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An Analysis of "Reaching Out" by Henri Nouwen, 2008.
A brief summary and analysis of Henri Nouwen's book, "Reaching Out".
1,012 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
This paper offers a review of the book "Reaching Out" by Henri Nouwen in which he argues that spirituality does not depend on physical gratification or by being around people, but relies on the solace of the heart to bring about serenity; and eventually, the deep peace of solitude. The writer also provides an example of how he was able to relate to Nouwen's book in his private life and suggests some changes that he would make in writing it.
Outline:
Abstract
Concrete Responses
Reflection
Action
From the Paper
"One example of how I can relate to this book is directly related to how I pray and how it affects me on a daily basis. When Nouwen defines the discipline of prayer on a daily basis (134), I was immediately aware of my own prayer habits. For instance, when I had forgotten to pray for about a week last month, I began to feel that very same loneliness that made me feel separate and isolated from society. My week went well, but there was this undercurrent of negativity that made me feel as if I was the only one suffering, or that I was the alone in the world. This forced me to realize that I needed to pray every day to and to come in contact with my higher power (God) to realize my own place in society. The inner feeling of warmth began to return as I began to pray on the following week, and the feeling of loneliness subsided. Two or three days into my prayer, the feeling of solitude began to return, making me feel like I could go out and be socially hospitable to my friends and family. This aspect of the book helped me to understand that I am only as spiritual by the level of discipline in my prayer habits. By creating a discipline to pray every day (once or twice a day is good for me) I can feel the connectedness that Nouwen mentions through understanding solitude, community interaction, and the premise of prayer as a contact with a power greater than myself."
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Greek and Roman Philosophy, 2008.
This paper studies the issue of Greek and Roman philosophy and the attempt to give meaning to life.
1,200 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that philosophy was created by the Greeks as a way of delving into many of the questions about life and the relationship of the individual to the rest of the world. The writer also explains that the philosopher asked about the meaning of life and offered answers to how that meaning could be found. The writer notes that one aspect of philosophical inquiry was intended to help understand the meaning of life and to explain the value of philosophical inquiry itself to understand the meaning of life. The writer concludes that philosophers ever since the beginnings of philosophy in the Greek world have considered how to give meaning to life and what aspects of life are most important in making that determination.
From the Paper
"One of the key issues in philosophy is what constitutes a moral life, which entails questions of the meaning of happiness and its importance, the definition of moral character and its necessity, conflicts between the two elements, and the question of what other elements are necessary for living a good life.
"Happiness can be identified not as an element in living the good life but as the act of living the good life. Aristotle indicates this with reference to the issue of wisdom. For Aristotle, practical wisdom means knowledge concerning the good life and how to achieve it. In addition, for Aristotle the good life is the happy life, and everything that is good is good only as it leads to and is conducive to human happiness. Aristotle argues that not all ends are final ends, and some are the means to other ends. Yet there has to be a final end in sight or the process would be infinite and never reach the good, the chief good that is something final. There can be only one final end, and that is the end human beings are seeking. Identifying what this is requires a consideration of its nature and the nature of competing goals."
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Just War, 2008.
This paper looks at the concept of a just war from a theological point of view.
2,551 words (approx. 10.2 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 77.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that a major issue facing society has particular currency at the present time, and that is the problem of war and how to justify a given war as a just action. Indeed, from a theological point of view, the writer relates that the first issue is whether war is allowed at all and then whether a given war can be justified and on what basis. The writer points out that scriptural evidence on the issue is often contradictory and may be based on the historical factors prevailing at the time a particular passage was written. However, the writer maintains that there can also be seen a progression in thought as the needs of one era give way to a broader and more comprehensive view of the question.
Outline:
Introduction
Background
Old Testament Support
Conclusion
From the Paper
" In his writings from this time, pacifism would remain a central motif, an idea that he pioneered and for which he was proud to have been the instrument for bringing the idea into the open. The idea had first appeared in the western world among the teachings of the early Christians, and they had drawn the same conclusions from the teachings of Christ as did Erasmus. As the Roman world became Christianized, however, a different attitude toward the bearing of arms was developed in service of the Christian state, an idea that would be bolstered by St. Augustine, who developed a theory that a war to resist aggression or to enforce justice was not only permissible but was a Christian duty. The way enforcing justice was defined, though, nearly any war could be supported. St. Thomas Aquinas followed Augustine in promulgating rules for the just war and created guidelines as to what was just and unjust .."
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Social Justice, 2008.
A comparison of John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx and Plato on social justice.
1,247 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This paper discusses how Plato's concept of social justice consisted of individual virtue as well as that quality which makes a society good, harmonious and productive. It then looks at how both Mill and Marx borrowed elements of Plato's thought in developing their own versions of social justice. In addition, the paper examines how Marx essentially believed that the cause of all social and economic inequality was the capitalist system and how social justice could only come about though the overthrow of that system. In comparison, the paper looks at how Mill provided practical principles of social justice that demonstrate just how social justice can be compatible with political freedom.
From the Paper
"Marx believed that capitalism is the source of inequality since the division of classes creates a gulf between rich and poor, as well as between workers and the owners of the means of production. Capitalism comprises both an economic and political structure which determines the distribution of wealth. Marx viewed the principle of justice as distributive and as based in individual need. In the Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels (1) stated that all social classes over history are involved in a struggle "that each time ended, either in a revolutionary reconstitution of society at large, or in the common ruin of the contending classes". The means to achieve social justice is through revolution or radical transformation of all economic institutions along with the existing social and political system. "
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Confucianism and Christianity, 2008.
A comparative analysis of the beliefs of Confucianism and Christianity.
1,398 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 46.95
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Abstract
This paper looks at Confucianism with an eye towards comparing it to the western world's greatest contribution to global moral philosophy: Christianity. It discusses how Confucianism is a humanistic and highly rational philosophy that eschews faith in favor of reason and how it also views heaven in a much more nuanced way than Christianity, preferring to see in it many things. The paper argues that Confucianism subordinates the individual to a rigorous form of ethical reasoning that is not wholly dissimilar to Platonism whereas Christianity seeks the subordination of the individual to God above. In the end, Confucianism, whatever its shortcomings as a regulator of human conduct, can properly be called the antecedent to contemporary humanism in a way that Christianity, obviously, cannot.
From the Paper
"To begin with, Confucianism is about discerning a proper mode of conduct; in other words, it is about setting up a way of seeing and organizing the world that frustrates behavior that would do more harm to society than good. William Theodore de Bary writes that Confucianism holds out a vision of an ideal social order that emphasizes historic values over "fixed eternal verities" (Woo, 71+). More recently, Neo-Confucianism - a cross between traditional Confucianism and Buddhist thought (for a brief discussion of Neo-Confucianism's preoccupation with Buddhist philosophical strains, please see Woo, 71+) - has leaped to the forefront with an equally passionate plea for a well-ordered society founded upon good (moral) conduct that appears to have many of the same fundamental tenets as classic, archaic Confucianism. "
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Interventions Regarding the End of Life, 2008.
This paper discusses families' experiences in the withdrawal of life support in the intensive care unit.
1,552 words (approx. 6.2 pages), 9 sources, APA, $ 50.95
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Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that the decision to remove life-sustaining interventions in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a crucial event for persons responsible for end-of-life care decisions. Research into families' experiences with decisions to withdraw life sustaining interventions from a family member has indicated that the decisions made by the patient's immediate family can impact their perceptions and their psycho-social status. The writer discusses that appropriate educational and emotional support for families appears to improve their level of comfort regarding end-of-life decision-making and can facilitate the quality of the family's experience when dealing with difficult choices for a loved one. However, the literature in these areas demonstrates incongruity regarding how to best affect positive outlook among family members, and also the type of educational information needed and the methods required to deliver it. The writer therefore seeks to clarify which strategies are most effective in promoting a positive family experience when immediate family members make end-of-life decisions for a loved one receiving clinical health services.
Outline:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem and Purpose
Literature Review
Research Question
Hypotheses
Theoretical Framework
Hypothesis 1
Hypothesis 2
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Making decisions related to the withdrawal of life support in the ICU is one of the most demanding experiences the family will ever face. Nurses play a key role in the effectiveness of the decision making process and it is their understanding of the stages involved in that process which can determine the quality of the outcome. As McHale Wiegand maintains, as more families become involved in end-of-life decisions, it is essential that current research be assessed, the gaps in knowledge be identified, and that new directions for ongoing research should be established. Little is actually known about the interaction of nurses with families in this situation; what is certain is that the interaction is not uniform and that nurses need to realize what will be most effective with families who are experiencing high levels of stress."
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Corporate Ethics, 2008.
This paper explores the philosophy of ethics and its relevance in the corporate sphere.
3,940 words (approx. 15.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 107.95
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Abstract
The paper focuses on philosophical studies on ethics and the way in which conceptions of ethics can be seen to be tied to an understanding of human nature. The paper explores the beliefs of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Plato and Immanuel Kant and develops a trajectory of philosophical thought which could hold the answer to determining absolute moral right and, as a consequence, the grounds for unfailing compliance. The paper considers the implications of this reasoning for the corporate sphere and particularly on the contents and effectiveness of corporate codes of conduct.
From the Paper
"In the wake of corporate scandals, such as Enron and the Martha Stewart trial, which have, in recent years, captured international attention and media coverage, corporate ethics has become a household term. What corporate ethics entails, how these standards are created and maintained, and whether anyone actually pays any attention to them at all has been the subject of much interest and debate. It may be assumed that the aforementioned scandals could justifiably cause the layman to believe that the notion of corporate ethics is a mere chimera, something to which organizations pay lip service to ease the minds of stockholders as well as customers. On the other hand, the public nature of such scandals has put corporations and other large organizations in the position of being forced to discuss these matters openly and to give account of their own practices."
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Can We Know Anything Independently of Experience?, 2008.
A discussion detailing the processes in which a person acquires knowledge.
1,219 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
The paper questions the manner in which we obtain knowledge and refers to intuition, experience and the senses as sources of knowledge. The paper proposes that the things that we are aware of are not entirely dependent on the senses but rather from experience that starts with the senses. Continuing on this theme, the paper states that children have the ability to acquire knowledge but that this has to be done through a learning process, the first of which is through the senses. The paper concludes that knowledge is obtained through custom or repetition, intuition and imagination.
From the Paper
"The most important issues we will ever encounter concern the ultimate questions such as those pertaining to God and life after death. Of these matters we can have no sensory information and experience is utterly useless. When sensory impressions are present, the only purpose they serve is as a springboard for reasoning. However, a priori reasoning is possible, as is observed in mathematics. Certain types of knowledge are outside the sphere of all experience and also are beyond the realm of the senses (Kant 184). A priori knowledge is certain and progresses in a logical manner; such is the case with mathematical propositions which are never based in experience and instead are based in necessity. Propositions in the natural sciences also are a priori and necessary as well as synthetic. Kant (188) uses as one example of such propositions "that in all communication of motion, action and reaction must always be equal". The principles of a priori knowledge only have one source which is the faculty of reason. The only means through which we can know anything a priori is pure reason."
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Revisionist Vs. Revolutionary Marxism, 2008.
An analysis of the tensions between revisionist and revolutionary Marxism.
1,211 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 41.95
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Abstract
The paper identifies the most significant tension between revolutionary and revisionist Marxism that was a fundamental disagreement over how to rid the world of capitalism and replace it with communism. The paper explains that revolutionary Marxists believed that communism could only be achieved through violent upheaval or revolution, while revisionist Marxists believed that communism could be achieved through gradual and peaceful means.
From the Paper
"As is the case with every ideology, the central and significant tensions within Marxism can be identified in terms of their different prescriptions for political life. Revolutionary Marxists believed in the prescription for revolution formulated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in The Communist Manifesto, which called for the overthrow of capitalist governments in Europe by the working class.
"Marx expected The Communist Manifesto to trigger revolution across Europe and believed he would be able to contribute directly to the triumph of communism through the fiery rhetoric of the Manifesto. He proclaimed that, "the immediate aim of the Communists is the same as that of all other proletarian parties: formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy, and conquest of political power by the proletariat." (Marx and Engels)"
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My Ideology, 2008.
Looks at the author's own ideology called conservative liberal or a liberal conservative.
1,910 words (approx. 7.6 pages), 13 sources, MLA, $ 60.95
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Abstract
In this paper, the author relates that he adheres to the ideology of conservative liberalism to the exclusion of socialism, communism, anarchism, fascism or Nazism. The author further relates his belief that this ideology combines the openness and willingness to experiment of liberalism and the caution of classical conservatism. In addition, the author explains that he bases this selection on his view of human nature. The author then concludes that, almost by elimination, he chooses liberalism, thus favoring a government in which the will of the government can be expressed through change.
From the Paper
"This concept of liberty helps to shape the corresponding concept of security. The security that the state must offer is twofold. First, it must protect the whole of society from external invasion. We have managed to do this successfully in the repulse of the attack of the Plu-Turns, and we must retain a government of sufficient strength and foresight to repel any future invasion. At the same time, the government must secure the individuals in our society from internal oppression. In our recovery, we will undoubtedly go through periods of severe economic dislocation."
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Plato's Cave and Individualism, 2008.
This paper discusses Plato's allegory of the cave and the group think mentality common in organizations today.
1,468 words (approx. 5.9 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
The paper analyzes the dangers inherent in blind obedience and group think as illustrated in Plato's allegory of the cave. The paper discusses the relevance of the allegory to contemporary organizational law by drawing upon the author's experiences as a member of law enforcement. The paper then looks at the mechanisms that we use to avoid or subvert ideas that appear different from our own and challenge the status quo. The paper concludes that we must embrace different ideas and nurture a respect for different cultures and world views.
From the Paper
"Plato's allegory of the cave captures the essence of organizational culture. Obviously, the ideology of sameness and normative thinking has transcended from Plato's time to today. Thus, the allegory is relevant to contemporary organizational life. Organizations are known for fostering a culture of group think. The dangers inherent in group think is the object lesson that Plato tries to convey. When we refuse to engage in critical thinking, we are goaded into a false sense of security, and create our own prison. The allegory of the cave is particularly relevant to corporate culture, and the blind obedience that is encouraged and often rewarded. There is an insidious force in organizational culture, which subsumes individualism for the corporate good. Like prisoners chained in a cave, employees have been trained to see through the lenses of the corporate image."
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The Limits of Mind: On the Fallacy of the Design Argument, 2008.
This paper critiques the design argument based on arguments from William Paley's "The Watch and the Watchmaker" and David Hume's "A Critique of the Design Argument".
2,040 words (approx. 8.2 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 64.95
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Abstract
This essay critiques the design argument, as explained in both William Paley's "The Watch and the Watchmaker" and in David Hume's "A Critique of the Design Argument". This paper also explains the features of the design argument and evaluates the argument in order to critique it. The author follows Hume in suggesting that the design argument is ultimately a failure due to the massive egocentricity inherent in assuming that God can be understood through an analogy to the human mind.
From the Paper
"The reason I have been rather pedantic in deconstructing Paley's analogy is twofold. Firstly, we have the problem of Darwin's theory of evolution. That is to say, the theory that explains that the mechanism or process that makes things fit is intrinsic to the system of nature itself. If you wish, Darwin's theory of evolution is akin to showing that the watch really does produce the watch and is the only creator thereof. Whether Darwin believed that God made it so or not is irrelevant--the point is that God can be taken out of evolution and the underlying principle of nature shown to be merely survival, and the survival of those traits which help us survive. Naturally, this system creates something which looks like it has been designed--because we have adapted to our environments, not because we have been created alongside our environments as a system always already in perfect harmony. Again, I am not concerned to argue that this is so--but this is merely an instance of the observer coming upon the watch and having no knowledge of the manufacturing processes involved in the production of mechanical objects, assumes that this watch is something which just exists, with no thought or evidence of processes that were involved in making it, because his lack of understanding of the need for those processes means he doesn't recognize them. Paley's argument is that we know something has been designed, because we recognize that the process by which it is constructed is one that requires thought--by I am suggesting that, when it comes to nature, we cannot know what the process is that is required to construct it, and therefore we cannot arrive at any certain deduction as to its having been designed by the method Paley describes. In fact, as I have shown, the only theory that describes the process (of evolution and survival) that creates, or recreates, nature is one that does not need to rely on design--at least not in any sense which we can understand, which brings me to my second criticism of Paley's analogy."
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Human Rights as an Internal Affair, 2008.
This paper argues that human rights are not an internal state affair and rejects that attempting to impose universal human rights is simply Western cultural imperialism.
1,260 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 42.95
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Abstract
This essay argues that there are such things as universal human rights, and that when one state violates these, other states have a legitimate reason to raise appeal. The essay states that this can give rise to a tension between state autonomy and universal rights, however, it argues that this possibility must be endured, for the alternative is to allow people to be abused. Moreover, the paper asserts that there are practical steps that could be taken to encourage sovereign states to acknowledge universal human rights.
From the Paper
"The only difference between those who argued against suffrage in the West or against same-sex marriage in Canada, and those who today argue in favour of genital mutilation in Nigeria, is that the Western defenders of sexism and heterosexism claimed to speak for all of humanity, and for God, while the minorities claim only to speak for themselves, and sometimes for their own God - and of course, for "their women." The principle is the same - invoking culture, God, nature or tradition to justify oppression of women or other minorities, and in this way attempting to maintain the status quo. That argument was overcome in England and in Canada, and it should be overcome in non-Western nations too. Moreover, it is argued that if this poses some slight risk to the autonomy of some individual nations, then so be it. National autonomy should not extend to the point of giving ruling groups the right of torture, murder, mutilation or any other kind of violent abuse against individual human beings - not even if they are women or children!"
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Godwin's Anarchism, 2008.
A comparison of William Godwin's theories of anarchism to Karl Marx's beliefs about communism.
1,441 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 47.95
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Abstract
The paper discusses William Godwin's major work, "An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice", which is an early elucidation of the political theory of anarchism. The paper defines anarchism and then compares this work to Marx's "Capital" and "The Communist Manifesto". The paper explores why William Godwin's work has had less public exposure and popularity than either of Marx's works.
From the Paper
"While Karl Marx has become a famous thinker and philosopher through the wide dissemination of his two major works, Capital and The Communist Manifesto, a much lesser known figure has also contributed substantially to the perennial dialogue of radical political philosophies, and this man and his work is worthy of deeper analysis. This writer is William Godwin (1756-1836), who was nearly a contemporary of Marx and in his own way equally radical, yet significantly divergent in his thought. Godwin may be best known for having married the writer Mary Wollstonecraft, a groundbreaking feminist thinker in her own day, and for being the father of Mary Shelley of Frankenstein fame. Godwin's major work, An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice (1793) is an early elucidation of the political theory of anarchism, and is worth analyzing in terms of the similarities it shares with Marx's communism (Landry, para 16)."
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Freud and Nietzsche, 2008.
Compares Sigmund Freud and Friedrich Nietzsche's conceptions of the human self.
1,340 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 45.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that both Freud and Nietzsche wrote at length about what it is that keeps people from achieving happiness and fulfillment. The author points out that, by rejecting the claims and holds of religion upon truth and its value in elevating the human condition, Freud and Nietzsche were revolutionaries. The paper suggests that, while both take similar approaches and appear to be judging the world from an objective standpoint, they both, especially Freud, clearly fall into their own subjective traps in delimiting the nature of the self, its habits, its inadequacies and its reason for being.
From the Paper
"Clearly, for Nietzsche, it is this desire to impose order upon the world that is the basic human drive, that which distinguishes people from animals, and is a basic need that all people share--which tells us why language exists, and science, and the law. This ability to impose an ordering on the world is what makes us human, the fundamental drive that creates order allows us to maintain that order and to be social beings. Perhaps it is the social aspect which is the real, underlying drive and which creates our need to believe that the world which surrounds us is classifiable, quantifiable and static."
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