Abstract This paper notes that Anne Bradstreet was a female Puritan poet who was not afraid to be open about her feelings in spite of the Puritan belief that it was unacceptable for a woman to openly express her feelings. The paper then examines how, in her poem "Contemplations", Bradstreet openly expressed her viewpoints about life, religion, and nature. Through the use of biblical scriptures and imagery concerning the beauty of nature, the paper analyzes how the overall idea of Anne Bradstreet's "Contemplations" is brilliantly conveyed throughout the thirty-three stanzas of the poem. The paper conclues that, by reading Bradstreet's work, one cannot bypass the primary message that man may not have the beauty and longevity of nature, but heavenly salvation triumphs over all earthy things.
From the Paper "Bradstreet had a very strong appreciation for nature and the beauty of God's creations. In the beginning stanzas of "Contemplations," she goes into great detail when describing the images she sees, such as the beautiful colors of the leaves that adorn the trees in the autumn. Paula Kopacz states, in her essay pertaining to this poem, that Bradstreet relates her experiences with the beauty of nature with her spiritual beliefs; if God created the wondrous things that exist in nature, then, indeed He must be a spectacular being (2). In stanza three, Bradstreet is filled with awe as she reflects on the strength and stature of an oak tree: "Then on a stately Oak I cast mine eye / Whose ruffling top the clouds seem to aspire" (Lines 22-23). She then ponders about the many hundreds of years the Oak tree has existed on the earth, and she, in turn, compares this to the short length of man's life. "
Abstract This paper explains that Donna Usher's 1983 work "Contemplation", which is a multiplicity of depiction of Usher's thoughts, masterfully reflects her ability to blend human aspects with natural symbols. The author relates that the falling leaves fold to the base of the painting, melting from the background to the foreground like a thought. The paper points out that, with the background appearing to shift vertically from cool and bluish at the top to a white hue at the bottom and becoming increasingly sharper, the viewer sees that color clearly plays a pivotal role in this work. The author stresses that the only variety that Usher employs in the piece occurs both between the levels, which vary in size, background color and content, and between the leaves, which vary in form, crispness and value.
From the Paper "The form of a simple, spatially elongated leaf creeps throughout the piece, as if they are falling towards the ground. The light structure of the leaves, which appear infinitely thin, seem to fall and crumple at the base of each of the four rectangular segments into which the painting is divided. The leaves seem to form sloping edges down the sides of the painting towards each "floor," which is coated, lightly in the first two and more densely in the second two, in the blurred, leafy forms. It is obvious that Usher was trying to create a sense of depth by juxtaposing vivid and blurred leaves."
Abstract This paper examines how Victor Hugo's poetry can be seen as 'revolutionary' in two senses, by the way it addresses subjects and themes which were unconventional at that time and by the way its style and structure actively defies literary convention. It explores Hugo's attitude towards the themes of religion, love, nature and politics and looks at his use of style and structure, particularly his use of vocabulary, the first-person, dialogue, prose and dynamic structure of his poems.
From the Paper "One of the key subject areas in which Hugo can be said to have employed poetry for revolutionary purposes is that of religion. In a time of poetic devotion to the rigid, traditional form of French Catholicism, and the supremacy of God, Hugo's treatment of religion in Les Contemplations would have seemed somewhat questionable in a number of respects. For instance, in "Pasteurs et troupeaux", Hugo draws a near blasphemous comparison between God and another poet, Homer: "Car Dieu fait un po"me avec des variants; comme le vieil Hom"re". In addition, whilst Hugo recognises God as a kindly and benevolent force, he also mentions at various points his unjust and cruel nature, for example: "fatal ma"tre? and "cr"ateur terrible?."
An analysis of the theme of revenge in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet", contemplating the various aphorisms Shakespeare considers regarding human nature.
1,038 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 0 sources, 2004, $ 36.95
Abstract This paper discusses how William Shakespeare's version of "Hamlet" is one of the most well known revenge tragedies ever written and how it is still widely admired today. It considers how Shakespeare represents the pyschomacia an avenger must undertake when contemplating murder. It also examines how he manages to represent the god fearing opinion of the Elizabethan audience with Hamlet's vacillation and his fright of God's condemnation as well as the modern audience of today with Claudius's eventual murder.
From the Paper "The main exploration of Hamlet's revenge is in the soliloquies in the play. Here the audience gets to see past Hamlet's "antic disposition" and into the bewildered mind of a confused avenger. Hamlet's cerebration causes him to turn his raging emotional turmoil into unequivocal action "Yet I like a John a dreams". Hamlet asks an actor to deliver a Pyrrhus speech to summon up his courage but all he can do is ?like a whore unpack my heart with words.? Hamlet's vacillation between the classical and Christian attitudes to revenge display how complex the action is. He wishes to live vicariously through a hero like Pyrrhus but fears God's condemnation if he commits the act. The Elizabethan audience would frown upon the act of revenge and the modern audience would have a more mixed reaction."
This paper reviews Henry Adams's "The Education of Henry Adams; Henry Adams was the grandson of John Quincy Adams and the great-grandson of John Adams.
1,770 words (approx. 7.1 pages), 0 sources, $ 57.95
Abstract This paper explains that Henry Adams's "The Education of Henry Adams" is subtitled as a biography, but doesn't actually tell the story of Henry Adams life; instead, it looks at how he developed his mental ideas and opinions based on historical, political, and philosophical contemplation of the things that were going on during his time. The author points out that, in the "The Education of Henry Adams," Adams places a great deal of criticism on himself and the entire world, which can be very satiric and biting, but there is warmth and humor contained within the book. The paper relates that one small downside to the book is that Adams appears to generalize everything to the point that it often appears he is lumping too many individuals together and does not allow various individual opinions to actually come through.
From the Paper "Much of what the book has to offer, however, deals with the power that was had at the time by Christianity and the church and how this power was changed and forced into submission by Darwin's theory of evolution, and much of the power that technology had over individuals during that time. To discuss technology, Adams mentions the Paris exposition that he attended in 1900 and the dynamos that were present there. After he saw this type of technology coming to the front the also realized that Darwinism was causing so much chaos in the world and he felt that there was so much power in technology that the church was not able to withstand the onslaught."
Abstract This paper discusses Aristotle's view of the ultimate human good, particularly his discussions on both the ethical character of modern societies and on the theological interpretations of right and wrong. It describes Aristotle's basis of the conditions of community, enjoyment, political interaction and profound contemplation of things.
From the Paper "This quality that Aristotle was after was to comprehend internally what it means to be virtuous and how to act or behave accordingly. For Aristotle the good life, the virtuous life, is measured first by identifying the "universal good" to be utilized as a yardstick to first measure oneself and one's effectiveness at leading a virtuous life; i.e., contemplation. Aristotle's universal good is a yardstick with which the contemplative individual must measure his or her own existence from an internal perspective. One potential view of Aristotle's ultimate good then is that he accurately observes that a virtuous person engaging in the political life, must first have examined him or herself vis-a-vis this metaphorical yardstick before truly being able to be considered both virtuous and effective in external actions."
Abstract The paper explores the definitions of thought according to Socrates and Descartes and discusses the state-of-the-art innovations and processes that cause many to argue that the way that computer systems work indeed constitutes thinking. The paper then provides examples that depict why computers cannot be built to think, but could be made to create the illusion of thinking. The views of Alan Turing, John Searle and Marvin Minski are also examined. The paper concludes that even though computer systems are seen through the eyes of the science fiction community as having the ability to think, computer systems cannot be created to contemplate any elevated idea or truth and so in the spirit of philosophy, there is no notion of computer systems ever thinking, no matter the state of technology.
From the Paper "Everyone has thought about the existence of a computer system that could delve into the outer realms of cognition similar to human beings. Thought-provoking material has been produced in many formats, to include popular movies such as Terminator and The Matrix. Here, depictions of computer systems that have become too powerful through the power of thought have been seen to create dynamic adversaries to the human population, and actually cause their destruction. Although these films are widely accepted as present-day science fiction, is it possible to actually build a computer that can think? Can computers become self-sufficient through revolutionary algorithmic functioning? Or, do individuals have to actually think to exist--as Descartes would point out?"
Abstract This is a summary of Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics that emphasizes Aristotle's big influence in the world of ethics. His work amplifies and analyzes the concepts of many ethical issues. Since his book is divided into ten books, this term paper is also divided into 10 different, complete summaries.
From the paper:
"All knowledge and every pursuit aim at some good. Happiness is directly related to living well and doing well. Happiness is a complete and sufficient good. Most people associate happiness with pleasure. A life of pleasure is what man seeks out. There are three prominent types of lives: the pleasure life, the political life, and the contemplative life. The contemplative life is one, which practices the best activity. The best activity brings perfect happiness. The contemplative life is by far the happiest life. Aristotle explains that the good of anything is to perform its characteristic activity well."
This paper discusses the need for change management in the case of Byteware, where the management is unwilling to consider change and is resistant to recognizing employees' concerns.
Abstract This paper explains that there are two avenues for change at Byteware technologies, namely, the assembly process and communication. The author points out that, according to the behavioral change model, change can only occur via the following stages: pre-contemplation; contemplation; preparation; action; and maintenance. The paper stresses that Byteware will benefit by taking action and acting on information gained from employees to implement new corporate policies geared toward building career ladders for employees and improving communication.
From the Paper "Currently the company has a seven member executive team. The management recognizes that to succeed in the industry they must continue to develop and assemble quality products for distribution to industry giants such as Compaq, Apple, Hewlett-Packard and Dell. They also recognize that there is room for improvement within the organization, but do not recognize that behavioral change will be necessary to realize success. Most of the management agrees that the complaints of the employees can be minimized, based on case study observations. There exists a state of resistance to change among members of management, which is very commonplace among industries that have been operating under a hierarchical fashion for several years."
Abstract In this discussion of "The Spider's House" the writer relates that the novel is set during the 1950s uprising period in Fez, Morocco. The writer focuses on the 15-year-old Moroccan boy Amar and his emotional, spiritual, and vocational development as well as the story's location in the religious, spiritual Islamic community of the area. The writer describes that Amar is contemplating the fact that he must return home and be beaten, even while he contemplates the beauty of the world around him and the greatness of the provisions of Allah in the natural world. The writer notes that although the narrative contains many poetical passages, the author's primary focus lies on the evolution and rumination that takes place within Amar. The writer concludes that the novel does not take a stand as to which power will be superior, morally or practically, in the end, but there is a suggestion that a new form of power, of economic power or perhaps even inner strength, must come into being within the young man's mind and soul.
Outline:
Description
Interpretation
Evaluation
From the Paper "The reader learns that Amar has chosen to go to work instead of go to school. This goes against the principles of his religious and scholarly father. His father dislikes the idea that his son will not follow in his footsteps, but has been compassionate and understanding enough accept the boy's natural inclinations and thus did not oppose Amar's choice to go to work in a blanket factory instead of engaging in religious study. Amar's father is beloved amongst the members of the Moroccan Islamic community. Members of this community revere Amar's father and kiss his feet and garments. However, despite this tribute to his father's knowledge and wisdom, knowledge of the Koran pays few monetary dividends to Amar or his father. Unlike some of his friends, whose fathers own shops that cater to the French occupiers, for example, Amar is too poor to even own a bicycle."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that outsourcing in today's globalized yet cost-conscious environment can be an ideal way to use new sources of labor and technology to gain a competitive advantage. Utilizing the demand for outsourced labor has also proven advantageous for many overseas firms. However, the writer points out that when a firm is contemplating using outsourcing to save revenue, it is still important to keep in mind the same cautions about quality control and revenue optimization as when conducting the same operations in-house. The writer discusses best practices that are essential considerations when contemplating outsourcing and that can also can be helpful for a firm providing outsourcing as guidelines for service improvement.
Outline:
Consideration 1: Calculate the Complete Cost of the Proposal
Consideration 2: Currency Fluctuations
Consideration 3: Don't Micromanage
Consideration 4: Is Everyone Equally Committed to Best Practices?
Consideration 5: Communication
From the Paper " Best practices and process optimization ensure the provider will save money. But some providers do not implement best practices, or their customer organizations do not allow them to do so, which means that sometimes the provider's business practices must be taken into consideration as well as the cost of a bid. A firm that does not implement best practices can be risk for the buyer, if the provider is running things on band-aid solutions. Conversely, a provider may be frustrated when dealing with a firm that does not instate best practices, or has a different definition of what best practices are."
Abstract This paper explores Plato's contemplation of human ability to understand and comprehend truth via his well-known work "Meno." It includes a comparison and a contrast with the thoughts on the subject from Descartes and Hume.
From the Paper "Bold and vexing, the question arises from the text of Plato's Meno: Is knowledge of any truth possible, since a person either already knows the truth, and would therefore not be capable of learning it, or does not know, and hence would not recognize such truth when it appears? Great thinkers both modern and historic have likely proposed numerous and diverse answers to this complex and enduring poser. This diversity of belief and opinion amongst those who have devoted lifetimes to pursuit of just such questions suggests that either a), They are nearly all wrong and there is a single and succinct solution to the question, or b), each in their own way has provided clarification leading to a collective idea of the truth, as it regards this inquisition. Let us consider first the rationalist approach, as employed by Descartes."
Abstract This paper discusses the importance of Samuel Daniel's "Delia" through its structure and the creation of the modern sonnet. The author explores Daniel's influences including Sir Philip Sidney and Shakespeare, and his use of the Petrarchan writing mechanisms. Further this paper examines the significance of the sonnet to the English Renaissance and European poetry.
From the paper:
"Samuel Daniel's Delia presents to the modern reader a nearly perfect mechanism through which to contemplate the structure of the sonnet in English as it first came to be incorporated into the common practice of this language. His use of Petrarchan forms and metrical traditions demonstrates that the sonnet when it first entered into wide use in the Renaissance was indeed a direct carry-over from the Italian, a mimicking by English writers of the Italianate structure of neoclassicism, a harkening back to Rome and so to Athens."
This essay looks at how two poets utilize a spider in their poems for completely different purposes in Frost's "Design" and Whitman's "Noiseless Patient Spider".
1,000 words (approx. 4 pages), 2 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract This essay contrasts how poets, Robert Frost and Walt Whitman, both eloquently utilize a minute spider and turn this creature of nature into a grandiose display of life, but for opposite reasons. The author shows how Frost's spider is a mediation of man's attempts and failures in finding order and meaning in the universe, whereas, Whitman's is a contemplation of man's attempt to fully connect to and understand the world around him.
From the paper:
?Poems, unlike prose, are direct expressions of a creator's feelings. Though a poet also makes use of metaphors and figurative speech to convey images, it is something else beyond the upper layer of language that makes a poem work. It is something that relates directly to the feelings and passions of the poet. For example, Robert Frost's poem, "Design", is an exquisite play on striking images of dark and light, offering a look into this oppressive and isolated poet's stark outlook on life. Whereas, his comrade, Walt Whitman, goes far above and beyond in both voice and metrical line with such a striking mural expansion of his optimistic view of the world around him in his poem, "Noiseless, Patient Spider".
Abstract This paper discusses the philosophical investigation of the relationship and differences between perception and reality, which has been a question that has remained open in the world of philosophy for many eras now. The debate regarding the validity and significance of scepticism within the realm of the science of philosophy will also be explored. Throughout the paper the author makes reference to Barry Stroud's theory that the answer lies within the elements of human speculation and contemplation as expressed in The Significance of Philosophical Scepticism instead of in the scientific methods of investigation and inquiry.
Table of Contents
Rise & Fall of Early Scepticism,
Stroud's Illustrated Detective Story,
A Critique of Stroud's Detective Scenario,
Conclusion - Scepticism in the Modern World
From the Paper ?Over two thousand years ago, centuries before the birth of Christ and ages before applied science and defined mathematics came to occupy the analytic minds of men, great thinkers walked the streets of ancient cities and pondered the nature of existence. These thinkers valued knowledge as the highest of arts and focused their thoughts on the centralized question of how man could know anything about the world in which he existed, or, in fact, about anything at all. These early intellectual speculations spawned contemplative thoughts and meditative musings, reflective pursuits of the active mind that in time gave birth to the science that is commonly known today as philosophy.?
