ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Syncretism refers to the merging of two or more ideas in any discipline in order to symbolize unity. Syncretism is therefore common in religious philosophy, religion, theology and mythology. The true essence of syncretism is to represent the underlying unity and similarity in different points of view. Syncretism hence plays a crucial role in providing the relationship between different schools of thought in any discipline. The concept has played a crucial role in the development of religion, philosophy and mythology in the past. Syncretism was very relevant to the development of several civilizations that have existed. The roman civilization was to a great extend influenced by syncretism in the manner in which religion and philosophy was practiced. Syncretism also had a huge impact on the American civilization with the other civilizations around the world. The aim of this paper is to take an analytical look at syncretism and the impact it had on civilization. Syncretism Syncretism is the reconciliation of opposite perspectives and schools of thought with the intention of manifesting the inherent unity among them. Syncretism is more pronounced in theology, religion, philosophy and politics. Syncretism also involves forms of art, music, culture and literature (Bova 64). Through the combination of several perspectives, syncretism provides better meaning to the relevant disciplines. Syncretism, especially when used in literature, plays a significant role in the understanding of concepts. This is one of the reasons why syncretism was very synonymous in the many civilization that ever existed. Impact on Civilizations Syncretism had a lot of impact on the roman civilization, this occurred in several forms through which syncretism was applied. As a result, several events and occurrences of the roman civilization can be attributed to syncretism. During the roman civilization there was great fusion between the different religions that existed at the time. In this way even religious views that were opposite and contradictory to one another worked together in harmony (Shaw & Stewart 44-50). The situation can fully be attributed to syncretism through which divergent religious view could be merged together to provide a similar meaning. It is against this background that Christianity and the paganism coexisted side by side in Rome. Religious practices that were attributed to paganism found their way into Christianity. Apart from worshiping practices, syncretism also affected the religious doctrine that was preached in Rome. Paganism fused together with Christianity even in matters that were considered contradictory. For instance Christianity believed in the sovereign God while the pagans believed in idolatry. However, certain aspects of idolatry were fused together to come up with Catholic Church. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church was a religious merger between paganism and Christianity. It is from here that Christians adopted roman calendars and practices. Unity
Introduction The “Three Metamorphoses” is one of the numerous philosophical works of Nietzsche in whose prologues produced thought provoking and soul searching ideas that explain the essence of life. In this paper, the analysis will endeavor to critically single out the fundamental concepts eminently presented in the speech. In furtherance of this analysis, metaphors and allusions employed by the author shall be identified in quest for human meaning. In the final analysis, a commentary of the speech shall be availed. The Concepts, Metaphors and Allusions in the three Metamorphoses Metaphors and Allusions In this piece of both philosophical and literary representation, Nietzsche employs numerous metaphors to imply meaning of life and how change is an inevitable aspect of human spiritual life. Zurathustra describes the three metaphors representing the transformational form of man. These metaphors finally set an answer to the apprehension designed by God’s death. These metamorphic elements that preoccupy the otherwise hopeful being explain the real essence created by the ability to overcome the static nature in order to become “new” in the course of time (Nietzsche 116). The author begins his philosophical imagery by saying that, “I name you three metamorphoses of the spirit: how the spirit shall become a camel, and the camel a lion, and the child at last a child” (Nietzsche 54). He chooses to be in love with live representations by use of animals to illustrate life out of the seemingly abstract world in which man lives. According to the speech, change should be a constant and logical. In qualifying a description of various stages of human consciousness, Nietzsche utilizes the camel, the camel and finally the lion in pursuit for the fundamental forms of transformation necessary for an “overman”. The camel represents the beginning of the strategic walk towards the much anticipated end of human spirit. In this primary stage, the camel is thought of as being the burden bearing spirit that is always submissive and under the command of all other superior forces beyond its scope of denial. It posses within its self, the duty to carry forth the mantle of spiritual hope through suffering and sacrifice. The camel hence becomes the symbol of general human commitment
Introduction Historians divide art into different periods. One of them is the classical period. It spanned between the 5 th and the 4 th centuries BC. The form of art started in Greece. Pieces produced in this period have distinct characteristics. A case in point is the sculptures made in Greek during this era. According to Inaga, artists started using humans and animals as their models (250). An example of such art is the “Youth (the ‘Kritian Boy)”. The piece was made around 480 BC. Another instance is “Hermes”. In this paper, the author will compare and contrast three works of art from the classical era. The first is the “Portrait Statue of a Boy”. It is made of bronze. The piece dates back to between early 1 st century B.C and early 1 st century A.D. As such, it falls within the classical period. The context in which the work was created is the Julio-Claudian rule in Rome, Europe. The era is used to refer to the rule of the first five Roman Emperors (“Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History” Portrait Statue of a Boy 1). The five were Nero, Tiberius, Augustus, Caligula, and Claudius. Information about the artist is not provided. The second piece is the “Standing Buddha, Probably Shakyamuni”. It dates back to the classical period. The art originated in India, Asia. The piece is also made of bronze. Its context relates to the religion of the people of India (“Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History” Standing Buddha 2). The bronze sculpture survived in India before the 18 th century. The reason is th
The policies that the government enacts have a major impact on life of citizens. One of the most important changes that were made by the Canadian government was in welfare and social policies. People need to feel support and care of the government, as in the end, positive and mutual relationship will benefit both sides. Social changes that were made by the government had a great influence on the way society functioned. Organizations that were directly and indirectly involved felt how the shift in people’s behavior towards others affected businesses and social policies. There is an intricate relationship between private citizens, society and governmental organizations, as well as businesses. Social programs that were enacted have provided for better relationship between all spectrums of social fabric. The most supporting policy enacted was one related to welfare of the citizens. People were ensured to be protected and could safely rely on the government to help them in case problems arose. The political jurisdictions were involved in affecting the policies, so all categories of businesses could get involved in adhering to the needs of the society (Westhues, 2006). The primary concerns that were addressed pertained to the focus on the basic needs of people. Since the policies enacted infiltrated all levels of society people were guaranteed securities that did not exist before. The primary concern of the government towards the public was in relation to the ability of people to create proper conditions of life for themselves and their families. There were many things that had to be bettered and advanced. Healthcare was one of the most important targets of policy makers, as people will always need their health looked after. Because it is such an interdependent field of life, families would have proper access and care which in turn would result in citizens who are able to contribute to society (Westhues, 2006). Pensions and social programs were on the list of social changes as well. The services that were being provided to the local communities had to be effective enough to support education and standards of sufficient funding to the public. As many individuals have to rely on the government for funding and social support, the changes that were made to the policies on provincial level were an addition to an already existing welfare of citizens. Not only were programs educative, they were pointed towards developing individuals and society. The younger population had to be stimulated and involved by participation in the matters of the country. This was accomplished through programs in community centers, public involvement and volunteer opportunities. As a result, private and provincial businesses got involved within the society and could provide to the needs of people. This stimulated the economy and strengthened the society as a single and mutually supportive unit (Westhues, 2006). It is clear that the relationship between government and society must stay positive and beneficial to both sides. People should feel
Every business has its own culture. Cultures are built either intentionally or non-intentionally. Organizations have five main dimensions of culture. These are values, relative diversity, resources allocation and reward, degree of change, and impact of the culture (Kelly, 2010). The hospital that I work for has its distinctive culture, and I will examine the five cultural dimensions to determine the direction the hospital is taking to achieve its objectives. The dimensions are the elements that go into forming the organization’s philosophy. The hospital has value systems that form the foundation of its culture. It defines its values with behaviors to create a culture that supports high performance (Reilly, 2012). One of its core values is integrity. When it experienced quality problems with its drugs, it informed its customers of the nature of the problems despite that it would make a loss. The hospital’s other value is caring about employees. The hospital pays for retirement accounts, dental insurance, and gives regular bonuses to hard-working staff members. It also has an effective mentoring program for foreign nurses. In addition, the hospital observes cultural diversity. The cultural diversity dimension is essential, as the existence of organizational cultures often assumes certain levels of similarities. However, there are different ways of handling cultural diversities. The hospital tolerates certain diversions to accommodate the interests of all employees. Additionally, the hospital uses an effective system for managing resource allocation and rewards. The management of resource allocation and reward has a critical influence on culture because it sends a message about the values of the organization (Purnell, 2012). When it had quality problems with its drugs, purchased new drugs to keep true to its values. The hospital is a fast-paced and dynamic organization. In addition, its degree of managing change is different from that of other similar organizations. The organization’s top management causes the difference. They send the message that they recognize the role of innovation in enhancing the hospital’s service provision systems (Purnell, 2012). Finally, it has a strong culture. The organization’s culture is the main source of direction for its employees. It strongly believes in satisfying patients. Recently, most of its nurses could not accept to train as mentors without ensuring the patients were being taken care of. The hospital recognized the need to create more time to achieve the objectives of the mentoring training. The organization’s norms influence the behavior of individuals within the system (Reilly, 2012). The hospital has several positiv
In the era of globalization, economic growth issues confront the challenges of environmental sustainability. Because of constant development of the richest economies, such as the United Kingdom, and United States, the consumption levels of the global population surpass the actual amount of natural resources that the Earth has prepared for the population. As a result, the developed economies consume resources in excess amount, which results in significant reduction of biodiversity and global climate change. The rivalry between economists and environmentalists increases because of different angles, views and concepts they operate. Such a consideration is presented in the article called Why Our Economy Is Killing the Planet and What We Can Do about It. In the article called The Voraciousness of Growth , emphasis is placed on the analysis of material patterns of consumption that are not congruent with the environmentalists’ plan of sustainable development of society. As a result, the emergent problems lead to the confrontation between the environmental disasters and population growth. In order to present the created challenges, a total transformation of societal needs is necessary; otherwise, the world can be placed on the edge of extinction because of the scarcity of available resources. The above-presented report reflects the ideas presented in the next article called Trickle-down Myth. The author is specifically interested in defining the consequences of inadequate global growth aimed at eradicating poverty and increasing the social and economic welfare of the global population. However, the level of social living in the developed countries does not provide similar perspectives for other countries. In other words, in case the entire world reaches the level of economy in the United Kingdom, the world will need eight planets to sustain human activities. As a result of such calculations, a dilemma emerges. The point is that the problem of poverty can be solved at the expense of the standards of living reduction in developed economies, which is almost impossible unless the society becomes fully conscious of the environmental problem. The problem of society transformation also lies in reluctance of economists and manufactures subject their needs to the environmental programs. As a result, the article called Spreading the Virus emphasizes the culture of consumption as the cornerstone for creating a sustainable society with environmental orientation. Specifically, the society should realize and reshape its attitude to product consumption. Because of the power of marketing and advertising, some of the people are confused about the actual purpose of buying a particular product. To work out the new concepts of consumption, specific attention should be given to a new vision of environmental production. In other words, the people should consume products in accordance w
Ibi Zoboi’s remix of Pride and Prejudice explores different philosophical and moral questions. Embracing the worldwide novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Ibi Zoboi’s remix addresses the essential issues of race stereotypes and gentrification’s influence on identity formation. The novel’s characters move from unfounded prejudices to the understanding that race does not imply the material level and type of personality. The surrounding atmosphere and cultural specificities influence the characters’ personalities throughout the story and change their attitude towards the particular minorities and races. The essential concept that Zoboi addresses in her story is identity formation. The author of the book explores identity through family and cultural perspectives. The novel depicts several families who have different wealth and personal relationships. Zuri, coming from a low-income family, hates rich people since they mostly proclaim gentrification as a positive change. The family, especially Zuri’s sister Janae, tries to persuade the girl that the prejudices against black people should be eliminated. (Zoboi, 2019). Being a member of a low-income family, Zuri’s personality is affected by living in such conditions. She treats all wealthy people as evil due to the inequity of opportunities people are born with. In expressing the negative attitudes towards Darius at the story’s beginning, she implies that her identity is based on racial and material presuppositions caused by living and family conditions. Thanks to Madrina’s guidance and family members’ support, Zuri realizes that differences make people unique. Madrina’s Bushwick can be considered as a prototype of a supportive family. During the decisive periods of her life, Zuri seeks Madrina’s support (Zoboi, 2019). Her identity changes positively due to the understanding that people should not be treated only by their status and race. For example, she realizes that Warren, coming from the same strata, has malicious intentions only thanks to Darius, who she hated most (Zoboi, 2019). This fact influences her identity and diminishes the role of the stereotype about race and wealth in her personality. Therefore, the author believes that the conditions in which a person was raised and the family support determine the identity-formation direction. The cultural aspect and the surrounding political and economic conditions also can influence identity formation. Zuri’s character is strong, and she is faithful to her origins and culture. She believes that Darius is arrogant only because he comes from a prosperous family. She keeps in mind all the negative prejudices about wealth and race due to cultural peculiarities. First of all, Zuri is scared of the gentrification process, which can abolish her and her family’s everyday lives. Zuri respects the cultural peculiarities of the minority she belongs to. As a result, she considers all the outsiders and intruders, especially rich ones, potentially dangerous for her friends and family. The pride of being a member of a particular society and the desire to protect what she loves makes her perso
The novel Family is the most famous work by Pa Chin. It forms the first part of his trilogy, Turbulent Stream, based on facts in the author’s autobiography. Many young readers of the early 20 th century readily identified with poetic and tragic characters of Pa Chin’s novels. He is considered to be the most popular Chinese writer because every literate person in China and abroad can understand his works. The New Culture Movement was perhaps given an impetus by Pa Chin’s works. Pa Chin wrote with enthusiasm willing to influence and improve the life of his country with his works. The family was the favorite book of Chinese students, and even today, some teenagers can see the reflection of their own lives, sufferings, and struggles in this novel and other works by Pa Chin, though they describe a thing that has become history already – a rebellion of the whole generation against the old Chinese family system, which deprived the young of their freedom and their right to marry according to their own choice. The topic of the novel Family (1931) was very timely. The novel depicts a traditional family in crisis. Many young men and women recognized themselves in the brothers Kao and other victims of their ancestors and traditions of the society. Family is the story of the large Kao family, consisting of four generations plus more than a hundred servants. Yeh-Yeh is the patriarch of the Kao family. He controls all aspects of life in the compound consisting of five households. The conflict between old China and the new tide rising to destroy it is manifested in the lives of the three young Kao brothers. Three Different Reactions to the New Change in China Represented by the Kao Brothers Chueh-Hsin, the elder brother, is brought up in the family as a future head of the family. He feels responsible for the family and shows no resistance to traditions and Yeh-Yeh’s iron-fisted rules, even when it’s painful for him and for his dear ones. As the eldest brother, Chueh-Hsin has a high degree of power, but he cannot use it to make himself or the people he loves a bit happier. Chueh-Hsin falls in love with Mei Ping, his cousin. Their love is mutual, but the girl is sent away and married to another man. Chueh-Hsin is married against his will to Jui Chueh – a bride chosen by his family. He hates his job also chosen by his family and tries to navigate through life with his “compliant bow” philosophy which means that he cannot oppose his elders under any circumstance. As a result, Chueh-Hsin can please neither his parents nor his younger brothers who want to break free. He learns to love his wife after she gives birth to their son. When Mei Ping returns home after her husband’s death, she becomes a servant for the family. After a while, the patriarch decides to sell her as a concubine. Chueh-Hsin doesn’t help the woman he loved and she commits suic
By analyzing the financial statements of competitors, a company is able to find new potential markets hence invest them. A company can determine the competitors’ weaknesses hence capitalizing on them. This gives it an upper hand in the market. The financial statements provide financial benchmarks for the company. It becomes possible to make compare with successful competitors hence making appropriate strategies for success. Financial statements give an insight into the output and operational costs of the competitors and it becomes possible to determine whether the production and operational costs are high or low when compared to the competitors. Adjustments are thereafter made where possible. There are several ways to ensure sustainable cost advantage. This includes the raising of the prices so as to increase the profit margin, reducing the production and operation costs so as to minimize the expenses, including higher margin items in the sales mix, going for less costly yet quality raw materials and spending more on marketing so as to increase the sales. The relative cost of goods and services is significant in determining the competitive advantage of the business. This is vital in determining the profitability of the business. A company can only supply its goods or provide services to the market if the prices are higher than the production cost. Understanding the relative cost helps a company to compare its prices to the other competitors. It therefore becomes easy to predict the reactions of the competitors incase of an increase in prices. It also forms a basis for the prediction of price wars. By understanding the relative cost, a business can know whether it has a competitive advantage in terms of cost and whether this is sustainable. It is possible to know how low to bid so as to win a contract against competitors. It also becomes easier for a business to make cost reductions without negatively impacting its profitability. The cost structure constitutes the expenses that are incurred in ensuring th