive. In comparison, a bad house in a good area would still be taken. o Design There is a clear connection between bad design and problems such as vandalism, rubbish and graffiti. The problems with high-rise blocks have been lack of play space, isolation, disposal of rubbish; noise insulation, reliance on lifts which are often dirty, vandalised or broken; inadequate water pressure, and insecurity because of fears of fire, building movement or crime. Housing organisations are in place to aid the implementation of the housing policies and legislation of the government. In further detail, housing organisations are in place to improve housing services and facilities, making them more effective; improving educational and employment opportunities, which invests in the future generation in the area; to manage funding and to improve the level of tenant involvement through participation and consultation. This helps to determine the needs of the community and its area, giving their strategies the increased likelihood of being effective in the particular area. This also enables the decision makers to prioritise more effectively and makes the tenants feel more involved, as they are aware of the activities within their own area. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation11 is one of the most prominent charities in the UK in this sector. It aims to contribute towards policy making and the development and implementation of current policies through their extensive research in the areas of housing, social care and social policy. Another housing organisation contributing towards the improvement of the social housing sector is the Housing Corporation12 who provides funding using public money for housing associations to provide sufficient homes and services for its residents. Through regulation, the Housing Corporation ensures that these homes and supporting services remain sufficient to the needs of their residents for the foreseeable future. Such social housing organisations are taking on a much larger and influential role in the governmental drive for economic regeneration through social regeneration. This means that through past experience of failed and poorly designed strategies, the government now acknowledges that they must improve the public that they serve and their quality of life for the economy to improve. The following is a summary of a good practice case study carried out by the Housing Corporation on the East Thames Housing Group: o The East Thames Housing Group13 is based in Stratford, East London and currently possesses eight thousand units. o They are involved in the Single Regeneration Budget14 and the City Challenge15 and are said to have good links with local authorities. o With the help of funding from the European Union, the ETHG ran two series of a project entitled Youthstart16 throughout the years of 1995 to 1999. Youthstart was aimed at young people who are viewed by the government as being the most vulnerable to social exclusion. o Through Youthstart, the young people who took part in the project were provided with accommodation, training and further enhancement of their employment opportunities. According to a new study by David Page, the governments war against social exclusion and anti-social behaviour is a race against time to prevent already troubled social housing estates from deteriorating further17. The increasing popularity and frequency of use of the term social exclusion reflects the governments appreciation of the importance of this large issue. As mentioned previously, individuals of various socio-economic levels can easily become excluded from society. Social exclusion is not just about being poor and living on a council estate; it is about literally not fitting in with society. This encompasses an individual not being able or having the feeling that they are not able to go about daily duties that the average member of society performs. This includes shopping, travelling and socialising, but to name a few. Housing organisations such as the Housing Corporation are funded by the Single Regeneration Budget and the City Challenge. Housing organisations are also developing their intra-organisational relations by involving themselves in various anti-poverty projects, mainly through the New Deal for communities18 and social exclusion projects through the Social Exclusion Unit. The deterioration of council housing stock has intensified the social divide between home owners and council tenants. Disadvantaged residents and their areas require constant attention and support. The levels of tight to insignificant budgets and mismanagement of staff and funding have left public services in a poor condition. This needs to be improved if they are to contribute towards the betterment of the troubled estates. Whether such council estates will improve or continue to decline will depend on the response of its residents and the efforts of the local government and their housing organisations. More needs to be done to retain the current residents on the currently troubled council estates in order to prevent further residualisation of the social housing sector. Participation in community-based activities is an important mechanism for social inclusion19. Tenant involvement through the constant use of consultation and participation is one of the major solutions to social exclusion on council estates. It is likely that initial efforts will be met with resistance but persistence is necessary if attitudes are to be changed reversed in order to function in the mainstream of society, rather than anti-socially. The government and their housing organisations have lost the trust of those that have become excluded from society and left to take care of themselves. This has inadvertently created an exodus of people with particular group norms that do not fit in with mainstream society and so are considered anti-social. Those that are socially excluded but do not fit into such group norms are greater victims, as they are totally alone and so receive the worst treatment. More consultation and tenant participation in plans for regenerating the area. This will provide a greater sense of commitment for the residents and enable them to take more pride in their neighbourhood.

Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND

Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND Introduction Claude Debussy (1862-1918) was a French pianist and composer whose exceptional work in technical composition made him one of the most prominent composers of his era.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He is considered to be the founder of modern sensualist compositions, creating a new trend in musical performance by use of contemporary scales and a diversity of tonal arrangements, greatly influenced by Russian compositions and Eastern cultures. He had the unique ability of collectively assimilating different tonal variations simultaneously to form a richer unified reminiscent resonance which earned him the title of a musical impressionist. His mastery in solo piano saw the addition of Preludes to his repertoire, which until his contribution were not regarded as important in musical composition. Deb ussy composed the entire collection of preludes over a period of three years (1910-1913) and divided them into two separate books, each book containing twelve preludes. Preludes The 24 Preludes composed by Debussy in book 1 and 2 are short musical pieces that are meant to put across a specific atmosphere or feeling which is pointed out by the title of each piece. The titles are placed at the foot of each peace to allow the pianist and the audience to inwardly interpret the music before they get to understand the composer’s perspective (Harpole 1986). The Preludes are considered to be among the epitome of the composer’s keyboard mastery, but even Debussy himself admitted that not all the preludes received the commendation he had hoped for. West wind What the West wind saw (Ce qu’a vu le vent douest) is the seventh of the twelve preludes in Claude Debussys first book of preludes. The piece begins with tension preceded by a metrical build up of the bass which eleva tes the tension present in the music (Roberts 1996). The build up of the bass is gradual and then rapidly explodes with two tonal variations the high pitched tones in the registry giving out a howling sound while a growling sound emanates from the lower pitch tones to give a cumulative effect of rage and destruction (Harpole 1986).Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Like most of the other preludes, Debussy withholds from the latent use of imagery and instead bases What the West wind saw entirely on musical and harmonic texture. He creatively replicates the natural sound of wind to produce the wailing, loud and moving sounds of a powerful wind (Muller, nd). This three minute prelude is supposed to induce the violent and overwhelming power of an aggressive wind. The piece is also particularly potent in tritones and whole-tone motifs which can be found in all of the aggr essive chords and fast comprehensive arpeggios (Roberts 1996). Debussys virtuosity is evident in the rapidly alternating tonal variations and the low range tremolos (Weiss 2003). Book 1 is made up of 12 preludes, What the West wind saw being one of them. Most of the preludes in book one are of a light texture though there are some preludes that come close to What the West wind saw (Park 1967). The first prelude, Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi) sharply differs from West Wind in melody and harmony. The harmonies are of a lighter tone and the melody is more prominent and much closer to the accompanying chords. It also bears percussion accents which are not present in the west wind. However, the technique used is similar to that of west wind in terms of layered texture and modal scales. Voiles (Veils or sails) uniquely lacks the half-step and bears a prominent B-flat tone through out. The melody is intermittent projecting sonorously whole tone scale. This prelude bears no simil arity to west wind both in character and color (Lockspeiser 1978). Le vent dans la plaine (The Wind in the Plain) suggests the presence of wind and is similar to west wind in content (Harpole 1986). The prelude is however different from west wind in that it suggests a calmer and more bearable wind in form of a breeze. Whole tone scale only appears in the middle, the rest of the prelude being dominated by pentatonic scale (Weiss 2003). Les sons et les parfums tournent dans lair du soir (The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air) just like west wind, this piece is rich in harmonic content (Lockspeiser 1978).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on Compare and contrast the records of one of Debussy 24 preludes WEST WIND specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The melody is however different from west wind, and this prelude bears two thematic melodies that are layered over and interchanged through out the prelude. L es collines dAnacapri (The Hills of Anacapri) is similar to west wind in that it is richly embodied with energy. The difference is that the energy present in The Hills of Anacapri is thematic to a party mood whereas the energy of west wind is more of a destructive nature (Park 1967). Des pas sur la neige (Footsteps in the Snow) precedes west wind in book 1 and is a sharp contrast to the latter prelude. The perelude has a slow sad melody of the minor keys and ends with staccato bass. La fille aux cheveux de lin (The Girl with the Flaxen Hair) follows west wind and the use of simple harmonies make this prelude openly different from west wind. The melody is pentatonic, a stark contrast to the previous prelude (Roberts 1996). The layered harmony of melody and diatonic chords gives this prelude an impressionist aura. La sà ©rà ©nade interrompue (Interrupted Serenade) unlike the west wind is unique in attempting to imitate a guitarist as he attempts to serenade a maiden (Harpole 1986). This prelude is full of imagination and unlike west wind bears a legato melody together with a concise cadenza. La cathà ©drale engloutie (The engulfed cathedral or the sunken cathedral) is distinctively rich with Impressionist technique. Similar to west wind, this prelude uses of modal scales but differs from west wind due to the presence of pentatonic scales, bell-tones, and pedal-points that are used to sustain specific notes or chords. The prelude La danse de Puck (Dance of Puck) is a light and comical examination of an imaginary world and is Scherzos in nature (Weiss 2003). Unlike west wind, this prelude is presented as a sonata which begins with three F flat keys (Muller, nd). Chromatic scale, thematic rhythms and bitonal melodies are constantly used to magnify the comical effect of the prelude. Minstrels is the final prelude of the first book and like the previous prelude, it is dotted with humor. A dominant G-major totonic pedals holds this prelude together and acts the con stant through out the prelude. Banjo and drum themes make a number of appearances through out the prelude to give it an animated feel (Weiss 2003). Conclusion Debussy’s mastery on the solo piano is evident by the uniqueness and richness of all 24 preludes that he composed. Even though his initial work was not widely recognized or appreciated by accomplished solo pianists and composers, Debussy deeply understood that music was not about physical learning rather it was a form of suggestive expression. His attitude led him to produce some of the greatest works in the early 20th century that set the trend for other pianists and composers.Advertising Looking for assessment on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The prelude What the West wind saw can be said to be one of Debussy’s greatest accomplishments due to the fact that no other composer had ever successfully attempted to imitate the sounds of nature as he did. A captivated audience would easily get a mental picture of a strong wind clashing with sea water as it made its way to the shore. This makes What the West wind saw unique in many ways, both in composition and in content. There are however other preludes that are similar to west wind in terms of tonal composition and harmonic structure. Preludes such as The Wind in the Plain and The sounds and fragrances swirl through the evening air bear a slight semblance to the west wind but the difference is much greater. A closer examination of Debussy’s book 1 of preludes reveals the overwhelming difference the west wind has from other preludes. The west wind is inanely violent and loud and the detailed technique requires a pianist’s full attention when playing it. The layered tonal pattern found in the west wind and also in some of the other preludes is what caused Debussy to be referred to as an impressionist. All in all, Debussy’s work is indeed truly unique and light years ahead of other pianists of his generation. References Harpole, W. (1986) Debussy and the Javanese Gamelan. 3rd edition. London: Heinemann. Lockspeiser, E. (1978) Debussy: His Life and Mind. 1st edition. New York: Cambridge University Press, Muller, N. (n.d) Preludes. Piano Society Web. Available from:  pianosociety.com/ Park, R. (1967) The Later Style of Claude Debussy. 1st edition. Michigan: The University of Michigan. Roberts, P. (1996) The Piano Music of Claude Debussy. 2nd edition. Portland: Amadeus Press. Weiss, C. (2003) Debussy’s preludes book 1 and 2. Ohio: ivory classics [E-book]. Available from:  ivoryclassics.com/releases/73004/pdf/booklet.pdf

A Study of the Association between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln

A Study of the Association between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln shared an unusual friendship based on the hardships Fredrick had in life and the influence Abraham had on the country and slavery as a whole. Both Douglass and Lincoln wanted to slavery to end. Both had strong influences and ties to slavery. Fredrick Douglass had a very hard life growing up as a slave. Witnessed beating of other slaves but was never beating as a child. As a child he realized that they was no getting out of the situation he was end. He had a lot of time to himself which made him a witness to a lot of things like deaths of fellow adult slaves. â€Å"To be accused was to be convicted and to be convicted was to be punished.† (Douglass 18) Mr. Gore (one of Col Lloyd’s overseer) used to beat slaves no matter how guilty or innocent they were. Mr. â€Å"Gore was a grave man, and, though a young man, he never told jokes, said no funny words, seldom smiled.† (Douglass 19) This made Douglass understand that people were really cruel and had no care for anybody that was a slave. After leaving Col Lloyds plantation Fredrick Douglass was sent to live with Master Hugh’s family. â€Å"Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell.† (Douglass 33) While living on the plantation Hugh’s wife taught Douglass his A B Cs. As soon as Master Hugh’s found out what his wife was doing he and forbid her from teaching him anything else. From then on he slowly start teaching himself to read. It got so bad every time the Hugh’s family felt like the Douglass was alone they felt like he was away trying to learn. Growing up around a lot of white friends made him kind of jealous and mad that he had to be a slave for the rest of his life. â€Å"You will be free as soon as you are twenty-one, but I am a slave for life† (Douglass 34) He also used a lot of his white friends as teachers where he learned more and more. â€Å"I often found myself regretting my own existence, a nd wishing myself dead; and but for the hope of being free, I have no doubt but that I should have killed myself, or done something for which I should have been killed.† (Douglass 36) The thought of being a slave forever was killing him he was very depressed. â€Å"Frederick Douglass never lost faith in the possibility of humankind’s improvement. He confronted, he argued, he pleaded, he bluffed, he threatened and conned — using whatever tactics might work in a particular situation. No aspect of human oppression escaped his concern or compassion.†(Abraham Lincoln and Frederick) Through it all Douglass stood strong and fought for his freedom. He eventually got free and wrote many different writing about his times as a slave that influenced a lot of white and blacks to realize how evil slavery really was. Abraham Lincoln was very influential to the end of slavery. â€Å"As a young man, Abraham Lincoln had witnessed the slave system when he twice traveled down the Mississippi River on a raft to New Orleans.† (Abraham Lincoln and slavery) Lincoln always hated the injustice of slavery ever since he was a child. As a young man he had a lot of African American friends even his barber was African American. Lincoln knew how involuntary servitude felt. It just was unfair for someone to work for someone and it was wrong to not give someone there fair earnings. Especially when you’re gaining from their hard work and labor. In his Alton debate with Senator Stephen A. Douglass in 1858, Mr. Lincoln said: â€Å"That is the real issue. That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglass and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles – right and wrong –throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time; and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says, ‘You work and toil and earn bread, and I’ll eat it.’ [Loud applause.] No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle.† (Abraham Lincolns Values) He knew how it felt to have to work in the field in a lesser way. While he was young he worked at a farm for his father. In the 1830 Lincoln was a young and poor lawyer but he, alongside with Lyman Trumbull and Gustave Koerner, together destroyed the legal basis of the Negro indenture system which amounted to de facto slavery in Illinois. (Burlingame) He worked hard to help against slavery even as a poor lawyer. He felt very strongly about slavery and worked on many cases including Cromwell vs Baily a case where he won a case for an African American slave girl named Nancy. It was a decision made by the Illinois Supreme Court which was a very historic decision and the first of its kind. (Abraham Lincoln and slavery) The decision was that an African American was free and not for sale. It took a lot of morals and strength for a young lawyer to fight for slave freedom. Lincoln served a single term in Congress. During that term he voted for the Wilmot Proviso multiple times. (Abraham Lincoln and slavery) Wilmot Proviso was law that would prohibit slavery in new U.S. Territory. During The Civil War the main point of war Abraham stuck with was to preserve the Union. . Throughout the whole 1862 he offered many southern states a Compensated emancipation to make things easier for the south which would slowly transition the slave states to Free states. â€Å"President Lincoln took a measured approach to emancipation and set a period of 100 days until he would issue the final Emancipation Proclamation – giving the South a grace period until January 1, 1863 in which to return to the Union.† (Abraham Lincoln and slavery) Lincolns plan during the war was to fight mainly to preserve the Union but to slowly push the publics influence on abolishment. Lincoln said it himself â€Å"When I issued that proclamation, I was in great doubt about it myself. I did not think that the people had been quite educated up to it, and I feared its effects upon Border States.†(Burlingame) The south never took advantage of their grace period and a lot of people thoug ht that Lincoln wouldn’t even issue you the final emancipation. Many slaves never knew they were free until years later after the war was over. Both Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln were very crucial people in ending slavery. They both influenced many people to fight. Fredrick Douglass writing was very intense and it made people really understand the hardships of the life he lived as a slave. By the end of the war in over 617,000 Americans died by the time the Confederate army surrendered. The landscape was destroyed.

Is the punishment of Prometheus in Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound just or Essay

Is the punishment of Prometheus in Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound just or unjust How does the play itself define justice - Essay Example To be just is to act in total obedience to the will of Zeus, because men are not free, but only Zeus is: â€Å"Why, all things are a burden save to rule/ Over the Gods; for none is free but Zeus† (Aeschylus). On the other hand the play also points to another conception of justice, and that is justice in reference to how men and gods honor the value of friendship, and in the way actions of gods and men favor the development of men, the intellect, and human reason, over the arbitrary whims of a god like Zeus who has no regard for any of that. In this second sense then one can say that the punishment of Prometheus, who gave men the gifts of fire, hope, and the many different arts that have helped human civilization progress against blind and furious nature, and who helped Zeus besides in Zeus’ battle against the Titan, that that punishment is unjust. The rest of the paper develops this idea (Aeschylus; Allen; Irby-Massey). II. On the Justice of the Punishment Meted on Prom etheus by Zeus In the beginning of the play we see that Prometheus was being punished, and that continuing punishment throughout the play also consisted in his public humiliation. The continued messages that Zeus sent to him while tied to a rock, through Zeus’ messengers in a way is also a form of punishment, of the gods sending messages to the chained intellect and human power. The crime, of course, consists in Aeschylus making use of his intellect and his developed abilities to give men not only hope but also the gift of fire, and with it we see later in the play that Prometheus further gifted man with the knowledge to better himself and his society, through the medical arts and the other beneficial sciences. This is a sin to Zeus and the gods, who seemed intent to keep men in an inferior and totally supplicated state in relation to them, totally dependent and obedient to whim. On the other hand, Prometheus’ gifts to men threatened to make them independent and in con trol of their fates, even in control of nature and its whims, as proxy of the gods itself. The continuing sin moreover is the defiance and the pride of Prometheus against his punishment and against Zeus himself and his agents. Instead of currying the favor of Zeus and asking for his mercy, Prometheus chooses to stand defiant and to find his comfort in the company of his friends. We see here two conceptions of justice, one in the eyes of the gods and the faithful and obedient servants of the gods, who see justice as what they see as fitting, what they want. Justice is the will of the gods, and the place of men is to obey that will, no matter how arbitrary and whimsical. The second conception of justice on the other hand takes into consideration human welfare, human progress, and values such as friendship and loyalty to friends, the trust in the wisdom of men and the capacity of men to better themselves. Justice in this second sense is also friendship with men and caring for their ind ependence and capacity for self-reliance. Hence we make sense of the fire from Prometheus as in keeping with this intent. In this second sense it is the actions of Prometheus which are just and the actions of Zeus, who went against friendship values and who punished Prometheus, even though Prometheus helped Zeus to

David irving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

David irving - Essay Example His main works are The Destruction of Dresden (1963), Hitlers War (1977), Uprising! (1981), Churchills War (1987), and Goebbels: Mastermind of the Third Reich (1996). Through his writings he has tried to revive the negative image of Nazi’s and Hitler. He has denied the happening of holocaust and in his book Nuremberg: The Last Battle (1996) he claims that nearly 46,000 names that were reported to be dead in the concentration camps died of disease and were not murdered (Evans, 2002). Claims like these and his consistent denial of Holocaust, hatred towards Jews and his support for Hitler and Nazi’s through his writing has lead to him to face legal suites. Experts and other historians claim that all his work is no substance and depict his own ideology. Even though he claims and discoveries in his are sensational and true, the common opinion among the academic world is that it is all lies and made up. As a result of his denial of the holocaust and for consistently portraying false and negative information, he was sentenced for three years in 2006. I believe that he is one of the great minds and writers of the 20th century but channeled all his work and energy towards negativity. His intellectual wisdom and writing could have made a positive impact on the world if he had developed a positive ideology about events during his

Virtue and Man Essay Example for Free

Virtue and Man Essay Throughout the ages, many have spent their lives on a quest for power, believing that power holds the key to all they desire. Yet power, with its illusive duality, may enable one to accomplish amazing feats or result in ones tragic downfall. In Macbeth, the character of many power hungry men was put to the test, and each respond differently based on the traits they possess. For many different characters in Macbeth, Shakespeare entwines the traits, which epitomize a man, none of greater importance than ones honor. Throughout Macbeth, many of the characteristics that embody a man vividly display themselves. However, no individual portrays all of these traits. Malcolm lists many of these desirable traits: The king-becoming graces, As justice, verity, temp’rance, stableness, Bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude. . . . (IV iii 106-109) While this list of virtues and traits holds a high mark for any man, many men in Macbeth prove they possess these traits. Malcolm, Banquo, and Macduff exhibit courage, and fortitude in their willingness to shed their own blood in order to overthrow the tyranny of Macbeth. This display of devotion to their country earns them the respect of their countrymen. Furthermore, to earn the title of â€Å"man† one must prove himself worthy of the trust of others. Macbeth himself comments on the value of trust when he says, â€Å"The service and the loyalty I owe, / In doing it pays itself† (I iv 25-26). While a man gains respect by earning the trust of others, trust does not come without responsibility. Banquo epitomizes this responsibility as he resists the temptations to succumb to the witches lure: So I lose none In seeking to augment it but still keep My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, I shall be counseled (II i 34-37). Macbeth acts irrationally upon the predictions of the witches, yet Banquo does not fall prey to the false hopes they promise. Each of the traits previously mentioned serves a man well; however, a man has little without honor. Lacking that crucial trait prevents one from attaining many things, including that of reaching one’s full potential. To impress upon Duncan the importance of this quality, Macbeth remarks, â€Å"Which do but what they should by doing everything / Safe toward your love and honor† (I iv 29-30). Yet Macbeth, a man once honorable, strays from his good heart and begins to entangle himself into a web of deception and evil. By abandoning his most precious characteristic, honor, Macbeth has all but committed himself to a tragic downfall. Feared as a tyrant, Macbeth’s struggle with temptation afflicts many men. Many a man, once noble in their ways, have unfortunately chosen a road of evil and paved their own destruction. Macbeth laments, â€Å"And that which should accompany old age, / As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have . . . † (V iii 28-30). At this point near the end of Macbeth’s life, he realizes the fatal mistakes he has made, yet his realization comes too late. Though once an honorable and respected man, the road he has chosen proves to be one of no return. Although Macbeth ruinously, fell to the hands of evil, the triumph of good directly correlates to the traits of those men who put and end to his tyrannical rule. Macbeth’s destruction ideally reiterates the words said by Mr. Lincoln and impeccably proves his point. God’s architecture of everyman skillfully shows how vital specific traits and characteristics are to the make-up of a man. Yet he empowers us to choose how we use them.

Creating a Lego Mindstorm Navigation Robot :: Robotics

Includes Source Code Lego Navigation System Abstract My project was to create a robot out of a Lego Mindstorms construction set that was capable of â€Å"knowing† where it was. The robot would head out on a random path, remember and update its location, and return to its origin on a straight line. The challenge of this project was not so much a matter of constructing the robot, but of creating a working program in the week and a half time limit. The project goal was met on the last day, thus showing that a Lego navigation system is possible. Background A war zone is a dangerous place, especially for the infantry. Any advantage, technological or otherwise is welcome, and any technology that spares soldiers’ lives is invaluable. Recently, one such technology has made its way to the battlefield; remote controlled robots. These robots can take real-time video, maneuver inside and out, and move hazardous materials out of the way of troops. Two of the leading manufacturer’s of these robots are iRobot and the US Marine Corps. IRobots’ PackBot EOD uses a camera/grabber, multiple sensors, and a unique tread system capable of climbing stairs in order to execute the majority of its tasks. It also has GPS. The US Marine Corps’ Dragon Runner is a rugged, four-wheeled machine with a camera and other sensors safely encased in the body. The Dragon Runner weighs roughly 16 pounds, while the PackBot is just over twice that much weight. While these robots are a great help in a war zone, the navigation system could be improved. If the robot could navigate by itself, the soldiers that previously had to operate the robot would be free to do more important tasks. By implementing a Cartesian coordinate system, I believe that these robots be programmed with a simple self-navigation system. Procedure The physical design of NavBot is very simple. It follows the basic design of TankBot, as described in David Baum’s Definitive Guide to Lego Mindstorms. I chose this design as the basis of my robot due to its simplicity and ease of construction. While it follows the basic TankBot design, it has its variations, because I didn’t want to hunt down all of the â€Å"required† pieces. When I first built the body and tested it, I found that the robot tended to drift to the right. This was easily fixed by changing the power level of the left motor from 7 (highest) to 4. Aside from a few decorations (wings, camel head, smiley face), the physical aspect of NavBot was complete. The more important, as well as complicated, problem was how to program

Huckleberry Finn: Hypocrisy in “Civilized” Society Essay

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a sequel to the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain illustrates the Southern states and slavery. Published in 1884, the novel focuses on the important issues that affected America. These issues included racism, slavery, civilization and greed. The book has become one of the most controversial books ever written. The controversy has grown to the point that the novel became banned in several states due to its racial and slavery context. Various symbols, quotes and events have been used in the novel to show hypocrisy in the civilized society in the novel. Hypocrisy in the civilized society is chosen by the recognized rules and regulations by the society. The regulations and rules disregard reason since they favor a particular group and at the same time obtain unfairness against other groups. One example that illustrates the hypocrisy in the civilized society is the instance where the judge who arrives in the town, who is apparently new, allows Huck ’s father Pap to gain custody over Huck (Twain, 25). In the same instance, Jim, a fugitive slave, does not receive custody over his children under the same legal system. Hypocrisy and ridiculousness is indicated when the judge awards custody of Huck over Pap regardless of the danger that Pap, who is a drunk, is to his son. However, the judge awards custody to Pap based on his position as Huck’s biological father. However, the same law does not apply to Jim who does not gain custody of his children despite him being the biological father of his children. Another example that illustrates the hypocrisy in the civilized society in the novel is the feud between Grangerford and Shepardson. The dispute between the Grangerford and Shepardson families is based on reasons that are worthless to both of them. However, both families engage in violent murders of the family members in an effort to maintain family honor. The families are deemed extremely educated and civilized. The reason that led to the dispute between the two families resulte d from the elopement of Sophia Grangerford, Buck Grangerford’s sister and Harney Shepardson. However, the families have always been in a dispute that has lasted for 30 years for reasons that are unsure. The two families after learning of the elopement bring weapons to church. However, both families, using their guns, kill their family members at the growth of the feud. Regardless of the families’ civilized status, hypocrisy is shown where both families kill each other over a meaningless feud. Another example that indicates hypocrisy in the civilized society in the novel is the biased punishment of crimes according to the society’s rules and regulations. This is shown by the non-judgment of the Duke and the King regardless of the fraudulent schemes that both con artists involved in the community. Huck and Jim rescue the Duke and the King and offer them their raft. The first scheme begins when both criminals present fake identities to Huck and Jim. The Duke introduces himself as the English Duke’s son, also known as the Duke of Bridgewater whereas the King presents himself as the Lost Dauphin as well as Louis XVI’s son and France’s designated King (Twain, 144-145). Additionally, one of the con artists, the Duke, takes advantage of Jim’s race and position as a runway slave and prints leaflets that offer $200 reward to any person that manages to catch the runaway slave. The Duke is able to do this by occupying an abandoned printing shop in which he was able to print the handouts (Twain, 156). The con artists use the tactic as a way of buying them time and unrestricted travel for a day. However, most of these crimes that the two commits go unpunished regardless of the statement that the society is civilized and enlightened. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a controversial novel that includes the racial prejudices that characterized conventional America during the civil war. Regardless of the novel narrating a fictional story on actual events, the novel also highlights the current issues that affect the present society. The issues of slavery and racism are still obvious in the world today. Works Cited Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Random House, 1996. Print.

Marx long ago wrote that philosophers

One of most controversial socio-political ideas, which advocators of social change want to incorporate within the context of society, is egalitarianism. Egalitarianism aims to ensure that equality is being observed among men. Equality is viewed in egalitarian stance, in the sense that each individual must be treated equally and fairly wherein economic opportunities are available to all and wealth is distributed evenly. Hence, egalitarianism presupposes that each individual should have an equal social worth and moral status. John Locke posits the basic tenets of egalitarianism, which explicitly state that the validation of our natural rights will lead to the realization of social change. First, each individual has the right to do everything she chooses; in so far that he/she will not infringe other’s rights, in forms of fraud, force, violence, and the likes. Second, each individual has the right to ensure his/her safety, except if she gave up this right or transfer to others or to the government. And most importantly, each and everyone is the owner of themselves and all infants must be nurtured properly until they reach their adulthood by those who biologically create them. Thus, Locke’s concept of egalitarianism is focus on self-ownership. In this milieu, we can infer that egalitarianism proposed by Locke is geared towards social change because even if it gives so much stress on self-ownership, it can never denied that the validation of one’s natural rights is the primary step for equality among men, which happens to be the epicenter of man’s struggle.   Justice is served when there is equality. The basic drive of egalitarianism springs from the contrast between the claim of every human being to an equal status, in respect simply of our common humanity, and the inequality of income and wealth. That equality of status is expressed in our notion of rights inherent in every human being, by reason only of his or her sentient existence. We speak of ‘human rights’, and expect them to be recognized in every land, whatever the structure of its society or the policy of its government, simply because the inhabitants are human beings as are we. Every person who shares with us the experience of voyaging on this planet between birth and death is in like case with us, and in some respects is entitled to an equal consideration. Those respects appear in civic rights, such as free speech, access to justice, the vote, and protection of property. They appear also where duties are imposed, such as conscription, or jury service; even taxation is required to lay an equal burden on households' ability to pay. In all these and other respects, we feel it wrong to accord or deny rights to people according to their parentage, their abilities, their attainments and even (except in extreme cases) their conduct. Increasingly in recent years it has been held that we should make no distinction by gender. We rate the standing of a country in the scale of civilization by the extent to which it observes these rights. Yet even where they are observed most fully, and the people pride themselves on their civic equality, they are divided from one another by great differences in their income and wealth, with all the consequent differences in their way of life. The spirit of humanity works in one way, the market economy in quite another. To many people who look for no revolutionary change, this disparity is shocking. Contrariwise, egalitarianism for Karl Marx is necessary for as long as it is construed that capitalism is eliminated altogether, in which the existence of inequalities among men in the arena of economic market will not be ruled by capitalist establishments. Marx argues that it is permissible to distribute economic goods based on the criterion emphasized by norms, and not by capitalists. Norm is the basis for equal rights because people will not be exploited since the economic earnings that a person will be getting is justified by his/her labor contribution, or as the catchphrase, â€Å"to each according to his contribution†.[1] But since this kind of reasoning is still problematic, Marx posits that this will only be a stepping stone, until a society reaches a higher communist status wherein the law will be â€Å"to each according to his needs†.   Marx furthers that a society, in order to acquire a just society, must not equate norms to any moral principle because incorporating such concept emanates an attitude of enforcement. If Locke claims that self-ownership is the key in actualizing egalitarian perspective, Marx, on the one hand, construes that is the realization of a utopian society. Self-ownership is lacking for Marx because a person is still vulnerable to any kind of exploitations, especially in economic market and labor, wherein those who cannot claim their self will be left to be exploited. He postulates that exploitation (in terms of labor, economic distribution, etc.) will only be annihilated if the society will reach its utopian status because for this status to be realized, it is a principal prerequisite that every member of a society participates in a societal operation that gives value to one’s ability, and with regards to what the individual can contribute in that society it should not be attacked by any prejudices and biases. Everyone is equal even if there is a diversity of abilities or contributions. If equality exists within one’s society, then social change is achievable. It must be noted that social change asks for the re-landscaping of society’s status quo. And in present times, the distribution of wealth and equal opportunities is of major concern. Reference: Henry, B. P. (1991). Egalitarianism and the Generation of Inequality (Reprint ed.): Oxford University Press, USA. [1] Henry, B.P. Egalitarianism and the Generation of Inequality. Oxford Univ. Press, p. 122.

Ca essays

Ca essays Why was the Great Leap Forward a failure and how was the Cultural Revolution concept of equality different from the U.S.s concept of equality as reflected by the self-evident truth that all people are created equal? For decades China had been either at war with or occupied Japan. Mao and the Communists moved rapidly to strengthen their rule over Chinas 550million people. The Communists claimed to have a new Mandate of Heaven. And they aimed to restore China as a powerful nation. The Great Leap Forward would soon prove to be a great leap backward for China. The Cultural Revolution of China equality would also differentiate between the United States equality concepts. In 1957, after China's first Five-Year Plan, Mao Zedong called for an increase in the speed of growth of "actual socialism" in China (as opposed to "dictatorial socialism"). To accomplish this goal, Mao began the Great Leap Forward, establishing special communes in the countryside through the usage of collective labor and mass mobilization. The Great Leap Forward was intended to increase the production of steel and to raise agricultural production to twice 1957 levels. The Great Leap turned into an utter disaster. Industries went into turmoil since peasants were producing nothing, but steel. Furthermore, the peasants, as farmers, were ill-equipped and ill-trained to produce steel, relying on such mechanisms as backyard furnaces. Meanwhile, farming implements like rakes were melted down for steel, making agricultural production impossible. This led to declines in production of everything, but steel. To make things worse, in order to avoid punishment, local authorities continually reported grossly unrealistic production numbers, which hid the problem for years and made it worse. The Chinese economy, which had just barely recovered from decades of war, was headed into disaster.The government officially discontinued the program in 196 ...

RISK MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

RISK MANAGEMENT - Essay Example This also means that the insurance market is similar to the goods market, whose demand depends on certain factors. Consumers may fail to cover their lives, vehicles, and health even if doing so is beneficial. An understanding of the factors that affect consumer demand for insurance is essential for both the sellers and buyers of policies. The understanding helps these buyers to make the right decisions at the right time (Williams, Smith, & Young, 1998). Structure of Insurance Markets The market structure of an insurance industry includes the number of sellers and whether they are efficient. This is because the efficiency of a market is directly proportional to its structure (Greene, & Serbian, 1983). There are various market structures that influence the demand for insurance; they include perfect competitive, oligopoly, and monopoly. The perfect competitive market is one that has numerous sellers and buyers, and the insurance companies are free to penetrate and exit the market. This market is characterized by perfect information and standardization of products and prices. This means that insurance buyers have the full knowledge of the market activities such as the types of policies, their prices, and the underwriting guidelines. Buyers in this market have the freedom to purchase the policy they want from any seller because prices are standard. Insurance purchasers also have the freedom to leave one insurer and purchase a policy in another seller’s company when they find out that there are price differentials. The standardization and freedom in this market motivates buyers to purchase insurance policies (Dickson, 1989). A monopoly market, on the other hand, is the one that has a single seller. The seller dictates the policy to provide for the market and the price at which to sell the insurance. Monopolies are inefficient because of their ability to determine the product and the price at which to provide the good. This means that such as insurance market o ffers few choices to buyers in terms of the available policies. Buyers have no freedom to leave the market because they may not find the insurance policy elsewhere. Therefore, insurance buyers in a monopoly market have no freedom in the market; they may only follow the rules of the seller (Woodhouse, 1993). The lack of freedom may discourage buyers from alleviating risks using insurance. An oligopoly market is the one that has few sellers and the products are differentiated from one insurer to the other. Buyers in this market have the freedom to purchase the policy that suits their needs the best. However, since the sellers in the market are few, buyers do not have a wide range of choices. The few choices in this market may motivate some buyers to purchase insurance policies while other may not find the policies that suit their needs (Harrington, & Niehause, 2004). Price of Cover The price of an insurance cover also determines whether a buyer purchases the policy. This is because th e incomes of buyers differ from one buyer to the other. A high price of an insurance policy discourages buyers from purchasing a policy. This is according to the law of demand, which argues that rational consumers prefer goods and services at low prices (Woodhouse, 1993). However, buyers may choose to purchase insurance policies at high prices when benefits are guaranteed. An example of a policy that buyers may purchase at high prices is life insurance. The life insurance policy is the one that covers the whole life of a person, and it is renewable after the death of

The Developing Manager (Tourism Management) Essay

The Developing Manager (Tourism Management) - Essay Example Travel & Tourism business is known for its potential and peculiarities. This industry is very much dependent on a range of factors like economic, socio-cultural and environmental. The behavioural aspect holds key to the overall character of the organisation. Clouds Tours and Travel is a group of companies having six tour agencies, serving customers in different segments. In this type of business, customer loyalty is very important as the existing customers serve as the brand ambassadors for the company and its services. The role of leadership therefore becomes very crucial in devising strategies for the achievement of developmental goals of the company. Leadership is something which allows an individual or an organization to lead. Leadership qualities are not just an asset for the individual, but it also helps other members of the organisation or the team. If the manager is found to adopt an aggressive and autocratic approach, as in case of the Clouds Tours and Travel, the company is bound to suffer in terms of a congenial working environment. Underlining the key differences in these two components Hodgson (1987) states that ‘Management is about doing things right, whereas leadership is about doing the right things’. Three main styles of management are defined as1; Autocratic: Managers with this style prefer to have their way and they are least bothered about the suggestions of others around. Managers in Clouds Tours and Travel seem to believe in this type of management only, which is resulting in lot disgruntlement amongst the subordinates. Democratic: Managers with such style of management prefer to take the final decision after due consultation with others around. Their main line of action is to create some sort of unanimity in the final decision. It needs to be emphasised here that an effective manager is the one who holds a balanced mix of these three types of qualities. A number of