Originality Of Philosophy :: essays research papers fc

Originality of Philosophy Feb.25.1997   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  What is philosophy? What does a philosopher really do? Questions like these can be answered in a review of Philosophy Now. What can possibly be answered.....questions which have them. And what is it that philosophers study? Generally, most philosophers study questions in which there is no rational or justifiable answer. And the type of articles in the magazine are very interesting because they elighten the reader to question the answers. Some of the articles in this issue are â€Å"Bakunin: Anarchist or Antichrist?†, â€Å" Practical Solipsism†, â€Å"Introduction to Ontology†, â€Å"Orwell and Philosophy†, some other brief articles, an Internet page, and even some classifieds. The overall view of this magazine was very intellectual and professional because it did not contain any advertising throughout the magazine. The articles are more in the manner meant for either philosophers or someone in school studying Philosophy, or even anyone interested in a very different approach to society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An idea in the article â€Å"Practical Solipsism† reads: â€Å"Solipsism - the idea that only I exist and that you, and all other material things in the world are mere figments of my imagination - is one of those peculiar notions that make everybody realize just how barmy philosophers truly are.† Philosophy is often translated as the love of wisdom or the love of truth. One way to get a vague idea as to what philosophy is about is to dissect the subject and investigate its skeleton. there are many branches in philosophy. Metaphysics is†(after- physics, after Aristotle's book of physics.)†, and has questions about the nature of time, categories of existence, including god. Epistemology asks what is knowledge? what is the difference between knowledge, belief and opinion? Can we really know anything? How could we know that we did? Logic questions the truth and even now employs a sort of algebra which is used to crunch logical problems. There is Philosophy of mind, which asks questions about the human mind, how it thinks, and how is it related to the body. Ethics is like how are we living, what is good and bad, what is unethical, and what is happiness. Aesthetics asks mostly about beauty and how to define it. In particular though, there is political philosophy, and it asks questions like What would Utopia be like? Is Utopia possible? How should social life be organized? In my opinion this philosophy is not one related to our government but is very interesting to me. As I was reading, many questions arose about our society and what I thought should be changed. Another Article that I went over was called â€Å"Ontology for

The Return: Midnight Chapter 7

Bonnie was in her new first-floor bedroom, and was feeling very bewildered. Black Magic always made her feel giggly, and then very sleepy, but somehow tonight her body refused to sleep. Her head hurt. She was just about to turn the bedside light on, when a familiar voice said, â€Å"How about some tea for your headache?† â€Å"Damon?† â€Å"I made some from Mrs. Flowers's herbs and I decided to make you a cup as wel . Aren't you the lucky girl?†If Bonnie had been listening closely, she might have heard something almost like self-loathing behind the light words – but she wasn't. â€Å"Yes!†Bonnie said, meaning it. Most of Mrs. Flowers's teas smel ed and tasted good. This one was especial y nice, but grainy on her tongue. And not only was the tea good, but Damon stayed to talk to her while she drank it al . That was sweet of him. Strangely, this tea made her feel not exactly sleepy, but as if she could only concentrate on one thing at a time. Damon swam into her field of view. â€Å"Feeling more relaxed?†he asked. â€Å"Yes, thank you.†Weirder and weirder. Even her voice sounded slow and dragging. â€Å"I wanted to make sure nobody was too hard on you for the sil y mistake about Elena,†he explained. â€Å"They weren't, real y,†she said. â€Å"Actual y everybody was more interested in seeing you and Matt fight – â€Å"Bonnie put a hand over her mouth. â€Å"Oh, no! I didn't mean to say that! I'm so sorry!† â€Å"It's al right. It should heal by tomorrow.† Bonnie couldn't imagine why anyone would be so afraid of Damon, who was so nice as to pick up her mug of tea and say he'd put it in the sink. That was good because she was feeling as if she couldn't get up to save her life. That cozy. That comfy. â€Å"Bonnie, can I ask you just one little thing?†Damon paused. â€Å"I can't tel you why, but†¦I have to find out where Misao's star bal is kept,†he said earnestly. â€Å"Oh†¦that,†Bonnie said fuzzily. She giggled. â€Å"Yes, that. And I am truly sorry to ask you, because you're so very young and innocent†¦but I know you'l tel me the truth.† After this praise and comfort, Bonnie felt she could fly. â€Å"It's been in the same place al the time,†she said with sleepy disgust. â€Å"They tried to make me think they'd moved it†¦but when I saw him chained and going down to the root cel ar I knew they hadn't real y.†In the dark, there was a short shake of curls and then a yawn. â€Å"If they were real y going to move it†¦they should have sent me away or something.† â€Å"Wel , maybe they were concerned for your life.† â€Å"Wha'?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Bonnie yawned again, not sure what he meant. â€Å"I mean, an old, old safe with a combination? I told them†¦that those old safes†¦could be†¦real y be†¦easy to†¦ to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Bonnie let out a sound like a sigh and her voice stopped. â€Å"I'm glad we had this talk,†Damon murmured in the silence. There was no answer from the bed. Pul ing Bonnie's sheet up as high as it would go, he let it drift down. It covered most of her face. â€Å"Requiescat in pace,†Damon said softly. Then he left her room, not forgetting to take the mug. Now†¦ â€Å"him chained and going down to the root cellar.† Damon mused as he washed out the mug careful y and put it back in the cupboard. The line sounded strange but he had almost al the links now, and it was actual y simple. Al he needed were twelve more of Mrs. Flowers's sleeping cachets and two plates heaped with raw beef. He had al the ingredients†¦but he'd never heard of a root cel ar. Shortly thereafter, he opened the door to the basement. Nope. Didn't match the criteria for â€Å"root cel ar†he'd looked up on his mobile. Irritated and knowing that any moment someone was likely to wander downstairs for something, Damon turned around in frustration. There was an elaborately carved wooden panel across from the basement, but nothing else. Curse it, he would not be thwarted at this point. He would have his life as a vampire back, or he didn't want any life at al ! To punctuate the sentiment, he slammed a fist against the wooden panel in front of him. The knock sounded hollow. Immediately al frustration vanished. Damon examined the panel very careful y. Yes, there were hinges at the very edge, where no sane person would expect them. It wasn't a panel but a door – undoubtedly to the root cel ar where the star bal was. It didn't take long for his sensitive fingers – even his human fingers were more sensitive than most – to find a place that clicked – and then the whole door swung open. He could see the stairs. He tucked his parcel under one arm and descended. By the il umination of the smal flashlight he'd taken from the storage room, the root cel ar was just as described: a damp, earthy room to store fruit and vegetables before refrigerators had been invented. And the safe was just as Bonnie had said: an ancient, rusty combination safe, which any whiz cracker could have opened in about sixty seconds. It would take Damon about six minutes, with his stethoscope (he'd heard once that you could find anything in the boardinghouse if you looked hard enough and it seemed to be true) and every atom of his being concentrating on hearing the tumblers quietly click. First, however, there was the Beast to conquer. Saber the black hel hound had unfolded, awake and alert from the moment the secret door had opened. Undoubtedly, they had used Damon's clothes to teach him to howl madly at his scent. But Damon had his own knowledge of herbs and had ransacked Mrs. Flowers's kitchen to find a handful of witch hazel, a smal amount of strawberry wine, aniseed, some peppermint oil, and a few other essential oils she had in stock, sweet and sharp. Mixed, this created a pungent lotion, which he had gingerly applied to himself. The concoction formed for Saber an impossible tangle of strong smel s. The only thing the now-sitting dog knew was that it was surely not Damon sitting on the steps and tossing him hearty bal s of hamburger and delicate strips of filet mignon – each of which he gulped down whole. Damon watched with interest as the animal devoured the mix of sleeping powder and raw meat, tail whisking on the floor. Ten minutes later Saber the hel hound was sprawled out happily unconscious. Six minutes after that, Damon was opening an iron door. One second later he was pul ing a pil owcase out of Mrs. Flowers's antique safe. In the glow of the flashlight he found that he did indeed have a star bal , but that it was just a little more than half ful . Now what did that mean? There was a very neat hole dril ed and corked at the top so that not one precious droplet more need be wasted. But who had used the rest of the fluid – and why? Damon himself had seen the star bal brimful of opalescent, shimmering liquid just days ago. Somehow between that time and now someone had used about a hundred thousand individuals'life energy. Had the others tried to do some remarkable deed with it and failed, at the cost of burning so much Power? Stefan was too kind to have used so much, Damon was certain of that. But†¦ Sage. With an Imperial Summons in his hand, Sage was likely to do anything. So, sometime after the sphere had been brought into the boardinghouse, Sage had poured out almost exactly half the life force from the star bal and then, undoubtedly, left the rest behind for Mutt or someone to cork. And such a colossal amount of Power could only have been used for†¦opening the Gate to the Dark Dimensions. Very slowly, Damon let out his breath and smiled. There were only a few ways to get into the Dark Dimensions, and as a human he obviously could not drive to Arizona and pass through a public Gateway as he had the first time with the girls. But now he had something even better. A star bal to open his own private Gateway. He knew of no other way to cross, unless one was lucky enough to hold one of the almost-mythical Master Keys that al owed one to roam the dimensions at wil . Doubtless, someday in the future, in some nook, Mrs. Flowers would find another thank-you note: this time along with something that was literal y invaluable – something exquisite and priceless and probably from a dimension quite far from Earth. That was how Sage operated. All was quiet above. The humans were relying on their animal companions to keep them safe. Damon gave the root cel ar a single look around and saw nothing more than a dim room completely empty except for the safe, which he now closed. Dumping his own paraphernalia into the pil owcase, he patted Saber, who was gently snoring, and turned toward the steps. That was when he saw that a figure was standing in the doorway. The figure then stepped smoothly behind the door, but Damon had seen enough. In one hand the figure had been holding a fighting stave almost as tal as it was. Which meant that it was a hunter-slayer. Of vampires. Damon had met several hunter-slayers – briefly – in his time. They were, in his consideration, bigoted, unreasonable, and even more stupid than the average human, because they'd usual y been brought up on legends of vampires with fangs like tusks who ripped out the throats of their victims and kil ed them. Damon would be the first to admit that there were some vampires like that, but most were more restrained. Vampire hunters usual y worked in groups, but Damon had a hunch that this one would be alone. He now ascended the steps slowly. He was fairly certain of the identity of this hunter-slayer, but if he was wrong he was going to have to dodge a stave launched straight down at him like a javelin. No problem – if he were stil a vampire. Slightly more difficult, unarmed as he was and at a severe tactical disadvantage. He reached the top of the stairs unharmed. This was real y the most dangerous part of climbing steps, for a weapon of just the right length could send him crashing al the way back down. Of course a vampire wouldn't be permanently injured by that, but – again – he was no longer a vampire. But the person in the kitchen al owed him to climb al the way out of the root cel ar unhindered. A kil er with honor. How sweet. He turned slowly to measure up his vampire hunter. He was immediately impressed. It wasn't the obvious strength that al owed the hunter to be able to whip off a figure eight with the fighting stave that impressed him. It was the weapon itself. Perfectly balanced, it was meant to be held in the middle, and the designs picked out in jewels around the handhold showed that its creator had had excel ent taste. The ends showed that he or she had a sense of humor as wel . The two ends of the stave were made of ironwood for strength – but they were also decorated. In shape, they were made to resemble one of humankind's oldest weapons, the flint-tipped spear. But there were tiny spikes extruding from each of these â€Å"spear flakes,†set firmly into the ironwood. These tiny spikes were of different materials: silver for werewolves, wood for vampires, white ash for Old Ones, iron for al eldritch creatures, and a few that Damon couldn't quite work out. â€Å"They're refil able,†the hunter-slayer explained. â€Å"Hypodermic needles inject on impact. And of course different poisons for different species – quick and simple for humans, wolfsbane for those naughty puppies, and so on. It real y is a jewel of a weapon. I wish I had found it before we met Klaus.† Then she seemed to shake herself back into reality. â€Å"So, Damon, what's it going to be?†asked Meredith.

Essay Empathy in to Kill a Mockingbird - 743 Words

Empathy in To Kill A Mockingbird Empathy is the theme which connects the reader with the characters in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird; the experiences of the characters in this novel show us the significance of empathy as a theme. Harper Lee writes about the experiences which Scout and Jem undergo in learning to be empathetic, while Atticus and Tom Robinson are two of the key characters who, at the time of the novel already possessed the ability to be empathetic. Atticus is the character who displays the most empathy towards others in the novel, and he is a primary example of the importance of this theme in the novel. Harper Lee writes about empathy mainly through Atticus and his ability to feel empathetic to others even in a situation†¦show more content†¦307, 308. We can truly observe the maturing and the obtaining of new knowledge in Scout as a character while she begins learning about empathy Empathy is a recurring theme that is represented in the learning experiences of Jem. For example, when Jem sees Scout hurting Walter Cunningham, he takes a real look at Walter and realises that he couldn’t help being in the condition he is in and he deserves to be treated better. â€Å"Walter looked as if he had been raised on fish food†¦ he fingered the straps if his overalls, nervously picking at the metal hooks.†pg. 25. One small gesture can communicate to the reader the true influence of empathy. One small gesture that Tom Robinson made was immediately questioned by the majority of the court room; being a black man in a white society, he was supposedly in no situation to feel sorry for Mayella who is a white woman. He does not know much about her situation, but he has the ability to understand where she is coming from and see that she deserves help. â€Å"Looked like she didn’t have nobody to help her†¦ yes suh. I felt right sorry for her.† Pg. 217. To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel which deals with many themes; the most dominant of these is empathy, as it is crucial in the relationships between characters as well as in their learning experiences. The way Scout finally learns how to use empathy to see things from Boo Radley’s point of view was very moving to the reader, and the reader canShow MoreRelatedEmpathy in To Kill a Mockingbird1507 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novel ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, learning to â€Å"walk about in someone’s skin† is a main theme, particularly as two of the main protagonists Jem and Scout learn to do this as they grow up throughout the book along with the reader. Atticus, the children’s father, educates the children on how to treat and comprehend other people. As Jem and Scout grow older in the novel, they begin to understand this lesson and act upon it both knowingly and sub-consciously. Scout empathises withRead MoreEssay On Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird1109 Words   |  5 PagesSmall town America is a fantasy of friendly neighbors and lovely lives. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in a small town and is nothing close to the fantasy of friendly neighbors and lovely lives. In a town of rape, racism, and prejudice, the reader watches who falls and who thrives in a small town on the brink of collapse. To Kill a Mockingbird, a coming of age fiction, was written by Harper Lee and published on July 11, 1960. This novel follows two siblings, Jem and Scout, throughout their mostRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis1458 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.† (p.30) The novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee includes a plethora of essential themes that make one think deeply. The story takes place in the 1930’s when segregation tensions were high. The narrative is told through the eyes of a young girl, Jean Louise (Scout) Finch. Scout’s father, Atticus is a lawyer fighting a case for an African American man namedRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis1174 Words   |  5 PagesTo Kill A Mockingbird Joni Smith Grade 9 One of the most important themes in this powerful text is that of empathy and understanding. Maycomb, as is shown in the text, is a society that is clearly split through class, race and numerous other distinctions. In such an environment of inequality, Atticus teaches his children the importance and value of empathy, and of trying to see the world through the eyes of other people. In the novel â€Å"To Kill A Mockingbird† by Harper Lee, learning to â€Å"walk aboutRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Analysis863 Words   |  4 Pages Human interaction is important in todays society. It allows each of the species to communicate and share what they feel. But, wny for people struggle with the concept of empathy? To Kill A Mockingbird is a great example of the struggles of empathy. People struggle with empathy because they have different experiences. Characters who show this are Scout, Mayella, and Aunt Alexandra. Scout is a child who is playful and curious. Since she is still young, Scout doesnt have a lot of experienceRead MoreEssay On Empathy In To Kill A Mockingbird871 Words   |  4 PagesThroughout the course of To Kill a Mockingbird, the siblings Jem and Scout torment a man named Boo Radley because they think that he is a malevolent ghost. Boo still loves them like a father would and keeps them under a watchful eye even though they treat him like a caged animal. Jem and Scout do not realize this and continue to torment him. The relationship between Boo and Jem changes in the middle of the book, when Boo gives them gifts, Jem realizes what he has done and learns that Boo is a personRead MoreTo Kill A Mockingbird Empathy Essay1115 Words   |  5 PagesIn the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mockingbird† is about a man the south named Atticus who demonstrates empathy. As time goes on there are a lot of problems that create Atticus as a character. The story takes place in the 1930†™s which is during the Great Depression, when the people in Maycomb have a hard time making money so they pay them with ever they got. Atticus has two children Jem and Scout.Atticus is trying to teach them a lesson. Lee uses the character of Atticus Finch to teach the reader the importanceRead MoreEmpathy and Social Change in To Kill a Mockingbird, Milk, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner1519 Words   |  7 PagesEmpathy and Social Change in To Kill a Mockingbird, Milk, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Empathy: â€Å"The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experiences fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner† (according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary). When we think of socialRead MoreAnalysis Of Kill A Mockingbird By Har per Lee1248 Words   |  5 PagesrRealistic fFiction novels because it helps the reader understand what the author is trying to convey. In this novel with the title To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee used that to her own advantage;, the techniques in this book were very clear to the eye and it helped the reader more to understand the part that they were reading. In the book To Kill A Mockingbird the story is about a little girl named Scout who lives in the south in a little town called Maycomb, Alabama and during the Great DepressionRead MoreSympathy Of A Mockingbird By Harper Lee926 Words   |  4 Pagesbecause you know what it is like to have those feelings. This understanding of how someone feels is empathy which among other things is the main idea in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Empathy is shown greatly in To kill a Mockingbird whether it be a person feeling for another person or a simply a person towards an insect. The best and most obvious example of empathy in To Kill a Mockingbird is that of scout towards Boo Radley. In the book scout says, â€Å"Atticus was right. One time he said you