Aristotle the Great Philosopher Essay Example for Free

Aristotle the Great Philosopher Essay Aristotle was one of the most profound philosophers of all time. He was a pupil of Plato; he adapted many of Plato’s concepts into his own. Aristotle follows in the footsteps of Plato and Socrates idea of taking the virtues to be vital in a well-lived life. Based on the precise nature, true happiness can be found. In this paper, I will discuss Aristotle’s beliefs of human good and human flourishing. Aristotle’s most influential work was Nichomachean Ethics. No one is quite sure where Nichomachean Ethics originated from; they assume it is either, a combination of lecture notes from Aristotle or his students. He believes that every human activity aims at some good; every human activity aims at some end. He believes that good equals end. Aristotle refers to good as being the object of an action. He believes people should be goal oriented no matter if the goal is morally good or bad. Aristotle thought that human actions are not haphazard, random, gratuitous, and purposeless. Otherwise, they’re relevance is the distinguishing mark of human rationality, as opposed to the instinctive ness of animal conduct or an unintentional sequence of natural events. He believes that humans seek rational means to attain their goals. (Zunjic, Books 1 2) Aristotle was born in 384 BCE and later died in 322 BCE. He grew up in Stagirus, which was a small Greek colony. His father was a physician to King Amyntas of Macedonia. The Macedonia Court would influence Aristotle’s life, greatly. Aristotle’s father died while he was still a child. His guardian, Proxenus, sent him to Athens. While in Athens, he became a pupil of Plato; he attended Plato’s lectures for twenty years. He then began to lecture himself, particularly about rhetoric. (Aristotle’s Biography) After Plato had died, Aristotle may have become the leader of the Academy, except his differences in teaching. They gave the leadership role to Plato’s nephew, Seusippus. Aristotle then left Athens and went to a different court. He married Pythias and then a short while after he moved to the island of Lesbos. Some years later, Aristotle was invited back to Macedonia by the King to tutor the young Alexander. Their ideas differed, which lead to an interesting relationship. (Aristotle’s biography) Aristotle taught and managed the Lyceum for twelve years, producing, during this time, his lecture notes. Only a small amount of Aristotle’s works had survived over the years. Aristotle’s works included all the major areas of thought: logic, science, metaphysics, ethics, and politics. He developed a new theory of form that differed from Plato, created a system of deductive reasoning for universal and existential statements, and produced a theory of the universe, matter, life, and mind. (Aristotle’s Biography) Aristotle expanded his knowledge significantly when he studied under Plato, if his guardian had not sent him to Athens he probably would have never studied under Plato. Though Aristotle learned a lot from Plato, his ideas also differed greatly, and he was a great thinker all on his own. Aristotle might not have been the great philosopher that he is without the guidance of Plato. â€Å"Aristotle’s style of lecturing involved walking around in in covered walkways, for which reason Aristotle was called ‘Peripatetic’ meaning walking around. † (www. about. com) Greek influences helped shape what Aristotle believed. His education under Plato was also a huge influencing factor. He believed that there were only two causes in the universe: form and matter; form and matter leads to intelligence. Aristotle was a firm believer that education and morality went hand in hand with each other. He thought it was the duty of the state to produce well rounded citizens who would lead good lives. The realization of oneself is the main way to reach goodness. Aristotle has been recognized as one of the greatest philosophers of all time. He has had essential time working with other top philosophers of his time. Years after his death, people still learn and adapt his beliefs. Aristotle was a teleologist, meaning, he believed that all existing things have a purpose. Aristotle was way ahead of his time, in his thinking. Many of the ideas he had were completely baffling to others around him. They still take a great deal of thought to grasp what he means but it is worth examining. Aristotle believes in instrumental goods and self-sufficient goods. Multiple instrumental goods are needed to achieve ourselves; they include health, friendship, wealth, knowledge, and virtue. The ancient Greek word for virtue is, ‘Arete’ meaning excellence. The excellence a person demonstrates when acting towards virtue. Virtue, when practice, begins to make us who we are. Aristotle believes that virtue must be practice habitually, so that everyone has the capacity to perfect their own character. (Aristotle Ethics Podcast 1) He believed that every idea can be traced back to the very beginning. This is known as finite regress: finite, meaning an end, and regress, meaning to trace back. Objects of thought can be traced back to the very beginning; many consequences lead to the knowledge of the object of thought. He thought that the idea in your head can be traced back, because the idea in your head is a product of everything else, even what people earlier had in their head. Once the thought reaches the corner stone, you cannot go any farther, showing it has one clear beginning. He does not believe in infinite regress that would mean there would be no defined order. (Aristotle Ethics Podcast 2) Aristotle was not concerned with his own good but, rather, the good for all humans. He called this good, eudaimonia, meaning happiness. Eudaimonia serves as the one, final self-sufficient good. He did not believe happiness was just a feeling; he believed it was also a way of living. Many have adapted this idea as human flourishing. Human flourishing involves achievement of excellence. He believes that everyone aims at some good, but different people have different ideas of what good is. The product of the activity should be better than the activity, says Aristotle. The end is the achievable good. (Kessler, 80-87) Aristotle’s beliefs can be used to view life today. His ideas of what a good is and how to reach human flourishing influence life today. When examining any thought, it is almost possible to try and trace it back to where it originated. Aristotle showed that everything has a clear beginning and end, and that everyone should try to have a life full of virtues. Aristotle’s ideas influenced many other philosophers for years after his time. He was a great influence on medieval scholasticism: much of the Roman Catholic theology shows his ideas of teleology. It was also a big influence to biology; but it was banished from physics by the scientific revolution. Aristotle is a firm believer that happiness is the most important thing in life. Ethics was the main topic Aristotle focused on, the difference between what is a right or wrong, good and evil, rule and virtues, character and vice, success and happiness. Works Cited â€Å"Aristotle Greek Philosopher Aristotle. † About. com Ancient / Classical History. N. p. , n. d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. http://ancienthistory. about. com/cs/people/p/aristotle. htm. â€Å"Aristotle of Stagirus Biography. † Aristotle. N. p. , n. d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. http://www. egs.edu/library/aristotle/biography/. Flip4Learning. Aristotles Ethics (Part One). YouTube. YouTube, 04 Mar. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=NbZ1qzcHo4g. Flip4Learning. Aristotles Ethics (Part Two). YouTube. YouTube, 04 Mar. 2012. Web. 03 Dec. 2012. http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=A6Eq33EgMaM. â€Å"Nicomachean Ethics. † Nicomachean Ethics. N. p. , n. d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. http://www. uri. edu/personal/szunjic/philos/nicom. htm. Kessler, Gary E. Voices of Wisdom: A Multicultural Philosophy Reader. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2010. Print.

The Sweetest Thing and Coyote Ugly :: Synthesis Essays

The Sweetest Thing and Coyote Ugly Comedy / Romance movies deal with emotions in a variety of aspects. Overcoming your fears and getting what you want out of life is very important. In the movies The Sweetest Thing, written by Nancy Pimental, and Coyote Ugly, written by Gina Wendkos, both of the main characters are working towards overcoming their greatest fears while making their dreams come true. Even if doing this means making wrong decisions, it always becomes a good learning experience as long as you have friends to rely on. â€Å"First came the rules of love. Now comes the fun.† This quote is the tagline for the movie The Sweetest Thing. Christina Walters, played by Cameron Diaz, doesn’t know commitment. Christina and her friends read the book of love, but are just out to play the field. When she accidentally runs into the man of her dreams she blows him off. When she finally realizes that she is in love with him, Courtney Rockcliffe (Christina Applegate) and Christina take a road trip to get him back. Running into many disasters on the trip they end up walking in on Peter Donahue’s (Thomas Jane) wedding. Incredibly embarrassed, she miserably returns home. After making a complete fool out of herself, she still ends up getting what she wants out of life: A man to be committed to and a man to love. Finally, in the end, Peter realizes that he is in love with Christina. He goes to her apartment to apologize, and after she finally is able to overcome her fear of commitment, she takes him in, and they end up being very happy together. Violet Stanford (Piper Perabo), stared in the movie Coyote Ugly, is a song writer from a small town in New Jersey. She moved to New York to sell her music. She has too much stage fright to perform the songs herself, and is struggling to get her music heard because of her fear. Once her new apartment is broken into and everything is stolen, she is forced to get a job. She finds a bar and is hired to work not knowing what she is getting herself into. The bar is called Coyote Ugly. Five girls work in this bar dancing on the counters and serving drinks. She makes enough money to buy herself new equipment and finally gets some auditions.

Mitosis Write-Up

Mitosis: (onion roots) Root cells are good for observing mitosis; this is because they're in the tip of the root which is an area of the plant that grows quickly. This results in more cells going through mitosis all at once, also allowing us to examine the different stages of mitosis. Stages: 1. Interphase: DNA replicates, but has not formed the condensed structure. They remain as loosely coiled chromatin. The nucleus is still intact. 2. Prophase: The DNA molecules progressively shorten and condense by coiling, to form chromosomes. The spindle fibres are pulled to opposite sides/poles of the cell.3. Metaphase: The spindle fibres attach themselves to the centromeres of the chromosomes.4. Anaphase: The spindle fibres shorten and the centromere splits, separated sister chromatids are pulled along behind the centromeres.5. Telophase: The chromosomes reach the poles of their respective spindles. Nuclear envelope reform before the chromosomes uncoil. The spindle fibres disintegrate.Method/Procedure:1. Place some premixed 1 molar Hydrochloric acid and Acetic Orcein in the watch glass. Similar essay: Why Would We Choose An Embryonic MassBe careful not to get this mixture on your skin or clothing. * Hydrochloric acid (HCL) breaks down the middle lamella and softens the cells tissue and the cell will lose its 3-D shape.2. In to this mixture place the terminal (end) 3 or 4 mm of a garlic root (remove the rest of the root). * The cut end needs to be removed in order to avoid random errors.3. Place on the 40oC heating blocks to warm. In a short time (a few minutes) the root tip will feel soft when touched with a mounted needle (Do not let it dry out completely). Heat it in order to speed up the process of the cell wall breaking down, and also for the stain to spread quicker. The stain will bind with the DNA, and it will become more visible.4. Now, using forceps or the mounted needle, pick up the softened root tip and transfer it in to a clean slide.5. Add a few drops of Acetic Orcein6. Using a mounted needle macerate (Squash) the root tip.7. Once this procedure is compl ete, apply a clean cover slip to the slide and heat it gently on the 40oC heating blocks for 10 seconds to intensify the stain.This will spread the stain and allow it to bind with the DNA.8. Then invert the slide on a blotting paper and push down ward firmly, applying pressure with your thumb over the cover glass. This should flatten the cells and disperse them so they can be observed under the microscope.This will help flatten it to cell thick.Depending upon how effective your squash has been you may either use this or a pre-prepared slide to observe the stages of mitosis in the root tip; you will use either one to identify and record the different stages of mitosis.Variables: Independent Variables: The slide itself, however, we don’t know anything about the slide.Dependent Variable: The percentage of cells in each stage of mitosis. Controlled Variables: No. of cells counted. The magnification power used. Were my results valid and reliable? Valid: To ensure my results were v alid, I compared my results with the other classes’ results, who were also undertaking the same experiment. Also, I compared them to other results I’ve have online, and made sure they both agree. Reliability: My results were reliable because, 20 other different students in my class also did the experiment, and my results are the average of them all.Errors: I have identified some systematical errors, such as; students consistently looking at the wrong section of the root, as opposed to the growing section. We do not want this as it will damage our results—However, if one individual does this then it will become a random error along with students confusing stages together. e. g. If you look at the attached data; student ‘TW’ overestimated the telophase cells, and underestimated the prophase cells. This is a prime example of a random error in my results. Trends and patterns: I have identified several trends and patterns in my results, for example; the interphase stage took the longest.I expected this to be the case because interphase has along of stage within itself, so it is understandable for it to take considerable more time than the rest. Also, I have noticed that anaphase took the shortest amount of time, as it is just the centromeres splitting and separating. Process of Mitosis: If a group of cells is dividing rapidly, a high proportion of the cells will be undergoing mitosis. A group of cells that is not dividing will have all cells in interphase of the cell cycle. The amount of cell division occurring in a tissue can be quantified using the mitotic index.The mitotic index is used for studying tumour growth in cancer patients. Using the formula below, calculate the mitotic index for your root tip preparation. If you have time, compare this value with the mitotic index of an area of cells away from the root tip and comment on your findings. e. g. Mitotic Index = number of cells containing visible chromosomes total number of cells in the field of view Data analysis: #DIV/0! = Mean. // #DIV0! Of the phases; 13. 126315. – Precision: To the nearest cell (1dp) Title: % of time spent in each phase cycle.

Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized - 1014 Words

The first and most basic reason that marijuana should be legal is that there is no good reason for it not to be legal. Some people ask why should marijuana be legalized? but we should ask Why should marijuana be illegal? From a philosophical point of view, individuals deserve the right to make choices for themselves. The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individuals actions endanger someone else. This does not apply to marijuana, since the individual who chooses to use marijuana does so according to his or her own free will. The government also may have a right to limit individual actions if the actions pose a significant threat to the individual. But this argument does not logically apply to marijuana†¦show more content†¦These people deserve the freedom to practice their religion as they see fit, without the government telling them what to do. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that the government cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion, and so marijuana should be legal. Many people believe that marijuana can be used as medicine to treat certain illnesses. Canada and several states in the U.S. have passed laws in recent years to specifically allow sick people to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Still, the U.S. federal government considers marijuana a Schedule One substance which has no medicinal value. We support the rights of sick people to help themselves by using marijuana as medicine. In the long term, we believe that medicinal marijuana will be a nonissue because marijuana will be legal for responsible adults to use regardless of illness. Many agencies, which are anti marijuana, such as Drug Enforcement Agency and police departments, argue that marijuana shouldnt be legalized. These agencies believe that marijuana shouldnt be legalized because if marijuana is to become legal then it will become much easier for people who do not need the drug to acquire it. Then people will raise the question why is marijuana illegal at all if its a medicine. The main reason why the Drug Enforcement Agency doesnt want marijuana to be legal is because there is no hard core evidence that proves that marijuana is anShow MoreRelatedWhy Marijuana Should be Legalized1510 Words   |  7 Pages12 16 January 2015 Why Marijuana should be legalized Multiple studies have found that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco yet somehow is still considered a schedule 1 drug along with other more extreme drugs such as heroin. Marijuana is the leaves and shredded flowers of hemp plant called Cannabis sativa which is usually a green or gray mixture. Marijuana can be not only smoked in the form a joint, blunt, bowl, bong, etc but can also be eaten. Uses of marijuana can be medically orRead MoreWhy Medical Marijuana Should Be Legalized1245 Words   |  5 PagesWhy Medical Marijuana should be legalized all over all the United States. In today’s society, debates regarding legalizing Medical Marijuana occur frequently. The discussions arise in almost every state. Both sides bring solid arguments; however, opponents of the approval are facing the fact, which is very hard to ignore. Medical Marijuana has proven to cure people with life-threatening diseases much more effectively than official treatments; to have second-to-none side effects; and to be aRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should Be Legalized Essay1605 Words   |  7 PagesCannabis II. The History of Marijuana III. The Prohibition IV. Economic Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana V. The Medical Benefits of Marijuana VI. Marijuana vs. Alcohol and Tobacco VII. Marijuana Stimulates Creativity and Brain Cell Growth VIII. Conclusion Should marijuana be legalized for recreational and medical purposes? Thesis: Since marijuana is not harshly dangerous to one’s health nor is it a hard narcotic, it should be legalized to promote a positive society. Read MoreWhy Marijuana Should be Legalized Essay622 Words   |  3 Pagesyears ago and perhaps even more than 12,000 years ago. It is considered by many to be one of the most resourceful crops on earth. It can be used for industrial, medical, and recreational purposes. Rather than waging war on marijuana users, this resourceful crop should be legalized and utilized. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The cannabis sativa plant produces more protein, oil, and fiber than any other plant on earth. In fact, it can be used to produce more than 5,000 textile products ranging from ropeRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should Be Legalized Essay883 Words   |  4 PagesWhy Marijuana Should Be Legalized Willie Nelson once said, â€Å"I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?† Marijuana has been a plant for longer than any human has been alive. Civilizations have used marijuana for hundreds of years for hundreds of purposes. But ever since the 1970’s when growing or havingRead MoreEssay on Why Marijuana Should Not be Legalized1595 Words   |  7 PagesLegalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in Marijuana prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of illegal drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing decision making thru legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate here in the United States andRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should be Legalized Essay example1689 Words   |  7 PagesDebate on why Marijuana should be legalized Marijuana is a public name for an illegal substance (drug) produced from the Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) plant. It is also called weed, ganja, grass, kaya and pot. The drug has many chemical compounds and in particular, it has THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) which is responsible for changing mind functions leading to alternations of cognition, mood, behavior, perception and consciousness. â€Å"It is the most widely used illicit substance in the world† (WorldRead MoreEssay about Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized1554 Words   |  7 Pageserroneous. Early in the 1900s, a surge of Mexicans immigrated to the U.S., and the marijuana they brought with them was quickly associated with them. In the 1930s, tensions between white Americans and Mexican immigrants were heightened due to the Great Depression, and the use of marijuana was ultimately prohibited for the general public in 1937 with the Marijuana Tax Act (Marijuana Timeline). By the 1960s, marijuana became a symbol of count erculture, and the government stopped any research involvedRead MoreLegalization of medical marijuana at the federal law Essay1653 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Why should marijuana be legalized? Marijuana can be argued for different reasons. In my case I will be arguing the medical purposes for legalizing marijuana. Marijuana has positive features, and how people prefer using marijuana. Marijuana helps individuals get through a variety of things that they suffer. Marijuana provides relief from pain, rather than other medications out there. Many individuals prefer marijuana over anything else to relax. An argument on why people using marijuana spendRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuan It Is A Criminal1470 Words   |  6 Pagesago, CNN the world s most recognized news station. They were showing a story about how medical marijuana helped a three years old girl, who was suffering from a several epilepsy. From the story, this three year old girl could have a hundreds of seizures within a day. However, one day his father, who was a retired military, he made a research and found a good testimonies about how a medical marijuana helped these men, chi ldren, and women with the same condition as his daughter. Therefore, he decided