Abstract This paper discusses in detail and compares theories of Saint Augustine, Plato and Aristotle as related to the concepts of time and eternity. The author believes that the concepts of time and eternity are important philosophical considerations that relate largely to how our universe works and how it was created. The author states that Saint Augustine considered time and eternity from the standpoint of the Christian religion, but Plato and Aristotle looked at the ideas on a non religious level.
From the Paper "In The Confessions, Saint Augustine offers a history of his own spiritual journey. The entire work, comprised of thirteen books, is told in diary form, with Augustine describing his actions, his thoughts and especially his comments on God, faith and Christianity. The diary is also addressed to God, with Augustine asking God the questions he is seeking answers to. The first ten books tell his life story from his childhood, his teenage years and his eventual conversion to Christianity in his thirties. The final three books consider the teachings of God. The eleventh book is the one where Augustine considers time and eternity, discussing each in detail."
Abstract This paper explains how Nietzsche's concept of "Eternal Recurrence" have resulted in misunderstandings and controversy. A key, controlling idea that will help provide an understanding of this important notion is the recognition of Nietzsche's distancing of himself from Enlightenment views. With this in mind, this paper reviews some commentaries. It is then possible to provide coherent criticism of the literal, physical interpretation. This paper favors looking at "Eternal Recurrence" as a psychological construct, providing an ethical imperative.
From the Paper "Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the Eternal Recurrence has been the cause of much commentary and controversy in interpretation. There is a way to bring coherence to this notion one that was so pivotal for him. But to come to such a proper understanding, this paper will need to review how Nietzsche was no friend of the Enlightenment. By acknowledging how the ideal of progress and the favoring of reason were anathema to him, it is possible to see the Eternal Return, not as a literal, physical cosmology, but as a psychological construct."
Abstract This article offers a discussion of the two creation stories in the Genesis book of the Bible. In this paper, the writer compares and contrasts the two versions. The writer discusses their similarity to creation stories of other religions. The writer examines the two varying creation myths and attempts to identify reasons for the different creation stories appearing in the same source.
From the Paper "The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the two creation stories that appear in the book of Genesis. The plan of the research is to set forth the basic components of each of the stories and then discuss ways in which the pattern of ideas contained in each resonates with the other, with a view toward identifying reasons grounded in theology for which two disparate creation myths might be deliberately included in a single scripture source. Anybody who does not have a religious background ... "
Abstract In this article, the writer firstly defines creationism as a system of belief that maintains that humans, the earth, and the universe were created by a supreme being or deity. The writer explains that creationists believe in a god who is absolute creator of heaven and earth, out of nothing, by an act of free will. The writer then examines the history of creationism.
From the Paper "Creationism is generally defined as a belief system which holds that human beings, the earth, and the universe were created by a supreme being or deity, either ex nihilo or from preexisting chaos. Many Creationists consider their beliefs to be compatible with science, explain that certain scriptural accounts of creation should be interpreted as metaphors, or believe that scientific laws and mechanisms were created by supernatural intervention."
Abstract This eleven-page paper uses four creation accounts from different cultures. These are: Australia, Africa, the Algonquin Indian, and Japan. Certain aspects are found to be common to all, and there are some major differences.
Abstract This paper attempts to discuss, in a non-judging manner, creationism and evolutionary thought. The paper reviews the theory and scientific facts of evolution. Then the paper extrapolates on the creationists' theory of Intelligent Design.
From the Paper "As humankind continues to move forward into the future, it also searches the past to reveal what the past can teach it in an effort to understand where life-kind as a whole is going. In some cases people..."
Abstract This paper explains that the discussion of creation science is inherently highly controversial because it seeks the mantle of scientific prestige for what many consider not to be science at all. The author demonstrates that such claims, or such questions, have a millennia-old tradition within the West, extending back at least to the writings on medicine by Hippocrates.
From the Paper "If people, who were interested in teaching the biblical version of God'secretion of Adam and Eve, referred to this story as the biblical version of the creation of Adam and Eve, very few people could object There is most certainly a book referred to as the ..."
Tags: Hippocrates, Creation Science, science, medicine
Abstract This paper discusses Augustine's explanation in his "Confessions" that man is continuously "scattered" by his own impermanence, and shows that, in Books X and XI of "Confessions", the concept of "scattered humanity" is presented as a condition that is simultaneously undesirable and unavoidable to mankind. Through his discussions of memory, temptation, and time, Augustine portrays the human condition as that of utter temporality, corruptibility, and changeability. The writer explains that Augustine sees man as "divided up in time" by his changeable will and the corruptibility of his concentration. Thus, it is only through God's grace that man can hope to be freed from his temporality to rest within God.
From the Paper "Book X begins with a discussion of memory. Augustine envisions memory as something that is not always present. Things are stored in one's memory but must be thought about and brought forth again out of one's mind. In contrast, for God all things are present at all times. God does not remember things and all things are continuously existent to God. However, within man's memory there is a remembrance of the eternal. There are ideas, according to Augustine, that one can recognize as being self-evidently true. These ideas must then "have been in [man's] mind even before [he] had learned them," simply waiting to be recognized. If man recognizes a self-evident truth, then he is actually assembling the disordered and forgotten pieces of a universal and eternal memory. The universal memory is the root of man's search for God."
Tags:contemplationeternitycreation, original sin, distraction joy
Abstract This paper explains that the one common theme, found in both stories, is the presence of the "all powerful", which, in the "Old-Man-in-the-Sky", was the one who had complete control over all things on earth and, in the Norse story, was father eternity who had control over the world. The author points out that some of the key features of the "Old-Man-in-the-Sky" myth are the distinction placed on the white man as inherently different from the Native Americans and the essential part played by a beaver, an otter, a bear and a buffalo, which are found in the area the Salish people lived (northern parts of Washington stretching to Montana). The paper states that both of these myths reflect the cultures of the people who adopted them and help explain why each society performs the way they do.
From the Paper "The second of the creation myths comes from the Salish Native American Tribe and sometimes called the Flatheads. There are only two main characters to this story, Old-Man-in-the-Sky, and Old Man Coyote. This story begins with the world already created by Old-Man-in-the-Sky. After creating the world, Old-Man-in-the-Sky drained off the water and collected it into the "big salt holes" to from the oceans, and the land dried out except for the lakes and rivers. One day Old man Coyote became lonely and went up to the sky world and would talk to Old-Man-in-the-Sky."
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 The paper begins by looking for a common thread in the seventeen poems, and states the main theme as that of eternity. The idea of death as just another state of being is discussed and the meaning behind the grouping of poems is explored. The paper then takes the reader through poems #441 to #455, discussing them individually in order to explain their meaning and their connection to the overall theme of eternity. The paper concludes by commenting on such aspects as the tone, mood, format, rhythm, rhyme and use of capitalization in the poems.
From the Paper "The seventeen poems that make up Fascicle #21, nonetheless, have obvious thematic linkages, their images repeated and interwoven to form a delicate pattern. The main thread that seems to run through the fascicle is the concept of eternity. There is a sense of timelessness, and of time collapsed upon itself. The first poem in the fascicle, #440, describes a visit to "home" after many years; the soul is filled with fear and alienation, and rushes away like a thief. The metaphor of the ocean for an unbridgeable expanse is introduced in this poem. By the last poem, #455, the soul owns a treasure and her wealth is recognized by others ? she is not a thief but the recipient of a priceless gift. The progression from this fearful disentitlement to the proud, confident ownership of #455 takes place as a pilgrimage through eternity depicted in the other intervening poems."
Abstract The Pythagoreans believed that whenever heavenly bodies all returned to certain fixed relative positions, this would initiate another cycle of history of the universe. This paper examines the concept of the eternal return, or the eternal recurrence, as one of Frederich Nietzsche's most important concepts upon which he expanded and incorporated into his world view.
From the Paper "In other words, all morals are dependent and contingent on the situation and context. There was no "good" as such, only relative good according to various cultural and social factors. Central to Nietzsche's philosophy was a possibility of transcending or going beyond both concepts of good and evil. He stated that until now there had been no real goal or aim for humanity. All goals and aims have been relative and illusionary and have kept humanity from following any real goal. It is the creation of the Superman or Ubermensch, which is the true goal of humanity."
A look at how the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" conforms to traditional attachment theory and is in fact a graphical illustration of that theory.
Abstract In a discussion and analysis of the film, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", this paper explains that this film depicts the human being as a web of emotional attachment that is unconsciously tied back to the parents and interlinked in very complex ways to external objects as well as to multiple areas of the brain. The paper then goes on to examine how "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" not only conforms to attachment theory but combines that theory with cognitive-motivational structure theory.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Rationale for the Film
The Process of Erasing Attachment
Attachment Theory and the Main Characters
Two Patterns of Attachment Theory
Communication Style
Care-seeking at the Infantile Level
Conclusion
From the Paper "According to Wampler and Riggs (2004), the techniques of the two individuals in seeking comfort and security from one another in their relationship often are similar. This is because they can switch roles. Research indicates that the majority of partners will assume both roles and move back and forth between the roles of support and comfort-seeking during any problem-solving discussion. Clementine is quite aggressive and is the one who suggests having a drink and spending the night at Joel's place. More importantly, she knows hoe to attack his defenses. She describes him as close-mouthed and herself as constantly anxious."
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 In this paper, the writer discusses that Michael Ventura in his article 'Confessions of an Eternal Romantic' argues for the tenants of history, the human soul, as well as the lifestyle choices that human beings now make in either romance or marriage. The writer looks at how the duality passion verses marriage is presented in a strong critique of history, as men and women are no longer bound to marriage, giving them economic or sexual freedom. In this scope, the writer points out that the wildness of the human soul dictates true love or passion, rather than the dictates of human reason.
From the Paper "In this passage selection entitled, "Confessions of an Eternal Romantic" by Michael Ventura the subject of objective of passion to be the ruthless, forward moving perspective of the 'romantic' is addressed. The author suggests that the problem exists due to the fact that history, the human soul, and lifestyle changes prevent long-term, committed love. In essence, the author effectively argue that passion prevents long term love through dictates of natural phenomenon, historical definitions of love, and the modern independent lifestyles of the 20th and 21st centuries."
