Ethics of Belief – Clifford

Clifford focuses on three main points throughout the Ethics of Belief article. He believes that in order to have a sense of belief one must inquire on the belief, question authority, and the limit the usage of inference. He believes that without these three factors it is difficult to come to a consensus on what are the right and wrong principles of belief. At the beginning of the article Clifford focuses on the duty of inquiry. In order to set the background, Clifford introduces a story about a man who sent a ship out into the sea knowing it was not seaworthy.The ships condition inevitably led to its sinking, and the death of the people aboard. Now, Clifford claims that the man is guilty of the death of these people because, â€Å"†¦ he had no right to believe such evidence was before him†(pg 236). This is true for a number of reasons. Paraphrasing what Clifford mentioned, mans belief is never a private matter, and every insignificant moment counts. Clifford states, †Å"†¦it is not the belief which is judged to be wrong, but the action following upon it†(pg 237).If the man had taken use of his time and taken the extra initiative to double check if the ship was in sea-worthy condition, he could have not been in a guilty position. Skipping this action effected lives of many. Clifford's argues that when one has a belief it does not matter whether the belief is true or false, but rather if it is followed through upon fair grounds. When speaking of the duty of inquiry, it is very important to inquire on the belief and obtain evidence as to create a fair inquiry.Second the weight of authority plays a role in the ethic of belief. One argument throughout the article is supporting the reason why should we believe something that goes beyond our own experience or even beyond the understanding of mankind. People tend to believe men with power and authority, but there may not be a justifiable reason to believe that they are not deluded themselves. Unless a belief created by authority is within their area of knowledge, how can we be justified in believing them.This question has helped people ask more questions, to examine, and to investigate beliefs and to determine what a belief should be based on before it should be believed to be true. The last point he made was on the limits of inference. The basis of this argument is that it is wrong to believe without sufficient evidence and that ultimately no evidence can be justified if it is beyond our knowledge and the uniformity of nature. I believe there is no flaw in Clifford's article.He believes that in order to have a valid belief it must have the principles of inquiry, limitations on authority, and the need for more evidence. Without inquiring more into the evidence, it can lead to false belief which can only cause trouble. I agree with Clifford's view of gaining knowledge through inquiry, examining and investigating the perspective of authority because there is no reason to b elieve that they themselves are in a position to know right from wrong, that their authority and command on belief is one to be trusted.Lastly I agree with his ideas on the limits of inference. A belief may be something that is beyond our experience and we might never understand this experience unless we have experienced it. Anyone can infer, but without evidence they can't justify a belief especially if it outside what is known to them. Every moment in life is precious it is very important that we take advantage of each moment. Clifford's views resonate with me because he cherishes the power of knowledge. It is crucial to constantly question, examine and investigate all beliefs and assumptions.Another important idea to note is that just because someone has a belief doesn't mean it has any grounds of truth. No amount of authority is grounds to believe any idea. Lastly it is important to always find evidence to support beliefs and never make unjustifiable assumptions as seen in that ship example. Belief gives humans a sense of power and allows them to gain a better understanding of life. Though it is important to recognize that this power can also easily be abused if not properly analyzed.

Les Murray’s “The Widower in the Country” Essay

In â€Å"The Widower in the country†, change is conveyed in many ways. The poem shows that change can bring a life of isolation and loneliness. The poem also shows how change is not always embraced and how we should not lead a life with a lack of change. The title of the poem, the widower in the country immediately gives the reader the impression of an individual in a vast area. This lets the readers know that the widower is alone and isolated. Already, the reader already feels sympathy for the widower, not only because he has lost his wife, but he now lives alone in a vast and empty area. In the first stanza, the first line, â€Å"I’ll get up soon, and leave my bed unmade†, shows how the persona leads a life that is monotonous and repetitive each day. There is a certainty and reluctance in his tone and it seems as though he now has no reason to make his bed, as he is lonely and there is no one who will see the bed even if it was made. At the end of the stanza, â€Å"For I get up late now†, the word â€Å"now† has been deliberately placed to show how the widower has changed his behaviour. In the second stanza, the personification of â€Å"Christmas paddocks, aching in the heat†, imitates the personas own feelings, and the words â€Å"aching in the heart† look like aching in the heart, which is what the persona feels like, as he has lost his wife. Christmas is also usually a time for family gathering, and this highlights how change has caused the widower to lead a life of loneliness and isolation. This stanza is also filled with negative imagery and mundane activities- â€Å"The windless trees, the nettles in the yard†¦ and then I’ll go in, boil water and make tea.† The †¦ at the end of the sentence shows that the widowers day is filled with other activities that are more or the same, again highlighting his life that has a lack of change. The lack of punctuation in this stanza also reflects the widower’s monotonous life and again shows how change can bring a life of isolation and loneliness. In the third stanza, there is again a lack of punctuation. â€Å"I’ll stand out on the hill and watch my house away below, and how the roof reflects the†.  There is a certainty in the widower’s tone and the detached images show he doesn’t want to be in this situation. â€Å"Makes my eyes water† gives us an image of the widower in misery and crying and we feel sympathy for him. This also shows he has not embraced the change. â€Å"Close on bright webbed visions smeared on the dark of my thoughts to dance and fade away† shows how the persona has visions and memories of the past. There is a paradox between bright and smeared and this reflects the persona’s misery. Although he wishes to think of the happier times in the past, they have now become blurred and have faded away. â€Å"Then the sun will move on† shows the widowers unhappiness and â€Å"I will simply watch, or work, or sleep† is a cumulative listing of three monotonous and mundane activities, which highlights the lack of variety in the widower’s life. The sentence also shows how the monotony is never-ending. In â€Å"And evening will come on† the â€Å"and† is placed at the start of the sentence to draw attention to how the widower is so certain about his life as it is always the same, day after day. In the last stanza, â€Å"Getting near dark, I’ll go home, light the lamp and eat my corned-beef supper, sitting there at the head of the table† shows how the widower’s day is filled with even more mundane activities and his reluctance to make any changes. The fact that he is sitting at the head of a table highlights his loneliness, as he has no family, and is by himself. â€Å"Then I’ll go to bed† again shows the certainty in his tone and his lack of change. â€Å"Last night I thought I dreamed† is the only time there is a change in tense and harsh sounding images- â€Å"the screaming was only a possum ski-ing down the iron roof† follows it. The widower has lost all hope as he cannot even dream and has nothing positive to look forward to, not even in his dreams. The poem ends with its only positive image â€Å"little moonlit claws†. With uses of imagery, personification, paradox, assonance and cumulative listing, Les Murray’s â€Å"The Widower in the Country† clearly shows how change can lead to a life of isolation and loneliness.

A Brief Analysis Of A Streetcar Named Desire

A Brief Analysis Of A Streetcar Named Desire A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, is an American drama play written in 1947. The play is widely considered an American classic and revolves around a cultural clash between the main characters. One of the more tragic figures is Blanche DuBois, as she is a character who feels confused, lost, conflicted, and lashes out sexually. Blanche represents the â€Å"old† South because of her way of thinking, values, and lifestyle. Contrary to Blanche, Stanley Kowalski is a main character that is portrayed as being dominant, aggressive, and sexual. Stanley represents the â€Å"new† South because of his dominance and control over Stella. Both these characters embody values which portray William’s message of the â€Å"old† versus â€Å"new† South. Tennessee Williams attempts to show through Stanley’s character that American is changing into a more aggressive, direct, and raw society. Stanley is a very dominant and somewhat arrogant character , who usually gets what he desires, such as when he rapes Blanche. Another clear example of Stanley’s dominance is the Napoleonic code, â€Å"we have the Napoleonic code according to which what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband† (35). His controlling and sexual character is evident throughout the play, including in the end in which he makes love with Stella after Blanche is taken to the hospital. Sexuality is also a theme throughout the play, as Williams is a homosexual and attempts to demonstrate homosexuality in a positive light through Stanley’s superficial and egoistical actions. An evident example is when Blanche wanted Stella to come with her and says that Stella is almost everything that she has in this world. However, Stanley sees Blanche taking Stella away and refuses to let Stella go, acting as if an animal that is protecting his territory. An example is when Stanley establishes power over Blanche through his marriage, as they are both fightin g for Stella, â€Å"Stella has embraced him with both arms, fiercely, and full in the view of Blanche. He laughs and clasps her head to him. Over her head he grins through the curtains at Blanche† (73). Stanley remains hostile towards Blanche throughout the play because of this incident, and meanwhile Blanche is having a difficult time adapting to the â€Å"new† South. Stella is unlike Blanche in the sense that she has learned to accept and adapt to the â€Å"new† South, however Blanche is still trying to cope with the loss of her husband. She could not overcome losing her husband, as he was a large part of her life and she was becoming mentally ill and delusional from the loss, â€Å"you know what I shall die of? I shall die of eating an unwashed grape one day out on the ocean† (136). An example is how she is consistently bathing to feel like a â€Å"new person†. She attempts to wash off the dirt which resonates from the past and tries to clear he r mind with frequent showers. Blanche also resorts to alcohol to alleviate her problems; however she has to hide it, as she realizes that it will hurt her reputation, â€Å"She rushes about frantically, hiding the bottle in a closet† (113). All this begins with the death of her husband.

OUT COMES AND CONTENT Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

OUT COMES AND CONTENT - Assignment Example WRITER REMEMBER THE INITIALS S.M.A.R.T STANDS FOR Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. Also this goal must be achieved within a 4weeks time frame and you can choose the subject area of nursing problems or issues to address and please follow the rubic ANY LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS WILL RECEIVE A MAXIMUM GRADE REDUCED TO 50% AS LATE PENALTIES. THE LATE PENALTIES MAY BE AVOIDED BY COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR COACHES VIA EMAIL. LATE PENALTIES ARE NOT APPLICABLE IF THE STUDENT HAS MADE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS FOR LATE SUBMISSION WITH THE COACHES. The selected population health problem I will be addressing for the capstone project is cancer. Over the years, I have been working in health care, I have realized that most cancer patients suffer from depression and stress, and this problem tends to heighten when the patients perceive neglect or minimum attention. At my current, place of work, I carryout several duties in various departments that include ICU, Emergency room, and medical surgical floor. I therefore, encounter with patients suffering from various ailments and one of these problems that need serious attention is cancer. According to CDC, cancer, among other chronic diseases is at the forefront on the leading causes of death and disability in the US (CDC, 2014). The nation is experiencing many losses in terms of â€Å"preventable deaths, poor quality of care, lifelong disabilities, and escalating costs of care† (CDC, 2014). A quality improvement program towards the care each of these chronic health conditions ca n greatly improve the life expectancy of countries all over the world, improve productivity, and significantly reduce the cost of care. I carried out a brief review of the leading causes of death in most states, and found that cancer was the second leading cause of death after heart disease (Ohio Department of Health, 2010). Statistics also indicate that cancer is among the top ten

Aesthetic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aesthetic - Essay Example ..""Aesthetics"" or esthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the definition of beauty† (Singh 2008). The concept of beauty is subjective in nature as it had been popularly coined by the phrase â€Å"beauty is in the eye of the beholder† (Martin 2009). Film, which is an art of making motion pictures, encompasses different criteria or qualities by which its aesthetic quality can be evaluated depending on the person viewing it. Thereby, its classification as a beautiful film depends on the subjective nature of the person who viewed it. It is in this regard that this essay is written to determine the qualities of a good (and beautiful) film as hereby defined. The most critical factors that qualify a film or movie as good are as follows: (1) a good plot (or the content of the story), (2) the quality and choice of casts, (3) genre, (4) excellent audio visual quality, (5) cinematography (or the form which is the actual beauty of fine art) and (6) moral or message of the story. I consider the following films as meriting the aesthetic standards of a good film: (1) Apocalypse Now, (2) Psycho, and (3) 12 Monkeys. The Apocalypse Now, produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, had been a controversial movie according to critics in terms of various concerns that besieged the director, actors, and other movie personnel. However, despite these concerns, Apocalypse Now passes my aesthetic standards because of the plot, quality and choice of casts, cinematography and the message of the story. The proof are the numerous awards that the film garnered including two Oscars for best in cinematography and sound and a host of other awards in the US, Cannes, Brazil, with 13 wins and 32 nominations. In Psycho, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the aesthetic beauty comes out from the plot which leaves the audience in constant suspense. Despite the time that has evolved since its first filming, a lot of movie goers still remember this film due to the surprise ending.

Innovation Strategies Description Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Innovation Strategies Description - Assignment Example Therefore, Diamond believes that proximate reason as to why some civilizations came to dominate others through militarily, economically, politically, and cultural landscapes are from the effects of food production, effects of writing, effects of technology, governmental organizations, and effects of religion. He thus went ahead to demonstrate how these issues led to the occurrence of differences among cultures (Diamond, 1998). On the other part, Diamond believes that ultimate reason as to why some civilizations came to dominate others is through geography, but not through biology or race of which some studies have tried to prove. Henceforth, geography produces the cultural disparities of which his friend Yali had pointed out. The concept thus implies that Eurasian colonizers did not gain it power they still hold today through a systematic process, or through having the greatest of skill or mind, but pure geographic chance created this difference. The role of innovation in this process is that it leads to the development of systems of some specialized knowledge that eventually leads to the advances in metallurgy, literacy, and eventually the socio-economic organization. Diamond thus concludes that accidents of geography and environment created the domination of whites of the Eurasian origin over other races. Thus, the Europeans received more favors since they had more starting material and also had more favorable conditions. I agree with Diamond’s conclusion because I believe that all people and cultures have the capacity of doing similar things on the provision that they have the resources and privileges of doing so. Another proximate factor that might cause these differences in availability of advanced resources. These resources could be useful for people in all regions to conduct their own research, hence becoming the ultimate solution to many problems that occur in societies.

Paper Topic in the direction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paper Topic in the direction - Essay Example 6 years later, he developed a document that would abolish slavery Northwest (Jefferson,  12). He sticks to the decision of emancipating slaves who would be within the process of democracy. Abolition will be pushed until the owners of slave agree to free the human property in a wide spectrum of emancipation. Jefferson thought that the act was not democratic and was against the principles and rules of American Revolution for the nation to enact the abolition issue or for planters to let the slaves go. Although Jefferson continued advocating for abolition of slavery, the reality behind slavery was that it was becoming entrenched in the American system (Jefferson,  34). The population of slaves on Virginia increases tremendously from a figure of 292627 slaves in 1790s to 470000 in 1830s. Jefferson thought that the slave trade abolition would weaken the issue of slavery and increase its ultimate. Instead, the issue of slavery became more vast and profitable. Trying to eradicate the Vi rginia support for slavery, Jefferson discouraged crop cultivation that are labor intensive such as tobacco, and encouraged the product of less labor-intensive crops such as wine grapes, sugar maples, grained rice, and wheat. In 1800s, the most valuable commodity in Virginia was mainly slaves. His stance in ending the issue of slavery did not change. From mid 1770s until he died, Jefferson advocated a similar plan to gradually emancipate. First, the issue of transatlantic slave would be removed; secondly, the lawn owners would upgrade the violent features of slavery by improving the living conditions and moderating the punishment for the slaves. Thirdly, those born under the slavery regime would set free following abolition. Like the current leaders, Jefferson supported the removal of freed slaves that was present in US. His unintended effect on the plan was the objective of removing the issue