A brief examination of how the Age of Discovery (15th to the 17th century Europe) effected both the population of Europe and the population of the New World.
Abstract This paper shows the positive and negative effects of the Age of Discovery on the society of the time. The European population largely enjoyed the positive benefits - exposure to new cultures and open trade routes, new goods and advanced technology. The negative impacts were felt by the populations who were "discovered" for the first time by the Europeans.
From the Paper "Not unlike the way the "race for the moon" became the driving force of American scientific exploration during the 1950's and 1960?s, the race to control the trade routes to the far reaches of the globe and to expand its technological knowledge of navigation became the driving force of Spanish foreign and domestic policy during the period of world history from the 15th to the 17th centuries. This period is also commonly called "The Age of Discovery" by European historians. The economic impact of Spain's forays into the New World or worlds ultimately changed the face of European knowledge of the world and the economic structure of Europe. Both the residents of Spain and Europe as a whole, however, experienced both positive and negative effects of this exploration. However, the effects upon Europe were on the whole largely beneficial, because of the increased exposure to new goods and the expansion of technology and knowledge that came as a result of colonization and exploration. However, the impact upon the existing inhabitants of the New World was largely negative."
Abstract This paper discusses the discovery of gold at Sutter's mill in 1848 and outlines the many changes it brought to the west. The paper details how the discovery of gold brought a socially libertarian society to California. The paper describes what the West was like before the gold rush, and examines the various changes which occurred thereafter. The writer provides opinions and views of various authors and historians on this topic.
From the Paper "Though the two attempted to keep the discovery of the gold a secret, the word eventually spread ? from east, to west, to all over the globe. California's society would never be the same again. Prior to the discovery of gold at Sutter's mill, in January of 1848, most Americans considered the west a faraway land. It was populated by few, and almost no one wanted to change that. Frontiersman, trappers, and religious refugees populated it. For the most part, only the extroverted, adventurous types went west."
Abstract This paper looks at how James Joyce's protagonist in "Araby" travels to the bazaar on a quest to obtain an exotic treasure for his lady love and how, like a mythic hero, he has overcome obstacles on his journey. At the end of his voyage, however, he finds no Holy Grail but only flowery knick-knacks. It examines the narrator's journey of self-discovery, focusing on the author's use of narration, diction, imagery, and language to establish a tone that conveys this discovery.
From the Paper "Joyce chose a first person narrator in this story. This choice is essential because it allows the reader to establish an immediate empathy for the protagonist as well as to overlook the foolishness of the boy's infatuation with his older neighbor. The narrator at first is a very innocent child: he reports matter-of-factly on the appearance of his street and the death of the priest who rented a room in his house. The speaker lists The Memoirs of Vidocq among the priest's few possessions, even claiming to like this book the best, but fails to see the irony in this choice of literature by a holy man."
Abstract This paper positively reviews Michael Bliss' book about the medical discovery of insulin, stating that Bliss manages to relate the story of the discovery of insulin in an exciting, engaging way.
From the Paper "One might predict that a book detailing the history of a medical discovery might prove to be rather dull reading. However, The Discovery of Insulin by Michael Bliss demonstrates that this is certainly not necessarily the case. The story that Bliss relates has all the elements of an intriguing novel - fascinating characters, conflict, scandal, and inspirational outcomes. Yet, the book is a carefully researched document rather than a work of fiction. The human side of medical research is revealed, both in the activities and thoughts of the scientists involved in the discovery of insulin, and in the heartwarming stories of diabetes sufferers whose lives are saved by the discovery."
Abstract The paper analyses the meaning of "freedom" in African-American author, James Baldwin's essay "The Discovery of What it Means to be an American". The paper shows that what Baldwin does in this essay, as well as in a number of his other essays, is to question those American assumptions about freedom by reminding us how differentially they apply.
From the Paper "But Baldwin forces us to see how;blackness; as a category applied to humans has almost nothing to do with race or skin color or any other biological or physical attribute as we might believe that it does. Instead, blackness - or whiteness - is a way of designating power between different Americans."
Tags: Civil, Rights, Movement, American, Dream, Negro, black
Abstract This paper describes the footprint and fossil discoveries from the Laetoli site. A comparison of findings from the Hadar site is mentioned. Past and current anthropological research from scientists Tim White, Don Johanson, Richard Leaky, Russell Tuttle, etc., is included
From the Paper "The Tanzanian site of Laetoli is a magnificent place located twenty-five miles southwest of Olduvai Gorge (Tattersall 147). Here, not only were ancient hominid remains unearthed, but human behavior was discovered recorded in the ancient sets of footprints that run across the site's grounds. These prints are currently the oldest hominid tracks known to mankind (149). Both the fossil remains and the 3.5 million year old tracks discovered at Laetoli have caused revelations in the archaeological record."
Abstract This paper details the plot of Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of King Lear" and asserts that from the first scene it is clear that Lear lacks basic self-knowledge and that his ignorance of his own true nature is to blame for his many problems. This writer of this paper also focuses on Lear's journey of self-discovery and ponders whether his unhealthy imagination was the root cause of his eventual insanity.
From the Paper "Lear's new, clearer self-perception coincides with his growing madness. Just at the moment when freshly gained self-knowledge allows him greater empathy and knowledge of others, his mind, already perceived by others in the play to be failing, degenerates further. This leads to an odd vacillation between verity and delusion, or as Edgar later comments, "matter and impertinency mix'd, reason in madness." It is in this period that Lear makes some of his most stabbingly accurate self-assesments, and although here his imagination seems to go most awry, progress is actually made."
Tags: literature, vanity, perception, identity, mental, health
This paper reviews and analyzes the journey of self discovery as depicted in Douglas Coupland's "Microserfs" and "Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture"
Abstract This paper explores the underlying themes in two of Douglas Coupland's novels, "Microserfs" and "Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture." The most predominant theme in both works of writing is the fear of death. Coupland uses this fear, as well as others, to aid in the characters' journey of self-discovery. There is a very clear and present need for the characters to find themselves in both of Coupland's observant and self-conscious novels. Coupland identifies immediately, before one can go so far as to open either book, that what is about to be read is a story of a generation different than any other. This paper discusses the plot of both novels while supplying an analysis of the main characters. The characters' witty, philosophical looks on life, death and morality demonstrate their fear of death. This very morbid fear underlies all of the characters in both works of writing.
From the Paper "Another trait that is identified within the novels, is the need to not have material things. This trait is well established in many of today's pop culture. Coupland observes of our society that those in search of a pure existence cast away material objects and try to live with as little as possible. In Generation X, Coupland's character Andy gave something different to his family for a Christmas present. Instead of purchasing some material, and inevitably never used gift, he made a moment to remember. The day before Christmas, Andy went out and bought hundreds of candles. Christmas morning, before everyone stumbled out of bed and made for the living room to open presents, Andy lit all of his many hundred candles. The room was glowing."
Abstract In this paper, the European discovery of the New World is analysed as an example of economic principles at work, with specific focus particularly on the voyages of Columbus.
From the Paper "The historical significance of Christopher Columbus is that he was the last person to discover America. It had been discovered in some sense at least twice before by the ancestors of the Native American peoples and by the Norse, the latter involving deliberate seaborne exploration thus closely analogous to Columbus' voyages. Other possible discoverers have been speculated about, though demonstrated proven."
Abstract This paper discusses the future ramifications of the scientific innovations of today. The paper suggests that through the work of scientists, human comfort and happiness has increased greatly, however it also concedes that one cannot know if negative ramifications will result from scientific discoveries. The paper provides some examples of scientific developments that have negative ramifications today.
From the Paper "There is one area of concern that science cannot totally resolve, unless it builds a time machine and can go into the future. That is, what are the total ramifications that result from science's wonders? Albert Einstein did not consider nuclear bombs when coming up with the equation of E=mc2 He considered himself a pacifist, yet encouraged the building of the bomb for fear that the Germans would create it first. He was looking toward the future. As he wrote to physicist Niels Bohr in December 1944, "When the war is over, then there will be in all countries a pursuit of secret war preparations with technological means, which will lead inevitably to preventative wars and to destruction even more terrible than the present destruction of life" (Clark, 2007, pg. 698). Then, close to death he stated: "I made one great mistake in my life... when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification - the danger that the Germans would make them." (Clark, 2007, pg. 752)."
Abstract This paper examines how Maria Montessori outlines an experimental form of teaching in "The Discovery of the Child," which emphasizes greater child independence and freedom. According to the paper, Montessori explains, in her book, how she not only invested herself in an active role as a teacher but watched and observed the tendencies and inclinations of the children and built upon them. The paper further relates that Montessori criticizes traditional educational institutions for being stifling and too structured to promote the healthy "awakening of a child's personality." Montessori also stressed the importance of offering a choice of tasks for the child to perform as a means of encouraging choices and decision making.
From the Paper "In The Discovery of the Child, by educational developmentalist Maria Montessori, we witness the establishment of experimental teaching that still holds significant weight in our psychology and philosophy of education today. Perhaps one of Montessori's most prominent distinctions from other developmentalists was, not only that she actually participated and completely invested herself in an active role as teacher, but perceived the importance of the child's liberty in the learning process. Montessori claimed that, 'a fundamental essential of scientific pedagogy ought therefore to be a school which allows the spontaneous expressions and the individual vitality of the child to have free play...it will have to be understood as the observation of free children, children who are studied and watched over, but not repressed.' (21) Her belief held that simple observation is the first requirement in education. Through observation, she learned natural tendencies and inclinations of the children and built upon them; not against them."
Abstract This paper discusses one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the twentieth century, the discovery of the helical structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). According to the paper, Watson revealed this discovery in his book, 'The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA'. This paper reviews Watson's book and the fact that DNA was not discovered by a single person, nor by a group of scientists. The DNA discovery was the result of a complex series of advancements, discoveries and inspirations by many independent groups.
From the Paper "Watson next goes on a series of European excursions and vacations; including being able to finally listed to Pauling. When he returns to Cambridge in the fall, Watson exhibits less preoccupation with DNA, and hears of the discovery by some bacteriologists that some bacteria actually reproduce sexually. This causes Watson to muse that the microbial genetics of them could be understood within a few years after DNA's structure is discovered. In the meantime, Watson writes that Franklin's X-Ray data "were getting prettier and prettier," (Watson 148). Furthermore, he credits her with obtaining the data indicating that the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA was actually on the outside of the molecule; still, "She gave no sign . . . of liking helices any better," (Watson 148). Watson continues to explain his faith-based understanding of DNA when he writes, "The idea of the genes' being immortal smelled right," (Watson 153). After this leap of inference, however, Watson learns that Pauling is about to unveil another discovery regarding DNA; this worries most everyone at Cambridge. "
Abstract This paper examines the discoveries of two famous men, Galilei Galileo and Charles Darwin, and compares the way in which their respective ideas were accepted in their ages of discovery. It discusses how Galileo's discovery of the telescope and subsequent proving of the solar system's existence, led him to be branded as a heretic. The paper shows how Charles Darwin's 19th Century book "On the Origin of Species" also caused him to be labeled a heretic, especially when he related his theory to the evolution of man. The paper shows how both Galileo and Darwin undermined the Catholic church and in the face of enormous obstacles, eventually led people to accept their theories.
From the Paper Galileo Galilei once said, " All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them." Contrary to his thoughts, however, all truths are not easy to understand, and some are even harder to sustain. Upon his development of the telescope in 1609 Galileo was able to present empirical evidence to prove Copernicus' heliocentric view of the solar system. Regardless of his evidence Galileo met the same fate as his precursor as his findings were cast aside and he was labeled as a heretic."
Abstract This paper begins by providing a brief biographical overview of Isaac Newton, from his birth in England in 1642 to his groundbreaking scientific theories and discoveries. The paper covers Newton's scientific achievements, starting with the fact that he established a unified theory of approach to modern science. It discusses his discoveries relating to the white light, the telescope and to the field of optics in general. The paper also covers Newton's mathematical achievements in the form of calculus and his most famous discovery of all - gravity.
From the Paper "Newton's discoveries in optics were offset by his even more groundbreaking discoveries in pure mathematics and the science of mechanics. One of the most important modern mathematical tools "The Integral Calculus" was the brainchild of Newton. It need not be mentioned that without this mathematical tool the progress that the scientific community achieved in many disciplines would have been significantly delayed. However Newton's discoveries in the field of mechanics outweigh all his other accomplishments. Though Galileo had already discovered the first law of motion his theory was based on the movement of objects without any external influence or attraction between them. Newton's three laws of motion explained the hitherto inexplicable behavior of all physical bodies in motion. Still more astounding was Newton's discovery of gravity. All these four laws put together explained the mechanical motion of all earthly and heavenly bodies. Newton not only proposed these laws but also ratified them by using the integral calculus."
