Abstract This paper begins with a general discussion of the history of Buddhism in and then goes on to discuss the specific history of Tantric Buddhism. The paper briefly discusses the life of Buddha and how, after his death, several different sects within Buddhism arose, including Tantric Buddhism. The paper explains that Tantric (esoteric) Buddhism arose in the seventh and eighth centuries in India and the Himalayas and still survives today, in the twentieth century, as a living tradition of the Buddhism found in Nepal and Tibet. The paper also discusses early Tantric scriptures, Tantric practices and beliefs and its spread to other countries. In addition, the paper examines Western acceptance of Tantric Buddhism and the modern expression of this ancient religion and philosophy.
From the Paper "The historical Buddha spoke a language of Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India, although it is not clear which specific dialect he spoke. Sanskrit was a formal literary language used almost exclusively by the elite of society. There is an extensive record of the Buddha's teaching that survives today; it is written in an ancient Indian dialect known as Pali. This record forms the scriptural basis for one of two forms of contemporary Buddhism, the Theravada; this is practiced in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia."
Abstract The writer of this paper defines the term Orientalism, which comes from the Latin word oriens, as the rising sun, which generally implies, 'the East.' This paper focuses on the culture, religion, art and history of Orientalism. This paper explores the European view of Islam throughout history. The writer explains that during the birth of Christianity and Islam there was a distinct difference between European Christian cultures and those of East and North Africa, which are detailed at length in this paper. During the Middle Ages the European Christians denounced the Islamic people as the enemies of Christendom, due to their lack of knowledge of Eastern culture. This paper discusses how the Enlightenment thinkers of the 18th century viewed the Eastern culture as being superior to that of the Christian west. This paper illustrates that Islamic societies were praised for their religious tolerance when compared with Christian west. This paper also delves into those who opposed the Orientalist culture, such as James Mill, who believed that Eastern civilizations were stagnant and corrupt and Karl Marx who believed that Eastern methods of production were static. Christian evangelists further maligned Eastern traditions as superstitious nonsense. This paper also examines the rich artistic history of the Oriental culture. Depictions of Islamic Moors were found in Medieval and Renaissance art, but it wasn't until the 19th century that Orientalism became recognized in the arts. This paper also details the outspoken views and opinions of political activist and author Edward Said.
Table of Contents:
Definition of Orientalism
History of Orientalism
Orientalism in the Arts
History of Orientalism in the Arts
Edward Said and Orientalism
References
From the Paper "Photography was still in its infancy and did not allow for the capture of the sunlight, the colors and the mood in which a painter could. With the iconoclastic nature of Islam, and the forbidding of the depiction of the prophet Muhammad, there was little representational art in Islam. Most of their artwork was centered on pattern and design. For this reason, the Muslim world had very little visual record of their history, including the people and the cities that existed prior to modern photography. Today, still, the best visual record of exotic cities like Cairo or Damascus, prior to the advent of modern photography, exists in 19th century paintings by Europeans and Americans. In the mid to late 19th century, painters from every country in Europe and from across the oceans in America, came to the East."
This paper examines the lack of female historians, as well as women's accomplishments and contributions documented throughout history, in a primarily male dominated field.
Abstract This paper ponders the argument that the secondary characteristics of a historian has more impact on his or her writing, than gender alone. The writer contends that these secondary characteristics, such as race, socio-economic status, religious and political affiliations are what determine a writer's personal beliefs and biases. This paper explores the contributions of Sarah Bolton, one of America's leading feminist historians, who brought women in history to the forefront. Bolton's writings of history openly advocated the role of women in history and the change in social norms. The writer of this paper contends and explains that historians generally have agendas and that their writings are used to further these agendas. The writer also asserts that if history is written only by men, it is logical to assume that women's contributions to historical events will be lacking. The same holds true for history written by only one particular race.
From the Paper "Take, for example, the different perspectives that could be taken by two writers, both women, about women being granted access to higher education in the 20th Century. The first woman writer is a member of the middle-class, and she and her husband both have to work in order to keep their family in the middle class. That historian may begin her history with women getting equal access to higher education, which led to more women entering the workforce in higher-paying jobs. In addition, that historian could accurately show that, traditionally, as women have entered an occupation, it has become devalued by society, and the members of the occupation have then suffered a relative decline in pay. As a result, the historian could conclude that women's access to higher education has led to a society of families that cannot maintain a middle-class lifestyle without two incomes."
This paper traces the history of the development of the study of Sociology and examines the works of its founders , including Marx, Durkheim and Weber.
1,450 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 6 sources, 2001, $ 48.95
Abstract This paper provides a complete overview of the development of the science of sociology. It focuses on three major players - Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber and their influence on the early stages of the science. It shows how they they helped form the basis for the three general perspectives in sociology: conflict theory, functionalism, and interactionism.
From the paper:
"It was Auguste Comte (1789-1857) who coined the term ?sociology.? He believed this new science should study the question of "how is society possible"? (Bartek/Mullin14) He based his own science on the idea that society is composed of individuals in the same way as a line is composed of points. The focus must be on observations of society and the collections of those individuals. Because of Comte's work, other sociologists began to study the changes in society."
Tags: conflict, theory, functionalism, interactionism, development, history
Abstract The writer of this paper supplies a brief yet concise look at Russia's population which currently boasts more than 160 different ethnic groups that call the Russian Federation home. This paper details the makeup of the Russian Federation, which is comprised of 89 constituencies and 21 republics, that enjoy a high degree of autonomy that correspond to some of Russia's ethnic minorities. This paper examines the events that led to the fall of the U.S.S.R. and the collapse of the communist government in 1991. This paper delves into the various leaders of Russia including Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin, Boris Yeltsin who banned the Communist party and Vladimir Putin. This paper discusses the circumstances surrounding the Russian Civil War which claimed 9 million lives. This paper also contains pertinent facts and statistics relating to this particular topic.
From the Paper "After Stalin's death in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev became the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and Georgi Malenkov as Premier of the Soviet Union. Under this new leadership, an amnesty was declared for some who were serving prison sentences for criminal offices, price cuts were announced, and a relaxation of restrictions on private plots, ending the role of large-scale forced labor in the economy. From 1958 to 1964, Khrushchev was also the Premier of the Soviet Union. The ten years following Stalin's death saw the reassertion of political power over the means of coercion, thus the party became the dominant institution over the secret police and army."
Tags: russia, history, u.s.s.r, communism, political, putin, lenin, stalin
Abstract This paper encompasses two papers that explore the origins of religion and religious practices. The first paper provides a very general overview. The second paper references sources that suggest how religion is created from historical artifacts and practices, as well as the practices originating from faith. The implication is that religion can and should be studied in this context for better understanding.
From the Paper "We feel as though religion should be taken on faith, for it is both inappropriate and impossible to quantify God. However, the emergence of science as promoting new modes of understanding in the Eighteenth Century - and in many respects prior to this era - suggests that there are better ways of understanding the world around us. The religious artifacts and written evidence left in books and in the historical sanctuaries indicate that religions all have pasts, and that many of the initial practices and behaviors in a given religion can be attributed to specific origins. It is through knowing such origins that we better understand how and why our existing religions have come to pass, as well as the purpose they serve in modern society. In the study of historical evidence and markers in text, we learn that religion is highly psychological."
Abstract This paper presents a financial analysis of General Motors financial statements as found in its annual financial statement (10-K) release to its shareholders and the general public. This analysis includes liquidity ratios, inventory ratios, asset ratios, equity ratios, and a host of other typical financial analysis tools. A brief overview of General Motors' current industry position introduces the analysis.
From the Paper "General Motors Corporation sells automobiles and other related parts and equipment, operates a diverse portfolio of business operations. In fact, it is as much of a finance company as it is a vehicle manufacturer. The most recent annual 10-K filing is for the 2004 financial year providing the relevant data regarding income on operations, net income for the most recent years, as well as a host of other financial related information necessary to complete a financial analysis of the company. The 10-K also contains relevant auditor, internal and external data, as well as the personal signoff of the executive officers committing to the validity of the financial reports forcing them to take a vested interest in the validity of the company's numbers. This last is required by the Sarbaanes-Oxley Act of 2001."
Abstract This paper discusses the nature and character of General Motors financial statements as found in its annual financial statement (10-K), released to its shareholders and the general public. Particular attention is paid to the income statements, cash flows, and accounting policies. Also, the type of income statement, either single-step or multi-step, is identified.
From the Paper "Income statements can either be single-step or multi-step and the choice of which is used is dependent on the type of business and the business model employed. A single-step income statement tends to place all revenues in one sum as well as all expenses together in another sum. Single-step income statements are most commonly associated with companies or business models built around a service or an intangible product of some kind. Multi-step income statements normally contain more than one sub-total under the sales revenue column such as a cost of goods sold (COGS) figure so that a more accurate picture of revenue can be deduced from the figures."
Abstract This essay discusses a particular philosophy question that was selected to deal with Rousseau and his concept of the general will. This paper suggests that the general will is a political entity that is created and maintained by the individuals within a society.
From the Paper "Jean-Jacques Rousseau is one of the most famous political philosophers of the 18th century. One of his most famous ideas is the concept of the general will. When discussing the general will Rousseau argues, So long as several men together consider themselves to be a single body, they have but a single will, which is concerned with their common preservation and the general well- being (Rousseau 203). "
Abstract The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages for General Motors (GM) to move production operations to a less developed country. The paper examines labor costs and supply chain issues.
From the Paper "There are a number of reasons that could motivate a company based in the United States to move all or a part of its production to a less developed country. There also are different ways to interpret production."
Abstract This paper provides an evaluation of the organizational development of General Motors, Egypt. The paper covers the issues of background of the company, market analysis, assessment of business problems and evaluation of strategy.
From the Paper "This research presents the findings of an organizational development analysis of General Motors, Egypt. The findings are presented in the following discussions: A background on the company and its environment, B environmental and market analysis, C major business problems, D assessment of business problems and E evaluation of the strategy of General Motors, Egypt. General Motors Corporation, GM, ranks number one on the Fortune and GM is a premiere America company by any measure."
Tags: organizational development, General Motors, Egypt, strategy
Abstract This paper looks at Selye's syndrome, known also as General Adaptation Syndrome. Selye was the fist to talk about stress and its cause, starting in the 1920's. The writer discusses that he is credited with discovering what is behind "just feeling sick" and recognizing it is due to the body's response to constant stress. The writer reveals Selye's belief that it is the "wear and tear on the body."
From the Paper "Hans Selye wrote in the front piece of his book 'Stress': 'To those who are under the exhausting nervous strain of pursuing their ideal whatever it may be to the martyrs who sacrifice themselves for others as well as to those hounded by selfish ambition fear jealousy and worst of all by hate. For my stress stems from the urge to help and not to judge But most personally this book is dedicated to my wife who helped so much to ..."
Tags: Seyle's syndrome, General Adaptation Syndrome
Abstract This paper discusses the current situation in the automotive industry and General Motors' position in the overall industry. The paper discusses GM's current troubles as well as future strategies in relation to its 2004 annual statement. The paper further examines GM's future move into the China market and the possibility of a bankruptcy due to Delphi's recent bankruptcy.
From the Paper "The automotive industry in the US is currently under assault from several different threats simultaneously. The most obvious threat to continued sales and profitability are the increasingly high fuel prices that are exacerbating most energy related or energy-reliant industries. Siddiqi claims that lower reserves combined with higher fuel consumption could permanently raise the cost of gas (2005). Since US automotive manufacturers have long resisted the move to more fuel efficient vehicles, preferring instead to produce and market its gas guzzling SUVs, a permanent rise in fuel costs would doom that high margin product line and severely weaken an already exposed industry."
Abstract This document discusses a case study concerning General Electric's thermocouple manufacturing division and its need to implement a just in time manufacturing environment. Yet, an analysis of the case study also reveals a pervasive lack of strong management that has led to several entrenched systemic faults in its production, inventory, and workforce related functions.
From the Paper "General Electric's (GE's) thermocouple manufacturing unit is considering a shift to just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. After attending an impact conference several of this unit's executives have returned with the intent of configuring the thermocouple manufacturing facility to JIT oriented processes. However, there are numerous impediments that make implementing JIT both daunting and, in fact, impractical under the current circumstances. Chief among these issues are pure inefficiencies and an utter lack of quality in the following areas."
Abstract In this article, the writer offers a comparison of how South African, American, and Czech sources portray national history, art history, world history and personal history. The writer examines a selection of texts to identify to what extent each amplifies linkages between world history, natural history, art history and personal history.
From the Paper "History as a record of events and dates can be a dull affair because it does not necessarily capture the dynamics of personal or even state actions as they were experienced by the people involved. Yet people are what make history and what made up the culture or cultures in which events and actions unfolded. Professional historians, if they are skilled enough, can make an account of an era or a significant set of events lively, but the life's blood of a culture a people a person or ... "
Tags: Personal, history, national, history, world, history, art, history
