Essay on A Reflection on the Meaning of Life from Three...

What is the most asked philosophical question? It seems to me that the answer is: what is the meaning of life? Everywhere in the world, one can find the evidence that finding a meaning in life is very important for people. Humanity appears to be preoccupied with this question since the very dawn of civilization. What do Socrates, Baruch De Spinoza and Simone De Beauvoir have in common? Yes, their names all have an ‘S’ in it. But there is something else: They are all individuals who have been trying to find the meaning of life. In this essay I will reflect on the meaning of life as presented by these three philosophers. Let me first explain why I have chosen this approach. The meaning of life has been an interest to me for a long†¦show more content†¦The ultimate goal for the human being is to break out of this circle. The only way to do so is by not having any desires anymore. The fact you actually desire to have no desires anymore makes this pursuit a very difficult one. In the Christian tradition, however, the general teaching is that human beings have only one life. That one life decides whether we will enter heaven or hell. Of course, many people today do not call themselves Christians anymore, but I still think that a great deal of our underlying premises about the meaning of life is still based on the religious doctrines. Of our three philosophers, I think Simone De Beauvoir is the only one of whom it can be said that she was part of the Christian cultural tradition. The remarkable thing about De Beauvoir is that she was a devout Catholic in her early childhood who intended to become a nun. However, at the age of 14 she changed her attitude radically and became an atheist for the rest of her life. I wonder whether this had anything to do with the fact that she witnessed the First World War as a child. Maybe she concluded that God could not be present in such evil, just like many Jews did after the Holocaust. Baruch De Spinoza lived in the Protestant Netherlands of the 17th century, but he came from the Jewish tradition himself. Like Beauvoir, Spinoza left the religious community he originated from. He was even expelled because his views were considered too radical.Show MoreRelatedTransformational Learning Essay1027 Words   |  5 Pagesquestions arise from these observations. First, what factors contribute to transformational learning? Second, what challenges arise for the instructor who teaches in transformational learning environments? Baumgartner (2001) and Taylor (as cited in Imel, 1998) give an overview of the theories, contributions of significant authors, and unresolved issues in transformational learning. The earliest writer on transformational learning (Mezirow, 1981) developed the concepts of â€Å"meaning perspectives†, onesRead MoreAnalysis : Mutters Schuhe By Nina Roder1679 Words   |  7 PagesMemories are a powerful force within people’s lives. 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Analysis of Leviathan by Thomas Hobbles Essays - 964 Words

In the Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes argues that an ideal state is one in which the government possess all the power in order to protect the people and provide security is the best. Thomas Hobbes believed that people were inherently evil. He claimed that people will do whatever they want to get whatever they want. He labels this as the state of nature. He claims that the natural state is the place we are in before we are actually influenced by society. He says that this place is total chaos because people only do what benefits them. He describes the natural state of man as one that is wild and chaotic without government. He asserts the idea that man needs and naturally wants order but not being able to do it on our own way is best. He goes on†¦show more content†¦It asserts the argument that people cannot control themselves so they must be controlled and that is far too bleak and does not give any true credibility to man. Hobbes claim that there must be an absolute monarch gives pardon to possible tyrants, communists societies and so much more. But more importantly, it discredits man and aids in the destruction of the individual. His idea of how the world should be run is structured well but not great. There are many ways the Leviathan can fall apart. The first reason why the Leviathan would not work is quite simple. For this assertion I must agree with Hobbes theory that man is naturally evil and selfish because that theory alone destroys his idea of the leviathan working. If the people are evil naturally and a member(s) of the people becomes head of the people, is he or she not evil too? Does it not give that evil person even more power and leverage to be evil? If the governance is smaller than the body but still comprised of members that are or were a part of the body, it is a flawed system because they too would be evil and selfish. Perhaps, giving a person who is selfish and evil by nature the power does not work. There has to be a checks and balance s ystem. Clearly, if we go along with Hobbes’ own account of human nature, there’s no possibility that having on sovereign in charge will lead to a fair and just society. In John Stuart Mill’s On

Case Study Analysis on Legal and Social Background

Question 1: Read the full judgments in the following cases: Tomlinson v Congleton Borough Council [2003J UKHL 47 Keown v Coventry Health care NHS Trust [2006J All ER (D) 27 Using these judgments, present a critical analysis of tbe legaf and social background which has led to the current understanding of what ~will constitute a breach of the Occupier's Liability Act 1984. Answer 1: Critical analysis of Tomlinson v Congleton Borough Council [2003J UKHL-47: In the case stated above, Mr. Tomlinson had sued the Congleton Borough Council along with the Cheshire County Council due to the fact that they were the occupiers of the part and were therefore, held under the breach of the responsibilities and duties in accordance with the Occupiers Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984. It was quite difficult to suggest as to who was the occupier of the park from amongst the 2. Whereas Borough council is the one that owns the park, there is no denying in the fact that the park is also maintained by the Countryside Management Service of the County Council. The Borough council is the one that provides the funds to the Countryside Management Service so that they could look after the park and maintain the same. It is the country that employs the rangers that look after it. But both or one of the councils agreed that they were the occupiers. Till the time, it is necessary to distinguish between the county council and the borough council, it would be fair to say that they both of them must be regarded as the council. (Publications.parliament.uk, 2015) (Bailii.org, 2015) In the stated case, the House of Lords had held that the council was not liable. As per the section 1(1) a of the Occupiers Liability Act, 1984, there was no risk that had risen from the state of the premises, rather the risk that arose was from the own action of the claimant. He was the one who was in the full capacity and who had voluntarily and without any pressure or inducement had engaged in the activity of an inherent risk. But even if there existed a risk from the state of the premises, the risk was not the one that was gains the council that will reasonably be expected to offer some protection to the claimant under the section 1(3) c of the Act. When the House of Lords had reached this decision, they had looked at the position if he had not been a trespasser and had also applied the common duty of care under the Occupiers Liability Act, 1957. The lord believed that there could be nothing that could have been done to warn or take any sort of steps so as to prevent the claimant from diving since the dangers were the ones that were obvious. This was based upon the principle of free will. Further, it will hold to deny the social benefit to the majority of the users from using the park and the lakes in the safe and in the responsible manner. In such a situation, this will mean to open up the country to litigation. The lord further believed that such cases were prominent nationwide even when there were safety measures that were being installed. About 25 t 30 of such of the incidents take place each and every year despite of the safety measures being in place. (E-lawresources.co.uk, 2015) It was being said that the Appellant Committee of the House of Lords had used this judgment as the compensation for the brand Britains growing US style claim as an evil that interfered with the civil liberties and the freedom of will. (Edwardes, 2003) Critical analysis of Keown v Coventry Health care NHS Trust [2006J All E-27: As per section 1(1)a of the Occupiers Liability Act, 1984, trespasser, whether there is a danger to the state of the premises, whether there is a danger to the activity on the premises by the claimant and whether the occupier is liable for the breach duty to the trespasser. In the given case, the claimant was of the age of 12 years had fallen when he was climbing up the fire escape. It was held that the defendant was not liable under section 1(1)a of the Act due to the injuries that he had received. The fire escape was not in itself dangerous. The danger was due to the activity of the claimant on the premises and was not due to the state of the premises. (Lexisweb.co.uk, 2015) The claimant had dived into the lake and was badly injured. The council had argued that it was guilty nor it was liable for any claim since the claimant was the trespasser. It was held that the risk of injury arose not from the state of the premises of the defendant but from the things that were being done or omitted and the main reason for the injury arose from the misjudgement of the claimant since he undertook the decision of diving into the water that was too shallow. The Lord held this was the sole responsibility of the claimant and the defendant could not be held in respect of the same. The dangers that existed were sign posted and therefore, the Act was not applicable. The Act of 1984 that has the difference between the person who had gained an entry into the property lawfully but became the trespasser when he gained the entry illegally and the person who was a trespasser. The Act specifies that there must be no difference the 2 and so there must be no difference between the judgements as well. The lord had said that there was no need for any kind of voluntary assumption with regard to the risk so as to answer the following claim: It was quite are for an occupier of the land to be under the duty so as to prevent the people from taking the risks that were inherent under the activities that they undertook freely since it was due to their free will. In case, the people want to climb up the mountains and go for hand gliding or swim or dive in ponds or the lakes, then it is their decision. They may be sole responsible for their decisions. The person may even think that they are in grave danger or inconvenience for themselves. The person owning the property could also take a paternalistic view and prefer the people not to undertake the activities of risk on his land, he could impose restrictions but the law does not require him to do so. The lord had said that the most important question was the freedom at stake. He stated that it was very unjust to that the harmless recreation of responsible parents and children with buckets and spades on the beaches should be prohibited in order to comply with what is thought to be a legal duty to safeguard irresponsible visitors against dangers which are perfectly obvious. The fact that the people take no notice of the warnings must not create the duty of the other steps in order to protect them. It was very difficult to express the disagreement with the proposition of Sedley LJ wherein he stated that the risk was very obvious that the occupier had safely assumed that nobody will take the final responsibility. The duty to protect the assumed risks or the self-inflicted harm could exist in the cases where there was no genuine and informed choice as were in the case of the employees that work requires them to take the risk or lack some capacity, such as the inability of the children to recognise the danger as was stated in the case law: (Herrington v British Railways Board [1972] AC 877) or the despair of the prisoners that led them to inflict the injury on themselves: Reeves v Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis [2000] 1 AC 360. (Swarb.co.uk, 2015) Question 2: With reference to decided casesexamine and evaluate' ttfe extent to which a duty of 'common humanity' should be owed to a trespasser and th~ circumstances in which this duty can be legitimately discharged under s.1(5) (6);Occupiers' Liability Act 1984. Answer 2: Sections 1(5) and 1) (6) of the Act: Section 1(5) of the Act, any duty that is owed by the virtue of the section could be discharged by taking the steps that are reasonable in the circumstances that give the warning of the danger concerned or to discourage the person from incurring the risk. Section 1(6) of the Act, any duty by the person in respect of the risks that are willingly accepted as being his or by that person. (Legislation.gov.uk, 2015) A trespasser is a person who come onto the property of another person without any permission and stays on the property even when the occupier asks him to leave. The occupiers in such cases owe the duty of care to the trespasser but they are also assumed to have the duties that are high as are with the other categories of the visitors. The usual guidelines are of the common humanity. There is always a question that varies with each case. It is very clear that the curator who is entrusted with the responsibility of protecting the blunderbuss is connected to the trip is exceeding the duty of the common humanity but there are examples that are sometimes difficult to judge. The common humanity is very variable but the courts believe in the fact that where children are involved, they must be protected. In the cases where the children are involved, the courts do not find it in their favour just because of their sentimentality. The mere fact that the warnings are for the adults lure the chil dren in. References: Bailii.org, 'Tomlinson V. Congleton Borough Council Ors [2003] UKHL 47 (31 July 2003)' (2015) https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2003/47.html accessed 20 January 2015 Edwardes C, 'End This Compensation Nightmare, Say Judges - Telegraph' (Telegraph.co.uk, 2003) https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1437864/End-this-compensation-nightmare-say-judges.html accessed 20 January 2015 E-lawresources.co.uk, 'Tomlinson V Congleton Borough Council' (2015) https://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/cases/Tomlinson-v-Congleton-Borough-Council.php accessed 20 January 2015 Legislation.gov.uk, 'Occupiers Liability Act 1984' (2015) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/3/section/1 accessed 20 January 2015 Lexisweb.co.uk, 'Keown V Coventry Healthcare NHS Trust | Lexisweb' (2015) https://lexisweb.co.uk/cases/2006/february/keown-v-coventry-healthcare-nhs-trust accessed 20 January 2015 Publications.parliament.uk, 'House Of Lords - Tomlinson (FC) (Original Respondent And Cross-Appellant) V. Congleton Borough Council And Others (Original Appellants And Cross-Respondents)' (2015) https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200203/ldjudgmt/jd030731/tomlin-1.htm accessed 20 January 2015 Swarb.co.uk, 'Tomlinson -V- Congleton Borough Council And Others; HL 31-Jul-2003 | Swarb.Co.Uk' (2015) https://swarb.co.uk/tomlinson-v-congleton-borough-council-and-others-hl-31-jul-2003/ accessed 20 January 2015 www.simpsons.com.au, 'The Duty Of Care To Public' (2015) https://www.simpsons.com.au/wp-content/uploads/duty-of-care-to-public.pdf accessed 20 January 2015.

Steinbeck and Babb

Overview Steinbeck and Babb played a great role in shaping the literature of America. Although the authors were not recognized significantly during the past, their ideologies are relevant to the modern society. Steinbeck was an activist who wrote many books about the struggle between people who are poor and the rich ones.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Steinbeck and Babb specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, researchers and authors have questioned the originality of his work because they speculate that he copied Babb’s stories. On the others hand, Babb was a determined writer who faced harsh experiences during her childhood, education life and employment. She is recognized for collecting authentic books based on participatory observations. Situation in California While seeking to articulate the situation in California, Steinbeck wrote a famous book known as ‘Grapes of Wrath’. On the other hand, Babb focused on similar issues and wrote a book that was titled ‘Whose Names are Unknown’. In the two books, Steinbeck and Babb wrote about the plight of migrants in Oklahoma and California. They focused on the miserable conditions which dust bowl’s migrants experienced in Oklahoma and California. The authors described how the migrants pursued their rights from the relevant authorities. Steinbeck based his story on non-participatory observations where he visited migrants’ camps and interviewed the migrants. On the other hand, Babb was employed as an assistant manager of FSA where she observed how the migrants were treated in a direct way. This implies that she had firsthand information about the treatment of migrants. As a result, her book focused equally on the oppression of migrant workers. While evaluating the plight of migrant workers, the authors adopted different stances which portrayed similarities and differences. Similarity and Differences of Perspective Similarities The two authors suggested that migrant oppression was a barbaric act that portrayed recklessness. They condemned this oppression for propagating inhumanity. Babb stated that the California’s labor system exploited the workers heartlessly. Furthermore, she contended that the system in California was abusive and desperate. Also, she suggested that oppression of migrants was a show of human greed where the crop owners never cared about the welfare of the colleagues. Lastly, she stated that the oppression was a source of unending pain. On the other hand, Steinbeck argued that the system forced the migrants to live in miserable conditions.Advertising Looking for essay on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fact, it was evident that author was very outraged by the treatment of migrants. This was portrayed when he stated that the migrants who worked for cash crop growers were tre ated in a discriminatory and brutal manner. He revealed that the cash crop growers blamed the migrants for laziness without any justification. Finally, he stated that the authorities could have treated the migrants properly by providing them with the basic needs. Difference in Perspective The differences between Steinbeck and Babb emerged during evaluation of the dispossession that happened in 1930. Steinbeck articulated the issues in a figurative manner by describing the Okies as people who had a lot of essence. On the other hand, Babb portrayed a humanistic perspective by arguing that the world should be defined by human relationships. She suggested that the migrants were neighbors who shared the same destiny with all human beings. Therefore, she argued that the migrants should not have been treated wrongly. Instead, they should have been treated humanely regardless of their origin or financial status. This essay on Steinbeck and Babb was written and submitted by user Ray Wolfe to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.