Existentialism A Very Short Introduction Essay - 980 Words

â€Å"Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen† (Brown). In the book Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction, Thomas Flynn writes about one of the leading philosophical movements in the twentieth century: existentialism. This theory emphasizes that each individual is entirely free, making them responsible and accountable for their actions or choices. With this idea, your choices are solely based on your own judgment, not anyone else’s. The book focuses on seven leading figures, Jean-Paul Sartre, Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, Soren Kierkegaard, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and Camus who contributed to and greatly influenced the movement (Flynn). The seven individuals were popular philosophers who studied many topics, as well as contributed to and founded different theories with a great focus on existentia lism. The book discusses key themes of free will and personal responsibility as well. Free will is the ability to choose from among various alternatives and options. Throughout life, each individual has the ability to choose how they live their life because of their position as a self-determining agent, although making them responsible for the authenticity of their decisions. Authenticity can be defined as something that is original or genuine, not a copy of anything else. It resides in one of the themes ofShow MoreRelatedEssay Existentialism1050 Words   |  5 PagesExistentialism Existentialism refers to the philosophical movement or tendency of the nineteenth and twentyth centuries. Because of the diversity of positions associated with existentialism, a precise definition is impossible; however, it suggests one major theme: a stress on individual existence and, consequently, on subjectivity, individual freedom, and choice {3}. Existentialism also refers to a family of philosophies devoted to an interpretation of human existence in the world thatRead MoreEssay on The Outsider by Albert Camus 1536 Words   |  7 PagesCentury, but also one that provides a useful introduction to one of that century’s most compelling philosophical movements, Existentialism. The Outsider, first published in France as ‘L’Étranger in 1942, is commonly regarded as the greatest example of the Existentialist novel, outshining even Sartre’s La Nausà ©e. This in itself is an extraordinary feat, for, whilst Jean-Paul Sartre was generally regarded as the founding father of Twentieth Century Existentialism, and held an almost unassailable sway overRead MoreExistentialism : Existentialism And Existentialism1774 Words   |  8 Pages Journal 3 - Existentialism Existentialism is something that everybody thinks of sometimes in their life. Maybe they thought about it while on the toilet, or when they just achieved something they worked really hard at, or they thought about it while lying in bed at 3 am when they couldn’t sleep. Existentialism is based off of the questions â€Å"What is my purpose?† and â€Å"Why am I here?†. It basically answers these questions by saying that there is no meaning and that we can only assign meaning toRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Life1811 Words   |  8 PagesExistentialism is a philosophy that is often analyzed through literature. Franz Kafka is a key example of the limitless nature of this theme as his many works are divisive in how they connect with existentialism. Kafka is a unique storyteller and his stories have captivated generations since their publications. His background is important in understanding his seeming detachment from his writing. Kafka’s life is descr ibed by Ritchie Robertson in â€Å"Biography of Franz Kafka† as â€Å"strikingly ordinary†Read MoreHills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway Essay1777 Words   |  8 PagesElephants†, was first published in August of 1927 but it was not until briefly after the lone publication of this esoteric short story that it received the notability it deserved; accompanied by many other encapsulating short stories, â€Å"Hills Like White Elephants† in addition to the thirteen other short stories published by Hemingway in October of 1927 made up his second collection of short stories, â€Å"Men Without Women†. Nevertheless, William Shakespeare’s, â€Å"Hamlet†, was the longest play ever written by theRead MoreThe Philosophy of Suicide: Albert Camus vs. Arthur Schopenhauer2338 Words   |  10 PagesSuicide is, according to Sartre, â€Å"an opportunity to stake out our understanding of our essence as individuals in a godless world† (Sta nford, 2004). Fundamentally, existentialism argues all individuals are free and therefore responsible for their actions. Thus, it is up to the individual to create an ethos of personal ideology, which is the only way one is able to rise above the human condition of suffering, death and finality (Guigon, 2001). Suicide is seen as the individual’s act of giving in toRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 PagesEssentialism vs. Existentialism Essentialism: A belief that things have a set of characteristics that make them what they are, amp; that the task of science and philosophy is their discovery amp; expression; the doctrine that essence is prior to existence While, Existentialism:A philosophical theory or approach, that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free amp; responsible agent, determining their own development through acts of the will. Existentialism * isRead MoreEnglish Literature- an Episode in the Life of an Author5918 Words   |  24 Pagesirrational and illogical aspects of life through absurd characters, dialogues and situations. The plays of N.F. Simson, Harold Printer, Edward Albee fall within this category, but the form has been most popular in France because of its ties to existentialism and can be seen in the plays of Jean Genet, Eugene Ionesco and Samuel Bucket. In Bucket’s waiting for ‘Godot’ two tramps waits interminably and in great uncertainty for someone who never arrives, who may have specify this meeting place and whoRead More Jean-Paul Sartre: On the Other Side of Despair3090 Words   |  13 Pagescommented (Marowski and Matuz 371). As a philosopher, dramatist, novelist, essayist, biographer, short story writer, journalist, editor, scriptwriter, and autobiographer, his impact is simply undeniable. Between his expansive body of literary work and the philosophical ideas expressed within his words, Jean-Paul Sartre was one of the leading minds of recent times and perhaps the father of existentialism as we know it. Jean-Paul Sartre was born in Paris on June 21, 1905. Due to his father’s earlyRead MoreExistential Humanistic Paradigm Of Personality1845 Words   |  8 Pages Article Summaries Paper Alyssa Edwards Lindenwood University-Belleville Introduction I am most interested in the existential-humanistic paradigm of personality in this stage of my counseling education. An Introduction to Theories of Personality (Olson Hergenhahn, 2011) labeled part seven as the existential-humanistic paradigm, joining the two together, so I decided to join them in my paper as well. I chose two articles with focus in existential therapy and one which focused on humanistic

Father-Child Relationships in Hamlet and Fences - 1223 Words

Father-Child Relationships in Hamlet and Fences In both William Shakespeares Hamlet and August Wilsons Fences, the emphasis placed on parent-child relationship is vital, as family plays an important role in developing a characters values as well as his or her upbringing does. While Ophelia, Laertes, and Hamlet show loyalty to their fathers unconditionally, Cory, even though looks up Troy as a figure, eventually exhibits disrespect to him. The relationship that Ophelia shares with her father, Polonius, is rather dogmatic to say the least. Throughout Hamlet, Polonius demonstrates almost absolute control over Ophelia as if she were a tool with the sole purpose of serving Polonius. As a result of a weakness of mind caused by a lack of†¦show more content†¦We see responsibility, obedience, and devotion in father-child relationships in Hamlet. But Troy-Cory relationship in Fences is not the case. Whether the cause is generational gap or Troys selfishness or Corys noncompliance, T roy never completely gains the love from his own son even after his death. Their relationship never blooms. Initially, Cory may innocently display his admiration to Troy because of his athletic ability and because of a simple reason: a love from a normal son to his father. Through Roses word, we know that Cory tries to do as best as he can to earn one compliment from his father, Everything that boy do...he do for you. He wants you to say Good job, son. Thats all.(I.iii). Unfortunately, theres always a conflict in that relation. Cory asks his father, How come you aint never liked me? and Troy answers, Liked you? Who the hell say I got to like you?.../ You eat everyday.../ Got a roof over your head.../ Got clothes on your back.../ What you think that is?.../ Its my job./ Its my responsibility!(I. iii). This conversation between Cory and Troy clarifies everything. Troy doesnt like his son. Troy takes care of his family including Cory because of his duty. Troy thinks he owe Cory. Of cou rse, there must be some love from Troy to Cory, from a father to his son, but the bitter experiences Troy has in the past soon fence himself in to be a selfish,Show MoreRelatedRoles Of Women In Hamlet982 Words   |  4 Pageswomen in plays such as â€Å"Fences† by August Wilson and â€Å"Hamlet† by Shakespeare. In these plays, the women are the underlying factors for the actions of many other characters. The women in both these plays may seem similar due to the stereotypical roles they seem to be in, but they couldn’t be more different. In Hamlet, Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) and Ophelia (Hamlet’s lover) affected a lot of Hamlet’s actions, while seemingly being represented as minor. Whereas in the play Fences, Rose is a figure whoRead MoreA Heros Journey3224 Words   |  13 PagesA Hero’s Journey: Hamlet and Simba What images come to mind as you reflect on your childhood? Playgrounds, blackboards, and soccer balls may be among the warmest of memories. Yet for many mermaids swim their thoughts, princesses get swept of their feet, and lions roar to their loyal place in the animal kingdom. There is no doubt that today’s entertainment has most of its touch using classical influences. Walt Disney has produced animated films that have captured the heart and imagination of audiencesRead MoreTreasure Island By Robert Louis Stevenson2104 Words   |  9 PagesAuthor: Robert Louis Stevenson Setting: (Where) Near Bristol, England and â€Å"Treasure Island† (When) During the 18th Century Protagonist(s): Jim Hawkins Antagonist(s): Long John Silver and his crew Describe the relationship between the Protagonist and Antagonist: Jim and Long John Silver are practical enemies as they try to retrieve the treasure on the island and claim it as theirs. 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These notes were compiled and fictionalized into a bildungsroman tale of two young men who were searching the back roads, tiny hamlets and big cities of post-World War II America. This became the critically acclaimed novel, On the Road. At the center are two young men, Sal Paradise (Kerouac), a college student, and an unpublished writer from New Jersey, and Dean Moriarty (NealRead MoreScience and Technology13908 Words   |  56 Pageswhich I introduced blood groups and blood typing, a female student asked, If my blood group is Rh negative and my fiance is Rh positive, what steps can I take to avoid problems during child birth? She was referring to rhesus-sensitization, in which a mother can develop an immune reaction when bearing a child whose rhesus blood group differs from her own. In a Western high school setting answering this question would have been easy, but in this case I did not know how best to respond. 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Antitrust Cartel and Federal Trade Commission Free Essays

The purpose of this paper is to discuss antitrust law with regard to federal regulations. In the form of a case study, this paper will examine the legal obstacles faced by the merger proposal between US Airways Group Inc. and American Airlines’ parent corporation AMR. We will write a custom essay sample on Antitrust: Cartel and Federal Trade Commission or any similar topic only for you Order Now The focus of the paper is to examine the legal hurdles posed by antitrust laws used to block the merger and then briefly explore possible ethical issues associated with allowing US Airways Group Inc. and AMR to merge. Antitrust Laws There are three core federal antitrust laws in effect today in our US legal system. They are the Sherman Act, The Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act (â€Å"Antitrust†, n. d. ). The Sherman Antitrust Act (Sherman Act, July 2, 1890, ch. 647, 26 Stat. 209, 15 U. S. C.  § 1–7) is an antitrust law primarily aimed at prohibiting the formulation of monopolies by making them a felony offense. As the Sherman Act evolved the US Supreme Court decided that monopolies in and of themselves are not bad and do not automatically violate the Sherman Act. Instead, it is the particular actions taken to obtain or maintain monopolistic positioning that is illegal (â€Å"Sherman†, 2008). The Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U. S. C.  § 45: US Code – Section 45: Unfair methods of competition unlawful; prevention by Commission) has a primary duty of prohibiting actions within commerce that are deemed unfair to competition (â€Å"15 U. S. C.  § 45†, n. d. ). The Clayton Act (15 U. S. C. A.  § 12 et seq. [1914]) is an addition to the antitrust laws primarily used today to prohibit certain types of business practices making them illegal when their usage severely restricts competition and/or creates a monopoly. The practices specifically addressed in the Act are price discrimination, making it illegal to sale the same product to different people in the same market at different prices; tying and exclusive dealing contracts, making it illegal to forbid a shopper from shopping with competitors; corporate mergers, the acquisition of competing head to head companies by one company; and interlocking directorates, the members of which are common members on the boards of directors of competing companies (â€Å"Clayton act†, 2008). The Enforcers The federal antitrust laws are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. They both open up and conduct antitrust investigations. In situations involving the airline industry the Department of Justice has jurisdiction in matters pertaining to antitrust laws. There are other regulatory agencies that also must give approval before certain mergers can take place. In these instances The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice provide support to the agencies. Individual states may also work in conjunction with the two federal agencies to enforce its state’s antitrust laws. Additionally, the states can file antitrust lawsuits on behalf of its citizens or the state. This is usually done through the state’s attorney general office. Individuals and businesses can also initiate antitrust complaints and file suits to have the antitrust laws enforced (â€Å"The federal government†, n. d. ). Mergers Section 7 of the Clayton Act addresses the antitrust laws concerning mergers. Mergers are not inherently bad or illegal. So long as the merger doesn’t cause a significant increase in prices, a serious reduction in quality of goods and services, and doesn’t deter innovation. Mergers become a problem when they significantly lessen competition or lead to a monopoly. When head to head competitors propose a merger it will usually sets off antitrust alarm bells that most likely will lead to an investigation by one of the federal agencies (â€Å"Mergers†, n. d. ). External Obstacles In 2005, US Airways and AMR publically proposed a merger that was met with a great deal of resistance. The government has the responsibility to regulate mergers to ensure the merger doesn’t violate antitrust laws. This merger had to be reviewed by several agencies such as the U.S. Justice Department, the U. S. Department of Transportation, the Air Transportation Stabilization Board, the Security and exchange commission, and U. S. Bankruptcy Courts. This was a very high profile merger proposal and it was met with a great deal of opposition (Cobb, et al. , 2006). The airline eventually won Department of Justice approval but had to agree to give up some airport slots to clear antitrust concerns. Both airlines agreed to the terms in order to keep the merger proposal alive (Majcher Russell, 2013). Because of a Philadelphia to London route the proposed merger also had to gain some clearance by the European Commission. The airlines once again agreed to give up the route to alleviate any international anti-competitive effects (Knibb, 2013). Ethical Concerns The Department of Justice and six state attorneys-general together filed a suit against the merger arguing that the merger would lead to an increase in airfare, in fees, and also limit choices also the merger agreement will cost workers jobs as American Airline was forced to relinquish hub status at several airports. This merger really benefits the two airlines but leave hundreds of workers out of jobs and taxpayer subsidized airport infrastructure customizations will lose return on investments (â€Å"The airline mergers†, 2013). Higher airfares as a result of the merger would put the merger in violation of antitrust not only would it be illegal but it can also be considered unethical. Conclusion There are laws in place to protect consumers and businesses from anticompetitive behavior. They are called antitrust laws (â€Å"antitrust laws†, n. d. ). When US Airways and AMR announced their intention to merge into one company the merger deal was scrutinized by the Department of Justice and regulatory agencies to see if the merger violated any antitrust laws (Cobb, et al. , 2006). The two airlines were forced to agree to certain concessions in order to gain the approval of the federal government, regulatory agencies and courts (Majcher Russell, 2013). This paper doesn’t show any evidence that the merger was unethical however, many interested parties attempted to block the merger on the grounds that the merger would give the company an unfair advantage over rivals and passengers. How to cite Antitrust: Cartel and Federal Trade Commission, Papers

Is Competition Necessary in Leisure Activities free essay sample

Competition is the act of two or more people, or groups of people facing off against each other in order to attain a greater goal. It is used for many things from building team spirit, to enticing the best out of your employees. Through competition, people grow and improve themselves. Healthy competition makes people work harder and helps build self confidence. If on the winning side of a competition, people glow in the realization that their hard work has gotten them this far. On the other hand, those that finish later may learn new strategies for dealing with ideas and through healthy self criticism, learn ways to better themselves and their situation to the point of excelling. It is for these reasons that competition is important. Without a reason to compete, a society remains stagnate and devoid of progression. Matters, used a pumpkin carving contest at her sons school as an example of why competition is important. At the end of the contest, the judges gave every child a ribbon instead of announcing one winner. Silvert states that, it is as if we grown-ups believe that kids are too fragile to handle defeat (Silvert p. 12). While it is true that children may be upset at the idea of not coming in first, it is important to note that through each competition that they endure they are learning something new about themselves and the environment around them. While games and contests illustrate the importance of drive and determination, they also teach our children how to lose, (Silvert p. 12). Everyone enjoys positive feedback and affirmation as often as possible, but as life is fluid so are our experiences within it, and with that sometimes comes failure. As losing is as much a part of life as winning, it is important to teach the skills of sportsmanship and failing with grace early on. In Chiacos article, A Look at the Commercialization of Sport, it is said that, Games helped children develop the skills that they would need in adult life while grown-ups probably competed for status, entertainment, and social bonding, (Chiacos). This shows that while young, competition plays a vital role in the socialization of youth while preparing them for the challenges of being an adult. Signs of competition are everywhere in the natural world, as well as the artificial world that we as humans have created for ourselves. Initially competition was natures way of weeding out those unfit for continuation, but as we as a species evolved, competitions purpose became less dire and more symbolic. Humans have most likely competed in athletics since the inception of our species, (Chiacos). We have found pleasure in the conception of games that pit our abilities against other people. Through them, we learn about ourselves and each other. The techniques that we attain from others enable us to forge ahead in ways not possible without the insight of another. Because of this fact, competition has become an integral part of almost every part of human life. An example of the immersion and pay off of competition in society is college. Competition in school dictates a certain degree of success for the attending students and this in turn makes for better recruits for the job market. Students with higher grades often times have an easier time attaining their goals. There are companies that maintain a minimum GPA of 3. 0 requirement for graduating students to be considered for an interview. This ensures that those being considered have worked hard to be at the level of success that they are at. This is good for the company as well as for the prospective employee because both have/ and will benefit from the hard work of the student. A more personal example of this occurred while I was searching for a post graduate job in my major of Accountancy. Initially, I had a 3. 0 and through networking through classmates and peers of school organizations that I was a part of, I was able to score an interview with a prospective employer. To interview with this firm, the required GPA was a 3. 0 and because of my ties with others, I felt confident in my ability to acquire a job from them. However, having been my first interview ever, it didnt go as well as I had hoped and so I was unable to get the job. The following year, I re-applied but because my GPA dropped I was not even considered for an interview. My lack of competition and feelings of security through networking caused my grades to drop, barring me from my main goal. A lack of a grading structure or some other type of competition in school can cause a lackluster attitude towards studying. They are less likely to try their best because they feel that there is nothing to lose. An example of this is a credit/ no-credit class in which those enrolled, due to a lack of a grade and thus a less tangible consequence, do not try as hard. This is not to say that every tudent enrolled feels this way, but with a passing grade of a C being enough to get full credit, it is easy to see how this assumption can be made. The main goal of the grade trumps the idea of the knowledge gained. I have now come to realize that my greatest competitor is myself and I now strive harder than ever to work hard in the short term in order to reap better benefits in the future. In conclusion, healthy competition is necessary in almost all human activities rang ing from school and work to leisure time activities. It enables the growth of the people involved through interpersonal interactions as well as self assessments. Adequate pressure to succeed is the key in order to navigate through the society we have made for ourselves. We must be wary of hyper-competition and those who push to hard and too fast. Competition should always be looked at for what it is and not for what it is not. We must remember that while the overall desired effect is to win. people should not forget what lessons of win and lose that they have learned while enduring their struggle. Assimilating these lessons into their daily lives will enable them to forge ahead and better themselves and possibly the world in the future.