Abstract This paper offers an analysis of Diane Ackerman's essay "Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall." The paper explains how Ackerman achieves a balance between scientific mechanism and poetic observation.
From the Paper "In her essay "Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall" Diane Ackerman maintains an interesting balance between purely scientific writing and more poetic spiritual observations of the natural world. It is truly a fascinating dynamic at work, as Ackerman is able to effectively explain the scientific mechanism behind the changing of the leaves while at the same time offer a thoughtful perspective on how this change mimics human nature and the lives of humans themselves."
Tags: fall, leaves, color, ackerman, scientific, life, metaphor, poetic, language
Abstract This paper summarizes the main points presented in Terrence Ackerman's article on patient autonomy. The paper supports Ackerman's contention that there are times when patient autonomy and a policy of non-interference are not sufficiently broad enough to address the real needs of the patient. Under these conditions, it is argued, it is the duty of the attending physician to intervene and take control of the patient's medical treatment.
From the Paper "Ackerman defines patient autonomy as a policy which has helped formulate a number of patient rights. The right to refuse treatment is one of the key choices which should lie in the patient's control. Patient autonomy has given rise to the right to give informed consent to the doctor / medical staff prior to receiving treatment, and the right to receive competition medical care. These rights have been used to form a larger understanding of the policy of non-interference by the doctor and staff once a patient has made his or her decision. Once a patient has expressed his or her desires, the medical staff, in order to honor the patient's autonomy, is required to take a step back, and allow the patient to have control over their own lives."
Abstract The paper examines Ackerman's book "The Natural History of the Senses" that spans an experiential history of all five senses. The paper explains Ackerman's premise that it is essential to use a multifaceted approach to understanding human sensory experiences. The paper discusses how human biology influences the way people experience the sensory world. The paper explains that cultural and social influences affect the ways in which these biologically generated impulses are experienced throughout history, in different areas of the world and from person to person. The paper asserts that one will never smell, touch, taste, hear, or see the world the same after reading "The Natural History of the Senses."
From the Paper "Diane Ackerman, author of The Natural History of the Senses, seems to posses the ideal qualifications to author such an enterprising and all-encompassing work. According to the author's own website, Ackerman is a noted author of poetry, memoir, and nonfiction. Her education is grounded in both creative and academic training. She received an M.A., M.F.A. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. Previous to writing A Natural History of the Senses in 1990, Ackerman authored several volumes of poetry, and has written a kind of sequel after The Natural History of the Sense's success, called The Natural History of Love. She has authored a book for children on animal's senses, and even has a molecule named after her, called "dianeackerone.""
Abstract This paper examines how, printed in 1971 as part of a collection of Woody Allen's comic stories, sketches, and plays, "Death Knocks" describes the visit of Death to Nat Ackerman, a bald, paunchy, fifty-seven-year-old dress manufacturer. It looks at how Allen presents the two characters of the play, Nat and Death, with a first-person omniscient point of view, which sets the tone as being typical of the sarcastic, yet humorous, attitude of Euro-ethnic, New York city dwellers. It explores the idea that city life has callused the characters to shock over events that should be shocking and that the emotion of this shock is replaced by sarcastic humor throughout the play. It also discusses how Allen's use of such idiosyncrasy lends to the overall humor of the play.
From the Paper "The entire play takes place in the spacious, well appointed bedroom of Nat Ackerman. Nat is relaxing in bed with his newspaper when he hears a noise outside his window. As he watches, a figure climbs awkwardly through the window. The figure's appearance and manner of dress bespeak the personification of Death but the description of his entrance, ?He huffs audibly and then trips over the windowsill and falls into the room.?, leads the reader to the assumption that, although Death is visiting, he himself seems quite human and is not an object of pure evil, eliciting fear."
Abstract This paper discusses who is to have power in our democratic society, and to what extent money will matter. It discusses the Justice Department's case against Microsoft and its consequences. It discusses the views of such classical thinkers on these ethical issues such as: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Kant, John Rawls and Bruce Ackerman. It examines the economy's situation and how monopolies have changed it. This paper tries to explain the Microsoft antitrust case in respect to society, while examining its effect on millions of computer users.
From the Paper "The Justice Department's attempt to use the power of the federal government to prevent Microsoft from using monopolistic practices is a case that has been met with a great deal of emotional heat, suggesting that people at large care about such a case deeply. This is, perhaps, simply because so many people have found themselves staring one too many times at the blue screen of death on their computers and see the DOJ's actions as an act of revenge on the part of the rest of us. But it seems more likely that large antitrust suits such as this one arouse so much passion in people who are otherwise not deeply engaged in legal issues because they speak to our inherent sense of justice and our understanding of the complex ways in which capitalism and democracy must be balanced. Thus while the antitrust moves against Microsoft are, in some sense, all about Sun Microsystems and Netscape and Java, they are much more fundamentally about who is to have how much power in our democratic society, and to what extent money will matter. These are profound issues, and so we must look in trying to understand them to profound sources, from the classical thinkers on ethics such as Plato and Aristotle through the great thinkers of the Renaissance and Enlightenment like Machiavelli and Kant through modern writers on social justice such as John Rawls and Bruce Ackerman. This paper blends the concepts of these philosophers and social critics to create a perspective that will help us understand the Microsoft antitrust case in its larger social context, examining why it matters in a fundamental ethical sense to all of us whether it is Microsoft or Sun Microsystems ? or Linux ? that greets us when we turn on our computers each morning."
Abstract This paper reviews and critiques the poems "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell, "A Fine, A Private Place" by Diane Ackerman, "A Late Aubade" by Richard Wilbur, "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks, and "Sex Without Love" by Sharon Olds. Specifically, it discusses how all of these poems exhibit the carpe diem philosophy. From dying young to underwater love, all of these poems signify significant moments in time and, according to the paper, show how seizing the day can last a lifetime. The paper also asks how these poems -- one of which was written centuries ago -- relate to our lives in modern times.
From the Paper "Each of these poems, modern or ancient, revolve around single moments in time that create lasting memories. "To His Coy Mistress" is the oldest of the poems, and uses the most archaic language to discuss love and devotion. Marvell writes, "But at my back I always hear / Time's winged chariot hurrying near;" (Marvell 728), which conveys a sense of urgency that "seizing the day" is built around. The initial idea of carpe diem is to live life to the fullest today, because their may not be a tomorrow. So, you must always live each day as if it was your best, and your last. Each of these poets uses that theme to convey their ideas and meanings. For example, the woman who makes love under the sea has those memories to last with her forever. After the experience, she often thinks about that moment in time when she seized the day and it made all the difference. Ackerman writes, "She thought of it miles / and fathoms away, often, / at odd moments; watching / the minnow snowflakes" (Ackerman 734). Seizing the day is living in the moment, but it also remembering and treasuring those wonderful moments, as this poem clearly shows."
