The Concept of Creativity

Introduction Based on the work of Kirby Ferguson, it can be stated that the concept of creativity arises not out of nothingness; rather, it is the result of applying ordinary mental tools within the mind onto existing materials in order to produce new results (Vogel et al., 2011). In order to better understand such a concept, it is important to first know what the various elements of creativity are and how they impact the creative process.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Concept of Creativity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The elements of creativity are composed of the following: Cognitive – Cognitive elements within the creative process refer to an individual’s basic knowledge regarding particular processes (whether generalized or specializing in a specific field), their attraction towards complexity (e.g. their innate ability to analyze and combine ideas into new areas or dimensions ), their general open-mindedness towards new discoveries and finally their awareness of the creative process itself. Affective – Affective elements on the other hand refer to an individual’s intrinsic level of curiosity, willingness to explore, their ability to take risks and their general independence towards following generally accepted processes and procedures in order to attempt something new. Combined with the cognitive elements of creativity this in effect enables an individual to examine current processes from multiple angles and actually desire to implement new methods which could potentially improve such processes. Based on the study of De Miranda, Aranha Zardo (2009) which examines the development of creativity within individuals over time, it can be stated that as an individual’s cognitive and affective elements grow so too does their ability to explore and become more creative (De Miranda, Aranha Zardo, 2009). Personal – The personal aspect of creativity is slightly different in that it refers to an individual’s innate talent with a particular type of skill set as compared to something that was acquired over time.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When it comes to an individual’s personal perspective on creativity, this often takes the form of new concepts being applied to new experiences in order to create new outputs as compared to situations without sufficient creativity wherein new concepts/ideas are actually made to fit onto old theories which often results in inefficient or ineffective practices (Vogel et al., 2011). Motivational – The motivational aspect of the creative process is related to an individual’s drive towards a particular type of project, assignment, job or piece of work that they are currently working on. The desire to design, create and enhance in this particular c ase is not due to external influences but rather as a direct result of an internal desire which manifests itself as an aspect of the creative process. ( ) explains this by stating that creativity is not something that can be forced, rather, it is an internal process that develops as a direct result of the desire of a person to develop or enhance something they are working on. Thus, the motivational aspect of creativity is one of the most important elements since it acts as the spark which lights the fire of creativity in the first place. Applying Logical and Creative Problem Solving to Real World Problems When examining the work of Demirkan Hasirci (2009) on creativity and its various applications, it was noted that what we know as creativity at the present may have arisen as an evolutionary response to problems encountered by early humans on a daily basis (Demirkan Hasirci, 2009). Creativity, as described by Demirkan Hasirci (2009), can be considered a thought process that is me ant to address problematic situations in an alternative manner as compared to a more straightforward approach that became ineffective (Demirkan Hasirci, 2009). This manifests itself in various stages in a person’s life and attains its zenith during a person’s adult years when they become 30 to 35 years old. Logical and creative problem solving is thus limited not only by life experience, which is inversely proportional to age, but is also limited by a person’s inherent set of skills when it comes to particular problems (Holm-Hadulla Hofmann, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Concept of Creativity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, an individual that utilizes logic and creativity when it come to resolving a problem related to electrical engineering, may not have the same level of creative thinking when it comes to resolving an issue involving computer graphics o r architecture (Holm-Hadulla Hofmann, 2012). Thus, logical thinking and creativity should not be considered applicable to all cases; rather, it would be more accurate to consider such factors being utilized in two distinct categories, namely: general experiences and specific knowledge (Joo, Song, Lim Yoon, 2012). General experiences is the application of logic and creativity on daily experiences, this can come in the form of daily social interactions, handling everyday tasks, as well as other actions that are normally associated with the daily activities of a normal person (Joo, Song, Lim Yoon, 2012). Specific knowledge on the other hand refers to the application of logic and creativity on actions/events that entail the application of unique pieces of knowledge that are applicable to individuals within specific fields (Lemons, 2005). This can entail the application of logic and creativity in aspects related to solving problems in architecture, computer programming, engineering an d other such activities that require extensive knowledge within a particular field. Hypothesized Application of Creative Problem Solving Hypothesis: Creativity is an essential part of the learning process due to the way in which it examines and tries to improve upon knowledge that has already been internalized. When it comes to the application of creativity, it is important to note that there are three essential elements that are present which result in the creative process. These elements are composed of the following concepts:Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Copy – the element of copying within creativity is actually a manifestation of the learning process wherein people â€Å"copy† the relevant information they need and internalize it for later use. This internalization is an essential aspect of the process of creativity since it in effect acts as the initial blueprint from where all future ideas stem from. Transform – the element of transformation occurs when information that was initially copied and internalized is examined and thought of in new ways. While it has yet to be applied into anything specific, the information is no longer the same as it once was since it has been modified based on other perspectives and internalized concepts. Combine – the process of combination involves utilizing the transformed knowledge within a real life situation which in effect creates a new solution as compared to merely utilizing the knowledge in the same way in order to create the same solution. What must be understood is that creative problem solving can actually be utilized as a tool to improve learning by enabling an individual to perceive distinct problems from multiple angles. The inherent problem with linear methods of learning, which presents information in a straightforward fashion, is that it encourages people to think in only a certain way. While this may seem like a perfectly normal aspect of learning, the fact is that multifaceted approach is a far more effective means of learning and producing ideas as compared to a linear method of understanding. Linear learning results in an individual perceiving lessons in only a certain fashion and applying them in narrowly specific way, the inherent problem with this is that when presented with a situation that entails out of the box thinking, those who have been indoctrinated into a linear form of learning usually are not able to develop the necessary solutions to resolve a new issue. A multifaceted approach on the other hand utilizes focuses o n incorporating creative problem solving skills at the very inception of the lesson (Chen Chen, 2012). This means that learners are presented with multiple approaches to choose from and are guided towards choosing which option they perceive is the best course of action. By utilizing this particular method of learning, learners are thus able to adapt to different situations and are able to incorporate lessons that they learned into new situations they encounter (MacLaren, 2012). Evidence of improved learning outcomes when incorporating creative problem solving in the learning process can actually be seen in the case of the U.S. system of education (Livingston, 2010). At the present, funding for public schools within various U.S. districts is inherently connected to the performance of students in tests as well as in national tests administered by the government. Schools that have underperforming students based on government standards actually receive reduced funding due to what is pe rceived as a â€Å"failure â€Å"in the teaching ability of the school. It is due to this that public schools within the U.S. often implement a linear militaristic form of education wherein students are taught how to answer tests yet are not given the necessary tools to properly understand the lessons behind arriving at the answers (Chen Chen, 2012). As a result of such actions, it has been determined by numerous studies that a vast percentage of the present day generation of students within the U.S. public school system have been formed into nothing more than â€Å"parrots† who repeat answers and lack the sufficient ability to apply the lessons taught into actual situations (Livingston, 2010). On the other end of the spectrum, private schools within the U.S. implement an entirely different method of teaching which does not utilize a linear militaristic form of teaching, rather they utilize a multifaceted approach wherein they incorporate creative problem solving to variou s lessons and help students understand the processes behind the lessons being taught to them and how to properly apply such lessons within actual real world scenarios. The end result is that students from private schools in the U.S. have been shown to be far smarter and far more capable as compared to their counterparts in the public school system, Conclusion Based on what has been presented in this paper so far, it can be stated that creativity is an essential part of the learning process due to the way in which it examines and tries to improve upon knowledge that has already been internalized. Reference List Chen, I., Chen, J. (2012). Creativity strategy selection for the higher education system. Quality Quantity, 46(3), 739-750. De Miranda, P. C., Aranha, J. S., Zardo, J. (2009). Creativity: people, environment and culture, the key elements in its understanding and interpretation. Science   Public Policy (SPP), 36(7), 523-535. Demirkan, H., Hasirci, D. (2009). Hidden Dimens ions of Creativity Elements in Design Process. Creativity Research Journal, 21(2/3), 294-301. Holm-Hadulla, R., Hofmann, F. (2012). Counselling, psychotherapy and creativity.  Asia Pacific Journal Of Counselling Psychotherapy, 3(2), 130-136. Joo, B., Song, J., Lim, D., Yoon, S. (2012). Team creativity: the effects of perceived learning culture, developmental feedback and team cohesion. International  Journal Of Training Development, 16(2), 77-91. Lemons, G. (2005). When the Horse Drinks: Enhancing Everyday Creativity Using Elements of Improvisation. Creativity Research Journal, 17(1), 25-36. Livingston, L. (2010). Teaching Creativity in Higher Education. Arts Education Policy  Review, 111(2), 59-62. MacLaren, I. (2012). The contradictions of policy and practice: creativity in higher education. London Review Of Education, 10(2), 159-172 Vogel, T., Villegas, J., Barry, I., Hurni, R., Ortega, T., Griffin, G. (2011). Creativity as a strategic resource. American Academy Of Adv ertising Conference Proceedings, 132-133. This research paper on The Concept of Creativity was written and submitted by user Julissa C. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Internal environment of business Essay Example

Internal environment of business Essay Example Internal environment of business Paper Internal environment of business Paper The structure and politics of an organization affects the manner in which the organization responds to environmental change. Furthermore, it can be difficult to change cultural attitudes when the nature of an organizations business environment has changed. Along with the external environment, internal environment Of an organization also keep on changing. The five elements of the internal environment which are physical, technological, social, political, and economic, influence how the manager functions will be performed. The physical element of the internal environment includes such factors as air quality, temperature, noise, dust, addition, and other conditions affecting me people health and safety. Managers revealed a high percentage of dissatisfaction with aspects of the physical environment of the workplace. The technological element of the internal environment relates closely to the physical element. It consists of the layout of the workplace; the process by which the work is performed; and the tools, equipment, and machinery used to perform the work. These factors in turn determine both the way work is processed and the requirements of the jobs performed by managers. The way in which work is organized affects interpersonal relations and in traction among the manager and employees within a work area. It influences the formation of in formal work groups and the degree of cooperation or conflict among manager and employees. The social element reflects the attitudes and behaviors of managers. Because of their influential place in the organizational hierarchy, top managers play an extremely important role in determining the quality of the social element. The rules and regulations they devise, the concern they have for employees, the rewards and support they provide, and the tolerance they have for raying opinions are major factors in determining the organizational climate. Politics is an important social process found in all organizations. Organizational politics, of course, has the potential for being helpful or harmful to organizations and individuals. The economic element of a firms internal environment reflects the organize Zions financial condition. The more favorable this condition, the more financial resources the organization will have to support its human resources, including employee compensation and benefits. An organ nations culture is particularly relevant to managers. These constraints are rarely explicit. Its unlikely that theyll even be spoken. But theyre there, and all managers quickly learn what to do and not to do in their organization. The link between values such as these and managerial behavior is fairly straightforward. If an organizations culture supports the belief that profits can be increased by cost cutting and that the companys best interests are served by achieving slow but steady increases in quarterly earnings, managers throughout the organization are unlikely to pursue programs that are innovative, risky, long term, or expansionary. For organizations that value and encourage workforce diversity, the and, thus, managers decisions and actions should be supportive of diversity efforts. In an organization whose culture conveys a basic distrust of employees, managers are more likely to use an authoritarian leadership style than a democratic one. The culture establishes for managers what appropriate behavior is. For instance, at SST. Lakes advertising agency in London, a culture shaped by the value placed on freedom of expression, a lack of coercion and fear, and a determination to make work fun influences the way employees ark and the way that managers plan, organize, lead, and control. The organizations culture is also reinforced by the office environment, which is open, versatile, and creative. An organizations culture, especially a Strong one, constrains a managers decision-making options in all management functions. Managers shape their culture by having an organizational stories typically contain a narrative of significant events or people including such things as the organizations founders, rule breaking, reactions to past mistakes, and so forth. For instance, managers at Nikkei feel that stories told about the companys past help shape the future. Whenever possible, corporate storytellers (senior executives) explain the companys heritage and tell stories that celebrate people getting things done. These stories provide prime examples that people can learn from. To help manager learn the culture, organizational stories anchor the present in the past, provide explanations and legitimacy for current practices, and exemplify what is important to the organization. Corporate rituals are repetitive sequences of activities that express and reinforce the values of the organization, what goals are most important, and which people are important and which ones are expendable. One of the best-known corporate rituals is Mary Kay Cosmetics annual meeting for its sales representatives. Looking like a cross between a circus and a Miss America pageant, the awards ceremony takes place in a large auditorium, on a stage in front of a large, cheering audience, with all the participants dressed in glamorous evening clothes. Salespeople are rewarded for their success in achieving sales goals with an array of flashy gifts including gold and diamond pins, furs, and pink Cadillacs. This show acts as a motivator by publicly acknowledging outstanding sales performance. In addition, the ritual aspect reinforces founder Mary Says determination and optimism, which enabled her to overcome personal hardships, found her own company, and achieve material success. It conveys to her salespeople that reaching their sales goals is important and that, through hard work and encouragement, they too can achieve success. Your second author had the experience of being on a flight out of Dallas one year with a planeload of Mary Kay sales representatives headed home from the annual awards meeting. Their contagious enthusiasm and excitement made it obvious that his annual ritual played a significant role in establishing desired levels of motivation and behavioral expectations, which, after all, is what an organizations culture should do. Many organizations and units within organizations use language as a way to identify members of a culture. By learning this language, me beers attest to their acceptance of the culture and their willingness to help to preserve it. For instance, Microsoft, the software company, has its own unique vocabulary: work judo (the art of deflecting a work assignment to someone else without making it appear that youre voiding it; eating your own dog food (a strategy of using your own software programs or products in the early stages as a way of testing them even if the process is disagreeable); flat food (goodies from the vending machine that can be slipped under the door to a colleague whos working feverishly on deadline); facsimile (actually talking to someone face-to-face; considered by Microsoft employees a technologically backward means of communicating); death march (the countdown to shipping a new product); and so on. Over time, organizations often develop unique terms to describe equipment, key response, suppliers, customers, or products that are related to their business. Managers are free intently overwhelmed with acronyms and jargon that, after a short period of time, become a natural part of their language. Once learned, this language acts as a common denominator that unites members of a given culture. When the financial health of a firm is strong, there is a tendency to expand managers activities such as training and development, employee assistance programs, and recreational activities. If the organization is growing, there is the possibility of expansion leading to manager recruitment, selection, and orientation. Conversely, when financial re sources are low, an organization tends to reduce its manager budget and to cut back the managers services it offers to its employees. The way in which work is organized affects interpersonal relations and in traction among employees within a work area. It influences the formation of in formal work groups and the degree of cooperation or conflict among managers. More and more, technological systems are being integrated with the social sys teems of an organization, creating what is referred to as a esthetically system. Job design is based on human as well as technological considerations.

Heritage Tourism, two subtopic questions Coursework

Heritage Tourism, two subtopic questions - Coursework Example The countries committed to developing a way that could see them honor and acknowledge their past as they moved to establish a future that was safe, peaceful and accommodating everyone into their countries. Therefore, elimination the past for a country is very suicidal because the future generations may lack a benchmark on which to make informed decisions regarding the future. According to Digance (2003), the past offers a platform on which to avoid those ideas and systems that did not work and failed in one way or another. in this regard, the study of it helps in shaping the future by offering better ways of creating social and economic systems of life for a country. From the time of its civil war, Serbia has managed to establish a country that respects peace and harmonious co-existence among its people. Every country has a way of ensuring that its history is well protected so that its future generations can learn from it and tread into their esteemed future. Almost every country has well established and stocked museums that contained various cultural aspects. These cultural centres provide good memories to the people who often are motivated with the spirit of adventure, wanting to know how their countries came into existence. According to Goulding & Dominic (2008), Croatia is one of the countries that contain a rich past, detailing how the country made its way from Yugoslavian colonial rule, creating an economy that is fostered on developing a peaceful country that values and appreciates peace. One of the reasons why mapping a country’s history is important is informed by the need to preserve its cultural heritage. In this regard, this heritage serves as a good reminder of the country’s past, explaining the way of life in the olden days. By having this understanding, people can easily understand why and how life is changing. Secondly, mapping a country’s history

Fine and popular art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fine and popular art - Essay Example Such processes, although perhaps considered the results of skilled craftsmanship and artisanship in both the academy and the popular mind, were not generally believed to lend themselves to the type of refined art-making that the serious artist pursued. By emphasizing the role that art plays in popular culture and vice-versa, however, the pop art movement attempted to bridge the gap between what had been for the last several hundred years a strict division between the fine arts and the popular arts. ... While both may deal with such topics as race, economics, poverty, gender, and the like through their approaches to meeting human needs and providing form that shapes human content, the fine arts have traditionally been considered to be driven by a special refined quality that is sensitive and sensible and that revolves around a particular kind of insight and training, while the popular arts have traditionally been viewed as meeting economic needs with skilled action. The difference, in other words, seems to be a psychological one as well as an economic one. Popular artists apply skills to developing products and goods that, while beautiful, are primarily functional. Fine artists develop products which are primarily communicative. Larry Shriner, in his book The Invention of Art, argues that it was only in the 18th Century that the fine arts split off from the popular arts. Until that time many of the artists that today are considered serious fine artists from the past were essentially considered to very highly skilled artisans in their own day, and their works were considered to be highly representative forms of skilled craftsmanship. In 18th Century Europe, however, a cultural elite began to make distinctions between craftsmanship and â€Å"art† in order to separate themselves from the masses in taste and practice. The effort was so successful that they began to define art backwards, and works of skilled artisanship that were, for example, found in the colonies conquered by this cultural elite came to be called â€Å"primative art† – as though such products were approaching fine art but had not yet arrived. Shriner’s argument suggests that the distinction between fine art and the popular arts is largely

HPV critical Analysis Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

HPV critical Analysis - Article Example to establish and collect not only this data, but also to provide a baseline estimate to measure the wide-scale impact of the current HPV vaccine on reducing infection, as well as providing models with a baseline on cost-effectiveness of distributing said vaccine. Were these seven colleagues qualified to do so? Indeed they were, by virtue of profession and training. As listed in the article, six out of the seven that conducted the study not only held the title of Ph.D. or M.D., but also were employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which not only supported their work but also conducted the larger survey of which the study was a part of, the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NAHANES). All seven worked together to gather, collate, and sort the data, with Dr. Eileen F. Dunne taking the lead role, as well as responsibility for the data that supported their conclusions. Dr. Dunne and her colleagues made no claims about the HPV virus, though they did claim that baseline data would be effective in measuring the prevalence of the disease. Their main concern was that such data did not exist, and therefore in the future there would be nothing to measure the actual reduction of the HPV virus in women against, had they been given the vaccine. To conduct the study, Dr. Dunne and her colleagues used a â€Å"representative sample† of women aged 14-59 that were taking part in the NHANES survey. The women self-reported their race and ethnicity via questionnaires as well as providing a cervical swab. Out of 2482 females that took part in the study, 2387 were examined in a mobile examination center and asked to self-collect a sample via swab, which was then submitted for analysis. HPV detection, as well as typing, was then performed, and the results analyzed. Out of the 2387 females, 466 were considered â€Å"nonresponders†, due to the fact that they either submitted â€Å"an inadequate swab specimen†, or did not submit a specimen at all. The various types

New Labours Traditional Family Values in Policy

New Labours Traditional Family Values in Policy In Comparison to the Thatcher Government, in what ways does New Labour try to bring back traditional family values through policy and legislation? Abstract The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate and compare the way in New Labour is trying to bring back traditional family values through policy and legislation with the ways in which the Thatcher government had tried to do so. As will be explained and analysed there are some similarities and indeed some profound differences between the objectives and the methods of New Labour and the Thatcher governments. As will be analysed in great depth both the Thatcher government and New Labour government came to power with wide-ranging visions of how they wished to transform the politics, the economy, and the society of Britain. The Thatcher government’s attempts to bring back traditional family values through policy and via legislation will be evaluated first, in order to examine the extent to which its objectives succeeded or if those objectives failed. Arguably, the Thatcher government had a massive impact upon the social, economic, and the political make up or infrastructure of Britain, even if not always in the ways that it had intended, or had hoped for. The Thatcher government also discovered that the consequences of their policy decisions could be contradictory, rather than complimentary to the primary objectives of the legislation that they passed. The latter parts of the dissertation will concentrate upon the transition of the Labour party away from its traditional economic and social policies into New Labour and how, that transition affected its policies and objectives. New Labour was a reinvention of the Labour party designed to regain power after 18 years in the political wilderness. Traditionally, the Labour party had regarded the promotion of social ownership of the means of production (the infamous clause four of its constitution); and the provision of generous benefits by the welfare state for those in need as sacrosanct policy areas. Labour governments had used progressive taxation and high public sector borrowing to pay for high social policy expenditure if that was needed. Those were the policies mainly used to maintain or bring back traditional family values by all previous Labour governments. New Labour, as will be demonstrated, turned away from the concepts of increasing levels of social ownership, and set limits for the use of progressive taxation and increasing public sector borrowing, whilst promising to reform the welfare state. The combination of these measures was intended to focus help on to those people that needed help the most. It also arguably, gives cause to debate whether New Labour is driven by its ideological principles; or if it is driven by the more selfish desire to obtain and subsequently retain governmental office. After all, as any self-respecting politician will tell anybody willing to hear them, it is no good having a vision of transforming society if there is no political office or power to do anything about enacting that vision. Certainly before winning the general election of 1997 New Labour emphasised its intention to bring back traditional family values through policy and where it was considered to be necessary through legislation. As a party New Labour committed itself to improving public services, fighting crime, and a host of other measures to make Britain a better place to live in. Also to be discussed is New Labour’s policies and legislation upon human rights and equality for all, that in many respects goes beyond bringing back traditional family values. Whilst politicians are generally in agreement over the need for traditional family values, they differ as to the best policies and if needs be the best legislation to restore, promote, or protect traditional family values. Differences over the best ways to achieve traditional family values are influenced by differing ideological approaches, as well as different understandings of human nature. Governments do not only rely on policy and legislat ion to achieve or at least aim to achieve their objectives. Governments try to influence the public through official statements, press and television articles, as well as presenting its objectives to the public as frequently as possible. The public of course does not have to be persuaded by the influence, policy, and legislation of any government. Indeed the public can affect the policy and legislation that governments adopt by voting those governments in and out of office at every general election. The media has a great deal of influence in its own right when it comes to the moral attitudes and acceptable standards of behaviour that the British public hold. All are issues and influences upon the restoration or promotion of traditional family values will be evaluated. Introduction Before evaluating and analysing the ways in which New Labour and the Thatcher governments aimed to bring back bring traditional family values, it would be best to define what is meant by traditional family values. Usually traditional family values are considered to be the promotion of long lasting marriages, bringing up children to be well behaved and law abiding, and educating everybody to respect law and order. Traditional family values are also linked with a religious or moral upbringing, yet it can also encompass people being responsible for providing for their own financial and social welfare through working hard and saving, as well as taking responsibility for their own actions. Traditional family values were linked in public perceptions to Victorian times, the majority of people may now be materially better off yet their sense of morality, and the willingness to accept traditional family values has declined noticeably (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, p.42). In the British conte xt the religious influences upon traditional family values had been predominately Christian in their origins. The dominant family values in Britain have been altered by different factors since the 1960s. The belief in Christian values has declined due to the processes of secularisation and liberalisation, changing social attitudes arguably helped by changes in fashion and media coverage. Family values are also different due to the immigration of people into Britain with different religious faiths such as Islam, and Hinduism (Modood, 2005, p.192). Different religious beliefs mean that although non-Christians often have a strong sense of morality and an understanding of how to behave, those moral values are similar yet not necessarily the same as traditional family values as they are perceived (Forman Baldwin, 1999, pp. 10-11). British governments, assuming that they have a sufficient Parliamentary majority are generally able to carry out policy objectives and pass legislation as they feel necessary, or, to keep to the pledges they made in their party manifestos during the previous general election campaigns. The power and the authority held by British governments to carry out their policies is great, and the vast majority of the population accepts the legislation passed through Parliament. However, it is under the assumption that the government can be voted out at the next general election if the majority of voters are unhappy with its performance, or achievements. Much harder to define or evaluate can be the influence that governments have upon people’s beliefs and behaviour. Parties win general elections sometimes because they are the least unpopular party, rather than because they are the most popular. Voters can be as pragmatic or as cynical as the politicians that they vote for or against, they vote for the party that makes them better off, as much as the party that wants to influence or potentially change their beliefs and behaviour (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, pp 4 –5). Now attention is turned to the discussion of how differing ideological, or political beliefs have influenced the Thatcher and New Labour governments into making policy and legislation that affects social policy in Britain. The classical liberal approach to traditional family values was that governments should not intervene in social matters just as they should keep economic interventions down to an absolute minimum. The classical liberal approach regarded the role of governments as being strictly limited to providing legislation when required, and limited educational, law and order, and national defence facilities or services. The moral, religious, and social values may have been Christian yet that was just by historical chance. Classical liberal thinkers such as John Locke argued that the government should tolerate diversity and allow its people to act in anyway they wanted that did not contravene national laws (Lacey, 2006, p.7). For classical liberals, governments should have gone no further than regulating workplace safety and regulating the Poor Law administration. The teaching of traditional family values was down to churches (or other religious institutions), schools, and individual family groups themselves (Eatwell Wright, 2003 p. 36). The ideas of classical liberalism would re-emerge from the 1960s in the guise of neo-liberalism and would have the most influence in Britain upon the government that was led by Margaret Thatcher between May 1979 and her removal from office in November 1990. The Major government that held office from 1990 through to 1997 was regarded as being less dogmatic and more pragmatic than its immediate predecessor was, though conversely placing a greater emphasis on individual morality and standards of behaviour (Eatwell Wright, 2003, p. 287). Another strand of liberal political ideology emerged at the beginning of the 20th century that favoured a higher level of government intervention in social and economic matters. This ‘new’ liberalism was responsible for the first moves towards establishing the welfare state in Britain. The new Liberals regarded poverty as being the largest single threat to traditional family values, as well as being socially divisive. Poverty often led families into the dreaded workhouses that separated parents from their children, and then parents from each other. Poverty in other words could stop people from caring for each other, it stopped relatives being cared for, and prevented people looking after themselves. The workhouse was, according to the new liberal ideological perspective, the biggest breaker of families, something that grinding poverty did not always achieve (Moran, 2005, p. 28). The introduction of Labour Exchanges, national insurance, which paid small amounts of unemplo yment benefit, and limited old age pensions may have done little to reverse poverty, yet it heralded greater levels of government intervention in social and economic affairs, especially after Labour’s landslide election victory in 1945. All those new Liberal reforms were intended to preserve family units, as unemployment, underemployment, and old age were all factors that made people poor, and put them in the workhouse, or drove them towards committing crimes to make money. Had the British economy been stronger during the inter-period then the limited welfare state of the Liberals might have been extended earlier. There were limited extensions such as the development of council houses and some free health care for the poorest families (Eatwell Wright, 2003 p.38). The Liberal party itself appeared to be in a virtually terminal decline after the First World War with its former supporters either switching their votes to the Conservatives or the Labour party. Conversely it would be variations of liberal ideology that have arguably had the most political, social, and economic influence upon post-war Britain and the values that British government aimed to promote through policy and legislation. New Liberalism had a pronounced influence upon the welfare state and Keynesian economic policies pursued from 1945 through to the late 1970s, particularly under the auspices of the Beveridge Report and the wish to avoid mass unemployment on the scale of the 1930s. New Liberalism also influenced the decision of British governments to accept changing social attitudes by changing policy and passing legislation to recognise the slackening hold of traditional family values. The use of Keynesian economics was lessened during the Callaghan government as it was forc ed into accepting a loan from the International Monetary Fund, and had to reduce public spending before that loan was made available. Of course, it was the revival of neo-liberal ideology that strongly influenced the Thatcher government and meant that the New Labour government had to take power in radically different social and economic circumstances than the Labour governments of the 1970s had faced (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, p. 54). In contrast, the Conservative ideological perspective often placed a greater emphasis upon the promotion and the respecting of traditional family values, either to protect property or to maintain social stability. Conservative politicians in Britain regarded themselves as being the party that maintained law and order better than any other political party, to protect social stability, and strengthen national unity (Eatwell Wright, 2003, p. 51). The Conservative party was the party that usually claimed to be the guardian of traditional family values. The Conservative party had strong links with the Church of England. Indeed, sometimes people referred to the Church of England as being the Conservative party at prayer. As such the Conservative party took a negative view about human nature that helps to explain its tougher stance on law and order issues (Jones et al, 2004, p. 155). Unlike the classical Liberals, the Conservatives were prepared and remain prepared to actively change gover nment policy, and enact legislation if that was needed to protect traditional family values. Previous Conservative governments in Britain have passed both restrictive and liberalising legislation when they have considered such actions to be justified by present circumstances. Conservatives have been repressive, regressive, or liberal in character at different times (Eatwell Wright, 2003, p. 54). There was a strong paternalistic streak in the British Conservative party, which has sometimes dominated the party, and at other times has had very little influence over the party’s policies when in government. The paternalistic streak has not always gone well with other ideological influences within the party that have been opposed to intervening in society or the economy. For instance, compare the ideological beliefs of Harold MacMillan, or Anthony Eden with Margaret Thatcher. Thatcher did not like the paternalistic ‘One Nation Tories’, and instead attempted to transfo rm British society (Moran, 2005, p. 28). The Labour party was created specifically to further the interests of the working classes, as such the only traditional family values it wished to protect, promote, or bring back were those that it believed would benefit the working classes. The Labour party was committed to the social ownership of the means of production, and the introduction of extensive welfare, and social security provision. Not only would these measures improve social equality, they would reduce poverty, and make British society better by making it fairer for all. The Labour party was also a political party that was moderate and gradualist in its approach to achieving social, economic, and political reforms. The decline of the Liberal party allowed Labour to become the second main political party in Britain and even form a government in 1924. The first Labour government was only a minority administration, and was therefore unable to achieve much (Wilson, 2005, p. 252). The second Labour government elected in 192 9 had a parliamentary majority, yet its time in office was blighted by the onset of the Great Depression. The party was divided by Ramsey Mac Donald’s decision to cut unemployment benefits, and the introduction of other austerity measures that made the affects of unemployment worse for many of the people that Labour was supposed to help (Wilson, 2005, p. 285). Labour got its big chance to profoundly alter British social and economic policies as a result of the wartime feeling that something should be done to make Britain a fairer and less poverty stricken place to live in. Labour fully backed the proposals of the Beveridge Report and introduced a comprehensive welfare state and reaped its sensational electoral benefits in 1945 (Lacey, 2006, p. 260). The Labour party managed to achieve its social and economic aims during the Atlee governments of 1945 through to 1951. Its objectives were achieved with the introduction of a comprehensive welfare state, the National Health Service (NHS), and increased educational opportunities. To banish the possibility of mass unemployment on the scale of the 1930s, industries were nationalised and Keynesian demand side economic policies were pursued. From the Labour party’s perspective Britain’s traditional family values should have been protected or even promoted by declining levels of poverty, better health care provision, and higher levels of educational achievement. The welfare state and the NHS seemed to be safe as the Conservatives accepted the vast majority of Labour’s reforms (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003, p. 11). In fact, the Conservative Party enjoyed considerable success in the 1950s as the British electorate trusted them to leave the welfare state and public servi ces untouched, whilst successfully managing Keynesian economics to make people financially better off (Sandbrook, 2005 p. 51). Until the late 1960s it seemed that British governments had managed to achieve strong economic growth, an effective welfare system, and a high degree of social harmony. The period also introduced legislation that liberalised British society, for instance the legalisation of homosexuality, abortion, and the abolition of the death penalty. Legislation was also passed that made it easier to get divorced. However, there were to be social, economic, and political developments that loosened the post-war political consensus. The loosening of that post-war consensus began with deteriorating economic growth and social changes, developments that would eventually lead to the emergence of Margaret Thatcher as a politician that was determined to radically alter the political, social, and economic fabric of Britain (Forman Baldwin, 1999, p. 11). It was not just Britain’s relatively poor economic performance that Margaret Thatcher wished to tackle; she wanted to tackle the political, social , and economic decline of Britain. Margaret Thatcher wished to reverse what she considered to be the harmful social and economic consequences of decline fostered by the liberalisation of moral values caused by the legislation of the 1960s and the changes in social attitudes that occurred during the same period (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, p. 42). On the other hand, New Labour wished to regain power by gaining the votes of people that had previously voted for the Thatcher and Major governments, whilst retaining the support of their loyal Labour supporters. Traditional Labour party supporters had not supported the party because it claimed to protect or restore traditional family values; instead they believed that a Labour government would make them better off, and British society fairer. However, traditional Labour voters had been reduced in numbers by the reduction in the size of heavy industries and the Thatcher government’s economic policies such as the sell off of council housing and privatisation (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003 p. 12). The combination of changing social and economic trends, the privatisation policies of the Thatcher government, as well as party in-fighting had condemned the Labour party to four consecutive general election defeats. The Labour Party had expected to win the 1992 general election, altho ugh the Major government managed to get re-elected by scrapping the poll tax (Jones, 1999 p.1). New Labour might not have emerged at all if John Smith had not died leading to Tony Blair becoming the party leader, and going on to reorganise the Labour Party, reshaping its policies, and its image in order to gain power (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005 p. 5). Whilst New Labour emphasised that it would no longer pursue traditional Labour party economic policies, it would stress that it was keen to make British society fairer than it had been during the Thatcher and the Major governments. New Labour stressed that it stood for fairer social values, for instance actively trying to encourage the acceptance of cultural diversity, or promoting gay and lesbian rights (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, p. 397). New Labour shifted its economic policies to the right first, then moved its social policies in a similar direction (Moran, 2005, p. 28). Tony Blair and New Labour stressed that once in power it would help to bring back traditional family values by being tough on crime by tackling its social and economic causes (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005, p. 6). New Labour has also pledged to reform welfare provision, the NHS, and the education system to improve performance and reduce social exclusion. New Labour wanted to restore what it considered to be traditio nal family values through policy and legislation, yet with the emphasis being different from the emphasis of the Thatcher government in rhetoric if not in substance (Jones, 1999, p. 2). All governments have to be aware of the public scrutiny that they may have to endure, through Parliament, through media coverage and speculation, as well as been observed by the general public. The government of the day can have its policy and legislation objectives overturned and jeopardised by adverse publicity or media revelations. The media is very useful for the government to sell its policies and pieces of legislation to the electorate yet no government can expect favourable media coverage all of the time and sensible governments will try to manage media coverage to get the best results. The Thatcher and New Labour governments took media management techniques seriously for their periods in office although that has not guaranteed that they will succeed in making all their policy and legislation succeed, whether or not it was meant to restore traditional family values (Jones, 1999, p. 52). Chapter One – The Thatcher government and returning back to traditional family values This chapter will deal with the subject of the Thatcher government and its attempts of returning to traditional family values through policy and legislation. Margaret Thatcher broke the mould of the average Conservative party leader, and it was not simply because she was the first woman to gain that position. Although the Conservatives had been stung by the size of their election defeat in 1945, they had soon recovered to regain power by 1951 (Wilson, 2005, p.484). Successive Conservative leaders from Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold MacMillan, and Alec Douglas Hume had accepted the post-war political, economic and social consensus established after 1945 (Sandbrook, 2005, p.51). It had been Margaret Thatcher’s immediate predecessor as Conservative leader, Edward Heath that had first attempted to overturn the post-war consensus through the adoption of the Selsdon programme. As Education secretary, Margaret Thatcher was part of the Heath government that eventually returne d to Keynesian economic policies, due to trade union opposition, and the desire to increase economic growth to prevent unemployment levels going past one million (Fisher, Denver Benyon, 2003, p.11). The Heath government would fall victim to increasing trade union opposition that led to the three day week, whilst Heath’s defeat in both general elections of 1974 meant that leading Conservatives were looking for alternative policies and a new leader with a different approach to the discredited Heath. Margaret Thatcher decided to stand for the party leadership and succeeded in displacing Heath. After she became Conservative leader, her differing ideological outlook from her post-war predecessors started to emerge. Thatcher’s right wing rhetoric, no nonsense leadership style, her forthright messages, and obvious sense of nationalism struck the right chords with the British electorate during the late 1970s (Eatwell Wright, 2003, p. 160). Margaret Thatcher was determined to restore the electoral fortunes of the Conservative and then went on to revive the ailing British economy by fundamentally altering social, economic, and political attitudes within the country. Thatcher believed that Britain needed to radically overhaul its social and economic policies to reverse economic decline and social decadence. The medicine that Thatcher prescribed to cure Britain of its social and economic woes was the adoption of neo-liberal economic policies and a return to traditional family values. According to neo-liberal economists such as Hayek and Friedman, Keynesian economics and extensive welfare states like Britain’s after 1945 were socially and economically detrimental. Thatcher had been introduced to these concepts by one of her closest advisors, Sir Keith Joseph, and she saw them as the solution to Britain economic decline and social degradation (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, p. 54). The welfare state removed the incent ive to work, or the incentives to reduce the size of families, whilst providing adequate standards of living for those that were work shy or content to have children outside of marriage and long term relationships. The pursuit of Keynesian economic policies had increased the power of trade unions whilst restricting the efficiency of both public and private sector enterprises. Thatcher argued that excessively high rates of taxation reduced the incentives for people to work harder and meant that some people were financially better off by being unemployed. Thatcher’s solution to these problems was to end Keynesian economic policies, lower taxes, sell off public assets, and attempt to reduce the size of the welfare state. The inability of the Callaghan government to solve Britain’s economic ills and the Winter of Discontent of industrial action and public sector strikes allowed Thatcher to take power after winning the general election of May 1979 (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003, p.11). Once in office the Thatcher government undertook a radical reshaping of economic policy that had a major impact upon British society and influenced the success of policy and legislation to bring back traditional family values. The pursuit of economic liberalisation was the government’s policy given priority over all other policies and initiatives. Thatcher believed that economic liberalisation would be the catalyst that would modernise and revive Britain’s economic performance, with the anticipated consequence that it would revive at least some of the traditional family values. That was the underlying belief that people should work to make their lives better rather than relying upon the welfare state to give them handouts. The problem with adopting monetarist economic policies was that it resulted in the highest levels of unemployment witnessed in Britain since the Great Depression of the 1930s. With more than three million people unemployed, expenditure on the social s ecurity budget increased rather than decreased. Economic policy in this instance actually made the return to traditional family values less likely to be achieved. High unemployment levels instead meant a return to inter-period levels of poverty, and the closure of unprofitable coal mines and steel mills devastated whole communities (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003, p. 54). High unemployment levels also helped the Thatcher government to break the power of the trade unions more effectively than legislation on its own. That legislation was restrictive of trade union powers in its own right, more so than the failed efforts of the Heath government a decade earlier. The Thatcher government regarded employment legislation as vital in making its efforts to erode trade union power effective. The Employment Act of 1980 took away the rights of trade unions to operate closed shops (allowing workers the right not to join trade unions), take secondary industrial action, or, use flying pickets to force employers to give into their demands. The Employment Act also laid down certain conditions that trade unions had to follow exactly before they could take industrial action. For instance, trade unions had to hold postal ballots to vote for or against strike action. Any trade union that did not hold official ballots was going on strike illegally, and therefore faced lega l action from employers. For the Thatcher government the Employment Act of 1980 proved invaluable with its conflicts with the militant trade unions, especially the coal miners (Forman, Baldwin, 1999, p.450). For the Thatcher government its conflict with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) led by Arthur Scargil proved the ultimate test of whether it could change the social and economic structure of Britain to fit in with its ideological outlook. The NUM had been regarded as being largely responsible for the defeat of the Heath government during the 1970s, so the Thatcher government wanted to defeat it as a symbol of Britain being transformed economically, socially, and politically. Although the Thatcher government did give way over pay disputes in 1981 as it did not believe it could defeat the NUM, it was biding its time. However, by 1984 the Thatcher government was certain that the situation had changed in its favour through its new legislation that reduced secondary strike action, and because coal had been stockpiled at power stations to prevent the NUM from forcing the government to give in. The bitter miners strike of 1984-85 effectively broke the power of the NUM forever, and sho wed that the trade unions could no longer bring down any government that they wanted to (Forman Baldwin, 1999, p. 196). As part of its policy objectives to bring back traditional family values the Thatcher government tried to improve the law and order situation without much apparent success. Once again the economic policies of the Thatcher government had consequences for the successful conduct of its social policies. The chief consequence of Thatcherite economic policies was as already mentioned high unemployment. High unemployment made it harder to reduce the level of crime; in fact crime rates rose as sharply as unemployment rates did throughout much of the 1980s (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003, p. 12). Unemployment increased peoples’ sense of desperation as well as putting many of them into poverty. Crime increased as people tried to make ends meet, and it also increased as a result of a rise in the number of people taking illegal drugs. High unemployment and the illegal drug trade meant that respect for law and order was reduced in the majority of inner city areas rather than improved. A com bination of high unemployment, heavy handed policing, and increased levels of racial tension lead to the outbreak of inner city riots in 1981 that alarmed the Thatcher government (Jones et al, 2004, p. 628). To prevent a repeat of those riots the Thatcher government introduced urban redevelopment areas, and attempted to change the policing methods used in areas that contained ethnic minority communities. The Thatcher government tried to reduce crime by allowing courts to set tougher sentences and the introduction of youth detention centres, yet nothing seemed to work (Jones et al, 2004, p. 628). The failure of the Thatcher government to reverse the rising crime figures is a clear demonstration that the social policy, and legislation of governments can have little or virtually no influence over people’s behaviour if they did not want that behaviour to be altered. Although there was a strong link between rising crime and rising unemployment during the Thatcher government the le vels of crime have not decreased, despite unemployment falling since its peak in the late 1980s (Jones et al, 2004, p. 629). Other areas of the That

King Lear :: English Literature Essays

King Lear King Lear is a play written by William Shakespeare that focuses on the relationships of many characters, some good, some evil. This is a great tragedy that is full of injustice at the beginning and the restoring of justice towards the end. The good are misjudged as evil and the evil are accepted as good. It is not until the end of the play that the righteous people are recognized as such. There is great treachery and deceit involved in the hierarchy of English rule. The great mistake in this play was made by Lear when he decided to divide up his kingdom to his three daughters. In order to determine which share each should get, he had each of his daughters give testimonies of love for him. Cordelia, the youngest, refused to go overboard with her statement. When asked for her testimony, she simply replied, "Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty according to my bond, no more no less."(I,i, ln 91-93) Lear becomes enraged and casts ! her off saying, "Here I disclaim all my paternal care, propinquity and property of blood, and as a stranger to my heart and me hold this from thee for ever."(I,i, ln 113-116). Some think that Cordelia was prideful, or even a fool in her response, but I believe she was simply being honest and true. Another mistake that was made in the course of the play was by the Earl of Gloucester. After being tricked by his bastard son, Edmund, into believing that his other son, Edgar, was plotting to kill him, he put all his faith in Edmund, which would eventually lead to his demise. Besides believing that Cordelia was being true and honest to her father, I think that Lear and the Earl of Gloucester were fools, regarding the banishments of their righteous children. After reading this play, I found it hard to believe that Cordelia was being anything but true in her simple proclamation of love for her father. I can't believe that Shakespeare was trying to portray her as a spoiled, prideful child. I do not believe she was foolish in her decision to restrain from trying to persuade him into giving her a larger portion of his kingdom. I think it was apparent early that Cordelia was struggling with what she was going to say to her father.

Ethics in Noble Truth and Eightfold Path Essay

In this paper I will be discussing the concept of the four noble truths and eightfold path within the Buddhist religion. The four noble truths do not give concrete answers to metaphysical questions, unlike other religions. Buddhism teaches human existence is imperfect and the four noble truths are a guide to help steer away from suffering. The four noble truths are important to Buddhist ethics in that they are the way to nirvana and enlightenment. The first noble truth is life is suffering. To live means to suffer and since it is human nature, no one is perfect in any shape or form. While we develop, we inevitably have to endure physical and psychological suffering sooner or later. Each of us, no matter how rich or poor, is going to get sick, grow old, and die. Nothing is permanent, nothing can permanently satisfy us. â€Å" Any aspect of life, no matter how seemingly pleasant, already has the seeds of the suffering that is a common denominator of all human experience† (Young) This is because things change and pass away; everything and everyone we love will someday pass away. The Buddha also taught the reason behind the suffering that individuals experience. The second noble truth is suffering is caused by craving. â€Å"We suffer because our craving leads us to become attached to things or people and deluded as to the real nature of our situation in life (Young). † As long as we are unable to detach of moral pleasures, we will experience suffering. One must learn to overcome these greed, aversion, hatred, jealousy, etc. These conditions are always in hand with society, family, and within one’s self. Recognizing and understanding the second noble truth gives way to the freedom from suffering. The third noble truth is cessation of suffering. It is the complete fading-away and extinction of this craving, its forsaking and abandonment, liberation from it, detachment from it†(welsh). This may be the most significant of all the noble truths, as it reassures us that true happiness is possible. When individuals give up useless cravings and learn to live each day to the fullest, enjoying what each day brings with no expectations, they are able to live a free life. Nirvana arises when an individual becomes free of all sufferings, and eliminates cravings. When an individual is able to attain nirvana, they are able to move on to the next noble truth. The forth noble truth is the means to liberation. This noble truth teaches how to remove all suffering from your life, and explains the various levels of achieving such. So, first of all, in order to gain the good qualities, we need to work on creating all the different conditions that will make those qualities emerge. To develop the various insights of meditation and real wisdom, we need to develop great faith and confidence in the validity and usefulness of that wisdom. Buddhist needs to change their habits so that they have the ability to do all the necessities to make insight and wisdom emerge. Therefore, there are many factors and conditions we must generate within our life that will bring about our happiness. The guide to peace and the end suffering is the eightfold path. The eightfold path is a guideline to ethical teachings and growth of an individual. The goal is to free believers from attachments and ultimately leads to understanding. â€Å" â€Å"Everyone should attempt to live by the eightfold path, and (theoretically) enlightenment is open to anyone, regardless of caste, gender, or whether lay or ordained. † Young. The Eightfold Path consists of three components: wisdom (prajna ): (1) right views and (2) right intention; morality (sila ): (3) right speech, (4) right conduct, and(5) right livelihood; and concentration (samadhi ): (6) right effort, (7) right mindfulness, and (8) right concentration. (Deal). The eightfold path is the way to avoid self-denial and self-indulgence considered the middle way. The first step in the eightfold path is the right view, which falls under the category of wisdom. The right view means understanding the four noble truths and grasping the nature of objects and ideas. Right view is attained, sustained, and enhanced through all capacities of mind. It begins with the insight that all beings are subject to suffering and it ends with complete understanding of the true nature of all things. The second step, which also falls under the component of wisdom, is correct intention. This refers to abandoning one’s own thoughts and desires. This is the step of the eightfold path that one must give up selfish attitudes that lead to more suffering and replace them with the opposite. â€Å"The point is not to nattached from oneself to a particular person but with a caring attitude, but to practice a â€Å"universal goodwill† young† The third step is correct speech. This means to tell the truth, to speak friendly and to talk only when necessary. †Man’s speech must be the truth, his conversation must be edifying and he must not engage in scandal gossip. One should take control with one’s word not only for the sake of truth but to demonstrate control and discipline. † Right speech can be seen as an ethical conduct in Buddhism. The forth step in the eightfold path is that of correct conduct. Young mentions that unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. â€Å" Not taking life, not stealing and not having sexual intercourse† (Van Voorst). It is important in Buddhism to concentrate on actions that will help the well beings of others. The fifth step is the right means to livelihood. This path represents earning an honest living. An occupation that is against the other steps of the eightfold path is in return against right livelihood. One should acquire only by legal means, not by illegally; one should acquire it peacefully, without coercion or violence; one should acquire it honestly, not by trickery or deceit; and one should acquire it in ways which do not entail harm and suffering. † (Bodhi) Selling of weapons would be an example of wrong in this religion as the consequences of weapons can cause harm to others. The sixth step in the eightfold path is right endeavor. This step is very important, as it is a necessity to put a conscious effort in what we do. Without right effort less would be able to get achieved. â€Å" Avoiding any sort of unwholesome action that will have a negative karmic influence, and pursuing beneficial deeds. †(Young) being aware of your own mind and not to have a mind that is diluted. This brings us to our next step, the seventh step, which is right mindfulness. This step in the eightfold path refers to the ability to see things without any delusions. â€Å" Right mindfulness refers to the deep, ultimately non-dual, understanding of the body, feelings, mind, and experienced things†(Koller. In the step being consciously aware of all that is that is going on with ones mind and body. Van Voorst states, â€Å" To remain focused on the body in and of itself- he is fervent, aware and mindful- putting away the greed and distress of the world. This step helps to actively observe and control our thoughts. The eighth step in the eightfold path is correct meditation. Once at the stage nirvana is at hand and, in a flash of intuition that state of final bliss dawns† (Young) This step leads to developing a deep insight into reality and the ability to be able to apply levels of concentration regularly. We see by the study of the noble truths and the eightfold path that Buddhist put great emphasis on the practices that they follow in order to reach nirvana. The noble truths and the eightfold path are essentially the ethics of the religion. The foundation of the path is moral virtue. Buddhist ethics is concerned with the practices that contribute to a believer to act in ways that help rather then harm. By following the noble truths and the eightfold path Buddhist are able to reach the goal of nirvana and non-attachment.

Negative Effects of Slavery Essays

Negative Effects of Slavery Essays Negative Effects of Slavery Essay Negative Effects of Slavery Essay Intro A community can be viewed as a people that portion common linguistic communications. Properties and many other cultural similarities. Strong communities normally signify a integrity or bond. This bond forms a sense of sense of ego and brotherhood . However. this does non look to be in the Black community. Slavery has about destroyed the being of any integrity. When the Africans were taken from African. different folks were assorted together on the ships and stripped of their individualities. The differences between the African folks had a positive affect for the enslavers because it caused disunity. Which helped them keep command both during the ocean trips and one time they arrived to the U. S. recognizing the affect of the disunity. slave proprietors continued to develop tactics that would farther disassociate African Americans from coevals to coevals until today. Slavery Period The disunity among Africans helped the slave proprietors operate their plantations more expeditiously and furthered enslaved the Blacks. Their deficiency of integrity increased because of misgiving for one another and an addition of trueness and dependance on their proprietors The Africans were divided based on physical properties ( Internet Explorer. Skin tone. physical physique ) . Of all the properties. clamber tone was of the most outstanding tactics of division used. The fairer skinned were normally used as house labourers and held a higher position than that of the darker skinned who were used as field hands or given harsher intervention. . Because they were more privileged. a sense of high quality arose among the visible radiation skinned or house labourers. This caused the darker skinned Africans to envy the fairer skinned by distancing Negative Effectss of Slavery and unpluging themselves from each other. they caused division on the plantation. Any mark of integrity. even apparently harmless bonds such as bonds between kids and their parents. posed a menace to the slave proprietors doing most households to be separated and sold to different plantations. African adult females were even taken from their households to go kept womans to their proprietors. Separation of households left the work forces unable to continue their responsibilities as a male parent and caput of the family and left or forced adult females to raise households on their ain or with other work forces. Segregation Period Before bondage was wholly abolished certain slaves were freed. many of which were just skinned or Mullatoes . When bondage was abolished and the other slaves were freed. the Mullatoes feared that blending or tie ining themselves with the other Blacks would decrease their position as the Buffer Class ( more accepted by White persons ) . Even after segregation and Jim Crow. Torahs were implemented and African Americans were limited to all Black life countries. school. eating houses. etc. . Mullatoes were still favoritism in some instances. The bitterness and competition between Mullatoes and Blacks resulted in separate churches. schools and organisations. Some Mullato organisations. schools and concerns had certain processs that determine credence because they were viewed as better than other Blacks’ were. For illustration if you were lighter than a paper bag you could acquire accepted into their organisation. if non your were asked to travel elsewhere. Another cause of separation was the deficiency of employment chances for Black Negative Effects of Slavery work forces. They were unable to continue their place as the adult male of the house by supplying for their household. Womans were offered more occupation chances so their work forces. Resentment grew between both the work forces and adult females because the work forces that were unable to supply for their households felt inferior to the adult females and the adult females were left to supply for the family on her ain. Lack of occupations for work forces was such a major issue that some work forces would seek illegal ways to supply for their households and many were frequently jailed or killed causation and absence of a male parent or adult male in the house. Integration until Present Because of the increased handiness of more freedoms and chances for Blacks since the terminal of segregation and Jim Crow. African Americans now have the pick to sponsor whom of all time they please. Many Blacks stopped sponsoring other Blacks and sought out White concerns. This has resulted from the influence of the Euro-worldview society is under the belief that White schools and concerns are better than that of Blacks. This is a signifier of disunity because there is a lessening in Blacks back uping other Blacks. Much like during the clip of segregation. Black work forces have a trouble being employed. However today public assistance or fiscal authorities aid is in topographic point for adult females who are unemployed with kids or without a adult male in the house ; diminishing the demand for a male nowadayss. THe diminishing demand for the Black male nowadayss is doing non merely a separation of household integrity. but besides the desire to hold household integrity. Negative Effectss of Slavery Conclusion Although we are more than 100 old ages out of bondage. affects of its corruptness still be within the Black civilization. Bondage has about destroyed any nowadayss of integrity among the African American people by coercing them to vie with each other and by aiming their differences and utilizing them as a agency of separation. Aids for minorities such as Affirmative action are nil more than tactics to coerce competition. divide Blacks. and keep a deficiency of integrity whenever there is act to better themselves. Because of fright of an rebellion or addition of power after Blacks captivity slave. proprietors and other Caucasians developed documented tactics in order to keep control and disunity of the community. William Lynch gave a address in 1712 that gives cogent evidence to these Acts of the Apostless by exemplifying their scheme: I have outlined a figure of differences among the slaves. I take these differences and do them bigger I use fear. misgiving and enviousness for control purposes†¦ you must flip the old Blacks against the immature Blacks†¦you must utilize the dark tegument slaves against the light tegument slaves and the light tegument slaves against the dark tegument slaves†¦But it is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us†¦The must love. regard and trust merely you. Mentions: Noble ( 1986 ) . Breaking the Chains of Slavery . Psychological Legacy of Slavery Retrieved May 29. 2007. Hall. Russell. Wilson. ( 1992 ) . The Color Complex. Retrieved May 29. 2007

Middle eastern music final question examples Essay Example

Middle eastern music final question examples Essay Example Middle eastern music final question examples Paper Middle eastern music final question examples Paper Essay Topic: Poetry The Egyptians and the Arab audiences in general felt connected to Kulthum because they heard their own stories in her songs and she represented and supported the Arab world through her performances One learns that her old fashioned ways included a preference to be interviewed without the means of recording t/f true Kulthum insisted that her band musicians had to learn new songs aurally she was against the use of music scores t/f true Kulthums roots were within the egyptian countryside; she was from a poor religious family She began her singing career as a child, along her fathers side, singing at religious celebrations (mulids) When she moved to Cairo in the 1920s, the city was thriving and cosmopolitan, but under British rule The technology that mostly promoted her career was radio Kulthum supported the 1952 revolution and Nasser. True or False? True Kulthum supported King Farouk and the British. True or False? False Kulthum financially supported the Egyptian government in the 1960s. True or False? True The Egyptians compared Kulthum with pyramids Kulthums stage presence: Which TWO of the following statements are true? 1. She encouraged people to dance along with her on the stage. 2. She used to hold a handkerchief as her personal trademark. 3. She looked very formal. 2 and 3 Some of the interviewees seemed eager to sing their personal Kulthum favorite song in front of the camera Kulthum was praised for her strong sense of nationalism. true Kulthums improvisational / embellishment skills are associated with: the concept and manifestation of tarab Which of the following is not a characteristic of classical music genres (consider both western and Arab classical music genres)? old, historical, large ensembles, formal context (all of the above) During the late 19th century, this music was performed in all but one of the following venues: Village/Rural weddings One of the following musical instruments is not included in the core takht ensemble: tabla The nay has a characteristic _______________ timbre. breathy The only zither chordophone in the takht ensemble is the: qanun One of the following musical genres is not part of the wasla form: shabi The highly expressive Layali (featured in track 14) is an improvisatory genre. true Track 14 is non-metrical. true Track 12 uses the __________ iqa. samai The iqa in the taqtuqa Il bahr nayim is played by the: riqq Which of the following is not an example of the expressions shouted out by the audience when experiencing tarab (refer to What makes Arab music unique on the content tab)? oh my eye what did we do to you to do this? are you trying to make us die today? (all of them) Is Music Haram? Which one of the following is true? the issue is contentious In an effort to address the issue of permissibility of music, Islamic scholars primarily look into: the quran and the hadith One of the following types of music has suffered much less from censorship that the rest: chanted poetry The following aspect is taken in consideration when examining the permissibility of a piece of music: context and content of lyrics In Turkey under Kemal Ataturk (see the related video Be Happy, its an Order on the content tab), the villagers were forced to listen to: western classical music Sufis (followers of Sufism, which is the mystical branch of Islam): embrace music as part of their rituals According to the hadith reviewed in the textbook, frame drums: are halal The interpolation of religious lyrics in a pop song is generally considered: blasphemous In Pop music; singing of a beloved homeland (see content tab), we learn that Islamic extremists banned rai claiming that: it embraced Western ways and featured sexually explicit lyrics Right after the Islamic revolution of 1979: Several Iranian singers left the country since music was banned Sherry Bijan and 3P (see their related music videos on the content tab), contemporary Iranian female singers, dont show their faces on their music videos because: if caught, they may be sentenced Iranian rap is: thriving but mostly underground Amr Diab is a singer of: shababi The song Albi ikhtarak: has similarities w/ Santanas smooth and has Latin/Spanish influences Tamally maak: is a shababi song and features a guitar The lyrics of Is salamu alaykum are more poetic that those of Tamally maak true or false false The Egyptian authorities frowned upon Hakim because of his use of the expression is-salamu alaykum shabi songs are upbeat and feature memorable choruses and have their roots in folk music Shabi emerged in the 1970s because the times were prosperous. true of false false Shabi emerged in the 1970s at a time when the Egyptians were looking for an alternative sound to that of Umm Kulthum and the old masters of tarab music. true of false true The sound of early shabi (listen to Ahmed Adawiyyas Bent El Sultan located on the content tab) sounds closer to classical Arab music with its use of a large firqa orchestra. true or false false Shabi music keeps the following musical elements of past musical traditions (tip: read textbook carefully; see close to the end of the chapter): iqa and maqam and call and response The lyrics of Hakims Il-kalam da kabir (textbook CD track 26) talk about a fathers agony in search of his lost son. true or false false Il-kalam da kabir (textbook CD track 26) features the ___________ iqa. saidi Contemporary shabi music (listen to Egypt 3 Cairo underground on the content tab): incorporates DJs and samples The shabi song Youll go to hell (listen to Egypt 3 Cairo underground on the content tab) targets singers who appear on sexually provocative music videos

Exploratory topic - i need a topic to get approval from the teacher Essay

Exploratory topic - i need a topic to get approval from the teacher this Sunday - Essay Example I do not want to malign the vast contributions of Apple to technology, but I want to take a step back and think about the negative effects of Apple on society. Apple has its dark side, which cannot and must not be overlooked. I wanted to learn more of how Apple managed to divide a potential one kind of product into several products. Apple consumers buy iPods, iPads, Macs, iPhones, and other Apple products, but do they truly need all these products? It seems that Apple has divided one product into several items, so that it can make more money in the long run. After all, its customers tend to think that they need an iPad too, even when their laptops suffice already. They buy more and more products, which in the end, increase garbage in society. I did some research on Apple’s wastes but cannot get specific details. I just focused on e-waste in general at first. I used the journal database to find answers and read the article â€Å"Mobile Phone Collection, Reuse and Recycling in the UK.† Ongondo and Williams describe how the short life cycle of high-tech products results to the vast bloom of e-waste production (1308). From this article, I learned that every year, new models of cellular phones a nd computing devices drive older models to obsolescence, thereby creating additional waves of e-waste. I wanted to learn more so I researched on what environmentalists have to say about Apple. I was surprised to know that they think that Apple is great polluter too. In â€Å"Apple Slammed by Greenpeace,† Deffree reports that environmentalist organization Greenpeace criticizes Apple for not responding to its recommendations with regards to removing hazardous chemicals in its products and employing progressive recycling policies (Deffree). I wanted more information, and I found another article that shares the same opinion. In the online article â€Å"Apple is creating an E-Waste Problem,† Biggs criticizes the 30-pin iPod port that was launched on

Industrial Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Industrial Revolution - Essay Example Since Britain is an island, it relied on maritime trade. As a slave and foreign trade put new demands on the movement of people and distribution of products, innovations in the shipping industry had to be brought in. This led to improvements in shipbuilding and the emergence of the ship repair industry. The technological advances that fueled these developments included the prologue of steam power and the use of steel and iron in building merchant ships. The result was safer, more reliable and faster sea travel beyond rivers into ocean voyages. Architectural and infrastructural changes included transport systems made up of expanded railways, improved roads, and iron bridges. Steam engines were also adopted in locomotives. Canals that connected industrial centers, trading centers, coalfields, and ports were also dug. For example, Liverpool and Manchester were linked by canals, promoting the textile industry in the early nineteenth century. By this time, the military production also pro moted the innovation and development of machine tools. For example, at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, a machine tool trainer known as Henry Maudslay trained tool makers in developing wooden machines used in boring cannons. He also developed and produced metal locks and later improved on the slide rest lathe that was used to cut machine screws. In conclusion, technological improvements and scientific innovations contributed towards the progression of agriculture, trade, shipping, economic expansion, and industry.