Research Topics: Epic

sample of plagiarism

Abstract Plagiarism is a serious problem in the information age.  The ideas of others are stolen in their entirety or reassembled with a new author.  Institutions and professional organizations have adopted ethical standards, but this has done little to dissuade such practices.                                                        Plagiarism In the “information age,” plagiarism is in our midst. Among journalists it is considered a “cardinal sin”.   Motives for this crime range from the calculating thief of words and ideas to the ill prepared student or scientist, who cuts and pastes to round out their own ideas.  Volumes of entire works, essays and numerous publications are within the reach of our mouse. Students and professionals should be cautious in their research.  The careless absence of quotes can inadvertently present the work of others as their own.  The relative ease in which one may plagiarize has prompted professional organizations and institutions of higher learning to adopt ethics codes to combat the problem. Plagiarism is an ancient problem. An account during Roman times charges the poet Fidentinus with plagiarizing one of Martial’s poems.  Reportedly Martial was not concerned.  He considered Findentinus’ poetry to be of such poor quality that eventually Fidentinus’ own work would be his own undoing.  Unfortunately there is no moral of Findentinus and his demise, like the myth of Narcissus to speak to the plagiarist today.       The term plagiarize comes from the Latin word plagium which literally means “kidnaping” , to Asteal away or abduct”. Hence the term originates with the idea of a theft.  According to Penslar several unethical practices comprise plagiarism : “The principal ones are appropriating the work of another and claiming it as one’s own; quoting material from a source without using quotation marks or citing the author(s); and using the words or ideas of another without providing a citation or proper attribution.”           These distinctions place plagiarists in three broad groups:  (1) intentional theft, (2) academic neglect, and (3) ignorance. Theft Intentional theft is the image most readily available when plagiarism comes to mind.  Although some consider plagiarism a crime, plagiarism is an ethical term and not necessarily a legal one. The consequences for intentional plagiarism might result in academic sanctions or dismissal from University and staff writing positions. Plagiarism seldom has criminal or legal consequences. In the field of journalism punishment does not always fit the crime. Plagiarists are often punished by public shaming, forced retraction, suspension  or moving to another job within the same organization.  Some editors will even hire or refuse to fire a talented writer because they believe that the writer is of more worth then the cost of an ethical infraction.  Protecting ones work is not a recent endeavor.  In Great Britain, as early as 1709 the first copyright act was passed due to complaints of Aliterary piracy” . For those who can afford them, today’s legal battles are costly.  Little is gained even when copy right infringement can be proven: “Vanity Fair writer Ann Louise Bardach did sue Edwin Chen and his publisher, and ended up with a ,000 settlement, out of which she had to cover some ,000 in attorney’s fees.” .    Layne suggests that in order to help clear up the definition of plagiarism and highlight the criminal intent, plagiarism should be identified as fraud .  Lafollette appears to agree with Layen in.  In discussing plagiarism in published scientific materials, Lafollette points out five legal.     “(1) a false representation, usually of a factual nature, (2) by someone who knew or should have known that it was false, (3) with the intent that someone will rely on it, and (4) someone did rely on it, and (5) as a result suffered a loss (i.e., incurred damages).      With increased availability of electronic media via the internet, plagiarism is steadily becoming  a large  problem.  Internet sites can contain copies of entire text of dissertations, reports and research.  Some online businesses sell electronic copies of successful college entrance essays and papers.  The availability and marketing of such material implies credibility of the practice. Writing guilds, universities and professional organizations have taken measures to included plagiarism in their ethical codes.  Even so, many magazines and publications have vague policies regarding plagiarism and in some cases have none at all.  As Mallon points out, attempts to provide clear guidelines can be difficult as well as ironic:     “The following UPI dispatch inevitably appeared, on June 6, 1980, in the New York Times:   Stanford University said today it had learned that it’s teaching assistants handbook section on plagiarism had been plagiarized by the University of Oregon.  Stanford issued a release saying Oregon officials conceded that the plagiarism section and other parts of it’s handbook were identical with the Stanford guidebook.  Oregon officials apologized and said that they would revise their guide book”  Academic neglect (unintentional plagiarism)    Intentional plagiarism has an obvious intent to present the work of another as ones own.  In the case of academic neglect, the intent is less clear and is more often unintentional. In recent times, people like Martin Luther King Jr, Stephen B. Oats  and Alex Haley  have been accused of plagiarizing others ideas. Definitions of plagiarism can reach from the written word to the idea or ideas it contains.  In defense of Dr. King, his reported plagiarism has been credited to an literary technique to were the author uses portions of a credible source to support their own ideas.  New Testament writers have been accused of this as well. How far does this go? Should one always cite the originator of an idea even though the concept may be widely used or accepted? Must one then continue to cite the originator of the idea?  Charles Darwin is most often associated with the theory of evolution.  Is he always cited in evolutionary science?  Are the ideas that Darwin developed his intellectual property or the property of those who influenced Darwin?  Copernicus is often credited with postulating the heliocentric view of the planets and drastic shifts in thought or perspective are referred to as Copernican shifts, crediting Copernicus.  The problem is that Aristarchus of Samos first proposed a heliocentric view some 2000 years before Copernicus.   Is Copernicus wrongly being credited for the ideas of Aristarchus?  Some ideas take on a life of their own and as in the case of Copernicus and even Freud, history tends to associate such ideas with the most eloquent or popular advocate for that idea. Academic neglect occurs when students or professionals neglect to properly acknowledge the sources of the ideas they use.  This may be due to laziness, poorly developed skills, and even ignorance.  In the field of education, it is up to institutions of higher learning to clearly define plagiarism and provide guidelines on how to properly cite sources.  The potential for plagiarism increases when the institution assumes that this has already been done some place else prior to the students admission. The American Psychological Association (APA) and The Modern Language Association of America (MLA) both take academic neglect seriously.  The American Psychological Association Prohibits both Intentional Plagiarism and academic neglect :      “Psychologists do not present substantial portions or elements of another’s work or data as their own, even if the other work or data source is cited occasionally.”       This is further clarified in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (4th ed.): “Quotation marks should be used to indicate the exact words of another.  Summarizing a passage or rearranging the order of a sentence and changing some of the words is paraphrasing.  Each time a source is paraphrased, a credit for the source needs to be included in the text…….The key element of this principle is that the author does not present the work of another as if it were his or her own work.  This can extend to ideas as well as written words.” .     According to Onge, the MLA has adopted the view of Alexander Lindey , who defines Plagiarism as taking Athe body of a work, the heart, and core of a work” . In more recent times, the MLA has extended this to “Everything derived from an outside source,” except proverbs, well-known quotations, and common knowledge.  Their basic rule is “when in doubt cite.”  The MLA also considers plagiarism to be collaborative works apart from group projects. Students who work together and turn in the same work plagiarize the Groups ideas. The MLA also prohibits the recycling of papers.   When students turn in papers from a previous course they call it self-plagiarism, since the paper is not an original work.  They are not entirely inflexible.  Students who wish to rework a paper are instructed to discuss their intent with the instructor . To this point plagiarism has been defined in terms of intentional theft or fraud, academic neglect or unintentional plagiarism, and failure to cite sources.   The remaining definition is ignorance or incompetence.  Plagiarism of both prior charges occurs here in varying degrees.  The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) includes in its advisory letter on plagiarism several grounds including positive and negative criteria for charges of plagiarism.  Included in the negative criteria is incompetency:     “A copier, however diligent, cannot be held responsible if psychological or mentally incompetent. Emotional disorders are not unheard of in the academy.  Those ignorant of the rules by accidents of language, culture or educational deficiencies are candidates for re-education, not punishment.  A semi-literate star athlete who copies under academic stress indicts the school not himself.     The letter further describes a Athreshold criteria” where the coping of Aapt phrases” should not lead to a charge emphasizing the Aexpositional entity” of a work .  The letter even calls for mitigation but not Aforgiveness” of such individuals whose work contributed substance to the work which was copied . Often individuals who fall in this category are people from impoverished back grounds and those who lack competency in either the English language or the subject matter.  Such individuals, according to AAUP, are candidates for re-education while the blatant plagiarist should be investigated and disciplined.  Conclusion Plagiarism is an ethical crime whose definition is as vague as that of pornography, but when seen is readily identified.  The difficulty lies in a useful definition of plagiarism.  Some define plagiarism as Aall uses of another words or idea.” While others see degrees of utility in our highly word filled world.  Most are congruent in their definition of outright plagiarism, which is stealing the work of another and insisting on the credit as if it were their own.   Opinions vary on how much use of a work qualifies as plagiarism, yet most agree one must cite their sources.  It is here that the student, journalist or scientist fails.  It may be out of lack of preparation, competency, ignorance, or disregard for the academic process.  The debate whether intellectual property includes the ideas contained within the work or not quietly rages. Bono, the lead singer of the pop group U2 states in the song The Fly, that Aevery artist is a cannibal; every poet is a thief,” asserting that ideas are not new, but simply borrowed .  King Solomon, in his ecclesiastical treatise on life, the universe and everything, asserts that Athere is nothing new under the sun” .  Some ideas may not be new, but the work that goes into developing, organizing and communicating them is. Einstein was not the only Physicist to consider a dynamic system of physics, but he was the first to develop a coherent one and should rightful be honored for his work and credited with a citation. In the information age, the intellectual properties or works of people are protected by copy  right laws.  To advance science, education and society, knowledge is built on the work of others.  Out of respect and ethical consciousness, students and professionals alike should be diligent in their efforts give the appropriate recognition to others for their work. The educatory process is a legacy build on the discoveries and questions humankind has passed through the ages. Institutions share in this legacy through the written and electronic word.  Honesty and truthfulness are essential in scholarship.  Each must demonstrate integrity and take their own place in this legacy by crediting the work of others.  Educators should indoctrinate students this process. Curriculum should incorporate steps clearly defining plagiarism.  Such curriculum should assist students in identifying instances of potential plagiarism and assist students in developing the appropriate citation skills. Finally, society should hold accountable those who, with malice, suppose the name of an author and mock our intellectual legacy by hijacking another’s labor for their own personal gain.    Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

sample of plagiarism

Abstract Plagiarism is a serious problem in the information age. The ideas of others are stolen in their entirety or reassembled with...

Psychology of Emotions

Introduction Since the popularization of the James–Lange theory of emotion, the physiological component of emotion has been traditionally identified as activity in the autonomic nervous system and the visceral organs (e.g., the heart and lungs) that it innervates. However, some contemporary theorists hold that the neural basis of emotions resides in the central nervous system. Emotion is one of the most controversial topics in psychology, a source of intense discussion and disagreement from the earliest philosophers and other thinkers to the present day. Most psychologists can probably agree on a description of emotion, e.g., what phenomena to include in a discussion of emotion. The enumeration of these parts of emotion is called the “components of emotion” here. These components are distinguished on the basis of physiological or psychological factors and include emotion faces, emotion elicitors, and emotion neural processes. While most of us elicit emotions in a natural way, recent studies have revealed cultural variation in emotional phenomena, such as the appraisals of emotional events, the interpersonal events that elicit emotion, the frequency of experienced emotions, the duration of emotional experiences, judgments of emotional facial expressions, and memory for emotional events.  Emotions and Self-knowledge             Emotions are one of our avenues to self-knowledge, since few kinds of self-knowledge could matter more than knowing one’s own repertoire of emotional responses. At the same time, emotions are both the cause and the subject of many failures of self-knowledge. Their complexity entails much potential to mislead or be misled. Insofar as most emotions involve belief, they inherit the susceptibility of the latter to self-deception.             Emotions typically involve more pervasive bodily manifestations than other conscious states.  Like the diary of emotions, certain reactions to a specific situation varies along with intensity, type, and range of intentional objects.  With the three-day list of emotions, it clearly defines ones ends and priorities and the regulation of social life.  Most importantly is the gaining of the consciousness of the natural-occuring reactions that would build up emotions.  By summing up the elicited emotions in the diary of emotions, it will give a person the awareness of ones own behavior to a specified instant.             With James-Lange theory of emotion had stated that emotions arises from physiological arousal, that is to simplify that happiness comes from smiling while sadness comes from crying.  Such emotions scaled in the diary involves both physiological and cognitive label.  The specific emotion experienced actually depends on how you interpret the situation. Expression of Emotions             Regardless of approach, certain facial expressions are associated with particular human emotions. Research shows that people categorize emotion faces in a similar way across cultures, that similar facial expressions tend to occur in response to particular emotion eliciting events, and that people produce simulations of emotion faces that are characteristic of each specific emotion. Happy expressions are universally and easily recognized, and are interpreted as conveying messages related to enjoyment, pleasure, a positive disposition, and friendliness. Sad expressions are often conceived as opposite to happy ones, but this view is too simple, although the action of the mouth corners is opposite. Sad expressions convey messages related to loss, bereavement, discomfort, pain, helplessness, etc. Anger expressions are seen increasingly often in modern society, as daily stresses and frustrations underlying anger seem to increase, but the expectation of reprisals decrease with the higher sense of personal security. Anger is a primary concomitant of interpersonal aggression, and its expression conveys messages about hostility, opposition, and potential attack. Anger is a common response to anger expressions, thus creating a positive feedback loop and increasing the likelihood of dangerous conflict. The abovementioned emotions are the most frequently experienced emotions in the diary of emotions. Conclusion             The study of the psychology of emotions is a work in progress that began from the earliest of its time.  It then evolved along with innovative findings of next generation psychologist trying to unfold the thematic nature of emotions.  Some discoveries would contradict to the past findings.  Nevertheless, the view of the psychology of emotions is getting clearer with each new breakthroughs made.  Though we are getting closer and closer to the disclosure of this matter, the fact that many observations are in opposing views, makes it still unclear as to clarify exact results as a basis for identifying emotions.  Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Psychology of Emotions

Introduction Since the popularization of the James–Lange theory of emotion, the physiological component of emotion has been traditiona...

Sample Epic Review DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION AND MORTALITY: REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH

DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION AND MORTALITY: REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH   Introduction             Dominance and subordination is synonymous to leader-follower scheme wherein the relationship is ideal to obtain the performance of one another’s societal functions in an effective and efficient manner.  The dominant imparts its decision-making and problem solving capabilities to uphold the welfare of people.  In return, subordinates serve the former and follow its conquest that precipitate to loyalty and respect.  The president who is widely respected by the citizenry, a husband who is loved and cared by his wife, and professors who are idolized by students are few of some dominance-subordination design in the society.             To determine such relationship is one thing, to verify the cause and extent of its existence is another.  On top of these is its purpose and implications to social order.  By analyzing the characters, their actions and their aspirations from “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, resolutions to the phenomenon can be settled and questions will be answered.   Pillars of Social Order                   Because Gilgamesh has a “one-third man, two-third God” identity that resulted to super-natural strength, courage and “beauty” (2), he was basically known as a hero, and ultimately a king of Uruk.  For his part, he should maintain his dominance and show his capability to rule on a regular basis to retain the status quo.  This is exemplified through his stand against Enkidu (14), challenge to demon-like Humbaba (40) and brawl against Bull of Heaven (50) that was all proclaimed victory across his name.  Every triumph was regarded a signal of competence and enduring dominance.  However, being a king who possess of powers, ill-effects of abusing it (xix) was inevitable.  But the extent of the abuse did not outweigh the extent of dominance, and so, continuing the order.  Distant from the tendencies to abuse power, Gilgamesh has a number of virtues like self-discipline (scoring marriage from Ishtar) (50) and camaraderie (developed to a former enemy Enkindu) (14) which strengthened his right to rule.             The features of the main character in the epic are compatible to run a city which was regulated by deities.  The people are at peace that their kingdom will not be easily penetrated by warfare or profoundly cursed by gods.  They can rely to Gilgamesh to do the fighting to outsiders or negotiating to gods as the need arise.  They can focus more on household requirements like livelihood, raising children and develop the local economy.  With this, social order was met.  Thinking of the reverse, when people are equal in power and homogenous in status without the guide of a ruler and an established kingdom, they are highly vulnerable to threats from the outside and the gods would curse without mercy.  Civilization could be slowly attained because people are limited in their aspirations of development knowing that instability and lack of direction could annihilate their efforts in an instant.             This drive to subordination as determinant of social order, however, was partially shaken by Enkindu who hated the abusive side of Gilgamesh that ignited a collision (14).  Even Enkindu was lost in the confrontation, the conflict emphasized that dominance should be directed strictly to good purpose alone.  This showed that even a human from the wild is bounded to guard the acts of the ruler to assure that a certain social order does not result to ill-effects like the abusive tendencies of the dominant.  It also exemplified that the dominant-subordinate system would tend to adjust when roles of one another go beyond the rationale behind the creation of the system and deprived the other of substantial power or freedom.  Being the goddess of love, Ishtar retaliated against the refused marriage (50) she initiated partly because it is a deviation from the norm opposite her known status.  Also, the wife of Utanapishtim demonstrated this friction when she urged her husband and succeeded to reward the hardship of Gilgamesh (96) — apart from the inherent subordination of women.                  The extent and implications of subordination was also enormous in the story.  The decision of the Council of Gods to impose a death verdict to Enkindu (58), who had less initiative and participation to the conquest relative to Gilgamesh, illustrated that subordination can justify sacrifice on the part of a subordinate, even its life, to sustain the relative crucial role of the king in the society.  On the other hand, loyal (Utanapishtim) and valuable (Gilgamesh) subordinates in relation to its dominant ruler (Gods) would reward the former by sparing its life and renewing its glory (like Shamash intervention (40) in favor of Gilgamesh against Humbaba) or even bestow eternal life (96) (like Utanapishtim and his wife).                        Further, the subordination of women to sexual needs of men in the epic evidenced that such could be also used to achieve an end aside from the peripheral goal of obtaining the system, as in the case of the trapper’s use of harlot (2) to expel Enkindu from the endowments of the wild.  In the stance of ferry-based servant, Urshanabi, subordination meant less security in terms of tenure particularly means of living (96). The epic is largely immersed to the dominance of partly-god stature of Gilgamesh.  However, his crown was regulated by the full-blooded gods specifically the Council of Gods.  He had lost bargaining capacity and tamed as a subordinate when his first-ever close friend, Enkindu, was on the verge of death (68) and he had nothing to do to prevent it.    His dominance was eclipsed by the gods who provided guidance and protection to him to continue his reign, and ultimately, the order in the kingdom. In every chapter of the epic, the dominance of gods over men and non-pure gods seemed to be the greatest impediment for Gilgamesh to optimally celebrate the fruits of his dominance over people.  However, the revealing fact of mortality and death seemed to be an overlapping factor behind his vulnerability.  He took much pain and sacrifice to seek the key to immortality.  In the process, he submitted himself to some extent of subordination to eternal life (82, 96).  Although he utilized his status and dominance through self-proclamation to Siduri and Urshanabi (82), the motive was aimed to immortality and his submission to it.  Due to the blazing desire to end personal subordination of a mortal to death, he underwent the test of Utanapishtim (96) without doubting of possible deception.  Frustrated, the failed quest confined him back to dominating stance again.  However, this move took away the consolation prize of achieving youth rejuvenation.  The suspicion in the effectiveness of the consolation ended him going home empty-handed.  Chapter 11 of the epic implied that such was an unwise thinking coming from an experienced warrior, celebrated hero and notable king.                                                .  Conclusion               The social order in the epic was achieved through establishing levels of hierarchy in the society.  Subordination, in the likes of Enkindu and his kind including the rest of the people, resulted to ordinary people’s submission of some of their practices under the rule, decision and scrutiny of Gilgamesh because of his domineering attributes.  On the other hand, his rule is neither absolute nor universal as deities are on top of the social system.  This dominance was enforced and permitted to happen, albeit of his partly god status, primarily because of immortality demarcation.  It limits the scope of dominance not only of Gilgamesh but also all mortals when speaking of their subordination.  Dominant and subordinate individuals alike have similar bottom-line, which is death.  This provides disincentive to the ruler to abuse his power aside from good cause and remind him that such wrong doing would not last for a long time because of limitation in life.  On the other hand, people would tend to respect the ruler’s decision and abide the kingdom’s development projects to maximize their existence in the world and help improve the status of civilization keeping in mind that time ticks away from every crime or rebellion they would ensue against a fair dominant and elite.  Social order is thus seen thorough the mutual understanding and accepted vulnerability of the actors in the society giving rise to peace, and ultimately, prosperity.                    Before ending, it is fitting to quote a character in the Asian movie “Hero” which stated, “All under heaven.”  According to the story, these three words transformed the then vicious imperial army to exercise non-violent and non-fatal way of conquering lands, and eventually, meeting the kingdom’s endeavor and achieving its ends.  Finally, being dominant, subordinate and mortal keeps everyone in social order and live each lives to fullest enjoyment.  However, to install abusive and rebellious acts to power or solicited inferiority will lead to disorder and doom of a society.                Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Epic Review DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION AND MORTALITY: REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH

DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION AND MORTALITY: REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH Introduction Dominance and subordination ...

Sample Essay The Three Epics on Politics, Abuse and Quest for Freedom

The three epics present politics, abuse and quest for freedom of the people in the society. The three epics present the misadventures of people who either through no fault of their own, or through their efforts to help other innocents, fall afoul of authority or join the outlaw society. These three epics are considered to be brutal because during the 10th century in China, life was not particularly valuable then. In the Outlaws of the Marsh, describes the efforts of local and national authorities to stem the growing power of the outlaws. The outlaws see justice in killing a cruel official and his family and servants as a form of their revenge. The epic shows the attitudes and beliefs of the outlaws from a medieval point of view; these people are honest and high principled. By standards of the medieval times, the outlaws are good people performing a positive service for the society from which they were marginalized. Like in the Blood of Leopard, The ultimate leader is Song Jiang, a very good man who’s caring and honesty made him the obvious leader of the outlaws. Although, in true classic Chinese manner, It should be noted that some of the novels are also remarkable from a technical point of view. Superficially the reader might get the impression that technical proficiency has little to do with ideology or that it may be even used to embellish ideology. There are perhaps novels which are ideologically “correct” but technically brilliant. But such an impression is wrong, for the art of fiction is not compatible with ideology. Where ideology restricts, art frees; where ideology generalises, art discriminates; where ideology simplifies, art complicates; where ideology lies, art tells the truth. The real hero in Chinese Communist fiction today is the novelist himself who asserts his individuality not by an open revolt against ideology, but by his devotion, even in his limited way, to art. He who tries to sell art to ideology is attempting the impossible. It can only result in the weakening of ideology. Leadership to other outlaws he considers more worthy than himself. Only the constant urging of his closest comrades convinces him to retain the title. The organization of the Outlaws of Marsh is primarily a war epic like with All Men are brothers and The Blood of Leopard. All of them presents the courageous heroes that suffered abused and injustice and united to fight the dynasty. They formed the strongest bond of friendship even though they were all from different backgrounds or classes in society. On the other hand, in All Men are Brothers, there is no distinction of race or class, nation or religion. People work together for their unity; all their actions are inalienable love of mankind. All men are brothers and no human being should be a stranger to another. There should always be a welfare of all that should be the aim of the people. There is humanity even in the most wicked. This view leads naturally to the adoption of non-violence as the best means for solving all problems, national and international. Gandhi affirmed that he was not a visionary but a practical idealist. Non-violence is meant not merely for saints and sages but for the common people also. ‘Non-violence is the law of our species, as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the brute and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law to the strength of the spirit.’ According to Gandhi, the principle of non violence from the individual to the social and political plane has the purpose of experimenting with non-violence and establishing its validity. Politics concerns nations and that which concerns the welfare of nations must be one of the concerns of a man who is religiously inclined, in other words, a seeker after God and Truth. For me God and Truth are convertible terms. In the struggle for independence, people should adopt civilized methods of non-violence and suffering. Their stand for freedom was not based on any hatred. People must hate the sin but not the sinner. Patriotism is the same as humanity. A man is patriotic because he is human and humane. In the present predicament people are not able to adjust themselves to the new conditions which science has brought about; it is not easy to adopt the principles of non-violence, truth and understanding. But on that ground they should not give up the effort. While the obstinacy of the political leaders puts fear into our hearts, the common sense and conscience of the peoples of the world give them hope. With the increased velocity of modern changes people do not know what the world will be a hundred years hence. They cannot anticipate the future currents of thought and feeling.   However, years may go their way. They live in an age which is aware of their own defeat and moral coarsening, an age in which old certainties are breaking down, the familiar patterns are tilting and cracking. There is increasing intolerance and embitterment. The creative flame that kindled the great human society is languishing. The human mind in all its baffling strangeness and variety produces contrary types, a Buddha or a Gandhi, a Nero or a Hitler. It is their pride that one of the greatest figures of history lived in our generation, walked with them, spoke to them, and taught them the way of civilized living. He who wrongs no one fears no one. He has nothing to hide and so is fearless. He looks everyone in the face. His step is firm, his body upright, and his words are direct and straight. Plato said long ago: ‘There always are in the world a few inspired men whose acquaintance is beyond price.’ Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Essay The Three Epics on Politics, Abuse and Quest for Freedom

The three epics present politics, abuse and quest for freedom of the people in the society. The three epics present the misadventures of ...

Reading Social Orders

DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION AND MORTALITY: REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPIC OF   Introduction             Dominance and subordination is synonymous to leader-follower scheme wherein the relationship is ideal to obtain the performance of one another’s societal functions in an effective and efficient manner.  The dominant imparts its decision-making and problem solving capabilities to uphold the welfare of people.  In return, subordinates serve the former and follow its conquest that precipitate to loyalty and respect.  The president who is widely respected by the citizenry, a husband who is loved and cared by his wife, and professors who are idolized by students are few of some dominance-subordination design in the society.             To determine such relationship is one thing, to verify the cause and extent of its existence is another.  On top of these is its purpose and implications to social order.  By analyzing the characters, their actions and their aspirations from “The Epic of , resolutions to the phenomenon can be settled and questions will be answered.   Pillars of Social Order                   Because  has a “one-third man, two-third God” identity that resulted to super-natural strength, courage and “beauty” , he was basically known as a hero, and ultimately a king of Uruk.  For his part, he should maintain his dominance and show his capability to rule on a regular basis to retain the status quo.  This is exemplified through his stand against Enkidu , challenge to demon-like Humbaba  and brawl against Bull of Heaven  that was all proclaimed victory across his name.  Every triumph was regarded a signal of competence and enduring dominance.  However, being a king who possess of powers, ill-effects of abusing it  was inevitable.  But the extent of the abuse did not outweigh the extent of dominance, and so, continuing the order.  Distant from the tendencies to abuse power,  has a number of virtues like self-discipline (scoring marriage from Ishtar)  and camaraderie (developed to a former enemy Enkindu) which strengthened his right to rule.             The features of the main character in the epic are compatible to run a city which was regulated by deities.  The people are at peace that their kingdom will not be easily penetrated by warfare or profoundly cursed by gods.  They can rely to  to do the fighting to outsiders or negotiating to gods as the need arise.  They can focus more on household requirements like livelihood, raising children and develop the local economy.  With this, social order was met.  Thinking of the reverse, when people are equal in power and homogenous in status without the guide of a ruler and an established kingdom, they are highly vulnerable to threats from the outside and the gods would curse without mercy.  Civilization could be slowly attained because people are limited in their aspirations of development knowing that instability and lack of direction could annihilate their efforts in an instant.             This drive to subordination as determinant of social order, however, was partially shaken by Enkindu who hated the abusive side of Gilgamesh that ignited a collision .  Even Enkindu was lost in the confrontation, the conflict emphasized that dominance should be directed strictly to good purpose alone.  This showed that even a human from the wild is bounded to guard the acts of the ruler to assure that a certain social order does not result to ill-effects like the abusive tendencies of the dominant.  It also exemplified that the dominant-subordinate system would tend to adjust when roles of one another go beyond the rationale behind the creation of the system and deprived the other of substantial power or freedom.  Being the goddess of love, Ishtar retaliated against the refused marriage  she initiated partly because it is a deviation from the norm opposite her known status.  Also, the wife of Utanapishtim demonstrated this friction when she urged her husband and succeeded to reward the hardship of G — apart from the inherent subordination of women.                  The extent and implications of subordination was also enormous in the story.  The decision of the Council of Gods to impose a death verdict to Enkindu , who had less initiative and participation to the conquest relative to , illustrated that subordination can justify sacrifice on the part of a subordinate, even its life, to sustain the relative crucial role of the king in the society.  On the other hand, loyal (Utanapishtim) and valuable (Gilgamesh) subordinates in relation to its dominant ruler (Gods) would reward the former by sparing its life and renewing its glory (like Shamash intervention  in favor of  against Humbaba) or even bestow eternal life (like Utanapishtim and his wife).                        Further, the subordination of women to sexual needs of men in the epic evidenced that such could be also used to achieve an end aside from the peripheral goal of obtaining the system, as in the case of the trapper’s use of harlot  to expel Enkindu from the endowments of the wild.  In the stance of ferry-based servant, Urshanabi, subordination meant less security in terms of tenure particularly means of living The epic is largely immersed to the dominance of partly-god stature of .  However, his crown was regulated by the full-blooded gods specifically the Council of Gods.  He had lost bargaining capacity and tamed as a subordinate when his first-ever close friend, Enkindu, was on the verge of death  and he had nothing to do to prevent it.    His dominance was eclipsed by the gods who provided guidance and protection to him to continue his reign, and ultimately, the order in the kingdom. In every chapter of the epic, the dominance of gods over men and non-pure gods seemed to be the greatest impediment for  to optimally celebrate the fruits of his dominance over people.  However, the revealing fact of mortality and death seemed to be an overlapping factor behind his vulnerability.  He took much pain and sacrifice to seek the key to immortality.  In the process, he submitted himself to some extent of subordination to eternal life .  Although he utilized his status and dominance through self-proclamation to Siduri and Urshanabi , the motive was aimed to immortality and his submission to it.  Due to the blazing desire to end personal subordination of a mortal to death, he underwent the test of Utanapishtim  without doubting of possible deception.  Frustrated, the failed quest confined him back to dominating stance again.  However, this move took away the consolation prize of achieving youth rejuvenation.  The suspicion in the effectiveness of the consolation ended him going home empty-handed.   of the epic implied that such was an unwise thinking coming from an experienced warrior, celebrated hero and notable king.                                                .  Conclusion               The social order in the epic was achieved through establishing levels of hierarchy in the society.  Subordination, in the likes of Enkindu and his kind including the rest of the people, resulted to ordinary people’s submission of some of their practices under the rule, decision and scrutiny of  because of his domineering attributes.  On the other hand, his rule is neither absolute nor universal as deities are on top of the social system.  This dominance was enforced and permitted to happen, albeit of his partly god status, primarily because of immortality demarcation.  It limits the scope of dominance not only of  but also all mortals when speaking of their subordination.  Dominant and subordinate individuals alike have similar bottom-line, which is death.  This provides disincentive to the ruler to abuse his power aside from good cause and remind him that such wrong doing would not last for a long time because of limitation in life.  On the other hand, people would tend to respect the ruler’s decision and abide the kingdom’s development projects to maximize their existence in the world and help improve the status of civilization keeping in mind that time ticks away from every crime or rebellion they would ensue against a fair dominant and elite.  Social order is thus seen thorough the mutual understanding and accepted vulnerability of the actors in the society giving rise to peace, and ultimately, prosperity.                    Before ending, it is fitting to quote a character in the Asian movie “Hero” which stated, “All under heaven.”  According to the story, these three words transformed the then vicious imperial army to exercise non-violent and non-fatal way of conquering lands, and eventually, meeting the kingdom’s endeavor and achieving its ends.  Finally, being dominant, subordinate and mortal keeps everyone in social order and live each lives to fullest enjoyment.  However, to install abusive and rebellious acts to power or solicited inferiority will lead to disorder and doom of a society.                        Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Reading Social Orders

DOMINANCE, SUBORDINATION AND MORTALITY: REFLECTIONS FROM THE EPIC OF Introduction Dominance and subordination is synony...

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