ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Unsatisfactory Implications Ethical relativism is the concept that describes the morals and views of individuals in a given society as equally rational. In this regard, rational aspects are determined by what a particular culture determines as right or wrong (Shaw, 2008). Therefore, the concept is based on the fact that reality felt by an individual is bound to the culture or societal beliefs. Hence, any ethical judgment is influenced by the moral values of one’s society. However, there are several implications, in which ethical relativists believe, as the concept bears various unsatisfactory implications. The first unsatisfactory implication of the ethical relativists is that progression in moral values is undoubtedly impossible. Shaw (2008) articulates that there is no such moral progress as believed by the relativists. This implies that any moral progress must be succeeded by anything regarded as appropriate. Thus, the achievement of anything appropriate/good is influenced by a given set of common standards. The ethical relativists consider any moral progress as retrogressive. Consider a situation where slavery was considered by most societies to be morally right in the past. The current society considers that having another person as a slave is immoral due to the developments in civilization, exposure, and political stability of several countries. While comparing the two incidences, it is evident that there is only a difference in perception of what slavery is. This is to say that moral values of a given society can either be changed to good or bad depending on what the society considers to be right. The second unsatisfactory implication is that any individual should not condemn another person’s culture in cases where the personal behaviors are wrong. Considering some situations regarded by a particular society as right, it might be unaccepted practically. For example, a particular society may condemn women holding any leadership positions, which are seen as work for men. In this case, no one should question or condemn this act. If there is the condemnation of other cultures, this act cannot exist in those particular societies that deter women from holding senior positions in businesses or societal leadership. Thirdly, the most serious unsatisfactory implication is what the ethical relativists regard as unacceptable for any individual to denounce his or her culture. This implies that no one is to question his/her culture regards as moral or immoral. For example, a person does not need to doubt the ethi
Introduction The word virtue is usually misunderstood as an easy concept in religion and morality. It is a forgotten word in the age of computers and the internet. Many have taken it for granted, and only those interested in philosophy or religion are somewhat interested in it. We have to contemplate that this is what the world needs now. The peoples of the world should go back to basics, study philosophy and religion, know the virtues of their own religion. The global village, as authors and commentators contend, is a complicated world with less morality and virtues, and more material things. Virtue is a forgotten word. What tradition and religion have taught is gone. The teachings of the old and the wise seemed buried in the annals of yesteryears. Virtues define the way Christians live the teachings of Christ or the way Muslims live the teachings of Mohammed; or the teachings of Buddha, and so with other religious sects and denominations. St. Augustine, a doctor of the Catholic Church, refers to virtue as something that connotes power or strength. Since power usually connotes activity, then virtue is an act. Virtue has a goal. One who possesses virtue is a person who practices his/her faith because the practice of virtue is directed to another. The act of possessing and directing virtue is a good act. Since it is an act, therefore it is directed to something and to someone, not just to the self. (Aquinas, 2010, p. 3) An emerging concept is the phrase ‘virtue ethics’ or the need of the present generation the return to virtue ethics, which is characterized by focusing on character traits of individuals in their relationship with others or to the community in general. This includes personal commitments and community traditions. (Kotva, 1996, p. 12) Virtue ethics means three things: first, it is human nature as it really is; second, it is human nature in how it can be; and third, those which pertain to habits, our talents and capabilities, interests, likes, and the things that should not be done. There are likes, capabilities, and talents in us as humans that should not be encouraged because they are directed to our very nature and would not result in an acceptable end. Virtue theory deals with who we are and who we could be, according to the standards of morality as acceptable by the majority. (Kotva, 1996, p. 17) Most ideas and concepts of virtue are taken from the moral teachings of the bible of Christians and in other moral teachings of other religions, like the Quran of the Muslims, or the teachings of Buddha. We can understand that moral teachings are the basis for most ideas and concepts of virtue practices. (Oakley & Cocking, 2001, p. 7) The virtue of courage Courage, or fortitude, is one of the cardinal virtues, along with prudence (also known as wisdom), justice, and temperance. (Mitch, 2000, p. 13) The Event Temples’ website calls it the heart virtues. They are however almost similar. They are only different when it comes to terminology. The concept, the ideas, the philosophies, origin, and evolution are the same. Virtues come from the sacredness of man, but they have to come out before they become virtues. It is th
When an individual has read and understood two or more texts, identification of any similarities between them becomes very easy (Riegler 196). This requires a very keen reading of the texts so that the contents of each text can be well understood and a reasonable argument can thus be made. The literature from the comparison of the texts can provide some useful information to any person who reads them. It is on this basis that I am writing this piece of work to compare and contrast between two texts: “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and “The Bhagavad Gita”. Immanence can be described as a condition of operating within a given limit. It can also be explained as a condition of existence especially of a supernatural being with supernatural powers (Flood 293). In the epic of Gilgamesh, it is indicated that there was a ruler who ruled the land of Samaria very many years ago (Cranefield 137). The ruler was known as King Gilgamesh and it is indicated that King Gilgamesh had superhuman characteristics which implied that he was a superhuman (Kovacs 83). This makes the existence of Gilgamesh more like a mythical ruler than a ruler who actually existed. There is no concrete evidence to indicate that King Gilgamesh actually ruled the Sumerians. In the epic, it is indicated that most scholars believe that King Gilgamesh actually existed and he became a legendary hero just like Britain’s King Arthur or Beowulf of Anglo-Saxon (Damrosch 179). Fragments of the epic of Gilgamesh which were found in Me-Turan showed that when Gilgamesh died, he was buried underwater (George 203). It is also claimed that the flow of the river Euphrates was diverted so as to allow the burial of Gilgamesh under the river bed. Even though some people doubt the existence of Gilgamesh, most people believe that he existed and they even cite evidence that has been found to prove it. Bhagavad Gita is a spiritual book used by believers in the Hindu religion (Easwaran 206). In the Gita, it is stated that there is a supernatural being called God. In the same Gita, there are no contradictory statements that can make anyone doubt the existence of God. It is believed that God exists because His effects have been felt by those who believe in Him. This is normally explained by Krishna who is a teacher of Gita (Minor 184). With regard to transcendence, there is a difference between God who is described in the Bhagavad Gita, and Gilgamesh who is described in the epic of Gilgamesh (Mitchell 113). Transcendence can simply be explained to mean the state of possessing supreme powers and greatness. Even though it is indicated that King Gilgamesh was superhuman and possessed a tragic flaw, he lost his friend Enkidu when he insulted the gods and rejected the love of Ishtar who was the goddess of war and love (Hammon
Thailand is a Southeastern Asian state that endured sixty years of military political governance from 1932 until 1973 when a democratically elected-government assumed office. After the change of governance, the country has been experiencing growing economic growth rate; however the country heavily suffers from unstable balance of payment (BPO). The economic situation of the country can be pegged to its participation in international trade with exports accounting for two thirds of its gross domestic growth product (GDP). It has seen its GDP grow of 2% in the 1985 to 10.6% in 1996; in 2010, the country recorded an economic growth rate of 8.0% (Roger, Sedghi & Ami, 2011). This paper explores Thailand’s economic situation; it will also evaluate the major drawbacks that hinder developments like political instability, poverty, minimal investment, low export revenues, and poor infrastructure. At the end, the paper will offer some recommendations on the policies that the government should implement to have sustained economic growth rate. Political instability Thailand having been in military rule was affected economically that it remained dragging as other Asian states advanced economically. The end of the military rule, however, did not mark the end of political violence; a state of political uncertainty emerged later on in 1998 where there was a conflict between two parties in contest for power . The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and the People’s power party (PPP) were the parties in contest and due to their fighting saw the GDP drop from 10.4% in 1996 to 8.0% in 2010. The uncertainty surrounding the political atmosphere saw low levels of capital investment, lack of foreign aid and lack of production. If a company’s managers are not confident that the current environment is favourable to business, they will postpone their decisions (World Bank, 2009). When there is high uncertainty about the political atmosphere, investors and business managers tend to worry those changes of government could lead to changes in certain government policies and regulations that affect businesses (Teena, 1997). Environmental issues Thailand faces problems with water and air pollution, soil erosion, hazardous waste issues, deforestation, water scarcity and declining wildlife. Water pollution has at its best caused considerable damage to aquatic life in some of the rivers in Thailand. Over a century, Thailand has seen its wildlife population decrease in an alarming rate. Elephants being considered a national symbol are not an exception since its population too has dropped. Currently, Elephants are estimated to be 2000, while a century ago, they were 10,000. Poachers and hunters in search for ivory, meat and hides have greatly contributed to this decline. A study also has shown that the practice of keeping wild animals as pets has increased their deaths since majority are only adapted to their natural habitat. Thailand being a growing economy has many developments which have led to large scale deforestation which has destroyed many wildlife habitats. This loss of habitat combined with over fishing, has seen some specie
Introduction In the text of Genesis 1-2, the character of Eve is introduced. In this narrative, Adam and Eve are created by God and their life in the Garden of Eden is explained. However, they were forced to leave the Garden and cursed for their disobeyal, more specifically because Eve overlooked God’s orders not to eat fruits from one particular tree. Genesis 1-3 depicts three main themes – marriage, desire, and punishment, and the character of Eve allows examining these issues in-depth. This paper aims to evaluate the character of Eve and the topics of marriage, desire, and punishment using her example. Character Portrayal Eve is the central character of the narrative in Genesis 1-3 and one of the central figures in the Bible. Eve’s depiction in the Genesis is essential since she is the first woman presented in the Bible. The narrative that will be analyzed in this paper depicts Adam and Eve, from the moment of Adam’s creation to their banishment from the Garden of Eden. An essential element here is the fact that although both characters were punished for Eve’s actions, she received a more severe penalty. God imposed painful labor as the curse for Eve’s actions (Genesis 3-16). Hence, the character portrayal of Eve in this narrative is essential because she is the first woman in the Bible. In this regard, understanding the development of Eve is essential, including the analysis of her creation, her life in the Garden and the punishment. Eve is introduced as a companion to Adam, and in Genesis 3-20, it is explained that this name was chosen for her because she would become the mother to all living things. The narrative portrays the events of her life is interesting because she strived for knowledge and power, which were forbidden by God. Though her actions, Adam and her were able to see the good and the evil that exists in the world (Genesis 3-22). Arguably, this character feels that she was unjustly treated because she does not recognize her fault, blaming the Serpent for her actions, which is another crucial aspect of the narrative. Marriage Firstly, it is necessary to analyze the theme of marriage in Genesis 1-3, since Eve was created by God as a companion to Adam. Hence, her relationship with Adam and their marriage are the core concepts of this narrative. According to Genesis 2:20,“Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam, there was not found a help meet for him.” Therefore, although God created many creatures as well as the man, Adam did not have a companion in this world. This line explains the purpose of Eve’s creation since she was destined to become a partner for Adam. One should note that Eve’s creation differs significantly from that of Adam’s. The latter was made out of the dust, while God used a part of Adam’s body to create Eve. Hence, another quote that can explain the importance of marriage as the core element of Eve’s character is the following – “and the rib, which the Lord had taken from man, made he a woman, and b
Introduction The role of the city in modern society is rather high. It is so due to the social affairs and societal structure which are based on the grounds of the city. In this respect, one should clearly understand that the ideal city for the 21st century should follow the experience of the previous years and use the achievements of the contemporary designs and framework for the city outlook. In other words, the reliability of the discussion maintained in the paper is considered with the key challenges and opportunities for the city in this new century with new ideas in the field of science and technology. Thus, the paper is dedicated to assuming and particularly asserting the movements in the architectural and social thoughts which can be prescribed for the city of the future. The structure of the paper encloses several features as of the particular theories according to the optimal decision for the environmental safety and appropriate architectural design. The points on the limitations of the main theme in the discussion will also be touched upon. All in all, it is vital to evaluate the features of the city in the 21st century, to work out the optimal plan for further movement toward the ideals of the city in terms of the new domain of peoples’ relationships. Thus, the manifesto of the city of the 21st century is concerned in most points with the social background of the society along with its credibility for having such amenity and the current achievements in the architectural design and technological implementation. Discussion Nowadays cities matter greatly in the world. This administrative unit of each country comprises the fullness of information about its residents and heritage as well. This is why mankind leads to concentrate mainly in the urbanized territories throughout countries. First of all, it is the result of the values which every city in its huge and versatile estimation preserves for the citizens. In other words, the role of cultural, architectural, religious, political, entertaining, and other sides of the city is enclosed in the concept of it. Moreover, the city is the cradle for the talents and achievements of mankind. It is no surprise that from ancient times most inventions in various fields of peoples’ activities were achieved in large cities of the time. Athens, Rome, Paris, Moscow, London, etc. are the cities that are known for being the material and formal or surrounding background for mankind’s success. The city should be evaluated in its dynamic nature and the process of migration and growth are inevitable for it. In this respect, Aristotle provided a thought that with the process of constant growth the city should be controlled and regulated (Foo and Yuen 1999). Earlier in the work “The Republic” Plato attempted to describe the ideal city bein
The film Burn was directed by Gillo Pontecorvo and released in 1969 at the time of the civil rights movements. It conveys the story of the liberation of slaves on the island of Quemada in the middle of power struggles between Portugal and Britain. William Walker, the British agent, played by Marlon Brando, comes to the Portuguese colony to ignite the revolution, destroy the Portuguese rule and make the island a British colony. The events take place in the middle of the nineteenth century when abolitionist movements initiated. The point of attack of the film is the scene that initiates the action in the plot and drives the main problem. In Burn , the point of attack is the scene when William Walker sees Jose Dolores for the first time as he sneaks into the crowd of chained slaves to bring water and food for his peers (Pontecorvo). This moment in the plot makes Marlon Brando’s character change his decision and stay on the island to pursue his initial assignment of igniting the revolution. The plot of the movie is chronological and linear, which allows for logical conveying of the events. Despite the linear plot, the film’s events are portrayed in complexity due to the interplay of the multiple characters influencing the development of the story. At the onset stage, William Walker arrives at the Caribbean island to complete the British government’s task to induce a revolution and substitute the Portuguese rule with the British exploitation of the island of Quemada. The agent encourages the slave Jose Dolores to become a liberation movement leader and helps the enslaved to oppose the Portuguese. With time, the island is freed from Portuguese rule, and slavery is announced to be abolished. As Jose Dolores obtains a leader’s role on the island, he fails to control the situation and transfers the power to the white elite. William Walker finishes his work on Quemada and goes to Indochina. After that, the plot shifts to the events that take place ten years later when the British government again tasks William Walker to go to the island to convince Jose Dolores to stop the liberation movement. Unable to convince Jose to surrender, William Walker engages in war with him and organizes a fire to make the population give up. People are killed, and fields are burnt; Jose Dolores does not abandon his freedom ambitions even when he is sentenced to execution. As William Walker prepares to leave the island, he is killed. The film’s first turning point is when Jose engages in revolutionary actions by agreeing to rob the bank. Thus, when he becomes a leader of the movement for independence and abolitionism, the following events of fighting against slavery become the plot’s central issue. The second turning poin
Why do we study Shakespeare in the 21st century? Why should Shakespeare be taught at all? Find here the answers! This essay gives the reasons why studying the great English poet still matters. Introduction William Shakespeare was an English poet. His exact birth date is unknown but estimated to be 23 April 1564 and he died on 23 April 1616. He is one of the greatest writers of English and the world’s preeminent dramatist. He is also known as “the Bard of Avon or just “the Bard”. He wrote most his works well known between 1590 and 1613. He wrote plays, sonnets, poems and narrative poems. His plays are available in many languages and they have been staged several times. His reputation as a writer rose in the nineteenth century. During the twentieth century, scholarship movements adopted his works. Today his works are still very popular and are studied in schools. Why Study Shakespeare in the 21st Century Studying Shakespeare is important because his works are rich and they can enrich a reader’s life in many ways. For instance, his works are very rich in the English language and are a good source of learning the language. Shakespeare contributed many words to the English vocabulary and they are still in use (Forrester 17). The works makes one sensitive to the English language. Moreover, his works are a challenge because they are not very easy but once a person is able to study them and understand there is a feeling of accomplishment. The language is powerful and through it, one experiences the power of drama. Shakespearean works address various ethical dilemmas. The ethical dilemmas help us in becoming morally sensible as they show the consequences of making bad judgments in life. For example in the play The Hamlet, Shakespeare addresses the issue of greed for power. He shows how it causes instability in a country “or thinking by our late dear brother’s death/our state to be disjoint and out of frame” (Shakespeare (a) 1.2.19-20). Claudius kills King Hamlet, rises to power, and possesses the former queen Gertrude. Consequently, Hamlet seeks revenge for his father’s death and sadly losses his life. In addition, the play addresses revenge and shows that sometimes the obsession with revenge can lead to one’s downfall. Through his plays, Shakespeare provided sources for debating human conduct. The plays offer good examples of how human beings should treat matters such as power inheritance and shows that there is no shortcut to power as those who come to power illegally do not succeed such as in Macbeth. Their evil deeds are punished as Macbeth noted “bloody actions return/To plague th’ Inventor” (Shakespeare (b) 1.7. 9-10). The messages in his works are relevant even today. He talks of things such as power and shows how corrupting power can be especially to greedy people. He shows how people in power find it difficult to balance their private and public live