Positive Effects of Television on the way People Understand Themselves

Television helps in building child cognition. Several studies have assessed children’s programs such as Sesame Street. All these studies find that young children who view Sesame Street often have more developed cognition in identifying shapes, numbers and letter than those who do not view the program (Fisch 2004). Besides, these children do extremely well in academics when they join high school.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Positive Effects of Television on the way People Understand Themselves specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conversely, watching television may impair cognition in children. Williams (1986) evaluated cognition in children using a test called alternate uses. He found that the scores of the test dropped after children watched television. Although these findings might have been true, some factors that had no relationship with watching television could have influenced the findings of this study. Some of these factors could have been tiredness or boredom due to repeating the same test. The work of Williams (1986) is also disputable because children, who like watching, usually follow scenes keenly so that they can recall all the events that crop from week to week. Rather than impairing a child’s cognitive ability, such an activity should help in developing a child’s cognitive ability. This point can also be supported by the work of McLuhan (1964), who argues that television requires high levels of audience participation. Hence, watching television builds cognition as a child takes part by thinking actively in the entire program. Television acts as a valuable resource through providing viewers with the latest information about what is happening around them. For instance, a person gets to know when calamities such as Hurricanes strike some parts of the world, or when Iraq is fighting with America. Such information helps people to understand themsel ves more as they are able to tell why some leaders of the world may concentrate so much on some issues that other leaders, in other parts, may not consider. For instance, people can get to understand why the American government has to budget for so much money in security and disaster management as opposed to other governments. However, television does not act as a valuable resource in all topics. Essential topics such as employment openings receive little address from televisions despite the fact that most people are jobless. Hence, we can argue that televisions allow people to understand others, but it offers little when it comes to economic and personal development.Advertising Looking for critical writing on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Television helps people to understand and appreciate their gender roles. Men dominate most programs on television because few women have jobs. In efforts to investig ate the role that television has on making people understand gender, Williams (1986) conducted a study on how children classified men and women after watching some television shows. All children received a list of traits, and they had to classify these traits depending on whether they were common in boys or girls. After the study, Williams (1986) concluded that television influenced the understanding of men and women roles among children. Understanding gender roles is essential, but it can lead to gender stereotyping. For instance, girls may refuse to take up subjects that will develop them into media workers because they associate such jobs with men. Also, dividing jobs according to gender orientation promotes gender inequality as organizations place men on leadership positions that pay well while women work as their subordinates with little pay. Some television programs have made people realize that they can find pleasure in reading books as well as using different methods of inst ruction in learning. Most people move from one bookshop to the other searching for books that have life stories of characters that they admire in television shows. Also, some television programs like Discovery and History Channels contain lots of educational content. These channels show some events that took place long ago including wars, as well as evolution of human beings. People get to understand where they came from and why they relate with some societies in certain ways, through watching historical events. For instance, through watching about Germany armament on history channels, people can understand the roots of the tension between European and American countries. On the other hand, television shows may hamper the habit of reading books in children. Most children tend to concentrate on watching cartoons and other fun shows, rather than educational programs. Thus, televisions can influence reading and performance in schools, unless parents check what they watch.Advertising We will write a custom critical writing sample on Positive Effects of Television on the way People Understand Themselves specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Television shows enhance interaction among different people, thus enabling them to understand each other better. This is because television shows offer a platform from where office mates, who have little in common, can start a dialogue. People commonly watch television series like the Sopranos and sport channels and thus, they always have much to talk about them. Cartoon shows, also, form a ground for interaction as people from all demographic groups, including children watch them (Datta 2007). In fact, most grownups refer to cartoons when they want to start a dialogue with children, or when they want to cheer up sickly children. Some cartoon channels, which people watch commonly, are Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Toon Disney. Television shows, which have characters with admirab le values, may impact the relationship between children and other people positively. On the other hand, some television shows may have negative impacts on society. Some examples of such shows are violent games and pornographic shows (Williams 1986). Both violent games and pornographic shows may have an effect on the moral values of children (Datta 2007). However, the issue of children watching unsuitable content is solvable through screening. For instance, parents can use technology to watch and control programs and content watched by their children (Hobart Schiffman 2000). Some programs that parents should restrict children from viewing are those that have rapid scenes, or those that show violent behavior. Monitoring what a child watches enables him to build a healthy relationship with the television (Hobart Schiffman 2000). Parents can as well choose shows that are rich in educational content, or children to view. Some shows for young children have no educational value, and pare nts should restrict such programs for school going children (Datta, A 2007). Weather channels make people understand the needs of their bodies since they offer guidance on what to wear. Most people watch television channels that forecast weather before deciding on what to wear. On the other hand, watching television often may harm the body through causing eye sight problems and malnutrition, in children who are frequent television viewers. Lastly, television helps people in a certain part of the world to understand how people in other countries live. There are people who like to know about others in oversea countries, but they cannot afford the money for travel. Television programs that focus on other countries help to bridge this gap.Advertising Looking for critical writing on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such programs focus on people from different cultures and through watching them a person can realize how others behave. However, television shows may exaggerate, or give false information about lifestyles of people in other countries, thus creating false images among viewers. References Datta, A 2007, Effects of television and the viewers, Mittal Publications, New Delhi. Fisch, S 2004, Children’s learning from educational television: sesame street and beyond, Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah. Hobart, M Schiffman, Z 2000, Information ages: literacy, numeracy, and the computer revolution, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. McLuhan, M 1964, Television â€Å"the timid giant†: understanding media, Routledge Kegan Paul, London. Williams, TM 1986, The impact of television: a natural experiment in three communities, Academic Press, Orlando. This critical writing on Positive Effects of Television on the way People Understand Themselves was written and submitted by user Georgia Schultz to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and Neutering Spaying and Neutering Spaying and Neutering By Maeve Maddox A local public service announcement invites listeners to telephone for further information â€Å"about spay and neutering.† A Web search finds numerous examples of the verb spay joined with the participle form: This vet clinic in SW Portland offers low-cost spay and neutering for cats and dogs. Pet Spay and Neutering Program–Just Fix It [USDA] provides a list of programs in each state that provides low cost or free spay and neutering services for cats. Several institutions and organizations offer help for pet spay and neutering or low-cost service.   The present participle of the verb spay is spaying. The examples should read â€Å"spaying and neutering†: This vet clinic in SW Portland offers low-cost spaying and neutering for cats and dogs. Pet Spaying and Neutering Program–Just Fix It [USDA] provides a list of programs in each state that provides low cost or free spaying and neutering services for cats. Several institutions and organizations offer help for pet spaying and neutering or low-cost service.   An easy way to avoid misusing the word spay in announcements of this kind would be to use only the word neuter. Unlike spay, which refers to the removal of an animal’s ovaries, the word neuter can mean either â€Å"to castrate† or â€Å"to spay.†    The past and present participle forms of the verb spay are frequently mispronounced and misspelled: Incorrect: I got my cat spaded and she got [a] hernia from the stitches. Correct : I got my cat spayed and she got [a] hernia from the stitches. Incorrect: I am contemplating  spading  and declawing my kitten when she turns 6 months old.   Correct : I am contemplating  spaying and declawing my kitten when she turns 6 months old. The past tense forms of both verbs–neuter and spay–end in -ed: neutered and spayed. The words are pronounced [nyoo-terd] or [noo-terd]) and [spayd]. Speakers who mispronounce and misspell the word spayed as spaded are perhaps confused by the existence of the word spade [spayd], which functions as both noun and verb. The verb spade (to dig) has a past form in -ed: If you did not plow or  spade the  garden site in the fall, turn the  soil  in spring as soon as it is dry enough to work. The Alcotts thrived as Bronson  spaded the  earth for his acre of garden. An interesting etymological fact is that both words–spay and spade–derive from spatha, the Latin word for a broad-bladed sword. The verb spay entered English from French espeier, â€Å"to cut with a sword.† Its earliest meaning in English was â€Å"to kill a deer with a sword,† as in these directions in a 1425 hunting manual: â€Å"spay him [the deer] even behind the shoulder forward to the heart.† The same manual also uses spay to mean removing the ovaries of an animal. The word spay got its name from the cutting aspect of a sword, whereas the word spade got its name from a sword’s tapered shape. It may help to keep the words spay and spade apart by remembering that animals are spayed with delicate medical instruments having no resemblance to broad garden implements. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial ExpressionsHomonyms, Homophones, Homographs and HeteronymsPractice or Practise? Spaying and Neutering Spaying and Neutering Free Online Research Papers Rarely does one nod ones head in approval at the thought of surgically removing dogs or cats testicles. Removing the ovaries and uterus remains similarly unheralded except for when we clarify that we mean to chip away at the sexual organs of animals all for the sake of the expensive oriental rug that runs across the living room floor as luxuriously as a furry Fido or a purring Princess. Indeed in the back of our neighbors judgmental minds lurks the suspicion that we pet owners aim to spay our female animals or neuter our male creatures because of selfish human reasons. After all, not only may a female dog in heat ruin a rug, but also an intact dog is reportedly a threat to small children in the house. Granted, sparing one’s children is hardly deemed a selfish human desire, yet we still dismiss the fact that â€Å"the age of three is prime time for an intact male dog to be involved with a terrible tragedy, such as †¦ killing children† when we admit that â€Å"obviously, not all intact male dogs are aggressive child-killers† (Davis). In a fit of projection, we humans tend to personalize the medical matter of spaying and neutering, as if our own reproductive organs – let alone sex life and hunting skills – were on the line. But research shows that expert after expert believes that it is for the sake of the animal that we allow and perform these surgical procedures. Indeed, keeping an animal intact may be more selfish, for people who want to breed dogs or cats for show are typically those who oppose state-mandated neutering programs, which – together with educational programs- have been responsible for the fact that about 75 percent of d ogs and cats have been neutered or spayed (Woolf). With mostly competitive breeders and other extremists policing the privates of animals to keep them intact, a second look at the more humane reasons for these surgical procedures is certainly warranted. As the research shows, spaying and neutering are the single most effective methods of not only easing the strain on overpopulated shelters, but also for keeping cats and dogs healthy and safe. Overpopulation of cats and dogs lead to a burden on society. Animals reproduce at extremely high rates and may give birth to a large litter of newborns. Research Papers on Spaying and NeuteringGenetic EngineeringInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XThe Spring and AutumnHip-Hop is ArtPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenCapital PunishmentResearch Process Part OneThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Presentation of a Cultural Attraction Assignment

Presentation of a Cultural Attraction - Assignment Example In this assignment, the focus is on New Brunswick region of Canada, which provides a great exposure to tourists looking for experience in cultural tourism. New Brunswick of Canada is one of the three Maritime Provinces of the country (www.officialtourism.ca, 2009). The region has a high mixture of history and cultural diversity, which began around 3000 years ago, when the ancestors of the Aboriginal community came and settled in the region. Over the years, the traditions of English, Irish and Scottish also became quite prevalent when the natives of these regions also started to settle in the region (www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca-1, 2014). For tourists looking forward to having cultural experiences, the region offers multiple attractions like Kings Landing Historical Settlement, Village Historique Acadien, Monument-Lefebvre National Historic Site, Metepenagiag Hertiage Park, The Chocolate Museum, New Brunswick Museum and many others. However, among all the attractions, that is open for the tourists, the New Brunswick Museum stands out very prominently. Talking in details, it can be said that the New Brunswick Museum exposes the tourists to the rich cultural history as well as the natural diversity of the region (New Brunswick Museum, 2014). The visitors of the museum get the glimpse of the past history of the region along with the highly interesting marine life of the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Saint Lawrence (www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca-2, 2014). Both the tourist attractions are open to the tourists on a regular basis all around the year. A detailed analysis of the purpose of visits made by various visitors to New Brunswick revealed a very interesting picture. As per Statistics Canada’s travel based surveys, the primary reason for visit to New Brunswick is for visiting friends and relatively. This comprised around 49% of the visitors. 35% of the visitors cited the main reason for their visit to New Brunswick as vacation. In regards to the number of

Child Development Perspective Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Child Development Perspective - Article Example Therefore, before children engage in formal learning, they should be involved in preschool programs, which may enhance their school entry. This study will outline the role of self regulation and school readiness in child development. The study shall involve sixty participants from high school across the state. These students will assemble in the county hall. The manager of the research committee will give questionnaires to them. The questionnaire shall entail questions that indicate how the participants adjusted to their school life in their childhood. Secondly, the participants will be divided in two groups; Students from rich families and those from poor families. This is because students from rich families can afford Pre School programs while those from poor ones can not. Thirty participants will be from rich families while the remaining will be disadvantaged ones. Gender will be considered with a1 to 1 ratio. Every group will be served with a questionnaire of their lifestyle in childhood. Participants who went through preschool programs will be served with questionnaires. This will reflect how they adapted to their school entry. Students who did not go through preschool programs will be served with questionn aires that reflect such information. The researchers will provide lunch and transport to the participants to motivate them give the needed information. True information will be used to draw conclusions and make recommendations for future research. This indicates that researchers should enable participants to feel free and deliver information. According to the information acquired from the questionnaires, it was indicated that students from poor families insulated behind in school readiness skills. They could not match those who came from well to do families. Their reading and comprehension skills were low since their transition period from home to school was done. This was because they came from disadvantaged homes, which could not

Evaluation of Barclays strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Evaluation of Barclays strategy - Essay Example When we see the Barclays’ acquisitions of Wells Fargo Nikko Investment Advisers in 1995, to be integrated with BZW Investment Management to form Barclays Global Investors; acquisition of Banco Zaragozano in 2003, one of Spain's largest private sector banking groups; acquisition of Juniper Financial Corporation, a US leading full-service credit card issuer in 2004; acquisition of major stake of Absa Group Limited in 2005, South Africa’s largest retail bank; and acquisition of Gerrard Management Services Limited in 2006, a leading UK private client wealth manager; we can say that Barclays has preferred a route of investment in capital purchase of other financial institutions, as a direct measure of expanding its global base, as well ass to establish its base more firmly in other countries, and to use the established customer base of other financial institutions for its advantage. This sort of strategy gives the additional management challenges to barclays of managaing an ever expanding customer and market base, not to mention the growing number of cemployees and branches and integrate its acquisitions into its own processes and culture. As far as its performance measurement goes with reapect to the global drivers and its financial performance, we can see from the company financial data that its strategy of growing has worked well for the company. The time for its new acquisitions to become an effective contributor has been quite small and has been able to show profits very early. The bank has shown repeated profits aver the entire time while acquiring new enterorises, which shows that the bank has performed admirably in keeping the acquisitions hampering its profits. As far as the global industry drivers go, the new wave in banking has been the retail banking and the emergence of global players. The banking laws have become stricter, while some parts of the financial world, i.e. some big players have started to become monopolies, while all along the time there has been a massive flow of new products for the customers. In all this, banks like barclays have a strategic advantage caused by their huge presence and its modern outlook. It is in a position that it can capture huge amount of new customers and its massive base is able enough to satisfy the growing customers requirements. Also the diversion of barclays into different sectors of financial world, other than typical banking, such as credit, invetsment, insurance etc gives it an edge over its competitiors, while at the same time does not couse too much burden on its original operations. Also its base is valuable for establishment in emerging markets. Thus barclays can be assumed to be in a key position to dominate the financial world. Q2 Compare and contrast the intended acquisition of ABN with that of the earlier acquisition of Banco Zaragozano , paying particular attention to the merger rationale and the motives in each case and the likely synergy gains resulting from the integration of ABN. The intended acquisition of ABN is similar in many points with the previous acquisition of Banco Zaragozano, with the key similarities in the dimensions of rationale, motives and gained synergies

What Is The Ultimate Basis Of Religious Belief Philosophy Essay

What Is The Ultimate Basis Of Religious Belief Philosophy Essay In the article, Are Men ever directly aware of God, James considered mystical states of consciousness as the centre and root of personal religious experiences which encompasses spectrum of experiences, from the unspiritual to the most devotedly profound.  One of his arguments is that, we, humans, are in control of what we believe. This can be cross-referenced from his humanistic perspective in psychology. Moreover, he started his piece by defining the expression, mystical states of consciousness. He built his paper by creating a valid topic of investigation and study by defining mystical states of consciousness as real experiences, which is available to most people. And to prevent verbal disputation and recrimination of the loosely-defined words mysticism and mystical, he proposed four marks that an experience must have to be considered one. He started with ineffability which stresses the defiance of expression in order for the experience not to be mistaken as a state of feeling. Moreover, it must be directly experienced; cannot be transferred to others and the no words can be used to describe it. Noetic quality, on the other hand, which is also so similar to states of feeling, says that mystics experience a state of knowledge, not just an intellectual aha moment. It is all encompassing knowledge which is the knowledge of the Unity that fuses even contradictory thoughts to a whole which penetrates the mystics backbone. Subject claims that they have experience revelations and insights into virtual truths. Transiency and passivity are less sharply marked, but are also usually found in mystical religious experiences. Transiency is a state that cannot be sustained for long; it fades rapidly, and remains out of reach. However, some memory content always remains, and this can be used to modify the interior life of the subject between the instant of their recurrence. When in a mystical experience, individuals do not seem to keenly process the data. It is a passive experience; the subject feels a loss of control, and of being in the grasp of superior command James fourth mark. These four qualities mark is what he called, the mystical group. These four marks of mystics and mysticism state forms a distinct region of consciousness. Later, James goes on to suggest that these experiences occur as our field of consciousness increases. James offers variety of experiences that he wants to categorize as mystical, extending from the most trivial to the most important. And he cited examples of their lower grades. He relates this to the power of poetry and music. He also mentioned dà ©jà   vu, a sudden feeling which sometimes sweeps over us of having  been there before. He sees this sort of experience as making us imprecisely conscious of the likelihood of things beyond our normal perceptions. There are degrees of what James calls  mystical consciousness. For these, the writer merely quotes from people who have experienced them. One of the subjects describes being visited by trance states in which awareness of the world was annihilated, leaving a sharp awareness of the self. This brings him to the contemplation of what we to-day call drug-induced states, the consciousness produced by intoxicants and anaesthetics, especially by alcohol. The writer states that his own experience of  nitrous oxide intoxication  has led him to the conclusion that our normal waking consciousness is but one especial type of consciousness. Continuing his survey, James now reaches  religious mysticism pure and simple. This is where the experience is of the presence of God. As one of the writers quoted says, I was aware that I was immersed in the infinite ocean of God. He completes his survey of the range of mystical experiences by looking at  its methodical cultivation as a component of the religious life. He starts with yoga, the experimental union of the individual with the divine  and the various levels of contemplation in Buddhism. Then he goes on to quote at considerable length an account that offers insight into Sufism. Finally, the writer comes to the mystical theology of Catholicism as exemplified in three Iberian mystics, St John of the Cross, St Ignatius Loyola and St Teresa of Avila. Two concerns that the writer dwells on are sense of revelation and tonic effects of mystical states Illumination and Ecstasy. Thus St Teresa reports on the one hand on receiving privileged insights, and on the other hand on experiencing rapture of the mind and senses. Moreover, five negatives have been described; however, the main benefit that James seems to see in all this is an  overcoming of all the usual barriers between the individual and the Absolute. There is oneness and both parties are aware of it. Before concluding, he characterized the general traits of the mystic range of consciousness as whole pantheistic, optimistic, anti-naturalistic and harmonizes best with twice-borness and the so-called worldly states of mind. In conclusion, the writer made three points. First, the subjects of mystical experiences are themselves totally convinced by them. Second, there is no reason why other people should share that conviction for different subjects experiences generate different messages. James suggests that mystical experiences, viewed overall, are non-specific in doctrinal content. Third, mystical experiences prevent us from rejecting out of hand the possibility of a world beyond our senses. The supernaturalism to which they persuade us may, interpreted in one way or another. The significance of keeping the meaning of mystical states of consciousness value-neutral was pointed out by James. Furthermore, he explains that all mystical experience, whether positive or negative, deserves recognition as available states of consciousness. He does not debate whether they are a superior or inferior form of consciousness; instead he points out that mystical states include truth and deceit, gratification and pain. His approach is subjective rather than objective and I think he makes some valid points concerning how we judge the faith claim by other people. It was right to respect the personal belief of serious spiritual believers; likewise it is right that what they believe to be true should not be imposed on anyone for them to believe. We all have spiritual needs that somehow, someway when put together build our fragmenting self. Furthermore, he didnt investigate developed patterns of various religions rather he was interested on the experiences that formed the basis of the formal expressions. He has no time for time-honored religion, or theology, rather, he focuses on the mystical, individual life-changing experiences people have in sensing the presence of a higher power. He gave a humane analysis which cleared the empiricists. Indeed, he sets it as his task to evaluate whether religion is good as a social force, and concludes that it is, though with some important caveats. This leaves us with an essential account of what religion truly means and the way in which it is or can be intertwined with social, political and other factors. It lets us unravel such threads in an effective way, and shows us that religion in its essence is not the cause behind all the worlds evil and or good. Rather, religion is a fundamental dimension of consciousness. He concludes that there are other types of truth that we are not usually conscious of and that mystical states give us some hint. Moreover, it interesting that he appears to rebuff and demonstrate flaws in every proof of Gods existence but at the same time believes God is real because He has genuine effects. In his paper, religion was examined from a purely pragmatic perspective. It focused on the individual connection of one individual to the heavenly. Moreover, it was remarkable that the characteristics of religious experience were connected to a range of other phenomena such as drunkenness, ghostly visions, optimism and diseases without any anti-religious schema. It offers less in terms of experimental results since it is impossible to agree on an epistemological point of reference for spiritual matters. So, he provides a virtual catalog of anecdotal references from which to deduce his observations. His answer, of course, is an assorted bag, a cognitive dissonance that is tentatively positive, but not definitively so. This article is not just an assessment but a search for the legitimacy of religion, the reality, and the unity. It is neither an endorsement nor a tearing-down; it does not walk with a particular faith. It is a scientific and philosophic look at religion and one that does not simply dismiss faith as foolish primitive garbage. A foremost flaw in the work is that he dispatches entirely with the historical, institutional, and intellectual mechanisms of religious praxis. While it could be said that these components were anterior to his psychological concern, the manner in which they are done demonstrates a narrow purview of what religion is. Despite this admirable aspiration for reconciliation, he leaves the reader uncertain of what road to take. No matter what his convictions, systematic theology will never voluntarily submit itself to the methodological considerations of empirical science, nor vice versa. Perhaps only in the past decades has the passion for disproving religion subsided enough to allow researchers to make meaningful steps in dialogue between the disciplines. Additionally, his breakdown of four common attributes of the mystical experience primarily the noetic quality, have really been a useful in assessing ones mystical experience. On the other hand, the article A skeptical View of Mysticism by Bertrand Russell started with a presentation of another possible source of knowledge in religion aside from science, which may be properly described as revelation. According to him, we accept the results of studies as truths which we have never conducted or had firsthand experience, and so, mystics might also claim that their source of knowledge is also unquestionable. He admitted that this point is difficult to argue because, people who have mystical experiences would justify that their claim as unquestionable as so with scientific findings of people. Furthermore, he compared the verifiability of science over religion and says that it is useless to attempt an argument that will appeal to the man who has himself enjoyed mystic illumination. He emphasized the importance of the scientific ways of acquiring knowledge as opposed to mystical experiences which cannot be tested. He also stressed the point that mystical experiences are not transferable, so, science should have no expectation as to the result. Moreover, he raised the point on our acceptance of truth, that we, as critical thinkers should not recognize things/events as true without sufficient evidence and has not passed the intra- and inter- subjectivity tests. However, this can also be contradicted by mystics by saying that science should be neutral and should view theirs on their procedures. Furthermore, he stated that the chief argument in favor of the mystics is their agreement with each other. However, mystics vary in the way they give verbal expressions to their experiences, and so he enumerated three things that successful mystics maintain. First, all division and separateness is unreal, and that the universe is a highly indivisible unity. Second, the evil is illusionary, and the illusion arises through falsely regarding a part of self-subsident. And lastly, the time is unreal, and that reality is eternal, not in the sense of being everlasting, but in the sense of being wholly outside time. These traits, however, according to him are just representative sample of the whole. Russell built further arguments by instructing the readers to image that they are in a law-court, seeking to decide on the credibility of the witnesses who claims to assert these three assertions. He demonstrates an argument, makes the possible reaction of both sides, then critics it. He started with the differences of the belief of mystics wherein he cited examples such as the Virgin of the Christians which would be disagreed by Protestants, the Archangel Gabriel and such. Indeed, Christians, Muslims, Buddhist, etc. would discredit and brand each other as untrustworthy. However, he said that mystics would argue that everyone should respect each others belief and wouldnt focus in their differences but instead look unto their similarities to strengthen their claim concentrating on the above mention things they tend to uphold. Then he asks what test can be applied to their unanimous evidence. Russell said that first hand information is vital in order to make someone believe your claim and this is promised by scientific investigations. Nonetheless, this questions yields to various answers such as a receptive frame of the mind, humility, fasting religious mediation, and breathing exercise. And so, if we succeeded, according to Russell, to feel in a certain time that time is unreal and experienced a state of mind that they describe, how then, shall we assess its reliability when we reverse to our normal states? Furthermore, mystics agree about the unreality of time. Russell said that if time is unreal, there would be no sequence of events and the cause and effect relationship of what we do would be nonsense. Our time markers for time such as before, after, tomorrow would become just mere utterances. Therefore, there would be no events; were just lost in the vastness of the cosmos, embracing what is said to be real in the temporal world. And if so, there would be neither improvement nor deterioration, no distinction between sorrow and happiness. And such views, according to Russell exterminate not only science but prudence, hope and effort which does not go along with what is important to religion morality and worldly wisdom. Mystics, however, would not accept this conclusion but urge doctrines which teach such. Russell cited Dean Inges disagreement with the region that focuses on evolution that stresses temporal process. Russell found himself in harmony with Inge, however, sought more than that, more inferences. It is imperative not to distort the doctrine of mysticism, in which the author thinks, there is a core of wisdom. Let us see how it seeks to avoid the extreme consequences which seem to follow from the denial of time, said Russell. The philosophy from Parmenides to Hegel is an example wherein the distinction between what he calls, reality and appearance, the way of truth and opinion. Difficulties could arise, however, at this point because if the relationship between them would become so intimate, all things whether pleasant or not would have their counterparts in reality, and if the relation is too limited, inferences cannot be made about the character of appearance to reality and reality would be vague Unknowable. On the other hand, he said that pantheism would be very difficult to avoid for Christians because if the world is only apparent, God created nothing, and the reality corresponding to the world is a part of God; but if the world is in any degree real and distinct from God, we abandon the wholeness of everything, which is an essential doctrine of mysticism, and we are compelled to suppose that, in so far as the world is real, the evil which it contains is also real. The Bishop of Birminghan also rejected all sorts of pantheism because if a man is actually a part of god, the evil in man is also God. Russell then moves to another argument which is the mystics denial of the world of sense. Assuming that the world reality is used in the context of law-courts, there would be no doubts in rejecting their claims because of the inconsistency of their testimonies and mundane moments. This resulted to the scrutiny of another sense which is emotion. And what Russell claims is that mysticism is an emotion and not a fact which does not assert anything and cannot be confirmed nor contradicted with science. Furthermore, he reiterated that science only demands a person on normal eyesight, normal consciousness, and normal behavior as opposed to religion which demands physical, psychological and mental alteration. He therefore concluded that mystical states which demands abnormal physical condition are just abnormal perceptions while normal perception, which is proved to aid in our life have correspondence with fact. He said that mystical experiences as emotions may have been the one responsible for providing breath, calmness and profundity wherein self-centered desires are dead, and the mind serves as a mirror of the infiniteness of the cosmos. And the assertions from these feelings are inessential for he cannot accept any method of arriving at the truth except of science. And that evil and good may have rooted from false beliefs. This article remains too rigid makes it sure that science is the only way of knowing things. Russell, till the very end of his article asserted that he cant accept other ways to verify the truth of a claim. This I disagree. As much as philosophy is concerned, I am deeply inclined of why David Hume included emotions and ideas as source of truth and or knowledge. No one, till now have solved this misery, I guess. Indeed, we are aware of the development of the pragmatic theory of truth which however, failed because of the relativity of human behavior. As the famous quotation goes, Experience is the best teacher. And I believe that there are things which we cannot share or make other people to believe because of the individual differences and experiences we have. We are unique individuals not just in our thoughts but in the biological foundation DNA. We even dont know ourselves much thats why we still use Freuds unconscious mind. Freuds theories were never proven correct; however, it is still used because nothing was used to verify its credibility. Same goes with religion, the metaphysical concepts that they have introduced has affected our lives and thats why we believe in it. It is faith, and we dont question it. Moreover, the contemporary issues that have arisen were about the dispute between evolution and creationism. It is a common misconception that they are contradictory to each other. That one must believe and choose between the two. We must take into account that evolution answers the question HOW and creationism answers the question WHO. Furthermore, I believe on both yet I am more convinced on creationism. Just like mysticism which miracles comes on unexpected times, felt the power and the good feeling it brings, the innate satisfaction and joy which is beyond comprehension is a manifestation that there divine intervention. This I believe on religion that there is divine being who makes all things possible which also depends on the persons beliefs and acts. It is the core of wisdom and knowledge that is applied to do the right thing or the other way around. It is the application of what we learn and experienced that leads us to what we believe and wanted to happen. What we act, do is nothing unless we can discern if it is right or wrong. This is what keeps us moving, changing, and progressing. This, however, when not carefully considered also cause adverse effects. I would like to connect this with Julian Rotters Locus of Control which tests whether individuals are governed by themselves or by faith or destiny. Because of my assertions in this paper, you may say that I have low locus of control, that my philosophies in life are dependent upon external situations.. Actually not, I am in the middle. I believe that I am responsible for my life; I am in control of what happens in my life. However, we cannot deny the fact that we are cultured affected by social interactions. As Plato has said, we are social animals. Furthermore, everything happens for a reason, everything in life is so interconnected. I have met people whom I wasnt connected to for 6 years and now weve become best of friends. Though, I believe that I am the one in control of my life, my beliefs however, are affected by outside forces, I have learned much from Russells argument; however, I am firm with my stand that we are free to choose about our basis of religious belief. He should not be enmeshed in determining if religious experiences might or might not be true, but should determine whether anything practical results from them. Finally, both of the essays have classified religious belief as emotion, and it is. The only difference is that the first accepted it in a humanistic way and the other has done it otherwise. Now, what is my ultimate basis of religious belief? It is subjective spiritual rather than existential. We have our own beliefs but its how we act that matters, how it affect ourselves and the people around us. Its the truth of life that matters. Science itself does not claim that they are the ultimate truth; they only claim that they are presenting the best interpretation of things so far. So does with religion, it is the best way we have interpreted our faith so far.

Essay --

Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras had similarities in the fact that all three of their father’s died, but were very different in how they avenged their father’s deaths. All three of the men valued their families greatly. Many people considered Hamlet a play about revenge, but it was also about family and the saying that blood is thicker than water was true in this story, except the blood spilled out everywhere in the end. Hamlet dwelled on things in his mind before taking actions or trying to move on with his life. After the death of his father, Hamlet became very depressed and enraged that his mother moved on so fast and married his uncle Claudius. Claudius led Hamlet to believe that his father died of natural causes. Hamlet learned that his father’s death was not natural when his father’s ghost came to visit him. When Hamlet learns the truth about his father, he became furious and said â€Å"Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge.† (Shakespeare 31). Hamlet’s father’s ghost did not seem reliable to Hamlet and he contemplated if he was going insane and wondered about what he should do about the situation. Hamlet started to consider avenging his father’s death and cautiously plotted against Claudius but had to wait for the right moment. He decided to show Claudius a play about the similar p erformance of King Hamlet’s death. In the play, the quote that got Claudius to rise â€Å"He poisons him i’ th’ garden for his estate, His name’s Gonzago. The story is extant and written in very choice Italian. You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife.† (Shakespeare 81). Other than the play, Hamlet was very private about his father’s death. His mourning happen... ...er to regain land lost by his deceased father. All three of these men were affected by their father’s deaths and wanted to find a solution. Many people would say that these three men had daddy issues. Both Hamlet and Fortinbras were dealing with the issue of why are their uncles are Kings when they were the rightful heir. Hamlet compared himself to Fortinbras when he passed Fortinbras's armies in the fields and he saw Fortinbras as a model for how he should behave and Hamlet said, â€Å"To be great / is not to stir without great argument / but greatly to find quarrel in a straw / when honor's at the stake† (4.4.52-55). No question that Hamlet was really complex and a fascinating character in literary history. Shakespeare made a hero whose thoughts and difficulties controlled the audience’s experience. Literature has not been the same since and it will probably never be.