The Political Theories Of Locke And Hobbes Essays - Empiricists

The Political Theories Of Locke And Hobbes Political Theories of Locke and Hobbes John Locke influenced Western political thought immensely. He lived during the age of political upheaval, the Glorious Revolution. During this time, the Tories and the Whigs, England's first two political parties, joined together to rid their country of the tyrannical James II and welcomed as their new co-rulers his daughter, Mary, and her Dutch husband, William. Locke witnessed these events from the Netherlands, where he had fled in 1683 because he foresaw the accession of the absolutist and Catholic-leaning James II. These events greatly influenced his political theories. Throughout his writings, Locke argued that people had the gift of reason. Locke thought they had the natural ability to govern themselves and to look after the well being of society. He wrote, ?The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which treats everyone equally. Reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind?that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health or possessions.? Locke did not believe that God had chosen a group or family of people to rule countries. He rejected the ?Divine Right,? which many kings and queens used to justify their right to rule. Instead, he argued that governments should only operate with the consent of the people they are governing. In this way, Locke supported democracy as a form of government. Locke wrote, ?We have learned from history we have reason to conclude that all peaceful beginnings of government have been laid in consent of the people.? Governments were formed, according to Locke, to protect the right to life, the right to freedom, and the right to property. Their rights were absolute, belonging to all the people. Locke also believed that government power should be divided equally into three branches of government so that politicians will not face the ?temptation? to grasp at absolute power.? If any government abused these rights instead of protecting them, then the people had the right to rebel and form a new gov ernment. John Locke spoke out against the control of any man against his will. This control was acceptable neither in the form of an unfair government, nor in slavery. Locke wrote, ?The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only have the law of nature for his rule.? In addition, Locke felt that women had the ability to reason, which entitled them to an equal voice- an unpopular idea during this time in history. Despite fearing that he might be censored, he wrote, ?It may not be wrong to offer new ideas when the old traditions are apt to lead men into mistakes, as this idea of fatherly power's probably has done, which seems so eager to place the power of parents over their children wholly in the father, as if the mother had no share in it: whereas if we consult reason or the Bible, we shall find she has an equal title.? Thomas Hobbes, on the other hand, had a completely different view of human beings and how government should function. This is due to his background of growing up in England, during a time of religious, social, and political discord. Hobbes, was very interested in why people allowed themselves to be ruled and what would be the best form of government for England. In 1651, Hobbes wrote his most famous work, entitled Leviathan. In it, he argued that people were naturally wicked and could not be trusted to govern. Therefore, Hobbes believed that an absolute monarchy- a government that gave all power to a king or queen- was best. Hobbes believed that humans were basically selfish creatures who would do anything to better their position. Left to themselves, he thought, people would act on their evil impulses. According to Hobbes, people therefore should not be trusted to make decisions on their own. In addition, Hobbes felt that nations, like people, were selfishly motivated. To Hobbes, each country was in a constant battle for power and wealth. To prove his point, Hobbes wrote, ?If men are naturally in a state of war,

Free Essays on Yuan Drama

Yuan Drama History During the period of Mongol rule in China, the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), there were great developments and evolution in the area of performance art. It was during this period that a style of theatre referred to as poetic musical drama, or as zaju (tsa chu, "mixed entertainments"), gained greatly in popularity and reached what is viewed as its Golden Age. Therefore, this style later came to be known as Yuan ch'u ("Yuan Songs"), Mongol theatre, or Yuan drama. This classical and highly stylized form of theatre, an ancestor of the Chinese opera, called for entertainers, both male and female, to sing, act, mime, and play music. Through the use of such skills, the performers presented stories of political intrigue, heroism, villainy, filial devotion, and the faith of lovers. The Yuan plays themselves were often works by Chinese scholars and intellectuals, though Mongols, and others are also noted to have been dramatists .As was the case with many Yuan dramas, the stories were usually based on earlier materials: older Chinese tales and anecdotes that were already familiar to the people. The playwrights, though, took liberties to adapt and rework the materials for their own purpose, sometimes slipping clever political commentaries into their works. The most celebrated and prolific writer among the Yuan playwrights was Guan Hanqing(1241?-1320?). The development of Yuan drama The Yuan Dynasty marked a period of Mongol domination in China. During this period, the existing Chinese government and society were practically turned upside-down by the Mongol conquerors; With much of traditional Confucianism put down and degraded by the Mongols, intellectuals found they could think freely for the first time in many long years since much of the Confucian conservatism had stood in the way of the true creative power in Chinese. While high-seated Chinese officials lost status during the Yuan era, entertainers - musicians, act... Free Essays on Yuan Drama Free Essays on Yuan Drama Yuan Drama History During the period of Mongol rule in China, the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), there were great developments and evolution in the area of performance art. It was during this period that a style of theatre referred to as poetic musical drama, or as zaju (tsa chu, "mixed entertainments"), gained greatly in popularity and reached what is viewed as its Golden Age. Therefore, this style later came to be known as Yuan ch'u ("Yuan Songs"), Mongol theatre, or Yuan drama. This classical and highly stylized form of theatre, an ancestor of the Chinese opera, called for entertainers, both male and female, to sing, act, mime, and play music. Through the use of such skills, the performers presented stories of political intrigue, heroism, villainy, filial devotion, and the faith of lovers. The Yuan plays themselves were often works by Chinese scholars and intellectuals, though Mongols, and others are also noted to have been dramatists .As was the case with many Yuan dramas, the stories were usually based on earlier materials: older Chinese tales and anecdotes that were already familiar to the people. The playwrights, though, took liberties to adapt and rework the materials for their own purpose, sometimes slipping clever political commentaries into their works. The most celebrated and prolific writer among the Yuan playwrights was Guan Hanqing(1241?-1320?). The development of Yuan drama The Yuan Dynasty marked a period of Mongol domination in China. During this period, the existing Chinese government and society were practically turned upside-down by the Mongol conquerors; With much of traditional Confucianism put down and degraded by the Mongols, intellectuals found they could think freely for the first time in many long years since much of the Confucian conservatism had stood in the way of the true creative power in Chinese. While high-seated Chinese officials lost status during the Yuan era, entertainers - musicians, act...

Developing Implementation Plan Obesity in Children Essay

Developing Implementation Plan Obesity in Children - Essay Example As the discussion stresses a formal approval is sought from fellow staff to seek their contributions to the study in one way or the order. Because both forms of involvements are done on a voluntary basis, it is always important that the researcher devises a strategic method in ensuring that the approvals are not declined. As part of the method of obtaining the necessary approval therefore, the researcher shall ensure that there is first a verbal consultation among all targeted persons, whereby a ‘water-testing’ strategy shall be undertaken to have an idea of those who will be willing to be involved in the study and those who are not. Thereafter, a consent form that clearly spells out all ethical considerations including the need to keep the identities of respondents confidential and anonymous shall be released to the targeted stakeholders. It is hoped that with the assurance of ensuring high sense and level of ethics, the organization’s leadership and fellow staff will be willing to be part of the study. Description of current problem The current issue has to do with the introduction of a new intervention that seeks to tackle the problem of obesity in children. This paper highlgihts that the need and rationale behind the present issue is rooted in the weaknesses identified in the current procedure. Presently, the fight against obesity in children is approached using the masses procedure. By this, all children suffering from obesity are categorized as one group of persons with a common problem and thus demanding a common intervention. However, for some years now that this strategy has been used, it has been found that the strategy has been very ineffective in yielding needed results. This is because according to state data and record, regardless of the existing procedure, obesity in children continues to go high. The proposed intervention would therefore take a form and structure that is directly opposite to what exists currently. This is bec ause it will identify children with obesity as individual persons rather than a group. With this, the researcher shall have the opportunity to critically scrutinizing the cause of each child’s risk of obesity. Thereafter, the researcher shall be offered the opportunity to assigning the most suitable solutions to each child’s case; noting that they all have different causes to their problems. A very crucial part of the proposed solution or issue is that is it backed with several theories and research findings.  

Sports Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sports Law - Essay Example accreditation for laboratory tests (and laboratories themselves) carried out in foreign lands, and that the IAAF should execute measures to see that this is reflected in all EU sports governing bodies. As stated in Rule 55.11 of the IAAF, the procedure of determining whether an athlete is culpable with regards to an illegal substance use does not really matter unless it is "such as to cast real doubt on the reliability of such a finding." (IAAF cited by Parliament 1999) Yet the IAAF compensates for this by stating in paragraph eight (8.2) of the procedural guidelines that the test of Sample B, following that of Sample A, should be done in the presence of the athlete and/or a representative. Also paragraph 8.5 states that every athlete should have the right to a fair hearing, before decisions are reached to avoid unjust suspension or discharging. In the Modahl versus BAF case there were loopholes, open wounds for vampires, on both sides. The effect of it calls for action, not only at the domestic level, but at the international level as well. Note the defence of the BAF: it was simply following the guidelines set out by the IAAF (which in turn probably did not foresee that kind of circumstance). In summary, it is not the sports law and policy that is the enemy here, but the type of attention paid to it. Situations like this summon a need for more focus on positively detailed contractual rules and their application. As always, there is room for growth. REFERENCE LIST Abbott, H. (2006) Sports Law Blog: People Hate Honest Athletes - True Hoop, [Online] Available from: http://sports-law.blogspot.com/ [Accessed 26th October 2008]. CMM (2007), Diane Modahl, [Online] Available from:...Sports Management 335, [Online] 1 Available from: http://www.isenberg.umass.edu/sportmgt/uploads/listWidget/13465/spt335-lpm.pdf ISLA (2007) Doping and Corruption in Sports. Sports and Law, [Online] 1-4 Available from: http://www.icsspe.org/news/pdf/SportsandLaw.pdfPHPSESSID=fed48f126f02e253c7d54624d633a0a0 [Accessed 28th October 2008]. Wadler, G. I. (no date) Doping in Sport: From Strychnine to Genetic Enhancement, It's a Moving Target, [Online] 1-9 Available from: http://www.law.duke.edu/sportscenter/wadler.pdf [Accessed 27th October 2008].

Effect and Influence of Social Factor on Business Essay

Effect and Influence of Social Factor on Business - Essay Example This essay focuses on the significance of the social aspect in the PEST analysis in regards to a business from apparel manufacturing industry. Environmental analysis is a marketing function which includes study of all external factors that may determine the success or failure of a business. Relatively qualitative in nature, this analysis involves identifying of environmental variables, scanning them, analyzing and finally forecasting of business situation. Environmental analysis is significant for a business to survive and grow. This analysis helps in identifying the probable opportunities and threats to a business. It opens new avenues for business activity expansion and also provides opportunities for discovering and exploitation of business. PEST analysis is an acronym for â€Å"political, economic, social and technological.† Its purpose is to conduct analysis and identify various external factors that might affect business and also to help in market research.Social aspect of PEST analysis includes factors such as age distribution, income level, education, diet and nutrition, religion, population growth, consumerism, social class, and expectation of society from business. It also includes buying trends, change in lifestyle, cultural aspects, ethics, publicity factors, advertising, media, career attitudes, health consciousness and emphasis on safety. Social trends to a great extent affect demand for a product The social factor from PEST analysis creates various opportunities at a global, national and international level. ... It enables business and organizations to understand future problems and face them boldly. This analysis helps organizations in expanding their business while contributing towards social groups and causes. Environmental analysis keeps guiding the organizations from time to time about changes in socio economic conditions at the same time enabling them to take benefit of technological developments, government policies etc. Apart from providing various opportunities environmental analysis also helps business in identifying threats from competitor and other sources. Threats are uncontrollable and can put survival of organization or business at stake. Environmental analysis overcome organization’s threat and also helps in identifying competencies of business. Identification of one PEST factor PEST analysis is an acronym for â€Å"political, economic, social and technological.† Its purpose is to conduct analysis and identify various external factors that might affect business and also to help in market research. Out of all the factors from PEST analysis I am considering Social factor for discussion about how it affects business. Social aspect of PEST analysis includes factors such as age distribution, income level, education, diet and nutrition, religion, population growth, consumerism, social class, and expectation of society from business. It also includes buying trends, change in lifestyle, cultural aspects, ethics, publicity factors, advertising, media, career attitudes, health consciousness and emphasis on safety. Social trends to a great extent affect demand for a product (Miller 1992). Industry considered Considering apparel manufacturing industry for

The Role Of Pleasure In The Happy Life

The Role Of Pleasure In The Happy Life Choose two philosophers covered so far and use their work to discuss the role of pleasure in the happy life.   I choose to pick Epicurus as one of the philosophers to be discussed because he is one of the most important figures in philosophy to be discussing on the topic of pleasure, it is interesting to discover just which category does Epicurus belong to. Was he just an ethical hedonist? Asserting merely that human actions ultimate purpose is to bring us happiness and that should be the only purpose or goal we serve or to achieve while adhering to doing good in the process .Or is he something else, something more profound? Epicurus is without a doubt, a hedonist, however he is somewhat of a different kind of hedonist, he draws a distinction between intense physical pleasure, and he also states that if one engages in intense physical debauchery too much, its going to end up hurting you. Epicurus promotes the idea of ataraxic that is: having the peace of mind, free from stress or turmoil, he proposes that physical indulgences in eating ,drinking, or sex orgies, can bring more negative consequences than pleasure, but mental pleasures, like listening to music, discussing philosophy with your friends etc, can last for as long as you want to with no negative consequences.For Epicurus, mental pleasure carries a greater pleasure and value than physical pleasure, he also further classifies active pleasure and passive pleasure. For example, you want to eat because you are hungry or drink because you are thirsty and then the passive pleasure, such as freedom from anxiety and pain. Epicurus thought passive pleasur e was more important than indulging in active pleasure, for example, a true epicurean delight would not be having an orgy, but instead researching scientific questions, perhaps. Epicurus concept of pleasure was twofold: in the opinion of researchers, Epicurus distinguished two kinds of pleasure- a static pleasure or a pleasure in a state of rest and a kinetic pleasure or a pleasure in motionà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦an Epicurean by the name of Lucius Torquatus, gives a definition of two different kinds of pleasure, one of which suavitate aliqua naturam ipsam movet et iucundi-tate quadam percipitur sensibus, thus being a pleasure in motion, while the other, static pleasure, percipitur omni dolore detracto. Here Torquatus draws a distinction between two different states to either of which, in his opinion, the notion of pleasure can be applied firstly, a state presupposing active stimulation of pleasant sensations and secondly, a state negatively defined as the absence of pain and suffering. Epicurus referred to as kinetic those pleasures which accompany the process of satisfying ones desires and regarded as static pleasure the state experienced when the desires are sati sfied. In another place he gives a quotation from Epicurus about pleasures accompanying gustatory, auditory and visual sensations, and this time he regards these pleasures as pleasures in motion, speaking now about physical motions in the sensory organs. Besides, the traditional interpretation of kinetic pleasure contradicts Epicurus idea that it is impossible simultaneously to experience pleasure and pain; for example, if a man is feeling pleasure while satisfying his hunger, then, apparently, at the same moment pleasure has to be accompanied by pain from hunger that has not yet been fully satisfied. (Nikolsky, 2001) Epicurus believed we can all find a way to be happy, the problem is simply we are looking at the wrong place, unlike many philosophers, Epicurus idea of happiness actually sounds rather fun, he didnt think we should feel guilty about wanting to feel a pleasurable and enjoyable life, we seem to be thinking the key to happiness is really pretty easy, that is having a lot of money. But before we reach for our wallets, Epicurus wants us to stop and think.Epicurus was committed to a life of happiness, he likes sex, laughter and beauty but he points out that happiness is rather a tricky issue and a philosopher might help you find it than a credit card ever could. Epicurus was in favor of pleasure at all, short of many of his many Greek contemporaries, his philosophy became synonymous with a luxurious eating lifestyle. Epicurus said that pleasure was the most important thing in life, but if we analyze Epicurus we actually found that he lived simple, far from a luxurious life, having survived on breads and plain water as a way of life, Epicurus thought we dont really know what we need and so forth prey forth to many substitute desires, such as spending lavishly on a shopping spree. But often according to Epicurus, the key to pleasure comes pretty cheap, the first one is friendship, he stated that friendship is a major source of happiness, but in order to achieve that, one needs to live with his friends at all times, the second thing Epicurus thought we need is freedom, Epicurus left Athens with his friends and started a commune, according to Epicurus, we must free ourselves from the prison from everyday life politics, their lives were simple, but at least they enjoyed their freedom in their self-sufficient ways. The last ingredient is an analyzed life by which he meant a life in which we take time off to reflect on our worries, to analyze what was troubling us, our anxieties can be diminished if we give us time to think things through, and to do that ,we need to take a step back from the noisy commercial world. According to Epicurus, as long as you have enough money to sustain the basic sustenance, that is more than enough to have pleasure in a happy life, Epicurus states that even bread and water can confer the highest possible pleasure when they are brought to hungry lips. Obviously, Epicurus means by this the state of satiety, but he does not in any way separate it from pleasure from eating and drinking that leads to this state.( Nikolsky, 2001) so if we are so easily satisfied, why arent we happy? The answer is seductions in which our goal to become happy and live a pleasurable life become influenced. When we are quickly lured by bright lights and fancy clothing, our desires are subconsciously detoured in our search for pleasure. Thus, the Epicurean view of the physical nature of pleasure as a whole varies little from that of other philosophers: in Epicurus opinion, pleasure is experienced when the atoms of a human body, acted upon by a certain force, find themselves in their proper places, i.e.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦when the organism attains its natural state under the effect of some influence. Epicurus links pleasure not only with the process but also with the result of restoration, i.e. with the natural state which the organism attains. (Nikolsky, 2001) Next, I would like to refer to a famous philosopher by the name of Aristotle as my second candidate. For Aristotle however, the idea of pleasure and happiness comes from what is considered favorable, what is considered as good. The concept of virtue comes into place here, and we must have these virtues in order to achieve eudaimonia which is the Greek word of happiness .For Aristotle, a prime criterion to living a happy or pleasurable life is to find out what are the ultimate goal or purpose, and thus the way to be happy. Aristotle proposes 3 points, it has to be self-sufficient, it has to be a final goal and it has to be attainable. In this case, one has to develop the virtues in order to achieve a happy life, virtues are themselves the means to an end. Aristotle clearly distinguishes himself from the hedonists when he claims that there is no such thing as undifferentiated pleasure. Pleasure cannot serve as the final goal of our actions because pleasure is not one thing, i.e., the word pleasure as applied to specific instances of pleasure is not univocal. Pleasures differ in nature just as the activities which they accompany differ in nature. The pleasure which we take in eating is simply the same kind of thing as the pleasure which we take in thinking. They are simply different kinds of pleasures and as such it seems that there can be no comparison between them as pleasures. Yet Aristotle clearly believes that such a comparison between different pleasures is possible. He speaks of contemplation as being the most pleasurable activity. But if Aristotles critique of hedonism rules out the possibility of saying that contemplation brings with it a greater amount of pleasure than does eating ( since these pleasures differ qualitatively a nd not quantitatively), what can he mean by saying that contemplation is the most pleasurable activity? (Gonzalez, 1991) According to Aristotle, our ultimate goal is happiness, that is our telos, and happiness is in itself the ultimate good, the ultimate thing we should strive for. In book 1 of Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle, he states that while happiness is self-sufficient in itself, there is varying degrees of happiness, if we indulge our senses in sensual pleasure, that is considered superficial and on the same level as animals, it is important to consider happiness as not as one brief moment but rather as a whole integral lifelong process. On a side note, Aristotle regards happiness as an activity rather as a state, in order to be happy and live well, one need to have the right virtues to incline towards a certain disposition, a certain lifestyle. In chapter 4 of book 10 Aristotle describes what constitutes a sensation which is most perfect or complete and therefore most pleasurable: there is a corresponding pleasure for every sensation and similarly for thought and contemplation: the most pleasurable activity will be the most complete and the most complete will be the one which takes place between a well-disposed subject and the best of those objects which are proper to it.Pleasure completes the activityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦The activity of sensation will be most complete when its subjective and objective conditions are the best possible. It is important to recognize that the superlative here implies the possibility of degrees in the completeness and pleasure of an activity. Aristotle is not claiming that an activity can be complete and pleasurable only if it satisfies certain conditions; he is instead claiming that these conditions must be satisfied in order for the activity to be most complete and most pleasurable. (Gonzalez, 199 1) For Aristotle, The question traces back to why we want to be happy, why we want to be virtuous? Why is happiness the ultimate telos? To illustrate, we spend our money on things which we fancy to get pleasure, it all boils down that all our daily activities focus on one and only one purpose, that is to be happy .But happiness itself is a rather intriguing and complex concept, and Aristotle states only through exercising our rational soul, through a life of contemplation as our activity, can happiness be found, and that is what distinguishes us from the animals. In Book 10 of Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle further goes into depth why he thinks contemplation is the ultimate rational answer to pleasure and happiness. The way Aristotle sees things is different, for example, when you encounter an object or entity, would you consider it in aspect of its purpose, or its functions or the process that the object undergoes? Aristotle views everything as telos, he believes everything serve some kind of telos or purpose, he thinks the telos of a plant is to keep growing from the intake of nutrition, the telos of life, so what distinguishes us from plants and animals is in our ultimate telos to contemplate and behave accordingly, to employ the rational faculty of the soul, and this in turn consists of the study of modern day philosophy, as an example. The pleasures involved in the activities are more proper to them than the desires; for the latter are separated both in time and in nature, while the former are close to the activities, and so hard to distinguish from them that it admits of dispute whether the activity is not the same as pleasure. (Manser ,1960)

War PropagandaPast, Present and Future Essay -- Essays Paspers

War PropagandaPast, Present and Future Part 1: An In-depth Look at War Propaganda Propaganda consists of the planned use of any form of public of mass-produced communication designed to affect the minds and emotions of a given group for a specific purpose, whether military, economic, or political. -Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony In every aspect of life, there tends to be a desire to have others see things the way we see them. In theory, if we all share the same views and opinions, we can unite for common goals. Propaganda consists of a communicators objective to impose or manipulate a person, or group of people into adopting his ideals. Perhaps the most common place that Propaganda is used is during times of war. Given the choice, most people would most likely not express a love for war. Some are passionately against it, others, though not in love with the idea, support it when it’s necessary. Due to the raw nature of war and people’s reactions to it, there seems to be some force working to mask the negative feelings towards war and unite people in support of it. With regard to war, the purpose of propaganda is to make a particular group of people forget that another group is human. By focusing on a few, simple target ideas that reinforce the notion that another group of people are harmful and inhumane, propaganda is able to unite people in an unrealistic mindset. Understandably, however, governments have a priority to nurture the morale of its people and the armed forces that represent it by intimidating the enemy with the force of natural will. The question of whether or not we choose to accept this harsh reality remains ambiguous, as there will always be two sides to the argument. So as it stands, it is... ...11. Starick, Paul. Iraq War Propaganda; War of Words- the Battle for Hearts and Minds. The Advertiser. March 29, 2003. 12. http://www.disinfopedia.org Propaganda Versus Democracy 13. www.globalissues.org Shah, Anup. War, Propaganda and the Media. August 2004. 14. www.independent.org Horten, Gerd. Radio Goes to War: The Politics of Propaganda World War II. 15. www.medialens.org Miller, David. Eliminating Truth: The Development of War Propaganda 16. www.onlinejournal.com 17. www.propagandacritic.com 18. www.socialistworker.org Pro-war Propaganda Machine. March 2003. 19. www.stentorian.com/propagan.html Levinson, William A. An Introduction to Propaganda. 1999. 20. www.truthout.org Morgan, David. Critic Accuses Media of Aiding US War Propaganda. May 2, 2003. 21. www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk