Abstract A brief examination of Socrates' main philosophies and his commentry on the concept of knowledge. Compares Socrates' philosophy about virtue to that written in Plato's "Meno". With quotes and commentry from the text.
From the Paper "Socrates is widely acknowledged as the world's first philosopher, since he was the first to direct the attention of men from merely focusing on the study of nature to the study of human nature. Indeed, Socrates was the pioneer in moral philosophy for though the Sophists spoke of justice, law and temperance, they were still unable to define such values (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Heartlight Web site)."
Abstract The essay provides a deep analysis of Canto V of Dante's Inferno. It studies Francesca and Paolo, their sin, Dante's reaction to Francesca's story, and the various interpretations critics have of Canto V. The significance of Francesca's presence in this Canto and the themes that come through in her speech and interaction with Dante are important to the Divine Comedy as a whole. The essay explores the significance of Canto V in regard to Dante's views on love, sin, pleasure and discusses the 'dolce stil novo' movement of the time. It also looks at the various interpretations that the Canto has inspired among critics. Francesca has been seen as both gentle and innocent, and as a deceptive maipulator. Dante the pilgrim's sympathy is explained in regard to Dante the poet's desire to express messages to the reader.
From the Paper "Dante's representation of Francesca da Rimini in his Inferno is a crucial scene of interaction. Her (mis) use of the language of the thirteenth century movement, Dolce Stil Novo, exposes Dante the Poet's thoughts on love through the reactions that her lyrical speech invokes in Dante the Pilgrim. The dramatic effect Francesca's tale has on Dante serves to reveal his naivety and amateur ability to judge sin, and thus highlight the difference between Francesca and Beatrice, the latter of which is consequently presented as the epitome of ethereal grace and spirituality. Dante's encounter with Francesca is found in Canto V of the Inferno, the first realm after Limbo (Canto VI) and the entrance to Hell Proper. Francesca is the first soul with whom the pilgrim speaks. The second circle, in which she and her lover Paolo reside, is that of "i pecator carnali/che la ragion sommettono al talento" (5: 38-39), and her sin that of adultery."
Abstract A descriptive analysis of Allan Ginsberg's poem, "Sunflower Sutra". The paper analyzes the poem's commentry on society, technology and conformity, through looking at the language and imagery contained within the poem. The poem speaks of a bleak, miserable world and Ginsberg's attitudes toward society are analyzed in detail.
From the Paper "The car and the tin cans emanate sickness. Their weakness alludes to system failure, to an existence so frenetic and unnatural that the only available conclusion could be "burn out". The personification of such objects, alongside "the cunts of wheelbarrows" and "the milky breasts of cars", makes reference to a world in which roles have been reversed so that modernity is the new "man", its precedence over all blocking our right to an otherwise natural existence. Man's absence in the scene, coupled with the pervading sense of darkness, both suggest that the sacrifices made in order to establish a landscape as "modern" can be only detrimental and exhaustive. The "rubber dollar bills" illustrate the falsity and meaninglessness of the scene facing Ginsberg."
Abstract A discussion of Manuel Puig's ?Kiss of the Spider Woman" about the relationship which develops between two men sharing a cell. The analysis and commentary consists of a short summary of the plot of the book, commentary on issues of style, themes, historical or political context, language and structure, and questions for further discussion.
From the Paper "In ?Kiss of the Spider Woman,? Manuel Puig weaves a story of two men sharing a prison cell in an Argentine jail and the unlikely devotion and friendship that develops as they are forced to pass their days together. Molina, a middle-aged homosexual is serving time for corrupting a minor. Valentin, a macho revolutionary, is there due to his socialist politics. They pass the days and nights listening to Molina recite and act out scenes from his favorite movies. Their friendship eventually becomes sexual, and in the end they evolve into an ironic role reversal, with Molina dying from his involvement in politics and Valentin retreating into a dream world to escape the pain of torture (Puig 1991)."
Tags: homosexual, politics, escape, prison, cell, plot, commentry, style, language
Abstract This paper takes a thorough look at the tax cuts and economic policies of President Reagan. It examines the article by Sowell and critiques his commentry of the tax policy. The paper discusses whether Sowell's analysis of the outcome of these tax policies were correct or not.
From the Paper "In The Vision of the Anointed, economist and social theorist Thomas Sowell makes an vital contribution to classical liberal and conservative thought by searching the ways in which a self-consciously elite, or "anointed," group uses ideas to maintain its power in American political life. Sowell regards American political dialogue as dominated by people who are sure that they know what is good for society and who think that the good must be achieve by lingering government action. This modern-liberal elite exerts its pressure through institutions that live by words: the universities and public schools, the media, the liberal clergy, the bar and bench. Its supremacy results from its command of the information that words convey and the attitudes that words inspire."
Abstract Discusses Tocqueville's observations about public administration in the United States. Argues that Richard Stillman II incorrectly concludes that Tocqueville is condemning American administration. The paper asserts that Tocqueville understood that the weaknesses in American administration were "by design" in order to prevent tyranny and over-centralization.
From the Paper "Often times, it seems that the best critic is an outside observer? one who can offer plain insight without prideful bias. This is demonstrated by the fact that the best-known commentary on American politics and administration was written not by an American, but by a 26-year-old Frenchman by the name of Alexis de Tocqueville. As an outsider, he had a much clearer perspective than those around him and was able to more accurately report on both the strengths and weaknesses of the American system."
Abstract This paper discusses how Carole King is probably one of the most influential pop song writers of the late sixties and early seventies and how her second album "Tapestry" was and still is widely considered as her greatest collection of recordings. It looks at how, number one for 15 weeks in the charts, it is an astonishingly well written record in terms of the accuracy with which it fills its place in the pop genre and also the standard of production.
From the Paper "The middle-8 section can effectively be split into two distinct parts. In the first half, a chordal piano solo takes the lead role, playing over a static C minor vamp, whilst the guitar plays slightly emphasised rhythm phrases which add interest whilst importantly not drowning out the piano. The second half of the middle-8 is harmonically the same as the first four bars of the chorus. The guitar exchanges some jazzy lead phrases with the piano in this section, and a more active bassline and ride cymbal rhythm combine to pick up the momentum again. The middle-8 breaks down into the second verse in much the same way as the first chorus progresses into the first verse, with each part simplified to create space in the mix for the softer vocal."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses gender roles within the play 'The Taming of the Shrew'. It is the position of this paper that Shakespeare was indeed making a commentary on gender roles when he wrote 'The Taming of the Shrew'. The writer maintains that the comment he was making was that the established system in which men were lords and masters over women and basically owned them and women were expected to be docile and obedient at all times, was ridiculous. The writer concludes that William Shakespeare, in writing this play, showed his audiences in exaggerated terms the ridiculousness of the system of male domination, while also demonstrating to women that attempting to completely overthrow societal norms is not the way to a more equal relationship with men. Instead, he demonstrated a revolutionary concept for his time and showed how men and women can ultimately get along as partners by compromise.
From the Paper "It is a play intended to make the audience laugh. In order to provoke laughter, a play must have something familiar in it, something that everyday people can recognize and relate to. In the late 16th century, when this particular play was written, European society and in fact most societies in the world, were heavily patriarchal in nature. The man was expected to be the lord and ruler of the household and men ruled the world in general. Women had few, if any, rights, and were considered the property of first their fathers and then their husbands, and were appointed a male guardian if they had neither. Women were expected to be obedient to their husbands, quiet, docile, and to keep an orderly home. While this was no doubt not always the system that went on behind closed doors, it was the "official" system, and the one that everyone was expected to appear to be adhering to in public. Shakespeare picked this system to poke fun at in writing The Taming of the Shrew because it was familiar to the audience, being something that affected them all in their daily lives."
