Modernism And Postmodernism

Modernism And Postmodernism
Modernism is very troublesome to define with clarity because of the fact that the term revolves
around various genres of movements be it artistic or philosophical. Nonetheless, there are some
primary beliefs of the Modernist genres that appeal in someway or the other to the various
movements and also the writers.
Modernism in general can broadly be described as the "deviation from the ancient and classic
manner". (Johnson, J., The New Royal and Universal English Dictionary, Millard, 1763). It is the
radical movement away from the past in search of new styles of expression. It refers to a reforming
movement away from the traditional forms in various fields like architecture, art, music, and
literature during the late 19th century and the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
1997.)
As post–modernism was a direct reaction to modernism, the two along with their respective
theorists often criticize each other and often justify their views in various debates and discourses.
"Habermas and the Unfinished Project of Modernity" is a collection of essays, which show us the
discourse between modernism and Post–modernism. Jürgen Habermas is a German social theorist
who is also a strong defender of modernity. He vigorously counteracts various criticisms made by
post–modernist theorists on modernism. Many intellectuals in the modern day have become
skeptical about the emancipatory potential of modernity but Habermas still believes and continues
to insist on the idealistic utopian potential of modernity as the "child of enlightenment". As
modernism take has influences from democracy and reason, Habermas sees it as an unfinished
project. By this Habermas is trying to state that there is still so much to be done in the domain of
modernism before contemplating a move to the post–modern world.
Marx influenced Habermas as he had an association with the Frankfurt School of social thought, but
nonetheless believed that Marx's views needed to be thoroughly changed in order to make them
genuinely contemporary and modern. Considering this, Habermas came up with two important
theories namely The Theory of Communication, and The Theory of Rationalization of System and
Life–world. In his theory of communication, Habermas assigns himself to redefine the Marxian
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Reason: Why Do People Need Faith?
Why do people need faith?
Today more and more people abandon religions and place their faith in science. They call
themselves atheists, but what is atheism? How believing in science is different from believing in
god? What changed their faith? Why did people need religion in the first place? From the early
history humans attributed things they do not understand to gods, demons and spirits. We fear what
we do not know. From this fear or, if you look at it from other perspective – hope that there is
something more, the religions were created. And people need those religions, they need someone or
something to place their faith at. However, faith is not only about religions, it is a complete and
unwavering trust and confidence in someone or something. No matter what people have faith in, it is
obvious that they need it, but why is that? I will try to analyse why people had faith in one or
another religion over the centuries ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some need it to explain how the universe works or to tell them what happens after they die and
ensure them that there is something more. Other people depend on faith to give them hope in
desperate situations where everything else seems to fail. Still other people, do not need to have faith
in something, but they need faith of other people and they use it to gain power, lands, titles or
benefit themselves in some other way. This applies to all kinds of faith, but most of all religious
faith. Other kinds such as faith in people, democracy, business and so on are even more important,
however people do not think about that as faith, we rather choose to name it as trust. But faith is
nothing else than trust. A strong, unwavering trust and confidence. While we do not necessary need
to have faith in everything, I believe other human beings around us deserve at least a little bit of our

Reformed Epistemology Definition
Response to Bergmann============================= Bergman's Reformed Epistemology
holds a distinction between rational and non–rational beliefs, as well as basic and non–basic beliefs;
considering the rationality of religious beliefs to be something independent of their use as the basis
of argument. ============================= Bergmann considers rational beliefs to be
better and more valuable than irrational beliefs. But Bergmann also distinguishes another axis
between basic and non–basic beliefs; that is, beliefs which are sort of autonomously generated (i.e.
basic beliefs) and beliefs which we need to learn to infer (i.e. not basic). And because our reasoning,
and rational beliefs, require us to link our beliefs about the world to still ... Show more content on
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But this is different from declaring my faith in God––declaring my deliberate acceptance of God;
which is something with which I can struggle. One's beliefs can be held immune from question in a
way that their active, deliberative faith cannot be. ============================= But can
one choose their beliefs? Another concept Pojman presents is the one of volitionalism, that is, the
act of deliberatly choosing beliefs, which Pojman acknowledges as a possibility. But Pojman's
arguments against volitionalism are that beliefs are socialized into us from our society, imposed on
our minds as for how to see/think about the world from a young age. Furthermore, our beliefs can be
so automatic that, whether or not we will not to believe in them, we still have them independent of
choice. So Pojman seems to abandon this idea that beliefs can be chosen, deliberatively, or even
willingly. ============================= Hope is probably what Pojman considers to be
the middle ground between belief and acceptance; for one can hope for something to come true that
they otherwise know to be impossible. They can hope against all odds; implicitly believing that that
impossible thing may happen. And here belief is somewhat more deliberative, which brings it more
under our control than pure belief would allow (though belief and hope can seem equally as

Comparing and Contrasting Nietzsche’s Preparatory Human...
Take a minute to relax. Enjoy the lightness, or surprising heaviness, of the paper, the crispness of the
ink, and the regularity of the type. There are over four pages in this stack, brimming with the answer
to some question, proposed about subjects that are necessarily personal in nature. All of philosophy
is personal, but some philosophers may deny this. Discussed here are philosophers that would not be
that silly. Two proto–existentialists, Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, were keen
observers of humanity, and yet their conclusions were different enough to seem contradictory.
Discussed here will be Nietzsche's "preparatory human being" and Kierkegaard's "knight of faith".
Both are archetypal human beings that exist in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He goes on, in the same section to state that a men of free spirit, the free spirit being another name
of the archetype of preparatory human being, had a boon in polytheism, for it allowed people to
create their own morality because they chose their gods from many (Science 192). The free spirit,
then, is someone who does not succumb to the pressures of outside morality, but rather is able to
construct, at least partially, his own value. This makes them stand out above others during the time
when a monotheistic morality is in decline. What is said of the preparatory human being? The
preparatory human being does not hold a specific value, but rather Nietzsche uses behavioral and
psychological states to describe someone who has made their own value. In one aphorism,
Nietzsche reveals some of the qualities that the preparatory human beings are "...human beings who
are bent on seeking in all things for what in them must be overcome..." and who have "...their own
festivals, their own working days, and their own periods of mourning..." (Science 228). Obviously
no two free spirits will be the same. This is kind of the point. Nietzsche's obvious predilection for
individuality, originality, and art is expressed here. Preparatory human beings are not judged by
Nietzsche to hold any beliefs, but rather it is the root and effects of their beliefs that is the real test.
They are

Hinduism : A Model For Religious Toleration Essay
HINDUISM: A MODEL FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERATION
Hailey Walley
Introduction to Religion Final Paper
Dr. S. Moses
December 8th 2016 Paul Griffiths argues that religions by their very nature are exclusivist and,
therefore, preach that all who do not follow its particular religious law are exempt from salvation .
Hinduism, however, disproves this theory, regularly illustrating its inclusive nature and holistic
perspective of the world throughout history. Buddhism, for instance, is a reformed, sub–religion of
Hinduism that was created by those unsatisfied with the direction of the Hindu faith at the time.
Determined to stay relevant during this realignment, the Hindu religion then incorporated many of
the basic ideals and practices of Buddhism into its own, once again securing its status as the
majority religion within India. This paper will first analyze the basic structure and worldview of the
Hindu faith and how that contributes to the internal toleration that results; Vedic and Upanishad
scripture, as well as quotes from prominent Hindu figures, will then be used to further support and
illustrate this claim. Comparisons to other modern–day religions, such as Christianity, will be made
in order to better exemplify its tolerant nature. Hinduism's diverse, unspecified worldview allows
for flexibility for its adherents within the religion itself; a Hindu can choose to be polytheistic,
pantheistic, monotheistic, monistic, agnostic, atheistic, or humanist. A large reason for

A Reflection On My Faith
Question 1:
One has faith in one, in an individual person or a group. You can have faith in oneself, humanity as
whole, or one's god. Tilley refers to Faith as "the relationship between one and irreducible
energizing source of meaning a center of value in one's life." Others may view that you can have
faith in anything not just what Tilley stated like objects, media, and something else that many people
state they have faith in is countries. Some may have faith in a "Christian America", which Baxter
explains is faith that we are under Jesus's protection. (Class Notes, 6/6/17) Some Americans today
have full–fledged faith in patriotism and the country itself.
I myself don't necessarily know if I have full faith in everything, there are ... Show more content on
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Anna Keating supported the Fertility Awareness Method, a natural method that teaches women to
observe a track their cycle and ovulation instead of depending on birth control. Keating brings up
the point that there are still approximately a million abortions per year and contraception costs are
elevated and FAM is free. I agree with Keating about teaching women on cycles and ovulation,
although we should be educating on every topic – no matter what I personally support I shouldn't
deprive others of the choice. Although Mary Eberstadt leans towards the idea of allowing
contraceptives in the Catholic Church will then decrease abortions. In a pro–choice abortion view
and also Sidney Callahan's view, it is believed that "abortion rights are necessary for women's
development and social equality." (Class Notes, 6/14/17)
Although, Naomi Wolf states that abortion does not fit a feministic choice and that it dehumanizes
women, it takes away part of us and "defends its moral high ground by being simply faithful to truth
– to women's real–life experiences." (Wolf) Within this there is a "a cycle of dehumanization back
and forth between pro–choice and pro–life." (Class Notes, 6/14/17) Wolf explains that pregnant
women are frowned upon and receive "backlash" for having a reproductive system and that
abortions dehumanize the fetus.
Not only should we educate women on their cycles,

To What Extent Can Faith And Reason Be Intertwined Based...
Can Faith and Reason be Intertwined based on the Context of Ockham? Atheism and Theism
already had a long history of debate even up to date. Faith and reason are always used in the debate
of proving whether there is a God or if there is not. Faith which can also be associated with theology
can acquire the truth by receiving a revelation from what they have faith in while reason can also be
parallel to science that will make us ourselves find out about the truth. The Atheist response to the
Theist is that God does not exist because science can explain the cosmos without him while the
Theist response is that Science affirms that the finely–tuned cosmos was created out of nothing.
Science is an experimental process that can be used by humans

Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Happiness And Holiness
Pierre Elliott Trudeau is called to happiness and holiness. He was a devout Catholic and attended
church regularly, showing how he was called to holiness, and subsequently happiness. This is
represented by the cross. He was quite an intellectual and would often reference his Catholic faith,
either directly or indirectly, in his writings. This is shown through the paper with a peace symbol on
it, representing the peaceful values of Catholicism. He lived his life with Catholic values, that led
him to happiness in his public and private life. He had made his legacy with the Canadian
constitution, something that promoted peace and equality. This shows how he was called to the
holiness of God's word, where community and respect are encouraged. This

Meaning Of Dreams By Descartes
While describing dreams, Descartes writes:
How do we know that the mental states that come to us in dreams are any more false than the others,
seeing that they are often just as lively and sharp...For, in the first place, what I took just now as a
rule, namely that whatever we conceive very vividly and clearly is true, is assured only because God
exists and is a perfect being, and because everything in us comes from him. (Descartes 17).
In this text, Descartes first categories dreams as false but "lively and sharp", yet asserts immediately
afterwards that whatever we conceive vividly must be true (17). At first glance this is very
confusing, because he seems to say that dreams are both true and false. This contradiction is later
clarified, however, when he mentions that our reasoning when asleep is not as complete as when we
are awake (18). Perhaps dreams are misleading not as a result of their content, but because we lose
our rationality while asleep and have a harder time comprehending what we perceive. Being asleep
is like reading a book in hieroglyphic script, and being awake is doing so with the Rosetta Stone.
The two states are equally as valid, yet it still easier to understand the natural world when equipped
with reason, than it is to understand dreams without. Al–Ghazali points out that "a state may arise
that bears the same relation to the waking state as waking state does to dream". This of course is the
mystic state. As was demonstrated earlier, reaching this

The Better Story in Life of Pi by Yann Martel
On its surface, Martel's Life of Pi proceeds as a far–fetched yet not completely unbelievable tale
about a young Indian boy named Pi who survives after two hundred twenty–seven days on a lifeboat
with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. It is an uplifting and entertaining story, with a few
themes about companionship and survival sprinkled throughout. The ending, however, reveals a
second story – a more realistic and dark account replacing the animals from the beginning with
crude human counterparts. Suddenly, Life of Pi becomes more than an inspiring tale and transforms
into a point to be made about rationality, faith, and how storytelling correlates the two. The point of
the book is not for the reader to decide which ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He starts out with a zebra, hyena, an orangutan, and a tiger, but the animals slowly diminish leaving
only Pi and Richard Parker. Pi works to tame and care for Richard Parker, and the two survive for
two hundred twenty–seven days. Pi encounters a fellow French castaway who is eaten by Richard
Parker (Martel 311–320). Pi also comes across a man–eating island (Martel 322–358). The events
that take place are fairly far–fetched, and the probability of all of them occurring to the same person
in the period of time given is even less believable. The second story, on the other hand, is a perhaps
more believable retelling of the original story. Pi relates the second tale upon the request of his
interviewers for "'a story without animals'" (Martel 381). In this story the animals are replaced with
human representatives including an injured Chinese sailor, a French cook, Pi's mother, and Pi
himself. The second story, like the first, begins with many passengers on the boat, but in the end it
leaves only Pi to survive by himself after brutally murdering and eating the cook who killed both the
sailor and Pi's own mother (Martel 381–391). Unlike Pi's first story, this account is dark, desperate,
and harshly realistic, without any sense of hope to counter it all. After relating both of these stories
to his interviewers, Pi asks them which story they think is better (Martel 398). Although the

Age Of The Enlightenment
At the start of the eighteenth–century intellectual leaders attempted to understand why what had
been done in natural science could not be done in social science. The Enlightenment has been
defined in many different ways, but its broadest was a philosophical, intellectual and cultural
movement of the eighteenth century. The leaders wanted logic to be included in a worldwide since
such as used in history, politics, jurisprudence, and economics. The Enlightenment preferred to see
humanity as capable of creating its own moral code in order to help create a rational mind. The
Enlightenment also pioneered in applying scientific methods to the study of human society,
sketching the modern social sciences. The basic ideals were the rational laws could ... Show more
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The way the world works now is all based off the Enlightenment. By furthering development in the
arts, philosophy, religion, and politics the Enlightenment has furthered our research and ideals. It
produced a set of basic principles about human affairs. Humans beings "are naturally good and can
be educated to be better," (The Age Of The Enlightenment). Enlightenment thinkers attacked the
Catholic church with particular vigor. Progress was possible, even inevitable, if people could be set
free. Society's goals should center on improvements in material and social life. In culture, the
aftermath of the scientific revolution spilled over into a new movement known as the
Enlightenment, centered particularly in France but with adherents throughout the Western world.
Enlightenment thinkers continued to support scientific advance. While there were no "Newton–like
breakthroughs, chemists gained new understanding of major elements and biologists developed a
vital new classification system for the natural species" (The Enlightenment P.1). Enlightenment
thinkers showed great interest in technological change, for greater prosperity was a valid and
achievable goal. Coercion and cruelty could be corrected, for the Enlightenment encouraged a
humanitarian outlook that was applied in condemnations of slavery and war. The Enlightenment,
"summing up and extending earlier intellectual changes, became an important force for political and
social reform. It did not rule unchallenged. Important popular religious movements, such as
Methodism in England, showed the continued power of spiritual faith. Many writers, particularly
those experimenting with the novel as a new literary form in the West, rebelled against
Enlightenment rationality to urge the importance of sentimentality and emotion. These approaches,

Moliere's Tartuffe Is Cleante
Moliere's Tartuffe is a piece of literature originating in France during the 17th century, which was
the so called age of Enlightenment or the Age of Reason. Plato would most likely approve of the
message that Moliere tries to push through Tartuffe. That is: rationality and reason trump all. Plato
may not be the most supportive of art and literature but if it happens to be a medium that lends to his
principles of reason, logic, rationality and above all the maintenance of the social order then he
would happily approve. The type of Enlightenment thinking in western society differs substantially
from the Eastern Asian philosophies. Enlightenment thinkers bring faith in reason, logic and
rationality into the forefront of Western culture. Tartuffe is a piece that is born into a culture that
values the beliefs of the age of rationalism, or practical ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hypocrisy, passion and emotions are seen as obstacles to the truth and real ideals as Plato would
have seen it. Likewise, religious passion is seen as an obstacle to true forms of faith and piety.
Cleante is the voice of reason because his insight identifies the real character of Tartuffe. He tries to
reason with Orgon, even well after Tartuffe is exposed and his job could be considered fait
accompli. He continues to promote good sense without being condescending and he is pious without
being overtly religious. Unlike Tartuffe, Cleante's faith is not based on false devotion. Cleante's
respect for the King and for social order is also a sign of the Age of Reason and the original ideas of
the perfect society expressed in Plato's Republic. Plato would agree with Moliere's support of a civil
secular society based on reason trumping over a religious one based on emotion. Lastly by showing
a healthy mistrust of passion, Cleante serves as an example of the Enlightenment and a Platonic man
in Moliere's play

Nietzsche And Nietzsche On The Rationality Of Religious...
Explain and evaluate the views of Freud and Nietzsche, on the rationality of religious belief.
Freud believes that religion belongs to a childish stage of human evolution with no purpose and that
these religious beliefs lack a rational and strong foundation. He thought mature people approach a
rational reasoning on religion Freud believes that there is no place for religion in our modern world
today since it is already corrupted with evil. His view of our psychological role of beliefs and
religion brings attention to a guilt feeling one feels helpless and the first though that comes to his
mind is that God is a just reflection of the subconscious mind.
On the other hand, Nietzsche believes that there are no rules to the life of human beings and only the
coward cling to religion in the hope of finding something which is not there. He believes that truth
is all that is needed and nothing is more powerful than self belief in truth.
Explain and evaluate the views of Tolstoy and Kierkegaard, on the rationality of religious belief.
Kierkegaard focuses almost exclusively on answering the question 'how to become a Christian '. He
thought that people were not leading fulfilling and meaningful lives, so he wanted to show how
people can find this, and be happy hence satisfied. This believes that truth does not come to a person
from outside the self, but is contained within. It comes to a person from within, as an innate or in
born idea which we recall. The other religiousness is a

Faith and Reason in the Enlightenment Essay
In a time when faith and hard labor kept the majority of society alive, the introduction of reason by
the Enlightenment was initially perceived as a threat. People had focused on their faiths and grasped
the traditions and rituals of their dogmas. The Enlightenment introduced the possibility of faith and
reason coinciding and cooperating to form a more civilized and equal society to replace the Old
Regime, and the changes lasted far after the period of the Enlightenment.
Leading up to the Enlightenment Prior to the Enlightenment, England and France instituted Old
Regime societies in which three distinct classes of people embraced religion as the foundation of
their lives. Each caste had a different lifestyle, with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Internally, disagreements over religion fluctuated according to the religion of the monarch in power.
In 1642 in England, civil war broke out because Charles I was soft on Catholics, the Parliament was
divided in religious conformity, and the Presbyterians and Anglicans could not get along. Also, the
battle between Catholicism and Protestantism raged for years, coming to a climax with the Glorious
Revolution in 1688. The Glorious Revolution came about with the end of Catholic James II's rule
and the argument of who who would inherit his throne. His son, James, was Catholic and had a son
who was Catholic as well. At the time, society was fearful of another Catholic leader. Mary, James
II's daughter, was married to William the Orange, who was Dutch. Together, they forced James III
out of contention and took the throne. They drafted the "...Toleration Act of 1689 (which) legalized
all forms of Protestantism –– save those that denied the Trinity–– and outlawed Roman
Catholicism."2
Toward the end of the Old Regime, new theories developed and introduced the possibility of solving
both the hardship of the Third Estate and the religious skirmishes. In 1593, Copernicus offered the
beginning

Logic And The Bible By Thomas B. Warren
Logic is truly one of the most overlooked yet useful things in life and godliness. It is something that
we, usually unknowingly, use daily. While many agree with the use of logic in scripture and bible
study, there are many who think otherwise. Some others think it is unimportant and only for the
scholarly. However, in Logic And The Bible by Thomas B. Warren, the reader is introduced to the
reality of logic in the scriptures as well as its attainability in understanding. The author helps the
reader recognize that logic is not just for the scholars, but also for the common man. Logic can be
explained in a way that cannot only be understood, but a way that makes it able to be applied in the
use of the bible student.
In the beginning of the book, the author, Thomas B. Warren, begins by doing apologetic work for
the case of the use of logic in scripture. First, Warren discusses the revealing of the contentions
placed forth by different writers who are "anti–logic". This stance proves to be rather true in the
sense that the contentions to logic revealed by Warren simply lack logic! The arguments against
logical implicational deduction are believed by some with the basis of, "Since all inferences are of
human origin, unless we want to hold on to human patterns we should ficard necessary inference as
poor pattern material"(4) as well as, "Only those examples that are the objects of a direct command
are binding on us"(4). This is interestingly a widely belief system that Warren

What Is The Impact On The Early Development Of Early...
Christianity belief is seen more as a theology while Greek thinking or Hellenism is seen more as a
philosophy. All theologists are philosophers but not all philosophers are theologists. Greek
philosophies had great impact on the early development of Christian thought. Much of the elements
in the early Greek philosopher's theories regarding the soul, creation, and salvation were reflected in
the development of early Christian thought. The Greeks were tenacious in asking why and how
questions concerning those and things around them, and even about themselves. The main purpose
behind theology is to understand and follow God's divine revelation. Philosophy tends to arrive to
general principles through consideration of what is perceived by the sense, which is then rationally
evaluated. Theologists like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas both discovered the use of Aristotle in
the formation of the Christian mind. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, believed that all humans had a
purpose and that the purpose was for the greater good. However, the good life or the blessed life for
Aquinas and Augustine was heaven. For Greek thinkers like Aristotle or even Plato, human actions
derived from reason, rationality, and intellect. Christian thinkers like Augustine saw philosophical
reflection as a complement to theology. Those philosophical reflections were based off of the
underlying intellectual commitment of the Christian Faith. The thoughts of both Augustine and
Thomas Aquinas

Celsus Critique Of Christianity
Christianity, or religion in general, has come under immense amounts of criticism. Especially in
modern times where science has been growing beyond our imagination, and, now, individuals might
downplay the relevance of religion. However, even thousands of years ago Christianity was met
with criticism. One of the notable critics, and focus of this paper, was Celsus. He was A philosopher
during the second century, had his writings complied into The True Word that housed his critiques
on Christianity. From these critiques, it is possible to identify the characteristics Celsus might
identity with a true religion. Moreover, the second focus of paper is Mark's gospel, more
specifically, Jesus. Having read Mark's gospel, would his depiction of Jesus and his movement be
considered valid in the eyes of Celsus? In this paper, I will argue that the depiction of Jesus and the
Jesus movement in Mark's Gospel would not be considered a true religion due to the fact it conflates
with many of Celsus's criticisms of Christianity. Before delving into the reason why Mark's
depiction of Jesus would not meet Celsus's criteria for a true religion, it is important to first identify
what exactly Celsus might believe is a true religion. The first critique that is offered by Celsus is the
secrecy of Christians. He wrote, "Christians entered into secret associations with each other contrary
to law" (Celsus 1.1). Celsus condemned the Christians for gathering in secret in order to practice,
and

Oedipus The King Research Paper
In Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is forced to come to terms with the insufficiency of rationality
in the face of destiny. Oedipus's downfall challenges the Platonic superiority of reason over
emotion, suggesting that in order to navigate the absurdity of human existence, both the rational and
irrational must be given equal consideration as means of perception.
In The Republic, Plato states that everything in our world is merely a representation of ideal forms.
These eternal and changeless forms can only exist in the mind, as they are the creations of the
divine. When making objects, we imitate reality, producing imperfect versions of perfect forms. If
our perception of reality is already one step removed from truth, then art is one step ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
With each new revelation Oedipus's rationality is further shaken. Instead of defeating destiny he is
shown over and over that destiny itself is unavoidable. Oedipus never had control over his fate.
Oedipus is forced to come to terms with the insufficiency of reason in the face of destiny. At the end
of the tragedy Oedipus blinds himself and is banished from Thebes. Previously he was
metaphorically blinded by hubris and rationality. Now he is literally blind while his eyes are
metaphorically open to reality; that the world cannot be approached on purely rational terms.
In Conclusion, Oedipus's downfall shows that contrary to Plato's belief, human beings cannot
approach the world exclusively through reason. In The Republic, Plato states that the king of his
new Polis should be a philosopher, as the philosopher is able to access the realm of ideal forms
through rational thought. Oedipus is in a sense this philosopher king, however we are shown that
through ignoring emotion and irrational feeling he loses his Eudaimonia and his sight. Plato's claim
that tragedies are only effective at providing catharsis dismisses the ability of tragedy to illuminate
otherwise hidden aspects of human experience. In order to navigate the absurdity of human
existence, both the rational and irrational must be given equal consideration as means of perception.
Perhaps by integrating emotional and irrational

Theme Of Romanticism In Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
The writing style and diction of Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde demonstrate key elements
of Romantic writing. Engage with this statement with direct reference to the text and to features and
ideas of the Romantic genre.
The Romantic era, when Stevenson was working on his novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr
Hyde (Stevenson, 2014), was characterized by the rejection of faith in reason to faith in the senses.
Most importantly Romanticism values freedom of the individual above all else. Stevenson uses
these elements of Romanticism in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, which are demonstrated
by the writing style and diction, to reinforce the central themes of the book.
The Romantic element of nature in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ... Show more content on
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Since Hyde's immunity to the control of others, his rebellion is what gives him his freedom Hyde
represents is the essence of individuality that Romantic writing so often focuses on. Hyde thus
becomes the epitome of rebellion and consequently individuality. Stevenson connects the idea of
nature with individuality, which is represented by Hyde, by using the idea of a "sea of liberty." By
describing the freedom that Hyde gives Jekyll with the image of something distinctly natural
Stevenson associates nature with individuality and by doing so, reinforces the themes of rebellion
and individuality in the novella. Hence, Stevenson's use of nature to represent that individuality
demonstrates the use of Romantic elements in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Nature itself is of two sides, one of peace and tranquillity and the other an uncontrollable destructive
force and this aspect of the duality in nature is representative of the larger theme of duality present
in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Stevenson shows this element of duality by
simultaneously being polite and horrific when Enfield is describing the incident where Hyde
tramples a little girl.
"Well, sir, the two ran into one another naturally enough at the corner; and then came the horrible
part of the thing; for the man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming on the
ground."

analysis of Kant's Categorical Imperative Essay
Analysis of Kant's Categorical Imperative in Metaphysics
Grounding for the metaphysics of morals is a foundation of Kant's philosophy, in this book, Kant
wants to build up a moral kingdom of metaphysical. At first, Kant extracted categorical imperative
from the concepts of goodness, will and obligation and enacted some rational principles, then, he
plans to map out moral metaphysic through categorical imperative. However, he failed to do so
owing to that his theory is founded on purely idealism. Mistakes in categorical imperative reveal the
inherent contradiction of Kant's theory of motivation. Therefore, from the perspective of categorical
imperative and its content and logic, we can better understand Kant's moral thoughts.
I. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For example, we have to work hard to acquiring wealth. So hypothetical imperative means: in
pursuit of a particular goal, we must resort to the means by which we arrive at that goal, i.e., the
behavior. In Kant's opinion, human is not only rational, but also have some nature, emotional
demands and desires. Hypothetical imperative is well proved with reference to these demands and
desires. However, categorical imperative means: we are willing to have an action as necessary
without reference to another end. For example, people in good faith are not for higher goals, wishes
and intentions because faith in itself is the people's fundamental intent, will, and purpose, on top of
it there is no higher goals.
In this sense, categorical imperative is not a special and concrete end but a common one. If
hypothetical imperative comes from emotion or it is an imperative that people avoid pain in pursuit
of pleasure in real life, then categorical imperative comes directly from rational part without
reference to consequence. Categorical in Kant's categorical imperative means unconditional, without
any restrict to experience, emotional desire and interests, while imperative means ought. At here,
Kant has to identify the rationality of categorical imperative, which he finds very difficult to prove.
" Only there must never here be forgotten that no example can show, i.e., empirically, whether there
is any such imperative at all. Rather, care must be taken lest all imperatives which

God And Evolution?: Science Meets Faith
God and Evolution Essay In God and Evolution?: Science Meets Faith, Gerard Verschuuren defends
the belief in evolution without denying any beliefs of the Catholic Church. He explains that Catholic
beliefs should be in harmony with scientific facts, and the Bible does not discredit or contradict the
theory of evolution. He uses scripture, historical events, and quotes from various popes to defend
the position that Catholics can and should believe in evolution. In the "Introduction," Verschuuren
introduces the supposed conflict that some believe exists between science and faith. He immediately
questions this belief by suggesting that some atheists tried to use evolution to discredit Christianity,
and in response, some Christians simply rejected ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It does not oppose science. The Church teaches that we should use reason and faith together in our
lives. He includes quotes from Saint Aquinas and different popes to defend this positon. One of the
most significant arguments is that because God created us and our ability to use logic, logic cannot
oppose God. This is one of the most reasonable and logical arguments that science and faith are in
harmony. Several popes have issued statements allowing Catholics to believe in evolution, and they
are quoted in this chapter. The summary of the statements allowed the belief in evolution, so long as
Catholics believe that the soul didn't evolve and was and is unique to humans. This chapter proves
that Catholics can believe in evolution without contradicting their faith. It mentions the Galileo
incident and shows the reasons behind the Church's position at that time. The Church rejected
Galileo because some of his facts were wrong and because of how he said what he said. Different
popes have said that what happened was unfortunate because of flawed human nature on both sides.
This chapter supports the fact that the Church is not opposed to science, but rather it accepts
science, and has even helped make important discoveries. Essentially, this chapter proved that God
and science are in

The Tension Between Faith and Reason Essay
Entering the ancient discussion about the tension between faith and reason is not an easy task. Of
course, when engaging in tensions it is always important to define terms. For the sake of consistency
I will refer to Oxford's online dictionary for both the definition of faith, as well as reason. Faith is
"complete trust or confidence in someone or something." Reason is "a cause, explanation, or
justification for an action or event." These are the definitions that will be used throughout this paper.
From the above definitions, the conclusion that is logically deduced is that reason precedes faith.
The common conception seems to be that faith can be unreasonable. Therefore, faith cannot precede
reason. It is important to make a ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He is a philosophical theologian who discussed this issue in quite a bit of length. Aquinas believed
that even though faith could obtain truth that was beyond reason, one could still achieve incomplete
truths using reason devoid of faith. Though this is more towards a companionable view of faith and
reason, there is still an implication of having to start with reason. Aquinas also believed that one's
faith could assist one's reason. However, this faith could not be conceived outside of an explanation
(reason), therefore, reason preceding faith is what assists reason. In other words, faith understood as
complete confidence helps reason inasmuch as reason eventually assists itself. A forerunner to
Aquinas was a fellow by the name Peter Lombard. He taught that the unbeliever could know truth
through the gift of reason, even truths regarding the Holy Trinity. This is significant because this
teaching annihilates the need for faith in order to find truth. Though I'm sure Lombard would agree
with Aquinas concerning that truth apart from faith would be incomplete, Lombard has shown that
even truths associated with religious practiced are not beyond reason.
On that note, it would be helpful to explore the concept of rationality. Rational means "based on or
in accordance with reason or logic." A rational human will not be without reason. When it comes to
basis, the said human's faith seems to be irrelevant.

Superstition And Religion Within The Medical World
Throughout time, science has been intertwined with religion to comprehend the unexplainable. The
basis of medical knowledge of the ancient Greek period included observation of disease and
attributing it to religion. However, The Sacred Disease marks the victory of science and rationality
over religion and superstition in medicine. The author address the issue of superstition and religion
within the medical world. He comments on the absurdity of believing that the deities lay claim to
the diseases of the world. The author continues to base his argument in the rationality of medical
knowledge of that era. Although the medical knowledge of the 'sacred disease' is limited, the
author's argument is based in the medical knowledge that is known and not attributed to religion in
any manner.
The 'sacred disease' has another name according to the medical practices of the twenty–first century.
Today, doctors call it epilepsy. According to the author, the sacred disease got its original name from
"witch–doctors, faith–healers, quacks, and charlatans" (The Sacred Disease 2). The name holds
some form of religious or superstitious value since it includes the word 'sacred' in the title of the
disease, yet "it has been regarded as a divine visitation by those who, being only human, view it
with ignorance and astonishment" (The Sacred Disease 1). The idea that this disease is sacred by
any manner is quickly dismissed as a hoax by the witch–doctors to make themselves seem more
pious

The Meaning Of Faith In Kiierkegaard's Fear And Trembling
Vonzyl Taylor
Paper 3
PHIL2310–The Meaning of Life
Professor LaMendola
Fall 2017
Leap of Faith
In the selection from Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling, explain the aesthetic man, ethical man, and
knight of faith. How does this do each of these people figure into Kierkegaard's argument for taking
"a leap of faith"? Using Kierkegaard's argument, explain whether or not the story of Abraham is
describes a meaningful life.
Kierkegaard's ideas on the meaning of life are conveyed in his writings of Fear and Trembling. In
the selection, Kierkegaard speaks of three different types of people in three different stages of life.
The aesthetic man, the ethical man, and the knight of faith. Each man, having a different meaning in
life during each stage, eventually reaching the ultimate meaning of life. In the following, I will
explain how each of these men fit into Kierkegaard's argument for taking a "leap of faith", as well as
explain Why Abraham's life is a meaningful life based off of Kierkegaard's argument.
Kierkegaard believes there are three stages in life, The aesthetic, The ethical, and the religious. He
also believes that one cannot reach the next stage in succession until he has negated everything in
the previous stage of life. The first stage is the aesthetic stage in life. A man living life through
aesthetics is known as the aesthetic man. The aesthetic man seeks pleasures for himself. He only
engages in things that bring him pleasure. At this moment in his life, morals do not matter. They are
not used as guidelines on how to live life. They are completely ignored. At this stage in life, man's
meaning is to heighten all individual pleasures. The Aesthetic man can be all different ages. He can
be the 18–year–old leaving his parents' home, ignoring all of the morals his parents tried to enforce
on him. The 18–year–old now has ultimate freedom and can do whatever he please, or pleases him [
as he only seeks things and activities that will bring happiness and pleasure]. The aesthetic level can
be the level one is born into automatically. If we raise up a child without sharing any moral ideas
with the child, he will most likely indulge in pleasures to alleviate pain and boredom. To imagine an
aesthetic man, think of

Voltaire's Candide And The Age Of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was a philosophical and an intellectual movement that took place in
Europe during the 18th century. From the 1600's to the 1800's, philosophers opened a path for
independent thought and there were many advances in the scientific, political, economic, and
mathematical realms. Many ideas were transpiring and people began to "mature," becoming less
dependent on others. This time is known for four major components: the idea of freedom of thought,
rationality, progress and humanitarianism. Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean–
Jacques Rousseau, Immanuel Kant, and Voltaire were all major minds that contributed to the Age of
Enlightenment. Voltaire, the author of Candide, wrote about the positives and negatives impacting a
person's life. The plot of the novel revolves around Candide's journey to find Cunegonde, the
supposed love–of–his–life. Throughout the novel, characters face highs and lows, such as becoming
rich, being scammed, and forced into exile. Using Candide's life and the lives and philosophies of
minor characters, Voltaire satirizes aspects of the Age of Enlightenment, especially the idea of
rationality.
Voltaire is not criticizing the idea of being rational but rather he is criticizing the way people
determine rationality through the philosophies of Pangloss and Martin, while utilizing the character,
Candide, to satirize their thoughts through a crude lens. Throughout the book, Voltaire emphasizes
that Pangloss, a philosopher who

Similarities Between Spirituality And Spirituality
There are some people in this world that they claim to believe in God, but they don't believe in
religion. They would consider the existence of God but refuse to join any religious group. This kind
of people who do not attach themselves to a religion while holding that there is a God called
themselves, spiritual but not religious. It would be like they think that institutions of religion can be
likened to a container, with the spiritual being the substance to be contained.
In facts, a third of adults under 30 are religiously unaffiliated. In the past five years, the unaffiliated
increased just under 5 percent. These numbers speak to the hypocrisy of religion. Many times,
spirituality and religion are seen as a couple–you can't have one without the other. While they can
intertwine and coexist in someone's life, they can also be separate.
In the article "Spiritual issues in psychiatric care," WK Mohr defines spirituality as "a person's
experience of, or a belief in, a power apart from his or her own existence." Religion, on the other
hand is "an organized system of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Religion, is about a set of beliefs and practices that some people think not necessarily to follow.
Because of this man–made system of spirituality, I believe in God, but I am not religious. My
personal experiences have shown me the importance of putting spirituality in the center of my life.
It doesn't mean i am one of those people who said that they believe in God but not religion, whether
is right or not. I think that everyone have their right to decided what they want to believe and what
they don't. It's not necessary to discriminate whether people are spiritual or religious. I also not
those kind of person who's very religious, but i do believe that religion is my way to maintain my
relationship with

Faith And Reason Are Not Always Compatible
Faith and reason are not always compatible. Reason is based on evidence . Faith, on the other hand,
does not require any substantial evidence. To some people faith and reason can exist without
contradicting each other, whereas others claim that faith and reason have to be conflicting.
Religious faith can be classified into two groups: evidence–sensitive and evidence–insensitive. The
first one demands involvement of demonstratable truths. Whereas the second group is firmly
focused on the will of the religious leaders. Thus, in this case, evidence–sensitive faith is in alliance
with reasoning. But the latter group totally contradicts with reasoning.
An example of the contradiction between faith and reason would be the topic of homosexuality. In
most religions, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The pious ones believe that girls do not need to avail education. Also, girls only get one–third of the
inherited property. But when logically thought of, women should have exactly equal rights as men.
Women should not be underestimated and neglected. Girls should have as much right as boys to get
educated and to build a career. Everything should be shared in equal proportions between men and
women. Thus, once again, faith and reason collides.
But in some incidents, faith and reason walk the same path. For instance, in Islam, drinking is
strictly prohibited. This, in accordance with reasoning, makes sense. Drinking heavily leads to
damage of livers and kidneys. So, the validity of this rule is scientifically proven. So,even though in
most cases there is a conflict between faith and reason, that is, however, not the case in all
situations.
Not only can faith and reason never be at variance with one another, but they also bring mutual help
to each other, since right reasoning demonstrates the basis of faith and, illumined by its light,
perfects the knowledge of divine things, while faith frees and protects reason from errors and
provides it with manifold

The Age Of Reason: The Ideas Of The Age Of Reason
Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason and the classical neo–conservatives, was
philosophical revolution which came in Europe in the late 17th century and continued during the
18th century. During this time members of the public of Europe are suffering from extremely
poverty, oppressive properties, and religious persecution. As such people, had been living in
challenging times, the Age of Reason invaded Europe provides different views of science, religion
and politics. The main concept of the Enlightenment that people can function actively to create the
best world to live in. During that age, the philosophes believed that reason could be used to explain
everything. The philosophes believed that people could make the world a better place to live in.
Voltaire's Candide uses anti–heroism as an object of mockery against the philosophers of the ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Voltaire portrays Eldorado as a greatly quiet and peaceful nation. Eldorado, a place that is
"incomprehensible" to discover, has no laws, correctional facilities, war, or requirement for material
merchandise. Voltaire uses Eldorado as an epitome of the "most ideal of all universes." It
differentiates the genuine outside world in which war and enduring are ordinary events. Another
case of how Voltaire disparages Pangloss' idealistic rationality is the say of the Lisbon quake and
fire. Despite the fact that the terrible seismic tremor assumed control 30,000 lives, Pangloss still
maintained his philosophical idealism by expressing, "For all this is for the very best...For it is
impossible that things should not be where they are. (26)" The debacle in Lisbon influenced
Voltaire's life so much that he composed the Poem on the Lisbon Disaster, yet Pangloss' logic said
that the Lisbon tremor was fundamental over the span of nature, and there was unquestionably a
basis for the

Social Norms And Religion
Cultural norms define what part of ourselves we put forth for society to view. We are told what is
appropriate to tell others and what we should keep between the walls of our home and our family
life. Religion and spirituality are the biggest concepts that society views as taboo in the public
sector. Although most people have some sort of spirituality, the conflict that arises when religion is a
topic of conversation has made it so faith, similar to politics, becomes forbidden by social norms. It
is viewed as irrational, subjective, and distinct from the rest of the world, and the principles of it
cannot be applied in public life. Religious faith is viewed as something separate from the rational
world. Our societal norms say that the rationality needed for the real world cannot coexist with the
subjectivity of religious faith. Although it answers its own questions, it cannot solve problems that
require the logic and rationality of the real world. Religious faith as seen more as a way to express
oneself, not something that can be applied to the public sector of life. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This started back when science and religion were still fighting over every discovery made and
imprisoned every scientist who did not fully back the church. Although this was partly the case, the
church made large donations to science over the years and contributed to some of the discoveries
made of the 15th and 16th centuries. Since that time, the stigma of the church against science has
been passed down through generations, ending up with the mindset of "religious faith is irrational"
being the main conception today. No one thinks to question the past traditions and ideals that have
been in place for so long, so society just accepts that science and the church, or rationality and
religion, will forever be against each

Moliere's Tartuffe: Age Of Reason
Moliere's Tartuffe is a piece of literature originating in France during the 17th century, which was
the so called age of Enlightenment, or the Age of Reason. Plato would most likely have approved of
the message Moliere tries to push through Tartuffe. That is rationality and reason trump all. Plato
may not be the most supportive of art and literature but if it happens to be a medium that lends to his
principles of reason, logic, rationality and above all the maintenance of the social order then he
would happily approve. The type of Enlightenment thinking in western society differed substantially
from the Eastern Asian philosophies. Enlightenment thinkers brought faith in reason, logic, and
rationality into the forefront of Western culture. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He also fails to perceive that Tartuffe is tricking him and his family and thus is not thinking as
rationally as Cleante is. In Act I, scene 5, Cleante accuses his brother–in–law of being unable to
realize the differences between "true piety and hypocrisy". He says to Orgon that his love of Tartuffe
is "nonsense," and then attempts to enlighten him on Tartuffe's true nature. Yet despite all this
Cleante knows that his brother–in–law's mind is clouded by his emotions. Trying to talk sense into
his brother in law, Cleante acts once again as voice of reason, which goes unheard continuously
throughout the work. Orgon believes so intensely in Tartuffe's goodness and godliness that he is
even willing to give up anything for him, including his own daughter's happiness in being able to
marry the man she loves. In Act I, scene 5, Orgon blatantly disregards his previous promise of
marrying his daughter to Valere and reveals he instead has plans to give his daughter's hand to
Tartuffe. The value of moderation and reason in all things, as opposed to excess and obsession, is
another important enlightenment theme appearing throughout Tartuffe. eante is the voice of reason
because he goes out of his way to promote moderation and balance throughout the

The Satanic Verses, Truth And Falsity
Through the violent deaths and hypocrisy, doubt in the sacred is reintroduced. Eileen Barker
illustrates brainwashing as the 'control the religious leaders have exerted over their followers'. This
questions whether belief is imposed or cultivated. John Updike writes that 'Everything seemed still
in place, yet something was immensely wrong'. Highlighting the sense of doubt in postmodernist
texts, one may find that some things, such as religion, cannot be explained. Faith can waver or hold
steadfast, characters revisiting belief in skepticism as ideology falters. In The Satanic Verses, truth
and falsity is ultimately ambiguous. Some characters are featured as wrestling with religious doubt,
others like Gibreel and Saladin think over their atheism after supernatural events. Definition is
resisted, borders blurred, it is questionable whether events are happening or merely figments of
imagination. Gibreel asks for 'some sign'(30) that God is present during his illness, but realizes he is
talking to air. He 'lost his faith'(29) and even after metamorphosis, it is revealed that Gibreel is
schizophrenic. The metamorphosis may be invented, as Rekha says to Gibreel 'maybe you are going
crazy'(7), but he is seen by several others to levitate. Illustrating the struggle between the real and
imaginary, miracles are doubted, neither denied nor confirmed. From 'Where there is no belief, there
is no blasphemy'(380), the sacred is discredited and blasphemy is no more than a simple

Comparison Of Faith And The Ethics Of Belief
Some people believe that there is an existing conflict between faith and reason, but not all. This is
not limited only to those who identify as religious nor does it apply strictly to those who deny the
existence of God. As written in the Bible, We are to have good reason for what we believe, and we
are to be always ready to share that reason with other people (1 Peter 3:15). The argument of faith
and reason is seen in numerous philosophical writings such as Blaise Pascal's Faith is a Logical Bet
or W.K. Clifford's The Ethics of Belief. In both we find strengths and weaknesses which defend
their individual beliefs based on reasoning and logical thinking.
Before we consider what Blaise Pascal's argument is between faith and reason, we must ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Clifford's The Ethics of Belief, Clifford offers an argument which differs from Pascal's argument. In
The Ethics of Belief, Clifford argues that simply having belief in a Theistic God is unethical without
having sufficient evidence to support ones belief. This argument does not focus solely on faith but it
demands that reason be included in the decision to believe in anything not just in deciding whether a
Theistic God does in fact exist or not. Clifford begins his argument telling a story about a ship–
owner who was about to send his emigrant ship to sea knowing the ship was old and not in the best
shape as it once had been. Even though it had been suggested to the owner that the ship was not
seaworthy, the doubts were not enough for the owner to have the ship inspected and repaired if
necessary. Instead, the ship–owner make the decision to set aside all doubts without having
sufficient evidence to do so, he allowed the ship to set sail. In the end, the ship did not make the
voyage, all those aboard were killed, and the ship–owner collected the insurance money when for
the ship (Clifford). As an outsider looking in, the ship–owners decision to ignore previous
suggestion to inspect and repair the ship was unethical. As the owner it was his responsibility to
ensure safety and a successful voyage. Of course unexpected situations, issues, and events could
have resulted in the same outcome of the passengers losing their lives, however, this was not the
case. From the

Life Of Pi By Yann Martel
Milo Gosnell
4–17–16
Independent Book Theme Essay
Life of Pi
Yann Martel
Life of Pi is an incredible survival story written by Yann Martel. It follows a young protagonist
named Piscine Patel, Pi, and his journey of hope and courage. His strength is grounded in his faith
and religion, as well as his admiration for the startling world of science, and teaches that both
science and religion can offer a unique perspective on the world around us. Pi has the simple yet
extraordinary notion that even scientists can take a "leap of faith" (1), which enables them to be
viewed in the religious community as "brothers" (4), rather than viewed as enemies of faith. The
agnostics, however, are unable to conform to this way of society and are left in an indefinable
moratorium. Life of Pi offers the unique perspective that science and religion can be balanced and
gives one a greater appreciation of life. This idea is exemplified by Pi's struggle for survival that
ultimately is achieved through his concrete faith in religion and foundation in science.
Over the course of Pi's adventure, he is introduced to two important mentors that are involved with
both of Pi's fascinations and put him on a path of discovery. Both with the name of Satish Kumar,
one introduces him to the world of science and biology and the other admits him into the religion of
Islam. Life of Pi is "a story that will make you believe in God" (Author's Note), and although
religion is a major component, it is established

Max Weber And Emile Durkheim
Emile Durkheim and Max Weber both studied religion with different goals and interests. Durkheim
is interested in finding religion's function in the society while Weber focused more on explaining the
reason why capitalism thrive with Protestantism. Due to the differences in the nature of their
research, It is natural to find incompatibility of their perspectives, yet similarities can be seen
throughout their works. In the following paragraphs, I will attempt to first illustrate the differences
in their theories, and then we can connect both doctrines to paint the bigger picture of religion. Their
projection of the future is incompatible. Both sociologists talked about modernity, but both
predicted the future of religious differently. Weber studied the development and evolution of
societies, argues that capitalism and industrialized production have replaced religion as motivation.
This is his famous "Iron Cage" metaphor– what had been an expression of religious belief is not a
controlling process in and of itself. People are trapped into a system of capitalist production that has
taken on a life of its own. Weber called it the "Disenchantment of the world", as we became less
concerned with religion, focused only on the rational and materials world. Durkheim, on the other
hand, elucidated the idea of individualism in modern society. Complex and modern societies
practice what he called, organic solidarity. High division of labor that causes individuals to take on
very

Essay about Witchcraft, Magic and Rationality
Witchcraft, Magic and Rationality Social Anthropology seeks to gauge an understanding of cultures
and practices whether they are foreign or native. This is achieved through the studying of language,
education, customs, marriage, kinship, hierarchy and of course belief and value systems. Rationality
is a key concept in this process as it affects the anthropologist's interpretation of the studied group's
way of life: what s/he deems as rational or plausible practice. Witchcraft and magic pose problems
for many anthropologists, as its supernatural nature is perhaps conflicting to the common Western
notions of rationality, mainly deemed superior. In this essay I will be exploring the relationship
between rationality and witchcraft and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Yorubas chanting to the god Shango is no different to the congregation of a church singing
hymns. Both are with good intentions, and both may ask for some divine intervention. Labelling one
form magic and one religion is just semantics.
To question whether it is rational to believe in witchcraft and magic is in fact just a question as to
whether the belief in supernatural intervention is rational. Is it irrational to believe in things that we
cannot prove in a rational manner? At this point I would say 'Yes'. It is illogical to believe in things
that cannot be proven. Proof must be a condition for belief or we could believe almost anything to
exist, for example flying pigs. It is evidence that makes belief different from faith, which is having
trust in things that often appear to have no substantiation. However to use rationality as a
determining factor of proof, and therefore belief, means that it must be a flawless concept within
itself. But is this so?
If we decide that it is irrational to believe in things that cannot be proven then we are at the same
time saying that it is only rational to believe in things that can be proven. However there are many
things that evade the boundaries of Western science, for example emotions. Can we prove love
exists? It is something invisible, intangible and there is no objective proof for this emotion; no way
to scientifically monitor

Jihad Vs Mcwtold
2. The article Jihad vs. McWorld contributes to the rationalization of society thesis. Like the
beginning of the protestant reformation when people begin to wonder and seek their purpose on
earth, people are having are spiritually and physically struggling. In trying to understand faith
against economic and cultural interdependence, people start to lose their own sense of rationality.
Rationality is then determined by the institutions. Jihad is the struggle of civilizations in the context
of cultural globalization and McWorld is the political, economic, and cultural globalization that has
affected nationalism. Individuals become disposed to the forces of rationalization. 3. The film The
Corporations illustrates the very idea of rationalization

Analysis Of ' Utopia ' By Thomas More
Utopia– good place, or in other words, no place. Thomas More, in his work Utopia, describes a
nation in a parallel universe free from greed, pride, immorality, poverty, and crime; told as a
narrative of a well–traveled explorer Hythloday to Moore himself, Hythloday speaks of a nation
founded purely upon rationality, efficiency, and perfect morality. Thomas More's work is no political
or social theory, but rather a social critique and a commentary. In an age experiencing political and
social struggle across every aspect of Western civilization along with the flooding of ancient and
new ideas, Utopia is More's way of discovering and exploring man's and society's natural structures
and tendencies, and expressing his discontent towards them– this is shown in the narrative, as the
dialogue of Hythloday and More represent his conflicted view between the ideal and the pragmatic.
Acknowledging these flaws, More's work critiques the utopian society from the perspectives of an
imperfect man, but also vice versa. Thomas More lived before and during the Tudor Dynasty, in
which England, and most of Europe for that matter, was experiencing a huge influx of political strife
and new ideas. There was a continuity of inter–state and intra–state power struggle in Europe that
marked the Middle Ages, with superpowers such as France, Spain, and the Habsburg Empire all
competing to outmuscle one another. England was no different– having gone through the Hundred
Years War, the War of the

Solo's Flat: A Short Story
It's kind of been in equal shares since he's moved to Coruscant city. The fact that he's an hour's drive
away from bustling New York and a mere ferry ride away from the largest, most successful starport
this side of planet Earth has ever seen; it's always balanced without fail. That being Solo's
sentiments toward his apartment complex, that is. For it either lands in a perfect equilibrium or his
monumental measure of unmitigated hatred rises to subdue what little tolerance he's ever managed
to gather since purchasing this flat, thoroughly savage as it lays waste to his backhand reassurances
that this place is worth it and that it was cheap, especially the downpayment. Often lasting until
something, usually, anything, comes along to distract

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