Spirit and Matter, God and Chaos, or infinitude Finite Essays -- Phil

The Kingdom of Union and Joy can only be attained through the elevation and expansion of spirit which is influenced by its intricate relationship with matter. They reflect, inverse and alter one another depending on the nature of their alliance; and challenge the pervading intuition that one entertains concerning hierarchy, the superior and the inferior, rising and falling. Throughout the poem, the prophetic persona enlightens the reader on the manner to ascend to the spiritual realm via tales on base spirits, on praising and praised bodies -- thus, purveying a dynamic dramatisation of the fall. Mammon and the Son are two spiritual figures that typify the convoluted relation between matter and spirit. In their description, the persona invites the reader to compare the attitudes of these characters towards the material world and the fashion in which they apply their spirits to it. Mammon is the  «least erected Spirit that fell / From Heav’n » (1.679-80). Possessed by a boundless desire for  «The riches of Heav’ns pavement, trod’n Gold » (1.682) -- towards which his thoughts are bent -- he already manifests a vertical movement in his heavenly status as he sinks low within the highest realm of the universe. The narrator’s speech transcribes the discontinuity of Mammon’s spiritual rank through the juxtaposition of inversely connotative words such as the sequence least - erected - fell - Heav’n. Being the classical symbol of greed, he aspires to elevation by means of material abundance. Even when fallen, he persuades himself and his fellow companions of a possible good life in hell provided they exploit its treasures. From thence, directed by Mammon, the crew proceeds to violently abuse the earth who’s centre they  «Ransack » and  «with ... ... his  «Humiliation shall exalt » (3.313). The Son’s Grandeur shall ensue from his submission as the bounds established on matter shall, in due course, allow for the Kingdom of Union and Joy. While Mammon perceives obedience as a divine deception, the Son rationalises it by coupling subservient actions with gratifying results through grammatical conjunctions. Though, he first  «Lie[s] vanquisht »,  «yield[s] » to Death and  «suffer[s], he ultimately will  «rise Victorious »,  «subdue / [His] Vanquisher » and  «disarm » him. The Son portrays this outcome as inevitable by overusing conjunctions, such as though - yet - but - then; as well as by the repetitive use of  «shall », thus expressing the strength of his assertion (3. 234-65). Therefore, temperance leads to the profusion of spirituality as it mirrors creation and recognises the intimate connection between matter and spirit.

Ambrose Bierces Chickamauga Essay example -- Ambrose Bierce Chickamau

Ambrose Bierce's Chickamauga Ambrose Bierce’s short story, "Chickamauga," scrutinizes American values, specifically, America’s identifying with the natural world. Bierce is critical of the American association with divine destiny, which has manifested itself throughout history in the form of John Winthrop’s â€Å"City upon a hill† speech, the notion of the â€Å"white man’s burden,† and Manifest Destiny. American history, in the scope of the short story, is one of perceived â€Å"rightly† subjugation of others. Bierce satirizes this philosophy by use of the child as a manifestation of American values that are eventually shown to be feeble and weak. The opening paragraph summarizes American history in abstract terms: â€Å"It was happy in a new sense of freedom from control, happy in the opportunity of exploration and adventure; for this child’s spirit, in bodies of its ancestors, had for thousands of years been trained to memorable feats of discovery and conquest† (455). The diction Bierce uses conveys a sense of warmongering and that war and conquest is what brings about â€Å"memorable feats.† The ever expanding frontier, the cross-continental explorations, and the colonizing of the West, though, are all described by Bierce in terms of a mirthful child going to play in the woods unabated and â€Å"unobserved† (Ibid). Bierce undermines the notion that American conquests in the past were grand exploits of a privileged and godly people. Bierce also uses hyperbole in describing the child’s playing in the woods. Though the child is merely playing war in his mind, Bierce describes him as â€Å"a mightier conqueror† and â€Å"the mightiest† (Ibid). This diction of grandeur is juxtaposed with the rabbit scaring the child away: â€Å"With a startled cry the child... ...nquest do not give triumph to one nation and defeat for another, but instead bring about defeat for all. Thus, Bierce satirizes American culture and the popular beliefs of destiny and natural superiority associated with his time. American history is shown to be nothing more than a deaf and mute child roaming in the wilderness playing war games. The arrogant notion of superiority is described as feeble and ultimately destructive. Bierce calls upon Americans to view themselves with a kind of humility toward the natural world and its it place inside of it; no longer should Americans see themselves as privileged, instead, they should become humbled. Works Cited Bierce, Ambrose. "Chickamauga." The Heath Anthology of American Literature Volume C Late Nineteenth Century 1865-1910. Ed. Suzanne P. Weir. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. 455-459.

Implications of the Bertrand Model

In 1893 French economist Joseph Bertrand developed his Bertrand model of competition from his review of Antoine Cournots study of a Spring Water duopoly. His criticism lay with how firms in oligopolies compete. In his model firms compete with prices rather than Cornots quantities. (REFERENCE TO SPANISH JOURNAL) The model consists of two firms who set prices simultaneously and independently (HUGH GRAVIELLE AND AY REES, MICROECONOMICES), jean tiral explains this as when one firm sets its price it is ignorant to its rival’s price, rather it â€Å"anticipates† what they will charge. It is assumed products are homogeneous and perfect substitutes (ECCSTRAT) and due to the nature of the product the firm supplying output at the lowest price will gain the entire market demand. (GB! ) This firm will have to supply all the forthcoming demand at the price they have set; gb1 from this an important assumption of the model is that there are no capacity constraints, that both firms have the same marginal cost, which remains constant, and that demand is liner. GB2 As stated, the entire market demand for homogeneous products will go to the firm offering the lowest price, although if both firms were to sell at the same price â€Å"a sharing rule must be assumed† GB2. Using an example from the ((((((( lets suppose the market demand for a homogeneous product is given by, Q = 120-p (where Q is quantity demanded and p is price charged). The marginal cost (MC) for both producers is, C=$30, and both producers sell output at p=c=$30. The demand for each producer is Q=0. 5*120-p=45. Lets say producer A increased their price to c=$31, the entire market demand would transfer to producer B who would now have a demand function of Qb=120-c=90, while producer A would have zero demand. However if producer A had reduced their price to c=$29, they would capture the entire market demand through charging the lowest cost, however they would make a $1 loss in each product sold. From this, the Nash equilibrium for the Bertrand model lies where P=MC, with demand so heavily influenced by price producers do not want to be undercut by rivals. With P=MC no rival will undercut as zero profits are preferable to negative profits, and any firm trying to charge above the MC and make positive profits will receive no sales. The suggestion is the addition of one firm restores perfect market competition (Jean Tirole, 1998), moving the market form monopoly power and profits (maximum inefficiency) to perfectly competitive (maximum efficiency). It had been deemed a paradox as it is difficult to believe that two firms in a duopolistic market can make zero profits. We are able to resolve Bertrand’s paradox through relaxing and of the three integral assumptions of the model (intro to industrial org l. M. B Cabrail). In order to analyse its practical relevance and its implications, this essay will now give examples of where the paradox can be deconstructed. The first example of a solution comes from a combination of two assumptions, the first is the absence of capacity constraints, and the second firms make decisions independently. In the model whichever firm firm is charging the lowest price will receive the entire market demand, and is â€Å"expected to supply all forthcoming demand at the price it has set† (old xavior). There are few situations in the real world where one firm could satisfy the demand of the whole market. Using the previous example, producer B gained the entire market demand (Q=120-$30=90). Let’s assume producer B has a capacity constraint below 90 units. There is now a proportion of the market that can only be satisfied by producer A, who can use monopoly power and make positive profits as the only producer. (managerial Economics a strategic approach). This example shows how with the inclusion of a common real world problem, Bertrand’s proposed equilibrium of price equal to marginal cost is deconstructed. A second implication of capacity constraints is their effect on collision between firms. Collusion reduces market competiveness, firms tactically agree to set prices above particular levels and to not to engage in price wars,(REF). A positive relationship between excess capacity and collusion was identified by David and Deneckere, who found excess capacity is a â€Å"prerequisite for stable collusion† while it provides a â€Å"stronger bargaining position within cartels† (QUOTE TO JOURNALS THAT ARE ON JUIBILEE AND WOLF). These effects have been see in oil cartel OPEC, which has existed since the second world war and where the largest producer, Saudi Arabia can flood the market if small producers â€Å"cheat† on their quotas. (paul Pijush). Through years of controlling supply and therefore price the carte will receive one trillion dollars in revenues this year, (Wall street post). The prisoners dilemma is â€Å"a particular game between two captured prisoners that illustrates why cooperation is difficult to maintain even when mutually beneficial† (REF). It helps to demonstrate the logic behind Bertrand’s Paradox. Both firms would benefit from charging a price higher than marginal cost, however at this level both firms have an incentive to undercut one another. (managerial economics). If the rules of the game can be changed each agent would receive a higher revenue payoff. (Global Business Mike W peng). Two companies who saw this were General Electric (GE) and Westinghouse. In the early 1960s these two companies controlled over 98% of the US market for large turbine generators. Prior to purchase, electric utilities would negotiate with GE and Westinghouse who, as in Bertrand competition, competed on price. Government owned utilities accounted for twenty five percent of the market share and by law had to purchase from the cheapest provider and publish the price. The two firms generated low profit, as Bertrand competition predicts, until GE ‘changed the rules of the game’ by introducing a price book. The process effectively set a higher market price and guaranteed higher profits, the price publishing behaviour continued successfully until 1975 when the US Department of Justice investigated the industry. Price books were ruled to breach anti-competition laws and the firms were fined. The book, Technology and Transformation in the American Electric Utility Industry by Richard F. Hirsh goes into this example in much greater depth. This is an important example as it demonstrates that Bertrand competition can exist in the real world. However the assumption of zero profits, or in the example, low profits encourages companies to collude to set higher prices and make positive profits. The Bertrand model also assumes that with the entrant of a second firm into the market, and the subsequent Nash equilibrium, price equal to marginal cost, removes the need for policy makers to intervene. However form the previous example this is obviously false as policy makers did have to intervene and sanctions were made. To stress this point, another example; Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet moved powers of oil price fixation to the Oil Companies Advisory Committee in 2001, through flawed polices profits of the duopolists Pakistan State Oil and Shell Pakistan increased by 232% between 2001 to 2005. which lead to further state involvement to enforce price restrictions and encourage competition. (competition reporter. 25,05,2009). In the Bertrand model we assumed that both firms had the same costs of production which remain constant. It is an extreme assumption that two firms would incur exactly the same costs when producing their products, let us now assume that one firm had a cost advantage, i. e. firm A can produce marginally less expensively that firm B (cA

Countries at Low Levels of Development Face Such Huge Challenges That They Cannot Hope to Address Them Without the Assistance of the Rest of the World

Darfur: International Conflict |Location of Darfur: Dafur is a desert region in the far west of northern Sudan. Sudan is the largest country in Africa. It borders the Red Sea and 9 other African nations. | |Brief background: The population is 42. 2 million, capital city is Kartoum, life expectancy of 56 yrs for males and 60 years for females. The GNI per capita is US $1,130. Population of about 6 million | |people. The North/south civil war lasted for 2 decades before the Dafur crisis killed over 2 million people. Decades of fighting have left Sudan's infrastructure devastated.Arabic is the offical | |language of Sudan, and Islam is the religion of the state. Large non- Arabic speaking and non-muslim population which has rejected attempts by the government to impose Islamic Sharia law on the country | |as a whole. | | |Economic |Social |Environmental |Political | |Causes of |The African rebel groups (SLA and JEM) |Refugees from Darfur say air raids by |Dafur- which means land of the Fur, many |Fighting in Dafur started in early 2003.The Sudan | |conflict: |wanted greater representation for their |government aircrafts were followed by attacks |years of tension over land and grazing rights|Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice Equality Movement (| | |communities in the Arab-dominated national|from Janjaweed, who would ride into villages on|between nomadic Arabs, and farmers from the |JEM) began attacking government targets, accusing | | |government and wanted increased funding |horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping |Fur. Khartoum of oppressing black Africans in favour of | | |for Darfur schools, hospitals, public |women and stealing. |long history of cooperation between Darfur |Arabs. | | |services and a share of Sudan's oil | |Arabs and Africans The main conflicts have |Pro-government Arab militias are accused of | | |revenue. | been over access to water and farmland. |campaigning ethnic cleansing against non-Arab groups. | | | | |Droughts in 1984 intensified struggles over |President Bashir took power in June 1989 in a | | | | |resources. military coup against the elected government | | | | | | | |Impact of |Sudan has large areas of cultivable land, |UN estimate more than 2. 7 million people fled |Janjaweed have campaigned to drive African |In March 2009, the International Criminal Court | |conflict: |gold and cotton.Its oil reserves are ripe|their homes ( refugees) and more than 300 000 |farmers off fertile lands in Darfur, have |issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al- | | |for exploitation. The conflict has held |have been killed in the conflict from a |burned African villages and deliberately |Bashir, on the charges of war in Dafur. | | |back economic progress. |combined effect of war, famine and disease. |contaminated water sources. For years after independence, all Dafuris- Arabs and | | | |Some human rights groups have said genocide is | |Africans alike- tended to view the Sudanese | | | |taking place- UN investigations in 2005 | |government in Khartoum as corrupt and biased towards | | | |concluded that war crimes had been committed | |Darfur. | | |but there had been no intent to commit | | | | | |genocide. | | | |International impacts: Strained relations with neighbouring Chad to the west.Both countries accuse |Conflict resolution: President Bashir won re-election in 2000. The opposition boycotted the poll, | |each other of supporting each other's rebel groups. Dafur conflict could lead to a wider, regional war. |accusing him of vote-rigging. | |There are over 200 000 refugees in Chad, many camped along the 600 km stretch of corder and who remain | | |vulnerable to attack. Political: After the UK ( colonial rulers until 1956) introduced democratic councils, there was | |The implications of ongoing violence could further destabilise the region and this could have a knock |competition between Darfur Arabs and Africans for political offices. After independence, this | |on effect on the world's oi l supply for countries such as the US, who are attempting to reduce their |competition increased and Darfur Arabs sought to undo centuries of African dominance in Darfur | |independence on oil from the Middle East. |government. | | | | | | |Other information: | | | | | |Location of Afghanistan: Landlocked mountainous sovereign state forming part of South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and the east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the| |north, and China in the far northeast. | |Brief background: | | | | | |Economic |Social |Environmental |Political | |Causes of conflict: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Impact of conflict: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |International impacts: |Conflict resolution: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Other information: | | | | | Afghanistan: International Conflict

Louis XIV: his domestic and foreign policies Essay

Louis XIV strove vigorously for supremacy in foreign affairs. He was to use his foreign policy to establish a universal monarchy for himself or alternatively to use it to secure natural frontiers for France thus improving its defenses. He worked successfully to create an absolutist and centralized state. During his reign Louis was involved in four major wars, some of which Louis may be accountable as the provocateur; however, I believe that mainly his motives were purely defensive. The war of Devolution served as a pretext which nettled him part of Flanders, although the Dutch then moved against him with the Triple Alliance. Louis was determined to crush Holland and this began the third of the Dutch wars, which depleted his treasury. Louis proved an incredibly extravagant spender, dispensing huge sums of money to finance the royal court. The following ten years the king limited his policies to diplomacy. Louis continued the nobility’s exemption from taxes but forced its member into financial dependence to the crown and the provincial nobles also lost political power. Louis does have a genuine concern for his country and despite his dubious methods he does manage to secure the territories that he wishes to secure. He curtailed local authorities and created specialized ministries. Louis’s grandson retained the Spanish throne but the war of Spanish Succession left France in great debt and a weakened military. Louis used the bourgeoisie to build his centralized bureaucracy. He illustrated new administrative methods to make him more in control. Louis’s general Colbert worked to improve the French economy. Colbert worked to create a favorable balance of trade and increase France’s colonial holdings. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing and bringing the economy back from the brink of bankruptcy. He reduced the national debt through more efficient taxation. His principal taxation devices included the aides, the douanes, the gabelle, and the taille. Louis spent so much money on luxury and wars; France actually became increasingly impoverished. The aggressive and opportunistic implementation of Louis’s policies understandably persuaded those threatened by it that the king’s intention was expansionist and his intentions unlimited. There had been acts of gratuitous violence as well which underlined the arrogance and ruthlessness of French conduct. In conclusion it seems that by the end of his reign the wars had placed him in a strong and secure position in Europe yet his intention was not entirely  for glory.

Lisa Delpit

Fortunately or unfortunately, in the modern materialistic civilization deeply impacted by the industrial and internet revolutions, education and career are linked emphatically and inseparably.   The real purpose of education is lost somewhere. The essence of education is the transmission of knowledge, to mold noble human beings. More education can help the individual and the society only if it produces more wisdom. Education is not mere training; it is something more than it; it is not mere acquiring knowledge; it is something more than it. Education is something more than mere diversion in life. Education must lead to the true manifestation of the inner personality of an individual and assist the generation of peace and prosperity in the society. Lisa Delpit on education†¦. A) What are some ways a person can be made to feel different or invisible in our educational system? The one important problem zooming in the American classrooms is simple and obvious. Nearly 40 percent of the children belong to minority groups and the teacher is white. The issue of miscommunication is real. The teaching time becomes the mental struggle for the children and if their domestic conditions are also poor, it is double tragedy for them. A sincere teacher has to waste lots of time on account of this communication gap and to reduce the inferiority complex among such children. What Lisa propounds is not anti-white. She is pro-poor and for the downtrodden and wishes to make the best out of the education system for their future growth and suggests improvements. She is African-American but her analysis of the malady in the educational system, is honest and impartial. Misunderstanding about cultures is really great in American Schools. B) What are some ways you have felt silenced, different and /or invisible in your own education? Describe some specific examples and how each affects you. As a young student, I belonged to a poor family, and from the recollection of the past, I could clearly see how most of the teachers, differentiated between the rich and the poor students. The rich could afford private tuitions, from their own teachers, and the parents of such students had good rapport with the teachers. There were occasions, when such students brought costly gifts for the teachers on their birthdays, etc. But as for teaching in the class, the teachers took pains to teach, treated the students well and did not differentiate on counts of economic status. C) What were some helpful insights you gained from this book for bringing the gap between a child’s home and school culture (or therapeutic setting)? Lisa has succeeded in dealing with the issue of multi-cultures with a human face. This is not the problem of the school education alone. It is only the part. The problem has bigger dimension, as it affects the social set-up of the whole of USA. The ripples of the problem are naturally expected to impact the school-life of children. The tactful handling of the situation by the teaching community is one of the solutions to the vexed problem because the values taught to them at the formative stage of their lives, will leave positive or negative imprints for their entire lives. I do get the feeling, as I go through the contents of the book that the honest philosopher in Lisa, who touches the borders of spirituality, speaks for the benefit of humanity. The contents of the books are like the gush of fresh spring-water. Classrooms are the miniatures of the US society, and Lisa is aware of the implications of what is taught in the class. D) Are there any ideas and / or beliefs that you disagree with the book? The argument of Lisa that many minority students are erroneously labeled as â€Å"underachievers† due to failures of communication between teachers and students is part of the truth, not the whole truth. The teacher is always supposed to be more intelligent and experienced than the students, and the students hailing from poor families and minorities, in their endeavor to learn the topics detailed in the syllabus, have to mostly depend upon what is taught in the school, within the limited hours. They can not be expected to get support from the family and social environment in which they live. This is the main problem of such students, but there are many instances when such students have tackled this obstacle and converted it into an opportunity, and have sterling academic achievements to their credit. I have nothing to strongly disagree of what is propounded in the book. Conclusion: The problems of the American classrooms are linked to big and vexed social issues of the country. To expect that a white or black teacher will find the permanent solutions for them in the classroom, is asking for the moon. But the teachers, whose influence carries immensely, need to provide a sense of direction to the students, to enable them to understand the perspective of American life impartially and without bias/hatred. Reference Cited: Delpit, Lisa: Book: Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom (Paperback) Paperback: 206 pages Publisher: New Press (February 1996) Language: English ISBN-10: 1565841808 ISBN-13: 978-1565841802               

The Impact of Social Media on the Egyptian Revolution 2011 Dissertation

The Impact of Social Media on the Egyptian Revolution 2011 - Dissertation Example However, scholars and researchers differ on their opinion on the role of social media. Some have used terms such as Facebook revolution while others undermine the importance of social media platforms and tools. With the aim to evaluate the role of the social media during the Egyptian Revolution, three objectives were set in Chapter I. all the three objectives have been achieved. The social media plays a very active role in political movements as it provides people a platform to address their concerns, express their opinions, provides an avenue to extend and receive support. The government of any country usually controls and monitors the traditional media but when the same strategy is applied to the public sphere such as social networking sites and blogosphere, people resist and revolt to the extent it can be counter-productive for the governments. When the President in Egypt imposed web censorship people took to streets. Social media during the Egyptian revolution 2011, helped to ext end solidarity and confidence to the oppressed. Citizen journalists emerged registering their protest against the regime. The impact of social media was so intense during this revolution that the president had to finally resign in 18 days from the day the protest started. Social media enables activists and coordinators to start specific pages in the interest of the people. The use of social media in politics is still in the nascent stage but it is extensively being used by the citizens, professional journalists, by the politicians and by coordinators of protests and social movements. In fact, even the mainstream media has been using quotes from the social media in their articles. While the degree may not be very intense, at least it suggests the importance that the social media has been gaining. The study concludes that social media has played a very significant role in the Egyptian revolution 2011. It not only initiated the movement, it helped people at all stages, it helped in eff ective communication and collaboration, it enabled an international audience to receive information, and it also enabled protection to people in danger. As suggested by some authors, the role of social media in the Egyptian revolution is not hyped; it has been of tremendous value in shaping reforms. It is a valuable tool in developing anti-government protests and in designing collective action. It is a disruptive force that can drastically bring about change and reform. It can accelerate social and political movements far beyond what the traditional media can do. The study concluded by highlighting limitations and making recommendations for further research on the subject. Table of Contents Chapter I Introduction 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Social Media & Politics 1 1.3 Rationale for Research 3 1.4 Research Aims & Objectives 4 1.5 Scope of the Study 5 1.6 Structure of the Study 5 Chapter II Literature Review 2.1 Introduction 7 2.2. Definition of Social Media 7 2.3 Social Networking Platfor ms 7 2.4 Benefits of Social Media 10 2.5 Social Media and Politics 11 2.6 Arab Countries & Egypt 12 2.7 Social Media in Egypt 12 2.8 Web Censorship in Arab countries 14 2.9 Chapter Summary 16 Chapter III Research Context 3.1 Introduction 17 3.2 Arab Spring 17 3.3 Egyptian Revolution 19 3.4 Summary 21 Chapter IV Research Methods 4.1 Introduction 23 4.2 Research Methodology 23 4.3 Choice of Method 23 4.4 Data Collection Methods 25 4.5 Secondary Research 26 4.6 Data Analysis 27 4.7 Summary