To Kill a Mockingbird Book Response Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Book Response Essay To Kill a Mockingbird is one the most suffering stories to be told. One reason for its allure is that it uncovers social issues that stay as applicable to day as they have been when Harper Lee (1988) composed it. One of the most intriguing features of the story is that it is told from the point of view of a kid that challenges grown-up perusers guarantee to development and intelligence. The summation of Tom’s case is communicates the deplorability of the story: â€Å"Atticus had utilized each apparatus accessible to free men to spare Tom Robinson, yet in the mystery courts of mens hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the moment Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and shouted. (pp. 244-245). This acknowledgment is the acknowledgment that the preliminary uncovered that in spite of the delineation of Maycomb, Alabama as a tired, tired town, there were huge social clashes just underneath its social faã §ade. As a study hall material, the book’s transitioning style permits more youthful perusers to relate viably with the story. Since the setting perhaps strange to understudies, there should exertion to clarify the social significance of the issues and its conceivable application today. There ought to be accentuation that Lee goes past race as a device of separation and looks to address rebuke for contrasts with standard society. Lee’s work is a motivation to different essayists in connecting with their crowd. The introduction of different points of view on the issue without changing the voice of the story likewise permits perusers to effortlessly put themselves in the narrator’s shoes as well as keep contact with their own. Subsequent to perusing the book, one has the acknowledgment of the intensity of separation and social avoidance. Besides, that paying little mind to how illuminated or tranquil individuals are, these issues consistently cause critical fracture and struggle in the network. Reference Lee, Harper (1988). To Kill a Mockingbird. New York: Grand Central Publishing Lee, Harper (2008). To Kill a Mockingbird. Book Rags. Recovered on February 20, 2008, from http://www.bookrags.com/To_Kill_a_Mockingbird

Writer's Autobiography Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Author's Autobiography Assignment - Essay Example This allowed me a chance to peruse widely. Thusly, I accumulated information on the most proficient method to move toward various themes. My coach revealed to me that, to create familiarity with language, there is a need to peruse widely. This won't just build up my familiarity with composing, yet will likewise build up my discourse. In my pre-school years, I played understanding games. This gave me presentation to the English language as I learned new vocabularies as time passes. Evidently, a portion of the words were confounding. This urged me to look through a word reference to empower me comprehend the vocabularies. In any case, this was dubious. For instance, some new vocabularies are excluded from the more seasoned renditions of word references. In this way, as I advanced in the understanding games, I needed to search for the most recent word reference. This demonstrated a judicious methodology in knowing new vocabularies. In the new development, I began to build up an enthusiasm of expounding on any drifting story. All things considered, I noticed that I had built up an undying energy of composing for satisfaction. One thing I recollect about composing is that, it helps in getting a handle on various subjects and giving the points an alternate methodology. For instance, I could expound on a similar story u tilizing three distinct methodologies. This resembled playing with words to suit a similar theme. I recollect the vast majority of my schoolmates making demands for my works to build up their language. I felt that my composing was acknowledged in class. As a reality, this raised my enthusiasm recorded as a hard copy. I felt that I could improve upgrade in the endeavors I made towards composing. Importantly, I began gathering in a portion of the themes that demonstrated an obstacle. For instance, physical geology includes visiting places and doing loads of research. Nonetheless, I began expounding on physical geology, however I had not visited a portion of these spots. This started my creative mind to a more significant level as I needed to do gigantic research on the spots. I was surprised

Writing a Literature Review

Writing a Literature ReviewWhen writing a literature review, be it an academic or non-academic, the first step is to determine what the topic is and what the main focus of the review is. Writing a literature review will have to stand alone on its own and provide its own argument. The scope of the review will have to be specific in order to make it relevant and convincing.The next step is to write a short description of the work. It should be brief and focused to only tell the reader what the work is about and what it is not. A good writer will understand this and be able to create a summary that tells a lot without stating anything in detail.The description of the work will then be developed around the main idea. The idea will be the building block for the review. The reviewer will be able to form an opinion on the work based on the description.It doesn't matter if you are writing a review for a book, or just a general essay, the idea that you need to remember is that you should only state your opinion of the book or piece of literature. Don't use a judgmental tone or use any statements that show that you are too close to the subject. If you do this, you will lose readers.Writing a review for a book, which was written by an author's agent will not necessarily be received well by readers. Therefore, even if you have read a book or piece of literature that you feel strongly about, do not make any direct judgement on the quality of the work. This is because you don't know the personal experiences of the person writing the review.By going around the problem of being negative opinions of a writer, you may actually be able to achieve better results. As we have already discussed, there are good and bad reviewers. Those who are looking for specific information will be reading a review that is trying to be a general one.In these cases, you will need to select one or two books that you like and find something about them to criticise about. Write down the points in your r eview and you may find that you have more sympathy for the book that you have chosen. Writing a criticism is more often than not the most constructive way to be constructive.The main purpose of writing a literature review is to achieve a point about the book or the author. You can write a different review for each book or author, depending on how supportive the text is for you.

Drug and Alcohol Essay - 521 Words

Drugs and Alchohol The first meeting I attended was an AA and a NA meeting. At first, I was very nervous attending it because I didn’t know what to expect. I always had the impression that all people who attended these meetings were typical people that you see in bars with long hair, and beards; but I was wrong. They look normal just like you and me. There were young people, and middle-aged people. Some of them I never would have expected that they were alcoholics or drug addicts. Both meetings seemed to be very similar to me. They both introduced themselves the same way, for example hi my name is Gino and I’m an alcoholic, or I’m addicted to cocaine. They both sat in a group and discussed their addiction, their progress, and any†¦show more content†¦In both cases, drugs or alcohol was due to serious family problems, and they do it to get their minds off of the problem. It is their way of getting away. Since both meetings are so similar, there are things that I like and dislike about both. I like the fact that it is a group effort to help one another because everyone there has the same problem, and there are different ideas shared on how to overcome the addiction. It seems to me that everyone is fine when they are together at the meeting, because by talking it takes their minds off of the drugs or the alcohol. So the question that I am asking is when these people go back out into the world, and the group is not there, and a problem occurs are they going to resort back to the substance. Another thing that I really didn’t like was the way they introduced themselves. I don’t agree with putting a title after your name, like I’m an alcoholic. To me, that makes a person feel lowly about him or herself, and they will go through life always feeling that they are an alcoholic or a drug addict. I feel that that needs to be changed very badly. I think it should be Hi , my name is Gino, and I am here because I have a drinking or a drug problem and I need help to overcome it. So if that person overcomes it, they will say I accomplished something. I honestly believe that these meetings work to a certain extent. I believe very strongly that a person can overcome an alcohol or a drug problem. The meetingsShow MoreRelatedDrugs And Alcohol And Drugs1767 Words   |  8 PagesSome people know what alcohol and drugs do to our body and we understand, but the problem is â€Å"How come people do these kind of stuff in the first place?† or what makes them choose these choices. Well the thing is, People suffer from anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression or other mental illnesses use drugs and alcohol to ease their sufferings. But the thing that we don t get is why do such a bad thing if you know that it s destroying your organs and your insides. Drugs or alcohol can sometimes makeRead MoreDrugs and Alcohol1682 Words   |  7 PagesMethod 3 References 4 Background Drugs and alcohol is a major social issue (J. David Hawkins, Richard F. Catalano, and Janet Y. Miller, 1992). It is not something that can be solved by the law (Lee P. Brown, 2008). Throughout history, many attempts have been made to try and legalize and control alcohol and drug addiction but has failed. It requires education, international awareness and a lot of work to resolve. Whilst alcohol and certain drugs are not illegal, the potential dangers areRead MoreDrug Alcohol And Alcohol Abuse Essay980 Words   |  4 PagesDrug and Alcohol Abuse Drug and alcohol abuse is something that is happening more and more often it seems. There are many reason for this happening. First of all, people experiment with drugs and alcohol mainly out of curiosity. Maybe their friends are doing it, they just want to have a good time, or they could be hoping to improve athletic performance. It is common thing at parties and social gatherings for people to feel the need to drink or try drugs. Another reason start to use and abuse drugsRead MoreThe Drug Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse Essay1531 Words   |  7 PagesThe movie Trainspotting is an entertaining look into the dark world of drug and alcohol abuse. Heroin is the drug of choice for the protagonist, but other substances are also consumed throughout the film: heroin, prescription medication, opium, hash, amphetamines, and alcohol are a constant presence in the story. Repeated polysubstance abuse combined with a negative social environment and a weak support structure compounds the problems of Renton, a heroin addicted young adult man living in ScotlandRead MoreAlcohol And Drug Addiction : Drugs1498 Words   |  6 Pages Alcohol and Drug Addiction Xinge Xu University of Toronto Throughout the vast history of mankind, alcohol has always been a popular and controversial topic. Unlike other illegal drugs with strict rules, alcohol seems to be a more universal and socially acceptable drink. In fact, it is the most widely used drug substance in the world. However, with the gradually increasing amount of problems associated with alcohol, people should weigh and examine the medicinalRead MoreDrug Alcohol And Drug Abuse1773 Words   |  8 Pagesnet - guide - Avoiding Alcohol And Drug Abuse In College College is a time of great personal growth and education, but it is also a time to have a lot of fun. Unfortunately, people often take this fun too far by delving into excessive drug and alcohol abuse. This impacts millions of college students every year in multiple ways, including creating a lifelong addiction, causing educational problems, and even personal injury. However, it is possible to avoid alcohol and drug abuse in college. It takesRead MoreDrug Use Of Drugs And Alcohol2261 Words   |  10 Pagescurrent ongoing problem in the United States is the continuous use of drugs and alcohol. There isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t see in the paper or on the internet that someone overdosed on drugs and passed away. Currently the United States is narrowing in on the legalization of one drug in particular, which is marijuana. Just over 130 years ago there were no laws against drug use, until the 20th century when the fight against drug use began. Harry Anslinger is man who began the probation of marijuanaRead MoreAlcohol and Drug Abuse1722 Words   |  7 PagesAlcohol and Drug Addiction Samara Kitchens COM/156 Instructor: Sunday, May 19, 2013 There was a missing person report across the news today, my co-worker stated. I never paid any attention to it; I went on about my day as if everything was fine. When I arrived at home I had severalRead More Drugs and Alcohol Essay1599 Words   |  7 PagesDrugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulationRead MoreAddiction : Drugs And Alcohol1001 Words   |  5 Pagesassociated with drugs and alcohol. Addiction is not only related to drugs or alcohol, but it is also tied with things and activities. Addiction to drugs or alcohol are quite similar yet slightly different to addictions to activities and other things. Addiction to drugs and alcohol over time leads to a buildup of tolerance causing the user to need more of what they are addicted to in order to experience the same or more of an effect than they once needed to attain the same effect. They take drugs to avoid

Competency to stand trial Free Essay Example, 2750 words

Legally, competence was first defined in court by the landmark case Dusky v. United States. , 362 U. S. 402 (1960). This landmark case established the minimal constitutional requirements for adjudicative competence. In order for a criminal case to be carried out, a defendant should have sufficient ability to consult with his lawyer with a sound degree of rational understanding and be able to comprehend the proceedings of the court (McGarry, 1973). The Dusky Standard was operationalized in 1961 when it was used in Wieter v. Settle case. In this case, several fictional elements of competency to stand trial were developed and they include (Otto, 2006): i. The defendant has the mental capacity to understand where he is in relation to place, time and things ii. The defendant’s elemental mental processes are such that he grasps that he is charged with a criminal offence in a Court of Law. iii. The defendant should be able to realize and understand that there is a judge on the bench iv. He should also realize that there is a prosecutor whose job is to convict him of the charge v. He should realize that he has a lawyer (either court appointed or self-employed) whose main purpose is to defend him against the charges vi. We will write a custom essay sample on Competency to stand trial or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The defendant should understand that he is expected to explain to his lawyer, to the best of his mental capacity, the details surrounding him at the time and place in which the crime was being committed. vii. The defendant should also understand that his case will be decided by a jury based on the evidence presented as to his innocence or guilt. Competence to waive rights and Competence to plead guilty Whitebread and Slobogin (2000) contend that over 90% of all cases in the United States are resolved by a plea of guilty which by itself contains a waiver of several vital rights that includes rights of being tried by a jury, the right to confront the accusers, and the right to avoid self-incrimination. However, the competency to stand trial and the competency to plead guilty are not one and the same. The U. S. court of Appeals, in Sieling v. Eyman (1973) adopted a standard that differentiate these two types of competencies and held that: a defendant lacks the competency to plead guilty if his mental faculties are significantly compromised in such a way that he cannot make a reasoned choice of alternatives afforded to him and he lacks the basic understanding of what he is pleading to. According to Ryba and Zapf (2011), a defendant’s competence to waive rights to counsel was determined in Godinez v.

Manjula Padmanabhans Harvest a Study - 2518 Words

Manjula Padmanabhan’s Harvest: a Study The author Manjula Padmanabhan (b. 1953) is best known as a journalist, illustrator, cartoonist, and author of children’s books and short stories. She became a celebrity when her fifth play, Harvest (written in 1996; published in 1997), won the first prize in the first Onassis International Cultural Competitions for Theatrical Plays in 1997. The characters In the play the themes of economic exploitation, reification (=commodification) and acculturation are presented through the mercantile as well as surgical metaphor of body-parts transplantation. The Donors and the Receivers in the play represent the natives of the Third World and the First World respectively. Om, his wife Jaya, and Om’s†¦show more content†¦The chief attraction for Virgil is of Jaya because she is the only person in that house capable of procreation and genuine emotion. There is a passing reference to a seer’s prediction that she would never become a mother. As prophecies are often equivocal, the curse on Jaya may be in fact indicative of her husband’s impotence. The illicit relationship with her brother-in-law must be seen as the manifestation of her irrepressible yearning to become a mother. Though her mother-in-law always finds fault with her sexual transgressions, she is the only character in the play who is true to herself. She desperately protests against the encroachment of colonial coercion and urban mechanization that enter in the form of the Guards and Agents. Her thirst for motherhood remains unquenched by the sham finger-play of her pitying brother-in-law. She is the only person who stands her ground in spite of the devious argumentations and warnings of Virgil. And she alone is fully conscious of the present condition: â€Å"It is not really a life any more. We’re just spare parts in someone else’s garage –† (34T). Ma Indumati Prakash, the mother of Om and Jeetu, represents the older generation, preoccupied with the petty concerns of their narrow world. Her self-centeredness matches that of Virgil, both being old and preying upon the young for the purpose of seeking pleasure at the personal level. Though Ma is vociferous

Leadership a Critical Perspective

Question: Discuss about theLeadership a Critical Perspective. Answer: Introduction: The importance of a leader in an organization cannot be understated, yet there is no gain saying that each leader possesses a set of important qualities that is critical to the success of an organization. It is important to take note of some of the most important qualities that define a leader, and distinguishes him from any ordinary person. The first and foremost important feature of a leader is effective communication skills. As far as the quality of communication skills is concerned, it should be remembered that a leader is required to possess interpersonal as well as intrapersonal communication skills. The leader needs to state his views, explain the importance of his ideas, and yet listen to the opinions of his subordinates, in order to take a successful decision (Bhatia et al., 2013). Having a directive, assertive style, and a polite gesture are two important qualities for a leader. It should be remembered that a leader is the one who formulates the effective strategy, the implementation of which determines the success of an organization. However, what is the meaning of a strategy if its benefits and immediate importance to an organization cannot be explained to the employees? Hence, effective communication skills are important qualities for a leader to possess, as these skills help him deliver his message and idea s (Riggio Tan, 2013). Again, in order to motivate the employees to perform a task, or to explain to him where the problem lies, he must be a powerful communicator. Besides, interacting with the colleagues and subordinates, a leader must engage in intrapersonal communication as well, whereby through introspection and self-reflection, he will be able to take relevant decisions (Arnold Bloggs, 2015). The importance of motivation cannot be overemphasized as far as the success of an organization is concerned. It should be remembered that it is the duty of a leader to be able to continually encourage and motivate his subordinates, so that even the less capable ones can also gain the inner strength necessary to combat the challenges of the professional world. Even when a team is losing, if the leader is capable of keeping his composure, he can bring an enormous amount of energy and positive vibes among the team members, and boost the morale of his followers, thereby leading to the success of a project (Peng, 2014). It is important to understand that each leader plays the role of a role model before his subordinates, and since he will be setting an example to be followed by others, he must be a man of values and integrity. A fraudulent leader, who intends to climb the staircase of success by cheating, will never be able to command the respect of the subordinates. A leader is not someone who believes in ethical lapses, or shortcuts. He should be an exemplary figure, highlighting the importance of hard work, strong willpower and a great focus, through his acts. A leader must always be the one who is rectifying the mistakes of others, and hence he must be demonstrating the ideals of honesty and integrity through his action. When a leader behaves honestly, and his single act reflects transparency, his subordinates will also be motivated, and derive great pride from being part of a team that relies on ethical principles. In addition, the integrity of the leader helps the subordinates achieve a sense of clarity about their role and mission in the organization (HinkinSchriesheim, 2015). While imagining a leader, none expects a man who will be dilly-dallying while taking a decision. Determination and clarity of thought are the two important words that define a leader. Hence, decision-making capacity is an important quality that characterizes a leader. It should be remembered that a leader is the one who will guide and lead the followers, and hence he must be able to decide the right thing at the right time. A leader should not be the one who easily loses confidence, when encountered with complex challenges. He must be the self-assertive, witty and confident thinker, who is capable of thinking discreetly, and taking up the quick decision at the right moment. Being analytical is an important aspect of the decision-making aspect of the leader. He must not be confounded by a complex situation, but should be capable of breaking down a difficult situation step by step, get an overview of the situation, and think critically, before formulating and implementing an idea. Ther e is a variety of decisions that a leader is required to take in an organization, yet he must keep his cool, retain his composure, and conduct sufficient research, before taking a final decision (Pettigrew, 2014). Reference List: Arnold, E. C., Boggs, K. U. (2015).Interpersonal relationships: Professional communication skills for nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences. Bhatia, S., Carmeli, A., Schaubroeck, J., Paz, E. (2013, January).Role of Team Leader Coaching in Buffering Contentious Communication from Influencing Team Outcomes.InAcademy of Management Proceedings(Vol. 2013, No. 1, p. 14793).Academy of Management. Hinkin, T. R., Schriesheim, C. A. (2015). Leader reinforcement, behavioral integrity, and subordinate outcomes: A social exchange approach.The Leadership Quarterly,26(6), 991-1004. Peng, T. (2014). Motivation to lead: linking leader regulatory focus, leadership behaviors, and motivational and cultural moderators.Academy of Management Journal,50, 715-729. Pettigrew, A. M. (2014).The politics of organizational decision-making.Routledge. Riggio, R. E., Tan, S. J. (2013).Leader interpersonal and influence skills: The soft skills of leadership. Routledge.

Sexualization of Children

Introduction Bare midriffs, spaghetti strap tops, skinny jeans and short shorts all once belonged in the realm of teen/young adult clothing yet as of late there has been a growing trend wherein such clothing choices have now become common place among children aged 12 and below (Gill, 137-160).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sexualization of Children specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Such is the influence of modern day popular culture that sexualization and objectification has not been limited to adults and teens but has now begun to encompass children as young as 7 to 10 years of age (Bill, 1). Sexualization can be defined as process where an individual’s sense of personal â€Å"value† is actually based on sex appeal or a predefined and narrow standard of attractiveness (Goodin et al. 1). This has resulted in the proliferation of numerous clothing lines, products and even popular culture sh ows which place a certain degree of sexualization on children resulting in the creation of what is now perceived as a cultural norm when it comes to children wearing clothes or displaying behaviors with distinct sexual undertones that is many years ahead of when they should be displaying such attitudes (Bartlett, 106-11). Even parents themselves have contributed to the modern day adoption of the idea that it’s perfectly alright to employ a certain degree of sexualization on children as evidenced by their continued patronage of toys, clothing styles and TV shows for their children that have themes depicting early child sexualization (Albiniak, 1). Based on this it can clearly be seen that children have been sexualized at an earlier age as compared to their counterparts form 30 years ago yet it must be questioned whether such an early rate of sexualization actually has an adverse impact on their emotional, behavioral and social development. Several studies examining early child hood development do indicate that a child’s formative years (age 4 to 12) is a period in which they begin to develop the behavioral characteristics and ideologies that influence their subsequent adult behaviors and actions. Aspects related to religion, culture and ideologies introduced during this early stage of development reflect well into adulthood and become an integral aspect of who a person is to become. It is based on this developmental backdrop that parents and society developed the notion that early onset exposure to sexualized content will have an adverse effect on a child’s development and as such children should be inculcated early on with positive societal messages in the form of cooperation, peaceful action and other similar behavioral characteristics that espouse the creation of a socially acceptable persona (Kopkowski, 220).Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Other studies though have stated that sexualized media in modern day popular culture such as those seen in TV shows, movies and magazines and other similar forms of consumable media actually have a positive effect on children resulting in the development of independent, socially well adjusted children that from an early age are capable of utilizing what they perceive from sexualized media to become more socially well adjusted as compared to their peers that have been exposed to little if next to no sexualized content. What such studies are attempting to suggest is that the early sexualization that children are exposed to as a result of modern day pop culture and the media actually leads them to experience the full gamut of emotions denied to them by their parents and society as a direct result of the prevailing social idea that children should not exposed to sexuality at an early age (Merskin, 119-129). In the words of Melanie Moore â€Å"it enables them to explore the inescapable feelings that they’ve been taught to deny and to reintegrate those feelings into a more whole, more complete and more resilient selfhood†. While such notions are relatively alien to the current prevailing societal consensus regarding children and sexuality it does make a valid argument. Sexuality is an aspect of normal human behavior, while society disparages its utilization and expression it must be noted that it is a normal feeling that has been with humans since the beginning of evolution. Coming to a complete realization of its effective utilization while at the same time limiting its use through calm analytic thinking is actually a rite of passage for most individuals. It is based on this what this study will attempt to confirm is whether the current trend in the early sexualization of children has a purely negative effect or if there is an underlying positive effect to this level of exposure. From a certain perspective it can be stated that: it is only due to age old conservative social institutions that it is believed that children are being sexualized at an early age when it fact there is no particular limit to the age in which children should learn aspects related to being a mature individual. Negative Influence of Popular Culture on the Concept of Beauty and Sexuality The influence of popular culture on modern day society can be interpreted as a form of irrational exuberance which is defined as the act of people modeling their behavior on the actions of other people without sufficient justification for doing so. In the case of children models/child actors seen in magazines and print ads children/parents see these models, which pop culture defines as the epitome of beauty, and attempt to emulate them by buying the products that the magazines say can help you achieve the same level of flawlessness as them (Schwed, 19). Yet this beauty is nothing more than a false image made to entice the masses towards buying a particular p roduct however this doesn’t stop people from attempting to emulate them in whatever way they possibly can.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Sexualization of Children specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More What must be understood is that ours is a culture obsessed with the idea of perfect beauty; flawless skin, blemish free features, thin waistlines, striking eyes, perfect noses and not a pimple in sight yet such an obsession has been fueled by nothing more than lies and hypocrisy which has all been for the sake of making money (APA: Analysis Of Published Research Shows Sexualized Images Harmful To Girls, Women, 1). The fashion industry alones makes billions of dollars a year by presenting women with products and clothing styles that are meant to emphasize sexiness or make them look more like the â€Å"standards† of physical attractiveness that many magazines espouse. Yet this is nothing more than a farce; such beauty and elegance can be summed up in one word â€Å"Photoshop†; they aren’t real, no one has eyes that striking, no one has legs that flawless, people don’t glisten in natural light, they really aren’t that thin, and hair doesn’t normally shimmer that way as if they stepped straight out of a Palmolive commercial. It is fake, unnatural yet it has created an obsession with beauty and perfection that has dominated the fashion industry resulting in the proliferation of photoshopped imagery on almost every page of major fashion magazines around the world (Reynolds, 9). Not only that, sensuality and sexiness have now become so integrated into modern day popular culture that the sheer proliferation of ads, commercials, movies and TV shows that emphasize the necessity of women appearing in this particular fashion has begun to affect children wherein they themselves look at the sensual and the sexy and develop the notion that this is what they should be (Harris, 1). Evidence of this can easily be seen in the current proliferation of modern day media in the form of TV shows and movies which also show child stars and actors in various revealing styles of sexualized clothing, scenes or basically wearing a lot of makeup that is more suitable for adults (Odone, 18). This has furthered reinforced the message being presented by photoshopped model images in that in order to be considered beautiful you must try to emulate the model that the pictures in magazines show (International Business, 12). Media/Social Media that Causes Kids to be Sexualized at an Early Age Action figures, dolls and cartoons are an ubiquitous part of the childhood of most people within the U.S., with various individuals owning/ watching some variation of these aspects of popular culture in one form or another. Based on various studies of childhood development children actually looked up to and tried to emulate the attitudes and characteristics of the c artoons they saw on television.Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More When examining past and current trends in cartoons, action figures and dolls a rather strange phenomenon was noticed wherein over the years since the 1980s action figures and cartoon heroes took on greater degrees of musculature and size resulting in almost freakishly large heroes as compared to their counterparts prior to the 1980s. Even dolls for girls took on greater degrees of overtly sexual characteristics with emphasis being placed on looks, sexuality and fashion. Behavioral Development While most individuals merely categorized this as a changing trend which was a direct result of the shifting nature of popular culture it must be noted that such changes had a distinct impact on the mannerisms, attitudes and manner in which children believed they should act and mature into. Studies examining the resulting developmental characteristics of children who grew up prior to the overly muscular and sexual trend of the 1980s showed nearly opposite developmental beliefs compared to child ren who grew up during and after the 1980s trend. It was noted that male children who grew up during and after the trend developed the notion that being overly muscular was normal and a state to develop into. It was a notion that was completely at odds with the idea of children who grew up prior to the trend who believed an average non-muscular physique was normal and what should be attained. This particular difference was also noted in female children who believed that the overtly sexual style and concentration on appearance, fashion and sexuality was what they needed to become in order to be considered normal as compared to the popular notions among children prior to the 1980s which showcased a vastly different and more conservative view on what was considered normal (Helping Kids Manage Their Media, 37). Cultural Impact What must be understood is that the resulting cultural impact of the change in the depiction of toys and cartoon heroes into either overly muscular or overly sexu al characters was noted as being one of the reasons behind the prevalence of various individual behavioral characteristics today such as the belief that looking muscular will make a person popular, that overly sexualized clothing is normal and that violence is a regular aspect of life (Helping Kids Manage Their Media, 37). While it may be true that such characteristics do not define a majority of the population it is still prevalent in large percentages with various studies confirming that one of the reasons behind their prevalence is their connection to the trend mentioned throughout this paper that began in the 1980s and continues to this day. Pop Culture and Identification One of the prevailing arguments against letting children see sexualized media is the supposed potential that exists of children imitating what they see in magazines, movies and television shows (Helping Kids To Stop Celebrating Consumption, 11) (Let’s stop teaching preschoolers to be sexy, 220). Studies examining the effect pop culture has on children reveal that on average children, especially young children, have the tendency to emulate child pop culture icons such as Hannah Montana, Spongebob Squarepants and other similar forms of identifiable imagery (Nairn, 54-60). In fact this behavioral aspect is even noted in members of the adult community and as such is the basis for many arguments stating the potentially harmful effects sexualized media could have on a child’s â€Å"proper† sexual development. What must be understood is that the arguments being presented neglect to take into account the fact that parental influences play a contributing and limiting factor to some aspects of a child’s behavior and as such should be trusted as a means of enabling children to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong (Young, 10). In fact, various studies have even shown that parental influences play a major role in personality development resulting in either pr oper growth and maturity or the instilment of negative personality traits similar to immaturity, dependence, and an overall sense of being unable to become self-reliant (Parsons, 5). The development of a child’s behavior is not dependent on consumable media alone but rather on how parent’s influence and mold a child’s behavior. As such even though sexualized media content is introduced to a child it can be stated that so long as parents are there to enable a child to distinguish right from wrong then there is little cause for concern (Egan and Hawkes, 307-322). It must be noted though that in cases where there is a distinct degree of parental absenteeism a child’s behavioral development will thus be predominantly influenced by external sources which should be a cause for concern since such instances have been shown to be influential factors in the development of abnormal personality traits which manifest in early onset sexually deviant behavior. Developme nt and Human Emotion Studies examining the prevalence of independent action and initiative in children show that on average children with the most well rounded set of emotional development often show the most drive and initiative when it comes to independent action and leadership roles. While various studies which have examined the potential effect of early child sexualization may not explicitly state it in their articles it is actually implied that children who are not exposed to certain types of â€Å"mature† media tend to not develop independent personalities but rather take on dependent behavioral characteristics (Hatch, 195-211). It must be noted that society’s adherence to the belief that exposure to sexuality is bad for children has in fact resulted in parents developing parental practices that espouse isolation from any and all forms of reference to sexual behaviors (Combe, 104). In fact such practices have grown to such an extent that the concept of social con formity and how the expression of sexuality is an adverse form of behavior is often forced upon children resulting in the suppression of the development of certain aspects of their emotional makeup. This has resulted in children developing behavioral characteristics akin to dependence, conformity and a distinct lack of initiative due to a form of trauma in which they associate aspects related to socially unacceptable conduct to the suppressive actions of their parents. This causes them to withdraw into themselves rather than become more expressive. As various studies have noted which have examined this type of phenomena children that are allowed to be exposed to â€Å"mature† media (sexualized content, violent shows etc.) tend to be more expressive, open minded and have more access to the full gamut of their emotional capacities compared to children whose emotional growth has been inadvertently suppressed by their parents. What must be understood is the fact that current day parental practices assume that exposure to sexualization is bad based on preconceived societal notions when in fact there have been few studies which have actually successfully connected early sexualization to children developing into sexually deviant adults (Fox, 77). In fact, for the most part children exposed to various forms of sexualized media and products appear, for all intents and purposes, perfectly normal and turn into well rounded individuals. It must be noted that the parental predilection to believe that sexualized media has negative implications on children is grounded in institutional theory. Institutional theory specifically states that people have the tendency to adhere to traditional institutions rather than move towards more efficient newer institutions due to their belief that older institutions are more stable due to prolonged length of time that they’ve been around. In this particular case parents adhere to a specific type of social institution that beli eves that sexualized media and advertisements will create sexually deviant children and adults. Several studies examining parental predilections towards this particular type of institution have noted that when questioned as to why they adhere to the social institution in question the essence of all answers given show that parents do so due to their belief that since the institution has been around for such a long period of time and that it is widely accepted means that it must be right. What must be understood is that just because a social institution is widely accepted and has been around for a long time doesn’t make it automatically right. For example, one of the most widely accepted social institutions in the past was the belief that men were superior to women, this resulted in women being thought of as incapable of doing certain jobs, that the place of a woman was at home and that women did not have the right to decide the future of a country. Suffice it to say, such a vi ew has been recently debunked however it must be noted that it had persisted for several hundred years with most of human culture adhering to its tenets. It is based on this that the social institution advocating that sexualized media is bad for children should not be immediately credited as being absolutely correct. Historical precedent has shown that not all widely accepted societal views are correct and thus this one should not be considered as an absolute truth. Conclusion Based on the various examples presented it can be seen that the preconceived notions attached to sexualization is in fact fallacious and heavily embedded in parental practices that originate from a social institution that may not necessarily be correct. As it was shown by the various studies cited, children that are exposed to sexualized media in the form of advertisements, movies and TV shows develop into mature and behaviorally stable adults with few problems. In fact when taking the views of articles presen ted into consideration it can even be stated that the introduction of sexualized media can in fact enable children to develop stronger and more independent personalities that will enable them to express themselves better, take the initiative more and be more likely to overcome adverse situations as compared to their peers that were not exposed to sexualized media. While it may be true that when parents prevent their children from viewing â€Å"mature† media they are under the belief that they are in effect helping their children grow into better adults but the truth is what they are doing is in effect stunting the full emotional growth of their children. As explained earlier, traits related to sexuality are inherent parts of a person’s normal emotional makeup and as such are a necessary aspect in enabling an individual to grow into an emotionally stable person. Negative emotional qualities help to balance the positive aspects of an individual’s personality so as to enable them to live a balanced life. By denying children the ability to develop the full gamut of their behaviors from an early stage parents are in effect hindering them from being able to mature at a normal pace which may actually lead to the development of abnormal personalities. This can take the form of dependence, childishness and the inability to take care of oneself without being instructed. It is based on this that in the case of the early sexualization of children this paper agrees with the assessment that it is up to the parents to properly guide children regarding aspects related to sexuality and sexualization and that it cannot really be stated that it is ever too early to start the building blocks of developing a more well rounded set of behavioral traits within a child and as such this paper suggests that while children are being sexualized at an early age as compared to their counterparts from 30 years ago this may not necessarily be an adverse situation based on the data that has been presented in this study.. Works Cited Albiniak, Paige. â€Å"Ad Market Shows Signs Of Recovery.† Daily Variety 310.50 (2011): A1.Print â€Å"APA: Analysis Of Published Research Shows Sexualized Images Harmful To Girls, Women.† Media Report To Women 35.2 (2007): 1. Print Bartlett, Myke. â€Å"Sex Sells: Child Sexualization And The Media.† Screen Education 51 (2008): 106-11. Print Bill, O’Reilly. â€Å"Unresolved Problem: The Sexualization Of American Children.† O’reilly  Factor (FOX News) (n.d.). Web Combe, Rachael. â€Å"Little Girls Gone Wild.† Redbook 216.2 (2011): 104. Print Danielle Egan, R., and Gail Hawkes. â€Å"Girls, Sexuality And The Strange Carnalities Of Advertisements: Deconstructing The Discourse Of Corpoarte Paedophilia.†Ã‚  Australian Feminist Studies 23.57 (2008): 307-322. Print Fox, Roy F. â€Å"Manipulated Kids: Teens Tell How Ads Influence Them.† Educational  Leadership 53. 1 (1995): 77. Print Gill, Rosalind. â€Å"Beyond The ‘Sexualization Of Culture’ Thesis: An Intersectional Analysis Of ‘Sixpacks’, ‘Midriffs’ And ‘Hot Lesbians’ In Advertising.† Sexualities 12.2 (2009): 137-160. Print Goodin, SamanthaDenburg, AlyssaMurnen, SarahSmolak, Linda. â€Å"‘Putting On’ Sexiness: A Content Analysis Of The Presence Of Sexualizing Characteristics In Girls’ Clothing.† Sex Roles 65.1/2 (2011): 1. Print Harris, DAN. â€Å"Little Cover Girls.† Nightline (ABC) (2011): 1. Print Hatch, Linda. â€Å"The American Psychological Association Task Force On The Sexualization Of Girls: A Review, Update And Commentary.† Sexual Addiction   Compulsivity 18.4 (2011): 195-211. Print â€Å"Helping Kids To Stop Celebrating Consumption.† Natural Life 86 (2002): 11. â€Å"Helping Kids Manage Their Media.† Natural Life 136 (2010): 37. Print International Business, Times. â€Å"‘Ashley’ Push-Up Triangle: Not the First Case of Over-Sexualization of Children.† International Business Times 12.Web Kopkowski, Cynthia. â€Å"Lolita In The Classroom.† NEA Today 26.6 (2008): 36-37. Print â€Å"Let’s stop teaching preschoolers to be sexy.† Glamour May 2007: 220.Web Merskin, Debra. â€Å"Reviving Lolita? A Media Literacy Examination Of Sexual Portrayals Of Girls In Fashion Advertising.† American Behavioral Scientist 48.1 (2004): 119-129. Print Nairn, Agnes. â€Å"Consumer Kids – The Influence Of The Commercial World On Our Children.† Education Review 22.1 (2009): 54-60. Print Odone, Cristina. â€Å"Sexy Kids.† New Statesman 131.4596 (2002): 18.Web Parsons, Russell. â€Å"NSPCC Adds Its Weight To ‘Sexualisation Of Kids’ Debate.†Ã‚  Marketing Week (01419285) 33.10 (2010): 5.Web Reynolds, Mike. â€Å"Nick Sees Kids’ Ad Sector Poised To Grow.† Multichannel News 3 2.11 (2011): 9.Web Schwed, Mark. â€Å"TV Commercials Your Kids.† TV Guide 43.7 (1995): 19.Web Young, Lesley. â€Å"A Hard Lesson.† Marketing Magazine 113.11 (2008): 10. Print This research paper on Sexualization of Children was written and submitted by user Lance V. 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. 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Scarlet Letter1 essays

Scarlet Letter1 essays Hester and the Scarlet Letter: Unobtainable Simplicity The achievement of simplicity in life never occurs because things are not simple, but manifold, being viewed differently, and speaking more than one purpose. Nathaniel Hawthorne journeys to seventeenth century Boston and introduces Hester Prynne as he makes his awareness of this idea evident. Through The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne presents the complexity of lifes components whether they appear as simple as an embroidered letter or as intricate as a life changing circumstance. The focus on sin and the consequences and atonement that follow exemplify Hawthornes tragic moral vision. A moral vision dealing directly with human nature through Hawthorne's own creation of Hester Prynne provokes this idea, this problematic truth. A woman publicly acknowledged for what her society held as a grave sin stands before them. She begins her journey, a journey that will forever change the views of not only her fellow characters, but also those to whom Hawthorne tries to reach through his writin g. In this journey, meet a woman whos weakness became her strength, who was looked upon in ways as changing as the seasons. Hester Prynne and the scarlet letter, standing not only as character and prop, but also as universal defendants of the idea of multiple views, are tools for the exploration of this truth. Through just three different perspectives, Hester and her scarlet letter can sustain the ideology presented by Hawthorne and contribute to its acceptance. They do so as regarded by the townspeople, Hawthorne, and Hester herself. The citizens of Boston deem two manifest opinions of Hester and the letter: that notion from the opening scene, which differs greatly that by mid-novel. As Hester walks out into the marketplace for the satisfaction of the townspeople, they immediately evince their cold and unsparing attitude toward this woman. The letter A was to be worn as...

VH Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

VH - Case Study Example One of the major risk factors pointed out is that the management is old and unproven. The CEO is too old, that is about 70 years, and the CTO is his son. However, as far as Telco Exchange agrees to change the CEO and appoint someone who is suggested by Valhalla, this risk is solved to a great extent. The scope of the field Telco Exchange is engaged in is evident from the Aberdeen finding that while the average profit of a Fortune 500 company is 1% of its revenue, the money the company spends on telecommunications is around 0.84% of the total amount. So, as far as Telco manages to provide highly integrated and comprehensive solutions, there will be growth, or, at least, the business will not go down. Though there is a possibility that some financially able competitors like MSS Group, Teldta Control, Profitline, and QuantumShift may try to develop software solutions, they will address only the financial part of the issue, thus failing to address inventory management and service order. So, there is no possibility of any serious threat to Telco Exchange in the near future. Hence, Art Marks can vote to invest in Telco Exchange. B. ... However, as the companies know, these are not complete solutions as they do not address the root cause of the problem. On the other hand, Telco Exchange offers a much more comprehensive and integrated solution that identifies the root causes and the unnecessary services and equipments. It also helps prevent erroneous ordering and make sure that the elements which are not needed are eliminated. In addition, it provides a holistic view of the communication infrastructure of the companies. Furthermore, Telco Exchange helps automating the ordering process, thus making the data available for all parties to work with. This helps to ensure that the corporate policies are properly followed. Thus, it becomes evident that the outsourcing approach will not provide a solution that is as effective as that of Telco Exchange, and hence not a risk. The third risk is that the present management is unproven, with a CEO aged 70. In addition, the CTO is his son. It is necessary for the company to change the existing management, however, without any effect on the existing customers and performance. C. The Valhalla due diligence is perfect in the fact that though it may fail to provide huge profit through investment based on wild assumptions, it takes maximum care on not losing the investment. Thus, investors are offered an investment that is free from risk to the maximum possible extent. The investment decision is taken after duly studying the investment memo, and to take the decision, the whole board should vote unanimously; not based on majority. This ensures that all issues and risks concerning the investment are fully analyzed and not even a

Explore the relationship between the material and the spiritual in Essay

Explore the relationship between the material and the spiritual in Beowulf and The Millers Tale - Essay Example Geoffrey Chaucer’s â€Å"The Miller’s Tale† is the second part of the Canterbury Tales and narrated by the alcoholic Miller and is a vulgar fable, depicting debauchery in contrast to the heroism underlined in Beowulf. Both Beowulf and the Miller’s Tale have been interpreted as using biblical analogies and allegories and the focus of this paper is to explore the relationship between the material and spiritual in Beowulf and the Miller’s Tale. If we firstly consider Beowulf , it is evident that the recurrent themes of war, tragedy and loss and military heroism are pertinent to historic patterns human behaviour whilst simultaneously providing a clear depiction of Anglo Saxon cultural norms. Moreover, French Historian de Certeau argues that â€Å"history aims at calming the dead who still haunt the present, and at offering them scriptural tombs† (Certau, 1998). Additionally, Certau highlights that the various themes and use of language in Beowulf convey the notion of inevitability through â€Å"labor of death and a labor against death† (Certau, 1998, p.5). This is further reflected in Beowulf by the denial of death and references to fear, loss and death. If we further consider the development of literary historicism, Foucault’s vision propounds that human behaviour is innately driven by motivation for power, which is clearly mirrored in Beowulf (Foucault, 1979, p22). Furthermore, in context of the medieval period within which Beowulf is set, there is clearly a dichotomy between philology, which studies the words and new historicism, which considers the historicism context (Frantzen, 1990, p114). Moreover, Philology posits that to understand people, the literary language must be understood whereas historicism indicates that to comprehend the language, the people must be understood for example the Anglo-Saxon gift culture represented assertion of

The Role Of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge Essay Example for Free

The Role Of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge Essay This essay that I have written about is from the book A View from the Bridge. And I am going to discuss how Arthur Miller (the Author of this play) has achieved such dramatic impact by using Alfieri. In this play Alfieris role is very important. He tells us more about the characters like a narrator; he sets the scene and the environment. He is an engaged narrator, helping the audience in every way to understand the story. Arthur miller has used the characteristics in Alfieri to divide the play in different ways. The character helps us to understand the background information, which we might have missed. Alfieris role is to unfold the play to the audience. He makes the audience get involved and plays with their emotions and helps them understand the story. The audience, including me, believe Alfieri because he is a lawyer and knows the most. He creates tension and emotion for the audience and the characters. I think he has so much pressure from being told the background information about the characters. I think he is drowned in stress and needs to talk to someone. I think thats why he talks to the audience. Alfieri also gives the feeling that he is retelling the story, because he mostly speaks in the past tense. The community in this play respect Alfieri because he is a lawyer and helps the rest of the characters out. Alfieris role is like a chorus, always reminding its tragedy. He creates suspense in the audience and gets them hooked to the play. The author must have thought very hard about this. The author makes the play feel like its a cliffhanger and makes them addicted to the play and makes them want to watch more. When Rodolpho wins Catherine, Eddie feels left out and jealous. He feels betrayed by Catherine and that she has ran off and lives her own life. This could also be the reason for his fear of Catherine growing up, and that she is not a little baby anymore. Eddie thinks Rodolpho is gay because he has blond hair and does cooking and sewing. Eddie feels justice must be served. Eddie goes to Alfieri (the lawyer) and tells him about Rodolpho. Alfieri is an educated lawyer, this contrast with the characters like Eddie. Alfieris language is very high standards. His role is to be an expert adviser and represents the American law. He is Eddies advisor. Sometimes he uses imagery to describe something. He uses similes and metaphors. He is giving the audience a clearer view and to convey to the audience that this story will end tragically. He keeps the audience thinking and helps them concentrate towards the play. He also uses imagery to tell the audience about his characters. For example: He walked in the room, and his eyes were like tunnels. This is a simile, this could mean Eddie was thinking deeply and like he committed a crime or he had some passion or he was stressed, obsessed or he had a deep desire or he was not aware of whats going on. In most of Alfieris scenes he develops tension, action, he also helps us like a guide. He moves the scene on to the next one. In the first scene in Alfieris office is where the main message of the play comes to light. That is love, morality, law come to life. The way the Arthur Miller done this is very clever. At the start of each scene Alfieri introduces who is in the scene and the setting, plus he creates the time and atmosphere.

The Great Gatsby As A Tragedy Essay example -- English Literature

The Great Gatsby As A Tragedy A hurried read of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby can generate a tragic impression. The deaths of three of the main characters and the failure of Gatsby and Daisy's romance can be viewed as tragic. However, a deeper analysis of the book reveals a much deeper tragedy. The relentless struggles of Gatsby himself parallel Fitzgerald's apparent ideas of the struggles of all Americans. The American dream romanticized by the majority of the population is really unattainable because it is, in fact, nonexistent. Every character has an unfortunate role and could be called a tragic character. However, the main tragedy is that of the title character. Gatsby experiences nothing but tragedy in his life. He begins miserable and ends miserable. He begins his life in a poor family where he feels he truly does not belong. His parents were unsuccessful and "his imaginationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦never really accepted them as his parents at all"(104). Always envisioning a better life for himself and a bigger purpose for his life, he has an amazing ability to make his dreams come true. As a child he dreams of being wealthy and living in luxury, and he attains this. When he is older he dreams of having Daisy, and for a time he achieves this dream as well. He reaches out for the green light at Daisy's dock symbolizing the embracing of his dream. Once the distance between him and this dream is removed, he has exactly what he thinks he wants. However, it is this belief in the dream that leads to his eventual downfall. Nick reflects on Gatsby's aspirations saying, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us" (189). Gatsby has an unusual quality of persistent hope... ...is family, education, and the way he fell into his money. His name is not actually Gatsby either. Like the "Great Houdini", Gatsby can make unreal things seem real. His entire life is an illusion to everyone but Nick. It is heartbreaking that in order to be happy Gatsby feels that he must put up these false fronts and skew reality in the eyes of others to make him into something that he is not. Gatsby's struggles are very similar to those of the American society in this particular era. In one case, the contender is reaching for an unworthy dream and in the other it is the contender that is unworthy of the dream. Fitzgerald combines the two struggles to produce an overall tragic comment on society in the 1920s. The lack of heart in the old aristocracy, the death of the American dream and the falsehood of the dreams unite to form the tragedy in the novel.

Good in the Moral Context

GOOD IN THE MORAL CONTEXT i. e. OBJECTIVISIT, SUBJECTIVIST AND FUNCTIONALIST ‘Good’ can be described from three views: †¢Objectivist †¢Subjectivist †¢Functionalist Objectivist point of view One main philosopher who defended the objectivist point of view was George Edward (G. E. ) Moore. In his book Principia Ethica, Moore discussed the definition of the word ‘good’. With this book he influenced the philosophers who came after him. The objectivist point of view is naturalism i. e. (what moral law predictates, usually from the natural law). In defining the word ‘good’, G. E. Moore attacks the objectivist point of view.He criticizes the naturalistic point of view. Moore, an intuitionist (meaning he is someone who decides if something is good or wrong by reflecting on his own, without anyone explaining to him) disagreed that good could be explained objectively. Moore criticised Utilitiarians as they were emotivists, i. e. depending on feelings. Thus they defined ‘good’ according to feelings. So good = pleasure. Thus utilitarians do not judge whether an action is good or bad by the quality of the action but by the consequence of the effects. Moore also criticised Christian morality, because these reason an action is good because it pleases God.He said, something is not defined as good because it pleases someone else. Moore invented an interesting term called ‘The Naturalistic fallacy’. Naturalistic fallacy, according to Moore, is to define a term, in this case ‘good’ by means of something which is a state of fact. To explain ‘good’ in terms of pleasure, is committing a Naturalistic fallacy. His reasoning is as thus: if something gives me pleasure, and thus because of this feeling, I say it is good; I conclude, since it is good, then I ought to do it – this is a wrong conclusion. ‘Is’ is a statement of fact, while ‘ought’ is a mor al statement.Moore was an intuitionist. Moore says that the word ‘good’ is not defined by its natural qualities (the qualities which are natural to something and which describe the object e. g. a red, juicy strawberry. If someone is asked why the strawberry is good, his answer will be, ‘because it is red and juicy’ thus defining ‘good’ by its natural qualities). For Moore, good is good and cannot be defined. The objectivists say that moral terms are explained by means of natural qualities. Objectivism is the view that the claims of ethics are objectively true. They are not relative to subject or culture.A term is defined as thus because it is as thus. So good is good not because of feelings or situations, the definition of which would be from a subjectivist point of view, giving rise to relativism. ‘Good’ is defined as thus, because the actions showing good are inscribed in us in the natural law. So according to objectivists, †˜good’ is described by its natural qualities. Naturalism, which the objectivists used, is a term which interprets the word as it is standing for natural characteristics. This may be misleading as good might stand for a quality of pleasure or for something to be desired, and this is not always right.Something pleasurable may in actual fact be wrong. One argument against naturalism, which the objectivists use, is that attribution (is) is confused with identity (ought). ‘Is’ is a statement of fact, while ‘ought’ is a moral statement. These (‘is’ and ‘ought’) are sometimes confused. Thus if something is pleasurable, thus it is good, thus it ought to be done, is (1) a wrong definition of ‘good’, (2) a wrong assumption as not all pleasures are good. One cannot equate good with solely pleasure. Moore goes deeper. In defining a word, he tried to split it into simpler terms.According to Moore, ‘good’ cannot be split into any simpler terms as it is already in the simplest term. So Moore’s philosophy states that ‘good’ is ‘good’. ‘Good’ is indefinable. Subjectivist point of view Subjectivism means that what is right or wrong is defined from the perspective of one’s attitudes, one’s theories and one’s emotions. Subjectivism is based on feelings, and as a result of emotivism. Subjectivism may also be called emotivism. Subjectivism is ethical values expressed in emotional values; personal emotions which can differ from one person to another.Thus there is no fixed standard, no norm, no mean. David Hume He is a basic figure in subjectivism. He was a 17th century philosopher. Hume was also an empiricist (tries to tie knowledge to experience) as he did not use rationalism (reason) but got experience from things around him. Hume said that all we know comes from around us, from our senses 9what we see, what we feel). Decante on t he other hand used rationalism. Kant tried to fuse empiricism and rationalism. Hume thus says that a person, basically, is a bunch of sense experiences. He also says that the senses can never lead us to the universal truth.We cannot say that something is right or wrong just from our senses. According to Hume, ethics is not built on reason (which is what Aristotle says) but on the senses. The universal truths (which are basically what the natural law states – do good to others, harm no one etc) are simply cut off by Hume’s subjective approach. Hume emptied ethics from any rational foundation – he shifted ethics based on reason (like that of Aristotle) to ethics based on emotions or feelings. Hume says not to look for reason but for sentiments – thus if something feels good – do it.He said that passion not reason is what leads us to do something – reason alone is ineffective. According to Hume, it is sentiments and not reason which are the fou ndations of morality. Hume said that statements like ‘This car is red’ (descriptive) and ‘This action is good’ (evaluative) are statements both of the same nature. He mixed descriptive and evaluative argument. In the statement, ‘This person is good’ one is not saying something about the person, but it is my reaction towards that person. Three philosophers affected by Hume were AJ Ayer, CL Stevenson and Hare.AJ Ayer According to Ayer, when we make a judgement, it can be classified as 1. empirical or factual 2. logical or analytical 3. emotive Ayer said that ethical statements are non-statements because you cannot verify them (as in analytical statements) and you cannot make them as a statement of fact (empirical statement or factual). Ethical statements such as good, just expresses one’s emotions (emotivism) – a statement depending on one’s feelings. For Ayer ethical statements are meaningless. Ethical concepts, such as good , cannot be analysed because they are not real oncepts at all – they are false concepts. He stated, ‘The presence of an ethical symbol (good is an ethical symbol) in a statement adds nothing to its factual content, meaning nothing is stated about the nature of the ethical symbol. Thus ‘good’ has no value when describing someone or something – for Ayer ‘good’ was just a way of expressing a feeling about the person/object concerned. CL Stevenson Statements such as ‘good’ do not say anything about state of facts but says only about one’s behaviour, one’s attitudes and one’s feelings.Ethical statements such as ‘good’ do not express a belief, only attitudes. Beliefs are based on reason, attitudes and one’s emotions (emotive). ‘Moral discourses are primarily not informative but influential’, says Stevenson. Thus when I say ‘John is good’, I am expressing my feeling s and at the same time influencing others by my statement. Stevenson, being emotive, says that ethical language, such as good, does not give us information about the person or object – they simply express one’s emotions. They simply intent to inform, they do not say anything about the nature.Hare While Ayer and Stevenson said that ethical statements are non-rational, non-logical, Hare is introducing rationality. He says that by a statement one influences another person, if the latter accepts it, and to do so he must understand it and he has to use his reason. Another point that Hare brought up is that an ethical statement can be 1. emotive 2. action guiding To guide it involves rationality. So ethical statements are not simply giving a piece of information, but action guiding (presciptivism – moral commitment to the giving or accepting of a command).Hare says that ‘a right action is one which ought to be done’ while ‘a wrong action is one that ought not to be done’. The prescriptive theory holds that the words ‘good’ or ‘bad’ are used not simply to command but to comment (=give an advice to do or not to do). ‘Good’ as applied to objects. It is important to distinguish between ‘meaning’ and ‘criteria’. Meaning always has a value, but criteria (the description) is different. ‘This marker is good’ or ‘This microphone is good’. The meaning is the same as the marker writes and the microphone amplifies sound. As applied to people, if I say, ‘John is a good man’.If we stick to the idea of Hare, that moral discourse, ethical statements, are action guiding, am I saying that ‘if you want a good man choose John’. It does not make sense. So when we place human beings as morally good, we are not talking about use or function. Hare deals with the distinction of the function and by treating the moral sense of good , it becomes an advice for imitation rather than a choice. A weak point of Hare: he still says that moral statements (such as good) still not saying anything about the person, but simply is a matter of influencing others and telling others to imitate him.Moral discourse is not only influential but action guiding – brings in rationality. He is still an emotivist saying that if an object is good, I am action guiding you; if a person is good I am just telling you to imitate him. Functionalist approach The functionalist approach is defining good in terms of aim and purpose. Good is the fulfilment of a function. For example a marker is good because it fulfils its function – it writes. If you are saying something is good, you are saying something about the object. O am not reflecting my emotions on an object (thus not an emotivist).A functionalist approach is based on its function. An emotivist approach is based on the attitude. A person chooses the good from the bad chooses a good life, because we are aiming at a ‘goal’ at an ‘end’. Aristotle is saying that there is something in-built in every object, in every person, to seek the good – the good being that at which all things aim. For a person to live a good life, he must understand the purpose of the human life. The purpose of human life is common to all humans, from a philosophical point of view – to have a good life.Aristotle defined end or purpose as ‘that for the sake a thing is done’ and good ‘as that at which all things aim’. Aristotle aid that God and nature do nothing in vain – that everything in the universe has been created to achieve a particular purpose. According to Aristotle the purpose of all human beings is the same. To understand the meaning of the word ‘good’ and of the ‘good life’, we have to understand the purpose of the human life and thus the metaphysics of the universe. In attempt ing to answer the meaning of ‘good’, Aristotle looked at the dynamic elements of the world around us (oak tree, chimpanzees, humans and so on).This is the general characteristics which defines Aristotle’s philosophy (metaphysics and ethics) and teleological (the study of the ends and purpose of things). According to Plato’s metaphysical views, he came with two kinds of worlds, the world of ideal and the world of reality. What we see is not the real world but an imitation of the ideal world. So substance in the ideal world is not included in the real world. Aristotle was Plato’s student but he still rejected Plato’s approach. Aristotle brought together the world of ideal and the world of reality.What we see is not an imitation – it is real. To explain the universe, Aristotle gave the theory of the four causes. 1. natural cause 2. formal cause 3. effective cause 4. final cause The theory of the four causes explains the dynamic nature of all the animate objects including human beings. In that way we can understand the goal, the purpose of the life of a human being, thus the meaning of a good life and the meaning of the word good. Metaphysics gives us a way of understanding reality how the human person acts and behaves, this behaviour can be living a good or a bad life.Ethics and metaphysics are distinct but interrelated. The theory of the four causes goes to explain, that if we think of an example of something which is produced by an agent such as a statue – then Material cause – that which constitutes the statue eg marble Formal cause – the pattern or blue print determining the form and the result Efficient cause – agency producing the result eg tools, sculpture Final cause – the sake for which the cause is produced ie the end towards which the production is directed In the case of humans: Material cause – genes Formal cause – humanEfficient cause – freedom, i ntention, responsibility, practical reasoning Final cause – the good life In humans the efficient cause and final cause are dependent of the formal cause – the fact that I am a human being. We are free to make choices in the efficient cause, choosing responsibility or lack of it, thus effecting the final cause. Aristotle also spoke about potency and actuality. Potency is the potentiality of something or someone – characteristics, which if cultured, become actual. Actuality means when something, which is potential, becomes actual. So we have to ask†¦what is our potentiality?We have a potential to reach our goal in life. Conclusion Having been exposed to these three views, in the definition of the word ‘good’, I think that subjectivism is the view which least defines well the word ‘good’. This view shows relativism and emotivism. To define a word well, especially one with a moral value/a virtue, there has to be a norm, a mean, a stan dard and subjectivism fails to do this. On the other hand, the functionalist definition of the word ‘good’ is the best definition of all as it shows a standard – its function; so there is no relativism involved.

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