Hobbes VS. Locke VS. Rousseau Essay Example for Free

Hobbes VS. Locke VS. Rousseau Essay â€Å"I am at the point of believing, that my labor will be as useless as the commonwealth of Plato. For Plato, also is of the opinion that it is impossible for the disorders of the state ever to be taken away until sovereigns be philosophers . . . I recover some hope that one time or other this writing of mine may fall into the hands of a sovereign who will consider it for himself, for it is short, and I think clear. † -The Monster of Malmesbury (Thomas Hobbes), Leviathan1 Thomas Hobbes was born at Westport near Malmesbury in Wiltshire, England. 2 A wealthy uncle paid for his education and sent him to Magdalen Hall, Oxford. 3 Hobbes lived at a time of immense intellectual excitement, and the universities of his day were far from being at the cutting-edge of intellectual advance. 4 The Oxford curriculum still consisted largely of scholastic logic and metaphysics, which he regarded as sterile pedantry and for which he had nothing good to say. 5 Leaving university with a degree in scholastic logic and, it has been said, several more degrees of contempt for Aristotle in particular, and universities in general, Hobbes obtained a post as tutor to the Earl of Devonshire. 6 He travelled widely with the Duke, moving in increasingly aristocratic circles and even meeting the celebrated Italian astronomer Galileo, in 1636. 7 Hobbes also met another important figure, Sir Francis Bacon. Francis Bacon was a philosopher who rejected the Aristotelian logic and system, which basically was a speculative system, started out from some major assumptions and through deductions developed his philosophical system. 8 Thomas Hobbes has a more cynical and realistic, view of human nature than the Greeks. 9 Whilst he agrees that people have regard for their self-interest, there is little else Hobbes will accept from the ancients. 10 Hobbes was considered by many of his contemporaries to be, if not actually an atheist, certainly a heretic. 11 Indeed, after the Great Plague of 1666, in which 60,000 Londoners died, and the Great Fire straight afterwards, a parliamentary committee was set up to investigate whether heresy might have contributed to the two disasters. 12 The list of possible causes includes Hobbes’ writings. 13 Hobbes’ books are a strange mixture of jurisprudence, religious enthusiasm, and political iconoclasm. 14 Hobbes’ political theory, then is that of someone who experienced both the English Civil War and the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century. 15 This fact is important to our understanding of it. 16 He formulated his political ideas several times, but it is in Leviathan that they find their most complete and influential statement. 17 His approach to politics is self-consciously scientific. 18 His technique of enquiry is delivered partly from the ‘resolutive-compositive’ method associated with Galileo and Bacon, and partly from the deductive reasoning that had so impressed him in Euclid. 19 If we are to arrive at a sound understanding of politics, we must first analyze or resolve social wholes into their smallest component parts: namely, individual human beings. 20 Then, having studied the properties and behavior of those parts in isolation, we can deduce from them, as it were from first principles, rational conclusions about social and political organization. 21 He breaks down (by analysis) social phenomena into their basic constituents, and only then synthesizes these to produce a new theory. 22 It is this technique, as much as his theory of power as the motivating spring of mankind, that makes Hobbes a distinctly modern thinker. 23 His materialism is central to his account of human behavior. 24 The body of each human being is, he thinks, only a complex mechanism, somewhat like a clock. 25 Hobbes has a mechanistic Weltanschauung. We are bodies in constant motion. 26 He seems in other words, to have a kind of materialistic psychology in which human behavior exhibits the same, as it were, mechanical tendencies as billiard balls that can be understood as obeying, again, geometric or causal processes of cause and effect. 27 Before we proceed to his account of the state of nature, we will explore first some of his important ideas. First, is his skeptical view of knowledge. Hobbes was obsessed with the question about what can I know or, maybe put a different way, what am I entitled to believe, and there are many passages in Leviathan that testify to Hobbes’ fundamentally skeptical view of knowledge. 28 He is a skeptic not because he believes that we can have no foundations for our beliefs, but he is skeptic in the sense that there can be no, on his view, transcendent of nonhuman foundations for our beliefs. 29 We cannot be certain, he thinks, of the ultimate foundations of our knowledge and this explains you may have wondered about this, this explains the importance he attributes to such things as naming and attaching correct definitions to things. 30 Knowledge, in other words, is for Hobbes a human construction and it is always subject to what human beings can be made to agree upon and that skeptical view of knowledge or at least skeptical view of the foundation of knowledge has far reaching consequences for him. 31 This argument of Hobbes resembles the thesis of Berger and Luckmann’s book. The ongoing process of objectivation-externalization-internalization to construct, reconstruct, and deconstruct the world. In other words, knowledge and human reality is ‘socially constructed’. 32 If all knowledge, according to Hobbes, ultimately rests on agreement about shared terms, he infers from that our reason, our rationality, has no share in what Plato or Aristotle would have called the divine Noos, the divine intelligence. 33 Our reason does not testify to some kind of inner voice of conscience or anything that would purport to give it some kind of indubitable foundation. 34 Such certainty as we have about anything is for Hobbes always provisional, discovered on the basis of experience and subject to continual revision in the light of further experience, and that again experiential conception of knowledge. 35 Next, is his idea of the laws of nature. Fear is the basis, even of what Hobbes called the various laws of nature. 36 The laws of nature for Hobbes are described as a precept or a general rule of reason that every man ought to endeavor peace and it is out of fear that we begin to reason and see the advantages of society; reason is dependent upon the passions, upon fear. 37 The natural laws for Hobbes are not divine commands or ordinances, he says, but they are rules of practical reason figured out by us as the optimal means of securing our well-being. 38 Ignorance of the law of nature is no excuse. 39 According to Prof. Bacale-Ocampo LlB, there are two doctrines of the natural law: everyone must seek peace and follow it, and man being able, if others were too. 40 Hobbes also said that there can be no unjust laws. There are two reasons for this proposition, according to Prof. Bacale-Ocampo LlB: law precedes justice, and the sovereign is the embodiment of all the people’s rights. 41 This argument justifies Hobbes’ defense of the absolute and authoritarian power of his sovereign. The power of the sovereign, Hobbes continually insists, must be unlimited. 42 This notion also resembles Art. XVI, Sec. III of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, that, â€Å"The State may not be sued without its consent. † In a very real sense, a suit against the State by its citizens is, in effect, a suit against the rest of the people represented by their common government – an anomalous and absurd situation indeed. 43 Now, let’s go to his notion of the state of nature. The state of nature, a shocking phrase calculated to arouse the wrath of the Church, directly conflicting with the rosy biblical image of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. 44 Hobbes thinks the ‘human machine’ is programmed to direct its energies selfishly. 45 He doubts if it is ever possible for human beings to act altruistically, and even apparently benevolent action is actually self-serving, perhaps an attempt to make them feel good about themselves. 46 Hobbes tells us, â€Å". . . in the first place, I put for a general inclination of all mankind, a perpetual and restless desire of Power after Power, that ceaseth only in Death. †47 The desire for power is the cause of human strife and conflict. 48 Finally, Hobbes most quoted statement, that in the state of nature, â€Å". . . there is no place for Industry; because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no Culture of the Earth; no Navigation, nor use of the Commodities that may be imported by Sea; no Commodious Building; no instruments of moving, and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the Earth; no account of Time; no Arts; no Letters; no Society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. †49 The state of nature is simply a kind of condition of maximum insecurity. 50 Hobbes continues, â€Å"Hereby it is manifest, that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called War; and such a War, as is of every man against every man . . . the nature of war, consisteth not in actual fighting; but in the known disposition thereto, during all the time there is no assurance to the contrary. †51 There are three principle causes of quarrel. The first is competition, for gain; the second is diffidence and a compulsion for safety; whilst the final one is the compulsion for glory, and for reputation. 52 Yet they all precipitate violence. 53 Hobbes tells us, â€Å"The first use violence, to make themselves Masters of other men’s persons, wives, children, and cattle; the second, to defend them; the third, for trifles, as a word, a smile, a different opinion, and any other sign of undervalue either direct in their Persons, or by reflection in their Kindred, their Friends, their Nation, their Profession, or their Name. †54 Hobbes also asks the readers, â€Å"Let him, the reader, therefore ask himself, when taking a journey he arms himself and seeks to go well accompanied. When going to sleep, he locks his doors even when in his house, and even when in his house he locks his chest and this, when he know, he says, there be laws and public officers armed to avenge all injuries shall be done to him . . . Does he not therefore as much accuse mankind by his action as I do by my words? †55 In short, the members of the Hobbesian state of nature employs the classic prisoner’s dilemma. The strategic interests of the two individuals are antithetical to each other, and that keeps them from forming a social solidarity that would be best for them altogether. 56 The prisoner’s dilemma is analogous to a social world in which public goods would be quite valuable to have, but in which individuals would lose something from contributing to the public good as long as other people do not. 57 There has to be an assurance that the other side will live up to the bargain; but there is no way of knowing that, and in fact one can figure out that other people will act just like oneself. 58 Whether one assumes that the other person is ultimately selfish, or merely distrusting, the outcome is the same. 59 Rational selfish individuals dealing with other rational selfish individuals will never sacrifice anything to the public good, since it would be a waste. 60 That is what makes the situation a dilemma. 61 Hobbes constructed his state of nature, using logic, not using historical data. The state of nature, for him, is rather a kind of thought experiment after the manner of experimental science. 62 Hobbes is the, again, the great founder of what we might call, among others, is the experimental method in social and political science. 63 How can we escape the horror of the Hobbesian state of nature? By establishing a sovereign by means of a social contract. He would understand (1) that it is rationally necessary to seek peace; (2) that the way to secure peace is to enter into an agreement with others not to harm one another; and (3) that having entered into such an agreement, it would be irrational, in the sense of self-defeating, to break it for as long as the others kept it. 64 By this chain of reasoning, society would be created. 65 It would be created by an agreement – a ‘compact’, as Hobbes calls it – made by individuals no one of whom has interest in anyone else’s good per se, but each of whom realizes that his own good can be secured only by agreeing not to harm others in return for their agreement not to harm him. 66 But, there must be an enforcer, because Hobbes argues that, â€Å"Covenants without the sword are but words, and of no strength to secure a man at all. †67 So the people will have to, â€Å"Confer all power and strength upon one Man, or upon one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by plurality of voices, unto one Will . . . This is more than Consent, or Concord; it is a real Unity of them all, in one and the same Person, made by Covenant of every man with every man . . . that Great Leviathan, the Commonwealth, and it comes about when either one man by War subdueth his enemies to his will, or when men agree amongst themselves, to submit to some Man, or Assembly of men, voluntarily, on confidence to be protected by him against all others. †68 The sovereign is created by, but not a party to, the compact. 69 He therefore cannot be got rid of because he is in reach of the compact. 70 If he could be, his power would not, after all, be sovereign. 71 Hobbes remains one of the most impressive and influential of English political theorists. 72 He is also, though he several times twits himself on his own timidity, a writer of considerable intellectual courage, who expressed unpopular views at a time when it was dangerous – mortally dangerous, indeed to do so. 73 He also â€Å"provides an antidote to the high-minded reasoning of the schoolmen and indeed the Ancients. †74 Starting from a pragmatic assessment of human nature, he strengthens the case for a powerful political and social apparatus organizing our lives. 75 And with his interest in the methods of geometry and the natural sciences, he brings a new style of argument to political theorizing that is both more persuasive and more effective. 76 But from Hobbes we also obtain a reminder that social organization, however committed to fairness and equality it may be intended to be, being motivated by a struggle between its members, is also inevitably both authoritarian and inegalitarian. 77 Virtually all subsequent attempts to treat politics and political behavior philosophically have in some sense had to take Hobbes into account. 78 â€Å"Though the water running in the fountain be everyone’s, yet who can doubt but that in the pitcher is his only who drew it out? † -John Locke, Second Treatise79 John Locke was born into a Puritan family in Somerset, England. 80 His father was a country lawyer who raised a troop of horse and fought on the parliamentary side in the Civil War. 81 Locke went up to Christ Church, Oxford, in 1652. 82 Like Hobbes before him, Locke found the old fashioned Scholastic curriculum uncongenial, though his association with Christ Church was to last, with interruptions, for more than thirty years. 83 He became a senior student – that is, a Fellow – in 1659. 84 In 1667 he became medical adviser and general factotum of Anthony Ashley Cooper, created first Earl of Shaftesbury in 1672. 85 When Shaftesbury was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1672, Locke became his secretary. 86 Earl Shaftesbury went on to three notable political achievements: he led the opposition to Charles II, he founded the Whig Party, the forerunner of the Liberals, and he pushed Locke into politics. 87 John Locke is a kind of ‘lowest common denominator’ of political philosophy, the intellectual forebear of much of today’s political orthodoxy, a role that befits a thinker of a naturally orthodox turn of mind. 88 He also â€Å"fitted the times very well (Bertrand Russell even described him as the ‘apostle of the Revolution of 1688’). 89 His philosophy was actively adopted by contemporary politicians and thinkers; his influence was transmitted to eighteenth-century France through the medium of Voltaire’s writings, and inspired the principles of the French Revolution. 90 And his views would spread still more widely, through the writings of Thomas Paine, eventually shaping the American Revolution too. 91 Although Locke’s reputation as a philosopher rests almost entirely on the epistemological doctrines expressed in An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he made a great and lasting contribution to political thought. 92 This contribution consists mainly in his Two Treatises of Government, especially in the Second Treatise. 93 It is usual to regard the First Treatise as being mainly of antiquarian interest. 94 It is in the Second Treatise that Locke presents his own ideas. 95 The proper title of the treatise is ‘An Essay Concerning the True, Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government. ’96 The master of Locke’s own residential college at Oxford, Balliol College, described Mr. Locke as the ‘master of taciturnity’, because he could not discover, through questioning and so on, Locke’s opinions on religious and political matters. 97 Before we proceed to his notion of the state of nature, we will first explore some of his major ideas. First is his account of the law of nature. There is no modern thinker that I’m aware of who makes natural law as important to his doctrine as does Locke. 98 The law of nature, Locke tells us, â€Å"willeth the peace and preservation of all mankind. †99 Locke adds, the â€Å"law of nature . . . obliges everyone; and reason which is that law, teaches all mankind who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions. †100 Locke also offers the three fundamental rights: life, health, and property. These three rights can never be overruled even by the government. They are also our natural rights, they are pre-political, it means that they are already our rights even before the establishment of the government. The interesting thing about these fundamental rights is that it is paradoxical. There are two reasons for this paradox. The first is that, â€Å"our rights are less fully mine. †101 Our rights were given by God. Locke tells us, â€Å"For men, being all the workmanship of one Omnipotent and Infinitely Wise Maker, they are his property whose workmanship they are, made to last during his, not one another’s pleasure. †102 The second reason is that, â€Å"because our rights are unalienable, they are more deeply mine. †103 These three Lockean fundamental rights influenced the famous 1776 U. S. Declaration of Independence, â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. †104 It’s like the ghost of John Locke who wrote this declaration, not Thomas Jefferson. Every sentence of this declaration has something like a Lockean spirit or fingerprint. This Lockean principle also influenced our present Constitution. Art. III, Sec. I of the 1987 Constitution states that, â€Å"No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws. †105 Next, his theory of private property. Locke’s â€Å"account of property; certainly, in many ways, one of the most characteristic doctrines of Lockean political thought. †106 In the beginning the whole world was America, explains Locke, meaning that the world was an unexploited wilderness, before, through the efforts of people, there came farms and manufactures and buildings and cities. 107 With these come trade, and money. 108 But although property is the foundation of political society, Locke traces its origin back not to commerce, but to ‘the conjugal union. ’109 The first society was between man and wife, and later their children. 110 Locke’s view of human nature is that we are very much the property-acquiring animal. 111 Locke tells us, â€Å"Every man has a property in his own person, this nobody has any right to but himself. The labor of his body and the work of his hands, we may say are properly his. †112 This is one of the major premises of Robert Nozick and other libertarian thinkers, that we own ourselves. Locke continues, â€Å"Whatsoever then he removes out of that state of nature has provided and left it in, he has mixed his labor with, and joined to it something that in his own and thereby makes it his property. †113 Locke anticipates Marx’s Labor Theory of Value. Locke continues, â€Å"For this labor being the unquestionable property of the laborer no man but he can hence a right, to what that is once joined to, at least where there is enough and as good left in common for others. †114 Locke adds, â€Å"As much land as a man tills, plants, improves, cultivates and can use the product of, so much is his property. He by his labor, does as it were, enclose it from the common. †115 One of the most famous passages in the Second Treatise is that, â€Å"God gave the world to men in common, but since He gave it to them for their benefit and the greatest conveniences of life that they were capable to draw from it . . . it cannot be supposed He meant it should always remain common and uncultivated. He gave it to the use of the industrious and the rational and not to the fancy or covetousness of the quarrelsome and contentious. †116 Locke seems to suggest, that the state will be a commercial state, that the Lockean republic, the Lockean state will be a commercial republic. 117 Labor becomes, for Locke, his source of all value and our title to common ownership and in a remarkable rhetorical series of shifts, he makes not nature, but rather human labor and acquisition the source of property and of unlimited material possessions. 118 The new politics of the Lockean state will no longer be concerned with glory, honor, thumos, virtue, but Lockean politics will be sober, will be pedestrian, it will be hedonistic, without sublimity or joy. 119 Locke is the author of the doctrine that commerce softens manners, that it makes us less warlike, that it makes us civilized. 120 On the ground of Locke’s claim of self-ownership as the foundation of rights and justice, I will offer one of the major criticisms to this view. This is the ‘difference principle’ of one of my favorite political philosophers, John Rawls. First, â€Å"Lockean theory of justice, broadly speaking, supports a meritocracy sometimes referred to as ‘equality of opportunity’, that is, what a person does with his or her natural assets belongs exclusively to him, the right to rise or fall belongs exclusively to him. †121 Rawls’ principle â€Å"maintains that our natural endowments, our talents, our abilities, our family backgrounds, our history, our unique histories, our place, so to speak, in the social hierarchy, all of these things are from a moral point of view something completely arbitrary. 122 None of these are ours in any strong sense of the term. 123 They do not belong to us but are the result of a more or less kind of random or arbitrary genetic lottery or social lottery of which I or you happen to be the unique beficiaries. 124 No longer can I be regarded as the sole proprietor of my assets or the unique recipient of the advantages or disadvantages I may accrue from them. 125 Rawls concludes, I should not be regarded as a possessor but merely the recipient of what talents, capacities, and abilities that I may, again, purely arbitrary happen to possess. 126 The difference principle is a principle for institutions, not for individuals. 127 This is not to say that the difference principle does not imply duties for individuals – it creates innumerable duties for them. 128 It means rather that the difference principle applies in the first instance to regulate economic conventions and legal institutions, such as the market mechanism, the system of property, contract, inheritance, securities, taxation, and so on. 129 The direct application of the difference principle to structure economic institutions and its indirect application to individual conduct, exhibit what Rawls means when he says that the ‘primary subject of justice is the basic structure of society. ’130 The basic structure of society consists of the arrangement of the political, social, and economic institutions that make social cooperation possible and productive. 131 These institutions have a profound influence on individuals’ everyday lives, their characters, desires, and ambitions, as well as their future prospects. 132 The difference principle also â€Å"requires that economic institutions be designed so that the least advantaged class enjoys a greater share of income, wealth, and economic powers more generally, than it would under any other economic arrangement (with the important qualification that the final distribution is compatible with equal basic liberties and fair equal opportunities). 133 We should follow the principle that would be chose under ideal conditions not because it is rational for us to use such a procedure (in the narrow sense of rationality), and not because doing so would maximize total overall utility, but because doing so embodies fundamental values to which Rawls thinks, we are already committed, the values of freedom and equality. 134 In structuring a just society, we must also employ what Rawls called ‘the veil of ignorance’. The situation where you don’t know who you will be. 135 Using the DP and the veil of ignorance, we can assure that the cake will be sliced equally. There are other important Lockean ideas, that I wish to address, but for the main reason of limiting my paper, I won’t discuss them anymore. These important ideas are the Lockean idea of a limited government (which resembles our present form of government), his ‘Appeal to Heaven’ doctrine or the right of the people to rebel against an unjust government (this doctrine is also embodied in the Art. II, Sec. I, of the 1987 Constitution), and his famous doctrine of consent. Now, let’s proceed to the Lockean version of the state of nature. Like Hobbes, Locke makes use of the idea of a state of nature as an explanatory conceit which to build his political theory. 136 As with Hobbes, and despite some ambiguity of language, the argument is not really a historical one. 137 Locke does not take Hobbes’ pessimistic view of how ungoverned human beings would behave in relation to each other. 138 Unlike Hobbes, he does not depict the state of nature as an intolerable condition in which the amenities of civilization are impossible. 139 The drawbacks of Locke’s state of nature would be no worse than ‘inconveniences’. 140 The ‘continous inconveniences’ is that men in the state of nature were both the judge and executor of the law of nature. Locke tells us, â€Å"The execution of the law of nature is, in that state, put into every man’s hands, whereby everyone has a right to punish the transgressor of that law to such a degree as may hinder its violation. †141 Everyone can enforce the law of nature. Locke adds, â€Å"One may destroy a man who makes war upon him . . . for the same reason that he may kill a wolf or a lion; because such man . . . have no other rule, but that of force and violence, and he may be treated as beasts of prey, those dangerous and noxious creatures, that will be sure to destroy the, whenever he feels into their power. †142 How can we escape the ‘inconveniences’ of Locke’s state of nature? Civil government is the proper remedy for the inconveniences of the state of nature. 143 Just like his great predecessor Hobbes, we must mutually agree to give up our enforcement power by means of a social contract. Locke tells us, â€Å"Men being, as has been said, by nature, all free and equal and independent, no one can be put out of this estate, and subjected to the political power of another, without his own consent . . . when any number of men have, by the consent of every individual, made a community, they have thereby made that community one body, with a power to act as one body, which is only by the will and determination of the majority . . . to move . . . whither the greater force carries it. †144 Locke has no particular view about the form of government should take, as long as it is based on popular consent. 145 It may be a republic, but it could be an oligarchy and there might still be a monarch. 146 But whatever form the government takes, Locke says, it does need to include some ‘separation of powers’, and sets out fairly precisely the distinction to be made between the law-making part of government – the legislature – and the action-taking part – the executive. 147 The executive must have the power to appoint and dismiss the legislature, but it does not make the one superior to the other, rather there exists a ‘fiduciary trust’. 148 According to Locke’s view of government, there are only two parties to the trust: the people, who is both trustor and beneficiary, and the legislature, who is trustee. 149 The principal characteristic of a trust is the fact that the trustee assumes primarily obligations rather than rights. 150 The purpose of the trust is determined by the interest of the beneficiary and not by the will of the trustee. 151 The trustee is little more than a servant of both trustor and beneficiary, and he may be recalled by the trustor in the event of neglect of duty. 152 Locke also tells us that, â€Å"The great and chief end, therefore, of men’s uniting into commonwealths and putting themselves under government is the preservation of their property. †153 Property here is the general term for life, liberty, and estates or possessions. This Lockean idea is also embodied in the famous The Federalist No. 10 of James Madison, â€Å"The diversity in the faculties of men from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. The protection of these faculties is the first object of government. †154 Locke – jointly, perhaps, with Hobbes – is the most influential of all English political theorist. 155 His political writing, like all political writing, is a response to the issues and events of a specific time and place, and reflects a particular perception of those issues and events. 156 Locke creates a picture of the world in which ‘rationality’ is the ultimate authority, not God, and certainly not, as Hobbes had insisted brute force. 157 He insists that people have certain fundamental rights and also attempt to return the other half of the human race, the female part, to their proper, equal, place in history, the family and government. 158 Locke’s legacy is the first, essentially practical, even legalistic, framework and analysis of the workings of society. 159 That is his own particular contribution to its evolution. 160 â€Å"Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. † -the citizen of Geneva (Jean-Jacques Rousseau), The Social Contract161. Rousseau was born in Geneva in 1712, the son of a Calvinist watchmaker. 162 It was his father who brought him up, his mother having died in childbirth. 163 His father also gave Rousseau a great love of books, but otherwise he had little formal education. 164 At the age of fifteen he ran away from home and began a life of solitary wandering. 165 His was a difficult, hypersensitive personality, with a towering sense of his own genius. 166 Although capable of intense friendship, his relationships never lasted. 167 After leaving Switzerland, Rousseau lived in Savoy and worked in Italy, before gravitating to Paris, at the time the leading intellectual centre in Europe. 168 There he associated with the Enlightenment thinkers – the philosophes – and particularly Diderot. 169 Rousseau contributed articles (mainly on musicology) to their great project, the Encyclopedia, but although he subscribed to some of their beliefs he was never a committed member of the group. 170 He developed his own ideas that differed radically from their fashionable cult of reason and from establishment orthodoxy. 171 Indeed, Rousseau’s most striking characteristic is his originality. 172 He changed the thinking of Europe, having an impact on political theory, education, literature, ethics, ideas about the self and its relationship to nature, and much else. 173 These influences, together with his elevation of emotion and will above reason, make him the major precursor of the Romantic movement. 174 His early ‘Discourses’ offended the philosophes, while his two most famous works, Emile and The Social Contract (both 1762), outraged the authorities, particularly because of their.

Violent Video Games And Aggression Defined Media Essay

Violent Video Games And Aggression Defined Media Essay Video games are a form of entertainment enjoyed by many adults and children on a daily basis. There are sports, dance, and mystery games that often provide hours of entertainment. However, there are also controversial violent video games that have made headlines and have been the subject of many protests. Numerous studies on whether these violent video games are associated with aggressive and hostile attitudes in children have been conducted, and the results are often mixed. One of the first violent video games was released in 1976 and was known as Death Race (Ferguson, Rueda, Cruz, Ferguson, Fritz Smith, 2008). The object of Death Race was to run over tiny gremlins, which looked similar to humans, with a car. The release of this video game caused an outrage and many protests against the game occurred. It was soon discovered that the games original working title was Pedestrian, and this only served to anger those who were against the game even more (Ferguson et al, 2008). Since the release of Death Race numerous other violent video games have been released such as Mortal Kombat and Grand Theft Auto. With the release of each new violent video game, the court cases that aim to prevent children from getting their hands on these games follow. In one such case, for example, an argument for opposing the sale of such games to children was held under the belief that the games are associated with aggression (Brown. v. Entertainment Merchant Association, 2010). In this particular case, Brown (2010) cited the research of Dr. Craig Anderson whose research claims to show a connection between violent video games and aggression in children. However, since it is highly difficult to prove that video games are actually the cause of aggression in children, the court threw them out (Brown v. Entertainment Merchant Association, 2010). The case was eventually decided stating that banning the sale of violent video games to minors was a violation of the first amendment. Since it is often difficult to provide evidence that video games are actually the cause aggressive attitudes in children, numerous research experiments have been conducted to showcase the correlation between violent video games and aggression. For example, a study conducted by Cooper and Mackie (1986) found that the girls who played an aggressive video game engaged in more aggressive free play. This study had children play either a high-violent game or a low-violent game for around 8 minutes (Tang, 2008,). Upon playing either of the games, one group of children were then asked questions about hypothetical situations, the behavior of other children, as well as punishments and rewards for said behavior. Another group was lead to a room with toys to play with for a few minutes. The girls who had played the violent video game often chose to play with the aggressive toy, in this case it was a Shogun samurai that spits, fists, and darts (Tang, 2008, para. 13). Results also found that both genders who were exposed to either video game had a longer punishment and reward system when asked questions about the good or bad behavior of other children (Cooper and Mackie, 1986). Again, this is only an example of correlation between the two variables of video games and aggression; it in no way proves that the video game was the cause of the aggression. Often there are no significant links to be found in the correlation between violent video games and aggression. A study conducted by Scott (1995) found no significant increases in aggression after participants played nonaggressive, moderately, and severely aggressive games. However, results found that there was a big change among the men who had played the nonaggressive game. These men showed a considerable amount of aggressive behavior overall after playing the nonaggressive game. This suggests that perhaps the degree of aggression one feels after playing a violent video game depends on the personality of the player. The men who had played the nonaggressive game were less aggressive both before and after playing than the men in the other two groups (Scott, 1995). Although the men who played the nonaggressive games did experience heightened aggression afterwards, it was generally less significant than the moderate and severe groups. The amount of aggression the men who had played the nonaggressive game did not compare to the amount aggressiveness the men who had played the moderately and severely aggressive games. Not to say that the latter group consisted of very aggressive men, there just wasnt a significant change. The men who had played the nonaggressive game were not very aggressive to begin with, and experienced a higher degree of aggression upon playing the game. Not that the men were extremely aggressive, the change was more significant in this group as compared to the other two groups. Another study conducted by Wiegman and Schie (1998) was interested in not only finding the effect of violent video games on aggression, but on pro-social behavior as well. This study focused on the amount of time spent playing video games each day. The study was based on Banduras (1961) social cognitive theory. The results for Wiegman and Schies (1998) first hypothesis were positive, it was found that those who played video games frequently displayed higher levels of aggression as compared to those who did not play as much. However, since the difference between moderate players and nonplayers was insignificant, the first hypothesis was no supported (Wiegman and Schie, 1998). Therefore, the results concluded that those who do play video games for a longer time do in fact display heightened aggression but the same could not be said for those who play those nonviolent games and no video games at all. A more recent study in 2005 was interested moving past the hypothesis that video games are associated with aggression in general, but took a closer look into whether specific characters trigger aggressive attitudes. Lachlan, Smith, and Tamborini (2005) wanted to decipher whether players who were similar to either good or bad characters would imitate the aggressive or nonaggressive attitudes of such characters. This specific study cited the social cognitive theory in which people are attracted to characters who remind them of themselves, therefore they are more likely to imitate the behavior of these characters (Lachlan et al, 2005). Later studies conducted by Levermore and Salisbury (2009) and Ferguson (2011) also cited Banduras (1961) social learning theory in attempting to understand the association between violent video games and aggression. Brand new violent video games are released every year, and adolescents continue to play them. Numerous studies have been conducted and will be conducted searching for a link between violent games and aggression. With new, sophisticated technology video games are becoming much more realistic. As of yet, there is no strong evidence that aggressive attitudes in youths are directly caused by violent video games. However, there is a continued effort to identify this direct link if it exists at all. Furthermore, various studies have only been able to prove an association between violent video games and aggression (see Lachlan et al, 2005, Scott 1995). The debate on how much of an impact violent video games have on aggressive attitudes in adolescents will continue for years to come. Statement of the Problem Violent video games are popular among children today, yet relatively little is known about how much of an association these games have with youth aggression. On one hand fierce opponents of violent video games argue that video games are definitely associated with aggression, even going so far to argue that violent video games are the cause of aggression in most children (see Carnagey Anderson, 2004). On the other hand, violent video game proponents argue that there is no such relationship between violent video games and aggression at all. With two extreme sides in the violent video game debate and the rising sales of violent video games, its important to know how much of an association, if any, these games have with aggression. Violent video games have been the subject of numerous lawsuits. These lawsuits range from banning the sale of violent video games to minors to developing a requirement for video game companies to include specific labels stating 18+ on violent games. In the case of Schwarzenegger versus Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), the EMA sought to overturn a law which banned the sale of violent video games to children. The reasoning behind the law was the belief that violent video games increase the chance of violent and aggressive behavior in children, thus directly causing harm to minors (DeWeese Rumpf, 2010). Conversely, the EMA argued that banning the sale of violent video games to children violated the First Amendment by restricting free speech. The court ended up ruling in favor the EMA, stating that although there a correlation between violent video games and aggression, there was not enough evidence to prove that violent video games ultimately caused aggression (DeWeese Rumpf , 2010). Thus, banning the sale of violent video games was found to be a violation to childrens first amendment rights. Much of the evidence brought forward on the anti-video game side was very weak and could simply not prove causation between violent video games and aggression. On the side of the State of California Schwarzenegger, the research of Craig Anderson was brought forth citing a direct causal link between violent video games and real life (See Iowa State University, n.d.) . However, the rebuttal to the above statement was that in order to show that violent video games were the direct cause of aggression; a study would need to be conducted in which a minor would be isolated from all other forms of violence (see brief for Schwarzenegger Vs. EMA, 2010). A minor would need to be exposed only to violent video games in order to prove the direct causation between violent video games and aggression. Since no such study has ever been conducted, it is difficult to prove that video games are the direct cause of aggression. The first amendment rights of children could not be taken away when it could n ot be proven that video games were the cause of aggression. Therefore, a problem lies in determining just how strong of an association exists between violent video games and aggression in youths. In some cases, research points to a strong correlation between games and aggression while others find a weak association. For example, take the research of Anderson and Bushman (2001) who argue that violent video games, without a doubt, pose a threat to children. Note that the above research of Anderson and Bushman (2001) was used as evidence in attempting to prove that video games cause aggression in children in Schwarzenegger vs. EMA. However, a meta-analysis conducted by Ferguson (2007), which was not used as evidence in Schwarzenegger vs. EMA, found that violent video games have no relationship to aggressive behavior at all. As such Ferguson (2007) even argued that violent video games have been associated with positive reactions and prosocial behavior. As noted with two differing studies, its very important to determine whether or not violent vid eo games are associated with aggressive behavior. The work of two different researchers has led to differing results and thus, it is important to get a clear understanding on this relationship in order to avoid further confusion. With all the opposing views, debates, and court cases, researchers ought to be focusing simply on the relationship between violent video games and aggression. Researchers on both sides of the debates are eagerly trying to prove or disprove that the association exists or does not exist, with much of the information ending up as very ambiguous. Perhaps researchers ought to apply concepts such as Banduras (1961) Social Learning Theory and modeling in order to understand the relationship between the two Definition of Terms Aggression Hostile or destructive tendency or behavior (Oxford English Dictionary, 2012). Behavior The way in which one acts either alone or around others. Debate A discussion between two sides on an issue where both sides disagree. Entertainment Something affording pleasure, diversion, or amusement, especially a performance of some kind (Dictionary.com, 2012) E.M.A. (Entertainment Merchants Association) Protects right the right to sell and promote entertainment products (entermerch.org, 2012). E.S.R.B. (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) Assigns age and content ratings to video games and mobile applications (esrb.org, 2012). First Amendment An amendment to the U.S. constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, prohibiting congress from interfering with freedom of religion, speech, assembly, or petition (Dictionary.com, 2012). Free Speech Being able to openly say anything one wishes without the fear of punishment either by authority or the government. Hostile Acting or behaving a negative or intimidating way toward an individual, animal, or property. Lawsuit A prosecution of a claim in a court of law (Oxford English Dictionary, 2012). Media Outlets such as television, newspapers, or magazines that provide information about current events and trends. Observational Learning The ability to acquire a new response as a result of observing a behavior model (Bandura, 1968, as cited in Carey, 2011). Parent The genetic or non-genetic Mother or Father of a child, a protector or a guardian (Dictionary.com, 2012). Politics The art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy (Merrium-Webster.com, 2012). Prosocial Behavior which is positive, helpful, and intended to promote social acceptance and friendship (Oxford English Dictionary, 2012). Social Cognitive Theory How a person views and respondss the ones social environment, the idea that individuals are more likely to imitate those who they identify and are familiar with (Chegg.com, 2012). Video Game An electronic game usually played on a gaming console or home computer. Video Game Addiction Excessive or compulsive use of computer and video games that interferes with daily life, to the point of isolation, neglecting of relationships, and extreme anger when unable to play video or computer games. (inspirationyouth.com, n.d.). Violence Physically causing harm or abuse to another individual, animal, or property. Youth a person who is young. Limitations of the Study Video games are a relatively new form of entertainment and today they are more popular than ever. Violent content has been found in video games since the late 70s. Violence is a recurring theme in some of the most popular video games today. These violent video games are often associated with aggression and hostility, while opponents of violent video games going so far to declare that these video games cause aggression. It is often a very political issue, with both sides arguing that either violent video games do have a relationship to aggression or that no such relationship exists. In some cases, researchers have even argued that violent video games are associated with positive behavior (Gentile et al., 2009). Most of the research available contains differing research from one another, with often confusing results. A limitation of this study is that much of the information concerning violent video games and aggression is often ambiguous, even vague in some cases. One article may argue that violent video games cause aggression while another argues that video games have no association with aggression at all. A lot of the research appears eager to prove or disprove that violent video games and aggression have an association, without emphasizing other factors that may play a part in this argument. For instance, Vessey and Lee (2000) have argued that exposure to violent video games not only leads to aggressive feelings in the short-term, but also contributes to juvenile delinquency in the longer term. In order to be certain that the sources are accurate and unbiased, extra research in to the author of the article and journal needs to be done. Also, extra attention should also be paid into the funding sources of where this research is coming from. Researchers ought to focus on the association and whe ther it is exists at all. Instead of being solely focused on proving or disproving, attention should be paid to observations, effects, and other factors that increase or decrease aggression upon playing violent video games. There are no longitudinal studies that measure children playing violent video games and aggression over time. Its difficult to determine if aggression in teenagers and adults can be associated with having played a large amount of violent video games while growing up, or other factors. Often studies associated with this topic may last only a few years, for example while a child is in high school. No such study has examined the relationship between violent video games and aggression in children from childhood to the teenager years. Longitudinal studies would provide an excellent amount of information on how much of an impact violent video game play has on aggression over time. Another limitation of this study is the fact that this topic is often a political issue. Politicians have their own opinions on this topic and often push for legislation outright banning the sale of violent video games to children. This is where the information starts to become ambiguous since most of the research is used as evidence in pushing this legislation and in the lawsuits that result. Most of the research that is used is heavily focused on proving whether or not violent video games ultimately cause aggression. Its very difficult to determine causation in this case, and researchers ought to focus on simply the association. Rather than trying prove whether something absolutely does or does not exist, focus on the association between the two and observe the effects. Theoretical Foundation The relationship between violent video games and aggression is one that researchers are still trying to understand. For this project, the relationship will be looked at through the use of the social cognitive theory and behavior modeling. In social cognitive theory, it is argued that behavior is the outcome of outside influences and choices made by oneself (Bandura, 1991). As such violent video games have been considered an outside influence, with children imitating the actions of an aggressive character. Bandura (1986) suggested that in social cognitive theory individuals will identify with and imitate characters that are liked and similar to themselves (cited in Lachlan, Smith, Tamborini, 2005). Children can recognize characters that are likeable, remind them of themselves, and in turn imitate the behavior of that character. In some cases a child will imitate the positive behavior of a character, while other times a child may imitate the aggressive behavior of a character. Determi ning whether or not a child will imitate the behavior a specific character depends on the gender, ethnicity, and social acceptance of a character (Lachlan et al, 2005). For example, a Caucasian boy will more likely imitate the behavior of a Caucasian male character over that of a Caucasian female character. Behavior modeling, also known as observational learning, is also another theory applied to this relationship. Albert Bandura (1961) conducted a bobo doll experiment in which children viewed a video of an individual violently hitting and yelling at a bobo doll with the children later being led in to a room with an identical bobo doll (Isom, 1998). After viewing the video, the children were immediately led to a first room filled with toys, the children were told not to touch any of the toy(Isom, 1998). Later the children were sent to a second room that was filled with attractive toys, however what had caught the majority of the childrens attention was the identical bobo doll that had been featured in the film. Around 88% of the children had violently hit the doll just as they had seen the model do in the video. (Isom, 1998). The theory of behavior modeling can be applied to understanding the effect of violent video games on aggression in children. Although it is difficult to prove caus ation between violent video games and aggression, a concept such as behavior modeling can provide insight in to aggressive actions upon playing violent games. Behavior modeling is a useful tool in understanding why children sometimes imitate the behavior of individuals who they view in movies, television, and video games. Albert Banduras (1961) social cognitive theory and the use of behavior modeling can help to greatly understand violent video games relation to aggression. Although much of the information regarding the two theories is based of work regarding television and movies, the same concepts have been applied to video games (i.e. Lachlan et al, 2005). It will be interesting to determine if the outcome changes when the theory is applied to violent video games. Literature Review Violent Video Games and Aggression Defined In 2011 violent video games sales have soared over the sales of nonviolent video games (Vgchartz.com, 2011). In 2011, violent titles such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3, and Gears of War 3 all made the top 10 best selling games (Vgchartz.com). Violent video games are very popular on video game consoles as well as on computers. With access to online multiplayer, individuals can face off against other people from all over the world. No doubt, access to multiplayer contributes to violent video games popularity. It may seem as though the ability to partake in a video game with individuals from all over the world is a good idea, however that is not always the case. A search on the internet for video game raging can lead one to find dozens of videos of both teenagers and adults alike angrily yelling at their televisions. One is lead to wonder about the implications of these games and what long term consequences they may have. In some instances, video game addiction can occur, leading players to neglect all other responsibilities in order to dedicate as much time as possible to the game (Van Rooij et al, 2010). However, violent video games have not been associated with video game addiction alone. Often, violent video games are associated with increased aggression and hostility in adolescents. Its very difficult to prove that violent video games cause aggression. One would need to prove that aggression is directly caused by video games alone; as such no research has done this hefty task. Anderson Bushman (1998) argue that there are at least four active types of human aggression including physical, verbal, direct, and indirect. This paper will consider physical and verbal aggression in the context of violent video game play. Many research attempts to measure aggression have been conducted. Attempts include the use of electric shock to study the effects aggression and learning (Anderson Bushman, 1998) as well as the use of observational learning, more specifically Banduras (1961) Bobo doll experiment and the social learning theory. To continue, the release of one of the first violent video games Death Race did not go unnoticed; it sparked on outrage among consumers (Ferguson et al, 2008). Some consumers were so outraged that the video game was protested, some went so far as to pull Death Race machines out of arcades and subsequently burn them (Ferguson et al, 2008). Before the release of Death Race video game titles were rather tame, including hits such as Pac-man and Pong. Death Race was the first of its kind, but it wouldnt be the last. A long line of violent titles would follow which would include Mortal Kombat, Counter-Strike, Grand Theft Auto, and the popular Call of Duty series. Violent video game titles will continue to be released year after year, with much of the research about these video game titles resulting in mostly ambiguous information. Its important to gain a clear understanding of the effects of these video games on aggressive and hostile behavior. This paper will take a look in to the appearances violent video games have made in the news, including the link to the Columbine Shootings as well as the Virginia Tech shootings. This paper will also take a look in to the various court cases violent video games have been a part of, including Schwarzenegger vs. EMA as well as Brown vs. EMA. Various legislation from banning the sales of violent video games to minors to requiring an 18+ title will also be considered, as will the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and their reasoning behind rating various titles M for Mature. Last but not least, this paper will also focus upon various research efforts that have been put forth in order to understand the a ssociation between violent video games and aggression. Violent video games in the news Local News Stories Violent video games have made headlines numerous times. Whether news surrounds the release of the violent video game title or the consumers who play them, controversy isnt too hard to find. For instance, take the story of Daniel Petric who had planned to murder both of his parents because they would not allow him to play the shooting game Halo 3 (Ohio teenager, 2009). Petric proceeded to shoot both his parents in the head, his Father survived. Judge James Burge (2009) who had presided over this case stated that Petric had become so obsessed with this particular video game, he had come to believe that like many of the characters in the game, death was not real (as cited in Martinez, 2009). In the end, Petric was sentenced to 23 years in prison but could have faced life without parole. According the Judge Burges statements, Petric had falsely believed that his Mother would not have died when he shot her. Having become so addicted to the game, Petric believed that his Mother would continue to be alive. As in many video games when the character an individual is play dies, the character will simply come back to life a few seconds later as if nothing had happened. Halo 3 is such a game, it is a shooting based game and when the players character dies, the character will come back to life a few seconds later. Petric had become obsessed with this game, to the point where he was addicted. When his parents forbid him from playing the game, he reacted violently. One cannot argue that Petrics violent reaction was caused solely by the video game; however there is definitely an association between the two. For instance Judge Burge (2009) continued I firmly believe that Daniel Petric had no idea at the time he hatched this plot that if he killed his parents, they would be dead f orever (as quoted in Ohio teenager, 2009). Petric may have been confusing fantasy with reality, thinking that his parents would not be dead forever but instead reappear as a live a few days later, just like in the video game. Similarly to Daniel Petric, take the case of Crystian Rivera who killed his baby sister after becoming frustrated with a video game. 13 year old Crystian Rivera was apparently playing a video game while his baby sister had fallen and began to cry, Rivera had gotten so frustrated with the video game that he picked up his 9-month old baby sister and shook her (Police: Frustrated, 2011). Rivera had reportedly said that he had become frustrated with the video game when the character whom he was play as was killed (Police: Frustrated, 2011). No doubt Rivera had experienced an extensive amount of frustration while playing this video game and acted aggressively towards his baby sister. It cant be said that the video game was the cause of the aggression, as other factors might have played a part. Consider the fact that Rivera was only 13 years old while watching a 9-month old. Some adults get frustrated watching a 9-month old and a distracted 13-year old may have experienced an unnecessary a mount of frustration when dealing with a crying child. Rivera would go on to be tried as a youthful offender because of his age (OKC Boy, 2012). Columbine Massacre These are just 2 of many local news stories that have a link to video games. However, video games have made appearances in national news stories as well. The Columbine Massacre took place on April 20th, 1999 in Littleon, Colorado. Students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris entered proceeded to shoot at other students and staff. The two students had originally planned to murder hundreds of students with a variety of guns, knives, and bombs (Rosenberg, n.d.). Twelve students, one teacher, and the two shooters were dead by the time the massacre was finally over (Rosenberg, n.d.). There are many theories, ranging from depression and bullying, that have been used to decipher what may have prompted the two shooters to carry out this massacre (Mears, 2007). One popular theory is that the video games the two shooters played may have in some way contributed to the actual massacre. The two shooters were reportedly avid players of the first-person shooter video game Doom (Saldana, 2012). The two even made custom levels and characters to share with other Doom players over the internet (Mears, 2007). In the Doom video game players assume the part of a single soldier who roams corridors and shoots at different space creatures with a number of different weapons (Ward, 2001). Doom is very similar to many violent video games of today coinciding with a military theme. Jerald Block (2007) has argued that a sudden restriction from access to the computer and subsequently the video games may have triggered the Columbine shooting (as cited in Mears, 2007). For instance, parents of Harris and Klebold may have suddenly taken away access to the computer, which may have sparked extreme anger in both and eventually resulted in the school shooting. While researching this area Block (2007) had found evidence that computer use was restricted at home and at school for Harris and Klebold, while threats and violent grew more with each restriction (as cited in Mears, 2007). Both Harris and Klebold were obsessed with the Doom video game and reacted violently when it was restricted. It is important to note that Block (2007) feels that the content in the video games is not what prompted the shooting (as cited in Mears, 2007). Both the computer and video game Doom were outlets for Harris and Klebold, without these outlets they proceeded to unleash their aggression on the real world (Mears, 2007). The video game Doom was subject to much controversy as a result of the Columbine shooting. The video game was highly scrutinized and it was noted that the shooters in the school shootings of Paducah, KY and Springfield, OR were also avid players (Sternheimer, 2007). Since the Columbine shooting, a plethora of newspaper articles were released around the nation alleging that video games were the cause of the shootings (Sternheimer, 2007). Sternheimer (2007) argues that aggressive people have a high chance of buying violently content, but it is difficult to prove that violent content actually causes real life violence. It is difficult to prove causation in video games and real world violence, only that the two exist together (Sternheimer, 2007). Sternheimer (2007) states that many news articles concerning video games and violence ignore other factors that might have played a part in the shootings: News reports of the shootings that focus on video games ignore other research on the meanings that the audiences make from media culture. This may be because its qualitative findings are difficult to turn into simple quotatio

When It Rains, It Pours :: Personal Narratives Depression Death Essays

When It Rains, It Pours Have you ever had a time in your life where you felt like everything was just dumped on you? I did, and undoubtedly it happened just as I came to school at State University. That saying, â€Å"When it rains, it pours,† just seemed to fit me perfectly. Within a two week period one of my friends from high school committed suicide, my grandma went in the hospital, and my boyfriend broke up with me. Yet, from these experiences in my life, I grew, more than I have ever grown before. This is why I am writing about it. Although, everyone goes through hard times, there were not many people out there who related to me. That is why it was hard to get help when it was needed. Maybe someone can learn from my experience and be just as strong as I was. I was very excited to make a new step in my life, college. I came with high hopes and aspirations. My hometown is not near Arizona, It is Lake Tahoe, Nevada, so going home for the weekend was simply out of the question. I had a great time for the first month, enjoying freedom. However, I was sitting in my room one night writing a paper with my roommate, and one of my friends from home called me. She said that one of our good friends from high school had just committed suicide earlier that day. I didn’t know how to react to this; I was scared, and confused. Why did he do it? Why didn’t anyone know that he was unhappy? Was he unhappy? I felt regret, thinking I should have been there for him. Once the crying commenced, my mother called me telling me that my last grandma had gone into the hospital. She had collapsed in her apartment and was rushed to the emergency center. I had no idea what to do. I felt like God was just condemning me and attacking me for som e reason. I went into this deep depression and I didn’t want anyone to talk to me, if they did, I would simply start crying. I was alone, and no one knew who I was. I was too far away from home to go to my friend’s ceremony.

Wildfire Mitigation Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Forest Essays

Wildfire Mitigation Thesis: Politicians are proposing sweeping changes in bills, which have caused great controversy, in efforts to correct the problems that the Forest Service has faced in restoration projects. Are these bills necessary or is there a better solution that politicians are overlooking? Introduction: Humans have been changing the Western forests' fire system since the settlement by the Europeans and now we are experiencing the consequences of those changes. During the summer of 2002, 6.9 million acres of forests was burnt up in the West (Wildland Fires, 1). This figure is two times the ten year annual average, and it does not look like next summer will be any better (Wildfire Season, 1). Foresters have been trying to restore the forests back to their original conditions by thinning and prescribed fires but have encountered countless delays. Politicians are proposing sweeping changes in bills, which have caused great controversy, in efforts to correct the problems that the Forest Service has faced in restoration projects. Are these bills necessary or is there a better solution that politicians are overlooking? Changing Forest: The Western forests are drastically different from what they were like before the European settlement. In pre-European time, the forests were open and park-like with only 25-35 trees per acre surrounded by areas of open grasslands. One could easily ride a horse through the spacious forest. This, however, is not possible in today's forests. Today, for example the Ponderosa pine forests, have over 500 trees per acre, creating thick dense areas of trees, brush, and bushes (President Bush, 4). The pre-European forests were subject to frequent low inte... ...ewed 1 Nov. 2002 .<http://thomas.loc.gov/> Jungwirth, Lynn. "Opinion: Conservation is everyone's business." American Forest. Autumn 2002: 4. "Land of Fire." Scientific American Nov.2002: 10. Little, Jane. "Hogans of Hope." American Forest. Autumn 2002: 39-42. President Bush, George. "Healthy Forest: An Initiative for Wildfire Prevention and Stronger Communities." 22 Aug. 2002. Viewed 2 Nov. 2002.<http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/Healthy_Forests_v2.pdf>. "Step 1. Characterizations of the Watershed." Forest Service: 17 pars. Viewed 7 Nov. 2002. <http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/spl/south_platte_web/step_1.htm>. "Wildland Fires of 2002 Summary." National Fire News. 11 Oct. 2002: 1 pg. Viewed 2 Nov. 2002 .<http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html>. "Wildfire Season Heats Up Debate in Washington." Forest Source. Oct 2002: 1&5.

Sense of Belonging Explored Through Literature Essay -- Literary Analy

The concept of belonging is deeply fused to humans’ interrelationships, with acceptance from others being the key to a sense of belonging. Numerous texts reflect the fact that engaging in relationships with others, including varying groups and cultures, is integral to a feeling of belonging. However other texts present ideas that suggest identity is the most integral aspect of belonging, or that in fact an introspective alienation from others is necessary to belong. This essay will discuss the importance of acceptance to belonging and also how other aspects hold equal value with reference to various texts, namely the poems ‘This is My Letter to the World’ and ‘I had been Hungry all the Years’ by Emily Dickinson, the artwork ‘The Two Fridas’ by Frida Kahlo, and the film ‘As it is in Heaven’ directed by Kay Pollak. Emily Dickinson’s poem ‘This is my Letter to the World’, presents an exploration of the poet’s alienation from society and her simultaneous desire to connect with it, hence displaying her need to belong through connections to others. Dickinson’s use of the pronouns, ‘this’ and ‘that’ in the first two lines of the poem immediately establishes Dickinson as an external entity isolated from society. This is further depicted in the contrast created between Dickinson’s ‘sweet countrymen’ and ‘me’ where the two phrases’ physical isolation on separate lines exemplifies their disconnectedness and hence demonstrates Dickinson’s alienation from the camaraderie connoted by ‘countrymen’. Further, in the line â€Å"the simple news that nature told† nature is personified to represent a Pantheistic God. As the ‘simple news’ is symbolic of Dickinson’s work , this places the poet as a vessel for nature and hence relegates Dickinson to a hig... ...na’s lessons to Daniel, demonstrate reciprocal relationships which again represent the integral importance of inter-connections. Hence overall the film contrasts the idea of belonging through religion which stifles emotion and identity, to human relationships which are shown as a life-giving force providing belonging through acceptance and understanding. (318) Overall, all these texts display different aspects of belonging. While ‘The Two Fridas’ and ‘As it is in Heaven’ affirm that acceptance from others and within communities is essential to belonging, Dickinson’s poetry overall suggests that identity is a more important aspect of belonging, and that in fact alienation from others can develop an inner belonging. Hence it can be seen that belonging is established through varying different mediums, and that acceptance is not solely its most important aspect.

Build Your Future Today

Build Your Future Today Introduction If I were to ask you, â€Å"What is the next major decision you need to make in your life, what would it be? † Perhaps you'll be looking at your next investment proposal. Or perhaps you are thinking about how to celebrate your next wedding anniversary with your spouse. Or perhaps, you're trying to decide whether or not you will Join our Toastmasters club today.Madam Toastmasters, my fellow Toastmasters, dignitaries, and our most honored guests, to help you decide tonight, not only will you get an overview of our Toastmasters program, you will also walk away with some of the tips and techniques I learned from more experienced Toastmasters. Speaking Off the Cuff First of all, take a look again at the agenda. You will notice how there are three parts to every Toastmasters meeting: Table Topics, Prepared Speeches, and then Evaluations. For Table Topics, the purpose is to help you think on your feet by responding too question you didn't prepare for, within 1-2 minutes.Why? Think about Job interviews. By keeping your responses short and concise, I think you're much more likely to establish rapport with your interviewers. I still remember how I recently had 4 Job promotion interviews. One of the questions they all asked was â€Å"tell us about software programs you are familiar with and how you used it for work. † I answered the question! I gave them a list of examples and connected them with work examples. Unfortunately, it came off like a typical laundry list. Boring, forgettable, and â€Å"toss salad†. Not surprisingly, I was O for 4 in getting my rumination.Then, in my 5th promotion interview, when I got the same question, I twisted the question. Instead of making the same mistake again, I actually asked, â€Å"What are the challenges for your unit? † Then, after listening patiently to their challenges, I was able to make everything I said relevant for their unit. For instance, I addressed how I coul d help them produce memos and proofread documents. Also, impromptu speaking can help improve your interpersonal communication skills. Consider your conversations with your friends and family.Are you likely to deliver 5-7 minute speeches? I hope not. As you can see, the ability to think on your feet is extremely valuable for reaching your professional and personal goals. Delivering Winning Presentations In addition to improving your impromptu speaking, you will learn how to deliver winning presentations. By working through the Competent Communication manual, you can improve many different aspects of public speaking, such as speech organization, body language, and vocal variety. Many people have difficulty coming up with material to talk about.Just pick topics you are familiar with. For example, I three chunks, each lasting from 5-7 minutes. Then, when I need to deliver the actual presentation, I feel much more confident. You can do the same. Take material you know you'll be presentin g in the real-world and practice it here at Toastmasters. Evaluations After you're done with presentations, you need feedback to keep improving. This is where evaluations come into play. When I first started out in Toastmasters, the hardest roles were Speech Evaluator and General Evaluator.I remembered how my ere first speech evaluation was for our Distinguished Toastmaster, Ron Dowel. My hands were shaking as I brought my notes and his manual to the podium. My voice was shaking too: â€Å"Great†¦ Gestures, great†¦ Volume, great†¦ Content. † Seriously, I didn't know how to evaluate an experienced speaker. As I gained more experience, this process became easier. Now you may be wondering, â€Å"Why does a giving effective speech evaluation matter to me? † Consider how you need to evaluate other people's ideas every day. Perhaps you need to evaluate ideas from your colleagues.Or perhaps you need to evaluate ideas from your family and friends. How to critiqu e their ideas without offending them? How to make your suggestions more useful and memorable? You can practice to master this invaluable skill here in Toastmasters. Conclusion As you can see, Toastmasters can help you improve your impromptu speaking, presentation skills, and evaluation skills. By investing Just $36 for every 6 months, you can change your life. Make the right decision by Joining Toastmasters today, because your future depends on it.

Harlem Renaissance Music Essay

Harlem Renaissance refers to the development of African-American arts and culture in the United States, immediately after the World War I. According to reports, the revolutionary development in the arts and culture started in Harlem, New York, thus the name â€Å"Harlem Renaissance. † Harlem Renaissance is believed to have happened between years 1919 and 1930, with 1924 to 1929 as the years when it reached its peak (Charters S. and Kundstadt L. ; â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). The initiators and participants of the Harlem Renaissance movement include the descendants of different societies who had witnessed and first-handedly experienced slavery. Most of which were Africans or people of African descent. Others were migrants from certain racial communities and were seeking for their place in a relatively â€Å"unprejudiced† society in the United States. What was common among the participants of Harlem Renaissance was their desire for the change especially in terms of racism and African stereotyping. The union of these people based on this one value had been the seed of Harlem Renaissance which then became a major influence on not only on people with African roots across the world but also on the culture of America (Hutchinson,G. ; â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). In challenging the specter of racism, prejudice and African stereotyping, the participants of Harlem Renaissance invoked the power of cultural tools such as literature, art and music to represent a â€Å"different† African-American who is both intellectual and productive, and in effect initiate their integration in society without any racial barrier. Part of this revolution was to uplift the spirit of the race by unifying their culture. The media of Harlem Renaissance would hold no definition for â€Å"high-African culture† or â€Å"low-African† bringing forth a new wave of artistic forms of arts and literature, thus the rise of modernism; and in particular, music, which gave birth to blues and jazz (â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). Harlem Music Blues Blues and Jazz are two types of music that have developed in the Harlem Renaissance period. Blues, as its name implies represents music that evokes sadness, especially that inflicted by difficulties in life and love. Blues is said to have evolved from the usual African hollers and by itself, could provide the listener with an insight of the history of African Americans from being communized to the emergence of individuation. Individualized or solo songs had never been usual in the African culture and the uniqueness of the characteristics of blues represents the then changing status of African-Americans: their freedom (McElrath, J. ). In blues, the individual is emphasized making this type of music a form that can be called â€Å"personalized. † Still, even though blues can be said to be far from the typical African music, some elements of the cultural type are still present in this new form. This is what characterizes blues as African and what gives this musical form a sort of â€Å"nationality†. The â€Å"call-and-response† characteristic of the African hollers for example are still present in blues, although has been somehow reinvented to fit in the characteristics of blues. In blues, responses are made not by another participant or some other external force but by the performer herself (McElrath, J. ). To reinstate, the characteristics of blues are a representation of the new African who is more self-assured and individualized. Blues singers are usually accompanied by guitars or harmonicas (â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). Blues started as â€Å"folk blues† sung at leisure, medicine shows and touring carnivals. It became â€Å"classic blues† as it was given professional quality by African vaudeville singers who corresponded with the folk singers. With the African-American migration to the North in early 20th century, is the blues music (Hutchinson,G. ). Blues music first came to New Orleans. With the inter-state migration of different musicians, the Blues music was scattered and was able to come to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Chicago, Detroit and then New York where different Blues musicians started to unite and popularize the style as they perform in different clubs, theaters and dance halls (McElrath, J. ). Again, as blues became a representation of the African’s new-found freedom not only from slavery and prejudices but also from the dogmatic imposition by institutions such as churches, the popularization of the music did not become difficult. It was easily appreciated especially by those with African descent who were craving for entertainment, thus, the start of theaters and other entertainment halls (McElrath, J. ). It was in 1920 when the music became popular with Mamie Smith’s â€Å"Crazy Blues† and â€Å"It’s Right Here For You. † Blues music was at first marketed only to the African community but as music companies decided to exploit the opportunity to enter the new market, other artists like Bessie Smite, Ma Rainie, Alberta Hunter and Ethel Waters sprang up and became popular blues performers (McElrath, J. ). As blues music continued to evolve, it gave rise to a new type of music which is now popularly known as jazz music. Jazz Jazz is considered as the characterizing music of the Harlem Renaissance. This type of music may appear to be simple for untrained ears but actually involves unknown technicalities that continue to become part of the present American culture (Schuller, S. ). Jazz works based on the theory that any chord progression could be played using infinite amount of melodies. It involves talent and improvisation by both the singer and the instrumentalist, with the singer doing repeated chord progressions and the instrumentalist doing variations of vocal styles and tonal effects. The result is the collaboration of two improvisations in a single music (Schuller, S. ). As said earlier, blues contributed to the development of jazz. It can be noticed that blues themes and forms are incorporated into jazz music. This gives jazz music an African character. What characterizes jazz as a truly unique type of music, even from blues, is the flexibility in which it can be played. There are no rules in rhythm that must be followed allowing the each individual performer to become flexible and free in creating his or her own rhythm. The most common instruments used by jazz performers are piano, drums, strings and bass. The use of saxophones in jazz is usually connected to an evolutionary product of jazz called the Chicago style (Schuller, S. ). The Chicago style of jazz came about as a result of the migration of jazz artists to Chicago. This type of jazz is known for its soloist performances, relatively more complex and more difficult rhythms. Like the Blues music, the inter-state migration of artists contributed to the spreading of jazz music and its coming to New York made it a huge part of Harlem Renaissance (Morgan, T. and Barlow, W. ). A lot of jazz experimentation happened in New York. These experimentations contributed significantly to the current richness of jazz. The famous piano style, â€Å"jazz stride† was the first piano style to be incorporated into jazz and was very popular in New York. The jazz artist, Fatts Waller is famous for this style. He was also the artist who started the jazz technique, Boogie-Woogie which can be characterized as a combination of different rythms and techniques with a peculiar and repeating bass pattern. Boogie-Woogie later became what is now called Rhythm and Blues (Morgan, T. and Barlow, W. ). James Reese Europe initiated another style of jazz during the era which involved huge orchestras while jazz bands were first put together by Fletcher Henderson. Included in Henderson’s jazz band were Coleman Hawkins, Don Redman and Louis Armstrong. Blues artists often work with jazz bands and individual jazz artists (Morgan, T. and Barlow, W. ; Schuller, S. ). Harlem Renaissance Musicians Louis Armstrong was famous for his technical and yet spontaneous abilities to play jazz. He is considered as among the greatest and influential of all Harlem Renaissance musicians. Unsurprisingly, Armstrong came from New Orleans which is one of the major places that contributed to the development of Harlem Renaissance music. He learned to play cornet while at a reform school when he was twelve and showed his interest in music by staying in blues and jazz clubs. His major influence was Joe â€Å"King† Oliver who became his father figure and mentor. Armstrong soon played for Oliver’s band in Chicago then left for New York to play for Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra. He also did lots of recordings with other Jazz and Blues artists like Clarence Williams, Red Onion Jazz, Carrol Dickenson and his wife, Lilian (â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). Duke Ellington is another musical figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He was a composer and pianist and is considered to have brought jazz into concert halls as well as in churches. His style of music can be described as a combination of blues, jazz and swing constructed in solo instrumental performances. He was in New York City during the presented Harlem Renaissance period in 1923. At this time he was able to organize a 10-piece band (â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). Dizzy Gillespie, was a trumpeter who was able to develop â€Å"Be-bop,† with other famous artists like Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke. â€Å"Be-bop† was considered as the rebellious and eccentric style of jazz. Gillespie also incorporated Latin and Cuban elements such as calypso, rhumba and tango with jazz. In addition to his contributions to music, Gillespie was also a supporter of equal rights movement (â€Å"Harlem Renaissance†). Other artists during the Harlem Renaissance include Josephine Baker; Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker, among others. Harlem Renaissance was a point in history when African-Americans united to prove the error in stereotyping in terms of intellect and productivity. The developments in music, particularly in Blues and Jazz are certain products of this movement and have given justice to the movement’s objective proving that African-Americans can not only be superior but also developers and re-inventors of what was then just cultural and now all cultural, sensational and global. Works Cited Charters S. and Kundstadt L. , â€Å"Jazz: A History of the New York Scene†, New York: Da Capo, 1981. â€Å"Harlem Renaissance,† University of Texas. 2006. 09 Dec 2006 â€Å"Harlem Renaissance. † Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 2006. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 9 Dec 2006 . Hutchinson,G. , â€Å"The Harlem Renaisance in Black and White,† New York: Belknap Press, 1997 McElrath, J. , â€Å"The History of Blues Music. † About: African-American History. 2006. About, Inc. 9 Dec. 2006 < http://afroamhistory. about. com/od/bluesmusic/a/bluesmusic. htm>. Morgan, T. and Barlow, W. , â€Å"From Cakewalks to Concert Halls: An Illustrated History of African American Popular Music, From 1895-1930. Washington DC: Elliot and Clark, 1992. Schuller, S. â€Å"Early Jazz : Its Roots and Musical Development,† New York: Oxford, 1986.