Greek Parthenon Architect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Greek Parthenon Architect - Essay Example How the work is significant for the period in which it was created. It should be remembered that Greek religious society has anciently been controlled by gods. This magnificent construction was dedication to the Greek goddess Athena, and was completed in 438 BC. In those days, there was ancient believe that gods were to be offered sacred place. Again, it is prudent to consider that the development of the artifact was significant in emancipation of the Doric order. In this case, the Doric order is the magnificent facet of the building which in this case had flat pavements and with a base and vertical shafts. The nature of this building was used either for political or religious reasons (Mikalson, 44). In itself it was a symbol and facet of power. How the work perhaps challenges the conventions associated with the period. It is scholarly good to note that the Parthenon was a politically backed religious presentation. In this case, the Greek society held a powerful convention which had close similarities to this period. In light with this, attention is garnered towards realization of the Greek political nature alongside other effects. One of the prominent conventions of the time is Chronology. This classical Antiquity (c. 1200 – c. 800 BC), was geometric styles and proto-geometric designs applied in Architecture. This convention was substantial in the beginning of the Orientalizing influence which was initial stage of the end of dark ages. Based on this presumption, it is good to relate the Parthenon as an elucidator to the much common culture of modern artistic period. What are the main concerns of the artist/creator or architect? As analyzed in the above description, it is coherent to note that the architecture was more interested with elegance. The desire to retain the Doric order was substantive in improving the quality of the design. Firstly, it is imperative to consider that architecture was interested in attempting to establish the rules of harmony. The engineering concept focused in methods to change stones into cube in order to provide full support architrave load at the last column. This method was called the broader corner triglyph. However, it is prudent to understand this method was not satisfying in any event, engineers required to strengthen the corners more as this would withstand pressure. Therefore, in design, the architect was obliged to relate the two further corners together to form cohesion. What are some of the challenges the artist/creator or architect faced? It should be understood that engineering works attracted a significant challenge in relation to the aspect of suspension and comprehension. Firstly, in consideration that the building was done purely by stone block is a significance fact that attracted attention on the security of the building. Primarily, strengthening of the corners was a close consideration based on the fact that corners were to be classically oriented to provide solution about the chall enges of weather and time. To solve this architectural hiccup, the corners were terminated using Triglyph (Curlee, 21). Another significant challenge considered by architecture was the elevation. This was the subdivision of columns, entablature and crepidorma structures. Harmonizing these three considerations without technical aspects; for instance, cement always proved a technical hurdle for designers. In particular, the

People are not free to make moral decisions Essay Example for Free

People are not free to make moral decisions Essay Is it right to say that our actions are determined, or are they free? Hard determinists argue that when we make a moral decision, we have no free will. This is significant because if we do not choose our actions we cannot be held morally responsible. Given our experience of decision making this determinist position is hard to accept and perhaps the compatabilist approach of soft determinism is more valid. Soft Determinists recognise that we can make a decision freely that is coerced but the choices in themselves may be determined themselves. This contrasts with libertarianism, which states that we freely choose our actions and rejects determinism. To fully examine whether we are in fact free or not to make moral decisions, we must first analyse what particular factors affect our decision making. When we debate over a decision we consider/ weigh up our options, we know that we have a choice and only we can make that choice, this is known as a libertarian view. Libertarians believe that we have full responsibility of our actions and nothing else affects our decision, however genes, environment, lifestyle and our upbringing affect or sometimes might determine our choices. Determinism objects libertarianism and believes that our choices are influenced by factors other than the will of the individual, events and actions are predetermined by other events therefore freedom of choice is an illusion. Free will is the term made up of ‘autos’ meaning self and ‘nomos’ meaning rule. Many philosophers such as Kant say that you can only be responsible for actions that you undertake of your own will, this is opposed to Determinism. Libertarianism is the belief that humans are free to make moral choices and therefore morally responsible. â€Å"By liberty we can only mean a power of acting of not acting according to the determinations of the will†. David Hume. In the definition of libertarianism a distinction between the persons character or personality and his/or her moral self. It is this moral self or will that is free. â€Å"Your destiny is allotted to you, but you shall choose it for yourselves†. Plato. There are many arguments that support libertarianism, the most predominant of these being the argument from experience, this states that we all experience making choices, such as the very fact that I am sat here writing this essay is the result of a choice, I did have another option so I could’ve chose otherwise. We are also aware of going through a decision making process, we can weigh up our options and act upon this. Libertarians also believe in the necessary cause stating that for Y to happen X must have caused it, without X Y will not happen. This is a determinist understanding, However Libertarians recognise that causes are contingent and not necessary, they may or may not cause Y, this is a libertarian view. However opposed to this Determinists would argue that if free will exists then what actually causes our actions, surely our actions are caused by something, for example what about our past experiences and emotions? Also a determinist would argue is it part of human nature to assume that we are free and what exactly is moral responsibility, and how is this separate from our personality. If it comes from the soul then what causes the soul. Hard determinism states that people do not have free will to act in moral situations. It also states that everything has a prior cause which precedes it; everything is a product of the cause which is unchangeable and fixed. Therefore we cannot be held morally responsible or blameworthy for their actions because their actions are determined. When we think that we are making a moral decision, hard determinists believe that this is an illusion that we are free but in fact we are not and the decision that we made was already determined. John Locke’s example of the man in the locked room shows that we believe that we are free but we are actually not. However libertarians would argue that we had the choice whether or not to go into the locked room. Psychological determinism is another form of Hard Determinism. This suggests that our characters are determined by our upbringing and experiences. There are many influencing factors on human behaviour such as hereditary, society, culture and environment. Freud taught that our early years have impact on our actions in the future, there is also much evidence to support this view such as Pavlov’s dogs which operant conditioning demonstrates that we can mould our behaviour through rewards and sanctions, it also demonstrates how our behaviour is determined. However a libertarian would argue that just because you can condition one element of decision making doesn’t mean that all behaviour is determined, we always have a choice. Theological determinism is also another form of hard determinism. This is the view that the causal chain can be traced back to an uncaused causer, as shown in Aquinas’ Cosmological argument, and this uncaused causer is God. If God is, as suggested by Calvin through his predestination view which suggests that God has already determined a plan for us so we are either damned (going to hell) or elect (going to heaven) , an omnipotent and omniscient God then we cannot have free will as our actions must be predetermined because of this. There are many criticisms for this view that Libertarians would address as it conflicts with biblical teachings as in Genesis it states that God gave us free will and also for theological determinism to be accepted, libertarians would also argue that there is no proof of this God, so in their view we still have a choice. A form of Hard Determinism that contrasts and argues this view is scientific determinism; this approach states that science tells us that for every physical event there is a physical cause. If we consider the mind to be material activity in the brain, so then our thoughts are also pre determined. Another form of hard determinism is Biological determinism which states that our characters are determined by our genes, this is partly true as genes do give us our characteristics such as what we look like, even our IQ, all this can determine our behaviour for example the violent gene as evidence can be traced back to the genome (e. g. a violent gene recognised by the Italian supreme court). However libertarians would argue that because there is only 0. 2% variation in our DNA, so this doesn’t seem efficient enough to explain all the variations in human behaviour, it’s not just our genetic makeup that influences our behaviour, and they would argue that we always have a choice. Soft determinism states that we are morally responsible for our actions; this approach allows libertarianism and hard determinism to be compatible. It states that as long as no one forces you to make a decision then you are free, this can be described as internal freedom. However soft determinists make a distinction between internal and external causes, these explain why freedom and Jeremy moral responsibility are not only compatible with determinism but actually require it. Soft Determinism, unlike hard determinism, allows for moral responsibility, for example if person A does not save a drowning child because person A cannot swim, he is not morally responsible. However, if he chooses not to because of his personality, a combination of his conditioning, an upbringing and so forth, then he is to be held responsible. Soft determinists believe that all human actions are caused and when we say that a person acted freely we are not saying that there was no cause but rather they were not forced to do it, here they act as free agents even though their actions are still caused. A main philosopher associated with soft determinism is Hume whom was a soft-determinist. He stated that all things are necessary and believed that some things are uncaused or happen as the result of chance. Hume also believed that we are free, he goes on to say that we dont blame people for things they do ignorantly, and blame them less for things that are not premeditated, and any sense of moral blame can only come if something we do is the result of our character. Hume believed that free will, and moral responsibility, require determinism. Soft determinists are criticised by hard determinists for failing to realise the extent to which human freedom is limited and also by libertarians for failing to recognise the true extent of freedom. Whilst Soft determinism offers a ‘middle ground’ between hard determinism and libertinism an agreeable account of moral freedom, a line still has to be drawn between that which is determined and that which is open to choice. The major fault with soft determinism is that they have to try and agree on what is a determining factor and what is not and the complexities of genetics, psychology makes such a line difficult for them to draw. So In conclusion, through the arguments expressed in this essay, I believe that perhaps a Soft Determinist approach is more susceptible towards moral decision making, as although it allows us to make our own decisions, they are to an extent determined due to numerous factors such as our upbringing, environment and culture, however it also allows us to accept responsibility for our actions whatever they may be.

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Living in today’s American society is a blessing and a curse. Never has information been so easily attainable, knowledge is literally at our fingertips, that being the blessing. However, so are advertisements, movies, songs and general media that are coming at us so fast that we have no idea how to handle it. The average American is subjected to about 3000 ads per day (Kilbourne, 2006). The curse is what it does to our generation’s ideal perception of the perfect body, advertisement being the biggest culprit of them all. Hyper sexualized women and men in the media are the reason that 80% of children by the age of ten years old are afraid of being fat. According to a recent study in Spain found that adolescents consume an average of 3 hours to 3.2 hours a day of television on weekdays and weekends, respectively (Bercedo Sanz et al., 2005). Children are still in their developmental stage, their brain and ideas are still forming which is why they are so easily targeted. Television, magazines, films, billboards, and the like frequently offer a distorted vision of the world (Bercedo Sanz et al., 2005; Shrum, 2009), and it may be difficult for children and adolescents to distinguish whether what they see is real or not, so that they are more vulnerable to the messages transmitted (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2001). Men and women are each targeted very differently in media. Although sex sells, it is the image in the advertisement itself that is what is engrained in our minds. Media tells us that wome n are supposed to be skinny, dainty and delicate. Whereas men they are supposed to be big and strong so that women will faun all over them and their muscles. These images are making young children’s self-esteem plummet way faster in th... ...ian body builder Aziz Sergeyevich Shavershian is considered a god amongst men in the body building community. He died of a heart attack in a sauna due to steroid abuse while on vacation in Thailand. Why people consider him a hero is still a mystery. In the media the seemingly over weight men never get the posy and are never taken seriously. Men must be stern chiseled and highly sophisticated. Not only that but they must also take charge and be animalistic, women in the media are often portrayed as objects for the men’s pleasure. Media is a vessel in which women and men a like use in order to try to better themselves. In trying to duplicate what they see they really are only causing themselves heart ache and emotional and psychological damage. Until we can passively look at media and still be happy with whom we are; we as a society can never be happy and healthy.

Couples Should Live Together

Rhea Belgrave Ms. Pleming English 1302_ 5 6 November 2012 Couples Should Live Together before Getting Married In my mother's house it was never discussed whether I should live with someone before I get married. In Trinidad and Tobago it is a normal for a man and a woman to live together and not have plans for marriage. With this being said, my mother does not want me to live together with my boyfriend until after I get married. I believe that this can sometime break up good relationships.When couples don’t have to chance to live together while they are dating, it makes their first year of marriage more difficult than it needs to be. Couples tend to argue a lot, mostly because they are afraid and the possibility that have made a mistake by getting married. Living together before making your vows reassures couples of their lifelong commitment. I believe that couples should live together before getting married, so they can start to know each other on a closer view, more personal level; moreover, they can start thinking about the compatibility of their future spouse.Couples start knowing each other on a closer, more personal level when they live together, which prepares them for a married lifestyle. For starters, you learn what your partner likes and dislikes, although this isn't always easy. There is a lot to discover about your partner and from your partner; the only way to do this successfully is to move in together. For example, does he like broccoli, a special TV show or sleeping with the windows open? Maybe he likes to spend the whole weekend on the couch watching basketball!Believe it or not, it's little details like these that can often make or break a relationship. Second, you learn what kind of bad habits you and your partner have and whether or not you can get rid of them. For instance, I really don't like it when people forgets to fill the ice trays, forgets to replace the empty toilet paper holder, or leaves the toilet seat up; I, on the other h and, tend to leave my clothes in a pile, all wrinkled, when they come out of the dryer.Moreover, you can see how much fun you have with each other and realize how much you would miss by not getting married. Try to plan a vacation in advance, have a dinner date in town after work, or go to the movies on a Wednesday night when you know you have to get up for work the next morning. In other words, find out how romantic and imaginative your partner can be. Life can be tough and boring; it takes two creative and motivated people to keep a relationship alive.I think that couples can make a wiser decision about the lifelong compatibility of their future spouse if they live together. To begin, you can learn if you or your partner is ready for marriage by seeing his or her reaction to the â€Å"m† word-marriage. You need to ask yourself if you are ready to have children with your partner, and if you are ready to stay with this person for the rest of your life through thick and thin. I t is also beneficial to learn if you and your partner are both suited for monogamy; some people find it hard to be sexually faithful to one person.In addition, you can see how your partner reacts to real-life situations. If something dramatic happens to one of you, like a car accident or a major illness, what is his reaction going to be and how will he behave differently in private or in public? Perhaps he is the type of guy who talks big, but can't handle life's difficult moments or be a good caretaker. Finally, living together you won't have the pressure of a marriage certificate hanging over your head, especially when some people have a real phobia about that little piece of paper.Living together means that the taxes are easier, you do not have expenses in case of a messy divorce, and you can make a lot of decisions before you enter into a relationship that is bad for your health, physically and emotionally. Being free of the pressures of marriage, you stand a better chance of kn owing your partner as a real person. I do believe that couples should live together before they get married. Not only does it draw them closer but they are able to see one and other from and inside out prospective. This is the best advice that I can pass along to others.

Leadership Challenges at Coastal Bank Essay

Coastal Bank is a large bank in a southeastern city. As a part of a comprehensive internal management study, senior vice president, Harris Meade, examined the turnover, absenteeism, and productivity figures of all work groups in the organization. The results Meade obtained contained no real surprises except in the case of the check-sorting and data-processing departments. In general the departments displaying high turnover and absenteeism rates, such as the clerical department had low production figures, and those with low turnover and absenteeism were highly productive. No surprise there. When analysis began on the check-sorting and data-processing figures, however, Meade discovered that both departments were tied for the lead for the lowest turnover and absenteeism figures. What was surprising was that the check-sorting department ranked first as the most productive unit, whereas the electronic data-processing department ranked last. That inconsistency was further complicated by the fact that the working conditions for check-sorting employees are extremely undesirable. They work in a large open room that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. They work alone and operate high-speed check-sorting machines requiring a high degree of accuracy and concentration. There is little chance for interaction because they all take rotating coffee breaks. The computer room is air-conditioned, with a stable temperature year round; it has perfect lighting and is extremely quiet and comfortable. It was known that both groups are highly cohesive and that the workers generally function well with others in their department. This observation was reinforced by the study’s finding of the low levels of turnover and absenteeism in both departments. In an effort to understand what was happening, Meade decided to interview the members of both departments. Meade hoped to gain some insight into the dynamics of each group’s behavior. It was discovered that the check-sorting department displayed a great deal of loyalty to the company. Most of the group was unskilled or semiskilled workers; although they have no organized union, each person felt that the company had made special efforts to keep their wages and benefits in line with unionized operations. They knew that their work required team effort and were committed to high performance. A quite different situation existed in the data-processing department. Although the workers liked their fellow employees, there was a uniform feeling among this highly skilled group that management placed more emphasis on production than on staff units. It was their contention that pay increases had been better for operating departments and that the gap between the wage earners and salaried employees did not reflect the skill differences. Because of that, a large percentage of the group displayed little loyalty toward the company, even though they were very close among themselves. There is some degree of urgency to improve productivity. A major competitor in the region is increasing its market share, while Coastal Bank’s market share is trending downward in the last two quarters. You are Harris Meade and you are tasked with improving productivity throughout the bank. Case Study Analysis Assignment Requirements Your 1,200-1,700-word analysis of the Coastal Bank case should demonstrate the application the various leadership approaches, principles, and theories discussed during the course to create a solution to the dilemma. Your solution must refer to and cite the information covered in the textbook. Your analysis of the case should include the following: 1. Problem statement 2. Key facts 3. View point analysis: †¢Who are the key participants in this problem? State their viewpoint of the problem 4. Solution(s): †¢How does the course content support acting on this issue? †¢What are the challenges and benefits (individual, organizational) to the proposed solution? †¢Based on the course content, who should be involved and why? †¢How do you decide on the best course of action? †¢What is the best method to make the decision? †¢How do you implement any change that may be needed? Evaluation of the case study will be based on the following criteria: †¢ Clarity and organization of the possible solution. †¢ The solution demonstrates an application of the leadership approaches, principle and theories covered in the textbook. †¢ The solution demonstrates the synthesis of additional relevant and credible leadership resources. †¢ Adherence to appropriate use of writing conventions, coherence and adherence to APA standards.