Free Will and Moral Integrity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Free Will and Moral Integrity - Essay Example ....and chaos from recommencing her topsy-turvy reign" (William James, Essay p. 5) This essay intends to show, in the final analysis, that compatibilism and determinism can in fact operate side by side, but it is his argument on free will, or 'chance' as he likes to term it, which willbe explored. The philosophy of Thomas Hobbes, as presented in his work 'Leviathan' will be used to refute the concept of free will and morality, with E. M. Forster's 'The Machine Stops' as a counter argument in support of James. For the purposes of this discussion, free will is defined as 'being able to make a choice, without constraint, given the circumstances of the individual.' (A personal definition) William James - Free Will, Morality and 'The Dilemma of Determinism': James argues that if we take the word 'chance, consider it to be the possibility of different choices and subsequent outcomes, then free will is being applied. Following on from the quotation, an interpretation of his words might be that he considers that determinists believe chance decisions and ambiguity of outcomes are not how the universe or the world work If such a preposterous notion were to be accepted and acted upon, (can we call this notion free will) then everything would fall apart, given that the history of the universe is fixe... Yet there is much weight behind his claim that a dilemma exists, as he cites the possible response to the Brockton murder, which determinism, of necessity, would have to make - he fears the possible outcome to be a pessimistic acceptance of evil, almost, that's how it is, what can be done His argument brings to the fore, the moral questions of right and wrong, good and evil, coming down squarely on the side of free will. The beliefs in an outside Providence, in man's own ability to make moral decisions, may well be translatable to the concept of compatibilism and determinism going hand in hand. But it is the aspect of free will and morality which drives his argument, and when he states, "Chance" is ---what Just this, -- the chance that in moral respects the future may be other and better than the past has been. This is the only chance we have any motive for supposing to exist." (James, p. 19) we are convinced of his sincerity. He further contends that whether it be our creator or ourselves who decides to choose good over evil, matters little, it is necessary to admit that all decisions are in the here and now, we make them, and he describes it thus "gives the palpating life reality to our moral life and makes it tingle." (James p. 21) James is convinced that man has and uses free will, and in so doing, demonstrates a moral integrity. He considers that determinists face a dilemma in accepting that chance and choice can play a part in understanding self and the world, that a philosophy such as this denies man choice or the right to belief in Providence or humanity. The argument is supported by the events depicted in 'The Machine Stops', portraying a reality of the

The English sports Essay Example for Free

The English sports Essay The English sports council calculates that there are 70,000 pitches in England alone. Half of the total pitches are used for recreational football matches and practices. Another 1/4 for cricket. The remaining usage being for sports such as hockey and rugby. There are also 300 artificial grass pitches in addition. I have chosen a sports club called Esporta. It provides many of activities for its customers, such as: Crche, holistic activities, Pilates spinning, step, toning etc all through the week. For popular national sports such as football, rugby league, rugby union, cricket, golf, motor racing, and horse racing, spectating plays a large part.   Old Trafford home of Manchester United footballs club is not only a stadia / a venue for footie matches but has also hosted rugby league matches and even pop concerts. Its becoming more popular to have multi-purposes stadia, it saves space and money and maintenance costs. It has been developed by increasing its capacity, improving parking facilities and making it an all seater facility. They are privately provided by companies aiming to make a profit.  In 1998 consumers spent an estimated à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½3,500 million on sportswear and equipment and manufacture such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, have all become household names. Spots division and JJB sports have 449 outlets between them throughout the UK. They are all private. Heritage sites and\attractions  There were 396 million people who visited visitor attractions in 1998.It is estimated that UK heritage attractions attracted over 50 million visitors in the same year.  There is a varied range of attractions such as historic buildings, e.g. Windsor Castle to local traditions e.g. Morris Dancing. Both these attractions are completely different but linked in that they are both heritage attractions. Some heritage attractions are sightseeing places and some are historic and some are cultural. Also know as outdoor pursuits, there are over a thousand in the UK that specialise in providing this type of holiday. Skern Lodge, Devon is an outdoor activities centre. It provides visitors with a range of services, including accommodation, meals, transport and instruction in a wide range of outdoor activities such as canoeing, sailing, raft building, climbing, archery, and plenty more. It also has swimming pools, games field, bar and recreation lounge. Home-Based Leisure  There is likely to be an increase in consumer spending in areas such as audio equipment and television by over 30% between 1998 and 2003. The decline lies on reading books and newspapers are with the recent development of DVDs and videos.  The private sector dominates the market for home-based leisure. The volume of UK spending on home-based leisure is around 40 billion.

Owens Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori Essay -- Poetry Analysis W

Through the use of poetry, we are able to powerfully discuss an idea or opinion about certain topics that could not be so eloquently conveyed through other literary media. Wilfred Owen was both a Soldier Poet during WWI. He was a man firmly against the idea of sending young boys off to war with the promise of glory. His views of war and the gruesome reality that it is, is deeply rooted within this poem and emphasized though the use of vivid imagery, persuasive similes and carefully constructed figurative language. Owen’s opinion that death by war is neither â€Å"sweet nor proper† as the sarcastic title suggests; resonates straight through to the last line – Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori2, which is rightfully preceded by the phrase â€Å"The old Lie.† This poem brilliantly shows how thoughtful use of effective words can shape our feelings and emotions. With this in mind, the first line of this poem begins with a powerful simile, â€Å"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.† Here we get a strong comparison; an image of a duality within the soldiers. Once proud serving men, to now bent and crippled creatures, hobbling about like dirty, mud covered old beggars. The strength in these first few words is immense. Not only as a simile but also as bold imagery. I could write an entire essay on the effectiveness of this carefully constructed first line, the colors and sounds that come to mind are incredible, but I digress; let’s continue on. In addition to powerful line one, we are thrown into an equally powerful line two. â€Å"Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.† Owen again uses a brilliant simile; showing the humanistic side of the once proud and innocent soldiers; to this now creature l ike hag. The word hag itself imp... ...n what war stands for, only in the camaraderie among men, and the sacrifice they make in risking their lives to save another’s. Works Cited â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Pro patria mori.† Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Web. Hibberd, Dominic. Wilfred Owen: A New Biography. 1st ed. Ivan R. Dee Publisher, (2003): 368. Print. Pope, Jessie. â€Å"Who’s for the Game.† Jessie Pope’s war poems. Nabu Press Publisher, (2010): 11. Print. Owen, Wilfred. â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est.† The Harbrace Anthology of Literature. 4th ed. Ed. Jon C. Stott, Raymond E. Jones, and Rick Bowers, Toronto: Nelson Thomson, (2006).: 238-239. Print. Quinn, William A. â€Å"Multiple Metrics in Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’.† English Language Notes 21.2 (1983): 38-41. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Print. 15 Nov. 2010 Starr, Edwin. â€Å"War.† War and Peace / Involved. Universal, 2003. CD

The triggering event that led to the Wall Street stock market

The triggering event that led to the Wall Street stock market crash in October 1929 was the result of a steady decline in production, prices and income over the period of three months. Anxiety gave rise to panic thus resulting to the crash.   The stock market crash affected various countries and the effects were intense.   The depression affected greatly the United States because of the absence of welfare benefits for the laid off workers.   Between 1929 and 1933, money income fell by 53 percent and as a consequence, demand fell significantly, which in turn led to lower production and more lay-offs up to 25 percent rate of unemployment in 1933.And yet despite the severity of the stock market crash, the Federal Reserve did not pursue a monetary expansion policy which would have stimulated the economy through lower interest rates and increased the stock of money in circulation. As part of the efforts of the United States to cope with the Depression, the Hawley Smoot Tariff of 193 0 was enacted which made US more protectionist than ever thereby sending import duties to record highs.   As a result, other countries retaliated as the new tariff act hastened the downfall of American trade volume. Since President Hoover has been protective of the tariff act, he failed to see the results of the move.Immediately thereafter, the Depression spread through out the world especially in Europe.   Particularly affected was Germany whose economy was unable to cope with the slow disappearance of American capital. It is also worth discussing that Germany was still paying reparations for World War I which made its position even more delicate. Germany was then forced to borrow from Great Britain and France.   The country had to pursue deficienary policies in order to gain the confidence of investors and attract foreign funds.The problem of devaluation further posed a major problem. Although the United Kingdom was not hit in the same way as Germany, it however experienced a notable decline in its export which was even greater than the decrease in its imports.   Latin America was also greatly affected as it depended heavily in selling raw materials in the US. It could not be surmised that the Wall Street crash was the immediate cause of the decline in world trade.   The decline in world trade was largely due to the protectionist legislation passed by major trading nations.When Hoover was replaced by President Roosevelt in 1932 and brought with him the New Deal which was intended to provide direct relief, recovery and financial reform to the country suffering from the Great Depression. One of Roosevelt’s primary programs was to deal with the country’s banking catastrophe. Since one-fifth of all of the banks in the US were forced to close and many people were already starting to lose their life savings, Roosevelt asked Congress to legislate a law which will protect the saver’s investment in times of the same crisis. This eventua lly restored the people’s trust in the banking system. Perhaps one of the most important legislation and mark left by the New Deal is the Social Security Act which set up a national system of old-age pension and also coordinated relief for the unemployed.   Both agriculture and industry were also supported by policies to restrict output and increase input.Perhaps the most durable   policy left by the New Deal was   the great public works project such as the Hoover Dam and the introduction by the Tennessee Valley Authority of flood control, electric power, fertilizer and education to a depressed agricultural region in the south. However, the New Deal was certainly not a perfect example of economic management as it did not lead to rapid economic recovery.   Income per capita was no higher in 1939 than in 1929, although the government’s welfare and public works policies did benefit many of the most needy people. The big growth in the US economy was, in fact, due t o rearmament. (Modern American Poetry)Despite the promises of the New Deal, it nevertheless reaped various criticisms as the programs were questioned.   For example, the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 which was originally intended to make possible â€Å" a great cooperative movement throughout all the industry in order to obtain wider reemployment, to shorten the working week, to pay a decent wage for the shorter week and to prevent unfair competition and disastrous overproduction.† However, the NIRA was attacked because it gave stimulus to the industries that needed it least and ignored the industries that needed it the most. It also gave Roosevelt unprecedented powers over the economy and other businesses.The increase of criticisms against Roosevelt and the New Deal, Roosevelt was forced to look for support elsewhere.   During the presidential campaign in 1936, he built the â€Å"Roosevelt Coalition† a political bloc that made modern politics.   While the Republicans were still relying on their traditional base of political support such as big businesses, farmers and conservatives, Roosevelt and the Democrats turned to small farmers in the Midwest, urban political bosses, even ethnic blue collar workers, the ethnic minorities, Jews and intellectuals.   As evidence by the support of African-Americans, Roosevelt was certainly changing American politics. Thus, it was no surprise that the Democrats won the race in 1936.On the other hand, labor and labor unions played a great role during the 1930s.   In fact, many Americans became alarmed by the labor union’s power which they felt might be irresponsibly used under certain circumstances.   For the labor force, they are responsible in continuing industrialization although many of the workers are divided from each other ethnically, regionally and religiously.   Nevertheless, with mass unemployment and real distress among the workingmen, public opinion, which had long look ed upon unions as â€Å"radical† outfits, came to sympathize with their purposes for the first time. Reflecting that public opinion, the new deal Congresses passed laws which favored organization and recognition of labor unions. Meanwhile, the courts, which had taken a restrictive view of the rights of labor when they seemed to conflict with those of private property, rendered more favorable decisions and upheld the new laws.Reference:Monique Ebell. (2006). Welfare Capitalism, Union Power and the Great Crash of 1929: Toward a Neoclassical Explanation of the Great Depression.†Ã‚   XIV International Economic History Congress, Helinski 2006 Session 20.F. William Engdahl. â€Å"Some Conventional Reflections on the Great Depression and the New Deal.† GeoPolitics-GeoEconomics.   Online http://www.engdahl.oilgeopolitics.net/History/New_Deal/new_deal.html accessed October 1, 2006.Stanley Schultz. â€Å"Dr. New Deal Becomes Dr. Win-the-War.† American History 102: Civil War to the Present. Online http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture20.htmlLabor and Labor_Management. Online https://www.netsafa.navy.mil/ipg/labor_and_labormanagement.htm   accessed October 1, 2006.â€Å"Legacy of the New Deal in Comparison with Other Deals† : http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/depression/legacy.html

Conservation vs Preservation

Conservation vs. Preservation Letters Dear Local Newspaper Editor, I wanted to talk about the importance of conserving our national forest. There are many things we can do to tap into the natural resources without harming the environment. We can take the necessary to survive without depleting the resource so that it has a chance to regenerate, whether the source would be fish, deer, or even vegetation. We will take precautionary measures when tapping into any resources. For example, if we would be tapping into oil reserves we would do it in a way that we will not pollute the water, the land, or the atmosphere.Like we have been doing it for years we will commit in doing the reforestation. Where ever we need to take part of the land we will replenish it with what we take. That will give the land a chance to revitalize itself. We have so much technology in which we can avoid any type of disaster. We know if we make a mistake we can harm many things, like the animals or the vegetation. T hat is why we will make sure we do not make any mistakes, and for any reason we will have different types of plans any type of emergency. By conserving and getting the resources we need, will benefit us in many ways.Energy from fossil fuels such as gasoline, electricity, and natural gases for heating are very beneficial. When conserving properly we can keep the natural forestation going for many years to come. We have to make sure to protect and be cautious of what we are doing and using so we can continue benefiting from these natural resources. We should do this so that way we would be using our own natural resources and not rely on resources from other countries. We need to help everyone out because without these resources we cannot live the way we are living. We are going to conserve this forest so there can still be rivers and streams flowing.Animals will still have their homes and their food. We are not trying to destroy nature nor are we planning to. We need to come to an agr eement where we can get to the resources we need without harming anyone or anything during this process. Please take our offer into consideration. Sincerely, The Conservationist Dear Local Newspaper Editor, I wanted to start off by letting you know that I am against tearing down the national forest. We need to preserve the forest because it sustains our natural resources. We need to come up with a plan to get the resources we need without disturbing the natural state of the land.In the Bridger Teton video I watch they showed how beautiful nature was and how important it was to preserve the land. Throughout the years people have taken more than what they need. This National Forest is the last large forest that has a growing wild life population in which animals can make it their home. I have seen the affects that have been caused when people tear down natural dessert lands as well. Flooding started happening around us. By tearing down the natural forest it will impact the animals by making them scarce and also tearing down their natural habitat, which makes it hard to survive.I understand that we do need oil and gas to survive but we also need to have natural lands to keep us and the animals alive. I don’t understand how people could want to destroy something that is so beautiful and that will benefit us in the future. Like I mentioned earlier, wildlife will not have a home so what happens to the animals? Where will they go? There have been many incidents where people destroy a natural habitat and the wildlife ends up in someone’s back yard. The news has shown where they kill these poor defensive animals because they believe they are a danger.We are a danger to them because we are destroying their homes. It is very important to preserve the national forest so our future children can see something that is naturally there. It is a beautiful place for people to see and actually relax with what nature feels like. People get away from everyday life and enjoy something different. We would also not be able to study such a unique part of the world to know exactly what it can offer us. Thank you for your time and please take nature into consideration. Sincerely, The Preservationist