Abstract
Objectivism is the philosophy of Ayn Rand. This philosophy has been the butt of criticism since its conception. This paper reviews and refutes the misconceptions of the philosophy widely held by most critics. It covers such issues as the morality of ethical egoism, criticisms of the media and criticisms of Ayn Rand's closest friends.

From the Paper
"A major criticism of Objectivism is the idea that basing morality on self-interest is impractical (Bass). It is understandable that this concept receives criticism. It directly opposes all traditional philosophies, which are altruistic. However, the reasoning behind Rand's idea more than supports her views. The sole basis for Objectivism is that the individual's ultimate value is his life. This idea is perfectly logical. If an individual has nothing in life, he still has his life. If an individual does not have life, he is nothing. With this in mind, basing thought on self-interest is far more logical than self-sacrifice (altruism)."

Tags:altruism, altruistic, aristotle, ethics, kant, moral, morality

Abstract
In this paper, the writer looks at the approaches Emerson and Thoreau take to social criticism. The writer shows that they share a common dislike of a large society that dwarfs and silences the individual. It then shows that the two authors have many differences in their style of criticism. Whereas Emerson writes to inspire the masses to change and create a better society, Thoreau writes in a less optimistic style, aiming to affect individual readers, so that they might rise above their flawed society rather than be a part of an improved one.

From the Paper
"The two American literary pioneers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau gave voice to a philosophy of individualism and a mode of life striving to reach something beyond ordinary existence. In fact, the two were close friends, sharing very similar thoughts concerning American life in the 19th century. Thoreau was a neighbor of Emerson's, and for a short time was actually employed by Emerson as a handyman. Emerson played a key role in having Thoreau's early work published both in the Transcendentalist newspaper The Dial (of which Emerson was the editor), as well as to a wider audience."

Tags:critic, critique, cultural, culture, individual, individualism, masses, society, transcendentalism

Abstract
This paper defines this theory which has been known and defined as a philosophy or thinking that promotes the continuous production and distribution of goods and services, and is adapted after the concept of Neoclassical economy that the economist Adam Smith had introduced in his book, "The Wealth of Nations". It explains that Neoliberalist theory is characterized by a number of important aspects, which are the following: It promotes a stable currency, free market capitalism, and free trade . The paper then presents various criticism of this theory.

From the Paper
"Further, neoliberalism advocates not only for deregulation, self-regulation, and free trade, but also to privatization of business enterprise (both private and public) as well as the development of globalization in the nation's economy. Free trade, privatization, and globalization all contribute to economic growth, making neoliberalism an ideal framework not only to developed and wealthy nations, but most especially to developing countries. More importantly, neoliberalism encourages the occurrence of change in the way of "changing perceptions of public and community good to individualism and individual responsibility" (Shah 2001). This is perhaps the essential change that occurs in neoliberalism, aside from the economic growth of market economies. Although neoliberalism is deemed a good concept to implement when it is applied in the economic schema of a nation, but neoliberalism also poses several problems that can result to society, since it changes the society from being a collectivist culture to an individualist one. Although individualism is a good quality in a culture, there are certain cases wherein individualism can be harmful, especially in economic and business competition, which neoliberalism harbors."

Tags:adam, smith, neoclassic, economy, wealth, nations

Abstract
This paper discusses Socrates' view of democracy and the democratic man as related in Book 8 of Plato's "Republic." In particular, the paper attempts to ascertain what specific problems Socrates has with democracy and democratic man. The paper then relates Socrates' criticisms - both those that the writer agrees with and those that he does not - to the state of affairs within the United States.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Criticisms of Democracy and Democratic Man
Freedom in Democracy
Equality in Democracy
Freedom and Equality in Democratic Man
Afterthought: The Democratic Ruler(s)
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Although it is clear that Socrates holds an uncomplimentary view of democracy, to say the least, it is equally clear to me that, conversely, in today's world democracy is largely respected and admired; countries strive to be "democratic" because of the positive connotations attached to the concept. What I have difficulty understanding is not the fact that countries today manipulate the definition of democracy to fit their own agenda, but rather why the concept, democracy, was chosen as the emulative term. Why isn't "socialism" seen as the "good" form of government? After all, in our country we are lacking a lot of the basic qualities that are supposedly essential to democracy. Yet at the same time the U.S. is arguably the most powerful, most economically well-off country in the world. There are many more questions like these that need to be explored, and I hope that throughout the course of this essay, through an examination of Plato's thought in the Republic, I have shed some light on some of the possible answers."

Tags:society, power, President

Abstract
This paper intends to present criticisms of the capitalist economic systems (both historical and as they are presently constituted throughout the world) that are encased in the free market system. As well, reform possibilities are raised to help determine whether these systems will continue to be viable in the future. In presenting criticism and critiques of capitalism, one must always be careful as to what type of capitalism is the object of such criticism-and at what level is objections are being raised. In general terms, it could be argued there are two types of capitalism or two ways of looking at this economic structure-the theoretical model and what is really out there in the real world.

Abstract
This paper summarizes the ideas of Derek Parfit in the field of personal identity and then expresses the criticisms of Derek Parfit by Marta Schechtam that she includes in her well-known book, "The Constitution of Selves".

From the Paper
"Parfit describes the reductionist view of the personal identity theory as, "the truth about people must consist in the truth of facts about bodies, and about various interrelated mental and physical events such as thoughts, memory, experiences" (Chalmers, 658) Thus, according to a reductionist, persons are nothing over and above the existence of certain mental and/or physical states and their various relations. Parfit illustrates his reductionist view of persons with the famous "club" example: Just as we are not apt to think that a social club has any ontological status over and above the existence of its members and their relation to one another, so too Parfit claims that we should not take persons to exist apart from the various physical and psychological events that characterize them. (Schechtman, 37) Given this, Parfit believes that facts about personal identity just consist in more particular facts concerning psychological continuity and/or connectedness, and thus personal identity can be reduced to this continuity and/or connectedness. As noted earlier, for Parfit, what it means to be a reductionist about persons is to hold that persons are constructs of appropriately related person time-stages. All that is required for a person at time t2 to be the same person as a person at t1 on a reductionist psychological continuity theory, then, is for person at t2 to be psychologically continuous with the person at time t1. This is what Parfit terms the Psychological Criterion for personal identity."

Tags:constitution, derek, identity, mind, personal, philosophy, selves

Abstract
The paper discusses how the day of Mencius was one of turbulence that made many push away from Confucian thought, aware that the day of sage-rulers was over. The paper describes how corruption and violence made the refomist ideas of Yang Zhu's individualism and Mozi's love of all humanity appealing. The paper shows, however, how Mencius criticized both, believing that Confucianism held the answers for precisely such a time of disorder.

From the Paper
"The reformers Yang Zhu and Mozi emerged from a period of social decay in China, the day of the sage emperors over and the country featuring many contesting feudal lords, the scholarly class falling into decadence, its members often quite idle. Under such circumstances people were not likely to see the philosophy of Confucius as very relevant and numbers came to be influenced by Yang Zhu and Mozi who offered strong departures from what had gone before. Mencius, however, held true to the teachings of Confucius that he seemed to see as a kind of rudder whatever the unwanted events in..."

Tags:mencius, yang zhu, mozi

Abstract
This paper analyzes Alexander Pope's statements on the quality of criticism in reference to "An Essay on Criticism." It examines Pope's doubts of the expertise of other critics as well as the quality of their criticisms. The paper also breaks down Pope's definition of a good and fair critic.

From the Paper
"There was no doubt that the use of wit and reason required very intensive learning. Pope used nature, a spring of water, as an illustration which could help clear the critic's brains from their shallow judgment. The inexperienced and immature critics tended to take a short view. Therefore, they missed the entire point of the work they were reviewing. Pope's concrete example was to climb the Alps. This climbing required intensive labor, however, when one had reached the top, one could see all the surroundings below."

Tags:expertise, critics, poems, knowledge

Abstract
This paper analyzes the superfund literature within an eco-critical theoretical context. While mainstream criminology tends to focus on individual explanations for why people commit crimes, the paper explains, this research examines a neglected dimension of the field. The paper notes that although environmental issues have received heightened attention in criminological literature, particularly over the past decade, little attention has been devoted to the development of a theoretical framework and appropriate propositions that define environmental crime, describe its possible causes and implications, and provide testable hypotheses from which the theory's effectiveness may be assessed.
The paper concludes that specific examinations of its failures within historical, political, and economic contexts reveal how the players involved in superfund contribute not only to its failure, but also to the further commission of environmental crimes.

Outline:
Introduction
Description and History of Superfund
Eco-Critical Theory and Criticisms of Superfund
Political Analysis of Superfund within the Framework of Eco-Critical Theory
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"First, it is the only way to determine its effectiveness, consistent with the notion of a successful criminological theory. Second, it will raise the consciousness criminologists with respect to environmental crime. More generally, the theory challenges conventional notions of crime and victimization, moving toward a non-speciest criminology. In light of the extent to which humans have damaged the Earth and harmed its inhabitants through their counter-ecological practices, environmental crime and victimization resulting from it should receive more attention within the discipline. Criminologists, particularly ones who are concerned with activist agendas, are effective in bringing their concerns to the mainstream media and the general public and even, on occasion, affecting policies. More rigorous research within an eco-critical perspective will lend credibility to the perspective and have a better chance of being accepted and influential outside the discipline."

Tags:criminology, theory, critical

Abstract
The author attacks reviewers criticisms of Madonna's sex book and general sex articles and books emphasizing the reason for these criticisms being the reviewers unfamiliarity with the subject. The author argues that Madonna's sex book is a way for readers to find out more about themselves.

From the Paper
"I remember the first time I discovered the wonder and joy of masturbation. I was a boy of thirteen and had heterosexuality pouring in and out of every orifice of my body. I can only imagine the new ideas and connections I would have made and the openness I would have achieved as a young member in sexual society had I the opportunity to read Madonna's Sex and the criticism which followed."

Tags:carol, erotica, madonnarama, queen