Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the similarities and differences between the hermeneutical views of Martin Heidegger and HansGeorgeGadamer. The latter was a student of the former, and although his ideas were deeply influenced by those of Heidegger, Gadamer's work concentrated on applied hermeneutics. Heidegger, however, had worked on the understanding of being-a central question asked by philosophers of earlier times.
An overview of Hans-GeorgGadamer's approach to hermeneutics, summarising his main ideas and important points regarding interpretation and understanding.
Abstract Hermeneutics is the art of understanding or interpretation. This paper discusses hermeneutics in terms of Gadamer's book, "Hermeneutics, Tradition and Reason." It attempts to define hermeneutics and discusses other ideas that Gadamer suggests are important, such as horizon, subjectivism and dialogical structure of understanding. It also examines a critique by German philosopher, Jurgen Habarmas against Gadamer and his hermeneutics.
From the Paper "Gadamer believes that our understanding of beings and things should not be limited to just the objective conditions that make knowledge possible (as Kant had originally thought), but instead and more importantly, a long process of interpretation, which is in fact neither subjective or objective as it involves the interaction of both the individual or subject and the object to be interpreted. The object in question could be an image, ritual or anything that can be interpreted. The idea of interpretation as a necessary tool for understanding is important for other philosophers such as Heidegger who also believed that language becomes central to Dasein's existence (to be there). "
Abstract This paper is a character analysis of Steffler's main character in "The Afterlife of George Cartwright". It focuses on the character's traits of unloving, wild, a corruptor and himself corrupted and how they change within the novel. Cartwright begins as a just young man in the army and becomes what he had always hated, a true corruptor of society.
From the Paper "When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters" (Hemingway, 95). Steffler achieves the creation of a person in the character of George Cartwright by blending numerous personality traits. These traits can be both pleasant, and upsetting, and either creates distance or closeness between Cartwright and the other characters. In order to make the character more realistic Steffler creates a progression in some of these traits, to create the illusion of growth in Cartwright over the span of his lifetime. Paradoxically, everything Cartwright claims to hate he later embodies. This is not entirely of his accord; his early years in the army set up his adult characteristics. His development is from a man of pride and ambition, although rough and rugged, to an uncivilized corruptor of native society. His pride and ambition are spoiled when he realizes that it is wealth that buys you promotions in the army and not skill or hard work. He grows to become the man Steffler portrays as unloving, wild, and as both corrupted and as a corruptor. "
A review of the significant points made in Dan Carter's book titled "From George Wallace to Newt Gingrich: Race in the Conservative Counterrevolution, 1963-1994."
Abstract This paper examines Dan Carter's book "From George Wallace to Newt Gingrich: Race in the Conservative Counterrevolution, 1963-1994" on the use of racial politics in presidential campaigns.
Tags:George Wallace, Newt Gingrich, Race, Conservative Counterrevolution, Richard Nixon, George Bush, racial politics, Republican Party
Abstract This paper explores the background and career of the American writer and director, George S. Kaufman. The author examines how Kaufman has influenced American playwrights.
From the Paper "Though critics may argue as to the ultimate value of George S. Kaufman's plays in the history of American drama, they almost unanimously agree that he was our most successful collaborator working in theater at his time. Superlatives of various kinds have been used with Kaufman. He is generally recognized as having been the most successful master of stage technique in the 1930's. He is acknowledged as having been an outstanding satirist, one of our best directors, one of our best writers of dialogue, and as our most capable "play-doctor." With all these credentials under his name it is easy to understand why he was such a great role-model for other American playwrights."
Abstract This paper analyzes the various theories of George Marcus in the study of anthropology and concludes with various 'experimental' solutions to the problems Marcus addresses in his article "Contemporary Problems of Ethnography in the Modern World System".
From the Paper "George Marcus's article, "Contemporary Problems of Ethnography in the Modern World System," is a call for anthropologists to take into account change, history, and political economy in their writings.(1986) According to Marcus, "Change and the larger frameworks of local politics have usually been treated in separate theoretical or conceptual discourse with some ethnographic detail added in for illustration." (1986: 166) This partition has resulted in a the world of larger systems seen as externally impinging on and "bounding little worlds, but not integral to them."(166) This paper will explore the methods, and their implications, that Marcus puts forth as a means of integrating historical and political perspectives with the ethnographic."
This essay looks at how Cubist art in general and "The Portuguese" by George Braque specifically drew from and expanded on the consciousness and experiences of the modern age of technology.
Abstract The writer examines the works of George Braque and shows how he was the lesser known of the two founders of Cubism, always in the shadow of Pablo Picasso. This essay examines the artistic foundations behind one of the earliest Cubist works of Braque, "The Portuguese", and explains the unique importance of this painting in its day and even now.
From the Paper "An examination of Georges Braque's The Portuguese, painted in 1911, and the Cubist movement created by Braque and Picasso, helps show how technology was first widely used both instinctively and deliberately by artists. The Portuguese is an oil on canvas work approximately four feet by three feet in size; the colors are monochromatic in tone, thus emphasizing structure over the gently shaded colors. The subject matter of the painting is not the external world or nature; the painting exists within a reality and world of its own. This alone was revolutionary. Like most Cubist art, it has a restricted setting and manmade objects predominate over natural ones (Hughes 16). In this phase of what was known as analytical cubism objects were taken apart (dissected) and reshaped with the use of flat intersecting planes; perspective is two-dimensional and depth is limited. Four hundred years of Renaissance traditions (form, color, and space) were thrown out by The Portuguese and other Cubist works. Instead of a single vantage point at a single moment in time, the viewer sees the painting from many angles and at many different moments; the fixed point of view is gone. The painting also includes stenciled letters and numbers. Braque wrote, ?...as part of a desire to to come as close as possible to a certain kind of reality, in 1911 I introduced letters into my paintings.? In summary then, the elements above make The Portuguese one of the first examples of a painting as a unique object set in a revolutionary form. The degree of abstraction in Cubist art was also revolutionary. This new perception of the world came at a time of great transformation in society, and this work of Braque, seen within the larger context of Cubism, borrows much from the elements of the new world. "
Abstract This paper discusses the life of George Eliot, novelist, who in her writings had great profound feelings and portrayals of simple lives especially women.
Tags: BIOGRAPHY / HISTORICAL, george eliot biography
Abstract The following paper examines George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant". In particular, the paper examines the absurdity of seeking to maintain power through the use of force. Among other things, the paper examines how Orwell's brief tale is also a tale about British imperialism in the early twentieth century and a wry examination of how the "white man's" power in the East stole from him much of his own freedom by forcing him to assume a particular role for the entertainment of the natives.
From the Paper "Among twentieth century novelists and political commentators, George Orwell enjoys a high station. Among his many political works, the short essay, "Shooting an Elephant", is considered to be one of his most trenchant and provocative. With that in mind, the following paper will examine Orwell's 1936 essay and assess its relationship to the historical period within which it was crafted; the paper will also examine how historical change is revealed in the text. Ultimately, what should emerge is that this brief essay is a sociological examination of the final death throes of a once-mighty British Empire; it is also an examination into European colonialism more generally. Without further ado then, it is to George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" that this paper now turns. As noted previously, Orwell's 1936 essay (or column, if you will) was released at a time when the British Empire was in decline."
Abstract This paper discusses how George Lucas played a major role in the filming industry. The paper discusses how he affected the business by influencing a new approach to large-scale motion picture making, which involved a great deal of foresight and brilliant business dealings. The paper discusses his personal successes, as well as the general ones to the industry.
From the Paper "Film Studies: Understanding the Cause and Effect of the Success of Film Director: George Lucas This film study will examine the role of George Lucas within the business and filming causal factors that brought about his enormous success in the filming industry. In creating his classic Star Wars, Lucas had the financial and copyright incentives to allow him to "bank roll" his own films. In this manner, Lucas was able to pioneer a new way of viewing the financial background of filmmaking, but more importantly, was able to create Industrial Light and Magic and his own merchandising approach to filmmaking history. By actively using a business and biographical analysis of director George Lucas, one can realize the depth and importance of his work in modern American film history. Gorge Lucas was born in 1944 in Modesto, California."
Abstract This paper describes the life and philosophy of 18th century Irish philosopher, George Berkeley and discusses his theory of idealism. The paper considers whether Berkeley's idealism represents most people's commonsense view of the world and concludes that, though intriguing and well argued, Berkeley's analysis is not commonsensical.
From the Paper "Does George Berkeley's idealism represent most people's commonsense view of the world? Though intriguing and well argued, Berkeley's analysis is not commonsensical. George Berkeley lived from 1685 until 1753. He was born in Ireland, educated in Dublin, and even spent some time in Bermuda trying to convert the local population to Christianity. In 1734 he was made Bishop of Cloyne (Frost 277-278). Berkeley was an idealist and expanded upon the work of John Locke. He asked, if the basis of knowledge is sensations and our reflections upon those sensations, how can we know a distinct world exists? In other words, we only have our minds to go on. Perception is the rule by which the universe is measured. As such, perception is tantamount to existence."
Abstract This paper defines Hermeneutics as "the theory or philosophy of the interpretation of meaning". This paper examines the origins of this philosophy in order to better understand its uses today. After discussing the major contributors to the development of this study, the paper mentions some writings which provide a hermetical analysis of literature. These include Leonard Orr's "De-structuring the Novel: Essays in Applied Postmodern Hermeneutics" and Hans-GeorgGadamer's "Dialogue and Dialectic: Eight Hermeneutical Studies on Plato".
From the Paper "Furthermore, hermeneutical criticism is often compared to a dialogue. The reader and the text respond to each other until understanding is reached. This hermeneutic conversation avoids the one-sidedness that is associated with other critical approaches. Gadamer believes that it allows the interpreter to use questions as the "universal mediator in the dialectic between the prejudice prior to the encounter with the work and the new element which denounces it . . .?(Orr Dictionary 231). Theorists refer to the conversation between the interpreter and text as spiel (game or play). But David Haliburton warns that calling this interaction play does not ?reduce it to a hedonistic pastime . . . playing is a high and serious act" (Orr Dictionary 232). And unlike other types of play, such as chess, the game is an ongoing process that never ends."
Abstract This ten-page freshmen level paper on Life and Achievements Of Hans A. Bethe gives a detailed analysis on the life time achievements of Dr. Hans A. Bethe. This paper also focuses on the impact his work had on the society and how it helped in discouraging the usage and development of nuclear weapons. This paper primarily concentrates on the living legend, Dr. Hans, among the physics community who helped in shaping the outlook of Physics.
Abstract This paper compares the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty with respect to their leaders, demographics, and economies. The author discusses reasons for the decline of both empires. He further argues that the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty eventually fell as a result of dire leaders and rulers. Additionally, the author contends that economic problems were a factor in the decline of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty as well.
From the Paper "The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty were two of the largest and most powerful empires of ancient Europe and Asia, respectively. Yet the Han Dynasty lasted for about 400 years while the Roman Empire ruled for about 900 years. Both empires shared many similar and different qualities in their rise to power. However, both empires fell after time. The decline of the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty both varied with respect to its leaders and rulers, demography, and the economy. Although both empires were massive and powerful during the time, they both declined like all past empires."
Abstract This paper examines the development of nationalism in modern China, from the Han response to the Qing government to anti-imperialist agitation and republicanism under the guidance of Sun Yatsen. It looks briefly at the New Culture Movement and the role of secret societies such as the Tongmeng hui.
From the paper:
"Nationalism has been a defining ideology in the creation of Modern China, promoted at first by a series of secret societies, and later by both the Guomingdang and the Chinese Communist Party to achieve different ends. It was central to the early student movements, and the May Fourth Movement, and nationalism was the first of Sun Yatsen's Three Principles of the People. In its early stages, Chinese nationalism was based on ethnic and racial identity, and centered on Han identity, however over time the significance of ethnic identity has decreased. Foreign influence in the conceptualization of Chinese nationalism has been problematic to developing a clear understanding of the movement; despite this, nationalism developed in a particularly Chinese manner."
