Modern Day Hero Essay - 1024 Words

In today’s society, it is hard to know someone who another person can look up to as a hero. It takes a special quality and person for others to know they can look up to and follow without worrying about being lead astray. The modern day hero I have chosen is someone who not only is willing to lay his life down for another, but also is willing to fight for everyone’s freedom. James A. Miller Jr. is that modern day hero; he is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corp. For the last year, he has been overseas fighting for not only the lives of all Americans, but he is also trying to free the Iraqi Government and people. Growing up, I always thought of him as just my baby brother. After he joined the Marines in 1993, I have seen†¦show more content†¦Some of the areas he has been are Kosovo, Djibotia, Africa and Iraq. During one of his tours of combat, his unit was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation (PUC). The PUC is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States for extraordinary acts of heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after 7th of December 1941. The unit must display such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extreme difficult and hazardous contributions as to set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of a Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. This past year, having been overseas helping fight for the freedom of many lives, James has worked with many men and women that could be classified as heroes; those who went above and beyond the call of duty to save the lives of others. He recommended several men in his unit for special citations due to those acts of honor. While in battle, James has encountered not only enemy fire, but also witnessed the loss of one of his men because of the enemy fire. Although he has witnessed not only death, destruction and even caused it, he is still the sweetest man around. Comparing him to a mythological hero of war was hard; there have been many heroes in the past that has laid their lives down for their country. The classical hero IShow MoreRelatedModern Day Hero1077 Words   |  5 Pagess society, it is hard to know someone who another person can look up to as a hero. It takes a special quality and person for others to know they can look up to and follow without worrying about being lead astray. The modern day hero I have chosen is someone who not only is willing to lay his life down for another, but also is willing to fight for everyone s freedom. James A. Miller Jr. is that modern day hero; he is a Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corp. For the last year,Read MoreMy Modern Day Hero729 Words   |  3 PagesA modern day hero is someone who shows strength, courage and is willing to fight, my grandma is my modern day hero because she shows these traits and more. My grandma had a liver and kidney transplant last year, and she showed those heroic traits. She had strength both physically and mentally, she never complained and always kept fighting throughout her illness. My grandma had courage during this time because she overcame her obstacle without fear. She also showed the heroic trait willing to fightRead MoreA Modern Day Hero s Journey1438 Words   |  6 PagesA Modern Day Hero Heroes are heroes for many different reasons, but they all share one important thing in common. They must go through the hero’s journey. Odysseus faced many trials, monsters, and temptations in the epic poem The Odyssey. The steps he took were all part of the hero’s journey and made him the great hero that Homer had written him to be. Today, we have a great modern hero. A large community of people look up to her for guidance through their own personal journeys in life. LaverneRead MoreBeowulf Comparison to Modern Day Hero2195 Words   |  9 Pagesdifferences, but at the end of the day we all have one thing in common, heroes. They help define who we are and what we want to be. They give us hope and inspire us to head in the right direction. They show us that good will always triumph over evil and that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Heroes give us the inspiration we need to overcome problems in our own lives and that is why we create them. Beowulf perfectly embodies the idea of a hero. He defeats the evil Grendel andRead MoreThe Four Characters Of Beowulf And Modern Day Heros738 Words   |  3 Pagesheroesheros. Some heroes Heros take the direct approach and overcome obstacles with raw power and strength, both physical and moral. Others use their intelligence along with trickery and ruthlessness. It is hard for a hero to take a more direct approach than Beowulf. For example, he rips Grendel’s arm right out of its socket! He also shows moral strength by being champion of the values of his society. There are also some other things that can differentiate two types heros. The first the type thatRead MoreEssay about Beowulf and Modern Day Hero670 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf and the modern day hero. All soldiers that are fighting for my country certainly comes to mind first, when I think about a modern day hero. Both hero’s are fighting for a good cause, get rewarded for what they do, and get treated with much re spect. Although a soldier might not withhold unworldly strength as one such as Beowulf, they both are putting their life at stake, which gives them both the title as being a hero. Both the U.S soldier and Beowulf portray characteristics of a hero. CourageRead More Pearl S. Buck - A Modern Day Hero Essay2921 Words   |  12 Pages Pearl S. Buck - A Modern Day Hero Introduction A friend of mine gave me a copy of The Good Earth as a birthday gift. Until then, I had never heard of the literary masterpiece or the author, Pearl S. Buck. The story captivated me. I found myself engrossed in the story of the poor farmer Wang Lung whose love for his land allowed him to overcome many odds including famine, flood and a revolution. Through hard work and dedication, Wang Lung became one of the wealthiest landowners in the Anweih provinceRead MoreEssay about Tiger Woods: A Modern Day Tragic Hero1044 Words   |  5 PagesThesis: Professional golfer Tiger Woods is a modern-day tragic hero because his flaw of excessive pride directly led to the destruction of both his personal relationships and his professional career. Tiger took complete responsibility for his actions, but it came too late and by then he ended up suffering consequences that were excessive compared to his errors. One reason why Tiger Woods could be characterized as a modern day tragic hero is because he demonstrates the tragic flaw of excessive prideRead MoreModern Hero vs. Anglo Saxon Hero Essay814 Words   |  4 PagesTodays modern day hero has similarities and differences than the Anglo-Saxon hero. The two heroes each have different values they believe in. Also, they are motivated to fight for different reasons. An Anglo-Saxon hero also fights differently than a modern day hero. An example of this comparison is Bono from the band U2 and Beowulf. Both modern day heroes, like Bono and Anglo-Saxon heroes, like Beowulf, try to improve their societies, but do it in different ways and for different reasons. Anglo-SaxonRead MoreHeroism : Beowulf And Cuchallain928 Words   |  4 PagesMany people disagree on who might qualify to be a hero. While a few people could qualify to be called a hero, many people have done some heroic things at some point in their life; Beowulf and Cuchallain demonstrated heroism through their actions. A hero in the medieval times is considered to be someone that is a noble character that fights for his honor or the honor of his kingdom or community and also someone that is willing to risk his or her life for the greater good. Beowulf was a brave man that

A Theological Perspective of the Clash of Civilizations...

Introduction On more than one occasion, President George W. Bush has described the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as fostering â€Å"a monumental battle of good versus evil.† In this battle, there has been no doubt in his mind (or in ours) regarding who is on the side of good and who is on the side of evil. Though some have winced at the President’s use of such absolute moral terms to portray the tragic events of that fateful day, others have applauded his courageous use of such unfashionable discourse as entirely appropriate, even suggesting that it implies the demise of the cultural scourge of postmodern moral relativism. Another important way, not entirely unrelated, of interpreting what transpired on 9/11 is to explain†¦show more content†¦According to the editors of Foreign Affairs, Huntington’s article generated more response over a three year period than any other article they had published since the 1940s. Given the interest in, as well as the controversy over and misrepresentation of his article, Huntington decided that the prudent thing to do would be to expand it into a book-length treatment in which he would explore more deeply and document more thoroughly the thesis he propounded in his article. So the outcome was a 1996 book titled The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the World Order.4 In this work conceived as â€Å"an interpretation of the evolution of global politics after the Cold War,† Huntington aspires, as he says, â€Å"to present a framework, a paradigm, for viewing global politics that will be meaningful to scholars and useful to policymakers.â⠂¬ 5 Its central theme is virtually identical to that of his article, namely â€Å"that culture and cultural identities, which at Huntington is the Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor at Harvard University where he is also the director of the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies and the chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. He was the director of security planning for the National Security Council in the Carter administration, the founder and co-editor of the journal Foreign Policy, and the president of the American Political Science Association. 3 SamuelShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding of Identity in Samuel P. Huntingtons Clash of Civilization1148 Words   |  5 Pagesimagined a future world witnesses a clash of civilizations.According to his categorizationfrom a cultural perspective however; the world shall be divided into eight civilizations. This essay shall shed a light into the different understandings of theidentity and culture as in relation to Islam and the West having reference to different arguments and visions presented in the following scholarly sources. Samuel P. Huntington in his book â€Å" The Clash of Civilizations†has predicted that the source of conflictRead MoreSocial Change Is Inevitable? Essay1586 Words   |  7 Pagesstructure,vested interests,high respect for traditional ways of life,poverty.Political barriers: Political factors like single party states.Economic barriers:countries with lower income per capita . Psychological barriers: pessimistic or fearful perspective for any change.Isolation: Isolation of groups or states from the rest of society or world. Theories of Social Change: Cyclic Theory All human societies has gone through certain cycles.Spengler and some other sociologists hold that society has aRead MoreSociology1259 Words   |  6 PagesThe concept of sociology had been recognized by independent philosophers since the dawn of organized civilization. Philosophers such as Confucius and Xenophanes in their works had hinted at the clash of cultures and social hierarchy. Later, in the 14th century, Arab scholars such as Al Jahiz and Ibn Khalduns compliled books on the history of society itself. These works are known to be forerunners of sociology. In fact, books written by Ibn Khaldun on social cohesion and conflict were translatedRead MoreHow Does the Presence of a Confucian Culture Affect the Operation of Democracy?1083 Words   |  5 PagesConfucian culture and how it may affect the operation of democracy in East Asia. Confucianism is tradition of political and social thought named after the scholar Kongzi (Confucius 551-479 B.C), it is still widely practiced/ seen in social, legal, theological, ethical and political thought. Kongzi was born into low aristocracy and held an administrative government post. He was a social and political critic throughout his life as a public administrator and teacher to future political advisors. His teachingsRead MoreEthnic Group Conflict: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict1445 Words   |  6 Pagesthose in the majority, maintain a sense of accord, and to avoid negative consequences. It is also a way for people to preserve positive relationships by living up to others expectations (Shiraev Levy, 2010). Rational actor theories are another perspective of why people conform. This approach suggests that conformity is a rational choice made by individuals after they have examined all possible alternatives and their benefits and consequences (Shiraev Levy, 2010). In the Israeli-Palestinian conflictRead MoreAnalysis Of The Wasteland By T. S. Eliot2210 Words   |  9 Pagesdegrading condition of modern society through a return to previous civilizations and cultures bringing into light their ideals, beliefs and experiences as a model for the restoration and reformation of the lost and fading away European identity and culture. Delmore Schwartz states that â€Å"Eliot’s theme is the rehabilitation of a system of beliefs, known but not discredited (209). The mosaic picture of different cultures, myths and civilizations produced throughout the poem is the product of a wide-rangingRead MoreChristianity, Judaism, and Islam Paper2281 Words   |  10 PagesAmerica and became an enterprise as stated by theological scholar Sam Pascoe. Throughout Christianity’s journey they have come across ties with the religions Judaism and Islam. There are few similarities between the three major religions. One similarity is that Abraham is viewed the same between all three religions. The only other similarity is that all 3 religions believe in a God, just in different ways. There are much more similar theological aspects of the religions when Christianity is comparedRead MoreThe As A Weapon For Fight The Evil Blood Sucking Monster1882 Words   |  8 Pagesfor those to be found in violation of church doctrine† (Bowles, 245). Throughout the novel references about the Cross, the Holy Wafer and the eminent Significance of the blood underlined Stokers inclination to put in perspective the division between Protestant and Catholic theological views of the times. He swiftly presented symbols used by the Roman Catholic Church and influenced his clan of Christian vampire busters into switching from their instilled rigorous beliefs which marked the use of theRead MoreIslamic Fundamentalism5550 Words   |  23 Pagesreligion), the loss of traditional values ​​and a weakening of morals in society. Obviously, the idea of ​​fundamentalism as a return to origins or initial formulas of orthodoxy appears when the doctrine of the religious system, illuminated by theological authority, cease to adequately meet the stage of social development. Starting with a general theoretical assumptions of Islamic fundamentalists, let me define their relationship to the original sources of Islam - the Koran and Sunnah, as wellRead MoreIslamic Fundamentalism5541 Words   |  23 Pagesreligion), the loss of traditional values ​​and a weakening of morals in society. Obviously, the idea of ​​fundamentalism as a return to origins or initial formulas of orthodoxy appears when the doctrine of the religious system, illuminated by theological authority, cease to adequately meet the stage of social development. Starting with a general theoretical assumptions of Islamic fundamentalists, let me define their relationship to the original sources of Islam - the Koran and Sunnah, as well

Investment Taxation and Portfolio Performance

Question: Discuss about the Investment Taxation and Portfolio Performance. Answer: Introduction: As per the case study, it can be said that Fred is a inhabitant of Australia. It has been found that Fred does not control any trading business venture; rather the holiday home that was sold in the recent year was his property. It has also been implicated that Fred did not develop any revenue from the particular property previously. Calculations of Net Capital Gain or Loss The calculation of the net capital gain or loss for the individual name Fred has been calculated in the following table for the present fiscal period under both Discounted Methodology and Indexation Methodology (Wiseman 2016). Name of Taxpayer : Fred Type : Individual Calculation of Net Capital Gain/Loss for the period ending on 30th June,2016 Discounted Method Indexation Method Particulars Amount Amount Amount Amount $ $ $ $ a) Sale of Holiday Home : Consideration of sales 800000 800000 Less : Cost Base of the Asset 100000 148043 Legal Fees on Total sales (Exclusive of GST) 1000 1000 Commission regarding Real Estate Agent 9000 9000 Purchase Stamp Duty 2000 2961 Legal Fees for Purchasing 1000 1480 Construction Cost fo developing Garage 20000 133000 23853 186338 Capital Gain on Sale 667000 613662.3 Less : 50% exclusion on Capital Gain 333500 Capital Gain that is taxable (A) 333500 613662 Less : Capital Loss of Prior Year 10000 10000 Total Capital Gain that is taxable 323500 603662 Significant Observations It has been found from the case study that Fred occupied the property after September 20 in the year 1985, thus, it is counted as CGT assets and falls under taxable capital gain or loss calculation (Kaldor 2014). The particular property was attained prior to the period September 21st in the year 1999 (Davidson and Evans 2015). Thus, the various costs along with cost base that occurred during the time period in order to buy the property can be estimated under the methodology of indexation. Fred also constructed garage on the particular asset and thus it is counted as an extensive development. Thus, the cost for constructing the garage should also be occupied within the removable costs (Bryan 2012). The garage was constructed ahead of September 21st in the year 1999 and this can be assessed under the procedure of indexation. Opined to the regulations of Australian taxation, Fred can pertain any of the two procedures i.e. the methodology of indexation and the discounted procedure for the calculation of capital loss or gain (Sikes 2014). The reason behind this is that the particular property was attained prior to September 21st in the year 1999. The costs that took place for selling the assets should be exempted from the total sales deliberation in order to identify the net capital loss or gain. As per the discounted methodology, the tax provider gets an exemption of 50% on the total capital gain only if the property was purchased by the tax provider himself or herself only, for over 12 months (Yinger, Bloom and Boersch-Supan 2016). Here Fred attained the particular holiday home for long 19 years, thus, Fred can claim an exemption of 50% under the process of discounted methodology. The stocks are considered as other properties (for instance, real estate property). Thus, the total capital loss on sale of stocks in earlier period is adjustable in the present year with the total capital gain by selling the house property. It can be said from the above calculation that Freds total capital gain for the recent year would be $323500 as per discounted methodology and it would be $603662 as per the indexation methodology. Fred has to pay relatively lesser amount of tax on capital gain under discounted methodology, thus, he should consider this particular process for calculating the net capital gain. Net Capital Gain Consequences As per the regulations of Australian Taxation, total capital loss by selling any collectables is eligible for adjustment with the amount of capital gain from the collectables (Woellner et al. 2016). As per the case study, the antique vase is the collectable. Therefore, if the total capital loss of prior year might arise by selling the particular vase, then the amount is in adjustable to the total capital gain by selling the house property (Hines 2015). In this particular situation, the total capital gain of Fred is $333500. Fringe Tax Benefit Calculation As per the case study, the organization Periwinkle Pty. Ltd is considered as a company of Australia. Thus, this firm will not be permitted for tax benefits, given to smaller businesses. The specified firm has given various benefits to its staff named Emma, who is also supposed to be a resident of Australia. Therefore, the firm is permitted to provide benefits of Fringe tax. The consequences of FBT for such different benefits are as follows: Car Fringe Benefit Emma utilizes the car for both private and official purpose, thus, the car benefit should be involved as benefit of car fringe (Ato.gov.au 2016). Additionally, at the period of visiting foreign, Emma had parked her car at the airport instead of parking it in the location of the company. For annual maintenance, the particular car was kept in garage and not for unprepared repairing. Thus, the total numbers of days for which the car was kept unused should be involved for the calculation of FBT (Yagan 2015). The fringe benefit of the car for the firm has been calculated for Emma as per the statutory method. Calculation Of Car Fringe Benefit:- Particulars Details Total Kms. Travelled during the FBT year A 10000 No. of Days in the FBT year B 366 No. of Days of Travel C 336 Annualized Kilometers (A x B/C) 10892.857 Statutory Rate as per Annualized Km. E 20.00% Cost Base F $33,000 No. of Days obtainable for Private Use C 336 No. of days in FBT Year B 366 Total Taxable Value (FxExC)/B $6,059.02 FBT for Interest on Loan The interest that is provided on loan to the staff by the employer should be counted as the benefit for fringe tax (Dowd, McClelland and Muthitacharoen 2012). The loan interest is 4.45% that is lower than 5.95%, the benchmark interest of loan. Thus, FBT should be measured based on actual rate of interest (Ato.gov.au. 2016). The FBT for loan interest that is given to the staffs has been calculated as follows: Calculation of Interest on Loan for FBT:- Particulars Details Loan for Staff A $500,000 Benchmark Interest Rate B 5.95% Actual Rate of Interest C 4.45% Taxable Value Interest on Loan D = (AXC) $22,250 FBT for Rate of Special Discount The company is eligible for claiming for FBT for rate of special discount that is given to its staffs on its own goods. On the basis of 75% of the selling price (normal), the FBT should be measured (Bergstresser and Pontiff 2013). The calculations are as follows: Calculation of Special Discount for FBT:- Particulars Amount Market Price of Bathtub A 2600 Special Price for Staff B 1300 Taxable Value of Bathtub C=A x 75% 1950 Taxable Value of the Benefit C - B 650 FBT Calculation The car costs are comprehensive of GST, thus, all FBTs have been equalized by multiplying the value of FBT with gross increased rates (Engstrm et al. 2015). The rate of fringe tax benefit is 49% for general organizations. The FBT liability of the said firm is calculated as follows: Name of Taxpayer : Periwinkle Pty. Ltd. Type : Company Calculation of Fringe Benefit Tax for the period ending on 31st March,2016 GST Inclusive GST Free Particulars Amount Amount $ $ Benefit on car 6059.02 Loan Interest 22250 Sale at Special Rate 650 Total of GST Inclusive/Free Benefits 6059.02 22900 A B Gross-up Rate 2.1463 1.9608 C D Gross-up Value 13004.47 44902.32 E = A x C F=B X D Total amount of Taxable Fringe Benefit 57906.79 G = E + F Rate of Fringe Benefit Tax 49% J Fringe Benefit Tax Liability 28374.33 K = G x J Alternative Consequences Emma should purchase the stocks herself and should earn dividend from these. Then this would be permitted to pay tax on this income. Here, the total value of FBT and the liability of the staff would be comparatively lower based on the income amount that is earned by the staff from the loan amount (Slemrod 2013). Reference Ato.gov.au. 2016.How to calculate your FBT | Australian Taxation Office. [online] Available at:https://www.ato.gov.au/General/fringe-benefits-tax-(fbt)/how-to-calculate-your-fbt/ [Accessed 30 Aug. 2016]. Ato.gov.au. 2016.Loan and debt waiver fringe benefits | Australian Taxation Office. [online] Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Fringe-benefits-tax-(fbt)/In-detail/Employers-guide/Loan-and-debt-waiver-fringe-benefits/?page=8#8_8_Reduction_in_taxable_value_where_interest_would_have_been_deductible_to_employee [Accessed 30 Aug. 2016]. Ato.gov.au. 2016.Property fringe benefits | Australian Taxation Office. [online] Available at: https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Fringe-benefits-tax-(fbt)/In-detail/Employers-guide/Property-fringe-benefits/?page=4#Goods_manufactured_or_produced_by_the_provider [Accessed 30 Aug. 2016]. Bergstresser, D. and Pontiff, J., 2013. Investment taxation and portfolio performance.Journal of Public Economics,97, pp.245-257. Bryan, J., 2012. Individual Income Tax Returns, 2010.Statistics of Income Bulletin,32, pp.5-78. Davidson, P. and Evans, R., 2015. Fuel on the fire: Negative gearing, capital gains tax housing affordability.ACOSS Papers, p.29. Dowd, T., McClelland, R. and Muthitacharoen, A., 2012. New evidence on the tax elasticity of capital gains.Unpublished Paper. June. Engstrm, P., Nordblom, K., Ohlsson, H. and Persson, A., 2015. Loss evasion and tax aversion.American Economic Journal: Economic Policy,7, pp.132-164. Hines Jr, J.R., 2015. Taxing Sales of Depreciable Assets.Mich. Bus. Entrepreneurial L. Rev.,5, p.161. Kaldor, N., 2014.Expenditure tax. Routledge. Sikes, S.A., 2014. The turn-of-the-year effect and tax-loss-selling by institutional investors.Journal of Accounting and Economics,57(1), pp.22-42. Slemrod, J., 2013. Buenas notches: lines and notches in tax system design.eJournal of Tax Research,11(3), p.259. Wiseman, S.A., 2016. Property or Currency: The Tax Dilemma behind Bitcoin.Utah L. Rev., p.417. Woellner, R., Barkoczy, S., Murphy, S., Evans, C. and Pinto, D., 2016.Australian Taxation Law 2016. Oxford University Press. Yagan, D., 2015. Capital tax reform and the real economy: The effects of the 2003 dividend tax cut.The American Economic Review,105(12), pp.3531-3563. Yinger, J., Bloom, H.S. and Boersch-Supan, A., 2016.Property taxes and house values: The theory and estimation of intrajurisdictional property tax capitalization. Elsevier.

What is the significance of Platos choice of the dialogue form Essay Example

What is the significance of Platos choice of the dialogue form Paper Plato is known throughout history as the author of some of the most poetic, lively, interesting and probing dialogues ever written. Not only are they crucial in the philosophical development of the western world, they are also literary classics in their own right. But, to what extent was this success dependent on the form in which Plato chose to convey his teachings: the dialogue form? Why did Plato use the dialogue form rather than straight poetry or prose like his contemporaries? The central character in Platos dialogues was usually Socrates. Despite knowing very little factually about the historical Socrates, academics are largely agreed that he did actually exist. Socrates was a historical figure, famously put to death by the Athenian State for corrupting the young and for trying to introduce new Gods. Although these were the official reasons for his death, it is likely that the real reason was political, due to his relationship with the Oligarchy Party. Even before falling foul of the Athenian State, Socrates was never a popular figure due to his annoying habit of stopping people in the street to question them in detail about philosophy in a style similar to that depicted in Platos dialogues. Socrates himself never wrote a word; however, the philosophy of the historical Socrates seems to have been centred on a search for a definition, particularly in ethical terms, as it was ethics and to some extent language that chiefly occupied the historical Socrates. We will write a custom essay sample on What is the significance of Platos choice of the dialogue form specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What is the significance of Platos choice of the dialogue form specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What is the significance of Platos choice of the dialogue form specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer This tendency to explore philosophy in search of a definition is certainly one that is reflected in Platos early dialogues such as Gorgias or Protagoras. As we have no documented evidence from Socrates himself, when we read the words of Platos character of Socrates, are we reading words said by the historical figure or merely those put into the characters mouth by Plato? Apart from what we can gather from Platos dialogues, which are preserved in their entirety, we know very little of the history of Platos literary career. His purpose in publishing his dialogues is unknown, as well as the dates of both the writing and publication of each of the dialogues. Despite this, scholars have grouped Platos works into those written in the early, middle and late periods of his philosophical career which is thought to have started soon after the death of the historical Socrates, continuing until his death aged around 80 in approximately 348BC1. It is largely in the early and middle dialogues that the influence of the thoughts of historical Socrates can be seen. It is in Platos most famous work the Republic that critics begin to attribute the philosophical ideas to Plato himself rather than to Socrates. Book one of the Republic varies in both style and ideas from the last nine books, leading scholars to suppose it was written separately as an earlier dialogue. It shows Plato to have reached a point in his philosophical career where his use and the scope of the Socratic dialogue style reached an end. Book one is deliberately set up to be unsatisfactory to show this. Plato is using it as a tool to allow him to progress from the early Socratic dialogues into the deeper discussions we see in the latter half of the Republic, particularly in the extended metaphor of the cave, and in the later dialogues such as Parmenides. The dialogue form allows Plato to abandon old ideas in favour of new ones, regardless of their contradictory nature, as his theories change and develop. The historical Socrates held many radical ideas, notably those in favour of totalitarianism and against the Athenian democracy of the time. These views made Socrates unpopular during his life and probably contributed to his death. By using a dialogue form and exploiting irony fully, Plato the author was able to distance himself personally from the views held by his character of Socrates. This was important not only for Platos own safety, but also for the development of his philosophy. Despite distancing himself slightly from the views of Socrates, the character usually suggests ideas that Plato was thought to be personally sympathetic with. It has been suggested that Platos dialogues, due to their form, allowed Plato to argue through and test his arguments in favour of his philosophical theories. This explains why the character of Socrates is occasionally defeated in the debate, showing areas in which Platos philosophical argument was not fully developed. The dialogue, with its account of an open and free debate is a more democratic writing style, which acts as a contrast for the totalitarian views of Socrates. It is less focussed around one person than straight prose. The style in which the dialogues were conducted assumed that there was a higher authority, which was capable of imparting a deeper understanding and knowledge of the absolute truth, and that this authority is equally accessible to all. Knowledge is not elitist if sought in the correct manner2. Another implication of the dialogue form and its inherent democracy is that it allows Socrates a certain element of humbleness. The emphasis is taken away from him directly, allowing the discussions to be more accessible both for the characters present at the discussion and also for the reader. One of the most important reasons behind Platos choice of the dialogue form relates to his ideas about teaching and learning. Plato did not see lecturing as either proper or effective teaching. His pupils, readers and followers were not vessels to be filled with information3. They Socratic Method of dialectic used in his dialogues is concerned with leading the mind to self-discovery and self-realisation. This was supposed to produce students who would be able to continue their pursuit of the philosophical truth on their own, without reliance on their teacher4. In the dialogues, especially the Meno, Plato explains his theory of learning and recollection. The character of Socrates in this dialogue makes his apparently unsupported claim that the soul is immortal and that there is a cyclic reincarnation and rebirth. He claims that in our previous lives and in the other world where our soul is in-between bodies, we have learnt everything there is to know. This is often referred to as the Platonic Theory of Recall. Learning and seeking knowledge are both merely recollection. Socrates counters Menos paradox with his Lazy Argument: we do not have to earn anything new; it is only a matter of stirring old knowledge into recollection. For Plato then, the role of the teacher is not to impart new knowledge, as we already know everything, but instead to ask the appropriate questions to catalyse this recollection of previous knowledge. With his use of the dialogue form, Plato aimed to ask his reader such questions as would stir in them this recollection. He is encouraging the participation and intellectual development of his reader as well as Socrates and his interlocutors. The character of Socrates often considers himself to be like a midwife. Just as a good midwife coaches a pregnant mother on giving birth to her baby on her own, Socrates drew out what was already inside someone in an under developed state. The participation of the reader is therefore crucial to the purpose of both Plato and his mouthpiece, Socrates. Platos desire to involve his reader in the action of the debates can be seen in his use of the dialogue form. Dialogues, if written well as Platos were, can be immensely dramatic. They are staged interactions in which reader and listener like the dialogical participants themselves become immersed, and absorbed in the scene5. Readers and critics throughout history have been unable to prevent themselves from taking sides in the debate. This potential for reader involvement and participation makes the dialogue form so ideal for Platos purpose. In addition, the dramatised and often humorous nature of the dialogues captures the creative, fun side of philosophy, making it attractive for future newcomers to the discipline. The philosophy of the historical Socrates was often concerned with the quest for a definition, be it of Justice, Virtue or Happiness. The quest for a definition of Justice is pursued in several of Platos dialogues. The whole of Republic was written to continue this quest. Consequently, few of the dialogues are brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The dialogue form is flexible in that it allows him to do this without the dialogue seeming incomplete. Platos intension with his dialogues is that he is not only teaching others his philosophical ideas, but also that he equips them with enough knowledge through experience of Socrates questioning method of how to explore and discuss, that they are able to carry on the quest themselves. As David Fortunoff says, the philosopher-teacher has to model for the interlocutor the process of learning in the exhibitive or active mode of judgement, respectively6. He considers it an education in a way of life (agi gi ) for the student, and not only in acquiring specific knowledge7. In addition, due to the dramatic and absorbent nature of the dialogues, the readers interest is excited and maintained throughout. By bringing the dialogues to an unsatisfactory conclusion, Platos aim is to motivate the reader to continue the search alone; giving them the facilities to do so is of no benefit, if he cannot motivate his audience. Socrates uses a similar form of motivation for individual participation in his discussions with his interlocutors. As part of his Socratic dialogue method, Socrates reduces his interlocutors to a state of aporia, or confusion through removing the false beliefs they previously held by exposing the inconsistencies and inadequate nature of their argument. Socrates has been accused of leaving them in this state; however, Plato gives his readers, clues as to how we might continue the search ourselves. In Meno, Socrates explains the importance of this phase in his philosophical teaching8. At the start of the experiment with the slave boy, he was certain that he knew the answer, but he was wrong. With Socrates instruction, by the end, he knew that he was wrong. Initially, he was not perplexed, but he was in fact wrong. By the end of the dialogue, he may be perplexed, but he does not hold any incorrect ideas. He is in a better state than he was before Socrates reduced him to the state of aporia. In addition, he is now motivated to pursue the answer on his own because he now knows that he doesnt already know it. Socrates reduction of both his interlocutors and his readers to perplexity is a crucial tool of Platos to involve them in the debate and most importantly, to give them the motivation to realise what they dont know and to seek to fill the void. Above all, Platos reason for writing his dialogues as he did was to allow him to do philosophy with us, the unknown reader. The dialogue form allows him great flexibility as it leaves the debates open to interpretation. None of the dialogues are closed; there is always the possibility of further debate at a later date. This is important because it makes allowance so that every time you pick up Platos work, it will be different. All the dialogues rely heavily on personal participation and interpretation. These depend on and will change according to a persons experiences, moods, opinions and beliefs. As a persons perspective will never be the same at any two separate points in time, your experience of Platos work and philosophy will change. For Plato, this was crucial. Socrates produced no writings of his own and Plato, despite writing his many dialogues was suspicious of writing to say the least. At the end of the Phi drus, Plato discusses the inferiority of books and writing in general to pure thought9. From 274ff. , Plato explains the history of writing and Theuths story. He argues that writing doesnt help memory or learning, it will only remind people. It is a few sections later on in the Phi drus that Plato explains his main objection to books and to the art of writing: words cant answer your questions, they will always say the same things; with written words; they seem to talk to you as though they were intelligent, But if you ask them anything about what they say, from a desire to be instructed, they go on telling you just the same thing forever10. By using the dialogue form, Plato is trying to overcome this problem. Due to the many interpretations possibly and their flexible nature, the dialogue form has more potential to be able to answer questions or at least instruct the student on how to answer the questions themselves than standard inflexible prose. Despite this, a book will never be able to defend itself or provide further arguments in favour of its point. In the VIIth Letter, Plato expresses views even more anti writing. In section 341c-e, he claims that writers of philosophy can have no real knowledge of the subject. He then goes on to say that; I certainly have composed no work in regard to it, nor shall I ever do so in future, for there is no way of putting it in words like other studies. Acquaintance with it must come rather after a long period of attendance on instruction in the subject itself and of close companionship, when, suddenly, like a blaze kindled by a leaping spark, it is generated in the soul and at once becomes self-sustaining11. Due to the lack of historical evidence ab out Platos writing, it is hard to tell what he meant when he said he had written nothing on the subject of philosophy. Suzanne suggests that it is possible that he wrote all of his dialogues after this letter, in the last ten years of his life12. Regardless of this, it is clear that Platos choice of the dialogue form is closely linked to his mistrust for writing and books that were intended to teach and lecture. Another of Platos objections to the art of writing is that it cannot choose who reads it. For Plato, not everyone was equally fit to do philosophy. Educating the unfit about philosophy would only lead to some unjustified contempt in a thoroughly offensive fashion13. In the Phi drus, as part of his critique of the art of writing, Plato complains that Once a thing is put in writing, the composition, whatever it may be, drifts all over the place, getting into the hands not only of those who understand it, but equally of those who have no business with it; it doesnt know how to address the right people, and not address the wrong14. However, the dialogue form, although it allows the author to overcome many of what he considers problems in writing standard prose, cannot prevent the wrong people from reading it. It is for this reason that Plato and particularly both the historical Socrates, and his character in Platos dialogues would argue that the only true way to do philosophy is on a one-to-one basis. This method of doing philosophy, used by Plato, his character Socrates, and also by the historical Socrates, was often known as elenchus. It involves a one-to-one debate consisting of questions and answers with the debaters not moving on until they have reached an agreement, which if both are intelligent people, should be the truth. The aim of this is for both of them to work together to achieve the truth through agreement. Usually, the questioner has more knowledge than the person being questioned does, and in Platos dialogues, Socrates usually takes this role. The dialogue form is a more accurate way of recording the questions and answers in their entirety, and communicating every stage of the discussion without impeding either its flow or its clarity or its meaning. The dialogue form allowed Plato to show the movement of the discussion and of the human interactions that put it in context. The exact representation of events in the dialogues is perfect to not only show, but also to teach the art of dialectic. The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy defined Dialectic as most fundamentally, the process of reasoning to obtain truth and knowledge on any topic In the middle dialogues of Plato however, it becomes the total process of enlightenment, whereby the philosopher is educated so as to achieve knowledge of the supreme good15. Thus, dialectic is a very important technique and skill for Plato and his students. Due to its nature, the best way to teach it is through example. It is only due to the dialogue from chosen by Plato that future students see this successfully illustrated. The character of Socrates was accused by interlocutors of using dialectic and manipulating what he was saying to try to outwit them. Indeed, Socrates used irony on a daily basis. Before Platos Socrates, irony was understood as mere mockery and deception. Socrates unique use of irony altered this. It became a tool of the educated and knowledgeable. Irony requires thought and intellect to be both used and understood successfully. For Socrates, this ensured that his interlocutors were worthy of his philosophical teachings. It also provokes discussion and creates interest in pursuit of knowledge. One of the many reasons why the historical Socrates was perceived as irritating by many in Athens was due to his frequent use of irony, which after a while becomes annoying, as many of his interlocutors and readers alike have since discovered. By not stating something clearly, people must come to their own conclusions as to what was meant. This not only means that different people will arrive at different answers, but also that the same person at different times will arrive at different answers. This was a tool used by Plato not only to increase the flexibility of his writing, but also to distance himself from the radical views of the historical Socrates. Socrates had many enemies and Plato was able to use irony to water down his beliefs and merely hint at them rather than stating them openly. In this way, the dialogue form goes hand in hand with Platos use of irony and its political implications. Plato clearly chose the dialogue form carefully and for many reasons. With his great suspicion of writing and books in general, it is almost surprising that he did not follow his mentor Socrates and not write a word. However, of all forms in which to write, the dialogue is without doubt the most successful in conveying his philosophy and his teachings in a manner which is not self-contradictory. The use of the dialogue form significantly has links with, and refers to many areas of his philosophy, particularly those relating to learning and recollection, teaching and the ways in which to conduct philosophy.

Cavendish Publisher Ltd Essay Example

Cavendish Publisher Ltd Essay Example Cavendish Publisher Ltd Essay Cavendish Publisher Ltd Essay The old view of the judges role, the so-called declaratory theory of law, was that they were merely declaring the existing law. Lord Esher stated in Willis v Baddeley26: There is no such thing as judge-made law, the judges do not make the law, though they frequently have to apply existing law to circumstances as to which it has not previously been authoritatively laid down that such law is applicable. The modern view is that judges do make law. Lord Radcliffe said: there was never a more sterile controversy than that upon the question whether a judge makes law. Of course he does. How can he help it? 27 The reality is that judges are continually applying the existing rules to new fact situations and thus creating new laws. Law must adapt to changing circumstances and Parliament can be slow28. Therefore, from any disadvantage you could always derive some positive elements. The making of law in decided cases offers opportunities for growth and legal development, which could not be provided by Parliament. The courts can more quickly lay down new principles, as the judges from time to time have to deal with cases of first impression or extend old principles, to meet novel circumstances. If a new event that has not been decided before comes to the court (original precedent), it is likely that the judge will look at cases which are close in principle and decide to use similar rules. This idea of creating new law by analogy can be seen in Hunter v Canary Wharf29. The interference with the reception on Hunters television because of Canary Wharf Tower having been built was likened to the case of Bland v Molselely30, in respect to the loss of a view. There has built up over the centuries a large quantity of cases that illustrate a vast number of the principles of English law. The cases exemplify the law in the sort of detail that could not be achieved in a long code of the Continental type. However, therein lies another weakness of case law. Its very bulk and complexity make it increasingly difficult to find the law31. Moreover, the advantage of certainty is diminished, as there are too many cases that seem really confusing. It is fair to say that judicial precedent has considerable significance within the laws of England, however it is important to see whether the significance is justified, and whether it is current position is adequate. Consistency plays a central role in justifying the decisions taken in particular case. Some believe that treating two cases in the same way can lead to the law being inflexible and rigid and a lack of freedom is formed. This to a certain extent is true but I feel that if two cases are very alike with just material facts being different, then they should be treated in the same way. This leads to fairness and certainty as mentioned previously. However, there are a lot of factors, which make it difficult to achieve consistency, as statements of law on a legal issue are usually made by more than one judge and a single judge make several stamens of law32. Practically any legal system has official hierarchies of decision-making, where superior courts have the power to resolve inconsistent statements of lower court judges. Therefore, there is a degree of inconsistency where the decisions delivered by different judges on certain points of law. In any cases, the rules of precedent do not explain why judges obey the rules of precedent. Neither do they indicate the degree of consistency that is likely to be precedent at any given time33. On the whole the advantages are outweigh the disadvantages and it the best system we have at the moment and still remains highly significant in English legal system. The Practice Direction of 1966 allows the Highest Court in the hierarchy to reverse previous decisions that helps to ensure that old and out dated rules can no longer apply to modern society. Due to the increase of case law the importance of judicial precedent will increase, as it will cover nearly every legal situation. It cannot be achieved by any codified legal system. Even though a part of British constitution has now been codified in statutes it only brings advantages. It can be referred to and it will be easy to see when someone breaches these rights. Before the Human Rights Act was made, citizens had nothing to back them up when they felt their rights as a citizen had been infringed apart from taking the case to the European Court in Strasbourg. Now, there are many different cases that allow citizens to do things they were never previously lawfully allowed to do. The Human Rights law is now entrenched in the UK Judicial system, and so it will be much more difficult to repeal an entrenched Act of Rights when there is a breach of basic human rights. It will be actionable directly in the UK courts. Word count: 3,905 1 Penny Darbyshire, English Legal System, 5th edn, Sweet Maxwell, p. 22 2 Gary Slapper David Kelly, The English Legal System, 6th edn. , Cavendish Publisher Ltd. , pp. 68, 89 3 J. Stone, The Ratio of the Ratio Decidendi, 22 Modern Law Review,1959, pp. 597-8

ghost essays

ghost essays Using all of his seemingly infinite faculties to compose Hamlet, Shakespeare gives each significant character in the play all the depth and emotion of a living human being. Because of this, the characters, as well as the plot, become extremely intricate and difficult to define. Simply assigning a "label" to each character does not do justice to their complexity because no one character acts according to any easily discernible guidelines. By this reasoning, it is difficult to determine for certain whether the ghost of Hamlet's father is either a "Spirit of Health" or a "Goblin Damn'd." In order to do this, it is necessary to look, not at the ghost's intentions, but at the effect of its message on Hamlet's life. If an assessment of the ghost had to be made, it would probably be considered a "Goblin Damn'd" rather than a "Spirit of Health," based on the disastrous effects its words had on the course of Hamlet's life. When the Ghost utters the fateful words "Revenge his [the Ghost's] foul and most unnatural murder," Hamlet's life is forever changed for the worse. Not only does Hamlet's quest for revenge divide his family and friends, but it also divides Hamlet himself. Seems, madam? Nay, it is. I know not "seems." In the exchange that follows this line between the Queen and Hamlet, Hamlet's distaste over his mother and uncle's brief period of mourning becomes evident. It also demonstrates some of Hamlet's suspicion concerning the circumstances surrounding his father's death. This exchange, however, occurs befor...

Social policy development for the aged in the modern day context Dissertation

Social policy development for the aged in the modern day context - Dissertation Example Over the past couple of decades, the senior citizens have become contributing members of the society in their own way (Chung, McLarney and Gillen, 2008). The complete change in the perception about the elderly in the past few decades warranted for a change in the way policy makers devised policies to meet their meets. In 2002, under the aegis of United Nations, the Second World Assembly was conducted in Madrid and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Aging was declared. The conference proposed a strong plan for providing social care and social development for the elderly, and for providing supportive environments for the same (DESA, 2002). This plan forms the basis of several countries own policies. Though the awareness regarding the need for a social policy for the elders is a recent development, many nations have already formulated policies regarding this. For most developed nations, these policies for the elderly revolve around improving the social status that the senior cit izens have and ensuring that they continue to function at their optimum (Voit and Vickers, 2012). Policies continue to focus on their safety and healthcare, but also endeavor to enhance participation in cultural and social activities. The overall aim is therefore to improve the quality of life for the elderly members of the society. Most nations like the United States and Canada have active Elderly Assistance Programs that function with the help of the government and the non-governmental organizations and help provide a supportive environment to the elderly citizens (Litwin, 2000).On the other hand, in the developing nations, such policies are in a nascent stage only. However, much of the policymaking related to the aged is undertaken in a normative manner with the government paving the way to develop new benefits or incentives for the elderly in a bid to make their life more comfortable. There appears to be little focus on understanding the perceptions of the elderly and their opin ions on what social policies related to them need to imbibe. The current research therefore endeavors to fill this gap by exploring the perceptions and opinions of the elderly and hence to present an assessment of their needs from their perspectives. The following research questions will guide the research: Research Questions 1. Are the senior citizens of XYZ satisfied with the quality of social policy aimed at them? 2. What are some of the changes that are needed for social policy so that the needs of the older citizens are adequately met? Literature Review A review of the available literature has highlighted the fact that The Elderly Assistance Programs of several countries are found to have become more and more responsive to the needs of the overall development of the seniors (Everard et al 2000). For example, in the European Union (EU), several innovative policies have been implemented that provide for the elderly to engage themselves more with their lives. Countries in the EU p rovide facilities that enable the elderly to have free or subsidized access to the cultural institutions. Also, there are several initiatives and programs that the elderly can participate in or lead, like the EU environment care programs that