Abstract
In this article, the writer offers a discussion of John Locke's "Letter Concerning Toleration." The writer discusses the influence of the Enlightenment on the work. The writer also discusses Locke's belief that people had an innate ability to govern themselves and his rejection of the divine right of monarchs. Further, the writer concludes that democracy is the only suitable form of government.

From the Paper
"The passage in question comes from John Locke's 'Letter Concerning Toleration' which was originally published in Latin. Locke was a seventeenth-century English philosopher associated with the Enlightenment. As such, he believed in the innate ability of people to govern themselves and he rejected traditional notions of the divine authority of monarchs to rule their subjects. Locke posited that governments could only truly govern with the consent of the governed and that therefore democracy was the only suitable form of government. Locke achieved lasting fame in American history ... "

Tags:Locke, religious freedom

Abstract
This paper discusses Martin Heidegger's essay, "The Question Concerning Technology" and points out that it puts forth an ontological question about the history of being and the oblivion of beings. The paper specifically focuses on the running theme throughout the essay that modern technology puts man in a horrible position. The paper explains that, according to Heidegger, the original techne was a poetic art that brought things forth into unconcealment and used both mind and body to give us a new object. Modern technology has lost this sense of mind and body and has looked at technology and nature as simply something that needs to be mastered. This jump away from the original poiesis put man in a dangerous position, in which neither object nor the act of revealing is witnessed.

From the Paper
"Heidegger sees today's modern technology as a type of revealing. Although there are no longer the types of craftsmen that there once were, there is still a sense of bringing forth a substance. However, the poiesis that was once involved in technology is no longer available in modern technology. The new technology no longer sees nature as a pliable source from which substance and being can be brought forth out of concealment, but rather as a type of reserve for our own needs. For example, there are no longer farmers who see the land as a canvas for their crops. "

Tags:poetic, aspect, of, technology, unconcealment, phenomenon, self, revealing, destining

Abstract
This paper discusses Benjamin Franklin's "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America," which is a piece of early American literature that highlights Franklin's criticism of the noble savage hypothesis. The paper examines Franklin's text in light of the noble savage premise and demonstrates the manner in which Franklin deftly avoided falling into the intellectual trap that that premise presented.

From the Paper
"Benjamin Franklin's "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America" is an important early American essay on the social and cultural nature of the native people with which Franklin had experience. His commentary on the construction of their societies and their relationships with other people, including Europeans, represents an important document on the perception of native people by the early American settlers. More than that, however, Franklin's descriptions of native life are posed in such a way as to highlight some of the failings of his own Western society, so that his essay could function both as an informative piece and as sharp political and social satire."

Tags:settlers, deity, primitive

Abstract
This paper explains that John Locke's "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" is especially important because his writings inspired Thomas Jefferson's participation in the Declaration of Independence. The author points out that scholars also are attracted to Locke's "Essay" because he draws a provocative line between what he sees as primary and secondary qualities. The paper concludes that, regardless of the haggling of scholars and philosophy students, Locke is justified in drawing distinctions between primary and secondary qualities because distinctions between all worldly matter is a requirement of life.

From the Paper
"Yolton follows that with what he believes Locke really meant; "The mental content of any act of awareness or thought" is an "idea" to Locke. But as to the primary qualities, on page 130, Yolton breaks Locke's concept of an object into five "propositions." One, objects "have primary qualities non-relationally"; two, objects are observed "or perceived" to have both primary and secondary qualities"; three, the qualities that one can observe to be "dependent upon other objects" are both "perceivers and other bodies"; four, ideas of primary qualities and primary qualities themselves are connected ..."

Tags:primary, secondary, qualities, mind, breath

Abstract
The paper looks at how in his essay, "What is Enlightenment?", Kant defines the Enlightenment as "man's release from his self-incurred tutelage", and encourages us to: "Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own reason." The paper relates that in fact, many thinkers heeded this advice to think independently and critically, and this was expressed in many different ways, for example, they critiqued and even rejected established traditions and religious, social and political institutions. The paper notes that often, critical thinking took aim at Enlightenment ideas themselves.

From the Paper
"In his essay, "What is Enlightenment?", Kant defines the Enlightenment as "man's release from his self-incurred tutelage", and encourages us to: "Sapere aude! Have courage to use your own reason." In fact, many thinkers heeded this advice to think independently and critically, and this was expressed in many different ways. For example, they critiqued and even rejected established traditions and religious, social and political institutions. Often, critical thinking took aim at Enlightenment ideas themselves. One of the most audacious formulations was David Hume's..."

Tags:hume, reason, reason

From the Paper
"This paper discusses the first cause argument or proof of God's existence as related by Demea in Part IX of David Hume's "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion".

The first cause argument goes back at least as far as Aristotle and some of the earlier Greek philosophers. This argument holds that one event is the consequence of another, the other by a third, and so on. However, if we ask for a cause of the whole, we are driven again to a First Cause or to the Creator, who must Himself be uncaused. There must be something which stimulates motion, and this something must itself be unmoved, with the qualities of being eternal and having substance and actuality.

Much later, Thomas Aquinas presented the first cause ... "

Abstract
The paper begins by discussing Locke's refutation of "innate understanding". It looks at Locke's explanation of the concept of and "idea", distinguishing between "simple" and "complex" ideas. It lists the division of simple ideas into four categories and also brings in the three steps involved in the creation of simple ideas. It discusses the procedures involved in complex ideas and then moves on to the connection between ideas and language, and the relationship of these processes with knowledge. The paper concludes with a synopsis and evaluation of Locke's theories.

From the Paper
"Locke has explained his theories on how the human mind is developed and nurtured. Due to man's unique ability to perceive and to process information differently from another, it is unimportant if a person is associated with the same man as another or with the same immaterial substances as another. Locke has made it very clear that a human mind is as blank as a sheet of white paper waiting to be written upon. The perceptions and discernment of the mind determine what knowledge a person may have and how he uses it."

Tags:idea, language, epistemology

Abstract
The purpose of this research is to examine David Hume's treatment of the design argument for the existence of God, contained in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. The plan of the research will be to set forth the essential steps of the argument made by Cleanthes, who in the Dialogues is advocating the design argument, and then to discuss various refutations of the argument made by Philo, with a view toward suggesting which line of argument seems stronger, whether within Hume's text or from the point of view of outside critique of that text.
The argument from design for the existence of God that Cleanthes makes derives from the rational human experience of the found universe.

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine David Hume's treatment of the design argument for the existence of God, contained in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. The plan of the research will be to set forth the essential steps of the argument made by Cleanthes, who in the Dialogues is advocating the design argument, and then to discuss various refutations of the argument made by Philo, with a view toward suggesting which line of argument seems stronger, whether within Hume's text or from the point of view of outside critique of that text.
The argument from design for the existence of God that Cleanthes makes derives from the rational human experience of the found universe. The steps of the argument may be summarized:
1. The created/found universe demonstrates order and an "curious adapting [elsewhere adjustment] of means to ends ..."

Abstract
This paper analyzes the ethical and moral issues concerning the cloning of human beings. The author touches on some aspects of cloning, how it has developed and its side-effects. The author gives an opinionated argument about the effects that cloning of human beings will have on society's perception of what it means to be a human being, as well as questions about a cloned individual's personal identity, uniqueness, and individuality.

From the Paper
"Recent news that scientists in Scotland had succeeded in cloning an adult sheep ignited a worldwide debate. Of particular concern are the ethical and social implications of the potential application of cloning techniques to produce human beings. The Scottish announcement marked the first time that researchers were able to produce an exact genetic replica of an adult animal."

Tags:cell, genetic, replica, science, identical, copy, embryo, clone, technology

Abstract
This paper presents a review of the book, "Wages of Crime: Black Markets, Illegal Finance and the Underworld Economy" by R.T. Naylor, and a review of an essay by Bruce Bagley entitled, "Globalization, Weak States and International Organized Crime". Both works discuss the increasing globalization of crime and how government offices are attempting to deal with the problem.

From the Paper
"He later argues that two assumptions of the current war on drugs: (1) that cartels are "goose-stepping" across the world stage, and (2) that globalization has been a godsend to international crime, are false. He argues throughout the book that organized crime has always been part of society, and that "globalization" as a term means nothing more than the "process that began as far back as Marco Polo; it is the process by which information about trade spreads across national and international frontiers, and goods and money soon follow" (Naylor, 2002; 5): under this definition, he argues, globalization has not eased the criminals? lot, rather, the organizations just continue as they ever did."

Tags:mafia, guerilla, underground, black, market, money, laundering, cartels, western, governments, international