Confessions – Aurelius Augustine

26 November 2007 The Measure of a Woman In one of his most famous works, Confessions, Aurelius Augustine maps out important details and happenings throughout his life in reference to his loved ones and his God. An undeniable aspect of his life is the influence of his mother, Monica, and her perspective on life, love, and death. If compared to another famous female figure in the Christian life, such as Rebekah, the mother of Jacob, Monica’s virtues of patience and eternal perspective shine through, revealing her Biblical view of marriage and her husband.Augustine commends his mother’s virtues and lifestyle, providing an example for women everywhere to carefully consider. Monica shows one of the most difficult qualities in life to possess-patience. She demonstrates patience toward her son, Augustine, in her continual prayer and intercession for his salvation. In his Confessions, Augustine describes his mother’s prayers mixed with tears as he sets sail for Rome (5. 1232). Despite his departure, she continues to seek God for His power in the life of her son. Her patience is rewarded years later when Augustine finally comes to know the Lord.When Augustine brings her the good news, she is â€Å"filled with triumphant exultation† (8. 1238). Ultimately Monica realizes that God has done more than she could ever imagine. In Carl G. Vaught’s The Journey Toward God in Augustine’s Confessions: Book I-VI, he presents the importance of Augustine’s relationship with his mother concerning his conversion. He proposes that because of his relationship with his mother Augustine â€Å"begins to move beyond Skellenger 2 space and time toward the positive relationship with God that Monica wants him to embrace† (68).No doubt Monica’s patience influences her son to embark on his journey towards the Lord. By the time her son is converted, Monica already has countless opportunities to develop patience in her life. Before her e nduring attitude touches Augustine’s life, she is able to influence both her husband and mother-in-law. Referring to his mother’s impact on the life of his grandmother, Augustine confirms that Monica â€Å"won her completely by her unfailing patience and mildness† (Confessions 9. 1243). Such a straightforward statement proves that he not only recognizes, but also admires the virtue of patience he sees in his mother’s life.In one of his other works, Encounters With God in Augustine's Confessions: Books VII-IX, Carl G. Vaught draws attention to the fact that â€Å"Monica’s victory in this case is an unusual feat in any culture† (122). Perhaps demonstrating patience towards her mother-in-law is one of a woman’s greatest accomplishments in life. If so, this would greatly substantiate Monica’s character. Another virtue that Augustine reveres in Monica’s life is her eternal perspective. This is seen in his account of her last few days before her death. He reports that to both of them â€Å"the world with all its delights seemed cheap† (Confessions 9. 245). Monica’s focus on the life to come causes her to disregard the importance of her physical body’s final resting place. She gives instruction that her body is to be buried â€Å"wherever it may be† at the time of her death (9. 1246). Vaught again comments on the life of Monica, suggesting that â€Å"she points beyond death and the need to place the body in a particular place† (Encounters 135). Monica’s ability to see past the temporal life on earth illustrates her faith and obedience to God’s Word, which encourages the believer in II Corinthians 4:18 to concentrate on that which is eternal.In comparison, Rebekah of the Old Testament is not as patient nor eternally minded as Monica. Rather than waiting on the Lord to work in the lives of her family members, Rebekah feels the need to make things happen for h erself. When Rebekah discovers that her husband Skellenger 3 desires to bless their two sons she wastes no time to command the younger of the two boys, Jacob, to trick his father in order to receive the greater of the blessings. Though Jacob attempts to warn his mother of the potential danger she disregards it replying in Genesis 27:13, â€Å"My son, let the curse fall on me.Just do what I say. † The reader virtually hears the impatience and haste in Rebekah’s voice. In Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, he describes Rebekah’s response as â€Å"a very rash word† (162). He also points out the fact that if Rebekah would have walked in patience and trust, rather than impulsiveness and anxiety, Jacob could have received the blessing in a proper way since God had already promised in Genesis 23:25 that he would be blessed (164). Both Rebekah and Monica receive the things they are after, yet in contrast to Monica’s patience whic h produces peace nd harmony in her home, Rebekah’s impatience results in additional strife and dissension amongst her family. It also displays Rebekah’s earthly and temporal mindset. She is so concerned with an earthly inheritance for her son that she fails to remember that it is God who blesses and fulfills His Word in His perfect timing and way. The virtues a woman possesses can have a huge impact on her view of marriage. Particular virtues may also shape her understanding and belief about her responsibilities to her husband.While counseling her peers, Monica reveals her personal belief and view of marriage, calling it a â€Å"matrimonial contract†¦an instrument by which they became servants† (Confessions 9. 1243). She also sees her life and the institute of marriage as a way to reach others and bring peace. Her son calls her a â€Å"peacemaker between people quarreling and minds at discord† (Confessions 9. 1244). Monica considered herself a servan t within the realm of marriage. This concept consequently affects her opinion of what her responsibilities are to her husband. Augustine Skellenger 4 lainly describes Monica’s behavior towards her husband in Book IX of Confessions, writing that â€Å"she served him as her lord† (1243). Such behavior apparently touches Augustine so greatly that he takes the time to include these particular facts in his work. Elizabeth A. Clark also observes in her book, St. Augustine On Marriage and Sexuality, that Augustine â€Å"praises her for the meekly subordinate position she had assumed in relation to his father† (21). Not only does Monica desire to live as a humble servant, she also sees her responsibility to be a witness for Christ to her husband.Augustine goes on to say in Confessions that Monica â€Å"use[s] all her effort to win him† to the Lord and does so by â€Å"preaching†¦to him by her character† (9. 1243). What a beautiful picture of Christâ⠂¬â„¢s love shining through her actions and integrity. She understands the power of her pure and submissive conduct, as well as the negative influence words possess while spoken in uncontrolled emotion. As Vaught so beautifully articulates, Monica â€Å"is prepared to wait for God’s mercy to transform him† (Encounters 121).Her approach to her husband may appear backwards to her peers, yet Monica’s demeanor proves to have amazing influence in her husband’s life. In comparison to Monica’s submission and faithfulness to her husband, Rebekah chooses to act out of desperation and fear. Though she serves her husband and family for the majority of her life, the story of her and Jacob’s deception illustrates a time when she decided to be lord of her house, instead of submitting to the head of their home, Isaac. During that time she does not walk in integrity towards her husband as Monica did.On the contrary, she devises a plan found in Genesis 27:14 -17 to deceive Isaac by dressing up Jacob in order to appear as Esau, his brother. Instead of utilizing her position of wife and mother to promote peace she attempts to orchestrate a selfish and cunning plan. This is a complete contrast to Monica’s desire to be a witness and model of God’s love. Skellenger 5 Monica is a Godly woman, referred to by her son with same qualities found in the third chapter of I Timothy, such as making herself beautiful by submitting to her husband.Her perspective and conduct would be magnificent to see in today’s women. Perhaps her ways might be considered old fashioned, weak, or even a way of suppressing women’s power. On the other hand, Rebekah’s choice to take charge is widely accepted and viewed as powerful in society today. Yet by humbling herself, Monica receives God’s power, as well as answers to her many prayers, and in her supposed weaker state she has enormous influence and power that goes far beyond th e realm of Rebekah’s misleading strength. Skellenger 6 Works CitedAugustine, Aurelius, and Elizabeth A. Clark, ed. St. Augustine On Marriage and Sexuality Fathers of the Church V. 1. Washington, D. C. Catholic University of America Press, 1996. ; http://www. netlibrary. com. library. dbu. edu:2048/Reader/;. Henry, Matthew. Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume I (Genesis to Deuteronomy). Logos, Inc. 1706-1721. Christian Classics Ethereal Library. ;http://www. ccel. org/ccel/henry /mhc1. html;. The Holy Bible, New International Version. International Bible Society, 1894. ;http://www. biblegateway. om/;. Lawall, Sarah, and Maynard Mack, Eds. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. 2nd ed. Vol. B. New York: W. W. Norton ; Company, 2002. Vaught, Carl G. The Journey Toward God in Augustine’s Confessions: Books I-VI. Albany State University of New York Press, 2003. ;http://www. netlibrary. com. library. dbu. edu:2048/Reader/;. Vaught, Carl G. Encounters With God in Augustin e's Confessions: Books VII-IX. Albany State University of New York Press, 2004. .

Description Paper on Gustav Klimt

DESCRIPTION PAPER: ART INTO TEXT The purpose of this short paper is to hone your abilities in using words to describe and understand the physical qualities of a work of art. By writing about art, you will take on the responsibility of examining it closely, organizing your perceptions and thoughts about it, and conveying in text an organized and clear summary of your visual analysis. First, choose a work to examine. There is no limit to which work you may choose, except that it must date from within our time period (the year 1400 of the common era to the present).If you have concerns about your choice, consult the professor. Please do not choose a work that has been discussed extensively in class or in the textbook. You may choose a work that you can see first-hand in Hong Kong (at for instance the Hong Kong Museum of Art or the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, or a work of public sculpture). If you opt to do this, please identify where the object resides in your paper. If you desire to cho ose a work from the West or other places not immediately accessible, please find and utilize many reproductions of it, from as many different angles as possible, and with different levels of detail.Please attach relevant images to the end of your paper (do not include them in the text). After choosing the work, you will then spend considerable time examining it (no less than 30 minutes is recommended). Then, take notes on what you see. Describe the media, principles of design and visual elements that you find in the work. Think about how line, volume, scale, balance, and/or visual rhythm are used in the work, if appropriate. Pay attention to as much of the surface of the work as you can see.Do physical features of the work suggest the purpose of its creation, the meaning it is trying to communicate, or its use or original physical context? What can you infer about the culture that made this object from its physical features? Finally, compose a 2 to 4 page (double spaced, with regula r fonts and margins) essay summarizing your findings. The bulk of the paper should be a well-organized description and formal analysis. You should organize this part of the paper logically, i. e. there should be an order to your description and analysis.Then, taking the features and relationships in the work that you find most compelling and important, assess its cultural meaning and/or significance based upon your observations. This should be your conclusion. Do not conduct research for this assignment. The focus here should be on honing your observational skills. You will be graded on clarity of writing and word choice (25%), organization (25%), thoroughness of observation (25%), and the plausibility of your conclusions based on evidence at hand (25%). Paper due in class on Monday, September 24, 2012. Penalties for not following instructions:Does not meet the page minimum: dropped a letter grade. Fonts and/or margins are oversized in order to meet page minimum: dropped five points . Illustrations are within the text rather than appended to the end: dropped a letter grade. Work chosen has been discussed in book or class extensively: dropped a letter grade. Research has been conducted: dropped two letter grades. Plagiary: automatic zero. Reuse of previously submitted material: automatic zero. Work is not within specified time period: dropped five points. Excessive redundancy/use of â€Å"filler†: points subtracted from thoroughness score.Farris’s rules of good formal nonfiction writing: Avoid use of first and second person pronouns (I, you, we, us). Avoid passive voice. Avoid redundancies, both in word use and content. Be sure of the meaning of a word before making use of it. Simplify phrasing in order to be direct about what you want to convey. Organize your thoughts before starting to write. When not writing dialogue, paragraphs must be at least three sentences long. Sentences in a paragraph should address a single subject. Avoid starting a sent ence with a conjunction. Avoid contractions. Omit unnecessary words. Assess evidence, not subjective reaction.

Assessment of Patients Perceptions

Caring has been widely discussed in the health care professions, especially in nursing which is considered to be one of the caring professions (Boykin and Schoenhofer 2001). Watson (1985) describes caring as a moral ideal of nursing. According to Watson, caring preserves human dignity in cure dominated health care systems and becomes a standard by which cure is measured (Watson 1988c, p. 177). Research literature indicates that the assessment of quality of care from the patient’s perspective has been operationalised as patient satisfaction (Dufrene 2000). Nurse caring has been related to patient satisfaction in western literature (Wolf et al 2003; Wolf et al 1998; Forbes and Brown 1995; Boyle et al 1989). There are so many factors that influence patients’ perceptions of care given by the opposite sex. Some of these are: Age, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic and health status. The most consistent finding has been related to age. Older patients tend to be more satisfied with their health care. Studies that have looked at ethnicity have generally held that being a member of a minority group is associated with lower rates of satisfaction. Studies on the effect of gender show that women tend to be less satisfied and other studies show the opposite. Most studies have found that individuals of lower socio-economic status and less education tend to be less satisfied with their health care. Other studies have shown that poorer satisfaction with care is associated with experiencing worry, depression, fear or hopelessness, as is having a psychiatric diagnosis such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or drug abuse. Health status can greatly influence satisfaction of an individual (Hall, 1990). It is important to examine the relationships of nurse caring to patient satisfaction in Cape Coast because of severe staff shortages, heavy workload, and low salaries in Cape Coast Hospitals. Nursing literature had long recognized importance of these perceptions as major factors militating against prompt and effective service delivery in the care environment. One of the critical roles and ethics of the nurse is to treat all patients irrespective of their gender, colour, creed, political inclination and religious affiliations. High quality nurse-client communication is the backbone of the art and science of nursing. It has a significant impact on patient well-being as well as the quality and outcome of nursing care, and is related to patients’ overall satisfaction with their care. The maintenance of high nurse patient communication also depends on the nurse and patient. The quality of care in a hospital has been shown to be influenced by several factors including: inadequate nursing staff, lack of regular water supply on wards, too much nursing documentation, too long waiting time, and lack of specialized nurses. In Ghana, there is crisis in nurse-client communication evidence from four sources. These are personal observation, anecdotes from client and their families, media reports, and official health reports. Although there is ample evidence to demonstrate that most nurses are females, one cannot discount the enormous services that male nurses provide irrespective of their gender. The ever increasing number of female nurses compared to male nurses in our wards, coupled with patient dissatisfaction toward treatment received has raised a lot of questions as to whether there is a perceived idea that male nurses offer better care or otherwise. With the introduction of Health Insurance a few years ago, more patients report to the hospital and are also consciously aware of their rights and responsibilities as patients and hence will demand for better service delivery from care givers. Recently, patient dissatisfaction has been on the ascendancy in several hospitals across Ghana including University of Cape Coast Hospital. This has raised a lot of concerns about the perceptions patients have regarding the care given by male nurses.

Strategic Considerations within the European Union Framework Essay

Strategic Considerations within the European Union Framework - Essay Example This essay discusses that member states of European Union have been pilling pressure to the union following debts and recession crisis. Arguably, EU failed to offer protection to the interest of its members and their citizens thus leading lost of public support. Although it is not probable to argue that the turmoil has influenced the Europeans view to matters, other than its social influences, it may have influenced the engagement of European citizens to European projects. Strategic plans initiated by EU member states to counter the impact of the financial crisis, and the create employment is an indication of the impact of the economic crisis to the citizens of the Euro zone. A survey by â€Å"Transatlantic trend† argues financial turmoil affected 60% of the people interviewed compared to 55% of people affected by the crisis in 2009. Europeans show a lot of concern to development as revealed by the Euro-barometer, which provides a basis of gauging the crisis. Many believe that issues of immigration, insecurity, and environment are fundamental as issues relating to socio-economic issues. In the spring of 2007, major concern for most Europeans is the economic situation and inflation in 2008. Interviews conducted in spring of 2009 indicated economic turmoil as the major headache of most Europeans. Arguing from the report, 42% of people interviewed quoted economic recession as a threat. Unemployment was another factor alongside economic turmoil. It is arguable that economic slump has an effect on rate of employment since recession dislodges most people out of employment. Further, social crisis report produced in autumn 2009 indicates that 51% of citizens interviewed indicated unemployment as the major factor, which was ahead of insecurity by 19%, inflation by 19%, and healthcare by 14% respectively (Thierry, 2011:132). The above figures do not show the magnitude of the effects in a national scale in terms of social crisis. Apparently, many European nations a rgue that the economic nightmare has maimed their buying power. For instance, a study conducted by Smith & Grant (2003) and published in their book to evaluate the effects of the economic slump shows the following trend the Dutch claim 40% of its effects, Bulgarians feel 84%, Spanish 71%, and Romanians 89%. Euro-barometer flash survey indicates the significance of the effects of the economic crisis to the households in Europe. In addition, a look at the June 2010 survey results shows a big difference between northern and southern Europe (UK, Sweden, German, Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and France), in which at least 15% of citizens claim to have had challenges in paying their bills; including food, over the twelve months. The above observation varies with report from Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, and Italy), in which economic crisis trend takes 17-20%, and in the Eastern Europe in which the economic turmoil takes 30% and (43% for Romania). It is arguable that the trend of e conomic nightmare in Europe takes the shape of social crisis (Thierry 2011:134). This argument leads to the questions as to whether a political crisis is looming, which will lead to increased conception with regard to the ability of the European Union to counter the crisis. In the recent past, observers still believe that euro is still a victor to the economic crisis. The observers argue that the joining of the European Union by the Icelandic countries is approve that euro could champion the crisis. Other observations are the determination by Baltic countries to introduce policies that would act to maintain a stable rate of exchange using euro as a single currency. According to Ronald & Saskia (2011:43), it is apparent that Europe alongside other continents in the world suffered economic recession towards the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009. However, it managed to avoid devaluation witnessed during 1930 economic turmoil. Largely, its

Self reflection Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Self reflection - Term Paper Example In the course of the work of the group, there are things that went well and served as our strengths. There are also things that did not go so well and affected our decision-making pitfalls. The interactions with group members also brought about a lot of lessons that have been learned and skills that have been acquired. The reflection makes all these strengths, weaknesses, skills gained, and the approach for future practice known. A major strength of the group work was our approach to work. This is because as group we believed in the power of team spirit and so did everything in a consultative manner. As part of the consultative approach, everyone contributed with their ideas and these ideas were always brainstormed among the larger group to identify the most applicable and feasible ones for implementation. In effect, everything that came out as the final product was a representation of the group’s collective idea rather than the imposition of the views of a few people. This approach ensured that things went well and that things were very smooth and easy for us. Another thing was that there was equal division of the group’s work so that each person would become an active member of the group since passiveness limits the growth of teamwork (Freire 32). Even more, there was high level of efficiency as group members ensured that we avoided long meetings but rather use the little times we had product ively. As much as there were strengths, there were some weaknesses that the group faced. As indicated earlier, decision making was done at the group level through brainstorming activities, where everyone’s contributed counted. There were however some decision-making pitfalls and traps that we faced. For example the boldness to implement group decisions was always a challenge. As a result of this, it was common that we would out away our decision making to later dates in

Roman Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Roman Civilization - Essay Example During the rule of Augustus, Rome experienced prosperity and peace and it is regarded as the golden age. Rome had an autocratic form of government and Augustus ruled Rome for around 40 years. Rome had a civilization which has set an example for other countries. The civic life, religious principles, culture and norms, economic ties everything was worth praising. The Rome had a superior infrastructure and the building and transportation was of high quality. Roman Empire was the largest in the world history and covered much of the world’s regions from Europe and Africa to Middle East. Even the population of the Empire was largest and was around 60 million inhabitants. The military and army of Rome was superior and many battles have been won by them. Roman had laws which were based on morality and justice. Rome had multi -cultural society and believed in shared identity. For the very same reasons, Roman civilization has had a great impact on the modern world. Impact on Law and Political System The major influence of Roman civilization on modern world was the Roman law. The Roman law distinguished between public law and private law which we can see in the modern law constitution. This is the basis of Western law and is known as civil law. Also the private international law is also influenced by the Roman law. In Roman civilization, they practiced jury trials, same as today’s’ practice. The Roman can also be credited with many defense techniques practiced by the modern people. The concept of â€Å"innocent until proven guilty â€Å"which is the basic rule of American Judiciary system came from ancient Rome law. The written law to protect the human rights and freedom was also a system followed by Roman people. The law regarding taxation is also taken from Roman civilization. According to Roman law, people were to be treated equal and fairly. Their laws were based on common sense and practicality. Most of the legal system in the world is following Roman practic e of law. Roman has also influenced the way in which the political system works today. The voting system which we followed today is the legacy of Roman people. Even they had lower and upper class senate like we do. They had legislative bodies and senate just like modern political system. The Impact on Language The language of Roman civilization was Latin and they depended little on order of words. The Roman alphabets were formed with Greek alphabet as a basis. The Roman people mostly studied literature that was in Greek. As the Roman Empire grew, so did their language spread to different parts of the world,With some time the classic Latin took a form of Vulgar Latin in some parts of the world which gave birth to different Romance language. So it can de definitely said that Indo European languages evolved from Latin, which is the language of ancient Roman civilization. Later, Latin language gain prominence in Western empire and became the foundation of French, Italian, Portuguese, Sp anish and Romanian languages. Even though, they all started as bad Latin as time passed by these established themselves as different languages. Latin language also had influenced many words used in other different countries. For Example, English has many Latin words although it does not follow Latin syntax- grammar. Since Latin was the language of Roman Catholic Church it influenced even the non –romance languages. The Impact on Infrastructure The Roman civilization

Intercompany Profits Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Intercompany Profits - Case Study Example There are factors that the company considers in deriving the method to use, such as ownership and influence. In this case, the analysis of the subsidiaries is included in the consolidated financial statements. The principles of accounting state that the intercompany inventory transfers, such as a transfer between Verizon Wireless and Wireline, must eliminate all the revenues and expenses recorded by the involved parties in the preparation of the consolidated income statement. The profits or losses that are accrued in the transfer of inventory are deferred, to the point where the inventory is sold to a non-affiliate (Christensen, Cottrell, & Baker, 2013). The intercompany profits that are realized by Verizon and its subsidiaries are considered as a single entity to ensure that the only historical cost of the inventory is included in the business’s balance sheet. As such, the profits that may be realized by the parent company (Verizon) are eliminated until when the goods are sold to a non-affiliate. In preparation of the consolidated financial report, the gross profit that is realized by Verizon is only when the inventory has been sold to a non-subsidiary since the intercompany profit s are eliminated. Arguments are that, in the inventory inter-transfer, regardless of the price at which the exchange has taken place, no actual profits have been realized, from the consolidated perspective, but the profit is realized upon reselling of inventory to non-affiliates (Christensen et al., 2013). Verizon eliminates all the intercompany profits, as it no longer applies the provisions and regulatory accounting provided by the FASB 71 (1994). Harley-Davidson is registered as the parent company to two businesses. The Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) deals with motorcycles and related products while the Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS) provides financially related services to other clients. In Harley-Davidson’s consolidated statements, the  entities are sourced from both company subsidiaries and other owned entities by the company.

Means of Dispute Settlement Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Means of Dispute Settlement - Assignment Example It is highly advocated since it saves the expensive court fees and reduces the backlog of the court cases. Under the Arbitration Act, the judgment is valid and binding (Twomey and Jennings 26). In mediation, the mediator has no power to make judgment therefore acting neutral and as a messenger, in presentation of the offer made. However, the mediator might influence the plaintiff’s decisions by making statements or views that may affect the plaintiff’s choice. Mediation is an efficient process especially where none of the parties have any intention of lessening their attitudes towards each other (Twomey and Jennings 26). The reference to a third person is almost the same as mediation, though in this case the third party has implied powers to make a decision regarding the dispute in question. Since the third party is independent and neutral, the decision reached herein is enforceable and cannot be appealed further. The damages sought are fixed according to the judgment of the mediator (Twomey and Jennings 26). Basically, medarb is an alternative dispute resolution method which almost resembles the arbitration method. However in medarb, the arbitrator who was hearing the facts from both sides of the aggrieved parties; also acts as the mediator in that, he presents the offer made by the defendant so as the plaintiff can make a decision (Twomey and Jennings 26). In rent a judge, the parties involved voluntarily hire a judicial judge to hear their case. The hired judge acts as referee and hears the case as in the normal trial. After hearing of the case, the judge makes a decision which will be enforceable between the two parties. Unless, if stated in the contract clause; the judgment can be reversed through an appeal (Twomey and Jennings 27). If both parties belong to an association, the dispute is normally resolved by a tribunal formed by the associations. The tribunal is

Muste and the Logic of Christian Nonviolence Essay

Muste and the Logic of Christian Nonviolence - Essay Example Muste further argued that human beings are vulnerable to evil actions and inequities. Significantly, only an insignificant number is able to rebel inequities, and they do it rarely. However, he postulated that, for those who have cramped life, they have nothing noble for acquiescence, even the mere submission to a deity (Zinn, 1959). Argument It is worthwhile noting that; Muste has confessionary emphasized on the role of being upright in all endeavours. He has persuaded people to abide by right deeds and keep off the wrongdoers for each shall receive according to his efforts. Consequently, for one to engage, tolerate, or trade in pacifism he significantly not connected to passivism. Consequently, he has clearly provided a flourishing confessional approach on nonviolent confessions. Concisely, he has confessionary justified nonviolent revolutions by activists. Therefore, in a world based on violence, an individual must portray revolutionary aspects prior to pacifist qualities (Zinn, 1 959). Counter-argument My argument is that, based on a confessional approach, the author that Muste has not inspiring addressed the issue nonviolence. Significantly, he has demeaned those individuals who would feel sorry for their deeds and would wish to decline their evil lives. For instance, he has argued that the evildoers do not have a right to access superior forces. Therefore, he has implied that the righteous have an enhanced right of access to the deities. Concisely, Muste has confessionary, provided divergent insights on the nonviolence revolution, due to his incredible remarks on the fate of individuals who are acquiescent. Thesis statement Though A.J. Muste follows the logic of Christian nonviolence extremely carefully, the advantage of hindsight, this module explores the argument in pacifism as naive when adapted to the political realities of Muste’s time. Current research has revealed that, once the certain war is over the challenge, is always based on the victor . Significantly, the above crisis erupts from the friction where there is a problem to identify the agent of teaching the victor. Consequently, there is hardly any other way towards peaceful coexistence apart from the peace itself. Additionally, the current confessional approach on nonviolent revolution has revealed that human beings possess some indolence, which makes them not ready to accept disturbances. Therefore, they presume that, whenever there are no skirmishes or unrests, peace is also prevailing. Significantly, they often subconsciously prefer social peace, although it is merely apparent. The above scenario is engineered by their feeling of fear over the security of their lives, as well as, properties (Zinn, 1959). It is evident that disarming people is hardly possible and a war cannot be resolved unless there is a corporation of profound changes in the economy and the society’s social arena. Significantly, human beings must denounce violent activities in accordance with existing systems. In addition, they must denounce evil activities such as material, as well as, spiritual evils. Accordingly, those who accept to denounce wealth and power, which is gotten from violent activities and puts a premium on acquisitiveness, by identifying themselves with the struggling masses, may significantly fight violence.

Advertisement Essay Essay Example for Free

Advertisement Essay Essay Anywhere a person looks; there will always be some form of advertisement. Billboards, posters, fliers, and other forms of media are visible almost everywhere. Advertising is a mass communication in the world today, and has been around since 1841. Whether people agree with it or not, it’s not going anywhere. Advertisements are essentially everywhere. No one can go anywhere without seeing at least one advertisement. They’re placed on radios, TVs, magazines and even billboards. Advertisers pay media companies to place their ads in such places and therefore the media companies make money off their ads. Advertiser’s main purpose is to influence the consumer to buy their product. They may lie about the product to make it sound better so more people would want to buy it. It can mislead the consumers to believe that any given product can make them popular, or beautiful. I don’t necessarily like advertisements, but I don’t like them either. Advertisements are everywhere, and it’s your choice to read and believe them or not read and not believe them. I agree, they are misleading but how else would people know about a new product or new improved or additions? Advertising exerts a large impact on us, bringing about good and bad consequences in people’s life. An example would be, if you were looking through the summer edition of a magazine and you see a Hollister advertisement on a page and the models are in bathing suits, in which they are all fairly skinny. If you were a little meatier than them you would probably think to yourself â€Å"I wish I was that skinny.† Or â€Å"I wish I looked like that.† That’s the bad consequence about advertising. There’s a huge impact on teens while looking through their favorite magazine or even watching TV. Another reason I feel advertising isn’t the best is, it can mislead the consumer into wasting money on something that either doesnâ₠¬â„¢t work or will end up breaking. The good side to advertising is it can let people know about free clinics, blood drives, and events coming up in the area. Of course, it’s not going to tell you everything about the event or clinic because an advertisement is  something brief about it, and they’re trying to get you to be interested about it. Some companies sponsor charity events or sport events to advertise with blimps, airplane signs; on-screen ads and even t-shirts in exchange for free advertising. If you were to think about every ad you’ve read, there really isn’t a limit to it. They really don’t care how vulgar or misinterpreting it could be, they’re getting paid for it so whatever they have to do to get your attention, they will. Advertisement should have a limit of what they can put on ads.

Labour Laws in India

Labour Laws in India INTRODUCTION Labor law is also known as the Employment Law. The Indian Constitution provides basis of laws to regulate the employment in India. These laws are collectively known as the Labor Laws or the Industrial Laws. In other words it is the â€Å"body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations†. These set of laws provide the basis for any sort of interaction or mediation between the employers and the trade unions. It defines the legal boundary of the rights of both the employers and the employees at the workplace. The labor laws widely cover the following: a. Industrial Relations b. Health and Safety at Work Place c. The standards which the employers should adhere to which includes but is not limited to holidays, leaves, dismissals, minimum wage and the like. This study is primarily based on the Industrial Relation aspect of the Labor Laws. If we look into the history of labor laws we see that the need to formulate labor laws arose because of the employees demanding better working conditions and the simultaneous demands by the employers to restrict the powers of the employees in the organization. The employers feared that the trade unions may transcend the industrial disputes and gain unsolicited political powers. The ILO or the International Labor Organization was the first official body to deal with these problems. It was established as an agency of the League of Nations following the Treaty of Versailles, which was an indication of the end of the World War I. Now we focus on the Industrial Relation aspect of the Labor Laws. Industrial Relations, as the name suggests primarily deals with the employees and the management which result directly or indirectly from the employer-employee relationship. It particularly deals with the relationship between the organization and a group of workers generally known as the Trade Unions. It pertains to the study of free collective bargaining, trade unionism, and the labor-management relationships. As per the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 Industrial Relations can be defined as the relation between employer and employees, employees and employees and employees and trade unions. Labor relations can be realized at any level of the work place like the shop floor, regional level or at the national level. Few characteristics of Industrial Relations: a. It is non-existent if the parties involved i.e. trade union and the employer are absent. b. It may include both conflict and co-operations. c. It may cover important environmental issues like a country’s technology prowess, socio-political environment, economic environment etc. d. It incorporates the laws made by the government to govern the employer-employee relationship, awards of courts, and the interference patterns of the judiciary on the labor-management relations regulations. In reality the concepts involved in Industrial Relations come from a wide variety of fields ranging from disciplines like humanities, social sciences, behavioral sciences, laws etc. Industrial Relations in India: In the pre-1991 era the conflicts and disputes in the organization were addressed through excessive labor legislations. The laws were protective in nature and covered all the aspects of the workplace like layoffs, wage issues, incentives etc. In due course of time it was realized that these laws were protective in nature and that they led to organizational inefficiency. With the advent of globalization the protective nature of these laws proved inadequate for the Indian industry to remain competitive as it was very rigid and did not allow the Indian manufacturers to compete in the global market. Post liberalization the laws favored the industrialists and they began schemes like employee reduction and the voluntary retirement schemes. Thus we can distinctively notice that globalization brought some symbolic changes in the Industrial Relations in India. They may be summed up briefly as follows: a. Decentralization the collective bargaining in almost all the sectors. b. During an expansionary phase of the economy there is a shortage of able managers and skilled labor. c. The number of unions has increased significantly but their influence has diminished. d. In the banking sector, for example, some unions are putting up a united front. e. Internal Unions are being pushed by employers which essentially imply that no external affiliation is being sought for. f. Training and skill development are seen as an important part of work place. Aim of Industrial Relations: The major aim of Industrial Relations is to safeguard the interest of the labors and the employees as a whole by a sense of mutual agreement and understanding between the two parties. It helps to reduce conflicts and strife between the parties for a harmonious existence of the Indian industry. It also ensures that a high level of productivity is ensured. They also help to reduce the strikes, lock-outs and other forms of blockades by facilitating mutual understanding and consent. The Industrial Relations policies also ensure that an environment of Industrial Democracy is maintained for the benefit of the industry and the country as a whole. More government control in order to regulate the sectors which are at loss so that public interest at large can be safeguarded. Socializations or rationalization of industries by making the state a major employer in itself. Ill Effects of Poor Industrial Relations: Poor industrial relations policies hinder the normal functioning of the industry thereby affecting the entire economy as a whole. It may be noted that the direct loss to a particular plant may not be huge due a conflict but the cumulative loss to the economy is enormous. If we do not have a robust policy in place then there would be rigidity to change in this dynamic situation. As a matter of fact every employee works not only to earn but also to satisfy his egoistic and social needs. Poor industrial relations policies take a heavy toll on human behavior in terms of tension. Thus proper policies need to be in place to maintain cordiality and avoid social tension. Contract Labor in India: An employee is called a contract laborer when he is hired through a contractor. They can be termed as indirect employees who are essentially hired, supervised and paid by a contractor. The contractor is paid in turn by the establishment who needs these contract laborers. However, contract laborers must not be employed when the work is perennial and will continue on a daily basis, when the work is enough to employ full time workers. The Contract Labor (Regulation and Abolition) Act came into being in 1970 and the Contract Labor Central Rules came into effect in the year 1971. The main objectives of these laws were to regulate the employment of Contract Laborers and to provide for its abolition under certain circumstances. The law lays certain rules and regulations with regard to hiring of contract labor, their wages, working conditions etc. As per the guidelines the law is applicable to any industry which engages more than 20 workers on a contract basis. The steps involved in hiring the contract labor are: Enquiry Offers Comparative Statement Negotiation Award the Contract The Act also has provisions that define certain amenities that need to be provided to the contract laborers. These may be the establishment of canteens, rest room arrangements, sufficient drinking water facilities, and first aid. It is to be noted that these amenities are made obligatory by the Act. If the contractor fails to pay the wages to the workers the Principal Employer is liable to make the payment. The system of contract labor has allowed firms tremendous flexibility to choose what is in their best interests. If it were not present companies would have to go for technological restructuring which in turn would mean less number of permanent employees. The Trade Unions however opposed this act as this meant reduction in permanent employment. Also, as the contract laborers belong to the weaker sections of the society they may be deprived of the benefits. The amount of time consumed in coordinating with the contractors and the sub-contractors would also be much more as compared to the regular employment.

Essay --

Have you realized that â€Å"Fear of quitting smoking causes the majority of smokers to continue smoking, not the actual nicotine withdrawal† (That company called if). The reasons to smoke differ from teens within society. This is an opinion based paper that gives a brief scope as to what the main reasons are for inhaling this harmful substance, going from getting addicted to eradicating the need to smoke in your daily life. This essay not only shines a bright light in the life of a ‘smoker’ but also brings out the prospects in not smoking and how it only goes uphill from there! â€Å"The action or habit of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco or a drug† (Oxford University Press), is the classification of smoking. Why do people start smoking in the first place? The main 4 reasons for a teen to start smoking are stress, social awareness and peer pressure but also to cope with boredom; this are the alleged reasons that are all psychological based. Today in the 21st century smoking a cigarette or smoking in general will enhance ones social skills, as in make you cool throughout your friends and you even might impress someone of the opposite gender too. Teens specially start smoking cause they think their life is stressful due to studies and personal pressures such as family problems. Teens are looking for a way to put their blame on something other than just facing their problems. Nonetheless in today’s society you have a bigger chance of getting influenced specially from those close to you such as friends and family, which leads to peer pre ssure, doing something that you don’t want to do. â€Å"The number of movies with tobacco-related scenes has gone down since 2005. But in 2010, more than 30% of top-grossing movies rated G, PG, and PG-... ...minimum of 5 other effects smoking causes the human body and your health (Free OxyGenaration). On the positive of things, if you stop smoking you will look much healthier as your skin will receive more oxygen, you will increase your life expectancy by a couple of years, decrease the chances of getting cancer and finally but not least you will save a lot of money which you could benefit you and your family. To sum up, the benefits of not smoking are gigantic and therefore you will realize once you stop smoking that everything is going to go uphill from now on. This is the foundation or you can say the basis of your life, which will gradually be built. This will help you live the so-called smoke-free and healthy lifestyle. All together, what you decide; to smoke or not to smoke decision is up to you. This essay gives a detail outline for what to do and what not to do.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Nervous System Involvement :: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Medical Essays

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Nervous System Involvement Upon concluding my neurobiology course, I spent some time reflecting on what I've learned about the nervous system and its functions. I thought about how much progress has been made in the last couple of decades alone in defining and understanding certain aspects of neuronal functions, and must admit that I am very impressed. However, there is still so much we don't know about this area, and nowhere has this notion proved more true than in my exploration of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. As will soon be clear, this disease is highly debilitating and can greatly lower the quality of an individual's life, yet to date there are no definite findings about the etiology of this illness. But even more importantly, this illness shows the importance of understanding and being able to assess the different workings of our nervous system and its complex nature. Unfortunately, the study of this same disease also shows the human inability to yet do so. So what is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS? I would like to be able to explain exactly what CFS is, but true to the nature of what is known about this illness, there is no precise way to describe CFS. Rather, the disease is identified through a number of symptoms (both physical and psychological), including unexplained and persistent fatigue of new or definite onset, concurrent with short-term memory loss, sore throat, tender axillary lymph nodes, muscle pain and unrefreshing sleep, among a number of others, for a duration of at least six months. As is probably evident, the above symptoms, in addition to being signs of CFS, are also the same (or very similar) symptoms experienced in such diseases as Lymes disease and "the flu." There are symptoms that involve the Gastrointestinal Tract (GI), immunological-related symptoms, symptoms of psychiatric disease like depression, sexual malfunction, endocrine dysfunction-basically every system in the body. This is part of the reason why CFS is hard to detect, and is usually chosen as a diagnosis only at the exclusion of all other possible ailments. The other difficulty that lies with diagnosing CFS is that there is no way of measuring the level of a person's fatigue-there is no way for a physician to tell whether a patient complaining of fatigue is experiencing the type of fatigue associated with CFS or he/she is just extremely tired and overworked.

enemy of the people Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen is a theatrical drama which portrays important characteristics such as honesty, integrity, and courage. All of which could be seen as hazardous to European politics at the time. Dr. Thomas Stockmann is a common man who attempts to create a revolution in his town. With the help of his naturally defiant personality the doctor makes a discovery that he hopes will better the town. This discovery was meant to lead a change in the physical structure of the water source. Instead it created a waterfall of political disaster. Despite numerous stabs in the back and lack of free-thinking, Dr. Stockmann stood tall and never backed down from what he believed in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The play is set in a small town in Norway that has just begun to develop the wings it needed to expand and become prosperous. This is in the most part due to The Baths; a business Dr. Stockmann and his brother Peter began, to cure the sick through spa treatments and rest. At the beginning, it seems as though The Baths had just begun to take off. The play is set in the Stockmann’s kitchen where Mr. Billings, a close friend and member of the People’s Herald, is having dinner. He is then joined by Hovstad, also a member of the People’s Herald, and in the absence of Dr. Stockmann they discuss the future of The Baths. The Mayor, who is also Thomas’ brother, stops in unexpectedly to have a word regarding The Baths. Since Dr. Stockmann has not yet arrived home from his walk with his sons; Billings, Hovstad, and the mayor begin to discuss future events. Hovstad explains to the mayor that he can see nothing but good in the future for the town, a nd that Dr. Stockmann had been holding an article he had written that was sure to spark interest in his recent discovery.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At this point it is obvious that the relationship between Dr. Stockmann and his brother Peter is not the strongest. They seem to struggle on seeing eye-to-eye on several issues. Before Dr. Stockmann arrives home, his wife Katherine is comforting Peter, since he has taken great offense to Hovstad’s comment about The Baths being Thomas’ discovery. Dr. Stockmann arrives and is pleasantly surprised to see another dinner guest, Captain Horster, on his way in. His friends and brother have been awaiting him. A string of many arguments betwee... ...rrive home from school early because they have received a notice. Dr. Stockmann reassures his family that everything will be ok. He will host a school in the same room where he was branded an enemy of the people, and raise the poorest boys to drive out the wolves. Katherine worries that the wolves may drive him out of town, but Thomas reassures her that they don’t stand a chance. The doctor has made another great discovery†¦that the strongest man stands alone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is intrigue in way of heroism that draws many of us to good novels such as this. By using Dr. Stockmann as a strong hearted individual who stands up for what he believes in, Ibsen has captivated many readers such as myself. I believe that many of the ideals that we as a society deem to be virtuous in a man are possessed by Dr. Stockmann in this novel. His strong will in the face of everyone trying to bring him down is a depiction of someone who stands up for what they believe in. As you look back on what you’ve read, you get a strong grasp of Dr. Stockmann’s ideology and it is something to admire, which combined with an interesting plot and well written scenes, makes for an exceptional novel.

Blueback Novel Essay

Blueback Essay In novels, characters are used to help the author show the way they are constructed. It is evident in the novel Blueback, by Tim Winton (1997), the construction of characters are what Winton uses to communicate the ideas that Abel is passionate about the sea, Abel fights for what he believes in and that Abel is loyal to his friends and family. These ideas are easily found, through narrative point of view and dialogue. It is clear that the author must deliver, character construction to any reader. Through the novel, Winton has written that Abel is passionate bout the sea.Abel is a natural diver at Longboat Bay and loves being underwater ever since he could remember. Winton as used third person narrative point of view by how Abel’s feelings and thoughts about Longboat Bay and the sea being his home. It also shows how Abel feels when he is away from the sea and how he feels lost without it. In the novel Winton says â€Å"In his high school years, Abel Jackson felt like he was holding his breath like diving . . . From the moment he left Longboat Bay at the beginning of every semester, something inside him took a deep breath and held on . . â€Å" (pg. 95) also it says â€Å". . . he was a diver before he was born he . . . swam in the warm ocean inside her . . . so maybe it came naturally. † (pg. 3) It is clear that Abel is a natural diver and how he feels lost when he is a way from the sea, He feels like a ‘fish out of water’. Through the way Winton communicates the idea that Abel is passionate about the sea, this helps the reader understand the character, Abel. Through the novel Blueback, Winton show s that Abel fights for what he believes in.Winton has used dialogue to help construct the character, Abel. In the novel it is evident to any reader that Abel fights for what he believes in whether others agree or not. There is a conversation between Abel and his mother where they say â€Å" Mum he said. I can’t stand it. We don’t have a choice. Well, I’m making my choice . . . Abel, don’t! † (pg. 74) The conversation shows how Abel believed that Costello is greedy and he could not stand it, although his mother thought he should just not get in the way of things.It is clear that Abel is very determined to fight for it whether people don’t agree. Even, if it is the wrong thing to do he will do it as long as he believes. Abel is creatively constructed to fight for what he believes in. It is evident in Blueback, that Abel is very loyal to his family and friends. You can see how Abel is kind and caring to his mother, Dora and how he is loving to his wife, Stella, when he is older. Through the novel you can also see that he has a very large friendship with Blueback.When Abel’s mother could not walk â€Å"He cradled her in his arms laid her back and let her float against him in the clear, blue water. † This is how Abel was loyal to his mother. Abel is lo yal to his friend Blueback, when Winton says, â€Å"Abel swam with Blueback every chance he had. † Abel is loyal to Blueback by how he is so very excited to swim with it and feed it, When his mother is frail, he is ever so caring to move her places because she can’t get up. It is found in the novel, Blueback that Abel is very loyal to his friends and family.It is clear that Winton has used character construction through Abel by the way he acts and his dialogue. Winton has developed Abel to be passionate for the sea, being able to fight for what he believes in and to be loyal to his friends and family. My opinion about the novel, Blueback is that these ideas are very true in it. Winton has done a very well job in developing the construction of the characters. The reader should be warned that the novel is a great and delightful thing to read. By Siobhan Nairn

Role of Women in Society (the Story of an Hour and a Rose for Emily)

Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† written in 1894 and William Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† written in 1930 are two stories that show major roles of women in society. Although the two stories have a different perspective of the women due to their era, they both give a great explanation of how the women were and how they were treated by other people during their time. The women in both of the stories explain how they perceive each of their own roles and how they cope with their own situations, which are much different and alike from our society today.For many years women have tried finding their place in society, which is hard when males are usually perceived as the leaders or ones who control their wives. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Chopin explains the freedom of a once married woman, and how much she enjoys her freedom from being married, this story is based on the role of women in marriage and relationships. In the scene where Mrs. Mallard believes that her husband is dead after receiving the shocking news â€Å"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same† (Chopin 106), this sentence explains that Mrs.Mallard takes it in differently than most other women do when they find out that their husband has died. For a while, Mrs. Mallard is sad but only when she was alone â€Å"When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her† (Chopin 106). When Mrs. Mallard had abandoned herself she caught herself whispering over and over again the words â€Å"Free, free, free† (Chopin 107). This sentence showed that Mrs.Mallard was finally free â€Å"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring of life† (Chopin 107). The words â€Å"New spring of life† show that Mrs. Mallard had a new spring in life which symbolized freedom. â€Å"There would be no one to liv e for during those coming years; she would live for herself† (Chopin 107), this shows that she has had enough from her marriage and wants to enjoy her freedom and not waste it on someone else, she just wants to enjoy it for herself.Mrs. Mallard was obviously in a bad marriage â€Å"And yet she loved him-sometimes† (Chopin 107), this phrase shows that she was confused about her love for her husband and only loved him sometimes. â€Å"Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own† (Chopin 108), explains that she was just so happy to finally spend those days on her own and not have her husband to hold her back from the things that she loves, that she is finally free to do whatever she enjoys to do. At the end of the story when Mrs.Mallard’s husband shows up at the house and as she looks at him she has a loud screeching cry and that was it. Mrs. Mallard had died of heart disease â€Å"a joy that kills† (Chopin 108). Mrs. Mall ard expected to be free for the rest of her life, then after seeing her husband alive she realizes she will not have her life the way she had imagined and then she died from disappointment of not having her â€Å"Free! body and soul free† (Chopin 107) life. In the story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Faulkner explains the anger of a lonely, unloved woman that is desperate for affection but is shocked when she does not get it.This story plays a major role of women in society due to uncontrollable anger and revenge. Miss Emily’s lonely life begins from the death of her father which left her depressed and unloved. â€Å"She went out very little; after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all† (Hemingway 117), this shows that Miss Emily cannot handle being outside of her house while she is depressed. When Miss Emily met Homer Barron in the story, she fell deeply in love with him and people said â€Å"they are married† (Hemingway 120).After being with Homer for a while he finally admitted that, â€Å"he liked men- and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks’ Club† (Hemingway 119). In the scene where Homer had admitted he liked men and threatened to leave the following day, Miss Emily went and bought arsenic poison which showed that Miss Emily could not handle the fact that he was going to leave her. This is a typical role of women in society today because most women have a feeling of revenge when a man threatens to leave them.For a long time after that many people were not surprised when Homer Barron was not seen for some time. In this story Miss Emily poisons her husband and kills him leaving his body in her bed for many years. The ending of the story shows the biggest part in the role of women. Miss Emily is believed that she killed her husband due to the revenge of him threatening to leave her. Miss Emily probably would have not killed her husband if it were not for her father leaving he r at a young age.As Emily grew up she only knew how to be lonely and when she found Homer she took it for granted that he was not going to leave her, and when he finally did threaten to leave her she figured that she would not want to go through loneliness which explains when they found Homer’s body in her bed. She put his body in her bed because she could not handle being alone the rest of her life and she knew if she killed him that he would have no way of leaving. From the two stories Josephine and Miss Emily both saw death as a solution to their situations.Josephine perceived her own role as being a free woman out of marriage, while Miss Emily saw loneliness as a problem. These women did not handle or cope with their situations well at all, which is like most women today. Most women do not know how to handle situations that are very tough, especially ones that make them disappointed. In both of the stories it is the men’s fault for their deaths. Men to this day cau se many women to become disappointed because men are controlling and both of the stories Josephine and Miss Emily were controlled by their husbands or, they were disappointed in what their husbands’ did.

Sociology: Marx, Weber & Feminist Theory

1. Classical Marxist theories have served as a springboard of inspiration for a variety of contemporary theorists challenging the existing state of society and seeking social justice and a fair society. Consequently, feminist standpoint theories, theories that represent a specific disposition, align with common themes found throughout Marxist interpretations of society, with an emphasis on the development of individual schemas dependent upon the relationship between the individual and their economic and material conditions.Although the foundation of the separation of and disparities between classes is applicable in feminist standpoint theory, feminist theories contribute an entirely unorthodox dimension to the Eurocentric, masculinist dominated sociological discourse about oppression: gender. Marx’s theories of society developed around what he considered an unfair and unjust society in which two classes existed, determined by the coincidence of birth, which Marx coined the bou rgeois, the owners of the means of production, and the proletariat, the wage earning laborers who become alienated from their work due to social constraints.Marx believed in historical materialism and class struggle, demonstrating that the private ownership of the means of production enabled the bourgeois to maintain power over the larger, powerless proletariats who provided the labor for the means of production. As a repercussion of this disparity of power Marx concluded social and moral problems were inherent to a capitalist system, which forced competition and created unnecessary antagonisms, essentially isolating the proletariat in their social position for generations.Feminist standpoint theories corroborate the essence of Marx’s disposition regarding the injustice found in society, as it is acknowledged that there is a clear disparity of power in society among stratified groups of people. Yet instead of focusing on the owner of the means of production versus the wage la borers or proletariats, feminist standpoint theories extend the argument to include the dimension of gender and emphasize the necessity of including feminist experiences.According to feminist standpoint theories, the concrete experience of females and males is historically different, as they are required by society to play very different roles. Feminist theories build on Marx’s standpoint of experience based on social class and include the systematic oppression in a society that devalues women’s knowledge and experiences. One feminist standpoint theorist in particular demonstrated the subtle differences between standpoint theories and Marx’s theories on society.Patricia Hill Collins’ matrix of domination theory agrees that there is a top-down power struggle in society that forces and controls unwilling victims, yet also notes that an individual has the ability to be the oppressor, a member of an oppressed group or both simultaneously, citing gender and cl ass as variables of oppression. Collins continues to purport that it is the oppressed or subordinate individuals and groups in society who possess the most comprehensive social knowledge of power structures and their affects on these individuals and groups due to their social positions.Marx sought change in society and attempted to inspire a revolution amongst the proletariat, with an overthrow of the capitalist system. Collins seeks to understand the struggle with a more complex perspective, contributing the observation that people simultaneously experience and resist oppression, implying that there is more control in the hands of the oppressed than what was previously thought. Just as Marx challenged the capitalist system, feminist standpoint theory further challenges the existing male-biased conventional knowledge.In both theories there exists the implication that the experiences of individuals is shaped by their social position, and a hierarchy of power relations exists among th ose who have and those who have not, or the oppressor and the oppressed. However, although Marx’s theories on society and feminist standpoint theories share the emphasis on individual experience being shaped by social position, Marx focused on class from an economic standpoint while feminist theory added to the discussion of social injustice by incorporating a new dimension, gender.While Marx was more interested in social justice for the proletariat, feminist standpoint theory extended this social justice to include the day to day concrete experiences of females with respect to their different knowledge of the world, as well as various other subordinate groups whose perspectives are often left out of the discourse on society. In conclusion, the comprehensive discussion of class relations that has been ongoing for centuries has continued to evolve over time and space, xtending the concepts of social justice and a fair society to various subordinate groups. I support Marxâ€⠄¢s theories of society serving as a significant platform for the descending schools of thought to build off of, with shared goals of social justice and a fair society. The differences can be attributed to the historical context of the development of these theories, with the discourse of sociology seen as an ongoing continuum.Sociological implications are inspirational, as it has been seen that within the discussion of social justice subordinate groups are gaining attention and credibility, and I believe it can be concluded that because of this criticism of the existent state of society, society has begun to improve. With the emersion of Marxist inspired feminist standpoint theory in the middle of the 20th century, women’s experiences have been acknowledged and improved because of their visibility in academic discourse.I support the Marxist call for an examination of subordination in the existent social structure, accompanied by feminist standpoint theories that extend to inc lude all subordinate groups that struggle with societal constraints. 2. The structure of the critiques of science and knowledge provided by Foucault parallel the central concepts and arguments found in the feminist critiques of science and positivism, yet the focus of topics are differentiated along gender lines and the quest for the origins of truth, or the acceptance that truth itself is subjective.Both Foucault and feminist critiques share a common theme of mistrust of authoritative power, and the social injustice stemming from this authoritative power. As a post-positivist philosopher with an interest in power relations and the ability of power to dominate western culture, Foucault offers criticisms of science and knowledge rooted in the distrust he maintained for the developments of science representing improved reference and authority.Foucault emphasized the quest to discover the roots of truth values in the social context of science but rejected an account of science as ideol ogical and argued that the discourse of scientific knowledge is constraining of what scientists themselves can see, but more significantly is productive and enabling for the production and solving of problems, the construction of data, and therefore the production of new knowledge to be interpreted widely s valid, or universal truth. For post-modernists, such as Foucault, science is nothing more than an allegation derived from subjective orientations, or a social construction. Feminist theorists corroborate this belief and interpret the power and injustice stemming from science with a different sociological perspective, a female standpoint.Feminist theorists believe mainstream science is a product of a patriarchy, and despite being portrayed as universal, value-free and neutral in its pursuit of truth or knowledge deemed valuable for all, it is actually organized in a way that systematically oppresses and harms women based on their gender. Feminists believe that the production of kn owledge is a social activity, embedded in a certain culture and worldview, echoing the social construction of knowledge purported by Foucault.Feminist critics of science have noted that Western science, as it has developed since the Enlightenment, is determined by political, economic and social conditions, which are based on a patriarchal order. Feminists go on to note that women themselves were left out of the development of science, and as a consequence of being perceived as closer to nature than men with respect to their capacity for feelings and emotions, were ruled out as unfit for reasoning abilities.Foucault’s main concern throughout his lifetime of publications revolved around the relationship between power and knowledge, and how one affected the other. Citing Nietzsche’s considerations of a will to power motivating human behavior with the declining of traditional values losing power over society is built upon by Foucault’s further analysis of knowledge ceasing to be liberating and instead becoming a mode of surveillance, regulation, and discipline. Foucault also argued that power itself creates new objects of knowledge and accumulates new bodies of information.The feminist critiques on positivism shares common characteristics with Foucault’s critical theories of science and knowledge, as feminists tend to adopt an anti-positivist, anti-science position due largely to the male dominated social science research. Despite positivist views put forth by such classical theorists as Emile Durkheim, supporting the necessity of objectivity in research, feminist critiques argue for subjectivity. According to feminist critique, male social science researchers likeDurkheim claimed objectivity by citing non-involvement in social problems, enabling them to distance themselves from their human subjects of research and omitting their research goals, as well as claimed scientific truth for their theories by imitating quantitative methods of the natural sciences. In an effort to parallel the natural sciences with sociology, furthering the notion that science is in fact objective, Durkheim conducted a study on suicide and measured it using the scientific method and quantifiable observations.The feminist criticism notes the results of paralleling the natural sciences with sociology were often blatantly untrue and biased against women, with science and social science being manipulated to harm women, for example by neglecting to appropriate equal value of their experiences with that of their male counterparts. Most significantly, feminist critique argues the pursuit of objectivity in science and the pursuit of truth are impossible, and by pretending that they are possible the scientific community is deceiving the public.In conclusion, feminist critiques of science and positivism are directly paralleled with the concepts found in Foucault’s critiques of science and knowledge. In both instances, I support the arguments that center on the need to understand the ambiguity and cultural context of the notion of universal truth and for scientific and social research to be sensitive to the dangers of objectivity regarding such truth. I believe the scientific approach is useful but misguided as subjectivity is inherent in the search for truth and knowledge.These critiques have significant sociological implications as the existing state of male-centered scientific research is being challenged in a way that will be productive for the various sub-groups within society, particularly along gender lines. 3. The concept of modernity generally refers to a post-feudal historical period that is characterized by the move away from feudalism and toward capitalism, accompanied by all of the ripple effects initiated by capitalism, such as the industrialization and secularization of society that is maintained and controlled through extensive surveillance. Modernity ocuses on the affects that the rise of capitalism has had on social relations, and notes Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber as influential theorists commenting on this phenomenon. For the purposes of this assignment, I will be focusing on the concepts and analyses of Marx and Weber. Karl Marx is perhaps the first in a series of late 19th and early 20th century theorists who initiated the call for an empirical approach to social science, theorizing about the rise of modernity accompanied by the simultaneous decline in traditional societies and advocating for a change in the means of production in order to enable social justice.Marx’s analysis of modernity reveals his conceptualization of modern society as being dictated by the rapid advancement of productive forces of modern industry, and the corresponding relationships of production between the capitalist and the wage laborers. In addition, Marx also examined the concept of class interest, which seeks to further the life of capitalism as those individuals or groups who hav e power work to retain this power at the despair of the subordinate, socially powerless individuals and groups.The rapid advancement of major innovations after the Enlightenment period known as modernity stood in stark contrast to the incremental development of even the most complex pre-modern societies, which saw productive forces developing at a much slower pace, over hundreds or thousands of years as compared to modern times, with swift growth and change. This alarming contrast fascinated Marx who traced the spawning of modern capitalism in the Communist Manifesto, citing this record speed as the heat which generated the creation of the global division of labor and a greater variety of productive forces than anytime before.Ultimately, Marx’s approach is best known as an effort to come to terms with the unprecedentedly rapid development of the new capitalist world and the consequential development and adaptation of social constraints. Marx concluded that modernity was a soc ial construction of mankind, and as a creation of mankind, mankind could reverse it and with the public class-consciousness acknowledging this rule, revolution, followed by utopia, was inevitable. In contrast, Max Weber found that social life did not evolve according to his rule, and, unlike Marx, Weber did not anticipate a definitive end of modernity but instead viewed modernity and the outlook of mankind as an open query, with an answer impossible to predict. Weber’s disposition on modernity transformed modern society into a metaphorical iron cage. The iron cage represents society’s entanglement with the modern, mechanized transformation of society initially thought to be controllable, with the ability to detangle itself from the machines at any time, like a cloak that can be removed.Throughout history, however, Marx notes that this entanglement has become permanent and the individual has been locked in a cage by a modern society, with the implementation of more soci al control manifest in excessive bureaucracy. Karl Marx and Max Weber have made significant contributions to the field of sociology, and I support both theorists in their arguments. I believe that Marx was correct in regards to his conceptualization of the social structure being of man’s creation and therefore within the realm of change under the direction of man. However I believe that limitations exist in the idealistic nature of his utopian dream.Maintaining a utopian objective as the goal of social change exposes the inherently distorted analysis of sociological phenomenon, as there is neglect of examining social issues from a micro, day-to-day orientation essentially proving the existence of a Eurocentric male bias historically found within the study of sociology. I also agree with Weber’s connection between the Protestant work ethic and the consequent rise of capitalism as is found in his work The Protestant Work Ethic, which implicates religion as the engine tha t enabled the rapid development of capitalism.However I find limitations with the primacy placed on the influence of religion as the sole engine for capitalism†¦. Marx and Weber lived and worked in a distinctive scholarly moment in time, after theological persuasive power had declined and while sociological analysis maintained a fresh outlook on classical theories. During this moment in time Marx and Weber also experienced the rapid transformation of society dictated by modern forces, which would influence their focus and work.Marx and Weber, who’s work has been critiqued and contributed to by future theorists as society continues to rapidly transform into a fully mechanized, technologically dependent society, holds sociological implications in the theorists whose work has been influenced by their analysis of modernity. 4. The Marxist perspective on work and capitalism is paralleled in many ways with Max Weber’s perspective on these issues, with subtle differences stemming from the causation of capitalism.For Marx, the theory of historical materialism held that all human institutions, including religion, were based on economic foundations, with the implication that the economic foundations came first. In contrast, Weber’s The Protestant Ethic challenges this assertion and instead implicates a religious movement as responsible for fostering capitalism, yet doesn’t fully discount the theories of Marx. According to Marx, it is historical materialism that fuels the engine of society.Historical materialism examines the causes of developments and changes in human society in regards to the collective production of life necessities, with non-economic characteristics of society, such as religious ideologies, seen as a repercussion of its economic activity. The emphasis on material objects, or commodities, during the newly mechanized time period influenced the construction of a labor class that performed activities that were detached fro m their personal identities.As private ownership over the means of production reduces the role of the worker to that of a cog in a machine, as Marx astutely determined, the worker becomes an expendable object that performs routinzed tasks. For Marx, working simply for money, in essence seen as a means to an end, and neglecting the creative potential for labor itself was analogous to selling one’s soul. Weber, on the other hand, did not fully discount Marx’s theories but added to them and incidentally sparked a conversation that has become a historically significant and enduring sociological debate.Weber proposed that ideology fostered capitalism, in part resulting from the absence of assurances from religious authorities. Weber argued that Protestants began to look for other signs that they were saved, and, spurred on by Calvinist ideas of predestination, in which individuals identified their central duty to prove their salvation accompanied by the rejection of having too much wealth, capitalism prospered. Essentially self-confidence replaced the priestly assurance of God’s kindness, and a way for this self-confidence to anifest itself and be measured was with worldly success, and profit became a visible blessing from God that enabled followers to feel confidence that they were going to heaven. This enthusiasm toward achieving self-confidence through the production of profits encapsulates the Spirit of Capitalism, and it was within this spirit that capitalism flourished. Weber described a paradox regarding this Protestant work ethic.On the one hand, Protestants desperately sought the accumulation of worldly wealth in an attempt to give them self-confidence that God has chosen them and they will be granted salvation. However, on the other hand, Protestants were also deeply passionate about frivolous purchasing of luxuries being perceived as a sin, accompanied by complex limitations for extricating the money. In order to resolve this paradox the money was invested, giving life to the class distinctions along the lines of those who possess, and those who do not.Adam Smith paved the way for this phenomenon of investment and class divergence, citing the existence of those who work hard and those who do not, and that over time those who work hard and can be motivated will accumulate wealth. I applaud Weber’s theoretical surfacing of the irony of the Protestant work ethic, which views ideology as being composed of the need to be posthumously saved through their religion, and yet this motivational work ethic would inspire the distribution of excessive earnings to maintain their religious ideals, spawning and encouraging capitalism.Marxist perspectives are limited by the need for further examination of the causes and continuations of capitalism throughout the current state of society, particularly with respect to the rapid transformation and globalization of the economy. If further analysis reveals the causation of cap italism and the structure that continues to keep it running, then it may reveal implications that mankind can control the economic and social conditions of humanity. With the appropriate critiques of capitalism in a contemporary society there may be a potential for social justice. . Social action and interaction can be explained in a number of ways, and in the field of sociology exists two major theoretical orientations that aim to discover whether the hierarchy of influence between individuals and society is macro, with society influencing the individual, or micro, with the individual influencing society. Herbert Blumer’s interpretation of symbolic interactionism demonstrates the process of interaction from a micro perspective, demonstrated in the formation of meanings for individuals.As John Dewey influenced Blumer, Blumer believed human beings are best understood in relation to their environment and used this concept as inspiration for the study of human group life and con duct. Blumer outlines his micro theory of symbolic interactionsim with three central principles. The first principle, meaning, states that humans act toward people and things, based upon the meanings they have given to those people or things, and meaning is a central influence on human behavior. The second principle regards language as a means by which to negotiate through symbols.According to Blumer, it is by engaging in acts of speech with other individuals that humans come to identify meaning, enabling the development of discourse. The third and final principle is thought, which is based on language, and is a mental representation of conversation or dialogue, requiring role taking and imagining different points of view. Essentially, Blumer supported the micro perspective of individuals influencing society because he believed the language and meaning of language explains social action. In contrast, Talcott Parsons’ macro approach to social action and interaction reveals a d ifferent conclusion.Parsons developed the theory of functionalism, which serves as a framework that views society as a complex system, whose parts work together in order to promote stability and solidarity. Parsons’ approach views society with a broad focus on the social structures that shape society as a whole, adopting a macro orientation to social action. Looking simultaneously at social structure and social functions, the theory of functionalism tackles society as a whole in terms of the functions that compose elements. These elements mostly include norms, traditions, customs and institutions.For example, it is like the human body; the individual parts work together for the functioning of the body as a whole. Functionalists such as Parsons support the notion that a social role is created due to the repetition of behaviors in interactions with the reinforcement of expectations. The role that is created is defined by Parsons as the regular, repetition of participation in co ncrete social interactions with specific role-partners. Eventually, Parsons’ concept of roles was formed into a collective definition that is functional as they assist society in servicing and satisfying its functional needs, enabling society to run smoothly.I support both Blumer’s micro level orientation as well as Parsons’ macro orientated theoretical arguments in that they acknowledge the capabilities of the individual and the adaptability of society, implicating a dialogue between the two entities. However I believe limitations exist in that both theorists place primacy of one orientation over the other, and as a result are neglecting a holistic approach. Research questions that have emerged from functionalist theories add new depth and dimension to the basic concept of functionalism.For instance, emergent theorists have inquired about functionalists’ tendency to see only the benefits of various institutional relationships brought to society, posing t he question of whether or not institutions can be oppressive and exploitative. Further emergent research questions address whether or not social institutions create social constraints, and controversially ponder why anything should change if it is already functional to society. Ultimately this discourse inspires sociological thought to continue developing and evolving over time. 6.Traditionally, theorists and theories that generally support one of two orientations have dominated the discipline of sociology. The first orientation is regarded as a macro-perspective, with an analysis of society focused on the larger overall structure of society, placing an emphasis on social systems and institutions, or structure, and the ensuing tendency for the structure to dominate the individual. The second orientation can be described as a zoomed in image of society, with a focus on the every day individual and group interactions, with the implication that the individual is being dominated by the structure of society.It is through these two distinct lenses that sociologists have contributed to the larger discourse regarding social justice and equality, yet the disconnect manifests in the perceptive cohesion of these two orientations. Contemporary sociologists, such as Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration and the empowerment theory in feminist thought, have sparked a revolution in sociological thought with the unorthodox notion that the actor, or individual, and the agency, the structure, are in fact of equal primacy, and represent a duality rather than a hierarchy.In addition to bringing this connection to the surface of sociological discourse, many contemporary theorists’ theories are challenging the limitations of solely using one orientation in the effort to balance humanity’s understanding that individual’s posses the will to maintain social relations based on the comprehension of power, social reproduction, and institutional constraints. Giddens developed the theory of structuration, and, like many other contemporary theorists like Pierre Bourdieu, the theory supports the integration of macro and micro orientations.The structuration theory centers on the consensual duality of structure and agency, where the agent and the structure intersect, arguing that they are a dichotomy where one wouldn’t exist without the other. Giddens argues that the individual, or agency, is essentially responsible for their surroundings as they are reflexive and possess the ability to adapt to the ever-changing social structures and institutions, which also adapt to the individuals’ behavior, creating an ongoing dialogue between the two entities.The argument for a rejection of primacy between the agency and structure includes the objective of literal social change that can result from social scientific knowledge of society. Giddens continues to argue that it is the individuals’ motives that dictate the larger plan of a ction and the routinized practices determine what the action will manifest as. According to this logic Giddens proposes that individuals therefore have the ability to change their actions, which produce unintended and inevitable consequences, influencing future actions.Giddens critiques sociologists for placing too much emphasis on the constraints of social structure when he believes it is only through this activity of the individual agent that structure, or rules and resources, can exist at all. In fact, Giddens purports that a social structure or system is composed of a set of produced and reproduced relations between agents. It is this belief in the duality of agency and structure, as well as the desire to alter the discourse to ncorporate an integrated orientation rather than independent orientations, that Giddens has significantly contributed to the discussion and debate of macro and micro orientations, citing the inability for one to exist without the other. Despite criticism of structuration as inadequate, Giddens’ work continues to influence and inspire contemporary social thought.Feminist thought and the empowerment theory takes an additional step back from sociological discourse to evaluate the misconception of objectivity found in Eurocentric, male dominated standpoints and argue for the need to take a subjective perspective in order to achieve any social change. Additionally, feminist thought advocates for the integration of orientations to examine the individual’s experience as equivalent, or dualistic, with the social structure in which the individual plays an active role in shaping.It is also deemed necessary that the interrelationships between the individual, groups and society are examined from a subjective, integrated orientation in order to make the leap from social theory to social practice. According to feminist thought, by making the previously personal world of the individual political the barrier between the individual and society is broken down and lays the foundation for individuals to influence and experience social change.The empowerment theory suggests that production and maintenance of society is dependent upon the individuals who are socially considered undesirable, casting these occupations as invisible in society and, accompanied by a societal ideology that lacks public appreciation for these occupations, the undesirable individuals also believe their work is invisible, revealing the distortion of societal components. It is within feminist thought that the empowerment theory extends not only to women, but any subordinate, oppressed group or individual within the larger society.This emerging connection between the personal and political identity parallels Giddens’ support of integrating the macro and micro orientations in order to achieve any significant social change, and I support both approaches. I believe that with the integration of the orientations true social change can be achie ved, and that further examination of the intersection between agency and structure can enhance the limitations of past sociological thought. By creating and maintaining a boundary between these two worlds and rejecting the notion of a duality, a cognitive dissonance will continue to remain in the lives of oppressed and arginalized individuals without any hope for societal change. Contemporary sociologists must continue to transcend this boundary, accepting the inherent subjectivity found in any social science and focusing on fostering a productive sociological discourse with the goal of social justice. As Marx a stoutly stated in the mid-19th century, philosophers have only interpreted the world; the point, however, is to change it. 7. As the grand theory is considered the most abstract level of sociological theory, the initial intentions of such a theory are discussed in an abstract, idealistic way.Grand Theory, a term created by American sociologist C. Wright Mills, refers to the preference for formal organization and the arrangement of concepts over understanding the social world. The concept of an overarching, grand sociological theory can be applicable in an idealistic setting, where each diverse aspect of society is equitably dealt with and examined to formulate widely accepted conclusions about the world. However, the emphasis tends to focus on concepts that are generally disconnected from the concrete, every day realities of societal life.I believe that an adapted version of a grand theory in sociology is necessary to the extent that it has the ability to provide a structured framework in an otherwise incredibly complex social world. However, I also believe the grand theory should not be accepted as universal but instead should be considered a continuous work in progress that is added to over time as traditionally invisible issues continue to surface, creating multiple new dimensions of potential thought. Throughout sociological history the theoretical supporters and critics of a grand theory have been numerous.Karl Marx’s Historical Materialism, Anthony Giddens’ The Juggernaut of Modernity, and Talcott Parsons’ Actions Theory each offer various uses and perspectives of grand theory concepts. The evolution of the concept of a grand theory can be seen throughout these noteworthy theorists’ work. For example, Marx’s work with the grand theory of historical materialism put forth a streamlined argument that stated economic relations were the foundation of social structure, regardless of any other variable.Embedded in this theory is the idea of an overarching, universal definition of social structure contingent solely upon economic and material relations. This revolutionary idea may have been appropriate in the historical context of the theory, yet weaknesses in the universal concept of a grand theory appear in the absence of any other variable which undoubtedly impacted the social structure of Marxà ¢â‚¬â„¢s time.Anthony Giddens uses the concept of a grand theory to examine modernity, differentiating from the streamlined definition of society as purported by Marx by including a complex assortment of variables, which contribute to modernity. Giddens relates modernity to an overpowering force that transcends everything in its path with the implication that it is uncontrollable. Giddens also suggests that the overpowering force of modernity is dynamic, with the consequences of actions unforeseeable and uncontrollable, yet it manages to adjust based on reflexive actions, creating new societal problems in the process.Overall, Giddens’ interpretation of grand theory offers a more complex framework for analyzing society in modernity, yet it is left open ended as Giddens anticipates the creation of a new slew of issues that will plague society based on the adjustments made from previous issues. Talcott Parsons is credited with the continuing the quest toward the theoretical evol utionary development of structural functionalism and established what can be defined as a grand theory of action systems, despite the fact that Parsons himself declined to identify it as a grand theory.Parsons contributes to the discussion of grand theories in that he expanded the theory to consist of influence from various disciplines aside from sociology, including psychological, economical, political and religious components. Parsons also connected the concepts of motives as part of our actions, and determined that social science must take ends, purposes and ideals into consideration when creating a grand theory. Parsons attempted to integrate all of the social sciences within an overarching, grand theoretical framework that aimed to include aspects of both macro and micro orientations.Tracing the evolution of the concept of a grand theory reveals the irony rooted in the quest for such a grand theory, which is that despite attempts to create universal truths regarding society ind ependent of time and space, such independence is not possible. Marx, Giddens and Parsons each lived in their own, slightly different time periods and as a result one can observe the variations in their concepts of grand theories.I believe that the evolution of a grand theory is a continuous one with no particular end, because as Giddens suggested, the flexibility of society to adapt to societal issues in turn creates new societal issues, suggesting the permanence of such an analytical cycle. 8. Among Emile Durkheim’s plethora of contributions to sociological theory emerges an unorthodox, evolutionary approach, which considered society to be like an organism, distinguishing two central characteristics as structure and function. Durkheim’s contributions also include helping establish and define the field of sociology as an academic order.Durkheim expanded the limitations of the study of sociology when he argued that sociologists should study particular features of collec tive, or group, life. He suggested that society exists independently of the individuals in it, as societies influence individuals through established norms, sentiments, and social facts. Durkheim contributed the inquiry of study regarding modern society and its ability to remain cohesive despite the individualism and self-sufficiency of each person, as well as the study of social facts representing features of the group that cannot be examined independently of either the collective or the individual.Emile Durkheim’s writings are recognized for forming the foundation of functionalist thought, which remains among the oldest and most dominant theoretical perspectives in the study of sociology. The foundations of functionalism center on two categories: the individual organism and society being seen as analogous, and the examination of the objective social world with the application of the scientific method.Durkheim was one of the first sociologists to make use of scientific and s tatistical data to conduct sociological research, such as with his famous work Suicide, using real data to examine the phenomenon of suicide among religious groups. By incorporating the scientific method as a central method of research, Durkheim implicitly contributed the assertion that the social world can be studied in the same ways as the physical world. Regarding Durkheim’s relation to structuralism, he was concerned with the question of how particular societies are able to maintain stability internally and are capable of survival over time.Durkheim discussed structuralism in two variations, with the first referring to the pre-industrial societies that were structured on equivalent parts connected by shared values, and the second referring to more complex post-industrial societies that are connected through specialization and strong interdependence. The essence of Durkheim’s relation to structuralism and functionalism is the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, with society being greater than the individuals.Talcott Parsons offers a contemporary perspective on the concepts of structuralism and builds on Durkheim’s interpretation by discussing structuralism as a framework to examine society as a complex system whose parts work together in order to promote solidarity and stability. The focus on Parsons’ work is on the social structures that shape society as a whole, determining that each individual has a set of expectations based on other’s actions and reactions to that individual’s own behavior.Parsons also contributes the idea of the role, established through the repetition of behaviors and interactions dictated by social structure and that become recognized as normal. This concept of roles evolved into the groups of roles that harmonize each other and ultimately fulfill functions for society, in the sense that they assist society in operating and running smoothly. In conclusion, the concep ts put forth by the theories of functionalism and structuralism has had a significant impact on the study of sociology.Durkheim utilized the scientific method, and for this leap to a parallel with the natural sciences and hence more validity I am in support. However, Durkheim’s scientific method was perceived from an inherently Eurocentric male standpoint, and consequently produced misleading results. Emile Durkheim is ascribed with forming the foundation of thought in the functionalist orientation, and continued to attempt revolutions in sociological thought throughout his life’s work. Talcott Parsons is one of many contemporary theorists who have built upon Durkheim’s original theory y contributing contemporary rationalizations and have enhanced the sociological discussion regarding the macro evaluation of a modern functioning society. I support Parsons’ concept of social roles that are dictated on social expectations and are controlled by social struct ure, yet I find limitations in the neglect of an analysis of the social roles for subordinate individuals and groups, and without this analysis social justice will remain an idealistic theory. 9. The theoretical contributions and approaches of sociological theorists such as W.E. B. Du Bois and Patricia Hill Collins are significant in the conversation of sociological history as they take the unorthodox approach of delving into the perception of historically invisible issues regarding race and gender. For instance, Du Bois approaches the subject of race that centers on describing and explaining the actual, instead of theoretical, daily life conditions of African Americans, such as the threat of racially motivated violence like lynching, and the psychological damage of being separate but equal under Jim Crow laws.This brought a clearness of vision of specific phenomenon to the sociological conversation, with a focus on race, and an extension to any colored group that has experienced Eu rocentric imperialism. In regards to racism, Du Bois granted the primary responsibility of the social construction of racism on capitalism, and Du Bois was sympathetic to socialist causes throughout his work. Du Bois utilized deductive analysis, accompanied by empirical observation, to examine the experience of African Americans throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.Du Bois was primarily focused on variables that had been ignored by his sociological predecessors with particular attention paid to the intersection of race and class. He was interested in how the intersection of these variables contributes to broader cultural patterns dictating the stratification of individuals along lines of race and class and the shaping of individuals’ perceptions and experiences. Du Bois offers his conceptualization of race in comparing the variety of races around the world, with the U. S. housing two of the most extreme examples of race on the planet.As a result, the concept of the double c onsciousness exists, as African Americans may ask themselves on daily occasions what identity is truly theirs. For instance, one might ask, am I American or am I black? Can I be both? Does being black give me more of an obligation to assert my nationality than European immigrants would? Further, the double consciousness is the sense of â€Å"otherness† that prevents this uniform sense of self in accordance with the American image and produces a sense of two-ness, both American and black.In addition, Du Bois’ concept of the veil represents the distance that is felt socially between people of separate races, most significantly keeping the less dominant group, blacks, out of the dominant group’s, white, world. Patricia Hill Collins continues to build on the concepts highlighted by Du Bois’ work, and instead of extending his conversation about race and class Collins adopts an unconventional method of examining the intersection of race and gender.Collins empha sizes the specific experiences of black women as intersecting categories of oppression, with the goal of extending the discourse into other oppressed individuals and social groups. Collins’ theorizes that black women stand at the focal point where two historically powerful systems of oppression meet: gender and race, focusing on black women as outsiders within the larger, white male dominated society. According to Collins, by acknowledging this intersection of oppression, the possibility to see into other social injustices.Collins identifies three aspects of every day life in which black women are affected by and manage their race and definitions of identity in the greater American culture. These three aspects are known as safe spaces where black women are able to articulate their thoughts and feelings without the social pressure of mainstream society, which creates the double consciousness experienced by racial divide. The creation of the safe space is essential for the surv ival of oppressed groups, as they provide a unique place away from the ruling ideologies.For instance, one safe space for black women is in their relationships with each other. By empowering themselves in their own relationships, black women are able to help each other learn the knowledge to survive. Other safe spaces include black women’s blues traditions, followed by black female literature and poetry. Through these art forms, black women are able to approach the concepts of social injustice in a non-threatening manner.Collins also adds that groups must identify themselves, instead of letting other identify them. In conclusion, W. E. B. Du Bois and Patricia Hill Collins have made significant contributions to the sociological discussion of social injustice by forcing the issues of racial, class, and gender inequalities to the surface of social discourse. I find the work of Collins to be an extension of what Du Bois began, and I support the shared goal for both theorists in t heir quest for social justice for all subordinate groups.In fact, I believe that the combination of work from Du Bois and Collins epitomizes the essence of micro sociology, as they are able to articulate the invisible yet powerful social constraints that subordinate individuals and groups experience, and represents a transcendence of sociological thought above Eurocentric male standpoints. Their work has left deep impressions on current and future sociological theorists and essentially opened the door for the study of other socially oppressed groups.