Impact of 16 and Pregnant on Teen Pregnancy Rates

Impact of 16 and Pregnant on Teen Pregnancy Rates Teen pregnancy rates drop because of tv shows like MTVs 16 and Pregnant When tv shows such as MTVs 16 and Pregnant first began airing on tv most people believed that the show would encourage teenage pregnancy, but they were mistaken. The show actually made teen pregnancy rates drop instead. Shows such as this one has proven itself to actually proven to prevent teen pregnancy instead of encouraging it. Studies have shown that teen pregnancy rates have began to drop since the show has first begun airing on tv ,as well as more searches on how to receive birth control, and have also encouraged teenagers to start practicing safer sex. The show just might be the reason why teen pregnancy rates had dropped so dramatically ,coincidentally it occurred after the show actually began airing. To find out for sure scientists began a study to figure out what had been going on and they found that, the show and its spinoffs actually had an educational effect, cutting the teen birth rate by six per cent, or more than 20,000 births, in 2010 (Remote (birth) control). This proves 16 and Pregnant actually made a difference in peoples lives and let alone their futures. The teenagers who watched the show lives were changed, Neither the boys nor girls who watched the episodes wanted to imitate the teens in the episodes they watched. In fact, nearly all teens (93%) who watched the show agreed (53% strongly agreed) with the statement: I learned that teen parenthood is harder than I imagined from these episodes(Suellentrop et al) , also an interview was conducted from a few people on the show and they asked, are teens influenced by what they see on TV , and one of the interviewes replied with,what teenagers are watching can make a really big difference in what they think and, ultimately, how they behave and really important life decisions (Is 16 and Pregnant An Effective Form Of Birth Control?). The young women and men that watched the show and who were interviewed could have been just like the other teenagers on 16 and Pregnant but the shows presented them a better outlook on life and a safer one at that.This show alone has changed some peoples future and even dropped the teen pregnancy percentages. They helped the troubled young community make a difference in society and for the next generation to come. The show has also been proven to teach teenagers that safer sex such as using contraception like birth control or condoms may be necessary to prevent themselves from becoming teen moms or fathers besides abstinence altogether. By using these helpful devices they are automatically less likely to get pregnant or get another person pregnant by high percentages. Researchers found that, The show may actually encourage him or her to practice safer sex, according to a new study(Jacque Wilson). Practicing safer sex not only helps to prevent teen pregnancies, but also protects against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that could lead to tissue scarring and permanent damage. The shows continue to teach the teenagers important lessons and help to, create an opportunity to talk to teens about the risks of sex(Suellentrop et al). This evidence is continuing to prove the effectiveness and the extra chances that this show provides for young boys and girls that couldve possibly gone through a tou gher time.This helps teens and their parents to also help in the prevention in the pregnancy problem. As parents usually wanted to be involved especially when it has to do with their kids futures as well as someone elses. 16 and Pregnant also started conversations about the show and teen pregnancy , and all over made teen pregnancy a less commonplace as well as made more teenagers change their point of views on the topic from a typical okay ordeal to one frowned upon and a less likely matter.They even began to talk themselves out of the idea of being a pregnant teenager was easy, the difficulty level changed their mind.Things continued to change because, The more teens talked about the show, the less likely they were to think that teen pregnancy and teen parenthood are commonplace(Suellentrop et al).The quote proves the changes that are happening and contributing to the dramatic pregnancy rates dropping.The scientists even showed that the teenagers perceptions were changing and they learned , more about how watching and discussing episodes of the popular MTV documentary-style reality show 16 and Pregnant influences teens perceptions of getting pregnant and becoming a parent at a young age(Suellentrop et al). The scientists referred to how the teens changed their ideas about pregnancy because of the show .The show starts conversations that help to prevent and protect the mother of the teenagers getting pregnant at such a young age. Including maybe losing them altogether. When teenagers decide to turn on tv shows like 16 and Pregnant they decide to use safer sex, they also change their minds about teen pregnancy and its difficulty level, as well as contributing in other ways to help drop pregancy rates. The teenagers are now going to have a better life as well as lining up their futures kids to have better lives just by not getting pregnant as a teenager. Therefore concluding the research is proof that 16 and Pregnant does not glamorize pregnancy it shows real life situations that other teenagers can relate and connect to helping them protect themselves from mistakes, diseases, and other bad decisions that could have made along the way but now because of the show they are less likely to have to experience all those issues . References Is 16 and Pregnant An Effective Form Of Birth Control? All Things Considered, 13 Jan. 2014. Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A356696128/SUIC?u=j020902xid=f7739508. Accessed 6 Feb. 2017. Remote (birth) control. Macleans, 27 Jan. 2014, p. 8. Student Resources in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A356454110/SUIC?u=j020902xid=ab051b7b. Accessed 6 Feb. 2017. Suellentrop, Katherine, et al. Reality Television Shows Reveal the Risks of Teen Pregnancy. Teen Dating, edited by Louise I. Gerdes, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010862223/OVIC?u=j020902xid=ffc0af4b. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017. Originally published as Evaluating the Impact of MTVs 16 and Pregnant on Teen Viewers Attitudes About Teen Pregnancy, Science Says, Oct. 2010. Wilson, Jacque. Study: MTVs 16 and Pregnant Led to Fewer Teen Births. Health and Wellness Resource Center. CNN Newsource Sales, Inc., 13 Jan. 2014. Web. 9 Feb. 2017.

A Goal I Have Accomplished

Graduating from college, having a stable job or putting up their own business and having a happy family might be the things people want to achieve in their lifetime.Many people hope for this at an early age while they still have the support of their parents especially financially. I, myself, also hope for those. Those are also the goals that I want to accomplish. However, with my present status, I believe those could only be bonuses for all the achievements I have now.I recently got my General Education Development diploma — this is already a great achievement for me. This is because I got it as a fruit of all the labor, perseverance and determination. It is very difficult to manage my life while I study. I am a single mother and I need to work for a living to feed my little boy.There were times that I needed to review my lessons while I am tending to his needs during the night. There were many nights that I have gone sleepless and still go to school during the day. But I know I needed to do everything not only for my future but especially for my child future — that’s what I always think of.My beautiful boy is the crown to all my tiredness and the everlasting joy to all my achievements. At the end of the day when I see him smiling at me, he gives me new hope to pursue what I am planning to do.Aside from perseverance and thinking of our future, another step that I took is to continue my studies. I already started college in August. I am now pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Business through Kaplan Online. Moreover, to compensate for our expenses, I am also working fulltime. Going back to school is a present achievement I am enjoying now.

Student Essay

In both â€Å"Hard Choices† and â€Å"Initiation into Adulthood† we are giving a look at three different stories, everyone who is approach to adulthood is filled with growing pains, and stretching out of our comfort zones, and the decisions that make us who we are. Each of the Essays looks at them differently. What made one better than the other? We learn that getting and keeping the reader's attention Is very important. The author of â€Å"Hard Choices† let us know what we are going to be reading about fast. In the essay â€Å"Hard Choices† we are given a clear Introduction and thesis statement.Telling us that we are looking at an overview of different stories, not Just a story written about children's choices or their passage to adulthood can help us to understand what we are reading. By letting us know right away what the essay Is looking at makes It easier to read. Furthermore, â€Å"Hard Choices† did a good Job comparing the three stones. Not o nly holding our attention with clear overviews that were Interesting but also a paragraph at the end comparing them all. Then closing with a conclusion that was short and to the point will help with understanding.In tot essays we get a comparison of the 3 stories in the conclusion, there are still some points that left me looking for clarity, after reading â€Å"Initiation into Adulthood† In the â€Å"Hard Choices† They not only looked at each story it addresses a total comparison taking the comparison further. One weakness that I saw in the essay â€Å"Hard Choices was the way two of the paragraphs started, â€Å"Like† and â€Å"Likewise† are so similar that is almost repetitive. There are other words that could have replaced one of them. Starting each of the paragraphs differently would make for better reading.Although the word choice was great the start of each of the paragraphs was repetitive. On a whole the essay â€Å"Hard Choices was well written and superb at keeping our attention altering the way each paragraph was started would have made it more enjoyable. Looking at â€Å"Initiation into Adulthood† the start was misleading; don't wait till the thesis statement to let us know the essay is a comparison of stories. When first reading â€Å"Initiation into Adulthood† it appeared as though this paper would be talking about how we all become adults and grow to have our own say in the life e live.This can be miss-leading and loose some reader at that point. Also, being more concise and interesting in your disruptions of each story will help to keep each reader reading, looking for more. We were told what happened in the story but the reader's attention may or may not be held if they are not a little more Involved. â€Å"Initiation into Adulthood† was written using proper grammar and conveyed the correct Information. Summing it all up, Writing a paper comparing the works of others can be helpful and also hu rtful at the same time.The approach best taken loud be one that holds a reader's attention telling us as we go the highlights and comparisons, Including the good and bad. But then at the end answers any questions that might be out there unanswered and still needing more Information Student Essay By Tweets We learn that getting and keeping the reader's attention is very important. The the essay â€Å"Hard Choices† we are given a clear introduction and thesis statement. Understand what we are reading. By letting us know right away what the essay is looking at makes it easier to read.Furthermore, â€Å"Hard Choices† did a good Job impairing the three stories. Not only holding our attention with clear overviews that were interesting but also a paragraph at the end comparing them all. Then closing some points that left me looking for clarity, after reading â€Å"Initiation into Adulthood†. Reader's attention may or may not be held if they are not a little more involv ed. Correct information. Summing it all up, Writing a paper comparing the works of comparisons, including the good and bad. But then at the end answers any questions that might be out there unanswered and still needing more information

Should We All Be Vegetarians - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1122 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/06/18 Category Health Essay Level High school Tags: Vegetarian Essay Did you like this example? Vegetarianism is not a condition for liberation or enlightenment, which is the purpose of Buddhist practice. And so it seems that Buddhist vegetarians are doing something unnecessary. Because if different Buddhist disciplines are able to practice without the necessity of being vegetarian, what do we have to do to become vegetarian? Although generally speaking, the number of vegetarians is on the rise for a variety of reasons, but only in terms of the majority of Buddhists awareness of vegetarianism, the number of vegetarians not much. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Should We All Be Vegetarians?" essay for you Create order On the contrary, such skepticisms and arguments against the vegetarian diet seem to be more and more apparent, even appearing at some of the monks in the Theravada tradition. In fact, the number of vegetarian Buddhists is still very modest, if not very low, compared to the overwhelming majority of vegetarians only on certain days of the month, or even not vegetarian This does not seem to be appropriate with the teachings of compassion as well as the teachings of cause and effect that all Buddhists believe and follow. First of all, Buddhists have two reasons for being vegetarian. The first is compassion. If you do not have compassion, or at least do not agree with the compassion of others, you have not had a good sympathy for Buddhism, let alone become a Buddhist. Therefore, all Buddhists are in the process of cultivating compassion or at least supporting, agreeing with the compassionate practice of others. If you have doubts about your own compassion, you can self-verify through a few simple questions. Watching the news every day on television, each time a disaster occurs somewhere in the world that hundreds of people die, thousands of people lost their homes, living miserably and in need, you will feel how? Can you be cold-hearted? Will, there be a throbbing heart in your heart, it makes you or your tears, or the urge to do something to share with others? Or do you sometimes go out on the street and accidentally witness a tragic accident, you can indifferently walk without hesitation? Or will yo u stop by and help if needed? Even if you cannot help, there is no compassion in your heart. Emotions emanating from suffering are completely natural in almost every human being, not just Buddhists. However, Buddhists who follow the Buddhas teachings should always cultivate compassion and turn those emotions into thoughts, words, and actions according to two specific goals: rescuing suffering and bringing joy to others. Suffering and joy is the meaning of compassion. The compassion of Buddhism towards the object is that all sentient beings are all perceptive, not just human beings. The progressive civilization of humanity today has come to be similar to this view as most civilized nations have a strict policy of protecting animals. Although humanity has not really stopped eating meat, the killing of animals today has been viewed as a crime. The second reason that Buddhists turn to vegetarianism is the belief in cause and effect. In a nutshell, if you are not vegetarian, that means you have not really believed the cause and effect. Why? Law of cause and effect makes it clear that when you sow, you will reap the fruit. No matter where you go to wherever you are or how long you are going to spend, the end is sure to be the result of your own actions. In fact, if you just have to suffer a painful stroke to change a meal, surely none of us will pick that up! But according to the law of cause and effect, with every meal of the flesh and blood, we will certainly have to return it with a life of suffering, because it will be terminated by killing, by the pain of tortured to death. Its a great price for just one meal, let alone hundreds of thousands of meals throughout our lives! So, if you do not think about the price too much, do not think about the consequences of sure to receive in the future because of your meals, does that say that you are not really sure about the kernel? fruit? Are you always deluded that you are an exception, and the scary consequences will not come to you? Are you suggesting that the killing will bring about the killings, but is that just for everyone else, but not for your case? Vegetarianism has different meanings for different religions or beliefs. In this sense, being a vegetarian means eating pure, pure food, rather than merely eating fish. However, first and foremost, of course, vegetarianism must include not eating meat or, broadly speaking, any food produced by slaughter. Some foods are not. by killing, but by harm that has. The livestock sector now breeds dairy cows, raising chickens for eggs but does not kill these animals right away, but is clearly damaging to life, not allowing these animals to live a natural life. , and therefore the food is not so pure, pure. Some plant foods are also mentioned in the classics as being impure, impure, because of their special properties, particularly pungent foods that are classified in the taste category. Including onions, chives, garlic, zucchini, and kao. Based on similar criteria, other foods such as booze, onion can also be classified in this group. The reason vegetarians do not eat these dishes is not just because of their pungent taste, but because they have a strong sexual stimulant effect, which is considered to be impure. However, you can still use these items as me dication when needed, in which case they are not considered as food. Does Buddhism oblige Buddhists to eat vegetarian food? The answer is no. In fact, it was the Buddha and his disciples, who were originally vegetarians, who were not vegetarians. When Buddhism was just formed after the Buddhas enlightenment and the beginning of the teachings, the Buddha and the Sangha lived on food obtained from begging in the villages and neighborhoods they passed. Most of the residents there did not know about vegetarianism, and they could donate to the monks bowl any food they had, including fish meat. In that situation, the monks cannot choose vegetarian food and refuse the impure food. It depends on how they want it. Never force yourself into a vegetarian diet if your mind is not really ready. But from today, start to think seriously about the meaning of vegetarianism as I have described above, and then you will be able to make judgments about these meanings. That is perfectly possible in any s ituation, and I am sure that it will plant seeds into your mind for a better future. Be sure to practice what you feel is right, but do not let yourself be dragged into arguments.

Our Life And Death Are The Same Thing - 1789 Words

â€Å"Our life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore, nor actual difficulty in our life,† said Suzuki (Suzuki, Part II, pg 92). This quote by Suzuki, suggests that our society has thanatophobia (fear of death and dying). Why are we so terrified of dying? We often see people contributing to senseless life styles simply because they are too afraid to die to their insignificant selves. We constantly partake in unhealthy actions simply because we fail to recognize that there is a beauty in dying. This type of beauty is special because through these mini-deaths we renew ourselves to something better. In dying, we abolish our small minds and opens to a meaningful state of mind, the â€Å"Big Mind† as Suzuki calls it. It’s necessary that we die to our egotistic desires so that we can move towards self-actualization and become free. We ought to start by ridding ourselves of ignorance, selfishness, and vindictive ways s o that we can renew ourselves through meaningful practices such being more aware, accepting, and rational. Our society is full of ignorant individuals, including myself. We often lack awareness and believe that we are at the center of the universe. It’s extremely important to have global awareness, but in order to obtain full awareness you must first attain self-awareness. Being able to see yourself separate from society is helpful because it builds character and a good character will attract the right practice. IndividualsShow MoreRelatedA Summary of Chapters 1-5 in Death and Dying the Psychosocial Aspect1463 Words   |  6 Pagesin: The Psychosocial Aspects of Death and Dying By: Jennifer Lanier Jennifer D. Lanier September 21, 2008 Thanatology-Professor Wright This paper will summarize chapters 1-5 in the book The Psychosocial Aspects of Death and Dying. We will take a deeper look at each of these chapters and explain what they mean. The chapters we will be talking about will be the following: Death: Awareness and Anxiety, Cultural Attitudes Toward Death, Processing the Death Of A Loved One Through Life’s TransitionsRead MoreThe Interpretation Of Fulfillment And Fulfillment1553 Words   |  7 PagesOur Interpretation of Fulfillment Everyone wishes to achieve complete fulfillment, but what makes up fulfillment for each person often differs. In theory, everyone is chasing the same state of being, fulfillment, but people have different perceptions of what fulfillment is. Many philosophers have debated the idea of reaching fulfillment, and many of them disagree on what human fulfillment truly consists of. Some believe that fulfillment can fully be realized in this life, while others believeRead MoreArgumentative Essay On Capital Punishment1671 Words   |  7 Pagesnecessary form of justice? Capital punishment is also referred to as the death penalty, which is a form of action taken by the court of law where a guilty conviction means you pay with your life. Being an American citizen, I believe that we live in the freest country on earth and have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, in our pledge of allegiance it states that we also have justice for all. So, is the death penalty the ul timate justice or does it seek vengeance through bloodshedRead MoreWhy Death On An Expiry Date Poses A Harm1523 Words   |  7 PagesThesis 999198336 Ian Summers The question of whether death on an expiry date poses a harm to the one who dies has important ontological relevance concerning how we relate to death and including how death causes harm to us. 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This means, that since they are not aware of death, they are then immortalRead MoreCriticizing Lucretius s Argument On Death1580 Words   |  7 PagesCriticizing Lucretius’s argument on death, which he claims is a distraction to our desires and therefore it is a bad thing for us and that an immortal life will make sure we fulfill our desires. Bernard Williams approached Lucretius’s claim with his counterargument in which he opposes Lucretius theory of death by skeptically claiming that death is not always a bad thing because it can also end bad things such as suffering, as a matter of fact he opposes immortality in that it should not be your optionRead MoreDeath Is Not Bad For Anyone986 Words   |  4 PagesDeath is not Bad for Anyone Epicurus writes, the argument that death is nothing to us, because when we exist, death is not yet present, and when death comes, we no longer exist. There are three reasonable previews to support his view, including: something is bad for someone as long as it must be bad for that person at specific time; Death cannot be bad for someone when they are dead because the person does not exist at that time; Death cannot be bad for someone before death actually come. AmongRead MoreDeath Penalty Should Not Be Abolished in China751 Words   |  4 PagesThe death penalty shouldn’t be abolished in China Death penalty is one of the oldest punishments in the world, it means end of criminal’s life by law. Nowadays, the issue of whether the death penalty should be abolished in China is still a controversial topic. Many people think death penalty is a bad way to punishment criminals because this method violates humanitarianism and it’s also a bit cruel. Besides, two of third countries in the world have abolished it. So many people say our country

Cask Of The Amontillado, By Edgar Allan Poe - 1373 Words

In Edgar Allan Poe’s short story Cask of the Amontillado, the main character Fortunato undergoes being buried alive, essentially, in the wine cellar in his own estate. The person responsible for this death is a man named Montresor. The theme in this tale is that of revenge. Montresor, the main antagonist and murderer, claims his vengeance is justified and that while he is committing a crime he is doing so justifiably. Raymond Struckhart of Berlin University, in Germany also concurs my position; by also claiming Montresor is to blame. The argument in this paper is that Montresor is not only delusional to his claims of justification, but also that his crime of killing Fortunato is not justified; and that in fact it is out right murder. Therefore to reiterate the thesis of this paper is, the killing of Fortunato by the hands of Montresor, despite his claims of justification, is just an excuse for murder and not justified by any means. The paper examines the work of Raymond Stuckh art, Elizabeth Dowager, and Barbara Cane as proof to my claims. The paper begins by identifying what â€Å"injury† Fortunato enacted upon Montresor and its justifiability. Next the paper examines the correlation between pure revenge and Montresor s warped sense of morality and justice. With this in mind, one can deduce the guilty nature of Montresor and lack of justification. Keywords: murder, justification, revenge Justifiable Revenge: An excuse for what is plain murder. In the short story, CaskShow MoreRelatedThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe888 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe In ?The Cask of Amontillado?, Edgar Allan Poe takes us on a trip into the mind of a mad man. Poe uses certain elements to convey an emotional impact. He utilizes irony, descriptive detail of setting, and dark character traits to create the search of sinful deceit. Poe also uses first person, where the narrator is the protagonist who is deeply involved. The purpose is to get the reader to no longer be the observer. He wants them to see with MontressorRead MoreThe Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe836 Words   |  3 Pagesqualities in the story. In the story many things are used as symbols such as the actual cask of amontillado, the trowel, the jester costume and the setting in which there is two in the story. Another literary technique used significantly in the story is irony. Irony is the expression of ones meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. In the short story â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† Montresor a very troubled man who plans to seek revenge on another man named FortunatoRead MoreEdgar Allan Poe And The Cask Of Amontillado1384 Words   |  6 PagesWhat makes Edgar Allan Poe work unique? Other than being a strange individual, Poe has become a remarkable literature writer. The Raven, Annabel Lee, and The Cask of Amontillado are just a few of Poe’s work that staples the theme of gothic literature. This essay will allow you to see the gothic elements Edgar Allan Poe uses through his most common poems. Gothic literature has many elements which play into its definition. The actual definition is a style of writing that is characterized by elementsRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe906 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† was written in 1846, by Edgar Allan Poe. Born in 1809, Poe never knew any of his parents. At the age of three, his mother died of tuberculosis, and his father deserted the family before he was born. Taking care of him was his foster parents in Richmond, Virginia. They loved Poe, but were not supportive of his decisions and kept Poe poor. Having debt and not being able to provide food and clothes for himself caused Poe to quit school. Later, heRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe920 Words   |  4 Pageswhen that trust no longer exists? In â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado† written by Edgar Allan Poe, Fortunato is about to find the answer to this question. On the surface, Montresor seems friendly with Fortunato, but deep down he feels nothing but hate for him. Could this hatred have an irrationality that only Montresor understands? In different ways, both of these men are proud and affluent, yet both have downfalls that will l ead to a tragic ending. Edgar Allan Poe’s use of language contributes to the understandingRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1555 Words   |  7 PagesIn his writing, Edgar Allan Poe has multiple uses of direct and indirect characterization. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montresor had rules such as â€Å"I must not only punish but punish with impunity. A wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser. It is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong† (Poe, 2). Poe used indirect characterization to show the reader that Montresor is an unreliable narrator because he justified hisRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1303 Words   |  6 PagesIn Edgar Allan Poe’s â€Å"The Cask of Amontillado,† the narrator recalls an extremely significant time in his life, and takes the reader along with him. Throughout the story, one experiences a perfectly planned murder which took place over fifty years ago, and still no one has discovered what truly happened to poor Fortunato as he was chained to a wall in a room that was then closed off, and torched to death due to all the nitre in the walls. As the story goes on, the reader can see some of Poe’s unfortunateRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe1076 Words   |  5 PagesThe short story, The Cask of Amontillado, written by Edgar Allan Poe is a story of terror and betrayal. Like many of Poe’s literary works, the story has a dark undertone with a theme of terror and depression. More than half a century ago, Marshall McLuhan argued that though Poe was fascinated by evil, the evil that he had in mind was not that of Calvinism, but that of the split man and the split civilization. In general, McLuhan was right, but in this instance Calvinism, and its God, provided a darkRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe707 Words   |  3 PagesIn the short story of The Ca sk of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe writes in first person point of view from the perspective of Montresor who seeks revenge against Fortunato. Montresor began to develop the perfect plan for revenge. During the carnival season, Montresor meets with Fortunato and decides to implement his plan carefully through irony. Poe s story describes the murderer s mind which has lived as a memory of Fortunato s death for fifty years. Poe uses different types of irony and symbolismRead MoreThe Cask Of Amontillado By Edgar Allan Poe985 Words   |  4 PagesEdgar Allen Poe is a well known author of short stories and poetry from the 19th century. He is known especially for his stories of horror and suspense. The Cask of Amontillado is one of his more famous pieces. The story follows the narrator, Montresor, as he exacts revenge on Fortunato. Montressor draws Fortunato into the wine cellar where eventually he chains Fortunato to the wall and encloses him inside it. Throughout the story the narrator continually proves that he is not the most reliable source

Epicurean Ethics free essay sample

Upon understanding the brief and general philosophy of how to live a good life from an Epicurean’s viewpoint, I too thought that his philosophy centered around the self, how to achieve pleasure for the self, how to avoid pain to protect the self, all of which did seem very egoistic. However, throughout reading some of his theories and ideas, analyzing them, as well as reading other philosophers’ interpretations, I was able to see how this can be misunderstood if not given careful thought. This common misconception of his philosophy was widely misunderstood because although his philosophy centered around gaining pleasure for the self and avoiding pain, it also focused on not acting upon greed when on the search of pleasure, and only satisfying needs that are natural and absolutely necessary for the survival of an individual, rather than on the kind of pleasure that is achieved by eating luxurious foods, drinking fancy wines, having a high social status and indulging in materialistic things. Aside from having pleasure as the primary goal in life, Epicurus focused a good deal on how to avoid pain as well. In fact, Epicurus defines and measures pleasure not by how much happiness it may bring to the soul and body, but by the absence of pain which is the only way to achieve pleasure. He categorizes pleasure into three different parts which will be discussed later in this paper, as well as how one can have a peaceful and tranquil mind. To achieve the state of mind that Epicurus believes will bring pleasure to an individual’s life, one must eliminate all fears and anxieties over the unknown such as the power of God and how much of one’s life is dependent on the higher being. To ease these frightening thoughts and anxieties, Epicurus believed it was necessary to explain all of the unknown factors of the supernatural such as the fact that Gods have no interest in human affairs and live in their own society. He also thought that much of the stress and anxiety came from not knowing what happens to the body and the soul after death. Being a naturalist, he thought it was best to explain his theory in scientific terms that are more clear and concise rather than something that was mythical and could have been made up. Although he used the atomist theory to inspire his own, he made significant changes to it explaining exactly what does happen to the soul and the body and how there should be nothing to fear and be anxious over. Epicurus was a naturalist and adapted the concept of the atomist theory to his own beliefs. As briefly stated before, he believed that fear and anxiety comes from not knowing the unknown, such as supernatural occurrences, the concept of God, and life after death. Therefore, by explaining how the divine and all powerful works and advising one not to fear the Gods, as well as using the atomist theory to come up with his own theory so that one knows exactly what will happen to the body and soul after death, he believes that there would be much less anxiety and fear in the mind of an Epicurean. According to the atomist theory, the universe is composed of only two things which are infinite shapes and sizes of atoms, and an infinite void. The atoms of which our universe is composed of are infinite in number, unchangeable, and are unable to be cut or divided. It also states that our senses originate from atoms being cut off by objects Epicurus however, believed that our senses originate from our judgments and perceptions of these atoms rather than atoms being cut off by objects. Although Epicurus adapted this theory, he also made significant changes to it in support of his teachings on living a life of a tranquil mind. He emphasized it’s importance to prove that people shouldn’t have fear of life after death because if death means the loss of all consciousness in the mind and the dissolution of the body into atoms, then we have nothing to fear. Our perceptions, judgments and experiences of the world are no longer in our consciousness, because death is the lack of all these things, therefore once death comes there would be nothing to fear or feel such as pain because our consciousness which gives life to all these things would be completely gone. Epicurus encourages his students to live a life free from the stress and anxiety of the unknown life after death, giving them a tranquil and peaceful state of mind. This in turn contributes to his theory that to live a complete and happy life of pleasures, one must be free of all worries and anxieties, as well as avoiding bodily pain. Epicurus also believed that the source of trouble in our consciousness and what causes stress and anxiety in the mind is the fear of the divine and all powerful God. Although Epicurus is not an Atheist and was like most others during his time a polytheistic believing in many Gods, his views on religion and the all powerful God varied greatly from the rest. Epicurus never denied the existence of Gods but held a belief that Gods and human beings had no relation to one another. He believed that Gods were not concerned with human affairs and rejected the widely held belief that Gods gave us reason to live in peace and harmony so that we can be happy and live a good life. He also rejected the idea that Gods held complete control of the path of our lives and worried over us and our conflicts greatly and instead, believed that Gods had their own separate lives and affairs and were always in the highest state of happiness. According to Panichas’ essay in Epicurus on â€Å"Theology†, it is believed that Epicurus never fully justified why he believes that Gods are always happy but says that his belief in Gods came from the idea that we are all born with an innate knowledge of Gods existence. This means that newborn children don’t need to be given the knowledge of the existence of divine power, but are already born with that idea implanted in them. His supporting argument for the existence of Gods is that since everyone is born with the innate idea of their existence, and everyone already has an established opinion of the Gods, then they must exist. Epicurus’ argument against the popular belief of Gods having extreme concern of human affairs and conflicts was that Gods didn’t care for human affairs because they were extremely happy living their own separate lives. Therefore, if Gods were concerned with human conflicts and troubles then they wouldn’t be happy but rather stressed, worried and anxious, which would then make them unhappy. Epicurus’ goal in presenting his arguments using physics and atomism, against religion and its superstitious beliefs, was a way of assuring his students that they shouldn’t disturb the mind because of worries and anxieties over the belief that happiness, misery, and life after death are completely dependent upon the Gods because this in turn comes in conflict with the primary goal of life on earth which is happiness. Instead, he emphasized the importance of attaining courage through meditation on the purpose of life so that human beings can master the fear of death and the gods. A life of happiness and pleasure in Epicurean terms is defined as having a calm and peaceful mind, free of anxieties and worries, as well as a body free of pain. By teaching his students the idea of atomism which frees people from the stress and anxieties of life after death, and the belief that the Gods are not in complete control of our lives and are merely part of their own separate society, Epicurus is able to liberate their anxious and unhappy minds and allows them to live a conscious free life from disturbances and stresses of the unknown world. Epicurus most likely felt the need to fully explain the aspects of supernatural causes which society at the time thought to be controlled by God, as well as other natural phenomena such as how things came about on earth, so that people had a clear understanding of things they had not known before, and in turn no longer fearing them. Popular belief of mass society during the Hellenistic period was that any supernatural occurrences of the world such as the creation of the universe, the existence of human beings, or the world having just enough resources for human beings to be able to survive were all of Gods creations. However, Lucretius who was an Epicurean student stated that the world could not have been created by the Gods because it is imperfect and such perfect beings could not have created something so imperfect as the universe. He proves this idea in support of his argument, by stating that the world in itself which is full of imperfections, giving an example of the large amount of land that is completely useless to mankind but is inhabited by wild animals, or death that stalks every minute of our lives, could have been the creations of the divine and all powerful because if they were, then that would mean that Gods themselves are the sources of all pain and evil. Lucretius also states that an Epicurean must accept the fact that the natural world is mortal, which means it can that it can be diseased with corruption, war, and greed and follows a cycle of creation and destruction within itself. He elaborates on this statement saying the world must be thought of as a mortal body with a beginning, and an end. As stated before, Epicureanism holds the belief that like everything else, Gods are composed of atoms, but atoms that are different than those of human beings. These atoms in On the Nature of the Universe are described as very flimsy atoms that are ethereal, and can be barely perceived by the mind, therefore they cannot be touched. It also says that they exist somewhere among their own nature, which means that they do not exist anywhere near the society of human beings. In explaining this theory to his followers, he did so to prove that there is no reason to live in fear of Gods because they live in a society that is completely separate and different from ours, and as stated before, they are engaged in their own affairs and have no concern for the welfare of human beings. He stressed the importance of this because Epicurus believed that all fear arises from the unknown. The unknown as being what happens to the soul, body, and life after death, and the fear and anxiety over Gods’ declaration punishments or rewards towards human beings. By explaining all the unanswered questions of life, rejecting the idea of Gods being in complete control in the affair of our lives, in simple and naturalistic terms that can be proven through metaphysics, rather than relying on retold myths that cannot be proven, seen, or sensed, he is able to direct their minds towards a positive light in which they can achieve a state of mind that is at peace, allowing them to live their lives in pleasure and happiness. Epicurus’ view on the soul and what happens to it after death greatly varied from the Platonic and Homeric view of the soul. Unlike Plato who believed that the soul became part of a heavenly pilgrimage, and the Homeric view that the soul descends into the darkness of the kingdom of the dead, Epicurus believed that the Soul merely dissolves upon death, which is without sensation. This means that since something that dissolves upon death is free of sensing and feeling, then there is no pain, and therefore there is nothing to fear. Although Epicurus agreed with both the Platonic and Homeric view that an individual is composed of the body and the soul, and that upon death, the soul leaves the body, he disagreed on their views of what happens to the soul after death. Epicurus believes that the soul is corporeal, which means that what happens to the body and the soul is a physical occurrence, and once the body starts dissolving, the soul along with the body begins undergoing a physical transformation in which it also dissolves, the process therefore being void of the sensation or perception of what is happening. The soul according to Epicurus was mainly made of breath, heat, and air which he considered to be made of a material substance. These three elements were used by Epicureans to explain the differences in characters and moods of feeling in both humans as well as animals. Aetios sums up the functions of these elements saying that the element of breath gives the soul the power to move, the air gives it tranquility and calmness, and the heat produces the perception of warmth from the body. Epicurus also believed that the soul was made of an unknown element as well, that is much more advanced in structure and its function in the soul which allows it to feel in harmony with the rest of the elements as well as the body. Lucretius further elaborated on this hidden fourth element by stating that it is a crucial part of the soul because it provides the soul with sensation. Although the soul is the major cause of sensation, it cannot sense without the body. This then means that the soul cannot sense without the body, and the body cannot sense without the soul. Lucretius states that the soul and the body must be united for a human being to have full access to sensation, therefore one cannot survive without the other . This theory is used in support of their argument of what happens to the soul after it is released from the body, which is that since the soul which brings sensation, reason, and perception of the outside world to the body, is released from the body, the body can no longer feel or come up with reason or judgment of what is occurring. The soul however, has a more significant role in the making of an individual than the body does because if a part of the body is lost, such as a leg or an arm, the soul is able to remain in the body and still give an individual sensation, whereas the part that was lost such as a leg or an arm although still exists, it can no longer have the soul be a part of it or retain any sensation. In general, the body can be viewed as the home and protection of the soul, and if the body is destroyed, then it can no longer protect nor shelter the soul, and as a result, the soul scatters into tiny separate creative energies. All of Epicurus’ teachings and doctrines can be traced back to, and are in relation to attaining pleasure which is the main goal in life. Epicurus defines pleasure as not having certain sensations of happiness, but rather as the absence of bodily pain and mental disturbance. He also believed that pleasure and pain are the main driving forces of a human being, saying that desire is driven by pleasure, and avoidance is driven by pain. Although many view Epicureanism as a form of egoism in which all actions are taken for the benefit of the self, and although this is true, Epicurus’ theory on attaining pleasure and happiness can be seen as something that is able to balance out, and in turn, become a life of virtue. A balanced life of happiness and virtue according to Epicurus can be attained by being prudent and having a sense of discernment when it comes to pleasure. Therefore, someone who is able to do this by acting carefully when it came to the desires and the indulgences in life, and being virtuous to this belief isn’t necessarily set and done on his/her quest for pleasure, but on the right path to attain it. Epicurus believes that without the ability to sense things such as the sight of beauty, the taste of food, the sound of music, or the feel of an object, true pleasures and happiness cannot be achieved. Therefore, the act of sensation is of extreme importance to an Epicurean because without sensation, the good life is unattainable. Epicurus also states that there is nothing more truthful than sensation. This means that the act of sensing doesn’t need to be proven because we sense things exactly for what they are. Sensations are also not voluntary and are received through direct contact with an object or thing through the five sense organs which are sight, touch, taste, sound, and smell. These five senses, in turn are then perceived in the mind and can be enlarged or diminished in the mind. He then considers arguments against his theory that say that just because we sense things and then perceive them in the mind that does not always make them true. A classic example he gives is an octagonal tower seen from a far distance is in actuality cylindrical, or a tall building from a far distance may look small through the sense of sight, but in reality the building only appears to be small because it is seen from a far distance. To support his argument, Epicurus states that it is then up to the individual to use reason, logic, and our past experiences to determine whether this observation is true or not. Sensation therefore, is the basic foundation of knowledge according to Epicurus. Although sensation is of extreme importance in Epicurean philosophy, the concept of sensation still goes back to the main idea of Epicurus’ teachings which is pleasure and happiness. According to Epicurus, pleasure is the goal of all things. However, to argue against those who say his teachings are egoistic, Epicurus emphasized on the right kind of pleasure. For example, in Epicurus’ â€Å"Letter to Menoceus† he explains that indulging in the pleasures and luxuries of life is not what makes a good life, but the choices we make when in search of pleasure and avoidance of physical or mental pain: â€Å"For it is not continuous drinkings and revellings, nor the satisfaction of lusts, nor the enjoyment of fish, and other luxuries of the wealthy table, which produce a pleasant life, but sober reason, searching, out the motives for all choice and avoidance, and banishing mere opinions, to which are due the greatest disturbances of the spirit. This quote explains that Epicurus is not concerned with the quality of material things such as fine foods and other luxuries, but rather whether these things are enough to eliminate pain so that we can have pleasure. Epicurus believes that the more we can limit our pleasures and desires, especially the ones that are most necessary and natural such as food and water to survive and avoid bodi ly pain, the more we are likely to attain a happy and pleasurable life. To further understand the concept of limiting pleasures and desires, Epicurus states that when one removes all physical and mental pain, for example eating to avoid hunger, or overcoming fear and anxiety to be free of mental pain, is when pleasure can be achieved. However, it is up to the individual to not become engaged in fulfilling â€Å"natural but unnecessary† pleasures, such as eating more than needed, or having luxurious food instead of normal food. Epicurus believes that this is where we must use our judgment and good reason to pick and choose what will best fulfill our needs without being overly self-indulgent. He divides pleasures and desires into three separate categories. The first one is natural and necessary which as stated before, are daily survival necessities like food and water. The second form of pleasure is natural but unnecessary which is a pleasure that is natural such as food, but not necessary such as having extravagant food rather than regular food that would eliminate hunger. Lastly, the third type of pleasure is neither natural nor necessary which refers to fame, having a high status among peers in society, or the desire to be accepted by others. The ability of fully understanding these categories and practicing them religiously on a daily basis will direct one to a life that is free of bodily pain and mental disturbance. Epicurus defines the good life not by the presence of pleasure but by the absence of mental and physical pain. Once the main goal of avoiding pain and fear are achieved, the individual won’t be on the search for something that is missing because all pain is gone, thus, the desire to eliminate it is gone as well leaving the mind and body free of pain and anxiety. Epicurus’ definition of the wise man is one who is free from most troubles. Although peace of the mind is of extreme importance in Epicureanism, one cannot achieve it without being self-sufficient. A wise man, in Epicurean standards is one who does not depend on others. Therefore high held positions such as having political power, or even something as common as marrying and having a family creates too much stress because your life becomes strained with anxiety over the actions of others which are completely out of your control. Epicurus believes that the outside world creates too much pressure that can lead to anxiety because most of the things dealing with the outside world are outside of your control. A life of simplicity and freedom from anxiety and pain are a way of life for a wise man. When one gains complete control over these things, as well as overcoming the fears of the outside world, then one can live a happy and pleasurable life because there is no desire for things which one cannot find him/herself. A free life according to Epicurus also means not having too many possessions because owning too many materialistic things results in robberies which only lead to more consequences and trouble all of which can be avoided. However, what a wise man should do when he is in the possession of many things is donating it and distributing them to those that are less fortunate and those in need. Epicurus says that gaining gratitude from your neighbors is more important than indulging in unnecessary things. This thus proves that an Epicurean life isn’t egoistic as most critics seem to think but rather a way of life in which an individual can live freely without worry. Although the main idea of Epicurus’ philosophy is pleasure as the main goal, the word pleasure has a different meaning than the one we are used to. The word â€Å"pleasure† in epicurean terms means the absence of pain which is why a good amount of Epicurean philosophy discusses ways in which one can avoid pain and eliminate worries, anxieties and fears. Pleasure according to Epicurus has nothing to do with being in the possession of luxurious items because that is not what brings pleasure to the individual but rather a peaceful mental state or being: It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a pallet, than to have a golden couch and rich table and be full of trouble . † Although Epicurus does not believe in a wise man having a family and advises that one should avoid conforming to society and the pressures of the outside world, he emphasizes the value of a strong friendship and believes it to be the second most important thing in a noble man after wisdom . Even more surprising than this is the fact that Epicurus welcomed women into his school and considered them as potential friends despite the time period and social standards of Ancient Greece at the time. Epicurus welcomed all kinds of people into his school and didn’t look at gender, wealth, age, or social class to determine a person’s worth of attending. Aside from not picking student and friends based on external factors, Epicurus believed that all friendships arise from self-interest: â€Å"Every friendship in itself is to be desired; but the first cause of friendship was a man’s needs . However, friendships can’t always be seen as a relationship between two people that’s driven solely on one’s own self-interests and benefits, they should be much more and beyond that. Throughout time, Epicurus believes that a friendship that once started only as an act of self-satisfaction to benefit the self can become much more intimate and grow beyond the desire to be friends just to gain needs driven by sole self-interest. He also advised that friendships shouldn’t be pushed to their extremes when on the pursuit of benefits and should not be pushed to the extreme if it’s completely void of all benefits because then, the individual would have no desire to keep the friendship alive at all. Once two friends can overcome that stage of self-interest and gain intimacy then all expectations of each other and what is needed for the benefit of the self is gone. The mere fact of just knowing and having a friend and his/her company should bring enough pleasure to the individual to not care about other things that would only benefit the self. Epicurus did not believe that sexual love was of any benefit to an individual and although it can be associated with bringing pleasure, it causes much more disturbances in the mind that far outweigh the pleasures it may bring: â€Å"No pleasure is a bad thing in itself, but the means which produce some pleasures bring with them disturbances many times greater than the pleasures. Epicurus believes that fulfilling sexual desires are unnecessary for the survival of an individual and can be dealt without, considering how much mental disturbance it may bring afterwards. Epicurus categorizes this pleasure as the â€Å"natural and unnecessary† which means that although the desire for attaining sexual pleasure may be completely natural for the individual, it isn’t necessary for survival, therefore it is not an absolute necessity. This thus makes the act of fulfilling sexual pleasure to be vain and selfish, as well as bringing disturbance to the mind. The reason Epicurus advises the wise man not to engage in sexual encounters is because the pleasure that comes from sex can be too intense for the individual to handle. When something so intense yet so pleasurable becomes a much needed desire, it is sure to bring disturbance to the mind. Another way sexual desire can be seen as creating disturbances in the mind is considering how before sexual pleasures can be fulfilled, one must pursue the person of the opposite sex and develop an intimate level of friendship or relationship. With that relationship comes fear and anxiety over losing your partner and concerns of what the future might bring. After a relationship has been developed, child bearing is the next step which creates even more disturbances to the mind, because with children come more external and outside powers that are out of your control which result in fears, frustrations, hopes anxieties and pain all of which can be avoided if one does not become involved in an intimate sexual relationship. How does one avoid mental disturbances to achieve peace in the mind? Epicurus believes that pleasure can still be attained without fulfilling sexual desires by simply forming strong friendships and developing a level of intimacy that would allow the friendship to survive solely on that level of intimacy and not self-interested benefits and needs. Once a deep enough level of intimacy has been developed, things such as trust, loyalty, and pleasure will surely ensue afterwards. Whereas a relationship driven by sexual pleasures will result in jealousy, hate, possessiveness, anger, and bittersweet memories that could last a lifetime. Therefore, to avoid having to go through these struggles in life and living a life of simplicity and freedom, Epicurus advises one to seek friendships that doesn’t require too much of one’s time, energy, and physical or mental strength. Living the life of an Epicurean means living a life of simplicity, avoiding anything that is too dangerous for one’s well being even if it is the norm in society such as getting married, and being on a life long pursuit for pleasure. As stated before, from a quick glance at Epicurus’ philosophy, one can conclude that his teachings were all self centered, however, upon further reading into his doctrines, as well as how other philosophers were able to interpret and justify some of his teachings, his true meaning of a virtuous and good life can be more clearly understood. His philosophies on how to be a wise man and achieve the good life prove how non egoistic Epicureanism is. Although it does always focus on gaining pleasure for the self, it does so only to a certain extent in which one attains enough pleasure to eliminate the pain. Once that has been achieved, going on a pursuit for more pleasure is considered vain, and as I have discussed before, Epicurus categorizes this pleasure as the â€Å"natural and unnecessary† or â€Å"unnatural and unnecessary. † Therefore he advises one not to seek these kinds of pleasures because that can create more disturbances in the mind. His thorough explanation and solution on how to achieve a tranquil mind by giving insight on the Gods and what happens to the soul and body after death are also a huge part of his philosophy. Overall, Epicureanism was a very modern school of philosophy compared to the time period, and the location of where it had been originated. Epicurus’ way of not discriminating against minorities such as women or the lower class, and not religiously worshiping supernatural beings even though that had been the norm in society, is very much like the life he preaches one should live in which one doesn’t conform to the standards of the masses but pursues a path of his own, where a peaceful mind and a body free of pain can be found.