Abstract This essay compares and contrasts two American presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who both navigated the U.S. through difficult times. We will focus on their styles of leadership in their respective political crises: the Civil war, and the Great Depression, respectively, in hopes of making some suggestions on the nature of unwavering leadership in the pursuit of national interest.
Abstract The paper studies how Franklin's "Father Abraham's Speech" is concerned with the ideals of liberalism in the mid-eighteenth century America. The paper discusses that taxation was not as threatening to the individual's liberty as a lack of industry and frugality. The paper explains that by being industrious, any American could acquire wealth, and by being frugal and sensible, he could keep it. By winning and keeping it, he could ensure that he became wealthy and kept his personal freedom too.
From the Paper "Benjamin Franklin's "Father Abraham's Speech:" Considering the entire essay, including the introductory and concluding paragraphs, the central unifying idea of the piece "Father Abraham's Speech, or, The Way to Wealth" is how to honorably acquire wealth and keep it. According to "Poor Richard", even an ordinary laborer can acquire wealth, if he follows common-sense rules of conduct that have been understood (although not often followed) since ancient times. The enclosing structure of the essay sets the scene. First, Poor Richard, who was known to be Benjamin Franklin, was the editor of "Poor Richard's Almanac." An almanac would be as common a book in the households of the time as a Bible; it provided everyday advice about the weather, recipes and other down-to-earth, practical information. The pseudonym "Poor Richard" combines two opposites: "poor" and "rich"."
Abstract This paper notes that the importance of Abraham Lincoln in American history cannot be overstated, and the mythology that has developed around this figure attests to the esteem in which he is held and the sense that he was one of the greatest American presidents.
From the Paper "As a rule, Presidents achieve their position based on the historical events over which they presided. George Washington holds a special place as the first president, while Jefferson is remembered for writing the Declaration of Independence, among other actions. Woodrow Wilson presided over World War I, and Franklin D. Roosevelt over World War II. Abraham Lincoln presided over the most divisive period in American history and managed to bring the country back together while also working to make the promise of equality more a reality than it had ever been before. Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809 in Kentucky, and the family later moved to Indiana."
Abstract The question implied in the parable of Abraham seems to be one of practical ethics as opposed to the less clear rules and requirements of faith, a concept seen as largely aesthetic, as opposed to ethical, by Kierkegaard and one that was also problematic, at large, to he and his contemporaries. Kierkegaard comments that he cannot explain Abraham's position accurately and that he did not become the person he was by way of sin as this was often understood by the ancients to bring understanding and eventual privilege when overcome, at great personal cost. Instead, Abraham presents to Kierkegaard a righteous man who nonetheless, reached a quandary in which he was called upon to prove his faith without doubt.
Tags: PHILOSOPHY / 20TH CENTURY EXISTENTIALISM, trial of abraham
Abstract This paper will discuss Kierkegaard's "Knight of Faith" and the model that Abraham makes for this ideal. In Kierkegaard's three modes of being, Abraham exemplified the highest form of being. This paper will discuss the transition to the "Knight of Faith". Also discussed is how Abraham had a duty to God and his saintly side of character in Kierkegaard's model. These aspects of his philosophy will be discussed to reveal the nature of Kierkegaard' idea of a knight.
Examines the technical and symbolical details of the fifth century mosaic "The Parting of Lot and Abraham", presently located in Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Abstract This paper hypothesizes that the mosaic "The Parting of Lot and Abraham" not only represents an important event in history but also explores the symbolism of the division between good and evil. The author first summarizes the biblical accounting to get a deeper appreciative of the figures involved in this event. The paper relates that the very direct and powerful composition of the mosaic is dominated by the foreground figures Lot and Abraham placed with a considerable gap between them, which emphasizes the irreversible decision for them to part: Abraham on the left moving towards Canaan and Lot in the opposite way, towards Sodom with his two daughters.
From the Paper "The mass behind the two figures which are placed in foreground is shown using dark contrasting colors and tones which have faded considerably over time. In fact, the mass of heads in the background is a common Roman art device suggesting that the division is not only between Lot and Abraham, but between two peoples, and ultimately, two moral categories, i.e. good and evil. The shading also gives a three dimensional effect to the mosaic, this being a highly characteristic quality of Roman art. Nonetheless, the illusion of spatial depth is reduced by the strong outline of the figures."
Abstract The paper analyzes Abraham Lincoln's life and achievements through Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory and Kohlberg's six-stage theory of development. The paper attempts to show how Lincoln is a fine example of how we should all strive to develop. The paper notes how Lincoln promoted universal justice to the best of his abilities and how his self-actualized non-conformity and his compassion and respect for others led to the Emancipation Proclamation. The paper therefore concludes that from a psychological perspective, Lincoln was the best President.
Outline:
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Lincoln
Lawrence Kohlberg
Conclusion
From the Paper "Maslow was a 20th century thinker based in New York. He developed his famous hierarchy of needs in order to try and encapsulate the underlying processes that drive human development.
"It is appropriate to envision Maslow's hierarchy as a pyramid with several progressive levels of human desires, with the base level the most prevalent and superficially essential, and the tip of self-actualization hardest to balance."
Abstract This paper examines how Franz Kafka, in his "Parable of Abraham", restructures the Biblical telling of God's mandate to Abraham that he sacrifice his son, Isaac, despite God's promises that Abraham's name would be perpetuated through Isaac's legacy. The paper looks at how Kafka takes the story of a man described as completely, blindly obedient to his faith - a man that is asked to make a sacrifice in the Old Testament that only God Himself would make in the New - and applies his modern, somewhat reductive, sensibilities upon it to manufacture a self-created, humanist Man in place of the "laughing" godhead that figures so prominently in Kafka's writing.
From the Paper "Further, just by postulating that "[Abraham] is afraid" he introduces an element of ambiguity in the Abraham story that marks it as stained by humanism and removed, some would say elevated, in that sense from the flat allegory presented in the Bible. Abraham, later in the passage, reveals that his fear is not only in the essential absurdity of the situation (he must slay the son that is to bring him immortality says the being the promised the latter while mandating the former), but that his fear is grounded in the fact that he suspects that it's all some kind of grand joke played at his expense by God that will be instantly recognized by all the Others in his society. "
Abstract In his book "Forced into Glory : Abraham Lincoln's White Dream", Lerone Bennett claims that the glorification of Lincoln by Americans is not totally justified. He claims that Lincoln himself was a racist. In making these statements, an overall study of the issue of racism vs. slavery is discussed in a historical context.
From the paper:
"Lerone Bennett's book Forced into Glory : Abraham Lincoln's White Dream is designed to make any reader rethink all of her or his preconceptions about Lincoln. American schoolchildren are taught that Lincoln was the savior of our nation, a man so motivated by the highest of ideals in terms of both guaranteeing the continuing union of our states and ending slavery that he willingly put himself into deadly peril.
Bennett suggests that this is not quite an accurate picture, and indeed in some measure he must be right. No one is perfectly self sacrificing, no one perfectly good, no one perfectly wise. Lincoln was flawed as any great man. He was not, however, perhaps as flawed as Bennett makes him out to be."
Tags: abolishment, slavery, racist, reality, American, Gettysburg, military, Union
Abstract Stephen Oates, in his book "Abraham Lincoln: The Man Behind the Myths", believes the grandiose dimensions and symbol-building power of the myths people create reveal their deepest longings. The paper discusses Oates' argument that this is especially true of the myths Americans have created about Abraham Lincoln, the powerful figure who presided over the country's greatest trial, the Civil War. The paper shows that Oates' book argues that rather than reflect any actual truths about Lincoln the man and President, the American mythology surrounding Lincoln reflects the spiritual and psychological needs of America's culture. The paper looks at other portrayals of Lincoln as a mythological figure in American literature, such as in the poetry of Walt Whitman.
From the Paper "Oates argues that mythology carries a different truth than that of historical truth. In the case of Abraham Lincoln, the myth is what Americans wish the man had been rather than what he really was. The Lincoln myth has imbued him with the traits Americans consider their most noble, among them honesty, tolerance, a work ethic, forgiveness, compassion, a clear-sighted vision of right and wrong, and a dedication to God and country (Oates 16). Thus, Oates maintains, the mythological Lincoln "carries the torch of the American dream, a dream of noble idealism, of self-sacrifice and common humanity, of liberty and equality for all" (Oates 16)."
Abstract This paper introduces Abraham Maslow, the American psychologist and philosopher who is best known today for his self-actualization theory of psychology, which argued that the primary goal of psychotherapy should be the integration of the self. It provides an overview of Abraham Maslow's life and his major works, followed by a discussion of the times in which he lived and practiced. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Maslow's thinking was refreshingly original for his time; by contrast, most other psychologists before him had been concerned with the abnormal and the ill. Maslow, on the other hand, sought to know what constituted positive mental health. In his book, Toward a Psychology of Being (1968), Maslow says that he believes that humans are not in fact evil, but rather evil behaviors are the result of "neutral" or even "positively good" natures reacting out of frustration. It was from this context that humanistic psychology gave rise to several different therapies, all guided by the idea that people possess the inner resources for growth and healing and that the point of therapy is to help remove obstacles to individuals' achieving this. The most famous of these was client-centered therapy developed by Carl Rogers, who believed even more firmly in the inherent goodness of people than Maslow."
Tags: self-actualization, theory, psychotherapy, mental, health
Abstract This paper examines the role that the Abraham Legacy could play in the Middle East. It identifies the shared elements of the Abraham Legacy in Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Then it explores the role this heritage could play in the contemporary era.
Abstract This paper explains that all three Abrahamic religions--Judaism, Christianity and Islam--feature a core belief in only one God and believe that they may experience God firsthand through prayer, meditation and faith. The author points out that only Christianity suggests it is possible for God to take human form, as in Jesus Christ. The paper relates that, within Judaism but less so in Islam and Christianity, God intervenes directly in earthly human affairs such as expelling Adam and Eve, placing a mark on Cain's head and instructing Noah to build an ark before the flood.
From the Paper "Many sections of the Old Testament reaffirm monotheism. In Exodus 31-33, Moses leaves Mount Sinai with tablets containing the Ten Commandments, to find that in his absence, Aaron has allowed creation of a molten (golden) calf, a pagan idol. In response, Moses smites those who do not worship only God (only the sons of Levi are left), then returns to Mount Sinai to ask God's forgiveness of his people's sins. On Mount Sinai, God forgives all but those who have gone against Him (Exodus 32). Here, the individual worshipper (Moses) asks for personal forgiveness from God, and a chance to atone personally, and on behalf of his people, for past sins, just as Jews still do today once a year on the Day of Atonement."
Abstract In this review of Laurie Kay Abraham's book "Mama Might Be Better Off Dead: the Failure of Health Care in Urban America" two issues are considered. First, the paper looks at how the book demonstrates that America's health care system is failing some Americans, particularly the urban poor, in very significant ways. Second, the paper relates that Abraham's work illuminates the complexities of what providing health care for all really is. The result is a book that examines both the complexity and importance of the issue of health care in America.
From the Paper "Her primary audience for this book is any person concerned about health care policy in the United States. That should include every voter, because it is a system of laws and the regulations that support those laws that affect the problems discussed in the book. Our government leaders and representatives should also read this book, because the book demonstrates with great clarity just how complex the problem of providing health care for our urban poor really is."
Tags: healthcare, United, States, urban, poor, Laurie, Kay, Abraham
Abstract The paper provides an overview of Lincoln's childhood and teenage years. The paper examines his personal home life, his introduction into politics and his eventual ascension to the Presidency of the United States. The paper also describes how John Wilkes Booth murdered Lincoln and thus ended Lincoln's lifetime of accomplishments.
Outline:
Introduction
Abraham Lincoln's Childhood
A Maturing Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln's Love Life
Lincoln's Political Career
Lincoln: The President
John Wilkes Booth
From the Paper "Born February 12th, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most loved presidents of the United States, in American history. He was born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. Thomas Lincoln wasn't an educated man, in fact he had only acquired enough literacy to sign his name, according to McPherson. However, he enjoyed modest prosperity as a carpenter and a farmer. Abraham Lincoln's mother too was illiterate. From the son of simple farming folk to the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln would accomplish great things, in his tragically too short life, including bringing a divided nation back together and reuniting the United States."
