Guns, Germs, And Steel - 1490 Words

Guns, Germs, and Steel. Jared Diamond discusses the reasons why geographical and environmental factors lead to a more rapid progression of certain civilizations throughout history. The book Guns, Germs and Steel portrays an argument that due to some societies’ access to an area witch contains sufficient amounts of wildlife and climates that are easily inhabitable, these societies developed into more advanced ways of living much easier and also earlier than societies who lacked these geographical attributes. These beneficial geographical attributes promoted the growth of technological improvements in weapons, religion, and farming. Diamond describes the early parts of human history in a broad scope towards the beginning of the book. He focuses on both the evolution and spread of human beings, arguing that some civilizations had a head start over other ones because of when the period of human evolution took place. He explains how different environments shaped human history through an a example of how populations which inhabited the Polynesian islands developed differently due to the different environments and then by telling the stories about what happened as populations with better geographical advantages encountered more disadvantaged populations in the Americas. Diamond explains the many factors that influenced the historical progression of different societies. Diamond argues how food production was very much a primary factor in the advancement of each society. SocietiesShow MoreRelatedGuns, Germs, And Steel953 Words   |  4 PagesGuns, Germs, and Steel Book Review Why do the origins of every major civilization lead to European conquest and settlement? How did Europe somehow gain the upper hand so early in history? Gun, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies delivers a clear theory as to why the Europeans were able to conquer almost the entire world in less then one millennium. Jared Diamond, an esteemed historian takes readers on a journey through time. He explains that through many different factors andRead MoreGuns, Germs, And Steel1127 Words   |  5 PagesGuns, Germs, and Steel In his work, â€Å"Guns, Germs, and Steel† (W. W. Norton, New York, NY, 1997) Jared Diamond attempts to explain why human history has carried out the way it has, he often refers to accounts from history to support his argument. Accounts that will be deemed adequate will discuss specific groups of people, at a specified period of time. Diamond suggests that guns, germs, and steel are three contributing factors for why the world is in its current state. It is not difficult to recognizeRead MoreGuns, Germs, And Steel1145 Words   |  5 PagesGuns, Germs, and Steel Prologue: 1. Yali’s question puzzles over why the white people have become more successful than others. Diamond states that Eurasian societies were set to dominate from before 3000 B.C. He wants to know why other races are unable to be as advanced with technology and power. 2. Diamond’s first objection is implying that if we explain why some people rule over others we’re okay with the domination by others. His second reason explains that Europeans are disappearing anyways andRead MoreGuns, Germs, and Steel Essay2859 Words   |  12 PagesGuns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond, attempts to explain why history progressed differently for people from various geographical regions. Diamond introduces his book by pointing out that history followed different courses for different people because of differences among peoples’ environments, not because of biological differences among people themselves. Through his convincing explanation for how civilizations were created and evolved throughout the course of historyRead MoreGuns, Germs, And Steel Essay1174 Words   |  5 PagesGuns, Germs, and Steel Essay The historical book Gun, Germs, and Steel written by Jared Diamond explains a variety of different themes as to why the world came to be as it is today. The differences in technology and advances differing between other countries. Why is Eurasia more advanced and innovated than other continents like, the Americas? Why didn’t every country develop to an equal pace in advancement? Diamond’s major theme is that environmental differences influenced the differences in theRead MoreGuns Germs And Steel Summary955 Words   |  4 PagesJared Diamond’s theory of global differences in his book entitled â€Å"Guns, Germs, and Steel† is the result of geography and climate and not human differences such as race and culture. Jared Diamond is a biology professor at the University of California. He has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. While studying birds in Papua New Gui nea he was asked the question of â€Å"Why you white men have so much cargoRead MoreGuns, Germs And Steel Essay1856 Words   |  8 PagesGuns, Germs and Steel By Jared Diamond In the book Guns, Germs and Steel Jared Diamond who is a biophysics scientist and a psychologist, set out on a journey to find out the reason behind great achievements and conquest of the Europeans. What is the secret of success of Europeans? His hypothesis was very original and at first looked very simple, it was guns, germs and steel. The journey of Diamond took over 30 years and helped him answer the main questions of human history and what is it thatRead MoreGuns Germs and Steel Essay1186 Words   |  5 PagesAtahualpa. In a vain attempt to save Atahualpa, his subjects assembled one of the largest ransoms in history, an estimated $30 million worth of gold and silver. 7. Pizzarro completely surprised and overwhelmed Atahualpa’s empire; Pizzarro had guns germs and steel where the Incas didn’t. Pizzarro also had horses that terrified the Incas having never seen it. Pizzarro also had a written language and the Incas did not. 8. Availability of more consumable calories means more people equals strength ofRead MoreSummaries of Guns Germs and Steel2509 Words   |  11 Pagesadaptations. Chapter 3: Collision at Cajamarca Diamond details the conquest by Francisco Pizarro and a few hundred men over the Inca emperor at Cajamarca Peru in 1532. With the help of advanced steel weapons and armor, and horses and cavalry the Incas were easily defeated. They also brought new diseases, maritime, early guns, and centralized political organization. These however were only the small causes leading to the conquest--what allowed such a dominant culture to develop in the first place? ChapterRead MoreAp Guns Germs And Steel3483 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿Guns, Germs, and Steel Chapter 1: â€Å"Up to the Starting Line† 1. When did the history of humans begin? Around 50,000 years ago. â€Å"Human history at last took off around 50,000 years ago...† (Page 39) 2. Humans developed on what continent? Humans developed in Africa. â€Å"†¦, indicates that the earliest stages of human evolution were also played out in Africa.† (Page 36) 3. The Giant Leap forward occurred when? Around the time human history started, 50,000 years ago. â€Å"Human History at last took off

A Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift - 860 Words

When I was informed to read â€Å"A Modest Proposal† by Jonathan Swift as an assignment for creating annotated bibliographies, I began to develop an interest on how Swift came about the matter of his request into rebuilding Ireland s economy and way of life. I believed that Swift added cannibalizing children to the subject matter to give his proposal a more profound and eye-opening effect, but my readings further piqued my interests on the topic. As a result, I researched Jonathan Swift’s motives and style behind his writing of â€Å"A Modest Proposal†. Ultimately, I pondered whether Swift actually supported the cannibalizing of children if need be. This peculiar interest within this subject has influenced me to write about Jonathan Swift’s view on his connections with Ireland and how he viewed the nation at the time. My first acknowledgment to Swift s view on cannibalism was through â€Å"A Modest Proposal† in The Norton Anthology of English Literature. When I initially read â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, I had only viewed the article as how it was literally: A man proposing to make Ireland a better country by feeding off the children of the poor, specifically the poor Irish. After some time, I carefully analyzed the document and noticed a hidden motive implying a change for Ireland and its wellbeing. One piece of information that caught my attention was how Swift introduced â€Å"A Modest Proposal† before actually giving his proposal; Swift describes the poverty and way of life within Ireland asShow MoreRelatedA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift Essay836 Words   |  4 PagesIn Jonathan Swift’s â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, we are exposed to the timeless issue of homelessness and the state’s role in their social welfare. Swift was a fervent Irish patriot who was disgusted by the flourishing trend of beggars and hungry children that flooded the streets of his beloved country. This topic is relatable as this is a social issue that plagues many countries in the present age. Swift presents a satirical argument in which he proposes Ireland adopt the horrific practices of eating theirRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1647 Words   |  7 PagesSatire in â€Å"A Modest Proposal† and Different Articles Jonathan Swift, author of â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† tries to present different ideas in order to change the situation of Ireland. Through his proposal, he is able to get people’s attention, and the way he uses satire throughout the article made his argument more successful. He wrote this essay to show how ignored and bad the state of Ireland and its social classes are. In â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, Swift effectively uses rhetorical exaggeration to expressRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1333 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"A modest proposal† by Jonathan Swift is an essay, which was written to elaborate the poverty of people in Ireland. Where poor viewed as having an absence of worth in the public eye, playing no essential part in more noteworthy else s benefit of the people. Swift uses situational irony in this essay which also represented a work of satire. By definition situational irony happens when the final outcome is opposing to what was expect ed. Basically his proposal was for poor children roaming around theRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift982 Words   |  4 Pages Jonathan Swift, author of â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† tries to present different ideas in order to change the situation of Ireland. Through his proposal, he is able to get his point across. He wrote this essay to show how undeveloped and bad the state of Ireland is and the social classes. In â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, Swift effectively uses insincerity, sarcasm, and rhetorical exaggeration to reveal his annoyance of politicians, papists, and overall citizens of poverty-stricken Ireland in the late seventeenthRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift813 Words   |  4 PagesJonathan Swift, author of the satirical piece â€Å"A Modest Proposal,† organized an outrageous proposal to the people of Ireland. In this pamphlet, Swift offered his personal views on how to overcome Ireland’s issue of overpopulation and poverty. By raising nationwide attention, Swift plan to shock the readers by emphasizing the idea of cannibalism as a way to deal with Irelandâ€℠¢s problems. Swift’s technique of audience, tone, and pathos help determine the advantages and disadvantages of â€Å"A Model Proposal†Read MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1057 Words   |  5 Pages A Modest Proposal â€Å"A Modest Proposal†, written in 1979 by Jonathan Swift, is a fascinating sardonic, overwhelming hyperbole. He explores the miserable fate of poverty-striven Irish whose struggle in vain in an effort to feed their huge emaciated families. In the essay, Swift advocates that the penurious Irish should sell their babies to the rich ladies and gentlemen and obtain monetary power required to ease their economic predicaments. The straight-faced parody that features predominantly in theRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1340 Words   |  6 PagesA Modest Proposal was written in the year 1729 by the famous satirist Jonathan Swift. In his work he outlines the pros of eating unwanted children of Ireland for economical benefits in a time of great poverty. While the reader can obviously discard the idea of eating children, in his proposal, in a roundabout way, Swift speaks to hard pressing issues of the time. The state of Ireland is well described by Swift in this piece. He speaks of woman who â€Å"instead of being able to work for their honestRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1795 Words   |  8 PagesHave you ever thought about eating an infant to ease your economic hardship? You’re not the only one! Jonathan Swift wrote an entire pamphlet about it (satirically, of course). Satire has the ability to point out societal inadequacy and ridicule political policies in a way that is humorous in its absurdity while masking its true intent. In A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift, the author’s use of exaggeration and irony to draw attention to the meaningless lives of the Irish people to English ruleRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1032 Words   |  5 PagesJonathan Swift’s satirical pamphlet, A Modest Proposal, as a way to ironically find a way For the CommonWealth of Ireland to benefit from the starving children. He proposes the idea that an un wanted child should be fattened up then feed to landlords or have their meat sold in the market. In turn curing the nation’s problem of overpopulation and contribute to the economic well-being of the nation. Swift’s satire exploits the fundamental human function of eating. The need to eat is a driving humanRead MoreA Modest Proposal By Jonathan Swift1001 Words   |  5 PagesThe story ‘A Modest Proposal’ makes the readers feel a sense of dread and disgust. ‘The Modest Proposal’ is a pamphlet written by Jonathan Swift, a satirist from the Dublin literary world, and it is a proposal being proposed narrated by â€Å"the economic projector [and] an ostensibly genuine voice which can usefully be called Swift s† (Phiddian 610) such as in previous writings, the proposal is a plan to make 20,000 poor people breed, sell the rest for money for the 20,000 poor, to raise 20,000 of the

Absolutism And Relativism Essay Example For Students

Absolutism And Relativism Essay Absolutism and relativism are two extreme ethical approaches to reality. Whilethey are both valid and supported by facts, they are very contrasting in theirviews. Values are what a person cares about and thinks is worthwhile. Forexample, values can include life, love, religious faith, freedom, relationships,health, justice, education, family and many other things. Usually these valuesare what provides the passion in a persons life, and gives them hope and areason for being. A person might go to any lengths to protect what they feel isright and to preserve these values. Values can be divided up into twosubcategories: absolute and relative. Absolute values deal with conventionalethics. In absolutism, everything is certain. Relativism, on the other hand, ismore subjective. It includes concepts such as utilitarianism and idealism. Relativism stresses the idea that nothing is certain. These two ideals areextremes when approaching reality and values. An ethical absolutist believesthat there is a single or universal moral standard that is equally applicable toall people at all times, and each society must adhere to them. There is onemoral law, one universal code, and one eternal standard that govern all people. Right is right and wrong is wrong; everything is black and white. There is adistinct difference between what is actually right and what isthought to be right. Actions are inherently good or bad, regardlessof the consequences. They also feel that if two people are in disagreement aboutwhat is right, then obviously one of them must be mistaken, since ethicalstandards are either right or wrong. Immanuel Kant and his categoricalimperative support the absolutists opinions. Kant, a German philosopher, wasone of the greatest thinkers of all time, and his writings are widely used tostudy ethics and morality. According to him, to possess moral worth is moreimportant than to possess intelligence, humor, strength or any other talent ofthe mind or body. He feels that moral worth has absolute value. When faced witha moral decision, one test of a moral act is to ask oneself, Is this thekind of act that everyone should perform? This question can determinewhether a given principle is moral and objec tive or merely subjective. ImmanuelKant stated, There isbut one categorical imperative, namely, this: Actonly on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it shouldbecome a universal law (M-WDQ). Universal principles impose categoricalimperatives that demand that a person act in a certain fashion. A categoricalimperative is unconditional and moral. For example, Keep yourpromises or Dont lie. The opposite of this is thehypothetical imperative, which is conditional on something. People who followKants theories, Kantians, defend his principles. In his article in The NewRepublic, Michael Sandel wrote, Kant argued that empirical principles,such as utility, were unfit to serve as basis for the moral law. A whollyinstrumental defense of freedom and rights not only leaves rights vulnerable,but fails to respect the inherent dignity of persons (Sandel). In the viewof modern-day Kantians, certain rights are so fundamental that even the generalwelfare cannot override them. The ex treme opposite of absolutism is relativism. Relativists feel that circumstances arise that can alter cases, and makeexceptions to any rule. It is okay to have everyday standards to live by, butexceptions are always welcome since they are right and good. The judgment ofgood of bad is based upon the result of consequence of the act rather than theact itself. Contrary to ethical absolutism, ethical relativism claims that iftwo individuals disagree on a moral view, both can be right, since moral viewsare not right or wrong. The two people can both be right because Culturalcircumstances alter the way people think about their environment, thus emphasisof moral or immoral judgment is placed on differing actions in differingcultures (Sherman). Relativism is subjective and seeks to gain happiness;therefore, this ideal makes perfect sense. The article The Paralysis ofAbsolutophobia by Robert Simon gives reasons why relativism is soprevalent among students today. He feels that students have their ownindividual interpretations of multicul turalism and postmodernism, and that anycriticism of another cultures practices is a kind of cultural imperialism. .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 , .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .postImageUrl , .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 , .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:hover , .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:visited , .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:active { border:0!important; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:active , .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169 .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u43bb4b99213609cb98b6168e45f98169:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Manuscript for experimental ps EssayAlso, because we all speak from some particular perspective, truly objectivemoral knowledge is impossible to attain (Simon). In the same article RobertSimon speaks about having absolute values. He feels that to be tolerant andwilling to consider the viewpoints and arguments of others is in itself a moraljudgment. Also, there is nothing about moral judgment that requiresinflexibility, intolerance, fanaticism or an inability to recognize that peoplewill disagree. And finally, Simon feels that people should replaceabsolutophobia with a greater appreciation and openmindness. Part of therelativist view deals with utilitarianism, which was sup ported by John StuartMill. His view defends liberal principles in the name of maximizing the generalwelfare. Referring to Mills utilitarian views, in his article, Sandel remarks,The state should not impose on its citizens a preferred way of life, evenfor their own good, because doing so will reduce the sum of human happiness, atleast in the long run; better that people choose for themselves even if, onoccasion, they get it wrong (Sandel). In On Liberty, Mill writes,The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own goodin our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, orimpede their efforts to obtain it. In one respect, utilitarianism wouldseem well suited to liberal purposes. Seeking to maximize overall happiness doesnot require judging peoples values, only aggregating them. Utilitarianssometimes defend individual right on the grounds that respecting them now willserve utility in the long run. All of Immanuel Kants opinions strongly opposed this. It is obvious that ethical absolutism and relativism are extremeopposites. They each have strong evidence backing them up and forming separateopinions. Even great philosophers took stands on absolutism and relativism. Immanuel Kant supports absolutism, while J.S. Mill supports relativism. Manypeople, however, feels that the best solution lies as a happy mediumthat lies somewhere in the middle. I agree with that notion. As the saying goes,Moderation is key; I dont feel that an extreme is ever the way togo. Relativists see happiness and idealism, which I feel is important. I alsothink that it is important to seek the greatest good for the greatest number ofpeople. Absolutism, on the other hand, has absolute certainty. I feel it isimportant to also have assured realities that you can look forward to relyingon. I disagree with the absolutist opinion that people cannot have differentviews on moral issues. I think that people, depending on their experiences,culture, age, religion, and social status have differing opinions on topics. That is all a part of the world, and its diverse qualities and characteristics. BibliographyHalpin, James. Good Conversation: An Invitation to Moral Disclosure. Simon Schuster Custom Publishing. Needham, Massachusetts, 1997. Kant, Immanuel. Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations. Merriam-Webster, Inc. New York, NewYork, 1992. p 15. Sandel, Michael. Morality and the liberal ideal: mustindividual rights betray the common good?. The New Republic. May 7, 1984v190 p15 Sherman, Bob. Basic Ethics and Morals. World Wide Web: http://www.flash.net/bob001/basics.html. Simon, Robert L. The Paralysis of Absolutophobia. From The Chronicleof Higher Education.

Prevailing Themes In Swamp Gravy Essays - Miller County, Georgia

Prevailing Themes In Swamp Gravy Prevailing Themes in Swamp Gravy Cera D. Ridley Honors Seminar October 12, 1999 Dr. Lawson South Georgians from different backgrounds, sharing various experiences in life, all have a story to tell. Swamp Gravy portrays these real life stories with a unique staging technique, allowing the audience to be involved and participate during the performance. The play illustrates folk life in the past and celebrates the way things use to be when life was simple. The stories told in Swamp Gravy are derived from local tales and histories of the community that reveal themes about death, family, and relationships. The theme of death was evident in the first act of the play. The main character, Harvey, was only a young child when his mother died a month after giving birth to a baby girl. After his mother's death, Harvey and his five other siblings were separated and labeled as orphans. Harvey had no mother and his father was not a positive figure in Harvey's life. He felt a sense of abandonment, loneliness, and a voidance of love. As the play progressed, a young girl who lost her big brother in a car accident told another story about death. The younger sister admired and looked up to her older brother. She was saddened by the death of her brother, but she held on to the memory of him, as did Harvey remember his mother. Swamp Gravy exemplified the importance of family throughout the play. A large family was common and displayed a sense of unity and love. Harvey's youngest sister was adopted when she was a baby. She always felt emptiness in her heart and often dreamed of someday meeting her biological family. Harvey, also determined to find his baby sister, never gave up hope. During one scene of the play, a family convened in the swamp for a family reunion. Even though the family's cousins were escaped convicts, the family still wanted to include them in the reunion because the were family. The scene featuring the triplets, Bessie, Ressie, and Essie also emphasized the theme of family. The three women shared close relationships with one another throughout their youthful lives and were continuing to grow older together. Relationships of brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, and man with God were developed in the play. Most of these relationships were considered to be special in their own way. However, Harvey and his father were not close and frequently argued, causing both of them to become dependent on alcohol. As Harvey grew older, he became more depressed. It was not until he attained a close relationship with God and sought a relationship with his younger sister that Harvey became truly happy. The various scenes and stories in the play reflect the folk life of South Georgia in the past. The play's themes of death, family, and relationships support the real life situations that compose this drama. Swamp Gravy allows one to observe folk life and folkways and appreciate, as well as cherish, the past of South Georgia. Theater Essays