World Religion Essay Example for Free

World Religion Essay Confucianism and Daoism are two of the most influential schools of thought in ancient China. Both are not only ways of thinking, but ways of life. They are not religions: they have no teaching of worship of gods, or the afterlife; each philosophy focuses on the individual and their behavior. Confucianism and Daoism are often considered polar opposites for several reasons, although they have a few similarities. Confucianism has a core of morality, ethics, and activism. It encourages social harmony and mutual respect. Confucianists sought to perfect their character by living a virtuous life and seeking goodness. They valued ethics, respect for elders, and propriety. Confucius, the originator of Confucian thought, believed political order would be found by the proper ordering of human relationships, and so did not bother himself with the structure of the state. He stressed that a good government must fill their positions with well-educated and conscientious people, called Junzi. Confucius was followed by his disciples Mencius and Xunzi. They also possessed the same optimism that humans could improve themselves to perfection. Daoism has a core of self-reflection and oneness with the cosmos. They refused to meddle with problems that they thought defied solution, and were the prominent critics of Confucian activism. They devoted their energy to introspection, in hopes that they could better understand the natural principles of the world. The central concept of Daoism is Dao, roughly meaning “the way of nature”. The exact definition of Dao is unclear; it is portrayed as an unchanging, passive force that “does” without “doing”. Daoists try to follow Dao through Wuwei complete disengagement from competition and activism, and instead living in harmony with nature. This philosophy discouraged the presence of any government or empires, just small self-sufficient communities. There are a few similarities between Confucianism and Daoism. They were both created as a solution for the chaos that emerged from the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, although it was the arrival of Legalism that created unification in China. They both focus on self-improvement: Confucianism in the form of  relations with others, and Daoism in the form of relations with oneself and nature. Confucianism and Daoism clearly have strong contrasts, but many people believe that for a person to be whole, they should incorporate elements from each. References: Taoism and confucianism — ancient philosophies. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/civ/9e.asp (Taoism and confucianism, 2012). Kapaj, L. (10 A). Via historia. Retrieved from http://puppy.viahistoria.com/classwork/taoismonconfucianism.html (Kapaj, 10 A). Huzhang. (2000). Discussion of confucianism. Retrieved from http://www.pureinsight.org/node/1048 (Huzhang, 2000).

sylvia plath :: essays research papers

Price  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sylvia Plath, a complex poet, a complex mind. Sylvia Plath was born on October 27, 1932 and committed suicide on February 11, 1963. During this short thirty years, many works were provided that served as a window into one fragile mind. Years of mental stability acted as a catalyst for the production of many famous works. Although it is still difficult to analyze Plath’s mind, its products are still being cherished and praised. Plath published many works in her lifetime, yet her most famous works which include The Bell Jar, Ariel, â€Å"Crossing the Water†, Letters Home, & Johnny Panic, & The Bible of Dreams were are published after her death (Bloom 163-4). Plath’s work as well as her many memories continues long after her passing. In Plath’s work, death, conflict, & personal experience all play major roles. They serve as themes in the deep and realistic poetry that is Plath’s work. The poetry of Sylvia Plath contains various them es that stem from the author’s mind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A large portion of Sylvia Plath’s work contains the theme of death. This theme is most present in her earlier poetry. Plath seems to be almost fascinated with death. Her elegant use of words makes the reader feels as if the icy breath of death is upon their neck (King 45). Yet death is not always welcomed as a theme in Plath’s work. In her early work shows a distinct tension between the allure of death and human’s nature to resist it (King 50). Often this â€Å"death† is accompanied by an overwhelming sense of doom (Fitzgerald 3). A distinct origin for this doom is not clear but nature is often a catalyst for it (King 46). Varying aspects of nature serve as agents of doom. Even the most innocent things such as grapes on a grapevine can manipulate themselves into inevitable doom (King 50-1). Plath’s poems also contain a â€Å"preoccupation with danger†. This danger does not come from external sources however but from inside the mind. This stems from Plath’s own internal battles and eventual suicide (King 51).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Price  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Page 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dying Is an art, Like everything else I do it exceptionally well (Fitzgerald 4) These words are from Ariel. They show Plath’s attitude toward death’s inevitability. Sometimes this attitude is resignation, fear, for decided resistance. Never the less, whichever attitude toward death is presented in Sylvia Plath’s work, it can certainly be seen that death is a major theme in her work (King 47).

Case Study: BPI vs. de Coster Essay

FACTS:On Dec. 29, 1921, Gabriela Andrea de Coster y Roxas and her husband acting as her agent, made to the BPI a certain promissory note for P292,000,payable one year after date, with interest of 9 per cent per annum and payable monthly. In order to secure the payment thereof, Jean M.Poizat and J. M. Poizat and Co. executed a chattel mortgage in favor of the plaintiff on the steamers Roger Poizat and Gabrielle Poizat including the machinery and materials belonging to the Poizat Vegetable Oil Mills. Gabriela Andreade Coster y Roxas and her husband acknowledged and delivered to the plaintiff a mortgage on certain real property lying and being situated in the City of Manila. The real property was subject to a prior mortgage in favor of La Orden de Dominicos or PP. Predicadores de la Provinciadel Santisimo Rosario, hence it is made a party defendant. The promissory is long past due which compel the plaintiff to file an action against the defendants. The lower court rendered judgment against the defendants GabrielaAndrea de Coster y Roxas, Jean M. Poizat and J. M. Poizat andCo. and made them liable,jointly and severally, for the payment of P292,000, with interest at the rate of 9 per cent per annum starting from the 31st of August, 1923. They are also order to pay P10,000 as attorney’s fees and P2,500 for the insurance upon the steamer Gabrielle Poizat , with interest on that amount starting from February 9, 1924, at the rate of 9 per cent per annum, and costs. Then the plaintiff files a petition to the court for a writ of execution. On May 3, 1924, the plaintiff files a motion to declare the defendants in default due to their failure to appear or answer. The court rendered decision in favor of the plaintiffs. On Aug. 26, 1924, Gabriela Andrea de Coster y Roxas, claimed that she had been residing in Paris, France from 1908 until April 30, 1924 and that she only found out about the case from the newspapers. She further claims that she was never given any summons by the sheriff and that her husband exceeded his authority as her agent. She prayed that the judgment to be annulled and set aside. She also prayed that the case be reopened and she be permitted to file an answer so that the case can be tried according to its merits. ISSUES: †¢ Whether or not proper summons were served. †¢ Whether or not Jean M. Poizat, husband of the defendant exceeded his authority as an agent of his wife. †¢ Whether or not the case should be remanded to the lower court. HELD:With regards to the first issue, the Court held that the summons has not been properly served. In the ordinary course of things when the wife is absent from the residence of husband by reason of pleasure or business, the residence of the wife would continue and remain to be that of the husband. In the instant case, the circumstances warrant otherwise. For fifteen years the residence of the husband was in the City of Manila, and the residence of the wife was in the City of Paris prior to the filing of the complaint and issuance of summons.. There have been no personal service of summon on the defendant as required by the Rules of Court because the publication requirement for serving of summons to persons made party to a case who are residing abroad has not been satisfied. With regards to the second issue, the Court held that Jean M. Poizat has exceeded his authority as the agent of his wife. It will be noted that there is no provision in power of attorney granted to the husband of the defendant which authorizes or empowers him to sign anything or to do anything which would make his wife liable as a surety for a pre-existing debt. It is fundamental rule of construction that in an instrument where powers and duties are specified and defined, all of such powers and duties are limited and confined to those expressly mentioned therein and all other powers and duties are excluded. It is very apparent from the face of the instrument that the purpose of the power of attorney was to empower and authorize the husband to look after and protect the interests of his wife. But nowhere does it provide or authorize him to make her liable as a surety for the payment of the pre-existing debt of a third person. Hence, it follows that the husband was not authorized or empowered to sign the note in question for and on behalf of his wife. Therefore, the note is void for want of power of the husband to execute it. The same thing is true as to the real mortgage to the bank.It was given to secure the note in question and was not given for any other purpose. The real property described in the mortgage was the property of the wife. The note being void as far the wife is concern, it follows that the real mortgage to the bank is also void for want of power to execute it. On the last issue, the Court held that the case should be remanded to the lower court to give the wife opportunity to file an answer to plaintiff’s cause of action so that the case can be tried according to its merits.

Male Pornography and Gender Roles - 1755 Words

Introduction Pornography is an issue that has generated serious speculation; it has grown from a state of insignificance to being a major social issue in most parts of the world. The period from early 1960’s has been labeled as the modern pornography wave. It is a period that saw major discussions in all aspects of the phenomenon from terminology, definitions, the level of sexual content, the economic impact, and most importantly its effects. This paper seeks to address the issue of pornography from the perspective of male participation, consumption, and the interrelated issues. The paper includes a review of two articles; the first article is a scholarly article from a peer reviewed journal, while the second one is a popular media†¦show more content†¦Article 2: Pornography, Sex Crime, and Public Policy by Berl Kutchinsky Berl Kutchinsky applies an epidemiological study approach to describe the association between certain behaviors, physical, and psychological health through observation of real-world happenings via statistical data. In this study, Kutchinsky examined countries such as Denmark, West Germany, Sweden, and the USA. In this study, Kutchinsky proved that for the years between 1964 and 1984 when pornography had become increasingly popular, sexual crimes such as rape had not increased; instead, they had either decreased or remained constant. Denmark was the first of these countries to legalize pornography although massive demonstrations and harsh laws were linked to pornography in the US. Only in the US did sex crimes increase with increased availability of pornographic material in 1970 and 1980. On the effect of pornography on sex crimes, Kutchinsky (1991) argued that the claim that pornography could lead to serious sex crimes was the only outstanding issue. He claimed that other issues such as alleged offenses such as degradation of women, sexual callousness to women, encouraging sexual perversion, causing moral outrage, or causing marital distress were deemed intangible, unsupported, and those that did called for a variety of restrictions rather than total prohibition. Thus, this study greatly emphasized the issue of rape to represent sexual crimes, as thisShow MoreRelated Catharine MacKinnons Book Feminism Unmodified Essay1303 Words   |  6 Pages Catharine MacKinnon, in her book Feminism Unmodified, takes a unique approach to the problem of gender inequality in America. She claims that pornography defines the way in which America’s patriarchal society perpetuates male dominance, and attacks traditional liberal methods that defend pornography on the basis of t he first amendment’s right to free speech. According to MacKinnon, pornography is not an example of speech but rather an act. She proposes that this act discriminates against womenRead MoreWhy Do Women Occupy the Subordinate Position in the Sex/Gender System851 Words   |  4 PagesPosition in the Sex/Gender System? Gender inequalities between males and females have been existent since time began. In the Bible, these gender inequalities are evident with Eve (woman) causing the fall of man and the distancing from our â€Å"Father† and our banishment from Paradise, the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:7). Not only that, the very creation of Eve, being of Adam and Adam being of God, highlights that women are seen as an afterthought in creation. This brief essay will examine gender inequalitiesRead MoreDoes Pornography Exploit or Liberate Women? Essay1679 Words   |  7 Pagesmulti-media pornography industry is said to be more profitable than the music and video industries combined. The European Parliament (2003) estimates that more than two-thirds of the  £252 million spent by European internet users during 2001 was received by various pornographic websites. This recorded expenditure does not, however, account for the widely available non-internet based pornographic literature, theatre and DVD t rade, or for prostitution – the age-old trade from which the term pornography is derivedRead MorePornography Is A Complex Topic1541 Words   |  7 PagesPornography is a complex topic. 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It silences women by privi leging the male perspective to such an extent that the female perspective disappears; it subordinates women by placing them in the role of a mere object to be used for the sexual satisfaction of men, thus enabling men to exert power over women. TheRead MoreSexual Ethics Essay1160 Words   |  5 PagesEssay Outline Thesis – Multiple outlooks have been taken on the ethics of pornography, and the means by which it may either negatively influence power in sexuality, or actually provide some sort of social value and worth. These different ethical perspectives display the flaws in the industry and what it represents; yet they also end up proving the fact that it can be modified with positive influence and that pornography is not something to be deemed utterly unethical. Intro – Power and sexualityRead MoreFeminism : A Social Movement854 Words   |  4 Pagesthe media. Feminists theorize that pornography is one of the sole features in the increased sexual violence against women. This theory as based on a group of assumptions. The first being that â€Å"sexism and male dominance are celebrated in pornography.† (Baron Straus,468) This consequently enhances the view of women as â€Å"objects of sexual exploitation† (Baron Straus, 468) and legitimizes acts of sexual violence towards women. The second assumption is that pornography is ultimately dehumanizing and degradingRead More Comparing Catherine MacKinnons Not A Moral Issue and Sallie Tisdale’s Talk Dirty to Me1715 Words   |  7 Pagesand Sallie Tisdale, each of which perceives pornography in widely divergent ways. While MacKinnons Not A Moral Issue explains the adverse impacts of pornography to women and society as a whole, Tisdales Talk Dirty to Me: An Intimate Philo sophy of Sex is receptive to pornography despite these adverse impacts, suggesting in fact that the solution to the problems associated with pornography is a greater role of women in production of that pornography. Breasts and booties, buns and knockers.Read MoreSexual Images And Its Effects On Society1477 Words   |  6 Pagesinterpretations sex, in particular the way it is portrayed in advertisements and entertainment, has begun to alter the way that society views individuals, particularly women. With the creation of the internet, a person’s access to sex in the form of pornography has sky rocketed. In addition, many companies have begun to increase the number of advertisements produced that contain sexual images or themes—subscribing to the notion that â€Å"sex sells.† Massive amounts of sexualized images, particularly of womenRead MoreSexual Images And Its Effects On Society1472 Words   |  6 Pagesof pornography has sky rocketed. In addition, many companies have begun to increase the number of advertisements produced that contain sexual images or themes—subscribing to the notion that sex sells. Massive amounts of sexualized images, particularly of women, a re available for free consumption. Overall, the increased prevalence of pornographic images, particularly violent images, both through advertising and entertainment media, has led to changes in how society perceives women and gender in a