ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Napoleon Bonaparte is still perceived as one of the most influential political figures in history. While many consider his influence on the history of Europe mainly in the light of Napoleonic wars, his role in the French Revolution was nonetheless significant. Although Napoleon was not directly responsible for the unfolding of the Revolution, he had played an instrumental part in bringing the ten-year political struggle to an end. As Lyons notes, the Napoleonic regime was the fulfillment of the French Revolution (295). This essay aims to examine Napoleon’s role in the French Revolution, as well as in its immediate aftermath, by exploring his background, ideology, and actions. Background Napoleon Bonaparte was born into a noble family on the 15th August 1769 on the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea (Walsh 71). The place of birth was somewhat essential to the later development of his revolutionary character: “the island, indeed, already enjoyed a somewhat lurid reputation for its fiery individualism, its lack of governability, and the people’s propensity to insurrection and rebellion” (Forrest 17). Violence was characteristic of the Corsican society of the time, with high rates of murders and other violent crimes (Forrest 17). With the help of his father’s connections, Napoleon was enlisted into a military academy, where he was taught and trained to advance his career in the military (Walsh 71). The difficult political situation in Corsica has largely influenced Napoleon’s interest in studying politics and philosophy (Forrest 35). These disciplines were not part of his military training but served to complement it, later giving him an opportunity to turn his military achievements into political advancements. His writings have also distinguished him from the rest of young noblemen: while they were rather keen to express their royalist beliefs and influenced by the Catholic Church, Napoleon’s views were full of humanist sentiment, enlightened persuasion, and anti-clerical prejudice (Forrest 35). Young Napoleon argued that the government’s central role was to protect the country’s citizens and actively criticized the clergy for its weakness and indecisiveness (Forrest 36). Napoleon first entered the army as the second lieutenant of artillery at the age of 16, after successfully graduating from the military academy (Walsh 71). The teachers described Napoleon as egoistical and ambitious, which were indeed some of the primary characteristics of his future le
Introduction It seemed to be an American tradition to be fascinated by films that depict the western culture of the United States of America. During the 20 th century, novels and movies that depicted the western culture of the country were widely spread and sold within the country. Perhaps, The Searchers directed by John Ford and released in 1956 and Dances with the Wolves produced by Kevin Costner in 1990 were one of the best selling movies during the 20 th century that gave an insight into the western culture and the interaction between the Native Americans and the settlers. In both of these movies, the similarities and differences between these two cultures are clearly presented. In addition, the relationships between the two nations are also exhibited in an almost exact manner reflecting a true picture of the current state of affairs during the 19 th and early 20 th century. The main aim of this essay is, therefore, to compare and contrast these two films. An Analysis of the Films The film Dances with the Wolves was written by Michael Blake. It was directed and starred by Kevin Costner. The film is a western epic film that showcases the life and events of an army lieutenant named John J. Dunber (Kevin Costner) after the American Civil war of the 1860s. After finding out from the doctor that his leg is to be amputated because of the injury that he suffered in the course of the war, Dunbar sacrifices his life and leads the army against the enemy. This heroic act comes about after he saw that it was better for him to die for his country rather than to live with one leg. Ironically, his brave acts lead his people to victory ov
‘Hamlet’ written by William Shakespeare has been one of the most profound literary texts of all time. However, a few scholars have been torn between identifying the main protagonist in this play as a hero or just a mere character like the others. The main focus of this paper is to give a specific analysis of the defining qualities of a hero. The focus will be on Hamlet who is the main protagonist in the play. How does he become anatomically a hero? Does he have the qualities that can define him a hero? Can he befit the honorable qualities of heroes found in the Bible? This paper will give an up-close and candid approach on Hamlet with specific contrast and comparison to heroes found in the Bible. First, a hero must be a separate individual from other citizens. A hero must have noble and substantial actions, speech, and exemplary motivational tools as his traits. In the play Hamlet is a noble soldier with admirable qualities but he avenges the death of his father using his free will. He has audacity and courage to have revenge in a society with deceit and corruption. He is met by his father’s ghost to have revenge on the individual who killed his father and face out the corruption in the court. In 1 Samuel 24:10 David as a hero from the Bible does not have the guts to kill King Saul who is seeking David’s life because he has favor from God. David says that “… I will not lift my hand against my master ….” (Lombardo 209). When Hamlet kills Polonius he says that it was an accident and this did not mean that he cruel but Polonius was “an intruding fool” (Shakespeare 33). As seen in the Bible, Moses is led by the cloud and Hamlet’s father leads him by a ghost. He is very courageous and He is met with trickery in his journeys and retorts that “there is a divinity that shapes our end” (Shakespeare 10). Moses was concerned with social justice hence freed his people from slavery in Egypt. Hamlet on the other hand wants justice and avenges the death of his father. Moses had flaws like anger and speech complications, but he becomes the hero as he rescues his family. He is seen as an organized defender. At times he becomes reluctant to perform his task Exodus 3:11 to Exodus 4:16 (Lombardo 48). Hamlet has many flaws like cruelty but he also religious when he vows that he may not kill Claudius in the prayer room. Here we clearly see how a hero like Moses displays nobleness with courage to meet a hardened Pharaoh’s heart and eventually succeeds in his plan. The plans both sought after by David, Moses and Hamlet are not personal rather, they aim at the whole nation and the good of the society. For example, David as a small boy becomes a hero when he thwarts the giant Philistine with pebbles. On the other hand, Hamlet becomes a valiant soldier who has a fighting spirit and loyal to his parents as David was to God.
The issue of preserving the environment and resisting global warming seems to be the most relevant for discussion in the context of international politics. It is at the global level that one should discuss this problem and ways to overcome it. Almost all international actors of different types and spheres of influence can be involved in influencing the issue of the environmental crisis. The states of countries with a different balance of power in the world arena should enter into a general constructive dialogue to develop global programs to overcome the issue. At the same time, the states of the first world must provide all the necessary strategic solutions for developing countries. The countries of the third world are also important actors in this process because they will have to implement all new regulations to protect against possible cataclysms. In the international arena, this process can also be influenced by multinational economic companies, and in a negative way, due to possible vested interests. Global dialogue on the issue can be conducted through international organizations at the universal and local level, as well as through organizations for the protection of nature, which also have a very broad influence.
Critique of Steve Papa’s strategies of series C financing Steve Papa’s strategy of series C was not an effective approach. Although there was a huge market potential for the software, his strategy did not consider the capability of the market. The price of the product was relatively high, making it difficult for consumers to purchase it. In addition, it is essential to contend that rules such as those of the redemption and the liquidation period made the organization unpopular. Steps taken by Steve that were sensible Steve conceived the idea of running a business. He assumed that the demand for his product in the market could be high. Thus, he focused on ensuring that the product reached customers at the scheduled time as he waited to choose a team with which to work in his firm. Moreover, Steve aimed at providing customers with a high quality product. The last sensible step that he took was collaborating with a variety of companies that could assist him to obtain funds to expand his business establishment. Mistakes that Steve Papa made in series C financing He did not consider the potential of the market. The demand for his company’s products was high, but the firm could not realize excellent sales due to poor market research approaches, making it incur losses. This was caused by the high prices that were set in the market by its competitors. Valuations that he was obtaining were getting low on a regular basis. In most instances, the company’s profits were also deprecating. Wrong approximations of the amount of money that the firm would realize made him face uncertainties, which he was unprepared for at that time. Virtues and drawbacks of accepting the financial proposals of insiders and the proposal offered by Ampersand The virtues of fairness and participation have been demonstrated in the financial proposals of the insiders group and Ampersand. Honesty in the negotiation process could be crucial to the proposals. The price suggested by Ampersand was relatively low, making Steve request its management to propose a higher price. On the other hand, it could be unfair to deny the insiders group the business opportunity, yet it had been very supportive for a long period. Key differences in the term sheet offered and where the differences are found Endeca’s redemption was based on the preferences of its shareholders, which the management did periodically, according to the instalments from the first day of January to the end of December. On the other hand, Ampersand’s redemption could be reconsidered by any member who held such an opinion. In relation to the insiders group, only the preferred shareholders voted, while in the case of Ampersand, all shareholders of the series C stock had rights to vote on the basis of the number of shares of the common stock. The insolvency preference could be equated to its initial buying price in Endeca, while in Ampersand it could be evaluated in relation to the purchase price and the accumulated pri
Socrates’s apology is one of the classics in philosophy. In it, he makes his position clear about his defense and answers his critics about the accusations leveled against him. The defense was prepared as a rebuttal though he knew that he was going to meet his end anyway. There is certain poignancy to his defense as what he said did not matter anyway. The point about his defense is that he wanted to stick to the speech he had prepared and it was planned and was well prepared. Socrates answers accusations against his age and health. He states that as he is old, he cannot be accused of lying and further, he is not a position to lie. This is a telling fact that he meant that he was not lying throughout and hence the accusations are false. He also made the point that he was not being wise and made light of his supposed wisdom. This is testament to his modesty and his wisdom, notwithstanding his claims to the contrary, lies in recognizing that there are powers that are wiser than him. The powers that he is alluding to are the gods of Athens. Socrates was accused of turning children’s minds away from the established morals of the time. He answers this by stating that he was just expressing his opinions and if they run contrary to the established wisdom of the time, there was no way in which he could be held accountable. In hindsight, it appears that he was far ahead of his time and hence some of his ideas were not liked while he was alive. The fact that Socrates is revered as a famous philosopher now is testimony to the fact that his ideas lived on after he died and there was an unmistakable sense of truth to what he said. The point about Socrates not bending his statements to reflect the mode of thinking in his time shows that he was trying to make the point that one should not change one’s position because of fear of death and this is the central point to his defense. The point that he made about lying shows that he is not afraid of death and would not change his testimony because of the fear of death. The high point of his defense comes when he states that a person cannot be executed for his ideas and the way to judge him should be in accordance with the law and not on the basis of his ideas. Of course, there was some exaggeration to his claims of serving the poor and god as his ideas clearly showed that he considered things to the contrary. The fact that he stuck to his ideas till the end reflects on his ability to stand by his ideas and not bow down to the authorities and change his stance. The famous story of Socrates not trying to escape though he was given a chance by his foll
Introduction China has experienced rapid economic growth in the last three decades, thereby becoming the second-largest economy in the world. In the last thirty years, the country maintained an average annual GDP growth of 10% (Cristadoro & Marconi 2012, pp. 275-299). This remarkable achievement is attributed to the government’s efforts to liberalize the economy and to invest in various industries. The rapid economic growth has been accompanied by improved purchasing power among the Chinese. Consequently, frugality and modesty are rapidly being replaced with consumerism in China. A large number of Chinese are increasingly spending on luxury and foreign brands rather than saving. Thus, most multinational companies believe that they have to join the Chinese market in order to improve their sales and profits. This paper will discuss the dynamics of the Chinese consumer and its influence on consumerism. Specifically, the influence of demographic factors such as income, women empowerment, and purchasing habits on consumption will be discussed. Income Levels In the last decade, disposable income in China increased by “three to five times faster than in the developed world” (PRWEB 2008). As a result, China has become the second-largest consumer market in the world. The main factor that accounts for the rapid increase in disposable income in China is the market-oriented reforms that have been implemented by the government. The establishment of the material market created more opportunities for job creation through production of a variety of goods. Moreover, the growth of the labor market enabled Chinese to demand higher wages, thereby increasing their disposable incomes (LaVallee 2011). The reforms were supported by state policies that focused on expanding light and service industries, as well as, improving standards of living. For instance, the government uses low taxation to encourage consumption in the private sector. Privatization and commercialization of state enterprises also facilita
The recent case of unfair treatment happened with a friend of my family. She found out that she gets much less payment than her male colleague. It is an example of a pay gap, the phenomenon connected with sexism. Unfortunately, racism, sexism, and homophobia still exist in our society and are hard to eradicate. The major reasons for the stated problems are studied by symbolic interactionists, conflict analysts, and functionalists. Symbolic interactionists stress the influence of microlevel contacts: if people are unequal in their status and fail to cooperate in pursuing their goals, it leads to increased prejudice (Kendall, 2016). Functionalists see the root of the problems in tensions between subordinate and dominant groups (Kendall, 2016). Conflict theorists, for their part, focus on the difference between the ability to utilize power and economic advantages among dominant and subordinate groups’ representatives (Kendall, 2016). Benuto et al. (2020) call these unequal groups “in-group” and “out-group”. Members of in-groups protect their advantageous positions and benefit from the exploitation: that policy could also be favorable to capitalists and the government (Benuto et al., 2020). Solutions to the stated problems may lie in the interest convergence of groups, recognition of the minorities’ values and heritage, fighting with discrimination patterns, and encouragement of inclusion at the levels of policy creation, implementation, and reinforcement (Benuto et al., 2020; Kendall, 2016). In addition, the measures of creation of minority grassroots organizations, and passing laws equalizing opportunities for workers and students also help prevent injustice. Gender barriers are hard to overcome because such stereotypes have a long tradition in our culture. For many years women experienced political, economic, and educational discrimination. According to functionalists, a woman’s human capital is diminished when they are out of the labor force and engaged in child-care activities. Conflict analysts note the male dominance over resources and women, especially in terms of physical power (Kendall, 2016). In addition, different agents of socialization often reinforce gender stereotypes. Nowadays, when we see noteworthy progress in eliminating gender stereotypes in the workforce, women still could face injustice. For examples, the so-called “glass ceiling” for women managers, the pay gap, and gender segregation (Kendall, 2016). Recent case studies by Catalyst conducted in the USA among Fortune 500 US companies (2017) showed that women managers hold only 5.8 percent of CEO positions and comprise only 19.9 percent of corporate board seats (Bertrand, 2017).
Mark Edmonson’s The Heart of Humanities: Reading, Writing, Teaching is a collection of works that explore the importance of the three components for those interested in pursuing humanities as a future study field. Throughout the book, the author introduces his ideas on humanities and explains the importance of reading, writing, and teaching. The target audience, which represents humanities students, teachers, and those considering the profession, is engaged with the help of real-life cases and examples from literature, which pertains to the logos rhetorical strategy. The author connects to the target audience’s beliefs by giving advice and reasoning for the suggestions. For example, according to Edmonson, one “can read your way out of your own life. But your chances of coming into a new one increase vastly if you are willing to learn how to write” (7). In this part, the author also uses logos to encourage his audience to continue learning and developing as not only readers but also writers. The strategy of logos is essential because it appeals to the intellectual abilities of readers. By appealing to reason in his writing, Edmonson is more effective in creating a connection with the audience that is based on common knowledge and values, which facilitates persuasion. Pathos is another component of the author’s rhetoric that is used in the book to persuade his readers. Appealing to emotion brings the author closer to the audience, creating a connection that is based on trust and mutual interest. This is illustrated in the following example: “most professors of the humanities have little interest in religion as a field of life options. […] Beyond skills and knowledge, it is imperative to develop also a sense of individuality and understanding of who students are as people. Because of this, religion can be “the right place to start a humanities course” (Edmonson 34; 32). The appeal to the emotions that readers may associate with faith and the belief in the greater good is a rhetorical strategy that would invoke a psychological response. Ethos, which is a rhetorical strategy characterized by convincing the audience with the help of a credible persuader, is also widely used in Edmonson’s work. The author encourages reading as a learning tool by using the example of Malcolm X, who was “easily bested” during debates (3). To deal with his weakness, he “ordered books from the prison library, loaded his cell, and set to work reading […] the great philosophers, the economists, the analysts of society” (3). As a result of dedicated reading and reflection, Malcolm X managed to train his mind as a muscle, making his speech more powerful and graceful. The audience can learn from this example because it shows that dedication to work, which is an essential component of Edmonson’s rhetoric, can pay off and lead to success in the long run. In his writing, Edmonson is clear about his intentions and does not make claims of knowing what is best and how his read