Children of Men Film Essay - 956 Words

Children Of Men. â€Å"Children of Men† Directed by Alfonso Cuaron. Is set in the year 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, Theo Faron a former activist, agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman, Named Kee, to a sanctuary located out at sea, where her child’s birth could help scientists save mankind. In the film Children of Men, there are many crucial scenes to help convey the idea of the film, however I find one of these scenes particularly important; namely the apartment scene. In this scene Theo is being driven through the streets of London to the Ark Of Arts to visit his cousin Nigel. The director uses a number of techniques to help portray the themes and ideas, such as music, setting, lighting†¦show more content†¦The images and lighting are similar to images that record the suffering of people during the depression of the 1930s. However, inside the park the weather starts to brighten making everything look lush and vibrant. It se ems absurd to see such a strong contrast after passing through the imperial gates. This brings to mind the saying â€Å"The grass is always greener on the other side† This helps to show how the members of the public see this part of London as a desired thing and that everything is better, but this saying usually ends up being false; these people still live in the same world, it is all an illusion, Further on in the scene Theo says to his cousin Nigel, â€Å"A hundred years from now, there won’t be one single sad f**k to look at any of this (meaning his apartment). What keeps you going?† To which Nigel replies â€Å"You know what it is, Theo? I just don’t think about it†. He is just ignoring the inevitable. Mise-en-scene creates a shocking impact as the viewer draws on their prior knowledge to make connections to the symbols revealed in this sequence. As Theo crosses the bridge to the Ark of Arts, above the Battersea power station, you can see a floating pig, reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s album cover for â€Å"Animals†. As Theo enters the court in the background, you can see a painting of two policemen kissing which is quite a famous piece by the street artist Banksy. After Theo enters the apartment he is greeted by his cousin Nigel. Behind him isShow MoreRelatedChildren of Men Film Essay969 Words   |  4 PagesChildren Of Men. â€Å"Children of Men† Directed by Alfonso Cuaron. Is set in the year 2027, in a chaotic world in which humans can no longer procreate, Theo Faron a former activist, agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman, Named Kee, to a sanctuary located out at sea, where her child’s birth could help scientists save mankind. In the film Children of Men, there are many crucial scenes to help convey the idea of the film, however I find one of these scenes particularly important; namelyRead MoreThe Time Of The Butterflies And The Happenings Of Women Essay1729 Words   |  7 Pagesthe strong ones of the world. The men are always seeking from women a little pillow to put their heads down on. They are always longing for the mother who held them as infants† These words by author Coco Chanel perfectly depict the central theme of the film In the Time of the Butterflies and the happenings of women in the Dominican Republic during the twentieth century. Throughout the hist ory of the Dominican Republic in the 1900’s women were seen inferior to men. The stereotypical ideal existed thatRead MoreThe Vampire Is The Pure Essence Of Freud s Theory Of Thanatos979 Words   |  4 Pagesrecognition and resentment for all of the bloodshed that he is responsible for. Within the film it is revealed that Dracula used his dark abilities to kill many in horrible ways and even drive men insane as he feeds into their desires of death and destruction. The atrocities he commits range from torture to the murder of not only men but women and children as well. The added blood and gore within the death scenes of the film are enough to satiate any blood loving horror enthusiast. Which only adds to the conclusionRead MoreEssay on Racism in Disneys Aladdin993 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscrimination which exemplifies stereotypical differences between the ethnic groups to which people belong. While Disney animated films are the ideal family movies, it is undisclosed to many that such racism is being portrayed. Disney’s movie Aladdin (1992), â€Å"was a high-profile release, the winner of two Academy Awards, and one of the most successful Disney films ever produced† (Giroux, 104); however, what is often disregarded is the obvious depiction of careless racism towards Arabs seen in theRead MoreMedia Violence And The Effect It Has On Actual Behavior1500 Words   |  6 PagesAssignment 1 PART B: Argumentative essay Title: Media Violence And The Effect It Has On Actual Behaviour. While many argue that film violence has little or no influence on actual behaviour, this essay will argue that media violence has a direct influence on actual behaviour in adolescence and adults. The main ideas I will put forward are. How Media Violence Increases Children’s tolerance of Real-Life Aggression, Violence Exposure in real-life, Violent Film Characters and their portrayal of violentRead MoreModule A - Joyeux Noel + Christmas Truce939 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Module A- Comparative Essay Comparative essays serve to enhance the understanding of the themes, values and ideas represented in texts, by examining their different mediums, contextual values and purposes. Christian Carrion’s feature film Joyeux Noel, and Nic Young’s documentary, The Christmas Truce, are both 21st century filmic responses to a 20th century event. The similar values of the texts are showcased through different forms, and techniques. QUESTION. Carrion has created a sanitizing versionRead More Gender in Society as portrayed in Mary Wollstonecrafts A Vindication of the Right Woman and D.H. Lawrences Give Her a Pattern904 Words   |  4 PagesIn this essay I am going to show you how things like education, job and relationship between men and women have changed and things like support are still the same since Mary Wollstonecraft and D. H. Lawrence write about them. In the essay A Vindication of the Right of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, the author urges women to reject their conventio nal image of weakness. Mary Wollstonecraft uses her style of diction to convince the reader of her ideas. D. H. Lawrence, in his essay, Give Her a PatternRead MoreA Comparison and Contrast Between Flowers from Another World Ad Hi, Ar1485 Words   |  6 PagesENGLISH COMPARATIVE ESSAY ASSINGMENT II ‘A comparison and contrast between Flowers from another world and Hi, are you alone? This essay will attempt to compare and contrast two films directed by Spanish director actress Iciar Bollain. The films to be compared and contrasted are Hi, are you alone? (Hola,estas sola?) and Flowers from another world (Flores de otro mundo). The most apparent reason for comparing and contrasting these two films is that both focus their attentionRead MoreViolence In Films Essay720 Words   |  3 PagesViolence In Films In this essay I am going to compare 3 scenes of violence from 3 different genres and analyse their certifications and effects on young people and whether children are finding ways of viewing secretly, or are being allowed to see, too much violence in films, T.V or through any other median. There has always been violence in films, and there has always been public debate along with it, but as the violence becomes more shocking and more accessibleRead MoreThe Film Love Actually by Bridget Jones Essay1535 Words   |  7 PagesThe Film Love Actually by Bridget Jones Love Actually Essay The film trailers designed to promote the film Love Actually represent a particular view of modern love and relationships. Explore this idea within a media analysis framework. From the makers of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill, the film Love Actually is a romantic comedy about igniting laughter, wrecking havoc, breaking hearts, daring commitment and forcing choices. The film is of a typical

An Eye for an Eye The Death Penalty - 1553 Words

The death penalty has been present, in one way or another, for virtually as long as human civilization has existed. The reasons why are apparent; it is intrinsically logical to human beings that a person who takes the life of another should also be killed. This philosophy is exemplified in the famous Biblical passage, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. However, in light of recent research into ethics, criminology and the justice system, the time has come for us to re-examine our ageless paradigm of revenge. Capital punishment is a custom in which prisoners are executed in accordance with judicial practice when they are convicted of committing a â€Å"capital crime.† Capital crimes are crimes considered so atrocious that they should†¦show more content†¦According to a 1987 study published in the Stanford Law Review, at least 23 non-culpable individuals have been executed from 1900 to 1987, which is more than one innocent execution every four years. These miscarriages of justice are often due to evidence that was not discovered or made available until after the execution. Although recent scientific improvements, such as forensic DNA evidence, have enabled investigators to more accurately pinpoint guilt in a suspect, no current amount of scientific or technological advancement can completely guarantee that errors will never be made. In an issue such as the death penalty, where the stakes are so high – human life – any margin of error, no matter how minuscule, is unacceptable. Perhaps most importantly, one must consider the basic ethical question of hypocrisy. We must ask ourselves, What type of message are we as a nation sending to the rest of the world and to our own citizens when we kill people who kill people to show that it is wrong to kill people? By executing murderers, we are merely lowering ourselves to their level in order to express our primitive desire for retribution. Our society can never be called moral or democratic if we begin sacrificing individuals, without their consent, to the greater good. Since capital punishment is supposedly intended to protect and avenge innocent lives, it has failed its purpose if, as it undoubtedly has and will, it causes even a few blameless people to be killed. TheShow MoreRelatedDeath Penalty: Eye for an Eye1280 Words   |  6 PagesAn Eye for an Eye For many years there has been a constant debate between supporters and non-supporters of the death penalty. Many people argue that the death penalty is as much a murder as the crime committed by the offender. Others may say that it provides closure and justice. I am a strong supporter of the death penalty. There are many others like myself. The world is full of the most dangerous and ruthless criminals that should be put to death. There are many pros that the death penalty hasRead MoreIs the Death Penalty Ethical? Essay examples974 Words   |  4 Pagespeople were executed and this doesnt even include the unreported deaths. Decades ago, death penalty cases were not even to be reported in many times. For many years, people have been rationalize themselves for death penalty as an eye for an eye(2010).This eye for an eye statement is no longer giving any excuses for killing humans. The controversial idea of whether humans are rational enough to decide someones life or death has been questioned. Humans absolutely dont have any right to judgeRead More The Death Penalty Is Archaic and Immoral Essays559 Words   |  3 Pages The death penalty is simply a modernized version of the Holy Bible’s â€Å"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot†. Some argue that death is a necessary retribution for murderous cases - but is it effective morally? Revenge only glorifies violence, which is most definitely not the message the world strives to display. The death penalty is a negative form of punishment and insinuates a harsh reflection of society economically, politically, and socially. Read MoreThe Death Penalty Is More Expensive Than Housing1610 Words   |  7 Pages The death penalty is a hot button issue in contemporary American politics. There are many sides and stances that need to be addressed in order to truly understand the issue. The three main arguments for or against the death penalty tend to be focused around three main areas: fiscal issues, moral issues, and crime prevention issues. Many Americans are concerned about the cost of capital punishment, specifically; the cost of the death penalty per inmate, per year. Is it actually cheaper for theRead MoreThe Death Penalty and Punishment for Crimes795 Words   |  3 Pagesagain, it helps. Execution and the death penalty have been used in most societies since the beginning of history. Penalties back then included boiling to death, flaying, slow slicing, crucification, impalement, crushing, stoning, decapitation, etc. The death penalty was used for reasons today that would go under cruel and unusual punishment. Today in the United States, execution is used mainly for murder, espionage, and treason. In some states in the US, death by firing squad is still used. (â€Å"CriminalRead MoreThe Death Penalty: Pros and Cons Essay1045 Words   |  5 PagesThe Death Penalty. Immoral or moral; just or unjust? These are just a few of the questions people ask themselves when debating the Death Penalty which is arguably the mo st controversial topic of the United States today. Every time these words come up, we start yelling out our opinions on what we feel is right. Pro death penalty people shout deterrence across the room while the anti death penalty supporters shout about potentially killing an innocent man; some argue that is just and the murders deserveRead MorePersuasive Essay Pro Death Penalty858 Words   |  4 PagesProfessor O Putting people to death, judged to have committed certain extremely heinous crimes, is a practice that’s been around for along time. In the later half of the twentieth century, it has become a controversial issue. As a supporter of the death penalty, I consider this to be a good thing for my country and its citizens. Capital punishment deters crime. Statistics prove consisted application of the death penalty deter crime. No executed murdered has ever killed again. For many years, CriminologistsRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is The Only Good Enough Punishment1065 Words   |  5 Pagesgiven the death penalty for murder are neither innocent nor victims. There’s nothing moral about how a criminal murders an innocent victim. These kinds of individuals should be removed from society permanently. The death penalty is the only good enough punishment for taking a human life unlawfully and is the only moral action (Van den Haag 1983). Our laws based ultimately on ancient Jewish laws which is the basis of all western morality and is in which the death penalty was practiced. The death penaltyRead MoreAbolishing The Death Penalty Is Justified910 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Death Penalty According to the Webster’s Dictionary, death means the end of life (Dictionary, 80) and penalty means punishment for any crime or offense (Dictionary, 223). Therefore, by definition the death penalty means the end of a life due to punishment for a crime or offense. The death penalty is started with the Code of King Hammurabi’s in the eighteenth century B.C. This code consisted of 282 laws that stressed justice as clearly stated in the opening of the code, An eye for an eye, andRead MoreThe Inhumanity of Death Penalty892 Words   |  4 Pagesthose criminal. A very serious crime is considered to get the death penalty. This punishment is a symbol of violation and across the line of humanity in Indonesia, a country that follows the Pancasila, one of whose principles is just and civilized humanity. Thus, death penalties based on retaliation are no longer appropriate (Winarta and McDonald, 2011). Death penaltyis also not effective to stop the criminality. Therefore death penalty should be banned as a form of punishment in Indonesia. In his

Ethnographic Interview Essay Example For Students

Ethnographic Interview Essay Discovering who I wanted to interview was difficult for me. Religion has always fascinated me and I found it complicated to decide what religion I wanted to learn more about. Born and raised in to Christianity I have never really had the opportunity to explore different religions and their belief systems. After debating between Muslim and Buddhism, I finally realized that I my interest lied with Buddhism. On October 7, 2007 I interviewed a close friend of mine that I have known for years. His name is Viet Pham. Although we went to high school together and were good friends I was surprised to discover how little I knew about his religious beliefs. It never seemed to be present in our discussions. Viet is a practicing Buddhist and he is very proud of his religion and was more than willing to tell me about it. I always remember him wearing a tiny gold chain with a small green Buddha attached to it. I found my interview with him exciting because I was able to understand the many differences between Buddhism and Christianity. Viet was born in Vietnam in 1985. His family immigrated to the United States when he was only five years old. He is currently a senior in photography at Wichita State University and will graduate this spring. I began my interview by asking him if he remembered much of Vietnam and he said that he remembered how quiet it was when he was little. He said that he grew up on a farm in southern Vietnam and it was a severe culture shock to him when they had to move to the United States. However, speaking with him now you would never know that he was not born and raised in the United States. His love of fast cars, the smell of leather seats and infatuation with city life and designer clothing make it hard to believe that he was once a farm boy. He has adjusted to our culture very well and has lost almost his entire accent, even though he remains fluent in his native tongue. Although he doesnt remember much of Vietnam, his family held on to many of the religious traditions of Buddhism. When I asked Viet what some concepts and practices of Buddhism were, he said Buddhism has many different traditions and different Buddhists practice different aspects of Buddhism. My family practices Theravada Buddhism (a.k. a. Southern Buddhism). Several of our practices include Dana, which is ceremonial giving, Sila, which is the acceptance of Buddhist teachings and following all of its practices, Karma (the balance of sin and merit), and we participate in many Festivals, which celebrate different days during the lunar cycle. I asked Viet about the differences between practicing Buddhists here in the United States versus the Buddhists of Vietnam. His response implied that there wasnt much difference at the temple that he attended. He also implied that his family practices the same as they would if they were home in Vietnam. The only downside, he stated is that while in Vietnam most people are Buddhist, most people in the United States are Christian, so it is hard to find a close group of people that practice the same way as you do. I had to know what some of the major differences between Buddhism and Christianity were, so I asked Viet if he could explain to me some of these differences. Buddhists do not believe most of the core beliefs of Christianity. For example we dont believe in the Garden of Eden or the fall of mankind. We dont believe that humans originate in sin because of Adam and Eve. We dont believe in the idea of a savior who was born of a virgin, executed, resurrected, and then rose to heaven, he said with a shrug. .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 , .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .postImageUrl , .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 , .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:hover , .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:visited , .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:active { border:0!important; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 { 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; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:active , .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .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; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9 .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u25cb22a04a77d0967bb98977361686d9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Cause of American Revolutionary War Essay I replied with curiosity about his religion and asked him if Buddhists and Christians shared any similar beliefs. He smiled at me and said Well, not very many. However, we believe in the golden rule of treating others as you want to be treated. We also both believe in a higher power. We believe in Buddha and you in God. Also, I was raised .

Utopia By Thomas More (1478-1535) Essays - Utopia, Utopian Fiction

Utopia by Thomas More (1478-1535) Utopia by Thomas More (1478-1535) Type of Work: Social and philosophical commentary Setting Antwerp; early sixteenth century Principal Characters Sir Thomas More, emissary for Henry VIII Peter Giles, More's friend Raphael Hythloday, world traveler and witness to Utopia Book Overveiw Thomas More toured Antwerp on a diplomatic mission for his king, Henry VIII. There, More's friend, Peter Giles, introduced the young ambassador to Raphael Hythloday, an educated sailor who had seen much of the world while voyaging with Amerigo Vespucci. The three of them convened in a garden so that More could question this learned and experienced man. More and Giles both wondered why a man of such wisdom and stature as Raphael had not entered into a king's service. Raphael scoffed at the idea: "The councilors of kings are so wise that they need no advice from others (or at least so it seems to themselves)." Moreover, Raphael opined that most councilors merely bowed to the king's inclinations and were more concerned with maintaining favor than with offering impartial and wise advice. Raphael also believed that the average king possessed different goals than he himself had; that "most princes apply themselves to warlike pursuits," whereas he had no interest or skill in the acquisition of riches or territory. Raphael asked Giles and More to imagine him before a king, cautioning him that "wars would throw whole nations into chaos, would exhaust the King's treasury and destroy his own people, [and] that a prince should take more care of his people's happiness than of his own." How receptive would the king be to that kind of advice? More asked Raphael if he had ever been to England; the traveler replied that he had, and then proceeded to relate a story about a discussion he had entered into there with a British lawyer. The lawyer commented that he approved of hanging thieves for their crimes. But Raphael struck up an argument against this form of "justice." The high incidence of theft in England, he claimed, was attributable to the increased sheepherding by wealthy landowners. This new industry had forced the poorer farmers off their land while at the same time boosting the price of goods and feed; and these combined factors had caused a rise in unemployment. Without work or land, many people had turned to a life of crime or to begging. This "policy [of hanging thieves] may have the appearance of justice, but it is really neither just nor expedient." In his view, English society was "first making [people] thieves and then punishing them for it." Another of Raphael's complaints was that many English noblemen, along with their entourages of lazy friends, "live idly like drones and subsist on the labor of their tenants." Such "wanton luxury" only exacerbated the poverty of the common people. While More and Giles could understand the justice in Raphael's social criticisms, they were still unable to understand why he would not help rescue society by offering his higher wisdom in the political arena. Raphael replied: As long as there is private property and while money is the standard of all things, I do not think that a nation can be governed either justly or happily .... Unless private property is entirely done away with, there can be no fair distribution of goods, nor can the world be happily governed. Neither More nor Giles believed that this prerequisite to peace would ever be possible to attain. Raphael was not surprised by their scoffs, but averred that had they traveled with him on the island haven of Utopia, there they would have seen a truly orderly, peaceful society. The two Englishmen then prevailed on Raphael to acquaint them, after their meal, with all the customs and institutions of the Utopians. Dinner completed, Raphael began his descriptive tour: First of all, Utopian society was uniform, with all cities sharing the "same language, customs, institutions and laws." Its economy was guided by one fundamental rule: "All the Utopians, men and women alike, work at agriculture." Additionally, everyone worked at a trade of his own choosing, provided the trade proved useful to society. Although every citizen was required to work, each labored only six hours out of twenty-four. While to many such liberal conditions might seem untenable, Raphael pointed out that "the actual number of workers who supply the needs of mankind is much smaller than imagined," considering the many noblemen, beggars and others in contemporary society who produced nothing. For Utopians, the chief aim was to allow everyone enough free time to develop his or her mind. Food on the island was distributed equally, with the sick tended to first. The rest of the

Moral development in children Essays

Moral development in children Essays Moral development in children Essay Moral development in children Essay The purpose of this essay is to create a body of knowledge for follow-on research in the field of the impact of different factors on moral development of children. For this purpose information was gathered through the study and analysis of materials presented in books, research journals, and professional publications so as to determine: Who holds the responsibility for moral development of children? On initial consideration, the question posed here seemed to bracket nicely few main points of the subject, but that impression appeared to be wide of the mark, especially when it came to making judgments concerning the notions of morals and morality. Really, what is a morality? What does it mean to be a moral person? Our values, both moral and non-moral, were acquired along with our basic language and socialized behaviours when we were young children and come from some very strong traditions that are part of our societies and our cultures.Law, religion, our family and peer group all tell us what we ought to do, but following these more traditional oughts does not necessary constitute a moral life. A great number of people, however, do live long and useful lives without ever consciously defining or systematically considering the values or moral rules that guide their social, personal, and work lives. During most of our lives we simply decided what was right and did it. Websters Dictionary, Tenth Edition, defines morality as conformity to the ideals of right human conduct; virtue. The Oxford English Dictionary defines morality as the doctrine of right and wrong in human conduct; conformity to conventional rules by religion or other spiritual influences. However, the terms right or wrong and right human conduct are totally subjective: they have different meanings to different people. Who decides what is right or wrong? Is our moral decision just as simple as the proverbial coin toss? Who sets the standards and norms? Probably, there is no easy answer to any of these questions, neither is there a single universal definition of the notions.One of the most wide-ranging descriptions of morality, where words right and wrong are avoided, belongs to Russian psychologist Rubenstein, who believes that morality is conformity and devotion to a set of standards initiated and/or accepted by an individual; an individuals active adherence to his accepted standards for the duration of his existence. (Rubenstein, 1982, p. 129-130) As in many areas of educational research, the field of moral education is full of controversy, which is directly connected with the debate about the definition of morality.These debates are not lim ited to psychological accounts of the nature of morals, but also include the questions of childrens moral development, extending to their general development and to the very definition of educational aims in this area. Moral development should be related to all the fields that use the word development. In ways that are not easily measurable, moral development has some connection to physical, social, political, religious, and other kinds of development.And, of course, economics being so central to development, one must ask about the correlation of moral development and economic development. To ask about this relation may seem to be a silly question, but perhaps it is just an embarrassing one. (G. Moran) Children develop morality slowly, and in stages. Each stage, beginning from the preschool years and continuing even in the adult years, has its own theory and idea of what is good and right and different reasons why people should be good. Each stage brings a person closer to mature m oral development.These issues have been approached by many psychologists, but the most prominent input into this research was done by Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg. The purpose of Piagets studies was to investigate the growth of moral judgement in children. However, he did not merely seek to examine their moral behaviour, but tried to establish the degree to which children at any given age and stage can reason morally, so that we may know the framework within which we must operate when we seek to help them to develop the moral standards acceptable in our society. (Brearley, 1968, p. 120).Piaget discovered that young children have a much more primitive understanding of right and wrong behaviour than older children: they judge bad behaviour by the amount of damage caused by a persons behaviour. Kohlberg carried Piagets work into adolescence and adulthood. According to Kohlberg (1984, p. 67) there are three levels of moral development with two stages in each. During the first leve l (Pre-conventional) children are concerned with avoiding punishment (Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience) and getting ones own needs met (Stage 2: Individualism).This level and its stages fit into the framework of young children up to the age of ten years. During the second level (Conventional) children are more concerned with living up to the expectations of others (Stage 3: Interpersonal Conformity) and want to do the right thing because it is good for the group, family, or institution (Stage 4: Social System and Conscience). This level and its stages fit children over the age of ten years and on to adulthood. The third level is called Post-conventional. During this level individuals govern their behaviour by the relative values and opinions of the groups they live and interact with.Right behaviour is based on a social contract (Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights) with others and in the validity of universal moral principles (Stage 6: Universal/Ethical Principles), which ma y or may not agree with societies laws. Laws that agree with universal moral principles are obeyed but when those laws violate these principles, the individual follows the principles instead. There are many other theories and approaches to this issue, but our question is about another aspect of the matter: who is responsible for moral development of children?To answer this question, first of all we need to determine the circle of possible relationships that can influence childs moral development. Of course, in the widest sense, all relationships may be regarded as part of social development, but the earlier, more personal relationships have a great impact on the process of moral development. Morality is not something that is practised in isolation. Morality is, among other things, an aspect of out relationship with other people. And anything which diminishes our ability to make such relationships successful diminishes also our capacity for moral actions. (Williams, 1970, p. 109) The moral development of a very young child brings out the interrelation of all ages. One cannot describe the moral development of infants without referring to the moral development of parents and grandparents. Parenting a child is one of lifes great moral adventures, and so is the childing of ones parents. (Rubenstein, 1982, p. 89) Moral life is shaped by our responses to a pattern of relations. The responses in the relation of adult and child are not equal, but the process can still have a degree of mutuality.We often underestimate the infants power of receptivity to moral influence. Robert Coles (1997, p. 45) states that character or moral development is an interaction between nature and nurture, which takes place in a very early age. It develops as a result of parental interaction, balanced discipline styles, and a childs own choices. Children learn about right from wrong from their earliest experiences. When they need nurturing or feeding and parents fulfil that need without exce ssive indulgence, then children develop characters that accept rules and tolerate frustrations later in life.The infant needs to know that he is merely a self among other selves, that he is not omnipotent, that other people have need and feelings too. (Williams, 1970, p. 37) There are two sides of discipline and the parents aim is to try balancing them. Too much love and a child becomes spoiled, expecting their every want and need to be met regardless of other peoples wants and needs. According to Huxley (1985, p. 17), this causes children to be stuck in the early stages of moral development based on selfish individualism.Thats fine for a two-year-old, tolerable in a six-year-old, and obnoxious in a twelve-year-old or older. Too many limits and the child develop a low sense of worth and a lack of self-control. This usually results in an overly rebellious child or an unhealthy submissive one. (ibid. ) Achieving this balance is difficult. But it is easier to do if discipline is viewe d not just as punishing wrong behaviour, but as a process of shaping character. Parents are not simply setting limits. They are teaching how to distinguish right from wrong.It is easier to say no when we know that we are guiding the childs moral development and eventually, his or her social success. As the later stages of moral development reveal, children can make a choice not to follow societys rules or laws. Parents must accept that reality. Thats part of parents on-going moral development. Understanding moral development allows parents to assess their children and have a better target for their individual development. Hopefully, the end result is that our child will be the one who will stop and wait for someone in need, regardless of what the crowd says he or she should do.The ideal is that the child will develop, as Kant put it as a law-making member of a kingdom of ends. He must not only come to know what is in general right or wrong; he must also go beyond this level, so that he sees why such rules are right or wrong and can revise rules and make new ones in the light of new knowledge and new circumstances. (Peters, 1981, p. 33) The described importance of parents influence leads us to the conclusion that a childs moral education is the primary responsibility of the family.Other aspects and factors, other religious and social organizations and institutions can each make their contributions to the process, yet none of them can replace the family. While the school cannot accept the primary responsibility for moral teaching, it still has a significant role to play in the reinforcement of a childs moral understanding and behaviour. The school is a community and should be characterized by courtesy and civility in all its activities, with instruction in specific subject matter informed by moral understanding.Today leading educators no longer see their job primarily to be the teaching only the curriculum subjects. The philosophy of education has undergone a f undamental change. Teachers now perceive their jobs to be the involvement in reshaping of the childs values, beliefs and morals. Teaching is now being viewed as a form of therapy, the classroom as a clinic, and the teacher as a therapist whose job it is to apply psychological techniques in the shaping of the childs personality and values. (G. Moran)

Research Proposal On Impact Of Oil On Agriculture In Nigeria’s Economy The WritePass Journal

Research Proposal On Impact Of Oil On Agriculture In Nigeria’s Economy INTRODUCTION Research Proposal On Impact Of Oil On Agriculture In Nigeria’s Economy INTRODUCTIONRATIONALE OF THE STUDYRESEARCH OBJECTIVESLITERATURE REVIEWRESEARCH QUESTIONSMETHODOLOGYRESEARCH DESIGNRESEARCH APPROACHDATA COLLECTIONDATA ANALYSISETHICAL CONSIDERATIONCONCLUSIONREFERENCERelated INTRODUCTION Fluctuations of crude oil prices and the crisis of rising food insecurity have always been the main concerns of policymakers worldwide. Since the 1960s when oil was first discovered in Nigeria, oil has accounted for a large share of Nigerias export economy (Daramola, et.al, 2007). In 2000, for example, 99.6% of Nigerias export income came from oil, making it the world’s most oil dependent economy (Akpan 2009). The countrys fortune has increasingly relied on oil for its revenue. Nigeria is currently known as the largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa producing an estimate volume of around 2.413 million barrels of oil per day (AFDB 2005). This makes it the 6th largest oil producer in the world. Despite being amongst the largest oil producers in the world, Nigeria remains home to the world’s poor after China and India with majority of its population living below 1$USD per day (Akpan 2009). This raises a fundamental question: why the high rates of poverty? Could it be because of years of mismanagement of the oil sector or due to its neglect of agricultural sector? In addressing these concerns, this analysis examines the impact of oil on agriculture in Nigeria’s economy. RATIONALE OF THE STUDY Prior to the 1960, agriculture was known to be the dominant sector of the countrys economy. It accounted for nearly 70% of the GDP and about 90% of foreign earnings and federal government revenue (Akpan 2009). However, a notable shift emerged with the discovery of oil at the Niger Delta in 1965 as agriculture was replaced by the oil industry (Sekumade 2009). Today, oil account’s for a large percentage of Nigeria’s export earnings (Lawal 2011). Interestingly though, Nigeria fares much worse in terms of the rates of poverty, with the third highest number of people living in abject poverty after China and India. It is estimated that the population of people living on less than US$1 per day had increased significantly from 36% in the 1970 to about 70% in 2006 (Akpan 2009). Of course, these outcomes coincided with oil discovery in the country. It is in this recognition that this proposal seeks to explore on the effect that oil has had on Agriculture in Nigeria’s economy. The proposal seeks to confirm the hypothesis that Nigeria’s neglect of its agricultural sector and increased dependence on oil was the main reason behind the current crisis in its economy. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES This analysis is guided by the following research objectives: To investigate how the discovery of oil in Nigeria has affected the attention given to, and government spending on agriculture in the economy. To examine the extent to which agricultural exports in Nigeria have been adversely affected by oil. To determine the impact that increased government spending, more attention and policies on agricultural practice; may have on the economy considering the neglect it has suffered so far. LITERATURE REVIEW Since the main objective of this paper is to investigate how the discovery of oil in Nigeria has affected the attention given to, and government spending on agriculture in the economy; as part of the study, we shall review some theoretical and empirical studies related to this core objective. Prior to the oil discovery in Nigeria, agriculture accounted for a lion share of the GDP. It also provided employment and food to the teeming population as well as raw materials for the growing industries (Adeniyi 2008). From the standpoint this standpoint, Ogen (2007) suggests agriculture to have been the lead sector of growth in Nigerian economy during the 1960s. Ogen (2007) notes that Nigeria had, during that period, become the worlds second largest cocoa producer and the lead producer and exporter of palm oil. Contributing to this subject, (Alkali 1997) also points out that besides being the lead producer in palm oil; Nigeria had also become the lead exporter in groundnut, rubber, cotton, and hides and skins. Lawal (1997) also affirmed the positive contribution that agriculture had made to the economy of Nigeria before the oil discovery. Despite the reliance on traditional farming methods, agriculture was the main stay of the economy accounting for over 70% of Nigeria’s exports (NEEDS 2004). But the oil boom of the 1970s led to its neglect of agriculture and increased dependence on oil resources. According to Ogen (2007), by 2004 the contribution of the agricultural sector to Nigerias GDP had declined to less than 5%. Ever since, food insecurity and poverty have remained persistently high in Nigeria. The NEEDS Policy Paper (2004) further reveals that close to two-thirds of Nigerias population live below US$1 per day with most of them situated in the rural areas. The policy paper, suggests that roots of this crisis, which led to a vast number of the Nigerian population living below the poverty index, lies in its neglect of agricultural sector and increased dependence on oil. Contributing to this debate, this proposal provides important insights of how the discovery of oil in Nigeria has affected the attention given to, and government spending on agriculture in the economy. To address this drift and as an important realization of the central role that agriculture plays in development,   the proposal seeks to determine the impact that increased government spending, more attention and policies on agricultural practice; may have on the economy considering the neglect it has suffered so far. RESEARCH QUESTIONS This analysis is thus underpinned by the following research questions How has agriculture been affected by the discovery of oil in Nigeria? To what extent has dependency in oil resulted in a decline of agricultural exports in Nigeria? What will be impact of increased government spending, more attention and policies that enhance agricultural practices; on Nigerian economy? METHODOLOGY RESEARCH DESIGN This analysis will take the form of a descriptive research as it seeks to describe how the decline in agriculture and increase in poverty in Nigeria was a result of an increased overreliance on oil resource, which led to the neglect of the agricultural sector. Descriptive statistics will also be employed to describe the variables in this study. RESEARCH APPROACH A secondary research will be undertaken for this analysis. Because of the nature of the study, which is to investigate on how the discovery of oil in Nigeria had affected the attention given to, and government spending on agriculture in the economy; data that has already been generated will be particularly suited for this type of study. The study draws from and overlaps previous work, especially the work of Akpan (2009) who used a VAR methodology to investigate the impact of oil discovery on agriculture in Nigeria’s economy. His findings are very much in line with our hypothesis which points out that the neglect of agriculture has resulted from the increased reliance on mono-cultural oil based economy. DATA COLLECTION The data on government spending in agriculture and oil sector, and their contribution to GDP will be obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin for various years. Time series data on the amount of federal government expenditure on these two comparable sectors and their contribution to GDP in Nigeria will be obtained for periods between 1970 and 2007. DATA ANALYSIS We will use a VAR approach (a vector autoregressive system) to analyze the relationship between increased dependence on oil in the economy and declining agricultural exports and rising food insecurity in the economy.   This relationship will reveal the extent to which dependency on oil had resulted in the neglect of agriculture in Nigeria. The VAR model incorporates many time series which interact via a few dynamic factors. The variables to be incorporated in this model include: oil price, oil revenue, food insecurity, and agricultural exports. This model provides a framework where in changes to a particular variable, say the price of oil, can be related to changes in other variables and lag in those variables such as agricultural export. ETHICAL CONSIDERATION For any research, there are important ethical considerations that must be considered. With reference to this analysis, the main foreseen ethical issue that is likely to rise is the lack of ethical approval from the original authors. Since this analysis is based on data that has already been generated and draws from previous work; it will not be possible to have ethical approval from the original authors. However, in addressing this ethical concern, the researcher will acknowledge the work of these authors where necessary. CONCLUSION Unlike its neighbor countries, Nigeria has a huge agricultural potential. However, the increasing reliance on a monoculture oil based economy has resulted in its neglect of the agricultural sector. In addressing this drift, this proposal reignites this particular subject and calls for increased government spending, more attention and urgent need for more policies that will enhance domestic production and reduce the overreliance on oil resources in Nigeria. REFERENCE Adeniyi O., 2008. Oil Price Shocks and Nigeria’s macro economy. Unpublished PhD Thesis Post Field Report. Department of Economics, University of Ibadan African Development Bank (AFDB), 2005. African Economic Outlook 2004/2005, Paris: OECD. Akpan, E.O., 2009. Oil resource management and food insecurity in Nigeria. Paper presented at CSAE Conference, Oxford University, Oxford, UK. Alkali, R.A., 1997. The World Bank and Nigeria: Cornucopia or Pandora Box? Kaduna: Baraka Press. Daramola, et.al, 2007. â€Å"Agricultural Export Potential†. In: Collier P. and C. Pattillo (eds.), Economic Policy Options for a Prosperous Nigeria, London: Palgrave Macmillan. Karl, T.L., 2007. Oil-led development: social, political and economic consequences. CDDRL Working Papers. No.80 Lawal, W. A, 2011. â€Å"An analysis of government spending on agricultural sector and its contribution to GDP in Nigeria†. International Journal of Business and Social Science. Vol.2 (20) Lawal, W. A., 1997. â€Å"The Economy and the State from the Pre-colonial Times to the Present†. In: Osuntokun, A. and Olukoju, A. (eds.) Nigerian Peoples and Cultures. Ibadan: Davidson. Ogen, O., 2007. The agricultural sector and Nigerias development: comparative perspectives from Brazilian Agro-Industrial Economy, 1960-1995. Noble World Archives. Nigeria Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy- NEEDS (2004). Executive Summary on Nigeria Agricultural Policy Support Facility (A-PSF). An Agricultural Policy, Research and Knowledge Program to Support Nigeria’s NEEDS. Sekumade, A.B., 2009. â€Å"The effect of petroleum dependency on agricultural trade in Nigeria: an error correlation modelling (ECM) approach†. Scientific Research and Essay, vol. 4 (11), pp. 1385-1391

Galileo in Rome Book Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Galileo in Rome Book Report - Essay Example It deals with a series of events climaxing into Galileo’s trial by the Tribunal of the Inquisition charging him of heresy. The charge against him was brought regarding his publication, Dialogue of the Two Chief World Systems in 1632. Through this publication Galileo expressed his views on certain fundamental scientific truth. The authors are, William R Shea, who held the chair of History of Science at the University of Padua at the time of writing this book, and Mariano Artigas, Professor of Philosophy of Science at the University of Navarra. They came by Galileo’s correspondence in the archive, which was the entire source on which this book is based. They actually speak of two Inquisitions, one in 1616 and the other in 1633. The trial is to be seen in the light of that age when science was just in an emerging state and people were not ready to part with the age-old traditional concepts and embrace challenges of scientific hypotheses. Galileo made his first trip to Rome as an unemployed youth in search of a university job. At this time he found favor with the leading Jesuit Mathematician Christopher Clavius, and perhaps met the future Cardinal Robert Bellarmine also who would play a significant role in Galileo’s future. His second trip to Rome was a glorious experience in his lifetime. He was already a famous professor. The celestial bodies observed through the telescope and their subsequent publication made him famous throughout the world of the intelligentsia. The Jesuit astronomers supported his discoveries, and Cardinal Bellarmine felicitated Galileo on his wonderful achievement. Galileo was granted a membership in the prestigious Accademia dei Lincei. Galileo’s third trip to Rome was clouded with antagonism against his active support for Copernicus and his heliocentric theory in his Letters to the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. The work on sunspots aggravated the suspicion. The authors narrate a series of events that sealed Galileo’s fate.