Existentialism - Essay Topics

If you are studying existentialism and have an exam coming up, the best way to prepare for it is to write lots of practice essays.  Doing this helps you to recall the texts and the ideas you have studied; it helps you to organize your knowledge of these; it often triggers original or critical insights of your own.   Here is a set of essay questions you can use.  They relate to the following classic existentialist texts: Tolstoy, My ConfessionTolstoy, The Death of Ivan IlyichDostoyevsky, Notes from UndergroundDostoyevsky, The Grand InquisitorNietzsche, The Gay ScienceBeckett, Waiting for GodotSartre, The WallSartre, NauseaSartre, Existentialism Is a HumanismSartre, Portrait of an Anti-SemiteKafka, A Message From the Emperor, A Little Fable, Couriers, Before the LawCamus, The Myth of SisyphusCamus, The Stranger Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky Both Tolstoys Confession and Dostoyevskys Notes from Underground seem to reject science and rationalistic philosophy.  Why?  Explain and evaluate the reasons for the critical attitudes toward science in these two texts.Both Tolstoy’s Ivan Ilyich (at least once he falls sick) and Dostoyevsky’s  Underground Man feel estranged from the people around them.  Why?  In what ways is the kind of isolation they experience similar, and in what ways is it different?The underground man says that ‘to be too conscious is an illness.’  What does he mean?  What are his reasons?  In what ways does the underground man suffer from excessive consciousness?  Do you see this as the root cause of his sufferings or are there deeper problems that give rise to it?  Does Ivan Ilyich also suffer from excessive consciousness, or is his problem something different?Both The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Notes From Underground portray individuals who feel separated from thei r society.  Is the isolation they experience avoidable, or is it primarily caused by the sort of society they belong to.In the Authors Note at the beginning of Notes from Underground, the author describes the underground man as representative of a new type of person that must inevitably appear in modern society.  What aspects of the character are representative of this new type of modern individual?  Does he remain representative today in 21st century America, or has his type more or less disappeared?Contrast what Dostoyevsky’s Grand Inquisitor says about freedom with what the Underground Man says about it.  Whose views do you most agree with? Nietzsche, The Gay Science Tolstoy (in Confession), Dostoyevsky’s Underground Man, and Nietzsche in The Gay Science, are all critical of those who think the main goal in life should be the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.  Why?  When Nietzsche read Notes from Underground he immediately hailed Dostoyevsky as a ’kindred spirit’.  Why?In The Gay Science, Nietzsche says: â€Å"Life—that is: being cruel and inexorable against everything about us that is growing old and weak†¦.being without reverence for those who are dying, who are wretched, who are ancient.  Explain, giving illustrative examples, what you think he means and why he says this.  Do you agree with him?At the beginning of Book IV of The Gay Science, Nietzsche says all in all and on the whole: some day I wish only to be a Yes-sayer.  Explain what he means—and what he is opposing himself to--by reference to issues he discusses elsewhere in the work.  How successful is he in maintaining this life-affirming stance?Morality is herd instinct in the individual.  What does Nietzsche mean by this?  How does this statement fit in with the way he views conventional morality and his own  alternative values?Explain in detail Nietzsche’s view of Christianity.  What aspects of Western civilization, both positive and negative, does he see as largely due to its influence?In The Gay Science Nietzsche says: â€Å"The strongest and most evil spirits have so far done the most to advance humanity.†Ã‚  Explain, giving examples, what you think he means and why he says this.  Do you agree with him?In The Gay Science Nietzsche seems to both criticize moralists who distrust the passions and instincts and also himself be a great advocate of self-control.  Can these two aspects of his thinking be reconciled?  If so, how?What is Nietzsche’s attitude in The Gay Science towards the quest for truth and knowledge? Is it something heroic and admirable, or should it be viewed with suspicion as a hangover from traditional morality and religion? Sartre Sartre famously observed that man is condemned to be free.  He also wrote that man is a futile passion.  Explain what these statements mean and the reasoning that lies behind them.  Would you describe the conception of humanity that emerges as optimistic or pessimistic?Sartre’s existentialism was labeled by one critic â€Å"the philosophy of the graveyard,† and existentialism strikes many as dominated by depressing ideas and outlooks.  Why would someone think this?  And why might others disagree?  In Sartre’s thinking which tendencies do you see as depressing and which uplifting or inspiring?In his Portrait of the Anti-Semite, Sartre says the Anti-Semite feels the nostalgia of impermeability.  What does this mean?  How does it help us understand anti-Semitism?  Where else in Sartres writings is this tendency examined?The climax of Sartres novel Nausea is Roquentins revelation in the park when he contemplates.  What is the nature of this revela tion?  Should it be described as a form of enlightenment?Explain and discuss either Anny’s ideas about ‘perfect moments’ or Roquentin’s ideas about ‘adventures (or both).  How do these notions relate to the major themes explored in Nausea?It has been said that Nausea presents the world as it appears to one who experiences at a deep level what Nietzsche described as the death of God.  What supports this interpretation?  Do you agree with it?Explain what Sartre means when he says that we make our decisions and perform our actions in anguish, abandonment, and despair.  Do you find his reasons for viewing human action in this way convincing?  [In answering this question, make sure you consider Sartrean texts beyond just his lecture Existentialism and Humanism.]At one point in Nausea, Roquentin says, â€Å"Beware of literature!†Ã‚  What does he mean? Why does he say this?   Kafka, Camus, Beckett Kafkas stories and parables have often praised for capturing certain aspects of the human condition in the modern age.  With reference to the parables we discussed in class, explain which features of modernity Kafka illuminates and what insights, if any, he has to offer.At the end of The Myth of Sisyphus Camus says that ‘one must imagine Sisyphus happy’?  Why does he say this?  Wherein lies Sisyphus’ happiness?  Does Camus’ conclusion follow logically from the rest of the essay?  How plausible do you find this conclusion?Is Meursault. the protagonist of The Stranger,  an example of what Camus calls in The Myth of Sisyphus an ‘absurd hero’?  Justify your answer with close reference to both the novel and the essay.Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot, is—obviously—about waiting.  But Vladimir and Estragon wait in different ways and with different attitudes.  How do their ways of waiting express different possibl e responses to their situation and, by implication, to what Beckett sees as the human condition? Existentialism in General From Tolstoys account of his suicidal despair in his Confession to Becketts  Waiting for Godot, there is much in existentialist writing that seems to offer a bleak view of the human condition.  On the basis of the texts you have studied, would you say that existentialism is indeed, a bleak philosophy, excessively concerned with mortality and meaninglessness?  Or does it have a positive aspect also?According to William Barrett, existentialism belongs to a longstanding tradition of intense, passionate reflection on life and the human condition, yet it is also in some ways an essentially modern phenomenon.  What is it about the modern world that has given rise to existentialism?  And what aspects of existentialism are particularly modern?

The Law Enforcement Operations Model - 1619 Words

As discussed in the next section, some critics of these types of responses to transnational terrorism argue that a law enforcement operations model should be applied rather than the law of armed conflict because of the nature of the operations that are involved. For instance, Kels notes that human rights advocates â€Å"insist upon a legal geography of war, whereby states must apply a law enforcement (rather than armed conflict) model to any hostilities conducted outside of universally recognized hot battlefields like Afghanistan† (B3). This approach, however, ignores the realities of military operations on the ground and consequences of using a law enforcement operations model rather than the law of armed conflict to control these efforts (Kels B3). As Kels points out, â€Å"Holding a drone operator, fighter pilot or sailor directing ordnance at an overseas terrorist hideout to the same detain-first, shoot-last standards as a Metro police officer would negate the very purpos e of the weapons system, which is precisely the goal of some activists† (B3). Indeed, rather than improving America’s opportunities to apply FSW to eliminate threats emanating from other countries that are unable or unwilling to stop them, these arguments only add further fuel to the anti-drone rhetoric in ways that may even encourage additional terrorist incursions from abroad. Law Enforcement Operations (LEO) Law is both a context for the application of power and at the same time, an instrument of power. 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Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Answer: Introduction From the time of mans existence, the desire for greater knowledge and more information has been that without a doubt a fascinating issue. The information seeking desires that man exhibits is very much comparable to the thirst for water in the middle of a desert- unquenchable. Information seeking is simply defined as the process of attempting to gain information and this could be in both human and technological contexts. However, it should not be confused with information retrieval, which is getting access to information that is relevant to the issue or topic in question. Information seeking behavior, on the other hand, is defined as the human behavior and attraction towards sources and channels of information and this includes both active and passive information seeking and use (Wilson, 1981). In his book, Wilson (1981) further describes it saying that it is a way people search and utilize information- it is purposive and aims to satisfy the individuals goal(s). With the introduction of modern technology as well as its vast growth, information seeking as well as other sectors of the world as we know it has been impacted enormously. The scope of information that is readily and easily available today is that to be commended. The integration of systems and development of technology has changed the education system in particular. We no longer search for information but also try to understand it as well as its importance and its use in our lives. This research paper will seek to understand the relationship between technology and information seeking and how the evolvement of technology has affected information seeking habits. The research will also seek to know how technology can be used to enhance information seeking especially in education systems like universities and colleges. This research will focus its findings on Holmes Community College, an education institution established in 1963. The institution has three campuses with its headquarters in Goodman, Mississippi. Over the years, the institution has grown and developed from one level to another through changes in technology that has influenced information seeking habits among its students. The research, on its quest for understanding the impact of technological change(s) on information seeking habits of the students at Holmes Community College, will seek out to understand the factors that result in a student perception of need of information. It will also bring into perspective the factors that affect the individuals perception for need and eventually come to understand the processes involved in that response. With technological advancements such as the e-library, students at Holmes Community College have easy and unlimited access to whatever information they might be looking for and in the process, developing a skill for information seeking. However, information-seeking habits of the students vary from one to another as each student has different information seeking habits depending on their need in their different disciplines. Information seeking habits is deeply rooted in the technological changes that have been achieved over the years. With more technological advancements, there is an increased need for more and more information. Information seeking is a personal journey for every individual and each person exhibits a different behavior from the other. It is a process where the individual forms a personal view by trying to make sense of whatever information they are acquiring (Dervin, 1999). This then brings in the term information need as behavior related to information seeking is heavily reliant on an individuals need. For example, a science student has very different needs from an art student regarding the information they seek out. Information need is the motivation people think and feel to seek information and is fueled by the desire or the aim of finding an answer(s) (Cole, 2012). When an individual recognizes a gap in their state of knowledge, it results to an anomaly state of knowledge and this pushes the individual to seek to resolve that disproportion (Belkin Cool, 1993). In the case of Holmes Community College, the desire for information by the students created a behavior of going to the library to find information based on their need. This information they would get from journals, newspaper articles, periodicals, academic books among other publications. The introduction of networked computer systems in Holmes Community College was because of an increased need of information by the students. The materials available in the traditional library were not enough to fulfill the information seeking needs of the students who wanted more information. This and together with the need to maintain an everyday increasing data material contributed to the institution providing computers which would link to an unlimited supply of information. Information needs are brought about by the desire to fulfil one, if not all, of the three basic human needs. Nicholas and Herman divided these needs into: physiological needs; psychological needs and cognitive needs (Nicholas Herman, 2010). The second technological change was the development of an online database system where students can log in and search whatever material they need. While searching, the student has a vague understanding of their information problem and need (Cool, 1993) - this is the first step in information seeking strategy, which also comprises of other steps. These steps include a method of interaction (how individual gets the information they are seeking); the goal of interaction (what the individual is trying to achieve through the seeking out of that specific information); mode of retrieval (what tool the individual uses to get the information); and resource considered (the information itself). The third technological change is introduction of the internet and the search engine that connects computers, the World Wide Web. This is undoubtedly the focal point when it comes to technology and information seeking. The internet has enabled the students to not only retrieve information but also share it. Studies in India reveals that most students and scholars are greatly influenced by the internet as a tool for information seeking(Manikandan, et al., 2013). These new technological changes have changed how, in this case, students seek for information as well as their retrieval methods. The internet and telecommunications technology such as computers, smart phones, tablets, and laptops are very important mediums for retrieval of information at any given time or place. However, the researcher should be able to break down the research processes further giving a clear description of understanding as to why information-seeking habits are personalized. Even students within the same discipline have different information-seeking habits. Are information-seeking habits related to an individuals perspective of life? Alternatively, has something to do with their social, political, and cultural backgrounds? Could it also be related to the ability of an individual to grasp information and break it down to what they can understand? It is also important to highlight whether or not the new technology or different types of technology have any influence on an individuals interest towards information seeking. Research Design and Methodology Qualitative research is also known as exploratory research. This type of research seeks to give an deeper understanding of the fundamental reasons, opinions, as well as incentives for a certain phenomenon. It focuses on the how and why part of the research in trying to understand human behavior and the reasons for such behavior (Denzin Lincoln, 2005). The process of qualitative research starts with data collection. This can be through conducting interviews or organizing focus group discussions. The researcher needs to draft down suitable questions related to the research topic. These questions can be either closed-ended, open questions or multiple-choice questions (Patton, 2015). The next step would be analyzing the collected data, which is then followed by a write-up of the findings and the conclusion. For a good data analysis, it is important for the researcher to have a well-defined research topic (Silverman, 2016) which also translates to the conclusion of the research. Quantitative research methods are slightly different from qualitative methods. These methods emphasize on statistics and mathematical or numerical analysis of data collected during research. These data can be collected through questionnaires that are mostly close-ended or multiple choices. In addition, it can be through surveys or previously acquire statistical data (Given, 2008). This type of research narrows down to more specific kind of questions with clear-cut objectives that can be translated statistically in representations of graphs, charts, etc. Quantitative research process starts with identifying a problem area once that is done the researcher must review and evaluate the literature. Before conducting any data collection, the researcher must be aware of ethical and cultural issues that might arise. The researcher must then carefully formulate data research questions based on the research questions. These research questions and objectives will guide the researcher to what data-collecting tool is most appropriate. After collecting data, it must be analyzed and its conclusions to be recorded (Benz, et al., 1998). Reliability and validity of research help test its soundness and authenticity. Reliability is the extent to which a research tool produces unchanging and consistent results (Phelan Julie Wren, 2005). According to Phelan and Wren, reliability can be checked by either doing a test-retest (this means conducting the same test twice on the same people over a given period) or doing a parallel form of reliability (that is administering different types of tools on the same group of people. To measure validity, the researcher can use sampling validity, which ensures that the researcher every sample area within the actual study area. Limitations of research can be defined as the aspects involved in the research design or methodology that had an impact or in one way or another influenced the interpretations of the findings in research. They are a consequence of the decisions the researcher chose to do during the conduction of the research study including the method they used to establish validity (Price, et al., 2004). The researcher might come across limitations such as time constrains as well as uncooperative respondents. Other limitation can be as the result of lack of proper or thorough research on the topic, lack of available or reliable data, language barrier, cultural constrictions and measure used to collect the data (Brutus, 2013). The schedule for the research is 4- 6 weeks. This time frame will allow the researcher to fully analyze the intended sample area and if need be do re-tests. Conclusion The impact of technology in the world today can be felt in most sectors if not all, including the education sector. The phrase Knowledge is Power has been enhanced by the drastic and dynamic technological changes that have seen the world move from a modern age to a postmodern information age. Information is now readily available for all to use and manipulate how they see fit, this has resulted in an even greater need for information seeking by individuals, and it is not just restricted to Universities and learning institutions. Information is being consumed like never before by all manner of people in different levels in life, academically and socially speaking. With even more advancement in technology, the information age and the need for more information will never end. Bibliography Belkin, N. Cool, C., 1993. The Concept of Information Seeking strategies and its Use in Design of Information Retrieval Systems, New Jersey: Rutgers University. Belkin, N. Vickery, A., 1989. Interaction in Information Systems: A review of Research from document retrieval to Knowledge-based Systems. London: British Library. Benz, C., Newman Isadore, 1998. Qualitative-quantitative research methodology: Exploring the interactive continuum. s.l.:SIU Press. Brutus, S. e. a., 2013. Self-Reported Limitations and Future Directions in Scholarly Reports: Analysis and Recommendation. In: Journal of Management. s.l.:s.n. Cole, C., 2012. Information needs: A Theory Connecting Information search to Knowledge Formation. s.l.:s.n. Denzin, N. K. Lincoln, Y. S., 2005. The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research. 3rd ed. CA: SAGE Publishers. Dervin, B., 1999. On studying information seeking methodologically: the implications of connecting metatheory to method. In: Information Processing Management. Ohio: s.n., pp. 727-750. Fischler, A. S., n.d. Quantitative Research Methods. [Online] Available at: https://education.nova.edu/Resources/uploads/app/35/files/arc_doc/quantitative_research_method.pdf [Accessed 22 September 2017]. Given, L. M., 2008. The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications. Manikandan, G., Esmail, S. M. Nagarajan, M., 2013. Impact of Information Technology on Information Seeking Behavior of the Users: An Empirical Study, Annamalai Nagar, India: Journal of Advances in Library and Information Science. Nicholas, D. Herman, E., 2010. Assessing Information Needs in the Age of the Digital Consumer. 3rd ed. London: Routledge, 2010. Patton, M. Q., 2015. Qualitative Research Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice. 4th ed. s.l.:SAGE Publications. Phelan, E. Julie Wren, 2005. Exploring Reliability in Academic Assessment. [Online] Available at: https://chfasoa.uni.edu/reliabilityandvalidity.htm [Accessed 22 September 2017]. Price, H., J. Murnan, J., 2004. Research Limitations and the Necessity of Reporting Them. In: American Journal of Health Education. s.l.:s.n., pp. 66-67. Silverman, D., 2016. Qualitative Research. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publishers. Wilson, T. D., 1981. ON USER STUDIES AND INFORMATION NEEDS. In: Journal of Documentation. South Yorkshire: MCB UP Ltd, pp. 3-15.

Social Promotion Essays - Susquehanna Valley, Grade Retention

Social Promotion Social Promotion Most children are taught since the beginning of their educational careers that they must do well, and succeed if they wish to be acknowledged. There was always a black sheep, some boy or girl, who did not do their work and was held back. Consequently, these children were used as horrifying examples of what could happen. However, was the child really at fault for failing to complete grade requirements, or was the system in which they were taught in error? The evidence available demonstrates that children who were retained were not unintelligent, but that education policies were to blame. Although the human race has gone through stupendous scientific awakenings, it is suprising to see that the education policies practiced today are based on the reasonings of a dead age. It is certainly not because Americans do not value their children's educations but perhaps because we live in a country that is not always aware of significant aspects of our society, particularly education. Social promotion, in use nationally for at least 20 years , is an educational policy where students are advanced from grade to grade. There is no regard to their learning because it is a widely accepted notion that they learn better with their peers. "Studies show that it's better to promote an underachiever than keep them down," stated Peg Dawson from the National Association of School Psychologists. Yet, high profile protesters of this system include both United States President Bill Clinton and The American Federation of Teachers. In many cases, children are advanced repeatedly without knowing basic educational skills, and suffer greatly when in high school. Social promotion, used throughout the course of the American educational system as a standard policy, is archaic, and should be altered to address individual student needs, helping to create a future conscientious and prosperous society. The other frequently used option, retention of a student, has also displayed several negative characteristics and is not a likely alternative. Drop-out rates for grade repeaters are generally higher than most students and they often display greater behavioral problems, due largely to the fact that they are older than their classmates. A qualitative comparison is that while only 20.4% of students not delayed were not enrolled in a 4-year college, 54.7% of delayed students were not enrolled in a 4-year college. More than double are not enrolled. The ratio of delayed to non-delayed students with Bachelors Degree's is 1.7: 9.5 . This is certainly an unacceptable side effect of retention. These students' educational lives were drastically affected by their retention. The ills of these former policies are cleansed in a proposed new system. In this system, the promotion standards for grades are raised in order to insure that the students have learned all that is necessary to succeed in the next grade. Most often, students are retained when they do not pass promotion criteria at the end of first, sixth or seventh, and ninth grade. Student promotions are based on two major tests: performance on district wide math-assessment tests, and on their performance on reading-assessments. The reading tests are divided among grade levels: children in grades 5-11 must pass the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test while students in grades K-4 must perform well on the Developmental Reading Assessment Test. Students who fail to pass required tests under this new system must attend summer school. These students are given an opportunity to retake their tests and be promoted. Students who fail to pass their tests again are placed in accelerated study programs in an attempt to catch them up with their peers. These programs involve increased focus on reading and math, and extended learning time each day. Their school year is also lengthened to 11 months. Located in Washington state, Lake Washington International school enforces the new social promotion system of grade required tests and their state assessment results are excellent, compared to the Washington state average. In the reading assessment test, Lake Washington's average score was 89, compared to the state average of 41. The state average in math, 24, compares badly to Lake Washington's math score of 84, and the state average of 37 does not compare well at all to the school's writing score of 81. It is very difficult not to see that this new system of social promotion is working to the benefit of the students. The New York City school district is also another good example of how this new system can help students to grow academically. The New York school system abandoned the old policy of social promotion and saw achievement in classrooms and attendance rise until