Platos Ring Of Gyges Essays - Ancient Greek Philosophers, Platonism

Plato's Ring Of Gyges The Ring of Gyges The story of the Ring of Gyges is an excerpt from book two of Plato's The Republic, in which Glaucon disagrees with Socrates and insists that people act moral because they lack the power to behave otherwise. In an effort to support his claim, Glaucon recites the tale of Gyges. In this paper, I will include a brief history of Plato, a description of the Ring of Gyges, and discuss how the story may affect our present lives. Plato was born in 429 B.C. in Athens, Greece, to Ariston and Perictione. Plato's real name was Aristocles, and 'Plato' (meaning 'the broad') was a nickname given either from the width of his shoulders, or from the size of his forehead. When Plato was a young man he became a disciple of Socrates, learning the value of reason and philosophy. Plato was in military service from 409 B.C. to 404 B.C., but at this time he wanted to pursue politics rather than a military career. At the end of the war he joined the Oligarchy of the Thirty Tyrants, but their violent acts resulted in Plato leaving quickly. In 403 B.C. a restoration of democracy in Athens began, and Plato had great hopes of reentering politics. However, the execution of Socrates in 399 B.C. had an immense effect on Plato and he decided on having nothing further to do with politics in Athens. Plato left Athens after Socrates had been executed and traveled in Egypt, Sicily, and Italy. Upon his return to Athens, in about 387 B.C., Plato founded the Academy, an institution devoted to research and instruction in philosophy and science. Plato was disappointed with the ethics of those in public office (JOC 1). The Academy's primary goal was to educate citizens for statesmanship (Sahakian 35). Plato presided over his Academy in Athens until his death in 347 B.C. (JOC 1). The Ring of Gyges is a story written by Plato in an attempt to force the reader to evaluate his or her own sense of morality. In this story, Gyges worked as a shepherd for the king of Lydia. An earthquake opened up the ground where Gyges' flock was feeding. Inside this opening lay a bronze horse with doors. Inside these doors was a dead body with a golden ring. Gyges pulled the ring from the dead and climbed from the hole. He later joined his fellow shepherds to make a regular report to the king about his sheep. As he sat and toyed with his ring, Gyges noticed that when he turned the setting around on his finger he became invisible to all. He then became a messenger from the shepherds to the court; Gyges took his pleasure and seduced the queen. He later conspired with queen and killed the king, taking control of Lydia. After the story is told, Glaucon asks Socrates to imagine that two magic rings exist. A just individual has one ring, and an unjust person holds the other. Glaucon argues that no man could resist the temptation of taking what is not his, therefore the actions of the just would be as the actions of the unjust. This may affirm to be proof that a man is good, not willingly, but of necessity. If self-indulgence can be practiced without fear of punishment, then the tendency for being unjust will prevail (Jowett 257). What would one do if one possessed a magic ring? One could argue that there is a resemblance between Gyges and President Clinton. The President is a very skillful politician, a master of evasive talk. Plato states, A man who uses his power in the endless pursuit of the delights of the flesh possess the soul of a tyrant. Plato also understood that democracy is susceptible to a certain form of tyranny: the rule of a generous government, catering to the public's needs and wants in exchange for their freedom. Could one associate Plato's idea of a tyrant with the actions of President Clinton? The President has squeezed out of every tight spot in which he has landed. Clinton's cleverness may lead him to think he possesses a Gyges' ring of invincibility. He can allow his passions and sensual desires

Movie Critique essays

Movie Critique essays Intense car chases, extraordinary fight scenes, a great story line. These are all components of a good movie. Warner Brothers executes these with pizzazz in the movie The Matrix: Reloaded by director Josh Oreck. The matrix is a science fiction movie and thus appeals to a very critical audience. It displays all the necessary components of camera arts and computer imaging. We have come along way from Thomas Edisons first film, Fred Otts Sneeze which used roles of celluloid film. The story of The Matrix is society in the future. We have developed A.I. (artificial intelligence) and it has gone beyond our control and in an attempt to terminate the problem we have fallen into a war. The real world is in ruin as a result of our futile attempts to stop the machines we have scorched the sky and the machines have destroyed our cities. The machines have managed to harvest and grow humans for our BTUs (body heat) they harness that to create electricity and thus have fueled their world. We live in incubators where the machines have created a virtual world for us, which they control via probes and fluid lines that they feed us through metal implants. The main metal implant is at the back of our heads where they tap into our consciousness, thus creating an alternate world. There is one human city left however, made by those minds that have been set free from the matrix and are of course unplugged, the city is Zion. The prophecy believed by most of the people is that the One lives in the matrix and can end the war. He lives in the matrix but can bend the rules of the construct of the matrix because it is a computer program it has rules. He can bend those rules at will and defeat the agents which are programs that work for the matrix keeping us slaves to the machines. In the first movie Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) sets the One free. ...

Retail strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Retail strategy - Essay Example Further to him, these studies have noted some quite common traits among the existing entrepreneurs with respect to the need for complete achievement, the perceived locus of control and measure, are orientated toward initiative thinking and have a risk taking propensity in them. According to Beech, W (2001), an entrepreneur is driven by the need to create something new or build something tangible for others to follow. Also, entrepreneurs are described as human beings who are most of the times engaged in the creative destruction of products and services which exist. All in all, since new enterprises have low chances of success rates, an entrepreneur must also have considerable persistence if he/she is to attain the set goals. A crisis of management often arise when the entrepreneur fails to recognize that, running a large company which is stable is quite different from running a small growing company. This problem is often resolved by the entrepreneur leaving the organization and going to tart a new venture Another definition has it that, an entrepreneur is a person with the ability to see what others who came before missed. Further, he/she is a person who is able to make connections between things that others had not and are not capable of. He/she combines to work together to create that which had not existed before (Carey, C 2001). Often, the entrepreneur is not the one who actually creates the new goods or services, but he/she is the one who has the vision of how that idea can be transformed into reality for the benefit of everyone (Carey, C 2001). The entrepreneurs creativity is different from the creativity known. His/her creativity finds ways for the ideas which he/she has formulated to enter the market place as well as being of benefit to all of the society. Entrepreneurs in most cases reward those who came up with the new ideas in the first

Fast Food Effects Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Fast Food Effects - Essay Example However, fast foods have been proven to have a myriad of effects both positive and negative, while the culture of fast foods is considered to have revolutionized the feeding habits of the American public, it has come under harsh criticism because of the detrimental health effects they have on health among them obesity and diabetes. However, being cognizant of this, the fast food outlets have become more sensitive to the nutritional needs of consumers and have included â€Å"health† fast foods in their menus and even going as far as regulating the amount of salt one can consume. Considering the low pricing, people are often encouraged to buy fast foods and consume them on a regular basis. However, regular consumption of fast foods often results in obesity especially in children, bearing in mind that many of eth foods are high calories such a fries and chicken, which is often deep fried, as result the may end up consuming more calories than their bodies can burn. As a result, their body fat will increase and this will lead to weight gain, and this often has detrimental health effect on the consumer. People with office jobs are more prone to this since they spend all day sitting down and eat packed sandwiches, fries and sodas, due to lack of physical activity, they quickly gain weight and in many cases, this portends health complications in posterity. Consumption of fast foods on a regular basis especially foods rich in simple sugars can lead to insulin resistance; this occurs when the pancreas is not transforming sugars into carbohydrates and energy. Insulin resistance is a precise to diabetes type 2 that occurs when the levels of blood sugar increases (Trembla). This often results to ill health, and one becomes prone to other health complications since diabetes weakens the body’s immunity. This is made worse if someone was already overweight, since it becomes hard for them to engage in

Analyze Abbott Laboratory's strategic response to compulsory licensing Article

Analyze Abbott Laboratory's strategic response to compulsory licensing - Article Example Abbott laboratory strategically responded to compulsory licensing by publicly announcing that it is going to withdraw the pending applications for selling current medicines in Thailand. Applications for seven medicines were withdrawn by Abbott. The medicines which Abbott withdrew their applications were Aluvia, Brufen, Abbotic, Clivarine, Humira, Tarka and Zemplar. It decided not to introduce new drugs in Thailand since the actions displayed by Thailand’s government did not respect patents. Several advantages and disadvantages can be associated with abbot laboratory’s strategic response to compulsory licensing (Baron, 2008). Strategic response employed by Abbot Laboratory proved to be advantageous since it created room for negotiation. Abbott’s strategic response made Thailand government to realize how important the organization is in pharmaceutical industry. Its strategic response made Thailand government to raise several complaints. This therefore made world health organization to intervene and discussed with Abbott on how to market its products in developing countries, including Thailand. Abbott’s strategic response also had some weaknesses. The response had a serious effect on patients. It deprived innocent individuals who seriously required lifesaving drugs. The strategic response also showed that Abbott laboratory lacks social responsibility and only mind about maximizing its profits. From the discussion, it is clear that Thailand easily issued compulsory licensing for Abbott laboratory product, causing the organization to angrily react. Abbott angrily reacted to the action by stopping introducing new medicines in Thailand. This strategic response created room for negotiation and caused serious effects on patients and company’s

Unilateral Peters Anomaly in a Nigerian Child

Unilateral Peters Anomaly in a Nigerian Child Case report Abstract 10-week-old female infant presented in our clinic in March, 2013 with history of small right globe since birth. There is associated history of whitish speck in the affected eye. The child is a product of term pregnancy which was uneventful. Mother denied any history of febrile illness during pregnancy. Nil history of maternal rashes, nil hearing or visual challenges, nil use of any drug apart from routine ante-natal haematinics. No history of use of traditional medicine in the course of her pregnancy. The patient is the second child of her parents. There is no similar occurrence in the other sibling or in any other member of the monogamous family. Ocular examination revealed right microphthalmos, microcornea and cornea opacity with pannus. The whole extent of the cornea was affected. An assessment of right Peters anomaly was made. The ocular ultrasound done revealed that the right globe measured 16.1mm in its AP diameter and the left globe measured 16.9 mm. There was cataract in the right eye and the anterior chamber was absent with adherence of the iris to the cornea. Patient was to be placed on cosmetic contact lens in future when she would be old enough t o manage it. Key words : Cornea opacity, microphthalmos, unilateral, Nigerian, child INTRODUCTION Peters anomaly is a form of congenital corneal opacity. It is associated with malformation of the anterior segment of the eye. 1 The aetiology of the condition is not clear. The most likely causes include genetic, infectious, traumatic and toxic factors. 1 Peters anomaly is a rare form of anterior segment dysgenesis in which abnormal cleavage of the anterior chamber occurs. The condition may involve the central or entire cornea. The leucoma is associated with irido- corneal adherences at the area of the leucoma. In the inherited form, mutations involve the PAX6 gene.2 Peters’ anomaly was described by Peters about one hundred years ago. 3It is a rare condition world wide, however the incidence rate is unknown. The condition does not have racial or sexual predilection. A study done by Bhandari et al. Showed equal distribution in both sexes. 4 There are two types of Peters anomaly based on the state of the lens namely type 1 and type 2. In type 1, the lens may or may not be cataractous but the lens does not adhere to the cornea. In type 2, the lens is cataractous and adheres to the cornea. 5 Type 1 is usually unilateral while type 2 is bilateral in 60% of cases. The cornea is usually clear at the periphery and vascularisation is not common however there may be sclerization of the limbus. Case History A 10-week-old female infant presented in our clinic in March,2013 with history of small right globe since birth. The mother noticed patient to have small right globe since few hours after birth. There is associated history of whitish speck in the affected eye. The child is a product of term pregnancy, which was uneventful. Mother denied any history of febrile illness during pregnancy. Nil history of maternal rashes, nil hearing or visual challenges, nil use of any drugs apart from routine ante-natal haematinics, nil ingestion of native concoction during pregnancy. She received routine antenatal Tetanous Toxoid vaccination. She neither smoked cigarette nor drank alcohol. She did not chew kola either. Child was delivered by spontaneous vagina delivery, vertex presentation. She cried spontaneously immediately after birth and the umbilical cord was cut using sterile cord scissors. She had received immunization according to National Programme on Immunization schedule. She had also been ac hieving all the normal developmental milestones. There is no history of any febrile illness since birth. She is the second child of her parents. There is no similar occurrence in the other sibling or in the family. Ocular examination revealed right microphthalmos, microcornea and cornea opacity with pannus. General and systemic examination did not reveal any other abnormality. An assessment of right Peter’s anomaly was made. The nature of this condition was explained to patient’s parents with counselling on how to raise the patient. Consent was obtained from the mother and clinical photograph of the condition was taken. The ocular ultrasonography done revealed that the right globe measured 16.1mm in its AP diameter and the left globe measured 16.9 mm. There was cataract in the right eye and the anterior chamber was absent. The left eye was sonographically normal. It is our belief that patient may benefit from the use of cosmetic contact lens in future. Discussion The early presentation of the patient is quite commendable. This may be related to the rarity of the ocular condition and the fact that the parents were enlightened. Most cases of Peters anomaly are sporadic however the inherited ones could be of autosomal recessive and dominant modes of inheritance. It is associated with abnormalities of chromosome 4. 6 We could not establish family history of similar presentation in the family of this patient. The other child of the parents was also said to be normal and in stable condition. Based on this fact, it is our considered opinion that the case may actually be a sporadic one. Peters anomaly is often an isolated ocular defect but there may be associated ocular and systemic anomalies. However further examination of the patient did not reveal any other systemic abnormality. This may be related to the fact that the condition was unilateral as bilateral Peters anomaly is more often associated with systemic anomalies. The globe was observed to be small and this was confirmed with the aid of ultrasonography. The associated anterior segment anomalies with Peters anomaly include glaucoma, anterior polar catarac t, cornea plana, sclerocornea, microphthalmos, colobomata as well as mesodermal dysgenesis of the anterior chamber angle and iris. 7 Peters anomaly may be associated with systemic anomalies like limb deformities, craniofacial anomalies, cleft lip and palate as well as genitourinary defects. 8-10 Treatment of Peters anomaly is challenging and unsatisfactory. The outcome of corneal transplantation is not rewarding due to post operative complications like graft failure, cataract, retinal detachment and glaucoma.11 Alternative treatment measures include rotation of corneal autograft, atropinisation of the pupil most especially if the visual axis is spared and optical iridectomy. The involvement of the whole extent of the cornea and the microphthalmic globe are associated with poor prognosis for visual recovery. Affectation of only one eye is also risk factor for amblyopia. The patient was not suitable for corneal grafting in view of the vascularisation of the cornea. Optical iridectomy or atropinisation was also not considered as the whole extent of the cornea was affected. In view of the poor prognosis coupled with the cosmetic challenge, the patient was to be placed on cosmetic contact lens when she is old enough to manage contact lens. Conclusion We conclude that prompt presentation and treatment of patients with Peters anomaly is desirable. There is need to create more awareness about the condition among health care providers and the populace in view of the fact that it is rare. Multidisciplinary approach should be adopted in the management of affected patients most especially those with associated systemic anomalies. Figure 1 : Child with right eye Peters anomaly

Drama Script :: Papers

Drama Script MRS JOHNSTONE (shouting) - Put that gun down! Please son, please! MICKEY (looking in Mrs Johnstone) - Stay out of this! This is between me and him, alright! MRS JOHNSTONE (tears coming in her eyes) - please forgive him, son! Please EDWARD - Mickey, listen to your mother, she is right. Maybe we can talk this through MICKEY (looking at Edward in the eye) - You took my wife (Linda) away from me, and you want to talk this through. You don’t deserve to live, you bastard! EDWARD - Mickey, please! Put the gun down. MICKEY- Say one more word, and I’ll shoot you MRS JOHNSTONE (on her knees) - No Mickey put that gun down, please! Two policemen run toward the stage unexpectedly. Both of them holding on to a loaded pistol POLICE 1 (loudly) - Put that gun down, place your hand on your head and step away. MRS JOHNSTONE - Mickey, before you do any thing stupid, listen to me! I have something important to say to you. MICKEY- What could be more important, then to see the death of Edward Lyons MRS JOHNSTONE - Don’t shoot him! And listen to me MICKEY - I can shoot that bastard, if I want to. Is not like that bastard, is related to me. MRS JOHNSTONE (weeping slowly) - You can’t shoot Mickey! EDWARD (smiling at Mrs Jonhstone) - And why not! MRS JOHNSTONE - Because he†¦is MICKEY – he is what! MRS JOHNSTONE (on her knees) – he is you brother†¦.. Mickey†¦ he is your twin brother. EDWARD (with a surprised tone) – Is this †¦.true, Mrs Johnstone. Mickey is my twin brother! Mrs Johnstone nods her head slowly and looks at Mickey. MICKEY (with a shock facial expression) – please tell me you are joking! I get it you are lying to me, so I’ll put the gun and not shoot Edward. MRS JOHNSTONE (calmly) – Does it look like, I’m joking.

Instructional Materials in english

At the end of this module, you are expected to write a reflective essay which ill be graded based on criteria presented at the latter part of the module. As you do the following tasks, you will be guided by the essential question. â€Å"How are preferences, feelings, and insights communicated in a reflective essay? Welcome to Module 2! Johanna Mae Y. Arena Activity 1: What lies beneath the Ink? Below are questions you have to answer. Each question represents a concept or idea which is about to be discussed in this module. Don't leave any item unanswered! From â€Å"Once More Eremite† by Vaccination De la Tore 1 .Before the International Monetary' Fund (MIFF) conference, which â€Å"sprouted† there live-star hotels. Manila Hilton was the place to be seen at. 2. Noted journalist Carmen Guerdon Nanking, who is a native of Eremite, points out that Eremite was then a Toga Village peopled by free, energetic and handsome Malay who drank whine, wore gold bangles and treated ea ch other and the Spanish newcomers with exquisite courtesy. 3. Those, whose beliefs in religion, in life, in just anything are unorthodox, air their views in Eremite's Coffee Shops. 1-9 For items 1-9, do the following: 1. Underline the antecedent used in the statement. . Circle the relative pronoun; and Underline the relative clause twice. 3. 1-3 Before the International Monetary Fund (MIFF) conference, which â€Å"sprouted† other five-star hotels, Manila Hilton was the place to be seen at. Noted journalist Carmen Guerdon Nanking, who is a native of Eremite, points out that Eremite was then a Toga Village peopled by free, energetic and 7-9 Those, whose beliefs in religion, in life, in just anything are unorthodox, air 10. A type of essay which aims to reflect on a personal event or experienced of the author called a a. Persuasive essay b. Reflective essay c. Narrative essay d. Harasser sketch Johanna Mae Y. Erne 2 Processing points This activity will not be recorded, however your score is important to diagnose whether you have background knowledge of the topic. Activity 2: Reflective Circles What is a reflective essay? Try to dissect the idea using the Venn diagram below: Reflection Essay 3 Activity 3: Photo Reflection Below are interesting pictures that have to do with activities (both academic and leisure) in school. Fill out the table below. Write whatnot remember the most about the pictures. Fill out the table below: What is the picture all about? What does the picture remind you of?Activity 4: Transport Below are comments about transportation vehicles. Write the transport talked about. (motor vehicle, plane, boat, train, tricycle, etc. ) Put a plus mark (+), if the remark made positive one or put a minus sign G) if it is a negative one or a statement of disapproval. a. My goodness! The noise it makes before it takes off is deafening because it has to gather speed so it can get off the ground. B. I'll take this ride anytime. It is big. It does not r ock with the waves. Besides that, it is very comfortable just like a floating hotel. C. Those smoke belching vehicles should be banned from the streets.They pollute the air. Moreover they endanger our health. D. That power steering device makes driving very comfortable because the driver does not have to shift gears anymore. The machine helps him do it. 4 e. This is the fastest and cheapest way to travel. It's fast for it has its own tracks to run on, hence it does not get caught up in traffic. F. They tie up traffic; not only that, they are also very noisy. They should be allowed only on the side streets. Isn't it dangerous to go out to sea in that craft since it has only one outrigger? Won't it capsize in rough seas because it is not balanced?Activity 5: COHO -COHO train! Read the following questions. Copy your answers in your notebook. 1. What is the modern-day train model? 2. How does it differ from the other means of land travel? 3. What advantages does a train have over other land transports? 4. What are some of the disadvantages? 5. What comes into your mind when you hear the word train? Write your answers in the graphic organizer below. 5 Activity 6: The Question is Fill out the chart below. Important question about reflective essay Next important question Third important Least important Processing point C] Why is it your most important question? Activity 7: Check My Question! You have selected the most important question in Activity 6, now it is time to make an evaluation of your chosen question using the checklist below: Write your question here: Start evaluating your chosen question here: Characteristics of Essential Question Expressed Not Expressed . It has no simple â€Å"right† answer. It could be argued. 2. 3. It provokes critical thinking. 4. It raises other important questions. It is related to life. 5. Are all the characteristics expressed in your chosen question? If so, then your question is an essential question!If not, try selecting another question and repeat the process enumerated in this activity. The correct answer is â€Å"How are preferences, feelings, and insights communicated in a reflective essay? 7 Reflective essay is a type of essay aimed to reflect personal event or experience Of the author. The main condition is that it has to be a certain personal experience on which the author expresses his very own perception about life. This experience or event is revealed in the essay in order to demonstrate its importance for understanding social relations and the essence of people.Structure of a Reflective Essay Here is a probable scheme of a reflective essay: ; The aim of the opening paragraph is to get the reader involved in the authors expression of ideas including interesting details and personal experiences. The style must be very vivid and must appeal to the reader. ; The middle part reveals a good variety Of the author's ideas on the topic. ; The concluding sentences summarize the main ideas and exp eriences highlighted in the essay. The author makes a reflection of his general perception of the given topic.The introductory paragraph is used for describing the background of your topic, your role in it, and the reasons for choosing it. It is also important to mention your aim and goals for developing the reflective essay writing. In the u porting paragraphs you will explain the process of working on the reflective essay from its initial research to the final stages. Be sure to pay attention to both the weak and strong points; positive and negative experiences and any associated feelings. 8 To conclude your reflective essay efficiently, answer these questions: ; Did you achieve your goals? What would you like to change if you had another chance? ; What useful expertise have you obtained from the task? ; How could it be improved? Activity 8: Vocabulary in a Flash Below are phrases you will encounter while reading the essay ‘ ‘The World in a Train † by Francisco C asino. What do you mean by a. Small world b. Abstraction called humanity c. Without regard to hygiene d. Hard- fought battle e. Fashion so distasteful complete indifference 9 One Sunday I entrained for Baling, a town in Vulcan which can well afford to hold two fiestas a year without a qualm. Kook the train partly because am prejudiced in favor of the government owned railroad, partly because I am allowed comparative comfort in a coach, and finally because trains sometimes leave and arrive according to schedule. In the coach I found a little world, a section of the abstraction called humanity homo we are supposed to love and live for. Had previously arranged to divide the idle hour or so between cultivating my neglected Christianity and smoothing out the rough edges of my nature with the aid of grateful sights without -? the rolling wheels, the flying huts and trees and light-green play seedlings and carbons along the way.Inertia, I suppose, and the sort of reality we moderns know ma ke falling in love with my immediate neighbors often a matter of severe strain and effort to me. Let me give a sketchy picture of the little world whose company Mans Koki shared in moments which soon passed away affecting most of us. First, there came to my notice three husky individuals who dusted their seats furiously with their handkerchiefs without regard to hygiene or the brotherhood of men. It gave me no little annoyance that on such a quiet morning the unpleasant aspects in other people's ways should claim my attention.Then there was a harmless-looking middle-aged man in green camas De chino with rolled sleeves who must have entered asleep. When I noticed him he was already snuggly entrenched in a corner seat, with his slipped feet comfortably planted on the opposite seat, all the while his head danced and dangled with the motion of the train. I could not, for the love of me, imagine how he would look if he were awake. A child of six in the next seat must have shared with me in speculating about the dreams of this sleeping man in green.Was he dreaming of the Second World War or the price of eggs? Had he any worries about the permanent dominion status or the final outcome of the struggles of the masses, or was it merely the arrangement of the scales on a fighting roaster's legs that brought that frown on his face? But the party that most engaged my attention was a family of eight composed of a short but efficient father, four very young children, mother, grandmother, and another woman who must have been the efficient father's sister.They distributed themselves on four benches – you know the kind of seats facing each other so that half the passengers travel backward. The more I looked at the short but young and efficient father the shorter his parts looked to me. His movements were fast and short, too. He removed his coat, folded it carefully and slung it on the back of his seat. Then he pulled out his wallet from the hip pocket and counted his mon ey while his wife and the rest of his group watched the ritual without a word.Then the short, young, and efficient father stood up and pulled out two nana leaf bundles from a bamboo basket and spread out both bundles on one bench and log luncheon was ready at ten o'clock. With the efficient father leading the charge, the children (except the baby in his grandmother's arms) began to dig away with little encouragement and aid from the elders. In a short while the skirmish was over, the enemy – shrimps, omelet, rice and tomato sauce – were routed out, save for a few shrimps and some rice left for the grandmother to handle in her own style later.Then came the water- fetching ritual. The father, with a glass in hand, led the march to the train acute, followed by three children whose faces still showed the marks of a hard-fought-battle. In passing between me and a person, then engaged in a casual conversation with me, the short but efficient father made a courteous gesture w hich is still good to see in these democratic days; he bent from the hips and, dropping both hands, made an opening in the air between my collector and me – a gesture which in unspoiled places means â€Å"Excuse Me. 10 In one of the stations where the train stopped, a bent old woman in black boarded the train. As it moved away, the old woman went about the coach, egging holding every prospective Samaritan by the arm, and stretching forth her gnarled hand in the familiar fashion So distasteful to me at that time. There is something in begging which destroys some fiber in most men. â€Å"Every time you drop a penny into a beggar's palm you help degrade a man and make it more difficult for him to rise with dignity..There was something in his beggar's eye which seemed to demand. â€Å"Now do your duty. † And did. Wily-nil I dropped a coin and thereby filled my life with repulsion. Is this Christianity? â€Å"Blessed are the poor But with what speed did that bent old Oma n cross the platform into the next coach! While thus engaged in unwholesome thought, felt myself jerked as the train made a curve to the right. The toddler of the family of eight lost his balance and caught the short but efficient father off-guard.In an instant all his efficiency was employed in collecting the shrieking toddler from under his seat. The child had, in no time, developed two elongated bumps on the head, upon which was applied a moist piece of cloth. There were no reproaches, no words spoken. The discipline in the family was remarkable, or was it because they considered the head as a minor anatomical appendage and was Hereford nor worth the fuss?Occasionally, when the child's crying rose above the din of the locomotive and the clinkers-clank of the wheels on the rails, the father would jog about a bit without blushing, look at the bumps on his child's head, shake his own, and move his lips saying, â€Å"Task, Task†. And nothing more. Fairly tired of assuming the minor responsibilities of my neighbors in this little world in motion, I looked into the distant horizon where the blue Cordilleras merged into the blue of the sky. There rested my thoughts upon the billowing silver and grey of the clouds, lightly remarking upon their being a Arial to us, although they may not know it.We each would mind our own business and suffer in silence for the littlest mistakes of others; laughing at their ways if we happened to be in a position to suspend our emotion and view the whole scene as a god would; or, we could weep for other men if we are the mood to shed copious tears over the whole tragic aspect of a world thrown out of joint. It is strange how human sympathy operates. We assume an attitude of complete indifference to utter strangers whom we have seen but not met. We claim that they are the hardest to fall in love with in the normal exercise of Christian charity.

How to use adverbs effectively - Emphasis

How to use adverbs effectively How to use adverbs effectively Adverbs convey information about how things happen, as well as when, where and to what extent. As the name suggests, they modify verbs but they can also modify adjectives, other adverbs and whole sentences, writes Cathy Relf. For example, in the sentence I need to see you urgently, the adverb urgently tells us about the verb need. But in Recently, weve been incurring a lot of delays, the adverb recently tells us about the whole sentence. However, informative and descriptive though adverbs certainly are, you should still use them with thought and moderation like all language. We tend to use a lot of fairly meaningless adverbs in conversation, to emphasise certain points, create rhythm and elicit empathy from the listener. But good, clear writing is more about communicating your meaning efficiently than banging your point home and that means only using adverbs that add genuine, useful information. Whenever possible, show, dont tell. Some adverbs are used so frequently in speech that they have become little more than verbal tics, and these are the ones you should be particularly suspicious of if they turn up in your writing. Below are five such words, each of which you should sternly interrogate before deciding whether to grant it a place in your final draft. Interestingly Interestingly, many writers like to introduce facts with the word interestingly. Interestingly, its often followed by something that isnt. If you have an interesting observation to share, let it speak for itself. And if you have a dull but necessary fact to convey, dont try to pep it up by calling it interesting. Youll lose your readers trust, as well as their attention. Heres what happened when we asked a group of editors on Twitter how they felt about sentences beginning with interestingly. Warning: its not pretty. Use it: in speeches, to create a moment of suspense before delivering a genuinely interesting point. Dont use it: to add interest where there is none. Significantly Much like interestingly, the thing about significantly is that most truly significant things can speak for themselves. Pinpoint the reason that you know your fact is significant do you have a statistic, for example? If so, can you use that instead, and let the reader be the judge of its significance? Instead of UK tourists pay significantly less for petrol, why not UK tourists pay 8.6 per cent less for petrol? Sometimes, however, youll have expertise that your reader isnt privy to, meaning you may be able to see significance where they cant. In this case, you can use the word to signal that a particular piece of information youre conveying is significant, and then follow up on how, or why, in the next sentence. Youre basically telling your reader hold on to this bit; youll understand why in a minute. Used like this, significantly can be a useful tool for creating reader engagement. Also, its worth noting that in statistics, significant has a specific meaning, with the significance level being the amount of evidence required to indicate that a result did not happen by chance. Too often, however, significant is simply used to create persuasive, attention-grabbing sentences that gloss over an absence of evidence. For example, see this headline from the Daily Mail: Less than 6 hours sleep significantly increases risk of a stroke even if you are fit and healthy. The article gives no information about the size of the increased risk it could be one per cent higher or 100 per cent higher. The reader is left none the wiser regarding the level of significance, and the same is probably true of the writer. Use it: to highlight facts that the reader may not immediately realise are significant. Dont use it: as a substitute for real information, or to make something seem more important than it is. Obviously Before you use obviously or clearly, ask yourself three things: firstly, if its obvious to everyone, do you need to make the point at all? Take, for example, the introductory sentence to this article in The Hindu: Quite obviously, the Reserve Bank of India, while reviewing the credit policy the mid-quarter review is scheduled for later on June 18 would take note of the recent developments affecting the economy. Once you unpick the sentence, it is obvious that a bank would consider economic developments when reviewing its credit policy. But did they need to say so? After all, if its obvious, is it news? Secondly, if its not obvious to your readers, how are they going to feel? Foolish, perhaps or, worse, patronised. And, thirdly, are you using obviously to discourage questioning? (After all, who would argue with something that has been declared universally obvious?) If so, take a moment to think about why youre using such a defensive tactic. It may be that there are holes in your own argument. Use it: as little as possible. Dont use it: if its likely that the information will not be obvious to some readers. Actually Actually is a useful discourse marker in speech. We use it for emphasis, surprise, contrast or correction (we thought it would be a good move, but it was actually a mistake, no, I live in Hove, actually, he was actually trying to take all the credit himself). However, in writing, actually should be used sparingly. If youre someone who writes like a demon in first drafts, itll often end up in there because your writing tumbles out structured like speech. Its actually a great way to get a first draft on to paper, but when you go back to edit it and actually look at the contribution each word is making, thats the time to question whether theyre actually adding any value or clarity. In the sentence above, wed delete the first two actuallys, but keep the third, which subtly intensifies the action of adding value. Use it: when it adds a useful hint of contrast or surprise to the sentence. Dont use it: just because you would when speaking. Literally This is, without doubt, the adverb with the most enemies. There are whole social media accounts devoted to pointing out inappropriate uses of literally. See @literallypolice on Twitter and The Literally Tsar on Facebook, if you dont believe us. The problem with literally is that it has developed a colloquial meaning that is the opposite of its literal, or dictionary, meaning. Often, when people say literally, they mean its opposite, figuratively. The footballer Jamie Redknapp has a particular fondness for the colloquial usage of the word, according to this Guardian article (he had to cut back inside on to his left, because he literally hasnt got a right foot). Despite all this fuss, only the most pedantic person would interrupt you in the middle of a story to question whether you were literally shaking like a leaf or literally chomping at the bit. But readers are pickier than listeners, and sentences such as these seem more incongruous in black and white. So, just to be completely literal about it, here are the definitions from Collins: Literal: in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text. Figurative: of the nature of, resembling, or involving a figure of speech; not literal; metaphorical. In short, if it didnt really, literally happen, dont use literally. Use it: to describe things that really happened. Dont use it: for metaphors or exaggerated expressions. Want more advice on getting the most out of your business writing? Read about our in-company High-impact business writing course. Or, if you want to train only one or two people, check out our open course sessions. Then give us a call on +44 (0)1273 732 888, email us or tweet us at @EmphasisWriting.

Free Essays on Noble Truths In Buddhism

The Buddha Shakyamuni was born in the 6th century BC in the area which is known today as Nepal. During his 80 year lifetime, he developed a philosophy which he claimed would lead its followers towards an enlightenment. Buddhism is commonly called a religion however; it differs from the usual definition of a religion in that it has no divine being and is based on logical reasoning and observation rather than spiritual faith. At the core of Buddhist philosophy is the Buddha's enumeration of Four Noble Truths: Dukkha (suffering), Samudaya (origin of suffering), Nirodha (cessation of suffering), and Magga(path to cessation of suffering). These Four Noble Truths form a logically consistent set of rules, or somewhat of a law, upon which the whole Buddhist religion is based. In order to fully understand the Four Noble Truths, it is necessary to investigate the Buddhist view of the individual and its makeup. In some respects, the manner in which Buddhism deals with the mind/body problem is much more advanced than most religious views, and closer to science's understanding of the mind and body. Rather than postulating the existence of an eternal soul with no physical manifestation, the Buddha taught that the person is really a collection of five skandhas or aggregates. These include rupa (matter), vedana (sensations), sanna (perceptions), samkhara (mental formations), and vijnana (consciousness). The aggregate of matter encompasses all tangible aspects of the world. The aggregate of sensations is akin to the process of sensory input; e.g., the activation of retinal cells in the eye. Vedana does not include the process of perception, however; the act of perceiving the senses, i.e., recognition of external sensations, is within the realm of the sanna. Buddha classified mental activities (samkhara), i.e., ideas and thoughts, as being disparate from the state of mental consciousness (vijnana). Consciousness, in the Buddhist view, is th... Free Essays on Noble Truths In Buddhism Free Essays on Noble Truths In Buddhism The Buddha Shakyamuni was born in the 6th century BC in the area which is known today as Nepal. During his 80 year lifetime, he developed a philosophy which he claimed would lead its followers towards an enlightenment. Buddhism is commonly called a religion however; it differs from the usual definition of a religion in that it has no divine being and is based on logical reasoning and observation rather than spiritual faith. At the core of Buddhist philosophy is the Buddha's enumeration of Four Noble Truths: Dukkha (suffering), Samudaya (origin of suffering), Nirodha (cessation of suffering), and Magga(path to cessation of suffering). These Four Noble Truths form a logically consistent set of rules, or somewhat of a law, upon which the whole Buddhist religion is based. In order to fully understand the Four Noble Truths, it is necessary to investigate the Buddhist view of the individual and its makeup. In some respects, the manner in which Buddhism deals with the mind/body problem is much more advanced than most religious views, and closer to science's understanding of the mind and body. Rather than postulating the existence of an eternal soul with no physical manifestation, the Buddha taught that the person is really a collection of five skandhas or aggregates. These include rupa (matter), vedana (sensations), sanna (perceptions), samkhara (mental formations), and vijnana (consciousness). The aggregate of matter encompasses all tangible aspects of the world. The aggregate of sensations is akin to the process of sensory input; e.g., the activation of retinal cells in the eye. Vedana does not include the process of perception, however; the act of perceiving the senses, i.e., recognition of external sensations, is within the realm of the sanna. Buddha classified mental activities (samkhara), i.e., ideas and thoughts, as being disparate from the state of mental consciousness (vijnana). Consciousness, in the Buddhist view, is th...

Different Styles in Movies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Different Styles in Movies - Essay Example The essay "Different Styles in Movies" investigates such movie styles as Soviet Montage, Surrealism, German Expressionism and Impressionism. Equally important is the use of dream sequence to penetrate in to the layers of mind – conscious and subconscious. This style the focuses on the characters’ state of mind, impression of feelings and emotions rather than on the plot or drama of the story. Cinematography and editing are used to illustrate the state of mind, and dream sequences are used to reflect on the conscience. The wide use of impressionist methods is so palpable in Francis Ford Coppola’s film, that brought the internalized life of a detached expert ‘bugger’ Hary Caul on the scene. He would pass for a modern recluse, donned with headphones, holding an extended shot gun microphone. He probes into the private life of Ann and Mark. The film revealed contradictions in the inner and outer life of the protagonist through the subtle emotions on his f ace, physical movements, and also in his dialogue which intermittently gets spiced with silence. The camera opens with a bird’s-eye-view on the busy lunch time at Union Square in downtown San Francisco, with frames having visual details of pedestrians, workers on lunch break, and Christmas shoppers. There emerges the cadence of street musician’s concert which gets mingled with the gruff and hoarse noise produced by certain mechanical devices in the street. The inner conflicts of the character are illustrated through the varying degrees of music and cacophony.

Internet addiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internet addiction - Essay Example People often tend to ask as to what internet addiction is. The focus of internet addiction can cause people to believe that they are being informed by the IAD, also known as internet addiction problem. This paper will look into the way in which internet manipulates people’s minds and distracts them, thus causing them to think about entirely different things and experience radical change in their priorities (Young, â€Å"Internet Addiction: Symptoms†). The solution to internet addiction is realization of addiction, time management, and increased family unions. Firstly, Internet addiction is a very nasty disorder that might even be more technical than the obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that most of the world is aware about. Just like OCD, the roots of internet addiction disorder are psychological and are triggered due to a nervous system that exists within the brain. What is shocking though, is the mere fact that internet addiction problem does not get as serious as OCD and is not fatal, physically, but it is fatal in the sense that a person loses his ability to grasp priorities and change from one situation to another in a smooth transition. A person having internet addiction will always have this time crunching feeling that he needs to work on something different, something more reproductive, on the internet. For example, a person who has an assignment to compete for his college will often try to complete the assignment because he feels responsible for it. However, if that student is addicted to internet, he will often get an urge t o check what is going on when it comes to his Facebook account, Twitter account, some other social media platform account and thus get distracted immediately (Young, â€Å"Internet addiction: the†). His conscience may have been about fulfilling his responsibility but his obsession with social media platforms drives him to ruin his own work himself. Moreover, it also becomes hard for the