Life, Death and Beyond free essay sample

A comparative analysis of the beliefs about the absolute forms of existence as postulated in Platonic Socrates and Taoism. This paper compares and contrasts beliefs about life and death and the possibility of existence beyond death. The author examines these beliefs as exemplified in several philosophical frameworks: Platos Republic, The Phaedo, The Apology, and as illustrated in Taoism as indicated in Wandering on the Way: Early Taoist Tales and Parables of Chuang Tzu. From the paper: The Chunag Tzus idea of life after death is very different than Platos in the absolute sense, but they share similar details. One shared detail is that death may not be a bad thing. In The Phaedo, one has Plato arguing that all true philosophers must join him in death. If they truly love wisdom, then they should shed off this illness that is mortal life and venture into the immortal where true wisdom can be actualized, where true knowledge exists. We will write a custom essay sample on Life, Death and Beyond or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Chunag Tzu holds a bit differentlyone just cannot know. Knowledge about death cannot be actualized. It is an unknown. In fact all things are unknown. The only knowledge one can really have is that the Tao exists. In Platonism, truth exists through logic and reason. In Taoism, it is through contradiction. In Taoism, A is not A, because this world is flux, one thing is never the same thing.

Fatty Liver Essay

Fatty Liver Essay Fatty Liver Essay Cam Nguyen MCB181R Vince Guerriero Fatty Liver Fatty liver is the condition when there is excessively extra amount of fat in liver, over five percent of liver weigh. Fatty liver has become a new issue, as up to twenty percent of Americans have the condition (â€Å"When the Liver Gets Fatty†), and it is one of the most common factor for the development of liver dysfunctional diseases. Long term fatty liver can process into liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Fatty liver is also found to correlate to insulin resistance (Kimura et la.), metabolic diseases like types II diabetes (Kimura et la.), and hypertension (Sung, Ryan, and Wilson). There are two type of fatty liver, alcoholic fatty liver and non-alcohol fatty liver. Alcoholic fatty liver, like the name is caused by the alcohol consumption, while non-alcohol fatty liver can be caused by obesity, and fructose consumption. Alcoholism accounts for 2.5 million deaths annually worldwide. It is ranked as the leading risk factor for mortality for ages 15-59 in males, and t he eighth leading risk factor for mortality for all ages in both sexes (Jaurigue and Cappell). Alcohol is also known for being the most common cause of liver diseases. About ninety percent of alcoholics will develop fatty liver (Jaurigue and Cappell). The reason behind it is the metabolic process of ethanol in alcohol. Body metabolizes ethanol in liver. Ethanol (CH3CH2OH), with the help of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (ADH) enzyme, will be turn into Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), then the Acetadehyde will be broken down into Acetate (CH3COO-), with the assistance of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzyme. Liver mitochondria than can convert acetate into acetyl CoA, an enzyme that activates activates short-chain fatty acids synthesis. Also, the action of ADH followed by ALDH results in the production of reduced NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide). The high NADH/NAD+ concentration favours fatty acid synthesis and the formation of triglycerides in the liver. Fatty liver can be reversible by reduce the alcohol consumption. The amount of alcohol intake recommended by Department of Health for man is 3-4 units of alcohol per day, and for women is 2-3 units per day (a unit is equal to 10ml of pure alcohol). The Royal College of Physicians also suggests to have 2-3 days of alcohol –free days, every week, to allow the liver to recover. Obesity is defined in term of Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated by weight in kilogram over height in meters. A BMI of over 30 is considered as obese. Obesity is one of the biggest health issues today. 1.1 billion adults and ten percent of children are now classified as obese worldwide (Haslam and James). It is related to many other health problems like diabetes, heart diseases, strokes, and even fatty liver. NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) III research indicates thirty percent of obese men and forty percent of obese women have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) (Clack, Frederick, and Anna). Obesity can lead to fatty liver condition, as obese people have an excessive amount of extra fat, more than thirty percent of body mass in women, and more than twenty five percent in men. This extra fat can then build up around the internal the organs like liver. In addition, obesity is related to insulin resistance, which can lead circulating levels of free fatty acids to raise. This then will result in increasing fat synthesis in liver. Other factor is obese people also tend to consume more sugar, or more specific, fructose, which is a type of carbon hydrate. Fructose can be found naturally in fruit and vegetables. However, it is mostly consummed through processed products, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and especially soft drinks. In fact, fructose represents up to 10 percent of the total energy intake in US and many European countries (Tappy, and Le), as it is used in most of processed products nowadays. Fructose can be metabolized by liver only, which also results in

Personal Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Personal Leadership - Essay Example It was not enough, so I took a Gallup strength test as well. According to the Gallup strength test (Garcia, 2012) my top five strengths were responsibility, connectedness, belief, restoration and adaptability. I also scored a 36 out of 50 on the emotional intelligence assessment, which showed that I was empathetic and self-aware of my surroundings. My social intelligence assessment also helped me understand that I have the ability to persuade and motivate people. My leadership course made me understand that all strengths have its respective shadows (Northouse, 2014). For example, if I find my strength in my belief, it can also make me narrow-minded and bad opinionated towards the beliefs of others. Moreover, it might also make me start believing in something that holds no true ground. Therefore, all of my strengths have their respective weaknesses that I need to take care of in order to become the best of the leader that I can. My strength of connectedness can also lead me to start thinking too deeply about different matters of life instead of leaving them as it is. I may be responsible but my weakness lets me take on more than necessary responsibilities on my head in order to please and try out others. Similarly, my ability to adapt to situation also causes one of the most difficult weaknesses, my failure to plan on time. The leaders that I have seen in my life have been those that have extraordinary confidence. By observing them I have understood that a leader that has the capacity to lead himself. They are typically capable with their time, their assets, and with their personnel. I accept that gratefulness presupposes obligation. A decent sample of this is the point at which some person drops some change on the ground, I accept that a grateful individual, and thus, a capable individual, will get the change. We have all seen somebody that simply carries on as though they had not in any case perceived

Reasons Why Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized Essay

Reasons Why Same Sex Marriage Should Be Legalized - Essay Example Therefore, wouldn't it make more sense to simply redefine marriage as a union of two single people who, regardless of gender, have chosen to live their lives together as bound by the rules and laws of man (if not God as well)? Through this paper, I plan to prove that there are legal, valid, and acceptable reasons as to why same sex marriage should be legalized in our country. The main argument against same sex marriage seems to always be based upon a religious bias. An outmoded belief that states that marriage was defined by â€Å"God† as being between a man and a woman. In their minds, same sex unions are an abomination because there is nothing in the bible that makes reference to a union between the same sex as being blessed by God. But isn't the God of man supposed to be understanding? The religious often say that God does not judge any man or woman for who they are for we are all equal in his eyes. Equal in his eyes. There is no passage in the bible that states that God vi ews a gay, lesbian, or transgender being as anything less than his child as well. So where exactly does that religious argument get its biblical and religious backing? It seems more believable that it was the human beings who chose to put words into the mouth of their God in order to support their own selfish agenda on the matter of same sex marriage. Marriage is a privilege provided by the state. Therefore, couples have the right to marry the person they wish to marry. This discussion should never have any religious leanings because of the separation between church and state. Nobody can force the religious to legalize a same sex union using a religious ceremony. But the religious should not be allowed to trample upon the First amendment rights that were accorded over 20 million Americans either (Hawkins, John â€Å"Five Reasons to Oppose Gay Marriage†). If anything, the constant ban on same sex marriage can be likened to the ban on inter-racial marriage that existed in Ameri ca back in the 1950's. In her report â€Å"Points in Defense of Gay Marriage†, Leah Moore quoted Andrew Jackson as having once explained that the ban on interracial marriage : The right to marry whoever one wishes is an elementary human right compared to which the right to attend an integrated school, the right to sit where one pleases on a bus, the right to go into any hotel or recreation area or place of amusement, regardless of one's skin or color or race are minor indeed. Even political rights, like the right to vote, and nearly all other rights enumerated in the Constitution, are secondary to the inalienable human rights to `life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness' ... and to this category the right to home and marriage unquestionably belong (Moore, Leah â€Å"Points in Defense of Gay Marriage†). Think about it, we all reserve our right and freedom to choose. That is a basic human right that is guaranteed by our constitution. This law also covers our right to m arry anyone we choose. Therefore, same sex marriage should be considered a sacred right of every American citizen under our constitution. In the same report, Moore continues to argue in support of gay marriage based

U. S. student population Essay Example for Free

U. S. student population Essay The sources indicate that there are key individual differences among learners which standardized testing may not be sensitive to. Racial discrimination can occur within the confines of a testing facility when certain questions included in the test are more favorable to certain ethnic, religious, or social groups or if they are less favorable to others. This weakness of standardized tests have already been acknowledged back in the Clinton administration when the Educational Commission claimed that SAT scores do not reveal all of the competencies of those who take them. A particular example that depicts the failure of standardized tests in measuring individual work competence is the case of Hope who was an able education student who could not pass licensure testing despite of her high marks in practical examinations and demo teaching exercises because she has a disorder that makes her read slower than normal. Presentation America is the melting pot of human diversity. Its population is composed of so many different ethnicities, religions, cultures, socioeconomic and sociopolitical stratifications that its minorities are the majority. It is needless to say that these differences naturally find their way in all aspects of American life, especially in education. However the problem arises when the way that the school system expects students to perform is to be measured by standards that are not fair to all. Standardized testing is the administration of a single, uniform evaluation upon all the members of the population. From standardized tests, a performance of the individual relative to the group can be measured and inferences as to which college he or she qualifies in are made. This means that the results of standardized tests basically dictate what a student is good enough to do in the academic world. It is therefore of utmost importance that such tests are conducted in a fair, undiscriminating manner and that the tests themselves give equal chances to all to be able to show what they can do. However, the individual differences of students in terms of their language proficiencies, learning, styles, and social and cultural inclinations seriously lead to such standardized tests being biased towards or against certain groups. The American public school system is composed of a great many students who are using English as a Second Language. These people who come from Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America have as much right as the next student to be able to perform to the best of his or her ability during standardized tests. However, when it is considered that all such tests are worded in formal English, the discrimination against these groups becomes apparent. A student can be a genius at calculus but if he does not understand terminologies used because he is more used to dealing with their Spanish or Arabic counterparts, it can be expected that he would perform poorly in a calculus exam. There is no question that the English language should be a part of standardized testing and it is, but allowing students who cannot speak English so well no alternatives in taking tests on other topics such as science and mathematics means that the system is forcing them to take English exams regardless of what subject is written on the test booklet. In any subject, learning is not supposed to be limited within the confines of the pencil and the paper. In science, experiments are conducted in order to verify laws while enhancing students’ competence with various equipment. The competencies that students gain in this manner cannot be tested by multiple choice questions on an SAT examination. The worlds future rocket scientists may not be so keen at memorization but they could be excellent at practical application of theories and concepts. However, standardized testing may well cut off any chances that they could have to become NASA pilots just because they are not good at multiple choice tests, something that they would hardly need when they’re up in space! Different students have different learning styles, this applies to how students are evaluated as well. If standardized testing would restrict evaluation to just pencil and paper multiple choice items, then it is closing its doors to all the many other learners who just happen to be naturally attuned to other equally important aspects of learning. Lastly, points of discrimination can be within questions themselves. A standardized test that concentrates too much in using examples in football games when giving details to math problems would confuse those who do not follow the game from answering the questions correctly. Including opinionated, political details to questions about comprehension can distract students from responding. All of these biases should be weeded out of any test that is to be administered to the U. S. student population. Standardized testing is supposed to have the value of giving everyone an equal shot. It is supposed to promote equality among all existing groups and fairness towards obtaining opportunities. However, evidences sow that the exact opposite may be happening. The current use of standardizes testing is disenfranchising various lingual, learning, and cultural groups from being able to fully express their academic competence. This is a grave problem for the educational system which should be addressed promptly and effectively. Students, educators, and government should all work together to be able to revamp this system of evaluation to standards that are truly fair.

Genetic Observations Through The Studies Of Hybrid Corn, Single Gene Es

Genetic Observations Through The Studies of Hybrid Corn, Single Gene Human Traits, and Fruit Flies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The basic foundation of modern genetics was led by Gregor Mendel (Corcos, 1993). Mendel was not the first to experiment with heredity, and our Lyman Briggs biology class will not be the last to deal with genetics. Genetics is the science of heredity. In our lab, we had three main objectives. First, we evaluated our data on monohybrid and dihybrid corn cross seed counts against Mendel’s theoretical expectations of independent assortment and the segregation of alleles. Next, we used the Hardy-Weinberg Theorem to provide a theoretically expected value for allele frequencies for single human gene traits. Lastly, we dealt with Drosophila melanogaster and we examined red and white eye alleles to determine if this gene is sex-linked or autosomal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the mid 1800’s Mendel bred garden peas to study inheritance. He choose these plants because of their well defined characteristics and the ability to be grown and crossed (Campbell, 1996). Mendel wanted to know the genetic basis for variation among individuals and what accounted for the transmission of traits from generation to generation. Mendel followed traits for the P generation, F1 generation, and F2 generation. The P generation is the original true-breeding parents. Their hybrid offspring is the F1 generation, the first filial. The F2 generation is the second filial and is the self- pollination of the F1 hybrids. It was predominantly his research on the F2 generation that led to Mendel’s Law of Segregation and Law of Independent Assortment (Campbell, 1996).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mendel’s Law of Segregation states that alleles sort into separate gametes. He formed this through performing monohybrid crosses. The F2 generation will have a 3:1 phenotypic ratio. By considering more than one trait Mendel formed his Law of Independent Assortment. He questioned whether traits were inherited independently or dependently. By performing dihybrid crosses he found that genes are independent and will form all possible combinations . Crossing two different traits resulted in a 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio (Campbell, 1996).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Thomas Hunt Morgan also had a major contribution in the study of inheritance. He was the first to associate a sp... ...ross, Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment illustrated that four possible phenotypes form a 9:3:3:1 phenotypic ratio. For the single gene human traits experiment, we used the Hardy-Weinberg Theorem and equation to find the allele frequencies. For the experiment with Drosophila melanogaster we examined a fruit fly cross between red-eyed males and white-eyed females. We determined that this trait is sex-linked when the offspring were red-eyed females and white-eyed males. Throughout the genetics lab each purpose was determined and explained. A lot was learned about Mendel, genetics, and the hereditary process that makes us who we are today. Cited Literature Campbell, N.A. 1996. Biology. The Benjamin Cummings Publishing Co., New York, pp. 238-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  279. Corcos, Alain F. and Floyd V. Monaghan. 1993. Gregor Mendel’s Experiments on Plant Hybrids.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Rutgers University Press, New Jersey, pp. 45-46, 76, 105-112, 133. Davis, M. 1996. Genetics. LBS 144 Laboratory Manual. The Lyman Briggs School, Michigan   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  State University, East Lansing, pp. 25-36.

Heart of Darkness – Decay Within a Society

The environments surrounding has a huge effect on the culture of the greater number of inhabitants. The indigenous scenery, which is holds an abundant amount of natural resources, is in a state of transition and the way the landscape is treated, directly relates to greed, narcism within the society, violence in a highly numbers populated area, particularly from developed countries. In Joseph Conrad’s book Heart of Darkness , Conrad represents the decay of the indigenous scenery as a metaphor to the decay within developed countries, specifically in England.This decay is a direct result of the actions taken by the society within this indigenous scenery. Within the book Heart of Darkness greed is a immense description toward the English and the scenery that they inhabit. The English show a excessive rapacious desire for wealth and possessions . There greed and rapacious desire for health and possessions take them to the heart of the congo, where elephants are slaughtered for ther e tusks that are ivory. The ivory is considered a high commodity in England.The ivory symbolizes greed and destructive nature of man and agents of the company are so opposed with obtaining ivory that they forget there morals , so called civilized ways. This representations of the greed over the ivory on the landscape can be seen in this quote found in the book Heart of Darkness â€Å" to tear treasure out of the bowls of the landscape was there desire† (Conrad 110). The desire or greed over the land, and all the wealth, and possessions found in it, the effects that it brings upon the landscape can be proven from this statement found in the bible â€Å" The greedy bring ruin to there households† (Psalms 10:3, NIV).This decay in this indigenous scenery resulted though greed is a direct reason why its decaying The decay of the indigenous scenery within the book Heart of Darkness is a result of violence shown through developed countries specifically England in the book. Th e violence and cruelty depicted in Heart of Darkness escalate from acts of inhumanity committed against the natives of the Congo to unspeakable and undescribed horrors.Kurtz who is representing European imperialists has systematically engaged in human plunder. The natives are seen chained by iron collars abut their necks, starved, beaten, subsisting on rotten hippo meat, forced into soul crushing and meaningless labor, and finally ruthlessly murdered. Beyond this, it is implied that Kurtz has had human sacrifices performed for him, and the reader is presented with the sight of a row of severed human heads impaled on posts leading to Kurtz's cabin.Conrad suggests that violence result when law is absent and man allows himself to be ruled by whatever brutal passions lie within him. Under such circumstances, anything is possible, and what Conrad sees emerging from the situation is the profound violence that lies at the heart of the human soul and results in the decay of the indigenous s cenery â€Å"It was just robbery with violence, aggravated murder on a great scale, and men going at it blind—as is very proper for those who tackle a darkness†(Conrad 5).This limitless violence that Krutz has witnessed forced upon the indigenous scenery within the society of the natives is a direct of the decay within the indigenous scenery of developed countries. Throughout the book Heart of Darkness narcism has a major effect on the indigenous scenery. The English have a narcissistic attitude in the Heart of Darkness. A narcissistic attitude is a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain and selfish. This narcissistic attitude has a prominent effect on the indigenous scenery.While the English have become so utterly confident in there civilizations powers. In the book Heart of Darkness, the English enter the Congo thinking that they are civilized, because of there overly self involved, and vain and selfishness, they travel into the Congo taking ever consider able valuable natural resource such and destroying the indigenous scenery. In Congo, however, obsessed with ivory that renders him money, status, and power, the original, Kurtz transforms into a mercenary, evil madman, who â€Å"takes a high seat amongst the devils of the land†.Krutz narcissistic attitude being overly self involved, and vain and selfishness takes a immense amount of ivory, killing large amounts of elephants, and killing all the people that got in his way â€Å"They would have been even more impressive, those heads on the stakes, if their faces had not been turned to the house†(Conrad 40) showing that a narcissistic attitude is a direct result of why the indigenous scenery is decayed.This decay is a direct result of the actions taken by the society within this indigenous scenery. The indigenous scenery, which is a direct result of the natural resources before us on the earth , that is in a state of transition and the way the landscape is treated, direct ly relates to greed and over exceeding numbers of human beings, particularly from developed countries. Conrad represents the decay of the indigenous scenery as a absolute metaphor to the decay within developed countries, specifically in England.These actions such as greed, violence, and narcissism taken by the developed countries causes the indigenous scenery to decay. Heart of Darkness – Result of decay on society Work Cited: â€Å"Heart of Darkness. † SparkNotes. Ed. Joesph Conrad. SparkNotes, 1 Jan. 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . Conrad, Joesph. â€Å"Heart of Darkness. † By Joseph Conrad. Search EText, Read Online, Study, Discuss. N. p. , July-Aug. 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. New York: Knopf, 1993. Print.