What Is Philosophy Essay Example for Free

What Is Philosophy Essay Philosophy is integrated into every individual’s life. This essay will analyse the differences between Western, Chinese and Indian traditions. It will evaluate what it is that constitutes a valid philosophical enquiry and investigate different branches of philosophy. It will also look into the ways in which philosophy is utilised in contemporary society and the ways in which language impact on philosophy. Greco-Roman tradition originally came from Greek and Pagan culture, later gaining influences from other cultures. When the belief in the actual existence of Gods and Goddesses died, reasons needed to be provided for human existence, the purpose of life, and the problems of living in a civilisation. This saw the Greek philosophy grow and the traditions main issue was to define and describe human life and conditions. The tradition later became known as Western tradition, as the Greek’s and Roman’s used ideas from other cultures and ingrained them within their tradition. This still remains a key feature of Western tradition today. There are few surviving original sources of the tradition, preserved by Catholic and Orthodox monasteries, despite their differences to Christian teachings. The influences from Western tradition are key features in society today. It provided reason and science which can be seen as the ground works for technology and science today. â€Å"From the Greco-Roman period came respect for the rule of law, the idea of natural law, and, for its day, toleration of religious beliefs. † (Pappas, 2005) If anything was so prevalent in society today it would be that thought. The ability to live among others with different beliefs but still all follow the same laws is a necessity in todays society. The Western tradition taught us to question who we are and respect individuality, a teaching which lives on to this day. Dissimilar to Western tradition, which looks to define human life and conditions, the Chinese traditions main aim is to keep harmony at all times. Confucius was China’s most famous philosopher. â€Å"The most important thing to Confucius was Jen, or human kindness, love of man. Jen is the ideal feeling of warmth, kindness, dignity, and respect that should develop between two people. † (Powell, 2000, p. 95) The Chinese tradition is one of practicality, therefore the importance of logic is paramount. Logic sees that everything is subject to change, and that opinions and beliefs are of their time and place. Differing to the Western tradition, the Chinese took few ideas from other cultures, highlighting the desire for China to remain separated from other societies. It did however, take influence from Buddhism, but even this was adapted to suit Chinese culture. The Chinese tradition believes that to remain harmonious is of more importance than finding the truth. Followers of Chinese tradition may not see it fit to unburden themselves of their woes onto others as this is not harmonious. Arguably the oldest surviving tradition, Indian tradition aims to eliminate unhappiness and create nirvana, the cessation of suffering. Unlike the Western tradition, both the Chinese and Indian combine philosophy and religion. Indian tradition however does so more harmoniously by combining them both equally. Because of this, Indian tradition is compared to a Banyan tree, with its deep roots and tangled canopy representing the intertwining of Indian philosophies and religions. Buddhism is originated from India. This philosophy believes in karma, that what you are reincarnated as is a reflection of your past life. From a cynical point of view, it could be seen that followers of Buddhism are kind only to protect their reincarnation, and that it is not a selfless act they are carrying out, just one which will benefit them in their next life. It is important that all philosophical enquiries are valid so correct outcomes are produced. There are many elements that constitute a valid philosophical enquiry. It must not be biased or favour one side. It must be non-emotional and it must be able to bring together the deductive and inductive methods of reasoning. It is arguable that for the enquiry to be valid it would need to be proven. This may not be the case and it could be believed that it would just need to not be disproved. For example, it has not been proved that God ever existed, however it has not been disproved. Therefore, the question as to whether there is or was a God, is a valid philosophical enquiry. A valid philosophical enquiry should only be based on evidence and not include feeling or opinion. The final conclusion of the enquiry should then be interpreted and evaluated. No hasty predictions should be made as it should be based just on fact. Descartes provides his process when producing a philosophical enquiry in Discourse on Method. (See appendix 1) There are many different branches of philosophy. Romanticism is originated from 18th century Germany. Romantics react negatively to what the modern world does to people, for example the effects modern day technology have on human interaction. Jean-Jacques Rousseau marked the way for the Romanticism movement as he â€Å"believed that civilisation was a corrupting influence on people, who are instinctively good † (Kindersley, 2011, p. 144) Romantics are very much against the dehumanisation of the modern world where technology replaces people. A romantic might argue that the self-service check outs provided at most supermarkets have a negative effect on human interaction as there is no need to communicate with people face to face now when shopping. Romanticism links with another branch of philosophy, Environmentalism. This philosophy is concerned with keeping the planet green. Environmentalists, like Romantics, are concerned with the developments happening in society and the effects they could have on the planet and those within in the future. In complete contrast to Romanticism and Environmentalism, The Enlightenment is another branch of philosophy. It also originated in 18th century Western Europe but is closely allied with science. It challenges the rule of religious superstition and tradition and uses science to provide most, if not all, of the answers. It sits well with the development in human beings and their surroundings. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that moves with the times. As society, religion, and politics move forward, so do the ethics within those institutions. It is perfectly possible that the ethical issues one experienced in their upbringing could totally differ from those they experience in their adult life. Ethics is a system of values where certain things are â€Å"right† and certain things are â€Å"wrong†. Abortion is a subject that has always been surrounded by moral and ethical issues. (See appendix 2, BBC, 2013) Until 1967, abortion was illegal in England. This however, does not mean it did not happen. In the 1950’s, when abortion was still illegal, mothers carrying unwanted babies would seek non medical personnel to carry out abortions. This was highlighted in a recent episode of Call the Midwife, a drama series based on the personal experiences of an East End midwife in the 1950’s, where a mother had an illegal abortion which lead to her contracting septicaemia. (‘Episode 5’, 2013) Times have clearly moved on, and today abortions are far more available and medically safe. But that does not mean that the ethical views of some have changed with the times, regardless of whether the law has changed. It is important to consider teleological and deontological theories when dealing with ethics. Teleological theorists believe that it is the end result of an action that determines whether the action was good or bad. Deontological theorists however, believe that each action in itself is good or bad, regardless of the consequences. (Harrison-Barbet, 2001, p. 186) There are many ethical issues raised in the arguments against abortion, one of the main being that killing an innocent human being is wrong. (BBC, 2013) This is a deontological argument. It is arguable as to when you consider a foetus a human being. Is it at the conception stage when it is simply a collection of cells, or is it when the heart begins to beat and when the brain starts to function? At around 18-22 weeks a foetus acquires sentience, the awareness of pleasure, pain and perception. As it stands, abortions can be carried out on females up to 24 weeks into pregnancy so ethically one could argue that carrying out abortions this far through in pregnancy is wrong. (Lacewing, 2010) Arguing from a potential perspective creates further questions as to whether contraception is as wrong as abortion. People who oppose abortion may argue that although the foetus may start off as just a collection of cells, it has the potential to become a human being who has the right to life. Therefore, even using contraception is wrong as it prevents the potential of life. Pro-abortionists however may argue that potential means that something does not yet exist so why treat it with the same ethical values as something that does exist. (Lacewing, 2010) Pro-abortionists would also argue that the pregnant female has moral and ethical rights and these may outweigh the foetus’ rights. This could be the case if the female was a victim of rape and would suffer mentally and emotionally if they went through with the pregnancy, or if the continued pregnancy could have detrimental effect on the female’s health. In conclusion, abortion faces many ethical issues from both pro and opposing viewpoints. It is a subject that cannot be determined as right or wrong by science or philosophy. In the end, the most important viewpoint that should be considered when making such a decision is the pregnant female. The impact of language on society is a lot more prevalent than one may assume. Umberto Eco believed that we learn through our knowledge of languages, and that translating between one language and another is not just about comparing them both, but interpreting them in the ways they were written, based on culture. The philosophy of language looks at what the nature of meaning is. John Searle explains that language is crucial in the understanding of human life, and to look into human characteristics without language would be impossible. (YouTube, Unknown) Language is what distinguishes human from animals, the ability to understand the concept through language, which would not be possible through just observation. The development of language continues through time. Words used in an offensive manner now, were often used many years ago in day to day language. In Gloria Bertonis’, Stone Age Diva, she talks about the word ‘cunt’ and how its original meanings of woman, queen, and female genitalia, should evoke pride in females and that the word should not offend. It encourages females to reclaim words that have been used as weapons against them and recapture them for their positive qualities. (Bertonis, Date unknown) Such a word would once have just been used to describe a part of the body, like head or knee, but the context in which it is now used has turned it into a derogatory term. Semiotics is the study of the meaning of linguistic expressions. Clear examples of this are apparent every day. The letter ‘M’ presented in such a way is no longer just the letter but also an expression for McDonalds. The same applies to the letter ‘f’, which is now universally seen as a symbol for Facebook. Therefore, applying philosophy to language gives the language itself a whole new meaning. It is not just the letter and words that need to be taken into account, but also the context in which it is received. â€Å"A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself or a situation which seems to defy logic. † (Unknown, 2012) The liar paradox is a clear example of this. If one were to say they are lying, and were truly doing so, then they are actually telling the truth. (See appendix 3, Unknown, 2012) There are four primary paradoxes (see appendix 4). This essay will discuss knowability paradox. This is the recognition that some truths are not currently known but that they are all knowable. This means that we as a world do not know everything, so truths that may be proven in the future, could make what we consider as known truths today untrue. (Salerno, 2009) An example of this could be developments in medical science. With the constant developments in medicine, something we thought we knew as true 50 years ago, may now prove to be untrue because of new medical knowledge. In conclusion, it is clear that all individuals use philosophy in day to day life, whether they are aware of it or not. Philosophy aids us in learning more about ourselves and the world, which is what humans naturally strive for. It helps us be reasonable, which is a characteristic which helps one fit in to society and live among others who may be different. It also helps us be moral and ethical, as discussed previously in this essay. Without morals and ethics we would have no guidance as to what is right and wrong. Therefore, the world would not be as it is today without philosophy, and may be a much harder world to live in without it. ‘Episode 5’ (2013) Call the Midwife, Series 2, episode 5. BBC One Television, 17 February BBC. (2013). Ethics Guide. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from BBC: http://www. bbc. co. uk/ethics/abortion/philosophical/introduction. shtml Bertonis, G. (Date unknown). Say It! The Origins of Cunt. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from vdaysunyoswego: http://vdaysunyoswego. worldbreak. com/custom2. html Harrison-Barbet, A. (2001). Philosophy. New York: Palgrave. Kindersley, D. (2011). The Philosophy Book. London: Dorling Kindersley. Lacewing, M. (2010). Philosophy for A2. Oxon: Routledge. Pappas, J. (2005, September 24). Our Greco-Roman Heritage. Retrieved March 2, 2013, from Liberty and Culture: http://libertyandculture. blogspot. co. uk/2005/09/our-greco-roman-heritage. html Powell, J. (2000). Eastern Philosophy For Beginners. New York: Writers and Readers Publishing, Inc. Salerno, B. B. (2009). Fitchs Paradox of Knowability. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/fitch-paradox/ Unknown. (2012). Famous Paradoxes. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from BrainDen. com: http://brainden. com/paradoxes. htm YouTube. (Unknown). John Searle on the Philosophy of Language: Section 1. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from YouTube: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=jOlJZabio3g.

Rachel Carson :: Essays Papers

Rachel Carson Hello, my name is Rachel Lousie Carson. I was born on a farm in Springdale, Pennsylvania on May 27, 1907. My mother, Maria McLean Carson was a dedicated teacher and throughout my childhood she encouraged my interests in nature and in writing. She also encouraged me to publish my first story A Battle in the Clouds in the St. Nicholas magazine while I was in fourth grade. After graduating from Parnassus High School, I enrolled into the Pennsylvania College for Women. I majored in English and continued to write but I also had to take two semesters of science, which changed my life. In my junior year I changed my major to zoology, even though science was not considered an appropriate avenue for women. After graduating college in 1928 I had earned a full one year scholarship to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. This scholarship did not relieve me or my family of our financial burdens, so I worked throughout graduate school in the genetics department assisting Dr. Raymond Pearl and Dr. H.S. Jennings and I worked as an assistant teacher in the zoology department at the University of Maryland. In 1932 I received my masters in marine zoology. I continued working part-time as a teacher after graduating to help support my family through the early years of the Depression. In 1935 my father had a heart attack and passed away leaving me to provide for my mother. In 1936, my sister Marion passed away at the age of forty leaving behind two young daughters, and my mother encouraged me to take them in. That same year I took the civil service examination necessary for promotion to full-time junior aquatic biologist. I scored higher than all the other candidates ( who were all male) and became the first female biologist ever hired by the Bureau of Fisheries whom I was employed by for sixteen years as a writer. My article entitled â€Å"Undersea† which had been published in the Atlantic Monthly, won praise from scientists, naturalists, and literary critics, inspiring me to write my first book. Under the Sea Wind debuted in 1941 to critical acclaim in both literary and scientific circles but sales plummeted with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 1942 I began working for the Fish and Wildlife Service promoting fish as an alternative to foods in short supply because of the war. By 1948 I moved into an exclusively male domain, earning the grade of biologist, and becoming the editor-in-chief of the Information Division.

Vision’s of Light

Applying â€Å"Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography† After watching the film, â€Å"Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography,† I was introduced to the beauty of capturing perfected lighting, highlighting, and shadowing. Before watching this documentary, I never truly focused on how a scene was portrayed and why it made me feel how I did. After careful consideration, I have decided to apply my new knowledge to why I feel, â€Å"A Little Princess† has been perfected by cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki. Furthermore, why I am pleased to know that â€Å"A Little Princess,† was nominated Academy Award for Best Cinematography back in 1996.During the film, â€Å"Visions of Light,† I learned about the importance of how lighting an individual or a certain part of a room can speak for itself. One fact that I found was interesting, was one character in a scene will have more light on them than any others in the room to show the importance of that cha racter in that moment. Another interesting fact I learned was on female actresses, they used flashing to make the image look soft and beautiful. In â€Å"A Little Princess,† Emmanuel Lubezki used flashing during filming.My favorite scenes are of India with the contrast between the richness of whites, oranges, and bright yellows. The cinematography is so soft and beautiful, it can easily consume one. Another scene that takes my breath away, is when Sara wakes up one morning to the light shining into her glass windows. As she gets out of bed, her windows fly open with little snow flakes floating in the air. The light captures it so well, you can see each speck of glittering snow. The rest of the room is dark, while the light strictly focuses on her while she twirls in the snow.It truly is alluring. On the contrary, shadowing and darkening also can speak for itself. â€Å"Visions of Light,† referenced darkening scenes to give off sadness, lonesome, anxious, and horror. It builds up suspense and thrill. This aspect of â€Å"lighting† is applied to â€Å"A Little Princess,† as well. There is such a dullness to New York in the movie. It has colors of green, black and white. Each scene is gloomy and sad. The scene where Sara Crew's father has recently been presumed dead, she is walking up to the attic where she will be living with absolute nothing.During her walk, the long hall behind her is dark with only a few candles lit. As Sara proceeds to walk to her bed, the room is shadowed and darkened, giving the watchers a sense of sadness and loneliness. The way this movies heightens and diminishes colors is quite symbolic. The cinematography captures the beauty in the movie so well, it almost creates the story on it's own. Being more advanced in knowledge, I cannot wait to start comparing differences between movies and how each cinematographer displays their own piece of art.

Abortion is Not Bad Essay - 630 Words

Abortion is Not Bad Abortion is not bad, rather it is your logic and argumentation that is lacking in ability and understanding. First, you argue that the presence of a beating heart alone necessarily qualifies a fetus as being a living human being that is entitles to a right to life. While on its face this argument may initially appear compelling, it is profoundly lacking in scientific substantiation. A fetus during the first trimester of development may have a small impulse that resembles a heart beat, but it completely lacks both a brain and a central nervous system. In fact, a spider or a fly is much more developed (and has the capacity to feel more pain) than a fetus early on in the second trimester of a pregnancy. Any†¦show more content†¦To deny a woman the right to terminate her pregnancy is akin to robbing her of any ability to make decisions about her body, her self, and her future. The woman is effectively forced, against her will, to assume an identity and a future that she no rmally would have avoided. This type of coersion can permanently damage a persons emotional and psychological health. The one thing that makes each of us an individual is our decision making freedom and powers regarding our own future and actions. But when we are robbed of our ability to make our own decisions about our future, our self, and our identity, then we are robbed of our most essential and valuable treasure†¦our self. If a woman wishes to obtain an early term abortion†¦to terminate a pregnancy†¦then she must be allowed to choose this option. If she id denied an abortion, then both her and the future child will suffer tremendously. Please stop viewing abortion as something that you should have sole control over. A person’s body is their own, not yours. It is threatening and invasive when others attempt to direct the lives of their peers. Rather supporting the tyrannical idea of forced childbirth, perhaps you ought to consider the more moderate concept that all people should be able to choose the future of their bodies and reproductive functions. I advocate neither abortion norShow MoreRelatedIs Abortion A Bad Thing?1357 Words   |  6 Pagestwo types of abortion: one is spontaneous abortion and the other is induced abortion. Although these two are all abortion, the meaning between them is highly different. Spontaneous abortion is the abortion because of embryo or fetus itself or the health condition of the mother. However, unlike spontaneous abortion, induced abortion is the abortion because of the human factor, and it has been a huge ethical issue in today’s society. While there are lots of debates about whether abortion is doable, inRead MoreIs Abortion A Bad Thing? Essay1488 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion, a strong word that has multiple meanings. In a room full of people when this word is mentioned it quickly brings attention to the speaker. Different opinions and different beliefs is something that will alw ays be a problem when it comes to this topic. Although many people believe abortion is a bad thing, there will always be the other half of the people that believe abortion isn’t good, but it might be the safest way to go. In addition more than 750,000 teenagers become pregnant every yearRead MoreIs Abortion Good Or Bad?984 Words   |  4 PagesIs it wrong to end the life of an innocent person? Most people would agree that it is. Yet, in the case of abortion many still see it morally justified. Abortion is one of the most debated and difficult to understand moral issues in ethics today. Ethics, is the study of the nature of morality; it is what makes use decide between good and bad (Boss, 2014). Therefore, is abortion good or bad? Unfortunately there are no universal ethics that can lead us to a straightforward answer. As ethical subjectivismRead MoreIs Abortion A Good Thing Or A Bad Thing?878 Words   |  4 Pages Is abortion a good thing or a bad thing? Is abortion good? Is it bad? Abortion is seen different for a lot of people, because everyone has different opinions. In 1973, U.S. Supreme Court held Roe V. Wade said â€Å" protected women’s rights.† The Supreme Court later found out that Roe V. Wade was wrong. It does count that abortion is a women’s right ,but it’s also the child’s right to stay alive. In 2013, 22 states passed abortion but 70 other countries restricted abortion. More and more people areRead MoreAbortion, Good or Bad for Society?3757 Words   |  16 PagesAbortion. Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated. This could happen naturally or on purpose. Natural abortions are caused for a variety of reasons, some in which the fetus does not develop normally, or if the mother has an injury or disorder that would prevent the birth of the child. Most people refer to the naturally occurring abortions as miscarriages. Other abortions are purposely committed to prevent the birth of a c hild. These abortions are done because the pregnancy is not wanted, or theRead More Whether Abortion is Good or Bad for Our Society Essay3719 Words   |  15 PagesWhether Abortion is Good or Bad for Our Society Abortion. Abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated. This could happen naturally or on purpose. Natural abortions are caused for a variety of reasons, some in which the fetus does not develop normally, or if the mother has an injury or disorder that would prevent the birth of the child. Most people refer to the naturally occurring abortions as miscarriages. Other abortions are purposely committed to prevent the birth of a child. These abortionsRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Abortion1380 Words   |  6 PagesAbortion the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion is one of the most common medical procedures preformed in the United States each year. More than 40% of all women will end a pregnancy by abortion at some time in their reproductive lives. Abortion, it is simply the one of the most debated issue in our society today. â€Å"Is abortion bad?† â€Å"Is the fetus a baby?† â€Å"Why is it bad to kill a fetus if it’s not living?† The simpleRead MoreEssay on Buddhist view on Abortion686 Words   |  3 Pages It is quite clear from a variety of sources that abortion has been severely disapproved of in the Buddhist tradition. It is also equally clear that abortion has been tolerated in Buddhist Japan and accommodated under exceptional circumstances by some modern Buddhists in the U.S. The situation is similar to that of Roman Catholicism, where abortion, though disapproved of in the strongest terms by Church authorities, is still practiced by a large number of devoted Catholics and defended by at leastRead MoreAbortion : A Controversial Topic986 Words   |  4 PagesAbortion has always been a controversial topic in the United States for decades. Abortion is like taking the life of someone without their permission so it is technically â€Å"murder†. There is no such thing as an unwanted child, millions of families in the United States are always willi ng to adopt. On the other hand, there are circumstances where a woman can barely care and sustain herself so chances are that she will not be able to take care of her child. Or when a rape occurs, having an abortionRead MoreWhen Is Abortion Morally Appropriate?1124 Words   |  4 Pagesever, is Abortion Morally Appropriate? ONE: Introduction Abortion is one of the most contentious, controversial subjects in society today. There are strong arguments on both sides. The pro-life side of the issue is against abortion and many within that group are opposed to abortion even in the event that the woman in question has been raped and the so-called pro-choice position on the issue insists it is up to the woman do either keep the baby of opt for an abortion. When is an abortion morally