Metaphysics and Monism Essay Example for Free

Metaphysics and Monism Essay People are monists, dualists or pluralists depending on whether or not they believe that reality is composed of one, two or more substances. These positions may be represented as here indicated. Hindus, Buddhists and Animists are for the most part monists. They believe that reality is one and that everything that exists is a functioning part of that whole which is spirit. Western man for the most part may be called a monist also as he believes that God is dead and matter is the only substance to reality. Bible believing Christians would be pluralists. In philosophy of mind, monism is usually contrasted with the dualist position that mind and matter are deeply different. Thus, monism is the claim that mind and matter essentially the same. However, this sameness has come in a number of different and contradictory varieties. For example, Hobbes felt that the mental is merely and epiphenomena of the physical, thus the physical is the one real substance (Contemporary materialism is also a form of physicalistic monism (see Churchland, 1996). In direct contrast, Berkeley postulated that the physical is just a collection of ideas (hence, idealism) and thus the mental is the only thing that really exists. Finally, there are a number of positions similar to Spinozas property dualism, often referred to as dual-aspect theory. Spinoza held a position in which the mental and the physical are simply two modes of a more basic substance (it should be noted that strictly speaking, Spinoza was not a property dualist as he held that the mental and the physical were two of a possible infinite number of modes of the basic substance, nevertheless he is typically labeled as one). For Spinoza, this basic substance was God. Thus the only real thing is God, who is neither physical nor mental. Spinozas position is similar to that of Russells neutral monism, however the latter is not committed to the belief that a supreme being is the more basic substance. General Information Monism is any doctrine based on the assumption of a single underlying principle. Metaphysical monism allows that only one being or type of being exists. A substantial metaphysical monism asserts that the variety in our phenomenal experience is due to the different states of a single all-encompassing substance, for example, Parmenides Plenum or Baruch Spinozas God or Nature. An attributive monism admits many substances but asserts that they are all of the same kind, for example, atoms or G. W. von Leibnizs monads. Epistemological monism identifies that which is immediately present to the knowing mind with the real object known. Either the content of the mind is equated with the object known (epistemological realism), or the object known is equated with the knowing mind (epistemological idealism). Monism as a philosophical term was first used by Christian Wolff to designate philosophies that attempted to eliminate the mind-body dichotomy. Monism (Greek monos,single), in philosophy, is a doctrine that ultimate reality is entirely of one substance. Monism is thus opposed to both dualism and pluralism. Three basic types of monism are recognized: materialistic monism, idealistic monism, and the mind-stuff theory. According to the first doctrine, everything in the universe, including mental phenomena, is reduced to the one category of matter. In the second doctrine, matter is regarded as a form of manifestation of mind; and in the third doctrine, matter and mind are considered merely aspects of each other. Although monistic philosophies date from ancient Greece, the term monism is comparatively recent. It was first used by the 18th-century German philosopher Christian von Wolff to designate types of philosophical thought in which the attempt was made to eliminate the dichotomy of body and mind. Although he was not known by the term, the 17th-century Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza was one of the most influential monists. He taught that both material and spiritual phenomena are attributes of one underlying substance. His doctrine strongly anticipated the mind-stuff theory. Advanced Information Although the term was first used by German philosopher Christian Wolff (1679-1754), monism is a philosophical position with a long history dating back to the pre-Socratic philosophers who appealed to a single unifying principle to explain all the diversity of observed experience. Notable among these thinkers is Parmenides, who maintained that reality is an undifferentiated oneness, or unity, and that consequently real change or individuality of things are there? Substantival monism (one thing) is the view that there is only one substance and that all diversity is ultimately unreal. This view was maintained by Spinoza, who claimed that there is only one substance, or independently existing thing, and that both God and the universe are aspects of this substance. In addition to having many eminent proponents in the Western philosophical tradition, substantival monism is a tenet of Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism each element of reality is part of maya or prakriti, and in Buddhism all things ultimately comprise an interrelated network. Attributive monism (one category) holds that there is one kind of thing but many different individual things in this category. Materialism and idealism are different forms of attributive monism. The materialist holds that the one category of existence in which all real things are found is material, while the idealist says that this category is mental. All monisms oppose the dualistic view of the universe, which holds that both material and immaterial (mental and spiritual) realities exist. Attributive monism disagrees with substantival monism in asserting that reality is ultimately composed of many things rather than one thing. Many leading philosophers have been attributive monists, including Bertrand Russell and Thomas Hobbes on the materialistic side, and G. W. Leibniz and George Berkeley in the idealist camp. The Christian intellectual tradition has generally held that substantival monism fails to do justice to the distinction between God and creature, and that of attributive monisms only idealism is theologically acceptable.

Occupational Stress Essay -- Work Related Stress, Job Stress

Job stress has proven to be a difficult issue to tackle. Unlike physical or chemical hazards, there is not an obvious tangible hazardous agent. This issue has also been preempted by corporate stress management, health promotion, or employee assistance programs, which explain stress as a purely personal reaction, and often treat the symptoms, not the causes, of job stress. The occupational stress field also has been plagued by a variety of definitions and difficulties in measurement of stress.(Buunk,De-Jong,Y-Bemas&De wolff,1998) In addition, changes in job design or work organization are often inherently more "systems challenging" and require more radical restructuring of workplaces than reducing levels of exposure to toxic substances or ergonomic hazards. According to Mclean (1979) stress affect everyone in the workplace whether blue collar or white collar workers. Hughes (1971, p342) supported Mclean by stating that† the essential problems of men at work are the same whether they do their work in some famous laboratory or in the messiest vat room of a pickle factory† So this essay will review the major explanations that have been given for the higher rates of stress amongst working women’s based of the interview conducted on south African female worker. Part one of this paper will discuss how the factors such as Gender’s, race, marital status can cause stress among workers. In the second part work related factors such as heavy workload demand, control over work ,rewards and poor social relationship will be discussed. Lastly changes facing South African workplaces shall be discussed. The issue of stress is complicated because there is no single definitions that allows one to defines it .According to Buunk at al (1998) psychol... ...(1978). Stress at work: Chichester .J-Wiley Eckenrode J, & Gore ,S (1990). Stress between work and family: New York .Plenum press. Frankenhaeuser ,M ,Landberg U, & Chesney ,M. (1991).Women work and health :Stress opportunities .New York :Plenum press Friesen ,D & Sarros ,J (1989). Sources of burnout among educators :Journal of organizational behaviour,10 p.p 179-188 Gale group(2004). Bad relationship affect women more . Retrieved 14 march 2005 from http://www.findaeticle.com./mobsc/18-10/62085373/p1/article. Karasek RA. Control in the workplace and its health-related aspects. In Job Control and Worker Health, eds. SL Sauter, JJ Hurrell, CL Cooper. New York: Wiley, 1989; 129-159. Philips,D.L.& Segal .B.E (1969). Sexual status and psychiatric symptoms. American sociological review,34,58-7Shostaka,B(1980).Blue-collar stress :London .Addison –wesley.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Essay

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born into a pre-determined life. His father was a minister, so he was already set to become a minister. However, Emerson didn’t believe in organized religion. This was the reason that he became a transcendentalist and wrote his essay â€Å"Self Reliance†. In 1817, Emerson attended Harvard College where he first began to formulate his ideas that were portrayed in his most famous essay. In his essay, Emerson uses two main strategies to persuade his readers. These strategies were anecdotal stories and reasons supported by evidence. Throughout his essay, Emerson uses anecdotes as his main strategy for persuasion. For example, he tells an anecdote about when he was a child. When he was a child, he expressed his true beliefs to a close adult. When asked how he knows that his beliefs aren’t from the devil, Emerson responds by saying, â€Å"They do not seem to me to be such; but if I am the Devil’s child, I will live then from the Devil. † In this response he is saying even if his beliefs are from the Devil, it doesn’t matter. This is what he believes in and nothing can change that. This idea was Emerson’s main virtue that he lived by and wanted others to live by: trust thyself. Emerson’s anecdotes prove to be a very effective way to persuade his readers to believe in his ideas. The anecdotes in this essay are so effective because the reader is able to connect with him, and place themselves in his shoes. The anecdotes are also effective because they are a portal into Emerson’s life. Instead of just listing facts and statistics, Emerson chooses to tell stories about his life. This allows his readers to connect with him on a personal level and the readers develop a stronger emotional connection with Emerson. Another strategy that Emerson uses is reasons supported by evidence. This strategy is also effective because it gives the reader a reason why they should trust themselves, and then supports the reason with evidence to show why the reason is true. For example, he says that if people don’t trust themselves, then they will feel guilty and ashamed. This is the reason Emerson gives of why people need to trust themselves, and then he supports the reason with evidence by saying that it is a waste of time to want what thers want and â€Å"envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide†. He also says that to be truly happy, a man must accept himself for better and for worse. This evidence supports the reason that people should be happy with themselves the way they are. Emerson’s strategy of reasons supported by evidence is very effective because it gives the reader concrete evidence. The evidence supports the reason, and the reason supports the overall claim. The reasons and evidence are logical appeals which appeal to the reader’s good sense; this also makes the strategy effective. It is hard to argue when Emerson gives many concrete reasons to support his claim and then backs it up with even more evidence. Although Emerson’s essay â€Å"Self Reliance† has many good strategies and qualities, it also has some weaknesses. The essay is aimed at a small audience, educated white males. If he were to open the essay up to a broader audience, he would be able to spread his idea more effectively. For example if women were also targeted in the essay, then Emerson’s ideas would be spread to almost twice as many people. Another weakness in the essay is the overall claim. He says that people should trust themselves. This claim has no qualifiers; therefore Emerson is saying that people should trust themselves, always. This is not always true. Yet another weakness in the essay is that Emerson uses mostly anecdotal evidence. Although the anecdotes prove to be effective, the evidence inside of them is not all that concrete. The claims he makes in these anecdotes are not as strong as they could be if he had more of a variety of strategies to support his claims. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay â€Å"Self Reliance† tells its readers to trust themselves. He says that every heart vibrates to this iron string. Emerson uses many strategies in his essay; however the two main strategies are anecdotes and reasons supported by evidence. Both of these strategies prove to be very effective on the reader. The anecdotes allow the reader to connect with Emerson, and have strong emotional appeals on the reader. While the reasons supported by evidence apply the reader’s logic and give concrete examples that support his claim. â€Å"Self-Reliance† is a well written essay that persuades its readers to listen and trust themselves.

Social Problem Analysis of the Glass Castle-------the...

Running head: SOCIAL PROBLEM ANALYSIS OF THE GLASS CASTLE 1 Social problem analysis of The Glass Castle-------The impact of the alcoholism Ying Wan SWRK 725 Saint Louis University Professor Shannon Cooper-Sadlo SOCIAL PROBLEM ANALYSIS OF THE GLASS CASTLE 2 Abstract The paper talks about the social problems presented in the book The Glass Castle. And choose one problem which is alcoholism as the major one to explored in depth. It included the population affected by alcoholism, the history of alcoholism, and the steps to solve the alcoholism problem. It also contained the influence of alcoholism to individual, family, and community. The agency NCADD in St. Louis area was chosen to be the†¦show more content†¦Rex Walls, the father of the family had the abuse of alcohol is the major resource of the family’s suffering. It seems that alcoholism is an individual behavior, however, many family and social issues caused by it make it rather to be a social problem. Such as domestic violence, suicide, murder, drinking driving, sex assault, unemployment, child neglect, poverty and many other mental health problems are all the result of alcoholism. In the book, Rex Walls is a typical victim of alcoholism. He cannot take a SOCIAL PROBLEM ANALYSIS OF THE GLASS CASTLE 5 long term stable job; after he got drunk, he damaged household facilities, hurt his wife and children, and sometimes got some street fight and hurt himself. He is a man full of knowledge and life skills, he could have had a good career and a perfect satisfied family, but alcoholism ruined his life and he died indirectly from it. Other than the three major issues mentioned above, there are various other problems existed in the Walls’ family and their living environment. Unemployment is one of the problems. Due to the alcoholism, the father cannot get a stable job; he can only take some odd jobs and earn some money by gambling. The mother in the family is the one who is not willing to take the job. Her dream is to be an artist, there is nothing wrong with pursuing her artist dream, but under the no income situation, the mother doesn’t want toShow MoreRelatedDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pages978-0-13-612100-8 1. Management—-Study and teaching. 2. Management—Problems, exercises, etc. Kim S. II. Title. HD30.4.W46 2011 658.40071 173—dc22 I. Cameron, 2009040522 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 ISBN 10: 0-13-612100-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-13-612100-8 B R I E F TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S Preface xvii Introduction 1 PART I 1 2 3 PERSONAL SKILLS 44 Developing Self-Awareness 45 Managing Personal Stress 105 Solving Problems Analytically and Creatively 167 PART II 4 5 6 7 INTERPERSONAL

Research On Stem Cell Research Essay - 2087 Words

Nonetheless Christine Kirk’s article reviews the National Institute of Health’s proposal in 2000 on pluripotent embryonic stem cell research funds in the United States and ways to regulate the research process. Kirk examines the use of pluripotent stem cells for research to be coordinated correctly by the National Institute of Health Guidelines. Kirk explains how the proposed guidelines affect the way embryonic stem cell research is done in the United States. â€Å"Finally, researchers must follow standard NIH research procedures as well as undergo review by an NIH working committee on stem cell research† (412). The process the embryonic stem cell researchers have to go through to even be able to conduct stem cell research in the United States is quite strenuous because opponents do not want the research to be done. However, there have been plenty of different regulations placed on embryonic stem cell research, which have made scientist flee to other countries in order to further the research being done. â€Å"More specifically, NIH funds may support research using cells derived only from 1) embryos which were created for fertility treatment and which were in excess of clinical need; or 2) fetal tissue used in accordance with the Guidelines and with all applicable laws and regulations† (412). Kirk points out the fact of low quantity of the embryonic stem cell tissue available to scientist for further research, which can be frustrating for researchers to further understand embryonicShow MoreRelatedStem Research On Stem Cell Research1747 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish 111-36 25 November 2014 Stem Cell Research Stem cell research has cultivated a new, miraculous study in the health field. The study has led to an increase in curing diseases over the past couple of decades. Before stem cell research, diseases were destroying and devastating lives continuously on end. With the use of stem cells in modern time, diseases are no longer taking control of lives. The innovation in biomedical technology, such as stem cell research, has greatly impacted the understandingRead MoreStem Research On Stem Cell Research1271 Words   |  6 Pages! ! ! Stem Cells Research ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Jabaree Shipp English III NCVPS Mrs.Gallos 8, December 2014 ! ! ! ! ! ! Throughout most of our lifetime on Earth many have pondered the thought of how they and the things around them have been created. They wondered what makes grass grow to what makes themselves grow mentally and physically. Through extensive research and major advancements in technology over these years, decades, and centuries we still have no answer to our own questions. But, we do howeverRead MoreStem Research On Stem Cell Research1318 Words   |  6 Pagesknown as Stem Cell Research (SCR). Stem Cell Research is a relatively new field that has shown much promise to help deal with hundreds of different conditions and diseases. Though this astounding field holds the key to saving thousands of lives, there is a misguided ethical problem with Stem Cell Research raised by the church. The church only focuses on one aspect of harvesting stem cells when there is more than one way to get stem cells. This isn’t the only thing that is holding SCR back. Stem CellRead MoreStem Research : Stem Cell Research1692 Words   |  7 Pages Stem Cell Research As stem cell research progresses, it is essential that we think about the issues encompassing our future. One of the exceptionally debated topics, stem cell research, is gathering a lot of information. Stem cell research is as of now is legal in many nations. The united states, regularly a pioneer in all things new and energizing is one of the last to investigate this topic. As this sort of examination continues advancing, as citizens, we will in all likely need to vote onRead MoreStem Research On Stem Cell Research1530 Words   |  7 PagesHiga Capstone 2 October, 2014 Stem Cell Beats Ethic Issues Stem cell research is the most controversial topic in the health field since abortion. Stem cell research however, has the potential to unlock an infinite amount of possibilities as well be the key to curing patients with terminal illnesses. Many people from around the world have their opinions on this type of research dealing with ethics, politics, and religion. The most efficient way to study stem cells is taking them from donated embryosRead MoreStem Research On Stem Cell Research1212 Words   |  5 PagesStem Cell Research Jason Bernard BIOL-10000 July 26, 2015 Introduction In this essay, I hope to analyze both sides of the debate, and also learn more about the topic and share that information. 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Stem cells can be developed to act as treatments for differentRead MoreResearch On Stem Cell Research Essay1708 Words   |  7 Pages Stem Cell Research James A Merritt PIMA Medical institute Embryonic stem cell research is a controversial topic. In the religious aspect its man trying to play the authority of GOD on whether people should live, die or suffer from ailments and injuries. On a scientific and medical aspect it is compassionate people lookingRead MoreResearch On Stem Cell Research1459 Words   |  6 Pagesmany possible methods. Stem cell research is a recent discovery that brings intense controversy: one side believes that the research is beneficial to the advancement of finding medical treatments and technologies, and the other questions whether the studies and experiments done in the field are ethical. Before understanding the history of stem cell research, one must understand its possibility of being used to cure people with medical problems, and that continued research will bring many new andRead MoreA Research On Stem Cell Research924 Words   |  4 Pagesscientific knowledge gained from stem cell research has proven very useful, yet the knowledge did not come without the destruction of human embryos. According to Healy, Bernadine P. â€Å"The Government Must Regulate Stem Cell Research†, †stem cells† come from human embryo or fetus that is at its first stage of development in which it is in its single cell form before it starts its development stage or complex stage (Bernadine). What this means is, stem cells, at its single cell stage doesn’t have any function

Is Procrastination A Practical Light Bulb - 1280 Words

In the 1930s, a sudden wind swept an American helium-filled airship aloft from its moorings. The rising ship carried away some of the rope crew as well. Most let go right away and suffered no worse than sprains. Others held on until they lost their grip. Each time a man let go, the dirigible leapt higher. Those who hesitated longest fell to their deaths. Procrastination can be deadly! Procrastinators believe that if they do nothing and wait long enough, any bad situation will take care of itself. Or if it does not resolve itself, it will simply go away. Many even insist that procrastination is a form of work, explaining that they are letting their thinking percolate. With that point of view, they feel no concern about delay. In most situations almost any direct action is better than no action. If nothing else, you ll learn from what you try and then refocus in a more productive direction. In support of this view, Thomas Edison made thousands of unsuccessful attempts to invent a practical light bulb. Edison saw what he was doing as learning rather than failing. Clearly, his approach speeded up the process. When fear is an element, that fear can create a disastrous procrastination stall. DON T THINK TOO LONG ABOUT THAT Fear and Trembling in the Executive Washroom Fear rules many business leaders and their fear comes in many guises. One of America s most admired CEOs feared any negative publicity. As a result, he would only acquire smaller, privately heldShow MoreRelatedEco-Buddhism7194 Words   |  29 Pagesbring about the disappearance of Himalayan glaciers in Tibet, abolishing the water supply of hundreds of millions of people. Even countries not directly affected by environmental disasters could be flooded by millions of refugees.   These are very practical matters for the survival of Buddhism in Asia, as well as for world peace. In summary, the climate-energy emergency is so consequential as to be a moral and ethical matter of the first order. The case can be made that a pan-Buddhist Council shouldRead MorePractical Guide to Market Research62092 Words   |  249 Pagesvital to know and what is of lesser importance. Taking time and effort in defining the coverage of the research is essential if the results are to truly assist the decision making process. In addition, however, a well defined research coverage is of practical value in latter stages of the project and particularly at the questionnaire design stage. With the coverage defined and listed much of the work involved in developing a questionnaire is already done. Key point Pinpoint the objective of the researchRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesyear had occurred during the previous few years, and morale, productivity, and quality of production by the 5,000 employees were the worst in the corporation. Costs of assembling the automobile were about 30 percent above the Asian competitors. In light of these data, corporate headquarters issued an order to close the plant and lay off the workers. Three years later, General Motors signed a joint operating agreement with one of its major competitors: Toyota Motors. Much had been written about theRead Morepaul hoang answers72561 Words   |  291 Pagesbusiness in question – what works well for one area of a conglomerate does not mean it will succeed for other parts of the overall organisation. For instance, Honda manufactures motor bikes, automobiles, jet engines and lawnmowers(!) It would not be practical to apply a single generic strategy across the Honda organisation. Hence, it is only to a limited extent that Porter’s generic strategies work for a global conglomerate. [6 – 7 marks]  © Paul Hoang and IBID Press    32 There is a balanced

Is Procrastination A Practical Light Bulb - 1280 Words

In the 1930s, a sudden wind swept an American helium-filled airship aloft from its moorings. The rising ship carried away some of the rope crew as well. Most let go right away and suffered no worse than sprains. Others held on until they lost their grip. Each time a man let go, the dirigible leapt higher. Those who hesitated longest fell to their deaths. Procrastination can be deadly! Procrastinators believe that if they do nothing and wait long enough, any bad situation will take care of itself. Or if it does not resolve itself, it will simply go away. Many even insist that procrastination is a form of work, explaining that they are letting their thinking percolate. With that point of view, they feel no concern about delay. In most situations almost any direct action is better than no action. If nothing else, you ll learn from what you try and then refocus in a more productive direction. In support of this view, Thomas Edison made thousands of unsuccessful attempts to invent a practical light bulb. Edison saw what he was doing as learning rather than failing. Clearly, his approach speeded up the process. When fear is an element, that fear can create a disastrous procrastination stall. DON T THINK TOO LONG ABOUT THAT Fear and Trembling in the Executive Washroom Fear rules many business leaders and their fear comes in many guises. One of America s most admired CEOs feared any negative publicity. As a result, he would only acquire smaller, privately heldShow MoreRelatedEco-Buddhism7194 Words   |  29 Pagesbring about the disappearance of Himalayan glaciers in Tibet, abolishing the water supply of hundreds of millions of people. Even countries not directly affected by environmental disasters could be flooded by millions of refugees.   These are very practical matters for the survival of Buddhism in Asia, as well as for world peace. In summary, the climate-energy emergency is so consequential as to be a moral and ethical matter of the first order. The case can be made that a pan-Buddhist Council shouldRead MorePractical Guide to Market Research62092 Words   |  249 Pagesvital to know and what is of lesser importance. Taking time and effort in defining the coverage of the research is essential if the results are to truly assist the decision making process. In addition, however, a well defined research coverage is of practical value in latter stages of the project and particularly at the questionnaire design stage. With the coverage defined and listed much of the work involved in developing a questionnaire is already done. Key point Pinpoint the objective of the researchRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesyear had occurred during the previous few years, and morale, productivity, and quality of production by the 5,000 employees were the worst in the corporation. Costs of assembling the automobile were about 30 percent above the Asian competitors. In light of these data, corporate headquarters issued an order to close the plant and lay off the workers. Three years later, General Motors signed a joint operating agreement with one of its major competitors: Toyota Motors. Much had been written about theRead Morepaul hoang answers72561 Words   |  291 Pagesbusiness in question – what works well for one area of a conglomerate does not mean it will succeed for other parts of the overall organisation. For instance, Honda manufactures motor bikes, automobiles, jet engines and lawnmowers(!) It would not be practical to apply a single generic strategy across the Honda organisation. Hence, it is only to a limited extent that Porter’s generic strategies work for a global conglomerate. [6 – 7 marks]  © Paul Hoang and IBID Press    32 There is a balanced