The 5 Great Schools of Ancient Greek Philosophy

Ancient Greek philosophy extends from as far as the seventh century B.C. up until the beginning of the Roman Empire, in the  first century A.D. During this period five great philosophical traditions originated: the Platonist, the Aristotelian, the Stoic, the Epicurean, and the Skeptic. Ancient Greek philosophy distinguishes itself from other early forms of philosophical and theological theorizing for its emphasis on reason as opposed to the senses or the emotions. For example, among the most famous arguments from pure reason we find those against the possibility of motion presented by Zeno. Early Figures in Greek Philosophy Socrates, who lived at the end of the fifth century B.C., was  Plato’s teacher and a key figure in the rise of Athenian philosophy. Before the time of Socrates and Plato, several figures established themselves as philosophers in small islands and cities across the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. Parmenides, Zeno, Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Thales all belong to this group. Few of their written works have been preserved to the present day; it was not until Platos time that ancient Greeks began transmitting philosophical teachings in text. Favorite themes include the principle of reality (e.g., the one or the logos); the good; the life worth being lived; the distinction between appearance and reality; the distinction between philosophical knowledge and layman’s opinion. Platonism Plato (427-347 B.C.) is the first of the central figures of ancient philosophy and he is the earliest author whose work we can read in considerable quantities. He has written about nearly all major philosophical issues and is probably most famous for his theory of universals and for his political teachings. In Athens, he established a school – the Academy – at the beginning of the fourth century B.C., which remained open until 83 A.D. The philosophers who chaired the Academy after Plato contributed to the popularity of his name, although they did not always contribute to the development of his ideas. For example, under the direction of Arcesilaus of Pitane, began 272 B.C., the Academy became famous as the center for academic skepticism, the most radical form of skepticism to date. Also for these reasons, the relationship between Plato and the long list of authors who recognized themselves as Platonists throughout the history of philosophy is complex and subtle. Aristotelianism Aristotle (384-322B.C.) was a student of Plato and one of the most influential philosophers to date. He gave an essential contribution to the development of logic (especially the theory of syllogism), rhetoric, biology, and – among others – formulated the theories of substance and virtue ethics. In 335 B.C. he founded a school in Athens, the Lyceum, which contributed to disseminate his teachings. Aristotle seems to have written some texts for a broader public, but none of them survived. His works we are reading today were first edited and collected around 100 B.C. They have exercised tremendous influence not only upon the Western tradition but also upon the Indian (e.g. the Nyaya school) and the Arabic (e.g. Averroes) traditions. Stoicism Stoicism originated in Athens with Zeno of Citium, around 300B.C. Stoic philosophy is centered on a metaphysical principle that had been already developed, among others, by Heraclitus: that reality is governed by logos and that what happens is necessary. For Stoicism, the goal of human philosophizing is the achievement of a state of absolute tranquility. This is obtained through the progressive education to independence from one’s needs. The stoic philosopher will not fear any bodily or social condition, having trained not to depend on bodily need or any specific passion, commodity, or friendship. This is not to say that the stoic philosopher will not seek pleasure, success, or long-standing relationships: simply that she will not live for them. The influence of Stoicism on the development of Western philosophy is hard to overestimate; among its most devoted sympathizers were  the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the economist Hobbes, and the philosopher  Descartes. Epicureanism Among philosophers’ names, â€Å"Epicurus† is probably one of those that is most frequently cited in non-philosophical discourses. Epicurus taught that the life worth being lived is spent seeking pleasure; the question is: which forms of pleasure? Throughout history, Epicureanism has often been misunderstood as a doctrine preaching the indulgence into the most vicious bodily pleasures. On the contrary, Epicurus himself was known for his temperate eating habits, and for his moderation. His exhortations were directed towards the cultivation of friendship as well as any activity which most elevates our spirits, such as music, literature, and art. Epicureanism was also characterized by metaphysical principles; among them, the theses that our world is one out of many possible worlds and that what happens does so by chance. The latter doctrine is developed also in Lucretius’s De Rerum Natura. Skepticism Pyrrho of Elis (c. 360-c. 270 B.C.) is the earliest figure in ancient Greek skepticism. on record. He seems to have written no text and to have held common opinion in no consideration, hence attributing no relevance to the most basic and instinctive habits. Probably influenced also by the Buddhist tradition of his time, Pyrrho viewed the suspension of judgment as a means to achieve that freedom of disturbance that alone can lead to happiness. His goal was to keep each human’s life in a state of perpetual inquiry. Indeed, the mark of skepticism is the suspension of judgment. In its most extreme form, known as academic skepticism and first formulated by Arcesilaus of Pitane, there is nothing that should not be doubted, including the very fact that everything can be doubted. The teachings of ancient skeptics exercised a deep influence on a number of major Western philosophers, including Aenesidemus (1st century B.C.), Sextus Empiricus (2nd century A.D.), Michel de Montaigne (1533 -1592), Renà ¨ Descartes, David Hume, George E. Moore, Ludwig Wittgenstein. A contemporary revival of skeptical doubting was initiated by Hilary Putnam in 1981 and later developed into the movie The Matrix (1999.)

Essay on Gender Inequality in the Song of Songs - 5212 Words

Gender Inequality in the Song of Songs INTRODUCTION Postcolonial Feminist Theory has taught us to look beyond the confines of narrow cultural lenses as we seek to understand the diversity of gendered experience. I believe it is even more empowering to go one step further and to look not only cross-culturally but also cross-temporally. In America, when the general population tries to articulate what traditional female gender roles were, it seems they often describe those prescriptions for being lady-like from the Victorian Era, 1950s post-war America, or maybe limited snapshots of the Middle Ages, like chivalry codes and chastity belts. Accordingly women were, supposedly and stereotypically, traditionally passive and acquiescent.†¦show more content†¦The Song of Songs is a work of unknown origins, perhaps written by women, which somehow landed in the Hebrew Bible. It is an egalitarian Near Eastern love poem that challenges virtually every description of traditional gender roles in romantic relationships, if one looks to stereo types of womanhood in Medieval Europe, the Victorian Era, or the 1950s, for example, to define traditional. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND If we are to look at the Song of Songs as a document or documents that hold/s cultural or gender cues, it is useful to approach the work with some historical understanding about it. This is especially true because there has been and still is so much disagreement about the Songs origin, authorship, purpose--and even genre. Seeing that there is no clear consensus among the experts can liberate and empower the lay reader to feel that his or her own ideas are valid. Traditionally, the Song of Songs was said to be allegorical. The only love poetry in the Bible, and certainly the only pro-woman erotica, it was justified as being representative of Gods love for Israel. Many have speculated that its origins are older than the rest of the Bible, and lie in pagan fertility rites of the region: Was it a liturgy to Ishtar, or associated with the Adonis-Tammuz cult of ancient Palestine? Could it have been liturgy for the spring festival of the Canaanites, celebrating Astarte and Baal as the lovers? Most contemporary scholars nowShow MoreRelatedWe Didn t Start The Fire, By Billy Joel888 Words   |  4 Pages music has inevitably found ways to challenge power and power structures around the world. Music has found a way to use not only lyrics, but also the gender of musicians and genres of music to oppose powerful entities. Throughout music s long lived history, lyrics have been the most obvious example of musical oppositions to power. 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Od Interventions Case Study - 3946 Words

Index 1. Statement of Confidentiality 2. Synopsis 3. Introduction: TCS -An Organizational Perspective The Pre-OD Scenario: Our Strengths and Areas of Concern Alignment and Structure at TCS Scenario Building Workshops Goal Alignment Balanced Scorecard PROPEL – The Intervention: Culture Building at TCS 4. The case of a large relationship at TCS: Team Alignment through PROPEL framework Spiral Dynamics Value Cards at the Large Relationship Improvements through Measurements/ Initiatives: Excellence at the large relationship (AEP) Darpan - Reflect and Improve 5. Conclusion: TCS -The Paradigm Shift Post OD scenario Synopsis In organizations worldwide today, there is a greater realization of the importance of†¦show more content†¦Employees were rotated across domains and skills in the interest of learn ability as well as for meeting requirements. In a sense, there was heightened focus on Voice of the Customer, in comparison to the Voice of Employee. Efforts on Experimentation Innovation: The management at TCS felt that by and large, employees tended to go straight by the book. Though Dr. De Bono’s techniques were introduced and employees trained on these techniques to encourage innovation, there was a need to scale up on perceived rewards for experimentation. Rewards and Recognitions: The reward structure at TCS was, at this point in time, primarily focused on individual performance and we were yet to explore the institutionalization of team based rewards at the organizational level. Inter group co-ordination knowledge sharing: Sharing of knowledge was very centre-oriented, and although, informally, best practices spread by interaction and word of mouth, we were yet to evolve a formal system which would capture these for ease of replication across projects. Multiple centers and multiple projects within the same centre ended up resolving the same sort of issues, resulting in avoidable rework. 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The consequences of abuse include anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and self-harm. Children may begin to act differently to their usual behavior - withdrawal is very common, as is self-harming (Khan, 2012). There are two ways that people can consider interventions for victims of domestic violenceRead MoreOrganizational Development3675 Words   |  15 PagesCASE STUDY MODULE 17 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PQHRM/53-025 H E B MARASINGHE Contents Acknowledgement 3 Introduction to the case study 4 Literature Review 5 What is OD intervention ? 5 Factors That Impact the Success of OD Interventions can be listed under two main headings, 5 Intervention Categories 7 The process of Organizational Development 9 Change management 11 Report to be given to CEO of Nuran food products 12 Implementing an effective and successful OD process 12Read MoreEssay on Case Study Analysis L1059 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Running head: L. J. Summers Company – Case Study Case Study: L. J. Summers Company K Green Case Study Analysis: L. J. Summers Company Problem The problem in this case is L. J. Summers Company’s recently implemented cost reduction plan is causing degradation in the organization’s laissez-faire culture and has put the company at risk while challenging their competitive advantage. Furthermore, the inexperienced production manager (owner’s son, Blaine) is using his unearned power as an authoritarianRead MoreOrganizational Development Interventions2228 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.......1 Organisational Development programs†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2 Organisational Development Interventions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...2-5 Reasons for Intervention†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 Implementation of OD intervention†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.6 What HRD Managers need to do to combat criticism†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 OD intervention in General Motors – A case study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...7-8 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8-9 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.10 Read MoreLj Summers Essay1033 Words   |  5 PagesGreen Case Study Analysis: L. J. Summers Company Problem The problem in this case is L. J. Summers Company’s recently implemented cost reduction plan is causing degradation in the organization’s laissez-faire culture and has put the company at risk while challenging their competitive advantage. Furthermore, the inexperienced production manager (owner’s son, Blaine) is using his unearned power as an authoritarian leader to drive change. However, due to poor leader-follower relations, his managementRead MoreBen Jerry Case Study2333 Words   |  10 Pages​                                                   Course: Organizational Development (MGMT 3022) ​Group Project:       Ben and Jerry’s (A): Team Development Intervention THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, WEST INDIES                                                            FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES MGMT 3022 – ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT             (EVENING UNIVERSITY)                         COURSE CODE:                            Mgmt. 3022                        COURSE

Ecosystems and Economics free essay sample

Andropolis Ecosystems and Economics Human society has placed an imprint on ecosystems throughout the planet. Because of this imprint ecosystems have degraded dramatically and have experienced loss. Human activity has affected plants, animals, and ecosystem dynamics in many ways. The purpose of this paper is to explore the causes of human society’s impact on ecosystems and the cost and benefits of human enterprises. In addition, conservation and exploitation of species related to human imprinting and the economic decisions that have been made will be discussed; this includes the cost and benefits included in human enterprising of ecosystems. Ecosystem Degradation and Loss â€Å"Ecosystem degradation occurs when alterations to an ecosystem degrade or destroy habitat for many of the species that constitute the ecosystem† (Hunter Gibbs, 2007, ch. 8, para. 4). An example of ecosystem degradation is deforestation for use as timber for humans that eliminates a natural habitat for a specific creature in that biota. We will write a custom essay sample on Ecosystems and Economics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Human society’s growth patterns require land area to be cleared or altered to meet societal needs, which can result in an ecosystem loss. The addition of a factory that puts off chemical waste into a natural ecosystem can serve as an additional example to ecosystem degradation. The chemical change that may occur in ground water or rivers and lakes can affect the natural species in that habitat. Plants, Animals, and Ecosystem Dynamics Disturbances within an ecosystem can be caused by many things, however human activity is a large contributor to dynamic changes within a given ecosystem that can affect plants, animals, or the ecosystem as a whole. In the example of plant life, human activities such as clear-cutting in the rainforests remove natural habitats and can remove specific plant life from the region. The pollution of rivers and streams can affect the marine  populations and create dynamic change in the food chain of that biome. If the interruption to the ecosystem is continual the process of succession is hindered causing possible failure of the ecosystem (Net Industries, 2013). Conservation and Exploitation Limited resources as well as marginal utility play a large role in the economic decisions that underlie both conservation and exploitation. As each type of resource is used by humans the amount of the resource diminishes until eventually it is gone. This is why conservation efforts are in place to limit the margins of which the resources are obtained, used, or protected. As of 2002 according to the Environment News Service, â€Å"A study in todays issue of the journal Science says habitat destruction costs the world the equivalent of about $250 billion each year† (Environment News Service, 2002, para. 1). The economic value of an ecosystem diminishes by almost half once human enterprise has become prevalent in the area (Environment News Service, 2002). For example, the removal of mangrove trees to allow for increased fishing diminishes the flood protection that the trees provided for the coast line. Often the benefits of preserving an area are higher than maintaining human enterprise in that specific environment. A study done within the article estimated that if approximately $45 billion was spent each year on conservation of natural habitats then the return from nature would approximate to between $400 and $520 trillion (Environment News Service, 2002). In Summary The human footprint that is found across the globe in many different ecosystems all maintains the same effect. The degradation of the environment for human gain is actually costing humans more than it would to maintain the natural habitats. Human enterprise is more concerned about utilizing resources in their entirety than it is about saving natural habitats to produce for the future. The rate of ecosystem degradation is increasing daily as the human footprint expands and the needs for resources climb. If conservation efforts are not put into effect to regulate the use of these resources, ecosystems will see much more than marginal loss. References Environment News Service. (2002, August 9). Humanity loses $250 billion a year in wild habitat. Retrieved from http://ens-newswire. com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/2002-08-09-071. html Hunter, M. L. , Gibbs, J. P. (2007). Fundamentals of conservation biology (3rd ed. ). Malden, MA: Blackwell/Wiley. Net Industries. (2013). Ecological disturbance. Retrieved from Ecological Disturbance