Anti-Defamation League Essay -- Race Racial Ethnicity Essays

Anti-Defamation League Lawyer Sigmund Livingston in Chicago, IL started the ADL in 1913, with the mission: "to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience, and if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. . . to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike. . . put an end forever to unjust and unfair discrimination against and ridicule of any sect or body of citizens." The ADL has gone from having a small office in Chicago to 30 regional offices as well as international offices in Moscow, Jerusalem, and Vienna. The ADL, as a well-respected political interest group, has been active in influencing United States foreign policy in Middle East countries, such as Israel. Today, under the leadership of National Chair, Howard P. Berkowitz and National Director Abraham Foxman, the ADL remains as the leading opponent of anti-Semitism and they continue to expose all forms of injustice, prejudice, and bigotry. ADL’s primary goals as a religious organization are to bring about social change through the elimination of bigotry and hatred by influencing government legislation. Specifically, one piece of legislation the ADL is working against is the implementation of school vouchers. It is ADL’s position that by using government funds to support vouchers, the quality of education at the public schools will decrease. I completely agree with this position. Education reform doesn’t mean destroying one institution that helps a large majority to promote elitist institutions that only benefit a small minority. The ADL is very large organization with vast influence benefiting millions of people around the globe, and according to Olson’s collective action problem members could be dissuaded from parti... ...ias. The ADL’s religious interests are mainly to promote the interest and betterment of Jews. So to listen to ADL and make legislative changes accordingly is to create a hierarchy among religions that shouldn’t be a part of the government. Even though, I may not agree with everything the ADL says, I think that what they are trying to do is incremental in bringing about the change necessary to improve our society. Works Cited: Bahrampour, Tara & Anthony Ramirez (2001). New Monitor For Hate Groups [Electronic version]. New York Times, B5.1. Falconer, Matthew (1999). Filter blocks hate-promoting Web sites [Electronic Version]. Boston Globe, A40. Olson, Mancur (1965) from Nivola, Pietro S. and David H. Rosenbloom (1990), Classic Readings in American Politics, 2nd Edition, pages 225-240. New York: St. Martin’s Press, Inc.

Comparison of Healthcare Policies between France and the US

Introduction This essay aims to critically discuss social policies on healthcare between France and the US. Similarities and differences on the social policies of these two countries will be discussed. The first part of this essay aims to explore how public funding for healthcare services in both countries address health inequalities. A critical discussion on healthcare services available in both countries and the extent to which universal access to healthcare services is practiced shall also be made. The second part presents the challenges that both countries face in addressing healthcare issues. Healthcare policies that address these issues will also be critically appraised. The third part provides an analysis on whether France and USA are ‘converging’ or following ‘path dependence’ on their healthcare policies. A brief conclusion summarising key points raised in this essay will be presented in the end. Healthcare Services and Public Spending for Healthcare The healthcare system in France is described as a mix of private and public insurers and providers (Cases, 2006). This means that almost the whole population is covered by public insurance, which in turn are funded by employers and employees. In addition to public health insurance, a minority also purchases private insurance to complement existing public health insurances. Private providers support outpatient care while public providers provide inpatient care in hospital settings (Cases, 2006). France enjoys relatively good health compared to the US. The Organisation for Co-operation and Development (OECD, 2013) Health Statistics in 2013 reveals that life expectancy in France is high at 82.2 and is currently ranked third amongst OECD countries. In contrast, life expectancy in the US is amongst the lowest at 78.7 (OECD, 2013). The difference in life expectancy in both countries is a cause of concern since the US has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the OECD and yet fares worse in health outcomes, including life expectancy(Baldock, 2011). The OECD (2013) notes that compared to France and other large OECD countries, the US spends twice as much per individual on healthcare. Interestingly, public health expenditure for health is highest in the US compared to all OECD countries. However, it does not practice universal healthcare coverage with the public supporting only 32% of the total healthcare cost (OECD, 2011). Individuals eligible for Medicaid include the elderly, families with small children and those with disabilities (Rosenbaum, 2011). Approximately 53% of the US population is covered through the Patient Protection and Affordable Act or Obamacare (Rosenbaum, 2011). Under this Act, employers are required to purchase health insurances for their employees. Only a small portion of businesses pays for full coverage with majority requiring their employees to share in the cost of their health insurances (Rosenbaum, 2011). The OECD (2009a) states that 46 million people in the US are left without public or private health insurance. This could place a significant burden to the US healthcare system that is struggling in providing equitable access to healthcare services in the country. The World Health Organization (2014) explains that equitable access is achieved when individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, enjoy the same type and quality of healthcare. This is not achieved in the US where statistics (OECD, 2009a) continues to show that high-income groups enjoy better health and appropriately covered by healthcare insurances while those in the lower socioeconomic status continue to have poorer health status. This disparity in health status and healthcare insurance coverage continues to be a challenge in the US. Public spending per capita in the US continues to be the highest in the OECD countries even with the increased participation of the private sector in financing healthcare in the country (OECD, 2013). In recent years, the OECD (2013) observes that public spending across OECD countries continue to decline. On average, healthcare spending of these countries only grew by 0.2% in the last 4 years. While there is a variation on the decrease of public spending, the major reason for the slowdown is due to drastic cuts in health expenditures. In France, the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) currently covers almost all residents. Until 2000, SHI covered 100% of all residents (Franc and Polton, 2006). Today, almost all of the residents are still covered under SHI. However, a few have purchased private health insurances to complement SHI. Public spending for healthcare is 77.9% while France spends 11.9% of its GDP in healthcare (OECD, 2011). This is in contrast with the US where public spending for healthcare accounts to only 47.7% but spends 17.9% of its GDP on healthcare (OECD, 2011). Interestingly, SHI covers both legal and illegal residents in France. This is opposite in the US where illegal residents are not covered by publicly funded healthcare insurance. There are approximately 21 million immigrants in the US with most having an illegal resident status (Moody, 2011). Health coverage remains to be a concern for this group since they work on jobs that pay very low wages and with no healthcare coverage. Hence, this group is three times more likely to have no healthcare coverage (Stanton, 2006). Currently, this group comprises 20% of the total uninsured population in the US (Moo dy, 2011). The lack of universal coverage in the US suggests that healthcare policies in the US may not be inclusive as opposed to France where almost all residents have private or public health insurance coverage. Rosenbaum (2011) explains that the Patient Protection and Affordable Act or Obamacare is expected to boost healthcare coverage for legal immigrants who are in low paying jobs. However, only legal immigrants who have been in the US for at least five years could qualify for Medicaid or purchase state-based health insurances. Currently, all states in the US have expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income groups. Specifically, a family of four with a combined annual income of $33,000.00 and an individual with $15,800.00 yearly income are now eligible for Medicaid. This legislation provides health coverage to approximately 57% of the uninsured population in the US (CDC, 2011). For legal immigrants who have not reached five years of stay in the US or are earning more than the Medicaid limit are allowed federal subsidy when purchasing state-based health insurances (CDC, 2011). As opposed to France where illegal immigrants enjoy the same healthcare coverage as legal immigrants and citizens, those in the US on illegal status remain uninsured and could not purchase state-based health insurances (CDC, 2011). Healthcare access for this group is limited to community health centres across the country. It is noteworthy that only 8,500 community health centres are in existence today and yet they cater to at least 22 million people each year (CDC, 2011). Almost half of those who access primary health centres are the uninsured. While hospitals are required by law to provide emergency care for all individuals regardless of their resident status, those who are uninsured do not have health coverage to sustain their long-term healthcare needs (Rosenbaum, 2011). Current healthcare policies in the US might actually promote health inequality since it only provides primary basic healthcare services (CDC, 2011) to the marginalised group, which may include low-income and ethni c groups. In France, The Bismarckian approach to healthcare has been used for several decades but in recent years, there is now an adoption of the Beveridge approach (Chevreul et al., 2010). In the former, health coverage tends to be uniform and concentrated while in the latter, the single public payer model is promoted. In the Bismarckian approach, everyone should be given the same access to healthcare services while the Beveridge model allows for stronger state intervention (Chevreul et al., 2010). This also suggests that tax-based revenues are used to finance healthcare. The mix of both models is necessary to respond to the increasing demands for healthcare in the country and to regulate the increasing cost of healthcare. Chevreul et al. (2010) emphasise that the SHI is now experiencing deficit due to increasing rise of healthcare expenditure in the country. The French parliament, through the Ministry of Health regulates expenditure by enacting laws and regulations. Importantly, France regulates prices of specific medical procedures and drugs (Chevreul and Durand-Zaleski, 2009). This development is crucial since failure to regulate prices could further drive up healthcare costs. However, regulation of prices of medical devices remains to be poor. In a survey (OECD, 2009b), expenditures for medical devices is high and amounts to ˆ19 billion annually. Although it comprises 55% of the pharmaceutical market, increased demand for medical devices have also increased SHI expenditures on these devices (Cases and Le Fur, 2008). It should be noted that only 60% of the medical devices are covered by SHI (Cases and Le Fur, 2008). Regulation of the prices of these medical devices is not as strong as the market for drugs and other major medical equipment. This implies that increasing healthcare costs of medical devices could have an impact on publ ic health spending policies in France. Healthcare Issues and Challenges One of the major issues in both countries is the rising healthcare expenditure. As noted by the OECD (2013), there is a disparity between healthcare expenditure and rising healthcare costs in OECD countries. The average increase in healthcare expenditure only amounts to 0.2% and yet healthcare cost continues to rise. In France, this disparity has promoted the Ministry of Health to increase private insurance of its members to help cover healthcare services not normally covered by the SHI. In the US, the debate on Obamacare and the reluctance of the government to cover illegal residents continue to be a challenge in providing equitable healthcare Meanwhile, high costs of medicines could have an impact on healthcare, especially amongst those who are covered by Medicaid and those who could barely afford state-subsidised healthcare insurances (Moody, 2011). This is in contrast to France where cost containment is in place for medicines. To illustrate the lack of healthcare costs regulations, the US spends more on developing medical technologies, which only benefits a few of the patients. The country is also burdened with high administration and pharmaceutical costs. Doctors in the country are also amongst the highest paid in the OECD countries (Greve, 2013). Moody (2011) argues that cost containment remains to be a problem since lowering down prices of medicines or healthcare costs for beneficiaries of Medicaid would lead to doctors’ reluctance to treat Medicaid patients. The lack of priorities in healthcare spending in the US has resulted in higher spending on certain areas and low spending on others. However, this does not translate to better health outcomes for the whole population. Elderly care is one area where there is high spending but the amount of spending does not necessarily translate to better health outcomes. As noted by Haplin et al. (2010), the elderly are more vulnerable to chronic healthcare conditions, such as dementia, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes. Hence, healthcare costs for this group are relatively higher compared to other members in a community. In a report published by Stanton (2006), approximately 40% of US healthcare expenditure is devoted to elderly care, but this group only comprises 13% of country’s population. It is projected that in the succeeding years, healthcare cost for this group will continue to rise with the ageing of the US population (Stanton, 2006). The same issue is also seen in France, where increasing healthcare cost for the elderly is also expected in the succeeding years (Franc and Polton, 2006). Both countries also lack coordination of care and gatekeeping for the elderly. Although there is an emphasis on elderly care in both countries, lack of continuity of care often leads to poor quality care, duplication of healthcare, waste and over-prescription (Franc and Polton, 2006; Evans and Docteur and Oxley, 2003; Stoddard, 2003). In France, this issue was first addressed through the creation of provider networks and increasing the gate-keeping roles of the general practitioners (GPs). However, the latter was largely unsuccessfully and finally abolished with the introduction of the 2004 Health Insurance Act (Franc and Polton, 2006). In this new legislation, patients have the freedom to choose their own healthcare providers or primary point of contact. Most of the primary points of contact are GPs. This scheme is successful in F rance due to incentives offered to the patients and GPs. This scheme has been suggested to improve the quality of care received by the patients since there is more coordination of care between GPs and specialists (Naiditch and Dourgnon, 2009). This scheme also drives up the cost of visits to specialists and could have influence healthcare financing policies (De Looper and La Fortune, 2009; Naiditch and Dourgnon, 2009). Another issue common to both countries is the competition between hospitals for patients who can afford private healthcare. Consumer demands for healthcare in the US have increased. Hospitals respond by increasing their services to separate them from their competitors (Moody, 2011). For instance, by-products of this competition results to increasing the size of the patient rooms and providing in-house services such as full kitchens, family lounges and business service. All these have not been related to improved health outcomes of the patients. In France, the differences in healthcare costs between publicly funded hospitals and private for-profit hospitals spark a debate on whether common tariffs are the solution to cost containment (Chevreul et al., 2010). Despite the implementation of common tariffs, there is still a growing difference on the healthcare costs between the private and public sectors. Currently, the reform plan Hospital 2007 (Chevreul et al., 2010) states that the obj ective of introducing a common tariff for public and private hospitals has been withheld until 2018. This shows that healthcare policies respond to current trends in health provision in France. ‘Convergence’ and ‘Path Dependence’ Starke et al. (2008) explain that history and institutional context all play a role in influencing healthcare policies in a welfare state. Healthcare policies that tend to be resistant to change illustrate institutionalist or ‘path dependence.’In the event where changes are needed, those that follow ‘path dependence’ change their policies but do so within the boundaries set in the original healthcare policies. On the other hand, healthcare policies that follow the ‘convergence’ pathway or functionalist perspective tend to integrate best practices and are more responsive to social, political and economic changes. Healthcare policies in France and the US tend to follow the ‘convergence’ pathway. The historical context of France reveals that a unitary presidential democracy was established in 1958 (Cases, 2006). In this system, the central government retains sovereignty and policies implemented in local or regional levels are approved by the central government. Despite the practice of central dirigisme, many regions in France have practiced coordination and decenstralisation. Political parties elected to the French government all have a common goal in financing the healthcare system in France. It practices cost-containment by regulating healthcare costs, reducing healthcare demands and restricting healthcare coverage (Chevreul and Durand-Zaleski, 2009). All these cost-containment policies have generally been met with public discontent. In recent years, the introduction of Supplementary Health Insurance enabled the French government to still deliver quality care at reasonable cost. Further, the introduction of direct payment, although reimbursable, also discourages wasteful consumption of healthcare (Chevreul and Durand-Zaleski, 2009). Although changes in healthcare policies tend to be restrictive more than three decades ago, France is now taking the ‘convergence’ pathway in its healthcare system. This suggests that healthcare policies are more responsive to social and economic changes. France also regards its people as equal but retain their freedom to choose a healthcare provider and hospital. The manner of healthcare financing in France allows service users to choose from competing healthcare professionals. Service users could also access specialists due to little gatekeeping in the country (Naiditch and Dourgnon, 2009). All these changes in the France’s healthcare system reflect ‘convergence’ rather than ‘path dependence’. Convergence in healthcare is also shown in both countries through its policies on increasing personal contributions of service users for healthcare (Mossialos and Thomson, 2004). There is also an increasing reliance on private health insurers to bridge the gap in public healthcare delivery. The increasing public-private mix exemplifies convergence. There is also a trend towards community healthcare and decentralisation of healthcare (Baldock, 2011; Chevreul et al., 2010; Blank and Burau, 2007). This trend relies on community healthcare practitioners to provide care in home or community settings. This has been practiced in other developed countries where patients with chronic conditions receive care in their own homes (Chevreau et al., 2010). This approach is also applied when caring for the elderly. Similar to other Welfare states, the US and France are experiencing population ageing. The proportion of the elderly in both countries is expected to rise in the succeeding years (Chevrea u et al., 2010). As mentioned earlier, this translates to increases in health expenditures and cost for this group. Marked increases in health expenditures for this group would mean further reduction on public spending or cost containment. All these could have an impact on public spending in the future and might increase insurance premiums of individuals. There is also the possibility of raising SHI contributions in France or reducing healthcare coverage of Medicaid in the US. Both strategies could fuel public discontent, increase the gap between the rich and the poor and promote health inequalities (OECD, 2008; Starke et al., 2008; Stanton, 2006). Since the main aim of the policies in both countries is to achieve optimal health for all, the realisation of this aim might be compromised with an ageing society. It is also noteworthy that since public funds are bankrolled by taxes, increasing number of elderly could mean reduction in number of employees who are economically productive. This could also lead to lower tax collections and decreased public funding for healthcare. As shown in both countries, healthcare policies are becoming more responsive to the social and economic changes. This does not only suggest a direction towards ‘convergence’ but suggests that this pathway could be the norm for many OECD countries. Conclusion Healthcare policies in the US and France have been influenced by social and economic changes in recent years. Although both aim to achieve universal coverage, it is only France that has achieved this with almost 100% of its citizens covered with healthcare insurance. The US is struggling to meet the healthcare needs of its citizens with almost 46 million still uninsured. Its Obamacare is still met with criticism for its failure to provide public healthcare coverage for most of its citizens. Only the poor and those unable to afford basic healthcare services are covered under Medicaid. In Obamacare, those with marginal incomes could purchase federal-subsidised healthcare insurances. Both countries are also faced with the challenge of an ageing society. The inequitable allocation of healthcare services to this group also promotes social discontent. Almost half of public expenditure is channeled to the elderly, which only comprises 13% of the whole population. The heightened demand for e lderly care, lowered public expenditure on healthcare and increasing healthcare costs have all influenced healthcare policies in the US and France. Finally, the recent changes in the healthcare policies of this country suggest convergence rather than path dependence suggesting that healthcare policies continue to be influenced by social and economic changes in both countries. It is recommended that future research should be done on how ‘convergence’ helps both countries respond to increasing complexities of healthcare in both countries. References: Baldock, J. (2011). Social policy, social welfare and the welfare state. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Blank, R. & Burau, V. (2007). Comparative health policy. London: Palgrave. Cases, C. (2006). ‘French health system reform: recent implementation and future challenge’. Eurohealth, 12, pp. 10-11. Cases, C. & Le Fur, P. (2008). ‘The pharmaceutical file’, Health Policy Monitort, May [Online]. Available from: http://www.hpm.org/survey/fr/all/2 (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). NCHS Data Brief: Community Health Centers: Providers, Patients and Content of Care [Online]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db65.htm (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Chevreul, K., Durand-Zaleski, I., Bahrami, S., Hernandez-Quevedo & Mladovsky, P. (2010). France: Health System Review 2010. France: The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, WHO Regional Office for Europe, World Bank, European Commission, UNCAM, London School of Economics and Politic Science, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Chevreul, K. & Durand-Zaleski, I. (2009). ‘The role of HTA in coverage and pricing in France: toward a new paradigm?’. Euro Observer, 11, pp. 5-6. De Looper, M. & La Fortune, G. (2009). Measuring disparities in health status and in access and use of healthcare in OECD countries. Paris: OECD (Health working paper 43) [Online]. Available from: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issuesmigration-health/measuring-disparities-in-health-status-and-in-access-and-use-of-healthcare-in-oecd-countries_225748084267 (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Docteur, E. & Oxley, H. (2003). Health-care systems: lessons from the reform experience. Paris: OECD (Health working paper 9) [Online]. Available from: http://www.irdes.fr/Publications/Qes/Qez133.pdf (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Evans, R. & Stoddard, G. (2003). ‘Consuming research, producing policy?’, American Journal of Public Health, 93, pp. 371-379. Franc, C. & Polton, D. (2006). ‘New governance arrangements for French health insurance’. Eurohealth, 12, pp. 27-29. Glyn, A. (2006). Capitalism unleashed. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Greve, B. (2013). Routledge Handbook of the Welfare State. London: Routledge. Halpin, H., Morales-Suarez-Varela, M. & Martin-Moreno, J. (2010). ‘Chronic disease prevention and the new public health’. Public Health Review, 32, pp. 120-154. Moody, K. (2011). Capitalist care: Will the coalition government’s ‘reforms’ move the NHS further toward a US-style healthcare market?’. Capital and Class, 35(3), pp. 415-434. Mossialos, E. & Thomson, S. (2004). Voluntary health insurance in the European Union. Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies [Online]. Available from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/98448/E84885.pdf (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). Naiditch, M. & Dourgnon, P. (2009). The preferred doctor scheme: a political reading of a French experiment of gate-keeping. Paris: IRDES. OECD (2013). Health at a glance 2013: OECD Indicators, Europe: OECD Publishing [Online]. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2013-3n (Accessed: 27th April, 2014). OECD (2011). Human Development Index and its components. Europe: OECD. OECD (2009a). Society at a Glance 2009: OECD Social Indicators. Europe: OECD. OECD (2009b). Health data 2009. Paris: OECD. OECD (2008). Are we growing unequal[Online]. Available at: www.oecd.org (Accessed: 17th April, 2014). Rosenbaum, S. (2011). ‘The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice’. Public Health Reports, 128(1), pp. 130-135. Stanton, M. (2006). The high concentration of U.S. healthcare expenditures: research in action, issues 19. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Starke, P., Obginer, H. & Castles, F. (2008). ‘Convergence towards where: in what ways, if any, are welfare states becoming more similar?’. Journal of European Public Policy, 15(7), pp. 975-1000. World Health Organization (WHO) (2014). Health Systems: Equity [Online]. Available at: http://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/equity/en/ (Accessed: 27th April, 2014).

Allegory Of The Cave By Plato - 974 Words

Have you ever felt so trapped in a small space you began to lose your mind? In Plato’s short story, â€Å"Allegory of the Cave,† the author uses allegory as a means to justify that the world is a reflection of more perfect and ideal forms. As the story begins, Plato’s teacher, Socrates, presents a world of alternate reality to Plato’s brother Glaucon by telling him to imagine a cave full of prisoner’s who have been chained their entire lives. The shadows, voices, and figures given to them by the puppeteers on the wall have constructed the only reality the prisoners have ever known. Those few interpretations lead the prisoners to believe the shadows are real. To the prisoners, they must be real because that is all they have ever seen, heard, or known. The cave is used as a means to open peoples eyes to the world we live in and to not blindly walk through life living by the rules of our puppeteers. As children we are the prisoners hidden in the cave o r chained to the society defined by the media, government, educational systems, and many other constructs we do not even question. Our knowledge of reality, truth, and education will always be limited by our fears of puppeteers, new ideas, and radical perspectives unless we break free from what is holding us back. Just like the prisoners locked in their caves, we must seek enlightenment beyond the illusions instilled upon us. He explains the education of the soul toward enlightenment by examining the ideas of universal forms. TheShow MoreRelatedAllegory Of The Cave By Plato1722 Words   |  7 PagesAllegory of the Cave Human experiences are an everyday aspect of individuals lives. The way individuals see, touch, smell, feel, and even remember is through unique experiences. People do not realize it, but our everyday life and community shape how the mind experiences certain events. Because of these, the way individuals see the world is different from person to person. The mind interprets the world around the individuals, however, it can only interpret what it is exposed to. It is up to the individualsRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave By Plato1511 Words   |  7 PagesIn our class, we read three powerful and meaningful texts. We started by reading The Allegory of the Cave by Plato, a Greek philosopher who lived from 428-347 B.C.E. This text led to our reading of The Four Idols by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher who came much later than Plato and lived from 1562 to 1626. Lastly, we read The Word Weavers/World Makers by Neil Postman, who lived from 1931-2003. There seems to be a recurring theme in which they themselves deal with ideas of knowledge and illusionsRead MoreAllegory of the Cave Plato6021 Words   |  25 Pagescomfortable with this unawareness because it is all we know. Platos Allegory of the Cave† captures the essence of the journey to enlightenment. Clearly, the thought of sameness and normality thinking has transcended from Platos time to today. Thus, the allegory is relevant to contemporary essential life. Organizations are known for fostering a culture of group thinking. The danger inherent in group thinking is the object lesson that Plato tries to convey. When we refuse to engage in critical thinkingRead MoreThe Allegory of the Cave by Plato916 Words   |  4 PagesThe â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† by Plato represents the differences in the way we perceive reality and what we believe is real. In his story, Plato starts by saying that in a cave, there are prisoners chained down and are forced to look at a wall. The prisoners are unable to turn their heads to see what is going on behind them and are completely bound to the floor. Behind the prisoners, puppeteers hide and cast shadows on the wall in line with the prisoners’ sight, thus giving the prisoners their onlyRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave1093 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Cave begins by explaining the conditions of the people inside the cave. The people inside sit side by side. Their hands and legs are chained to the ground. They face a wall in the cave. The cave is illuminated by a fire behind the people. On the wall, there are projections of shadows created by the fire and objects that passes by fire. The prisoners dont know this, of course, because they are bound so tight that they cant turn their heads. There are people that are carrying objects to createRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave.1145 Words   |  5 PagesIn Plato s The Allegory of the Cave, Socrates tells an allegory of the hardship of understanding reality. Using metaphors Socrates comp ares a prisoner in an underground cave who is exploring a new strange world he never knew of to people who are trying to find a position of knowledge in reality. Through it, Plato attempts to map a man s journey through education and describes what is needed to achieve a perfect society. According to Socrates, most people tend to rely on their senses excessivelyRead MoreAllegory Of The Cave By Plato934 Words   |  4 Pagesour lives, every person has asked themselves a varied version of the same questions: What is â€Å"reality†, moreover what determines our perception of reality, and what am I supposed to do with (or about) it? Throughout â€Å"Allegory of the Cave,† Plato attempts to answer these questions. Plato suggests that humans have a constrained view of the world, and that reality consist of two different perceptions, a bodily eye† and a â€Å"mind’s eye.† The â€Å"mind’s eye†, the hypothetical site of visual recollection or Read MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave1716 Words   |  7 PagesIn Plato’s, Allegory of the cave, a key theory I found was the importance of education. Plato uses an â€Å"allegory to illustrate the dilemma facing the psyche in the ascent to knowledge of the imperishable and unchanging forms† (104) Based on my research of the republic, the allegory can reveal multiple hidden messages. Plato describes, ordinary mortals are chained within an underground chamber, which according to Fiero, represents the psyche imprisoned within the human body. These mortals can’t lookRead MorePlato s Allegory Of Cave1979 Words   |  8 PagesJaneva Walters December 6, 2016 Dr. T. Brady ENG 391 Plato’s Allegory of Cave The allegory of the cave is regarded as one of the most reputed and acclaimed works by the Greek philosopher Plato in modern literature as well as philosophy. First published and presented in his work known as a Republic (514a–520a), the dialogues that have been used as conversation can be regarded as fictitious as the main conversation takes place between Plato’s brother Glaucon and Socrates. First and foremost, allegoricalRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave Proposed By Plato1595 Words   |  7 PagesThe allegory of the cave proposed by Plato includes the representation of the levels of knowledge. As we get closer to the exit, we get more knowledgeable and wiser we get, thus becoming better selves. Literature represents part of this knowledge, it has been a fundamental part of understanding our society, and has archived and developed the events and thoughts that made the world in which we live today. The more we read, the more we understand about us as well as learning from other peoples’ experiences

My Inside Look At Disability - 906 Words

My Inside Look at Disability When you think of the term disability do you get uncomfortable? Do you shy away from people with physical or mental disabilities? Sadly, this is the opinion that a majority of people in society has; however, I completely disagree. To me, everyone has disabilities, whether that is a severe disorder or not varies from person to person. Disabilities can occur from several different events, including: birth defects, car accidents, battles, etc. The term disability gives the connotation that a person is unable to do something based on their intellectual or physical state of being, but to me it means so much more. We all have things that we are not as good at as others, or things that we struggle with, so to categorize people because of the things they can and cannot do is completely ignorant. Disabilities, to me, are not measured by a person s intellectual or physical capabilities, such as media portrays it, but more based on the type of person you are. I feel that being crude, cunning, and cynical is a disability all in its own. There are several different forms of technology that can aid those with vision, hearing, mental, and physical differences, such as walking canes, wheel chairs, hearing aids, etc.; however, it is hard to change a person s character. Until recent years, as we talked about in class, the media has given those with disabilities a bad stigma. People with differences are sometimes identified as stupid, a mistake, or the worst toShow MoreRelatedFirst Impressions Are Not Last Impressions1608 Words   |  7 Pagesthoughts that enter our minds when we see an individual that has a visual disability are negative and cause us to formulate a disapproving impression about their person as a whole. The question lies in what happens with the initial impression. Do we even move past that negative perception to get to know the person or do we make the decision not to even bother? Or if we do pursue a relationship with a person that has a disability, do those first impressions still affect how we view them? All of theseRead MoreAttitude, Legislation and Litigation1049 Words   |  5 PagesAttitude, Legislation, and Litigation The education of students with disabilities has changed over the years. During the B.C. era students with disabilities were consider a disgrace, were shun by society, and the Greek philosopher Aristotle openly declared, â€Å"As to the exposure and rearing of children, let there be a law that no deformed child shall liveâ€Å"(Hardman, Drew, amp; Egan, 2009, p. 4) When children with disabilities were denied access from the public school system, they were taught separatelyRead MoreCharacters In The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time1170 Words   |  5 Pagesthe narrator, have a disability. Although Christophers disability isn’t explicit in the novel, one can assume that he has some form of Autism or Asperger syndrome. Haddon never exemplified or went into detail about his disability, as said in an interview, Haddon wanted to make Christopher, â€Å"...a believable human being† and not focus on the fact that he has a disability. As a reader, Christopher’s character serves a very impactful purpose to how we view people with disabilities. The audience canRead MoreReflection On My Genius Hour Project1212 Words   |  5 Pagesand welcome to my Genius hour project! This is a project I have chosen because I am a very intuitive person, and with an abstract object such as the brain to study, I feel inspired to learn more and investigate the brain’s actions, jobs, abilities, and the overall science behind it. The human brain shapes the way we perceive and think about our everyday lives based on the experiences we gather and live through. My genius hour project is about where the best learning happens. For my genius hour infographicRead MoreInclusion Is Not Everyone Getting The Same Thing996 Words   |  4 Pagesis everyone getting what he or she needs to be successful. My definition of inclusion is being a part of what everyone else is in and being welcomed as a member who belongs. It can occur on playgrounds, in churches, at work, and even in a school’s classroom. Inclusion in the classroom is the idea that all children, including special education students, should and can learn in a regular classroom. It does not have a set look and will look different depending on each school and student. Inclusion isRead MoreMy Grandmother And Unexpected Dementia954 Words   |  4 PagesMy G randmother and unexpected Dementia Due to many excuses such as not having enough time to spare to observe unknown person, and having actually no one to observe gave me hard time to think who I should do observation for this assignment. As I was thinking about people that were around me who do have disability, I remember my grandmother was going through the phases of dementia. However, the problem was that she is living in Korea and it is impossible to having a face-to-face talk with her. YetRead MoreDiscrimination Against the Disabled Essay1489 Words   |  6 Pagesyou look like on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that counts, but our society today lacks to understand that. In today’s time different is not accepted, people that are different are discriminated, looked down upon and usually picked on. People with disabilities are seen as different creatures by most people, the disabled don’t choose to be the way they are, but still our society alienates them. There are different types of disabilities, some type of disabilities are; mental disability, physicalRead MoreAdolescents with Disabilities790 Words   |  4 PagesStrategies for Adolescents with Disabilities Adolescence is a time of change. It is a universal fact, meaning that everyone experiences a time of â€Å"growing up†. Physical maturation as it first occurs around age 12 or 13 has its own definitive term—puberty. There are also marked changes in cognitive processing, emotional maturity, and social interactions. The influx of changes can be overwhelming at best, tumultuous at worst. The additional stress of having a disability or chronic illness while growingRead MoreMy Future Career Has Changed844 Words   |  4 Pagesago about my future plans, I would have said that I just wanted to have a job working in the healthcare field. Now, after having gone through some classes, the idea I once had about my future career has changed. I still would like to work in healthcare to an extent but I want to become a lawyer and specialize in health law that way I can help those who cannot help themselves. The career that I am planning for myself is one that will require many hours of hard work and dedication inside and outsideRead MoreI Attend The University Of California938 Words   |  4 Pages I attended the University of California at Santa Cruz from 2004-2007 and was awarded my bachelor’s degree in World Literature and Cultural Studies. In addition to my major coursework, I completed sixty units of minor coursework in Education. This coursework laid the foundation for future academic coursework in education. While the coursework was mainly focused on education theory and reform, I completed a course in instructional pedagogy which included practicum hours at an alternative charter high

John Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism - 1771 Words

John Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism Throughout Philosophy, morality is a central component. Although, each scholar views the definition of morality differently, the common underlining theme is that of individuals striving to become better and think for themselves. Morality plays a big part in utilitarianism. Many philosophers have defined utilitarianism in a variety of different ways like Jeremy Bentham who believes an action is right if happiness is promoted and wrong if it reverse happiness, including but not limited to the person happiness who did the action but everyone that was affected by it (Duignan). One of utilitarianism views is the action that has the most good is the morally right action (Driver). The foundation of morality in utilitarianism comes from utility or intrinsic value (Skorupski 256). In utilitarianism, actions are evaluated by their utility instead of intrinsic properties of the actions (Skorupski 256). Utilitarianism says certain acts are right or wrong within themselves, making us perform them or avoid them entirely. On the contrary, concepts of the good go hand and hand with that of rights and obligation, causing obligation to be determined in reference to intrinsic value (Skorupski 256). John Stuart Mill’s theory of utilitarianism clearly breaks down this concept’s definition and structure by focusing on its morality, proof of validity, and connection between justice and utility in the study of thinking. John Stuart Mill was influenced to studyShow MoreRelatedJohn Stuart Mill s On Liberty And Utilitarianism Essay2257 Words   |  10 PagesThis essay examines and inspects liberty and order conflict based on the writings of philosopher John Stuart Mill, titled On Liberty and Utilitarianism. We will discuss how his philosophical views on equality as fundamental to what it means to be human. We will interpret John Stuart Mill’s theorist view on equality as fundamental to the good or bad functioning of the state? The question and debate we would also raise will be, is equality be integral the arrangements of power? Lastly, we wouldRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism1553 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Stuart Mill begins the explanation of his version of Utilitarianism by replying to common misconceptions that people hold regarding the theory, and as a result describes his own theory more clearly. The main issue that Mill raises is that people misinterpret the word â€Å"uti lity† as in opposition to â€Å"pleasure†. However, utility is actually defined as pleasure itself and also the absence of pain. â€Å"Those who know anything about the matter, from Epicurus to Bentham, who maintained the theory of utilityRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Doctrine And Utilitarianism1802 Words   |  8 PagesThe approach that I strongly agree is the John Stuart Mill’s doctrine and Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is a moral approach that believes `` the supreme principle of morality is to produce as much happiness as possible`` (118). And ``There is in reality nothing desired except happiness`` (118). Utilitarianism evaluates the action according on the amount of happiness. The good action is the one that its result is the most desirable happiness. I choose this approach because I think, if every personRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism Essay1381 Words   |  6 Pagesresult of there being many different theories, some can overlap while others can vary greatly. The two most widely known theories, Utilitarianism and Deontological ethics, greatly conflict with each other. They differ mo stly in what they value most, the outcome vs. the action/motive. John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism itself differs from the original form of Utilitarianism created by Jeremy Bentham. Bentham felt that pleasure was wholly good, and that pain to the lone evil in the world, as he said, â€Å"NatureRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism1642 Words   |  7 Pagesa wide range of interpretations, as well as having no clear meaning. John Stuart Mill, an English philosopher, based his controversial sentiments of happiness on Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism, believing that goods are the means to greatest happiness for the greatest number of peoples. Epicurus, an Ancient Greek philosopher, who similarly encouraged people to follow his pleasure based philosophy to obtain happiness. Unlike Mill, Epicurus’ philosophy is based on individualistic hedonism, which oftenRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Book, Utilitarianism870 Words   |  4 PagesIn John Stuart Mill’s book , Utilitarianism (1863) he challenges many critics that are against his theory. One of which is the claim that Utilitarianism is a swine doctrine. They interpret the theory by saying a humans ultimate goal in life, is that of a swine; pleasure in the absence of pain. It is quite an understandable remark, but definitely is an over analyzed critique, in my opinion. Mill however replies to the critics in grave detail, defending his theory. Although many strengths and weaknessesRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Version Of Utilitarianism2088 Words   |  9 Pagespain is the only thing undesirable as an end. Everything else is good or evil as it tends to promote pleasure or pain*. I will argue that pain should be considered as a means as well as an end and show that this is consistent with John Stuart Mill’s version of Utilitarianism. Conjoining the consideration of pain as a means and the notion of association of ideas, I will give what I hope is a unique explanation as to why higher pleasures are so often considered superior to lower pleasures. Finally IRead MoreUtilitarianism And Its Flaws Of John Stuart Mill s Defends Utilitarianism Essay1307 Words   |  6 PagesEthics from a Global Perspective 7 December 2016 Utilitarianism and its Flaws John Stuart Mill’s defends utilitarianism, an ethical theory according to which, as he puts it, â€Å"actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness† (155 Ethics). In other words, actions are morally right if they make us happy and actions are morally wrong if they make us unhappy. Utilitarianism is an ethical theory in which an action is morally rightRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Moral Theory Of Utilitarianism1514 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Stuart Mill wrote on his moral theory of Utilitarianism, which many have refuted by explaining that it failed to respect the dignity and worth of human beings. Mills theory of utility bases an actions morality on its ability to create the maximum amount of happiness. Happiness as described by Mill, is the maximization of pleasure over grief. Some critics have even said that Mill’s theory degraded humans to swine as it belittled morals to come from pleasu res of the body that even animals hadRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism And Immanuel Kant s Categorical Imperative1487 Words   |  6 Pagesthemselves with, but two major categories of moral philosophy are the most popular and the most debated. These are John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarianism and Immanuel Kant’s Categorical Imperative. In looking at the three trolley cases, one can align themselves with either Mill, Kant or create their own perspective. Utilitarianism is defended by Mill in his writing entitled Utilitarianism. This method of deciphering good versus bad is rather simple. The Principle of Utility states that â€Å"Actions are

Born to Rock- by Gordon Korman free essay sample

Rock and roll can be so full of itself, but not this. Its simple and angry and raw. And you thought your life was complicated, welcome to the new world Of Leo Caraway, straight laced student, a future student at Havana and for now an unsuspecting groupie for a punk rock band called the Purge. Let the fun begin. Our lives can be so structured, school, activities, jobs, girlfriends, so when something so out of the ordinary takes place it can really throw you for a loop, and literally put your life upside down. Welcome to Oleos new world, a world so unlike his own, straight-laced and conservative.With a twist of fate, Leo discovers that the man he thought to be is father is really not, and his biological father is actually Marion X. McCarthy, also known as King Maggot, lead singer of the purge. Image your surprise to find out that the one person you would least want as a parent, is really your father. We will write a custom essay sample on Born to Rock- by Gordon Korman or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As Leo embarks on this journey with his father he watches in wonder as King bawled their signature anthem, forty thousand throats screamed along with him: Bomb Mars now! Nuke Mars now! Justify wait and see,Bomb Mars now! Nuke Mars now! The new diplomacy . Looked over at the music critic from the L.A. Times . She wasnt making notes. She was weeping. Her eyes never left the figure that rampaged across the stage. Neither did mine. The thought that this was my father, that shared an earlobe and DNA with this force of nature, made me dizzy. Knew that was going to like this novel when the opening line was There are two kinds of people in this world- those who have had a cavity search, and those who haven t. This is the story of how wound up in the wrong category. Isnt that a great first page line? It had me hooked as thought that this was hilarious and almost gross at the same time.It is the perfect read from a male reader although think that girls will get the humor although gross at times to be very amusing. Born to Rock caught my attention from the beginning and it was interesting to see how someone like Leo, who based on his upbringing could when forced to re-evaluate his situation could overcome the conflicts of his beliefs and look beyond them to see that what he imagined or persevered what not necessarily in fact true. He was being brought up in a very conservative household, when he discovers his mothers past with this obnoxious punk rocker. It throws him for a loop, think it would happen to most of us.We have this preconceived idea of who and what our parents stand for and in an instant that whole image is thrown out the window. To top it off, you find out your father stands for beyond that you despise, forcing you out of your comfort area when you really need to get some help or assistance from this person. It causes you to really do a reality check or your beliefs, your family values and how you can readjust your feeling when forced into this situation. Think Leo handles it fairly well, and think the the author of the book, catches what it is like to be a teenager faced with this type of tuition.Some of the lines of the characters are really very funny and you can imagine yourself saying the exact words. I thought that this book took us through all the highs and lows that Leo was experiencing in a very funny and humorous way. Not being a huge reader of novels, prefer to read car magazines, will admit this one was well worth the read, and I understand will soon be made into a movie, cant wait to see who will earn the roles of these very interesting and conflicting characters, hopefully it will be as enjoyable to watch as it was to read.

tempmagic Magic in Shakespeares The Tempest Tempe Essay Example For Students

tempmagic Magic in Shakespeares The Tempest Tempe Essay st essaysMagic in Shakespeares Tempest The Tempest, written in 1611, was one of William Shakespeares lastplays. It has a combination of superb characters, interesting settings, and agood plot lineall held together by the running theme of magic, and its ever-present importance. A closer examination of the magic in The Tempest, and thepublics view of magic at the time, will give insight as to Shakespeares choiceof magic as a theme, and why it has made the play so successful and timeless. Magic presented itself to Shakespeare as a controversial topic, as ithad been the persecution of those believed to perform black magic, (witches)that had been at the forefront of societal concerns since 1050. However, after500 years of witch-hunts, a turning point occurred in 1584, at the publicationof Reginald Scots The Discouerie of Witchcrafte (The Discovery of Witchcraft). This book was the first major book to denounce witch-hunts and their ringleaders,and unquestionable the first book in English to actually hypothesize about themethods of these so-called witches. It contained one chapter of approximatelytwenty pages describing what we might view as unsophisticated, old-time magictricks. We will write a custom essay on tempmagic Magic in Shakespeares The Tempest Tempe specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now One would assume that it was this text, and texts succeeding this (TheArt of Juggling, written by Samuel Ridd in 1610 also presented a few how-tos ofmagic) were probably not only what suggested the idea of using magic as a themto Shakespeare, but in addition, provided methods as to how the magic in theplay might be accomplished. Despite the fact that in retrospective analysis it is fairly clear thatwitches were nothing more that magicians with a slightly different presentation,audiences were not always aware of and those that were, were rarely convincedbythe two aforementioned texts. Witches were still persecuted and witch-huntsdid not actually stop until the end of the seventeenth century. Therefore,Shakespeares use of magic was controversial, compounded by the fact thatProspero was presented in a largely good lighta move probably made as apolitical statement, as it is known that Shakespeares plays were sometimeswritten to include political suggestions to King James. However, when Prosperorelinquished his powers at the end of the play, those that did believe in thewitch-hunts were satisfied. Everyone was happy. After considering the contention that the masque scene was added for thepurposes of compliment to Elizabeth and Fredericks marriage, one could concludethat Shakespeare learned more about magic after he wrote The Tempest. Thereasoning follows. One could only assume that Shakespeare would have tried tomake the magic in the play as fooling and magical as possible. Although therewere two magic effects in the play, one of them the spirit musicwould not havefooled even the most unsophisticated and naive audiences. Even before the era ofHarry Houdini, or even the wandering street magicians of the 1700s, audienceswere not fooled by music being played offstage. It is the other effect, that ofthe banquet disappearance that, well executed, would have fooled Shakespearesaudiences, and would even have a shot of passing muster today. However, this banquet sequence was in the masque scene, theoreticallyadded two years after the original writing of the play. The question that begsto be answered therefore, is why didnt Shakespeare fund some other way ofincluding a more sophisticated magic effect into the play? The most logicalanswer would be that he learned more about magic and witch techniques after hewrote the play. Maybe at first he was unable to grasp the explanations in theScot text, or maybe he didnt even read it before the original writingpossiblyit was just called to his attention, and he was unable to lay his hands on acopy until after he wrote the play Whether or not Shakespeare ever read the Scot text in its entirety, orwhether or not the banquet disappearance was added before or after the originalwriting, neither is relevant to magics central importance to the play. .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df , .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .postImageUrl , .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df , .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:hover , .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:visited , .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:active { border:0!important; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:active , .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6dc6f5ff0a0b1a3bcc42f20229a4f3df:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Japanese Tea Ceremony EssayObviously, magic could grab audiences of Shakespeares time. As it happens,magic had been grabbing audiences since 2500 BC (according to a depiction of amagician on the Beni Hassan tomb in Egypt) and magic continues to grab audiencestoday. It caught Shakespeares eye, and has made the play timeless, andtheatrically entertaining.