The Dialectical Cut In Socrates Soul Essays - Dialogues Of Plato

The Dialectical Cut in Socrates' Soul Within the spectrum of the political realm, one of the most important philosophical questions arises, "What is the best regime?" It is obvious that the best regime is one of complied consent. There still seems to be difficulty in deciding the best means to the desired end. Politics, the ruling force, operates in the realm of opinions. Its counterpart, philosophy, is an attempt to replace opinions about political things. This "political science" is the process of acquiring political knowledge for the guiding of political life. The transformation from opinions to knowledge is through the dialectic method. This "political science" is not without its problems. It is plagued by relativism and nihilism. These problems tend to make politics unreceptive to philosophy. What philosophy is is best seen in a confrontation between the philosopher and the city. It is by no small coincidence that these two conflicting views are seen in different characters in The Being of the Beautiful. The obvious question now becomes "Why does Plato make a dialectical cut in Socrates' soul between Theaetetus and Young Socrates?" In answering this question it becomes central to assume that the being of the beautiful is not contained in one character, and for that matter, may not be a character at all. It is crucial then to take up the characteristics of both Theaetetus and Young Socrates in relation to what the beautiful is. In so doing, it will provide the basis for political knowledge. To begin, Theaetetus is a youth just returned from battle. War, being the harshest of all teachers places one under the duress of necessity. This is a foreshadowing of the struggle, both internal and external that are about to occur. The exteral battle is the undermining of the beliefs and opinions of the many. This undermining is very dangerous for it leads to one of three options: death, madness or philosophy. As different as all of the beliefs are, the basis is faith butressed by reason to make it friendly to philosophy. The internal struggle, at first glance, seems to be the easier to construct. The internal struggle is Theaetetus' gripping the concept of the idea (eikoi). Socrates acknowledges that Theaetetus grasps the idea by saying "Gosh, that's good by Hera, and divine" (Theaetetus, 154d). Socrates apparently implicates that Theaetetus has the mind of a philosopher. He is one of the few who can have his opinions undercut and still be willing to learn. Although Theaetetus adds substantive meaning to the discussion, he soon becomes "dizzy" (Theaetetus, 155d). Again, Socrates encourages Theaetetus saying that "this experience is very much that of the philosophers" (Theaetetus, 155d). Throughout the Theaetetus, Theaetetus cannot seem to move out of the language of the city. He constantly answers "it seems likely" and "it appears". Socrates does not correct this apparent flaw. Socrates is very patient with Theaetetus, stopping at many points to let Theaetetus grasp the point. It is not until the Sophist that Theaetetus moves from the language of "it appears" to "of course" (Sophist, 222e) cutting off the Stranger in the middle of a sentence. The Stranger treats Theaetetus very differently than does Socrates. Perhaps this is the reason for Socrates' qualified recommendation of Theaetetus to the Stranger. "Well, its possible to select anyone you want of those present, for everyone will gently comply with you, but if you take me as your adviser, you will choose one of the young, Theaetetus here, or anyone of the rest who suits you" (Sophist, 217d). The Stranger does believe that Theaetetus can become the philosopher. "Since I understand your nature, and it will advance by itself, I will let it go... for time would be superfluous" (Sophist, 265e). The stranger teaches skepticism that one must have to become the philsopher but at the same time teaching Theaetetus not to give up altogether. In contrast to Theaetetus' moderation, Young Socrates is excess of courage. Where Theaetetus is timid, Young Socrates is courageous. Young Socrates first fault is that he has trouble following the dialogue. It is important to make Young Socrates sympathetic to philosophy, by discouraging him, but not making him the philosopher. Although Young Socrates gets lost in the speech, he continues to follow in an attempt to understand. He even goes to the extreme of reproaching the Stranger when he says "... but we went around in a circle distinguishing very many things in vain" (Statesman, 283b) by saying "Just speak" (Statesman 283c). He does not get angry like Callicles and is more perseverant than Polus. Spirited citizens, such as

Population Density Information and Statistics

Population Density Information and Statistics Population density is an often reported and commonly compared statistic for places around the world. Population density is the measure of the number of people per unit area, commonly represented as people per square mile (or square kilometer). The population density of the planet (including all land area) is about 38 people per square mile (57 per sq km).  The population density of the United States is approximately 87.4 people per square mile, according to the 2010 U.S. Census. Computing Population Density To determine an areas population density, divide an areas total population by the land area in square miles (or square kilometers). For example, Canadas population of 35.6 million (July 2017 estimated by the CIA World Factbook), divided by the land area of 3,855,103  square miles (9,984,670  sq km) yields a density of 9.24 people per square mile.   Although this number would seem to indicate that 9.24  people live on each square mile of Canadian land area, the density within the country varies dramatically; a vast majority lives in the southern part of the country. Density is only a raw gauge to measure a populations disbursement across the land. Density can be computed for any area,  as long as one knows the size of the land area and the population within that area. The population density of cities, states, entire continents, and even the world can be computed. What Country Has the Highest Density? The tiny country of Monaco has the worlds highest population density. With an area of three-fourths of a square mile (2 sq km) and a total population of 30,645, Monaco has a density of almost 39,798 people per square mile. However, because  Monaco and other microstates have very high densities due to their extremely small size, Bangladesh (population 157,826,578)  is often considered the most densely populated country, with more than 2,753 people per square mile. What Country Is the Most Sparse? Mongolia is the worlds least densely populated country, with only five people per square mile (2 per sq km). Australia and Namibia tie  for a close second with 7.8 people per square mile (3 per sq km). These two countries are further examples of density being a limited statistic, as Australia may be huge, but the population resides mainly on its coasts. Namibia has the same density figure but a much smaller total land area. Most Tightly Packed Continent Perhaps not surprisingly, the most densely populated continent is Asia. Here are the population densities of the continents: North America - 60.7 people per square mileSouth America - 61.3 people per square mileEurope - 187.7 people per square mileAsia - 257.8  people per square mileAfrica - 103.7 people per square mileAustralia - 7.8 people per square mile Most Densely Populated Hemisphere About 90 percent  of the Earths people live on 10 percent of the land. Additionally, about 90 percent of the people live north of the equator in the Northern Hemisphere.

Hamlet - Deliverer of Denmark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hamlet - Deliverer of Denmark - Essay Example So who is really the hero and who is the villain in this play? This is the indeterminacy that one faces with in this play. The Ghost in the play causes Hamlet a great deal of problem and difficulty. If he is coming from the purgatory, why is he shrieking for retribution? Why does his speech sound as if it is coming from hell? No one knows the answer because no one knows Hamlet’s father except through his own eyes. On the contrary Claudius is a strong and healthy man. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Claudius – the King. His people have no problems with him and he seems to be conducting the affairs of the state with competence. His wife is happy with him and so are his courtiers. There is absolutely no one theme that can be called the central theme of the play and thus, as many as possible interpretations and themes can be derived from it, each proving itself to be as important as the other. Moreover, the elimination of a single theme from under the classification of ‘major themes’; results in the complete avoidance of an important aspect of the play. Hamlet is a tragedy of imagination and thus it is in clear opposition of the classical ideal of a tragedy. It is a tragedy of character rather than a tragedy of plot, which according to the classics was the most important part of a tragedy. This paper is going to explore the possibilities of Hamlet taking an early action in the play and is going to be based on pure assumption of the aftermath. In the very first instance when Hamlet loses his normalcy and confronts his uncle, who is now the King, is after he has witnessed the ghost. Hence, towards the end of act I, he is in dilemma. He has learnt not only about his father’s murder but also of the possible adultery of his mother. He absorbs this fact within himself, hiding it from even Horatio. He starts to play the madman. Hamlet could have entered the very first scene with a dagger in his hand directed towards Claudius. Had t hat been the case, the play could have taken a totally new interpretation of the character. He would have been accused of murder and thrown out of Denmark. But instead he internalizes his feelings and vents them in the form of soliloquy: Let me not think on't,--Frailty, thy name is woman!-- A little month; or ere those shoes were old With which she followed my poor father's body Like Niobe, all tears;--why she, even she,-- O God! a beast that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn'd longer,--married with mine uncle, My father's brother; but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: within a month; (I.i) After witnessing the ghost and convincing himself that his uncle was involved in the murder based on his prior suspicion, he starts his quest to murder his uncle. Hamlet’s hamartia or the tragic flaw lies in his secrecy. He continues to carry out his plan without sharing it with his dearest friend. This is what causes the delay. At the end of act III scene iii, Hamlet ha s a perfect chance to kill his uncle, but there is a problem; Claudius is praying. Hamlet is afraid that if he attempts to kill him at this point in time, he would rather send him to heaven! He believes that killing him now would be "hire and salary, not revenge!" When Hamlet confronts his mother in her bedroom, where Polonius is hiding behind the tapestry, Hamlet wishes that it was Claudius in his place. Had it been the case, he could have been spared the guilt of

Music Mid-Term Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Music Mid-Term - Essay Example The concert lasted from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The live performance included 14 professional musicians of the Denver Brass. The performances include Salsa, Day of the Dead Suite, Tango, and Sense Maya (Valencia, 2012). The performers played different classical songs that included Day of the Dead. Denver Brass constitutes of 14 professional musicians (The Denver brass, 2014). Denver Brass’s universal appeal defines its success and prominence. I enjoyed the magnificent surround sound and the entertaining and relaxing fresh musical styles that added vigor to the classical music live concert. I also enjoyed the fact that a diverse audience attended the concert thus denouncing the misconception that classic music is for elite, racist, and educated audience. Indeed, the live concert made me love attending another classical music live concert in the near future. Notably, the performance of the Drever Bass corresponds to the classical stylistic period learnt in class. The Colorado Fiesta: Dances with Brass depicted a classical musical genre as the band sung various classical songs. The programming of the music sought to share the Colorado history in an entertaining manner. The performance sought to bring a musical excursion from Spain to America. The live concert evoked emotions, images, and ideas. Indeed, the fiery dance, cool music, and sensual Flamenco guitar evoked happy and entertaining feelings. The live concert also evoked passionate and romantic feelings courtesy of the romantic song Day of the Dead. The Colorado Fiesta: Dances with Brass was equally colorful thus evoking a beautiful feeling. Some of the most Memorable features of the live concert included the fiery dance, sensual Flamenco guitar that evoked instrumental effects, and the entertaining dancing styles by Fiesta Colorado and Steve Mullins (Valencia, 2012). Additionally, I cannot forget the harmonious melodies and rhythms of the Drever Bass that motivated the audience to sing along to each song

Human imperfection Essay Example for Free

Human imperfection Essay There is a substantial debate among artists, critics and connoisseurs regarding the purpose of art. If views of painters like John Ruskin, writers like Robert Browning and art critic like Walter Pater are taken into account then it could be seen the perspective of the significance of art varies from person to person and school to school. Generally, the human race considers art as something that is pleasing to the eye or invokes certain emotions when viewed. And what many artists consider to be art is something which you can do and enjoy and in the end, produce something that gives a feeling of success. There are many different ways to express one using the concept called art. The most common style of art which most people think of when they think of art is the painting. The painting is usually just some form of paint media, whether oil or watercolor or whichever style it is, and the paint is then placed on some form of canvas. There are, however, literally hundreds of styles of art within the world. They range from the painting, which although never simple, isnt necessarily the most complex way to express yourself. Art can even be considered in simple writing, usually in the form of poetry. The spoken word can have a more profound effect than physical art. A simple poem can invoke a range of emotions rather quickly. If a poem refers to someone who is close to the author, the author may feel overwhelmed when viewing their own artistic expression. But a painting can just as easily invoke the same feelings as a written piece of art. And a simple sketch has the chance of being just as profound. (Lamb, 243-245) In this context Ruskin’s point of view should be taken into account as he pointed out that the primary purpose of art is to evoke the value of god by showing the detrimental side of the human nature. He advocated this thesis with high degree of indulgence in his text ‘Modern Painters’. On the other hand Browning’s views of art were different from that of Ruskin but was not contrasting as he believed that perfection is what that all mattered in art. According to his views art should cover up the human imperfection and present a faultless, great and ideal image of the human being. His point of view on art was mostly presented through the characters Andrea del Sarto and Fra Lippo Lippi. It could be assumed that according to Browning art resembled whatever that was beautiful and faultless. In sharp contrast the point of view of Walter Pater completely rejects the previous two ideas. According to Walter Pater art should always be sensual and provoking. His idea of art completely ignores the aspects of spiritualities and sentiments along with any relation to emotion and theology. According to him any art that fails to evoke sensual feeling or satisfies the erotic feelings of the audience could well be labeled as failed art. In this context it would be relevant to quote Sir Kenneth Clark from his text ‘The Nude’. He mentioned that â€Å"no nude, however abstract, should fail to arouse in the spectator some vestige of erotic feeling, even though it be only finest shadow-and it if does no do so, it is bad art and false moral†. (Clark, 79) However, it can be stated that Art could be considered something as simple as an action someone has done for a cause or for somebody. If someone holds the door for somebody else, it could be their art to be generous and gentlemanly. Even acts of crime can be considered forms of art. In many thieving circles, the method of breaking and entering or robbing places is merely called the Art of Theft. Thus one can never really limit art to one thing. Rather, it is a wide arrangement of things. And one can never truly crack down and say that something is only artistic if it is of some particular kind of medium, because somebody else will disagree. It can be stated that Art is basically anything that anyone does which has a profound effect on somebody or something else. From a simple act of kindness to a masterpiece painting that took years out of somebody’s life. Some art can be considered more complex, and some art can be considered simpler in contrast. But, the fact of the matter is, in the eye of the beholder, art could be anything. So is it really possible for us to define what art is or can we really set any realistic guidelines as to whats art and what isnt art? It is always possible to create guidelines, but it is often considered an art-form in itself to break said guidelines. Similarly, the aesthetics of art could well be beyond the definition set by rigid guideline and logically thus the significance or purpose of art remains a relative concept. But defining what is aesthetic and what isnt can also be quite an undertaking. Simply put, something that is aesthetically pleasing is something that appeals to the senses. For instance, flowers give a nice aesthetic sense of smell by offering their pleasant odors. A nicely painted picture can give off a nice aesthetic sight for somebody to enjoy. Often it is difficult to create something aesthetically pleasing, as there are many ways to easily offend peoples senses. For instance, if you wanted to create a painting to give off an aesthetic feeling of hope, you probably wouldnt use an over abundance of dark colors. Dark colors are often used to show calmness or even more commonly, something sad and depressing. Also, when painting, if you use wider and more circular strokes with a lighter press on your brush, youll give off more depressing tones and colors. So, it would be more advisable to use lighter colors and more agile handling of the brush. Lighter colors often give off a feeling of warmth and happiness, which is something that you would like to be doing if you would like to create something hopeful. (King, 126) However, it can be stated that it doesnt really matter whether or not we can define the significance of art, because art is just an expression. It is a method for human beings to get out their emotions and share them with the rest of the world. It helps to describe what cannot be spoken. A picture is worth a thousand words, but even those thousand words can yet again produce a thousand additional pictures. And in this method of thought, the significance of art has an infinite number of possibilities and an infinite number of ways to influence the lives of others. Thus the significance or the purpose of art lies in its spirituality, humane approach, sense of beauty and even sensuality all at the same time and there should not be any rigidity in this context. References: Clark, Kenneth; The Nude; (Alliance Publishers. 2002) King, H; Aesthetic Today (HBT Brooks Ltd. 2005) pp 126 Lamb, Davis; Cult to Culture: The Development of Civilization on the Strategic Strata. (National Book Trust. 2004) pp 243-245.

Garden for the Blind :: Architecture Design Essays

Garden for the Blind I love the idea of creating a garden for the blind. Blindness is something I have given a lot of thought, as I have Glaucoma, an eye disease that untreated leads to blindness. Doctors said that had I not been diagnosed, I would have been blind by the age of ten. Luckily, in my case, they did catch it and I am able to see. Being so close to losing my sight has made me think very seriously about life as a blind person; and I often try to do everyday things with my eyes closed, such as getting ready for bed and playing the piano, to see how much of an adjustment I would have to make. The first thing that I notice when I try to do something with my eyes closed, is the immediate need for touch. Although the other three senses, audio, olfactory, and taste are also important and I plan to incorporate them into my garden as well, however, my main focus will be on the sense of touch. To begin with, the area designated for the garden is fairly steep, therefore it is necessary to decide how to set the path through the garden. Our class trip to the Butterfly Rain forest, and being able to go through blindfolded, was a great resource for ideas on creating this garden, particularly with the need to create an environment that is easy to navigate without sight. Stairs provide obvious difficulty for a garden for the blind, therefore, I have decided to use sloping ground, which although more expensive, would be safer and an easier environment to navigate. Also, as an additional benefit, the garden would be wheelchair accessible. To line the garden path, either a natural pressed dirt ground, or a highly durable short sod ground could work, both of which are natural options. However, recycled tires, much like the surface of nice running track surfaces, would make an easier to maintain surface, that incorporates recycled materials and gives more of a response to t he act of walking by adding an extra bounce (in addition to being even more wheel chair friendly than the previous two natural options). The main focus of the garden that I think would create an extraordinary environment, unlike anything else existing, would be the incorporation of marble statues periodically along the path that visitors to the garden would be encouraged to touch. Garden for the Blind :: Architecture Design Essays Garden for the Blind I love the idea of creating a garden for the blind. Blindness is something I have given a lot of thought, as I have Glaucoma, an eye disease that untreated leads to blindness. Doctors said that had I not been diagnosed, I would have been blind by the age of ten. Luckily, in my case, they did catch it and I am able to see. Being so close to losing my sight has made me think very seriously about life as a blind person; and I often try to do everyday things with my eyes closed, such as getting ready for bed and playing the piano, to see how much of an adjustment I would have to make. The first thing that I notice when I try to do something with my eyes closed, is the immediate need for touch. Although the other three senses, audio, olfactory, and taste are also important and I plan to incorporate them into my garden as well, however, my main focus will be on the sense of touch. To begin with, the area designated for the garden is fairly steep, therefore it is necessary to decide how to set the path through the garden. Our class trip to the Butterfly Rain forest, and being able to go through blindfolded, was a great resource for ideas on creating this garden, particularly with the need to create an environment that is easy to navigate without sight. Stairs provide obvious difficulty for a garden for the blind, therefore, I have decided to use sloping ground, which although more expensive, would be safer and an easier environment to navigate. Also, as an additional benefit, the garden would be wheelchair accessible. To line the garden path, either a natural pressed dirt ground, or a highly durable short sod ground could work, both of which are natural options. However, recycled tires, much like the surface of nice running track surfaces, would make an easier to maintain surface, that incorporates recycled materials and gives more of a response to t he act of walking by adding an extra bounce (in addition to being even more wheel chair friendly than the previous two natural options). The main focus of the garden that I think would create an extraordinary environment, unlike anything else existing, would be the incorporation of marble statues periodically along the path that visitors to the garden would be encouraged to touch.

Genetically Modified Foods One World Essay Essay

Did you know that we’ve been eating genetically modified foods for the past 10 years? It’s in about 70-75% of our nation’s food. Our food supply has greatly improved. Today we are going to find out what are genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods are foods that have been engineered in the laboratory. They are improved in many ways. In the first part of my speech I will talk about the genetic modification technology in food and agriculture, locating improvements. In the second part I will include a debate about food safety, consumer attitudes and other concerns. Newspapers frequently carry stories about genetically modified food. The biotechnology agricultural age is occurring. Scientists had an idea to make food have better appearance, growth, and taste. In genetic engineering you take the best food available and add the few characters you are interested in so that you’re breeding efficiency is increased. The last century was a time of big changes in genetic engineering. Humanity made huge steps toward creating new life. Experiments with creating human were not successful, but the whole world was watching the experiment with sheep Dooley, which became first cloned animal. It was first such a big succeeded experiment and as a result almost everyone knew the last news about the sheep. However a big achievement was made in modifying new plants and crops. In the 21st century genetically modified products already became a part of our life. Every day new genetic products appear in shops and it becomes harder to find healthy food which does not contain any added chemical components. Apples during the winter time, oranges which become ripe twice faster than their period of ripening and tomato bushes which can survive very cold weather prove that biological world had experienced a lot of changes. Experiments are being made, new plants are being produced for a quite a long period of time, however genetically modified products is one of the hotly debatable topics today. The benefits of gene technology in terms of food production are enormous. The most common genetically engineered crops contain modifications that make the plants resistant to certain diseases and herbicides, or allow them to produce their own pesticides, thereby eliminating or reducing the need to spray. So-called â€Å"Bt corn,† for example, contains a gene resistant to the harmful mycotoxin fungus and herbicide producers, Monsanto have created a strain of soybeans genetically modified to be unaffected by their product Roundup. The soybean farmer therefore can avoid targeting specific weeds and require just one application of a general weed-killer, reducing costs and agricultural waste run-off. Genetically modified crops are also being adapted to grow in salty, dry or frosty environments, contain edible vaccines, have a longer shelf life and be more nutritious. A group of Swiss and German scientists recently developed a strain of GM rice known as ‘golden rice’ due to its altered color. Containing genes that produce a unusually high amount of beta-carotene (vitamin A), this rice could be a solution to the thousands of poor children in Asia who eat little but rice and go blind or die from lack of vitamin A. Public reaction to the use of recombinant DNA in genetic engineering however has been mixed. Sliding US export commodities such as genetically modified soybeans and corn have highlighted hardened public opinion and widespread resistance to biotech crops, especially in the European Union. Concerns about GM foods fall into three categories: economics, environmental hazards and human health risks. The latter two have been the subject of hot debate, both in Australia and overseas. Environmental damage from GM crops can be caused through various channels. One of the main concerns has been the possibility of gene transfer to a non-target species, that is crops engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds cross-breeding, resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance to create ‘super weeds’. In addition, environmentalists fear that transgenic plants may proliferate rapidly, pollinating natural plants in their surroundings eliminating existing species. Further environmental suspicions include those of unintended harm to other organisms and of the reduced effectiveness of pesticides once insects become tolerant to a crop’s natural pesticide. Questions have also been raised on the human impact of genetically modified organisms. Critics of recombinant DNA fear that the pathogenic, or disease-producing organisms used in some recombinant DNA experiments might develop extremely infectious forms that could cause worldwide epidemics. Likewise, the unknown effect of foreign genes introduced into GM food crops in terms of human health also presents a controversial issue. Furthermore, there is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. A proposal to incorporate a gene from Brazil nuts into soybeans in order to increase their nutritional value was abandoned when it was found that the genetically engineered soybeans caused an allergic reaction in people sensitive to Brazil nuts. For these reasons, extensive testing and labeling of GM foods may be required to avoid the possibility of harm to consumers with food allergies. Biotechnology has started to revolutionize food production, with fantastic results. With the world population of 6 billion expected to double in the next 50 years and an adequate food supply becoming a major challenge it will no doubt continue to do so in the future.