Abstract
In this article, the writer looks at the possibility of life as a dream, concentrating on the philosophy of Descartes. The writer notes that Descartes, in his 'Meditations on First Philosophy', explored the issue by analyzing his own behavior according to his own perceptions. Descartes noted that to his knowledge he is a man, and being a man (human) he must be sleep as a habit. The writer discusses that Descartes described the dream state when one sleeps as being characterized by the same things the insane think in their waking moments - or things even less probable. The writer looks at Descartes' view that at the same time, our dreams can contain everyday things - for example, one might dream they are in very familiar circumstances, such as being dressed and sitting by the fire, when in fact they are asleep and lying, undressed, in bed.

From the Paper
"Is life just a dream? Is life possibly a dream? Why or why not? What consequences or implications can you draw from the view that life is just a dream? Schopenhauer once famously posed this seemingly unanswerable question. Its origins stem back to the beginnings of philosophy as a school of thought (perhaps even further beyond). The present paper examines whether or not life is just a dream - or whether we must admit the possibility that life may be a dream as limited humans with only our own faulted minds ..."

Tags:life, dream, philosophy

Abstract
The paper discusses "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. The paper notes that the play weaves together the three subject themes: a reality in Athens, a dream-state in the woods, and the play-within-the play. The paper discusses that it is a tale of three romances, of love triangles, of jealousy and hilarity. The paper also states that Shakespeare's play is therefore structured to ask its readers and viewing audiences to contemplate the meaning of fiction and its impact on human consciousness.

From the Paper
"They share characters and situations. For example, all four of the play's central human characters fall asleep in the woods and enter its dreamlike world. Hermia, Helena, Demetrius and Lysander all appear in the city and in the woods and have equally significant roles in both worlds. Likewise, Bottom and the rest of the craftsmen troop practice "Pyramus and Thisbe" in the woods but perform it to the king and queen-to-be in Athens. The woods therefore serves as the place in which dreams are created, crafted, and nurtured. Those dreams then impact the daily lives of those living in the concrete world of the city, just as Shakespeare's play impacts the daily lives of those who read and watch them."

Tags:three, worlds, significant, roles, essential, reality

Abstract
The paper relates that the idea of the American dream was once related to owning land, having a family and being able to pursue life through freedom. The paper explains that it was this idea that led people to cross the states and plant their families in the middle of the wilderness in order to begin their lives. Then, the paper discusses how the American dream became the dream of immigrants that came to the United States to escape from tyranny and endless oppression. The paper discusses how today, there are those that believe that the American dream is solely focused on wealth and power, while others believe that the American dream is still about freedom and achieving happiness.

From the Paper
"The idea of the American dream was once related to owning land, having a family and being able to pursue life through freedom. It was this idea that led people to cross the states and plant their families in the middle of the wilderness in order to begin their lives. In time, the American dream became the dream of immigrants that came to the United States on ships, leading them away from tyranny and endless oppression. Today there are those that believe that the American dream is solely focused on wealth and power. Other individuals, however, believe that the American dream is still about freedom and achieving happiness."

Tags:american, dream, idea

Abstract
This essay discusses how the "American dream" is one of individual liberty, prosperity, success, and equal inclusion. Some Americans have been able to make the dream come true. Others have been less fortunate. The paper demonstrates how American industries and the United States government helped individuals and groups to turn the dream into reality in the period 1896 to 1932. Nonetheless, because of inequality, many Americans were excluded from the dream.

Tags:the, american, dream

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that General Colin Powell is a prime example of someone who, with heart, determination, and a "never give up" attitude, achieved the American dream. This work briefly outlines three points about Powell's life that make him a suitable example of an adaptable and capable man who developed almost despite his lack of desire to follow in the path his parents, may have chosen for him.

From the Paper
"Powell later went on to study at City College of New York with a major in engineering, choosing the school for its price rather than its core values or prestige. After feeling frustrated by the engineering program he altered his path to geology and sadly his grades dropped. His exposure to the campus ROTC program led him down a different path to a military career, one he believed he was more suited for. Powell is open about his lack of desire to develop through a path of higher education and rather would like tot choose a more hands on approach, such as through the military.
"Powell is also frank and open about his unique position as a first generation child of immigrants of his race, as he gives credence to the fact that though he is black, he does not share the African American historical burden of slavery and therefore has had only limited trouble seeking and assuming equality."

Tags:immigrant, U.S., Secretary, of, State, black, military

Abstract
This paper discusses how "The European Dream" is considered to be a reference work in the context of the 21st century and its tendencies. It examines how the book practically presents a new vision of the future of the world, a world in which the main superpower will be considered to be the European Union, despite the recent failure to adopt a Constitution and despite the differences, visible at one moment or another, among the member states.

From the Paper
"Another feature of the American civil society, which has also been adopted by the Europeans, is the cultural diversity. If in the past foreigners were considered to be an impediment to the progress and were treated as such by the European natives, nowadays things seem to have changed and the racist views have been replaced by multicultural ones. Under these circumstances, the attention has been moved in Europe from the possession and distribution of the capital and the maintenance of the private property to the preservation of cultural values and identity."

Tags:superpower, american, dream

Abstract
This paper offers a review of Anthony's Burgess' article on the state of America, called "American Dream." In his assessment of the state of America, Anthony Burgess paints a picture of America as a country in neurosis. For Burgess, America is a young country that places a great premium on individualism. This gives rise to an unchecked consumerism, to the neglect of public utilities and services, to unhealthy alliances between governments and the elite.

From the Paper
"Three decades after the Burgess article, the America is still far from being a socialized country. However, while Burgess' argument for socialization has merit, he makes a mistake in ascribing the cause to an ethic of individualism. One of the great social developments since 1971 was the growth of various grassroots and citizen movements, aimed at giving previously disenfranchised citizens a voice. For example, the women's movement and various ethnicity-based groups began to organize and air their grievances. As a result, people began to devote more attention to social structures and practices that maintained existing social hierarchies."

Tags:society, united, states, capitalism, history, politics

Abstract
The paper looks at the definitions of the American Dream that began with the Founding Fathers and was embodied in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The paper then discusses how we are in a dire economic situation and recession today and the root cause of it all is due to how most people saw the American Dream to be material wealth and possessions. The paper addresses society's trend of consumption and asserts that instead of having worked hard, spent less and saved for a rainy day, some Americans now keep putting the blame on others. The paper argues that the American Dream means freedom of speech and worship, and freedom from want and fear, with conspicuous consumption and greed nowhere in the picture. The paper asserts that if one can live within one's means and be content, then he is truly living the American Dream.

From the Paper
"It has often been said that "perception is reality" whereby how one sees something as being real becomes indeed real for that person despite others seeing it as "unreal." Thus, the reality of any idea, concept or thinking for that matter depends on the interpretation of a person or a group. One group's or one person's interpretation may differ from that of another. The case in point on this issue is the expression "one man's terrorist is another man' freedom fighter." To each his or her own rings true indeed. In looking at the American Dream, John Truslow Adams wrote several decades ago (The Epic of America, 1931): "Each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized be others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." Going by the basic tenets of Adams words, he never mentioned there of untold riches, fabulous fame, economic mobility, power of political office or a promise of all the material things in life. What is true in Adam's words is that the American Dream is a dream of achieving one's defined goal thorough merit - by achieving the goal through one's efforts. Then again this paper contains just one person's perception or interpretation of what the American Dream is all about."

Tags:consumption, wealth, greed, entitlement

Abstract
In his book "Forced into Glory : Abraham Lincoln's White Dream", Lerone Bennett claims that the glorification of Lincoln by Americans is not totally justified. He claims that Lincoln himself was a racist. In making these statements, an overall study of the issue of racism vs. slavery is discussed in a historical context.

From the paper:

"Lerone Bennett?s book Forced into Glory : Abraham Lincoln's White Dream is designed to make any reader rethink all of her or his preconceptions about Lincoln. American schoolchildren are taught that Lincoln was the savior of our nation, a man so motivated by the highest of ideals in terms of both guaranteeing the continuing union of our states and ending slavery that he willingly put himself into deadly peril.
Bennett suggests that this is not quite an accurate picture, and indeed in some measure he must be right. No one is perfectly self sacrificing, no one perfectly good, no one perfectly wise. Lincoln was flawed as any great man. He was not, however, perhaps as flawed as Bennett makes him out to be."

Tags:abolishment, slavery, racist, reality, American, Gettysburg, military, Union

Abstract
This paper examines how the fantasy of liberty and opportunity has attracted and will continue to attract untold amounts of immigrants to American shores to be welcomed by the Statue of Liberty. It attempts to show how the reality is far different from what is envisioned when immigrants first come to the United States and how the American dream, in fact, leads to more inequality in society, which is the exact opposite of its ideals.

From the Paper
"The reality in terms of material wealth is however that the gap between rich and poor is not only increasing, but also evident of how the American Dream in terms of prosperity is only accessible to some. According to Julianne Malveaux for example, there is a significant difference in income level between black and white people (in Rothenberg, 2004, p. 291). She cites the wealth index to show how wide the chasm is between the familial wealth of black and white families. Malveaux also points out that the median wealth of nonwhite families showed a tendency to fall during the late 1990's, while the white median family wealth rose, widening the difference. Because of this, many nonwhite families do not have access to home ownership, which is one of the most significant elements of wealth in the United States."

Tags:liberty, opportunity, 9/11, poverty