Abstract In this paper the author looks at the concept of critical thinking. He examines the world of academia, which he suggests is saturated with ideas, assumptions and statistics. He suggests that many educators strive to teach the skills to utilize these ideas, assumptions and statistics in both a scholarly context and in real life situations. He then contends that to assume that critical thinking skills are so easily transferable is far more complex. With this in mind he moves on to look at Stephen Jay Gould's essay, "The Median Isn"t the Message,? in which he suggests that Gould describes the difficulties of taking statistics and academic studies out of context. Gould does this by referring to a time when he was diagnosed with a disease and how easily he could have been misled by the statistics had he chosen not to use his own critical thinking.
From the paper:
?Gould points out these personal experiences to send a message to his readers. Generally one does not relate such personal details of one's life to simply prove some academic concept. Gould wants his readers to take his experience and apply it. He tells the reader through his own account, to question everything, especially statistics. Humans have a tendency to hear statistics and interpret them without questioning what is really being said.?
Abstract This paper explores the Nazi consolidation of power, and the manner in which Hitler assumed control over Germany. It looks at the historical and political maneuverings of Hitler from the early 1930's and how his propaganda machine enabled him to enchant the German public, gain enough political power he needed to eventually overtake most of Europe.
From the Paper "Gleischaltung operated for the Nazis through opportunism and careful planning, through which the Nazi party was able to eventually gain power. The exploitation of the Reichstag fire to create the Reichstag fire decree allowed the creation of a conservative coalition and the creation of a broad support base through the existence of conservative activities, this broad support base allowed the implementation of the enabling law. Following the allowance of emergency decree the Nazis were able the suppress opposition and create inflammatory activities, further allowing the removal of opposition, culminating in the purge of the SA, and the adoption of Fuehrer upon the death of Hindenburg."
Abstract This paper discusses the ethics of assuming responsibilities to reduce emissions of pollutants and slow the rate of anthropogenic climate change. In the process the discussion considers the paradigms of Moderate Cosmopolitanism, Pluralism, and Nationalism.
Abstract This paper discusses the psychological techniques that Hitler and the Nazis used during the 1930s to assume control in Germany and maintain order until their defeat in 1945. The paper breaks down several sociological and psychological concepts such as obedience, conformity, the power of iconic symbols, national pride, and the authority of a centralized ideal over the individual. The paper demonstrates that the Nazis were adept at creating an environment in which the wounded German psyche, crippled from harsh treatment from the Versailles Treaty and foreign oppression, was able to restore its strength under the symbol of the swastika. While many Germans understood that the Nazis were perhaps corrupt and performing cruel actions against their fellow man, particular psychological elements that the Nazis installed upon their rise to power in the 1930s prohibited any individual from opposing their rule. The last part of the paper discusses how many Germans felt that following the Nazis was a way for them to restore the pride they had lost, and Hitler capitalized on this feeling with great effectiveness. There is also a brief description of the tactics that Goebbels used in using his Propaganda Ministry to keep the German masses completely under the heel of Nazi brutality.
From the Paper "The inclination of human beings within any society to design and accommodate a government that protects their rights as citizens normally is considered top priority for any culture or ethnic group. Throughout history, societies have been influenced by many sociological factors that dictate what system of government they install, or in some cases, governments that are installed for the public by an authoritarian ruler. Nowhere in the annals of human existence can this forced subjugation of the masses be seen more clearly then in Nazi Germany, beginning in 1933 and ending after the Allied victory at Berlin in 1945. This particular case is peculiar however, for not only were the majority of citizens in Germany at the time willing to comply with Hitler's tyrannical government, but many individuals actively participated in the horror that was the Nazi regime. The question behind the German populace's compliance has been explained from the political and economic perspectives countless times, but the most interesting aspect of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich is from a sociological point of view."
Tags: adolf, authority, germany, goebbels, hitler, ii, impact, obedience, propaganda, psychological, war, world
Abstract This paper states that the United States plays a key role in fomenting and sustaining the current global conflict, which may drive civilization towards political doom rather than a hopeful future. The author points out that the United States has even brought criticism upon itself from other Western countries in regards to its invasion of Iraq in 2003. The paper relates that the U.S. assumes automatic leadership of the world, believing that no country can do it better. The author concedes that the U.S. does play a major role in global development, influencing everything from technology and communications, to politics and economics. The paper concludes that, if the West truly wishes to bring the world under one liberal, democratic, homogeneous banner, then America's hold on global leadership must diminish, be reformed or be replaced.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
"Selective Democracy"
Neo-liberal Globalization
"America, the Dominant"
The "American" Way
Globalization's Handicap
Conclusion
From the Paper "Relations between Iran and the US became tumultuous after the coup, particularly when a revolt in 1979 brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power. Khomeini stood against the Shah's American-supported "progressive modernization" in Iran, which included a move towards secularization and the introduction of Western culture into the lives of Iranian people. Khomeini promoted the restoration of Islamic traditions and customs which were widely criticized by the West for being oppressive and sexist. Soon after Khomeini came to power, the American embassy in Tehran was stormed and employees were taken hostage."
This paper critically analyzes George Berkeley's first argument against the existence of matter presented in "A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge."
2,220 words (approx. 8.9 pages), 0 sources, 2002, $ 68.95
Abstract In this paper, the writer critically examines Berkeley's first line of argument against the existence of matter that he presents in "A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge". This argument is frequently called "the Perception Argument" and is his first attempt to more firmly establish his central thesis of existence being tied into perception. The paper thoroughly explains the argument and presents Berkeley's responses to the most immediate objections that come up to it (the objections that are actually addressed in the text of his treatise). The writer also examines briefly how Berkeley's argument serves to contradict arguments regarding material substance made by Locke in "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding". The paper then offers a more robust objection to Berkeley's Perception Argument that attacks some key assumptions that the argument clearly relies on, specifically those regarding relationships between matter and ideas that Berkeley clearly assumes do not exist. The objection is furthered by examining the sections where Berkeley assumes that matter does exist in an attempt to show that such an assumption involves manifest contradictions.
From the Paper " Over the course of reading A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge, it becomes evident that Berkeley is not so much trying to convince the reader of a certain opinion of the nature of the world and our perception of it as much as he is trying to present his actual, everyday perception of the world and his existence in it. Berkeley repeatedly says things like, "Some truths there are so near and obvious to the mind, that a man need only open his eyes to see them," (?6) that suggest the intuitive obviousness that he sees in his doctrine. Frequently, a tone of frustration comes through in his writing - especially in the sections dealing with possible objections to his theory (?34-84) - illustrative of the difficulty he must have been feeling in trying to get everyone else to see what was so damn obvious to him. As such, many of Berkeley's arguments in support of his particular fundamental beliefs seem to be afterthoughts of their respective conclusions. His vision of the nature of existence being grounded in "esse is percipi" (?3) is so strong that he does not always seem to be too concerned with the particular logic behind his supporting arguments. This is especially true when it comes to his arguments denying the existence of matter. In this paper, I will argue that, while Berkeley's conclusion regarding the non-existence of matter is quite profound, his actual arguments for this conclusion do not sufficiently verify it. To do this, I will examine the first argument Berkeley makes against the existence of matter, the so-called "Perception Argument." I will argue that this argument relies heavily on a fallacious line of reasoning about the nature of matter and the inability of matter to cause ideas in us. I will then examine several passages in Principles that support the idea that Berkeley's belief that matter does not exist is grounded largely in his - or anyone else's - inability to really define what matter is. "
Abstract The following paper critically analyzes the Limit Pricing Model, which uses limit pricing which is when companies form collusion or a cartel and try to maintain price levels which may or may not not maximize their profits or stop the entry of new firms in the market. One of the major limitations of the model discussed in this paper is that the model assumes collusion. Another limitation examined is that the model assumes the products to be homogeneous. The writer concludes, after discussing eight limitations of the model, that it is completely inappropriate.
From the Paper "In an oligopoly there are a few entrepreneurs who are in tight competition with each other and due to this the market price is sticky or we can say downward rigid. Oligopolists do not usually decrease price ("sticky downward prices"), and tend to change prices together. Rivals match each others price decrease which leads to a "price- war" and obviously they do end up losing in it and form a cartel. Cartels are an example of a collusive industry. Collusion occurs when firms in an industry agree to fix prices, divide the market among themselves, or otherwise restrict competition in some way."
Abstract This paper examines the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar's 1903 poem "We Wear the Mask", which is in open defiance of the commonly accepted fallacy of his day that African-Americans were happy in the subservient roles they were forced to assume in the face of white racism. The paper describes Dunbar's uses irony and the religious rhetorical to convey the disparity between the false face African-Americans were forced to wear to earn a living in white society. The author shows how the prose illustrates the theme of the socially assumed mask.
From the Paper "The title of Dunbar's and first lines of the poem may at first suggest a mask that an actor or a performer wears. ?We wear the mask that grins and lies, / It hides our checks and shades our eyes.? (Lines 1-2) However, the next lines of the poem suggest that the nature of the mask that is worn is far more complex than a mask made of paper or plaster. The poem strikes a contrast between African American's exposed social faces and the bleeding hearts within their apparently smiling, happy exteriors."
Abstract Certain ideas about the relationship between education, poverty, and employment opportunities are assumed by much of society. Firstly, it is assumed that gaining a formal education is a key to achieving advancement and to attaining employment opportunities. Poverty is seen as reducing one's ability to gain an education, just as gaining an education is seen as a way of overcoming poverty. The social importance of education is emphasized again and again in the literature on education and also in the literature on various social problems. This paper examines the writings of several writers including Jonathan Kozol in his book "Savage Inequalities" and Jean Anyon in "Ghetto Schooling". The paper discusses how these writers analyze these issues in various ways.
From the Paper "Education as it is formulated in theory is based on a number of familiar assumptions in American society, assumptions about intelligence, the profession of teaching, and public policy concerning the structure and financing of education, all of which enter into the sense of school as a fairness zone. The first assumption is that intellectual ability is a quality that an individual possesses as the result of biogenetic causes and that the individual develops or fails to develop as a matter of personal volition."
Tags: Supreme, Court, segregation, Sol, Stern, William, Henry
Abstract This paper provides an overview of the current status of federalism within the U.S. It is the thesis of the paper that the President, the Courts and Congress have assumed influential and significant roles in the shaping of federalism in recent decades. Initially, a conceptualization of federalism is offered, as established by the founding fathers. Current literature is then used to identify factors associated with and the role assumed by the presidency, the Courts and Congress in federalism as it exists today within the U.S.
From the Paper "A number of landmark cases have been identified that offer evidence of the Courts efforts to restore federalism. United States v. Morrison has been identified as one of the most significant rulings favoring federalism during the 1999 term. Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices Kennedy, O'Connor, Scalia, and Thomas, in their ruling on this case, annulled the civil remedies provision of the 1994 Violence against Women Act, which authorized victims of gender-motivated violence to sue their aggressors for damages in federal court. As ruled by the Justices, in a 5-4 opinion delivered by Chief Justice Rehnquist, the Court held that Congress lacked the authority to enact a statute under the Commerce Clause or the Fourteenth Amendment since the statute did not regulate an activity that substantially affected interstate commerce nor did it redress harm caused by the state."
Abstract This paper puts forward both sides of the argument that mentally ill patients should be cared for by family and friends and not be a burden to the government. For the pro argument, it examines how assuming the state should assume the cost of caring for people with mental illness is to deny the importance of family and community in caring for people with any disease. It also looks at how state and federal governments are already burdened with exorbitant outlays for medical care and social services. For the con argument, it examines how there are still misconceptions of the severity of mental illness and how diseases like schizophrenia and depression have biological origins and are treatable with medications. It argues that no one should be denied treatment for a mental disease any more than a person should be denied treatment after a car accident and how the health care situation in America is deplorable; one of the areas needing improvement is mental illness.
From the Paper "The only role the government has a right to playing in the lives of people suffering from mental illnesses is in ensuring that no one suffers from discrimination in the workplace. Because workplace discrimination is a major issue facing all Americans, this would be a positive development, one that would preserve the rights of all persons with disabilities. People who suffer from chronic mental illness should be treated with equal respect and afforded equal opportunities. The families who care for these individuals should ensure that their insurance plan covers the necessary expenses associated with the disease. In extreme cases, the person or family members may be eligible for some assistance, but only when to do otherwise would compromise humanitarian needs."
Tags: community, medical, care, discrimination, schizophrenia, depression
Abstract In the last fifty years, there has been a strong shift in the attitudes and beliefs that deal with sexual abuse and sexual offenses. This is particularly true when it comes to female sexual offenders and the rates at which they abuse others. This paper shows that the rates are actually much higher than were first thought and, most alarmingly, the rates of child sexual abuse are also rising. This appears to be the case for female sexual offenders as well as male sexual offenders, but some of this could come from the fact that female sexual offenders are just now beginning to be recognized in larger numbers. In other words, the abuse may have been just as prevalent in the past, but the rates at which it was reported and believed were much lower. The paper shows that, due to this, it was assumed that females did not commit sexual crimes. When most people, even today, think of sexual offenders, they assume that the perpetrator is male and the victim is female. This paper shows that in reality, this is not always the case.
Paper Outline
Introduction
Prevalence
Judicial and Mental Health Decision Making
Formal Culture
Training Initiatives
Organizational Policies
Crime Reports
DSM-IV and Sex Offending
Informal Cultures
Culture of Denial
Conclusion
From the Paper "Individuals that are female, or 'feminine,' are considered to be nurturing, caring, protecting, non-aggressive, and non-sexual (Denov, 2003). Because of this, the idea that they might harm someone, especially in a way related to sexuality, is almost impossible for some individuals to comprehend, even if their knowledge and training tells them a different story. The sexual scripts that most people live by are not only heterosexual, but gender-based as well. Asking people to suspend this type of 'normal' thinking to say that a women is completely capable of a sexual offense is something that even those that are educated about the issue struggle with frequently (Denov, 2003). This could be part of the reason why so many women that are suspected of sexual offenses or even charged with them escape with little to no punishment by the judicial system and often do not spend as much time in counseling for their 'problem' as their male counterparts."
Abstract This paper examines how in the novel, "Native Son," by Richard Wright, readers witness the life of the black American, Bigger Thomas, whose life of poverty and discrimination ultimately drives him to commit murder and assume violent behavior towards anyone in his society. It looks at how the novel provides an effective illustration of the development of Bigger's character towards assuming the stereotypical attitude and personality that white American society holds against blacks, believing them to be violent and criminal.
From the Paper "In "Flight," the crucial event that determined the life and eventually, the fate of Bigger Thomas was given primacy. In this event, he had tried to integrate himself in both white and black societies by getting a job from Henry Dalton and extracting himself from the illegal activities of his gang friends. However, in the most pivotal moment when he was living his life straight, Bigger had encountered an unfortunate incident that made him do drastic actions that determined his fate as a criminal. The accidental death of Dalton's daughter, Mary, and Bigger's unwise decision to burn her body and disguise her death as a kidnapping did him worse than good. Now, Bigger was branded as worse than his gang friends, now that he is labeled a murderer and rapist."
This paper analyzes the case study of Integra's software, a dream project, which turned into a nightmare resulting in this flawless software never being marketed.
Abstract This paper explains that the two main problems in this case are (1) the market and risk analysis issues surrounding the potential sale of the software were ignored because Integra assumed the project was so valuable that it could not fail in the market place and (2) only the lower-level credit unions and not the regional offices for the credit unions throughout the rest of Canada were consulted. The author points out that the problems stem largely from the idea that the company put the project on the 'fast track' and assumed that their product was so much better than the competition that the credit unions could not help but realize this and switch over to this new product. The paper suggests that, if there is no market for a particular project, there is certainly no point in continuing to try to sell it to others, which simply ends up costing the company more money.
From the Paper "Organizational issues were mainly related to the idea that the company was so large and powerful that it could not fail with a project and that the competition would never be able to keep up. Organizational resources fell along these same lines, as money and people for the project were both very plentiful. Technological issues came quickly to the project, as there were so many different systems that the software had to work with, and this was something that had not been anticipated. However, the company had so many technological resources at their disposal that the management felt there would not be any large problems with the technology that could not be overcome."
Abstract This paper examines Act II, Scene 1 of "Othello" in an attempt to shed some light on the character of Desdemona. The paper analyzes her character and discusses her motives for marrying Othello as well as whether she is really the weak, clinging vine sort of woman of her time that most people assume. The paper also questions whether she is as naive as is assumed and what is the true nature of her marriage to Othello.
From the Paper "If Desdemona is truly color-blind, having married the moor, Othello, then Iago, with his allusions to "white" and "black" subtly reminds her of the difference. From the very beginning of the scene, when Cassio, as a gesture of courtesy and respect, kisses Desdemona, and she does not resist (even though it is obviously a chaste kiss), Iago has his flashpoint for his cunning ploy to unsettle his commander, and to break that marriage apart."
