Friday, January 24, 2020
The Cosmological Argument is Self-contradictory Essay -- Philosophy Rel
The Cosmological Argument, also known as the First Cause Argument, is one of the most important arguments for the existence of God, not only because it is one of the more convincing, but also because it is one of the most used. The thought that everything that happens must have a cause and that the first cause of everything must have been God, is widespread. The cosmological argument is the argument from the existence of the world or universe to the existence of a being that brought it into and keeps it in existence. The idea that the universe has an infinite past, stretching back in time into infinity is both philosophically and scientifically problematic. All indications are that there is a point in time at which the universe began to exist. This beginning was either caused or uncaused. The cosmological argument takes the suggestion that the beginning of the universe was uncaused to be impossible. The idea of an uncaused event is absurd; nothing comes from nothing. The universe was therefore caused by something outside it. The cosmological argument thus confirms one element of Christianity, the doctrine of Creation. The Cosmological Argument ------------------------- (1) Everything that exists has a cause of its existence. (2) The universe exists. Therefore: (3) The universe has a cause of its existence. (4) If the universe has a cause of its existence, then that cause is God. Therefore: (5) God exists. This argument is subject to a simple objection, which arises in the form of the question "Does God have a cause of his existence?" Now the whole universe is a vast, interlocking chain of things that ... ... cosmological argument above. The Cosmological Argument doesn'tnecessarily have the qualities normally ascribed to God (omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence) by the people who offer the argument in the first place (Christians, Jews, Muslims). The first cause/ cosmological argument states, "Everything has a cause and every cause is the result of a previous cause. There must have been something to start off this chain of events, and that something is God." This argument is self-contradictory. The premise is that everything has a cause; the conclusion is that something exists, namely God, which does not have a cause. If we are going to allow something to exist which is uncaused, it is much more sensible to say that the universe itself is uncaused than to assume the existence of God and say that God is uncaused.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Martin Buber and The Way of Man Essay
Martin Buber is todayââ¬â¢s one of the most important representatives of the human spirit. He was born in Vienna in 1878, studied philosophy and the history of art at the University of Vienna and of Berlin. In 1916 he founded Der Jude, a periodical which he edited until 1924 and which became under his guidance the leading organ of the German-speaking Jewry. Professor Buber has written widely in the fields of philosophy, education, philosophy of religion, community, sociology, psychology, art, Biblical interpretation, Judaism, Hasidism, and Zionism. Buberââ¬â¢s works best known in America include I and Thou, the classical statement of his philosophy of dialogue, Between Man and Man, Eclipse of God, The Tales of the Hasidism and the way of man The way of man is a book by martin Buber which would seem to be simple but a person who read it through and think they have understood it fully, when in fact they have discovered only one or two dimensions of its message. Everything that is in I and Thou is also implicit in The Way of Man, but it is in there in a much more compressed form. I and Thou is compact too, but The Way of Man is much more compact, yet still rich and pregnant with meaning. It almost demands that you read it again and again, its meanings are hidden in between the lines, so people who are meditative in reading could understand the meanings of the book and the wisdom in that little book. And if The Way of Man is short, deceptively simple and heavy with meaning, the recurring dream that frequently came to Buber is even more so. His description of this dream is only one page long, but for those who have a good understanding of how dreams sometimes speak the deeper language of the heart and spirit, this dream is a rich and powerful one indeed. And the fact that it recurred to Buber several times is itself significant. Recurrent dreams are often, according to Carl Jung, our soulââ¬â¢s (or Godââ¬â¢s? ) attempt to tell us something extremely important about our deepest well-being, and they have to recur because we are so resistant to hearing whatever the message is that they are trying to teach us. So Buber saw this dream as a particularly significant one. The Influence of Hasidism in The Way of Man Although his existence as a modern Western man has made it impossible for Buber to become a Hasid, it is to Hasidism, more than to any other single source that he has gone for his image of what modem man can and ought to become. For Hasidism, as for Buberââ¬â¢s philosophy of dialogue, one cannot love God unless one loves his fellow man, and for this love to be real it must be love of each particular man in his created uniqueness and it must take place for its own sake and not for the sake of any reward, even the salvation or perfection of oneââ¬â¢s soul. Hasidism is a mysticism which hallows community and everyday life rather than withdraws from it, rejecting asceticism and the denial of the life of the senses in favor of the joy that can transform and re-direct the ââ¬Å"alien thoughts,â⬠or fantasies, that distract man from the love of God. According to Buber Despair, to Hasidism, is worse even than sin, for it leads one to believe oneself in the power of sin and hence to give in to it. One must overcome the pride that leads one to compare himself with others, but he must not forget that in himself, as in all men, is a unique value which must be realized if the world is to be brought to perfection. Everyone must have two pockets, said one Hasidic master. In his right pocket he must keep the words, for my sake was the world created, and in his left, I am dust and ashes. Hasidism stresses simple piety and fervor more than intellectual subtlety or the attempt to schematize heavenly mysteries. As every lock has its key which fits it, so every mystery has the meditation that opens it, said a great Hasidic teacher. ââ¬Å"But God loves the thief who breaks the lock opens: I mean the man who breaks his heart for God. According to Hasidism, the very qualities which make us what we constitute our special approach to God and our potential use for Him. There is nothing so crass or base that it cannot become material for hallowing. The profane, for Hasidism, is only a designation for the not yet hallowed. Hallowing transforms the evil urges by confronting them with holiness and making them responsible toward what is holy. It is not in our inward devotion alone or in Freudian sublimation which uses the relation to the outer as a means to inner change, but in essential, mutual relations with others that we are able to serve God with our fear, anger, love, and sexual desire. What God asks of man is that he become humanly holy, i. e. , becomes holy as man, in the measure and in the manner of man. The Relationship of God and Man God asks us questions that He already knows the answer to so as to call us to examine ourselves. This is based on the belief that we are capable of knowing who and what we are by self-examination. The chief did not what to be called to examine himself because he was afraid of what he might find out. Each human being is unique, should seek to discover, then be himself and do what he ought to do in service to God. The way to reach God is revealed when a person comes to understand who and what he or she is in their own individuality in recognition of that absolute which create and stirs those inner desires so leading that person to that absolute, which is God, by being what he or she ought be as God intends. Heart-Searching the Way of Man: Man and Man Relationship The task of man, of every man, according to Hasidic teaching, is to affirm for godââ¬â¢s sake the world and himself and by this very means to transform both. There is a demonic question, a spurious question, which apes Godââ¬â¢s question, the question of Truth. Its characteristic is that it does not stop at: ââ¬ËWhere art thou? , but continues: From where you have got to, there is no way out. This is the wrong kind of heart-searching, which does not prompt man to turn and put him on the way, but, by representing turning as hopeless, drives him to a point where it appears to have become entirely impossible and man can go on living only by demonic pride, the pride of perversity. Every single man is a new thing in the world, and is called upon to fulfill his particularity in this world. Thus the way by which a man can reach God is revealed to him only through the knowledge of his own being, the knowledge of his essential quality and inclination. A man may only detach himself from nature in order to revert to it again and, in hallowed contact with it, find his way to God. Any natural act, if followed, leads to God, and nature needs man for what no angel can perform on it, namely, its following. But just this perspective, in which a man sees himself only individual contrasted with other individuals, and a genuine person, whose transformation helps towards the transformation of the world, co rains the fundamental error which Hasidic teaching denounces. The essential thing is to begin with oneself, and at this moment a man has nothing in the world to care about than this beginning. Any other attitude would distract him from what he is about to begin, weakening his initiative, and thus frustrate the entire bold undertaking. ââ¬ËOur sages say: Seek peace i your own place. You cannot find peace anywhere saves in your own self. When a man has made peace within himself, he will be able to make peace in the whole world. Human Beings as Treasures In their true essence, the two worlds are one. The goal here is integration. As Buber stated earlier, it is manââ¬â¢s work to hallow creation, and here in section 6 to draw God into the world since God wants to come into the world through man. So the theme of The Way of Man comes together, integration. My life is a gift so any ââ¬Ëtreasureââ¬â¢ I have is not of my own making. I have a wonderful wife, two beautiful children, and my health, live in freedom, and have a good job and financial stability. Any of these wonderful gifts could be taken from me at any time, so I must be careful as to what I put my trust in and what I value as my ââ¬Ëtreasure. To have any lasting, ultimate value I must store up treasures that are imperishable and of eternal significance. My relationships and the priorities I place on them will be of eternal significance, which the most important relationship being with God. It is when I put my relationship with God first that all my other relationships begin to be what they ought to be. As somebody think of their marriage and their relationship with God functions like a triangle, the closer you both draw to God, the closer you will draw to each other. ââ¬â¢ So ââ¬Ëtreasuringââ¬â¢ the eternal has earthly value as well. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. â⬠(Matthew 6:19-21) I would say this means God gives man freewill; He is a perfect gentleman who will not enter where He is not invited, but will gladly enter where He is. Body and Soul as Conflicting Entities There is a conflict between body and soul where the person is not ââ¬Ëall of one piece. When one aspect attempts to lord over the other or tries to bring the other into submission, this is what is referred to as patchwork since there is disunity in the person. Resolution occurs when the core of the soul, the divine force is allowed to bind the conflicting desires of body and soul to act in concert as it is intended to be. When the desires of both body and soul are unified in purpose and action, in absence of conflict, a person is being what he or she ought to be. In order to make peace with the world you must first be at peace with yourself. Often times we preach hardest against that which we struggle with ourselves. In previous years in struggled with atheism so Buber gravitated toward atheists seeking debate and argument because I myself wanted answers; doubt is very disintegrating. A couple of years ago he struggled with the issue of free-will, despite the fact that he despises the implications of determinism Buber listened to and studied prominent Calvinists. He is not comfortable with only listening to what he wants to hear because Buber views that as a form a self-brainwashing. As it is mentioned The way of man brings about and rather learns through conflict and antithesis. Relationship to God and Man Leads to Development Human beings are basically social beings who mingle each other for their daily needs and livelihood. Buber has given more importance to the relationship to god and man where one becomes authentically human by fulfilling their existential nature. Both these relations are essential for a human being for his personal development as well as the development of the society. In a society where the individuals nourish their behavior and character through firm relations, obviously the society also would flourish in all the dimensions. According to Buber, if person could nourish the relation with God and is not able to contact with human beings his life will be a failure and vice versa. But as far as the new age is concerned, we are becoming more self-oriented in character and in nature. Often timeââ¬â¢s human beings relate with God and man in order to gain something, or to secure their lives in this world. Our culture has changed from the rich traditions, where people lived in harmony with each other, helped each other, obviously that was an ââ¬Ëother orientedââ¬â¢ era. Once there were villages where cultures had grown, people lived in faith and relations sprout like the tree in the river side. But nowadays there are concrete villages where people live in broken relations, fake faiths and comforting life styles. Here Buberââ¬â¢s thoughts are revolutionary to change the heart of the people. The way of man could bring about a paradigm shift in people, where only through healthy relationship human develops their behavior and character. Thus the philosophy of development could be a fruit of the relations with God and the fellow beings. Conclusion Most systems of belief the believer considers that the can achieve a perfect relationship to God by renouncing the world of the senses and overcoming his own natural being. Not so the Hasid. Certainly, cleaving unto God is to him the highest aim of the human person, but to achieve it he is not required to abandon the external and internal reality of earthly being, but to affirm it in its true, God oriented essence and thus so to transform it that he can offer it up to God. Hasidism is no pantheism. It teaches the absolute transcendence of God, but as combined with his conditioned immanence. The world is an irradiation of God, but as it is endowed with an independence of existence and striving, it is apt, always and everywhere, to form a crust around itself. Thus, a divine spark lives in everything and being, but each such spark is enclosed by an isolating shell. Only man can liberate it and re-join it with the Origin: by holding holy converse with the thing and using it in a holy manner, that is, so that his intention in doing so remains directed towards Godââ¬â¢s transcendence. Thus the divine immanence emerges from the exile of the shells. But also in man, in every man, is a force divine. And in man far more than in all other beings it can pervert itself can be misused by himself. This happens if he, Instead of directing it towards its origin, allows it to run direction less and seize at everything that offers itself to it; instead of following passion, he makes it evil. But here, too, a way to redemption is open: he who with the entire force of his being turns to God, lifts at this his point of the universe the divine immanence out of its debasement, which he has caused. The task of man, of every man, according to Hasidic teaching, is to affirm for Godââ¬â¢s sake the world and himself and by this very means to transform both.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Essay on As I Lay Dying Freudian Theories of the Bundren...
William Faulkner wrote As I Lay Dying in 1930, around the time when the theories of Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, were gaining popularity. In his story about the death of a mother, Addie, and her familyââ¬â¢s reaction and grieving process, Faulkner adheres to many of Freudââ¬â¢s theories on defense mechanisms. According to Freud, ââ¬Å"Challenges from the outer environment and from our inner urges threaten us with anxietyâ⬠¦ The process that the ego (subconscious mind) uses to distort reality to protect itself are called defense mechanismsâ⬠(Friedman 39). The familyââ¬â¢s lack of a mourning process, obsession over burying Addie in Jefferson, and desire to acquire materialistic items all exemplify Freudââ¬â¢s defense mechanisms. Faulknerâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Another facet of Freudââ¬â¢s defense mechanisms that Faulkner employs in his novel is the use of rationalization. There are several instances throughout the Bundrensââ¬â¢ journe y where they act irrationally to fulfill Addieââ¬â¢s wish of being buried in Jefferson. According to Freud ââ¬Å"rationalization is a mechanism involving post hoc logical explanations for behaviors that were actually driven by internal unconscious motivesâ⬠(Friedman 49). The Bundrens did not even begin their journey to Jefferson until ten days after Addie had died. The journey to Jefferson itself was unreasonable for the Bundrens to complete. Jefferson is far away, the bridge to get there was flooded, and they are a poor family who must rely on others to help them along their journey. While Anse, Addieââ¬â¢s husband, does not appear to be grieving and does not mention Addieââ¬â¢s death, we learn that ââ¬Å"his mind is set on taking her to Jefferson,â⬠despite warnings of rain and a flooded bridge (Faulkner 86). After waiting ten days to begin the treacherous journey, the Bundrens still rationalized going to Jefferson to bury Addie. Tull explains that Anse â⬠Å"promised herâ⬠that she could be buried there and that ââ¬Å"she wanted it. She come from there. Her mind was set on itâ⬠(Faulkner 89). While it seems logical that a man would want to fulfill his wifeââ¬â¢s dying wish, the conditions of reaching JeffersonShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of William Faulkners As I Lay Dying1840 Words à |à 8 Pagesapproach of William Faulknerââ¬â¢s, As I lay Dying. In this story, the Bundren family suffers the loss of Addie Bundren a loved wife and mother. Anse and the rest of the family, honoring her last wish, make the trip to Jefferson to bury her with her relatives. During the trip every thing that could go wrong does. This story is told from plentiful points of view and reveals the psychological state of the Bundren family, demonstrating the struggle for peace within the family. Through a psychoanalytical approach
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Sundowing And Alzheimers Disease Essay - 1563 Words
SUNDOWNING AND ALZHEIMERS DISEASE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sundowning, or sundown syndrome are terms that have been used for over 20 years to describe the reversal of day and night which often occurs in Alzheimers and other dementing illnesses. (2) Those who are impacted are often called Sundowners and they act as if their biological clocks have reversed their day and night cycles. Some are able to function on little sleep throughout their 24-hour day cycle. Some individuals stay up all night and will then continually doze off during the day. This alteration in the sleep-wake cycle is not necessarily permanent and they may revert to earlier patterns of sleep, or may sleep for increasing periods of time. (1)â⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The routine noises can be a source of security for the Alzheimers person. Comforting noise, such as talking and music may no longer be present and may cause panic. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;6) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Shift changes in facilities often occur at this time and the increase in activity may cause confusion. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;7)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The person may be afraid of the dark and may be making noises to fill the emptiness. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;8) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Changes in barometric pressure. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;9) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The brain centers that trigger waking and sleeping schedules may be damaged by Alzheimers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This condition is often harder on the care giver than it is on the persons with Alzheimers. Care givers often find themselves exhausted. The online articles quot;Sundowning and Sleepingquot; and quot;Sundown Syndrome and the Elderlyquot; provide some steps that can be taken to lessen the effects using a coordinated approach by family members and health care providers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It may be possible to make part of the house so safe that the person can be up andShow MoreRelatedAlzheimerââ¬â¢s Disease is the Most Common form of Dementia3129 Words à |à 12 PagesAlzheimerââ¬â¢s Disease ââ¬Å"What is Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease (AD)?â⬠Alzheimerââ¬â¢s disease is the most common form of dementia that affects an individualââ¬â¢s memory, cognition, and behavior disturbances that ultimately diminishes their quality of life.1-2 Dementia is not a specific disease it is a general term for a variety of symptoms that affect memory and intellectual thinking that causes difficulty in our tasks of daily living.(5) The confusion between these two terms is extraordinary. Itââ¬â¢s helpful to think
Monday, December 23, 2019
Powder by Tobias Wolff Analysis Essay - 661 Words
Powder ââ¬Å"Powderâ⬠is a story written by Tobias Wolff in 1996 staged in the mid to late 1950ââ¬â¢s about a boy and his father skiing at Mount Baker on Christmas Eve and what it takes them to get back home in time for dinner. The father and his wife are on the edge of breaking up, although she is still angry about him taking their son to see Telonious Monk she lets them go. He promises hand over heart to keep him safe during the Mount Baker ski trip and get him home on time. Through the story the father is responsible in what he feels what is best for his son. Although it may be considered improper today for minors to go to a night club, in the 1950ââ¬â¢s it was very common for minors to accompany their guardians when going to the bar. Theloniousâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Name one.â⬠(11) The father gives him one off the top of his head, continuing the slalom down the hill through the trees. After considering what his dad said was true the son began to enjoy himself. Through the switchbacks and hair-pin turns the son thought to himself ââ¬Å"he was a great driver. Such subtlety at the wheel, such tactful pedal work. I actually trusted him.â⬠(12) The father is responsible in what he feels is best for his son by taking him to one of the top artists of the age, speaking with confidence in everything that he does. He did everything that was necessary to overcome an obstacle when it is in his path to get his son home in time for dinner on Christmas Eve. He reassures his son in times of question and glides down the mountain road with subtlety of the wheel and tactful pedal work, resulting in gaining full trust from his son. ââ¬Å"If you havenââ¬â¢t driven in fresh powder, you havenââ¬â¢t driven.â⬠(13) 1. Richard Cook and Brian Morton The penguin Guide to Jazz, 2008, London: Penguin, p1020 2. (pg 56) 3. (pg57) 4. (pg57) 5. (pg57) 6. (pg57) 7. (pg57) 8. (pg57) 9. (pg57) 10. (pg57) 11. (pg57) 12. (pg58) 13.Show MoreRelatedLiterary Analysis : A Literary Analysis Of Essay1749 Words à |à 7 PagesJennifer Flores Professor, Rindler English 101A 4th, October 2016 A Literary Analysis of Fatherhood Thereââ¬â¢s nothing more like it than a father and son relationship. Although itââ¬â¢s a different type of bond of friendship that you can ever have with anyone else; that helps you shape into the person that you are or becoming to be and youââ¬â¢ll never have to look up to anyone else but him. Although theyââ¬â¢re some poor father and son relationships in our society that can affect anyoneââ¬â¢s emotional heath
Saturday, December 14, 2019
How Trees Improve Environment Free Essays
Trees are ancient living organisms that existed since the creation of the Earth and have been crucial to the Earthââ¬â¢s ecosystem. The age of a tree is determined by cambium, a layer of growing bark, which forms a ring in the wood of the tree. Each ring of cambium, tells the age of the tree. We will write a custom essay sample on How Trees Improve Environment or any similar topic only for you Order Now The climate can also determine how fast a tree grows. For instance, in cool climates, cambium only grows in the spring and summer. But there are some cases where you cannot determine the age of trees, like the trees in a tropical rain forest. The cambium grows all year round. Yet these trees do not have rings. Consequently without the cambium rings, it is difficult to tell the age of these species trees. Since trees have an s As told in the Holy Bible, ââ¬Å"And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the groundââ¬âtrees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. â⬠Just as is stated in the Bible, there are all kinds of trees, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. But how important are trees? If all the trees were removed from the Earth, what impact would this have on the environment? Determining the answers to these questions will be a guide in learning about the importance and value of trees in the ecosystem. Trees can have a positive effect on the climate, by shading the ground, trees cool off the Earthââ¬â¢s temperature. Strategically planting trees around air conditioners, windows and the walls which receive the most sun will help in reducing energy costs. Normally, the best position to plant trees is on the west, east and south. It really depends on a specific geographical location. However, according to American Forestsââ¬â¢ research, even urban cities get the benefit of cooler temperatures from trees within distances of 35 miles. In fact, American Forestsââ¬â¢ research determined that trees saved approximately $2. 8 million annually to Atlantaââ¬â¢s metro city as well as an annual savings for other metro areas across the United States. In addition, in 1991 a partnership between American Forests and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) along with other partners developed the Cool Communities program to promote trees as energy conservation tools. This program was a great success. It helped to educate the public on the ecological and economical importance of trees. But how do trees cleanse the air we breathe? Trees actually eat up the carbon dioxide that is emitted by cars, trucks and factories then releases oxygen (clean air) for us to breathe. Its almost like we feed them the carbon and they repay us with clean breathable air. The fact is one tree can absorb 48lbs of carbon annually and at the same time release enough oxygen to support two human beings. An acre of trees absorb 2. 6 tons annually which is enough carbon dioxide to cover the emissions from a car that is driven 26,000 miles. It is safe to say that we can all aid in having pure breathable air just by planting one tree. The U. S. Forest Service states that during a period of 40 years (1952 to 1992) an estimated 309 million tons of carbon was removed by trees. This is another reason why trees improve our environment. How to cite How Trees Improve Environment, Essay examples
Friday, December 6, 2019
In every society, the elders are known to serve as Essay Example For Students
In every society, the elders are known to serve as Essay role models for youngergenerations. The elders equip themselves with the wisdom throughout theirlifetime tobenefit their youth. They pass on the knowledge, traditions, and moralvalues of theprevious generations to the next. Even though there is always some degreeof conflictbetween the older and the younger generations, the experiences of thechildhood willforever leave their mark in the mentality of the youth. In The ArtificialNigger byFlannery OConnor, Mr. Head emerged to be a key figure that attempted toconvey thelegacy that characterized the South to his grandson. The first impressionof Mr. Headwas illustrated to be a wise and morally responsible old man. Despite hisold age andimpoverished life, his character and his will were strong. OConnoremphasized howman was very well suited for the role of being a moral guide for youngpeople from thestatement, His eye had a look of ancient wisdom as if they belonged to oneof the greatguides of men (281). His grandson Nelson emerged to be the figure thatwould seekguidance from him. Nelson had a dream of being better than his grandfatherin allrespects. Every parent desires their childs capacities to exceed their owncapacities. Mr. Heads response to that situation was not what would be expected from anelderly man. His attitude towards Nelson resembles that of a competing sibling or afriend. They aresimilar not only in their behavior, but also in their appearance, theylooked alike enoughto be brothers (282). Thus, from the beginning it is evident to the readerthat Mr. Headis the man that is not suited for his role of guiding youth into the brightfuture. Grandfather and grandson are engaged in a battle of wills, and at thecenter of thisbattle is the issue of knowledge. Both want to claim knowledge of the city. It wasimportant for Mr. Head to be better than his grandson. On the day of theirtrip to the cityhis goal was to be the firs one up. And yet, he was defeated. His reactionindicates theshallowness of character. Rather than thanking Nelson for cooking, he wastrying toexert his superiority upon his grandson. His wisdom and knowledge werefar beyondthe ones posed by Nelson. Mr. Heads defeat gave him the inspiration tobeat the boy inany other respect possible without showing a weakness of his own. Over thecourse of theplot the most important thing for Mr. Head was to avoid any possibility ofappearingfoolish and suffering embarrassment in front of Nelson. Mr. Head had adefiniteadvantage over Nelson due to his age and life experiences. Nelson, on theother hand,was raised in isolation. Due to his restricted childhood, he was not ableto recognize thethree people moving down the aisle on the train as African Americans. Mr. Headimmediately took his chances to laugh at the boy by pointing out hisignorance. Tofurther ridicule Nelson he leaned in triumph across the aisle to anotherpassenger saying,Thats his first nigger (285). But to all his horror, Mr. Head was notimmune fromridicule himself. When later on it was discovered that he left their lunchthe train, Nelsonsneeringly noted, I would have kapeholt of it (288). His grandfather,unable to take yetanother insult, retaliated the only way he could in that situation. Hethreatened to leavehim behind. Nelson turned white from the prospect of being left alone inthe city. Thatclearly indicated that the boy lacked experience and confidence that isnecessary tomaintain his ground in his unusual competition with his grandfather. .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd , .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .postImageUrl , .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd , .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:hover , .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:visited , .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:active { border:0!important; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:active , .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3668589cc0816d84c39e10f95c4618dd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Cloning and stem cell research EssayIn the city, though, the knowledge which has granted Mr. Head the upperhandescapes him. Los in the black neighborhood and once again felt humiliatedby Nelson,Mr. Head is ready for revenge. The moment of the greatest triumph for Mr. Head wasalso the moment of his greatest demise. He arrogantly thought that the boywould havemighty sorry time (290) without him, and he decided to teach him a lessononce and forall. A sixty year old man trying to prank his ten year old grandson wouldbe consideredshocking and ridicules by many readers. When the boy was resting, he hidand waited forNelson to wake up. Due to his impatience of waiting for Nelson to wake up,hedemonstrates his immaturity by waking him up with a loud noise. Nelson wasscared todeath to discover that he was alone. His panic and loss of any sense ofreason clearlyindicated that despite all of his cockiness, Nelson was still a childtotally dependent uponhis grandfather for care and security. Mr. Head on the other hand wasinsecure himself,and the denial of his own grandson in the face of potential dangerindicates his rottenmorals that were falling apart under pressure of time. Mr. Heads actionclearly horrifiedand repulsed everyone, The women dropped back, staring at him with horror,as if theywere so repulsed by man who could deny his own image and likeness that theycould notbear to ay hands on him (291). He had disgraced himself and betrayed theperson whobelieved in him the most. And yet he was still victorious as a result ofthe boy beingscared to the point of telling Mr. Head that he never wants to go back tothe city. Throughout the progression of the plot, Mr. Head adopted all possible meanstoprevent the changes in the society from affecting his or Nelsons lives. Itseems that hewas able to perform his moral mission of locking the boy in the past. However, thatemerged to be impossible for him. The city itself was the origin of newvalues andchanges. The inhabitants of the city represent the future. Mr. Head andothers like himhad no future as a result of their entrapment in their past. It was onlymatter of timebefore traditional way of life would be overtaken by innovation. Hisdesperate straggleto freeze the time in fact only accelerated the process of change. It wouldnot be thatlong until the time when Nelson fully comprehend the extend of the betrayaland lie thathe was given that faithful day in Atlanta. Mr. Head had won that dayagainst Nelson, buthe lost against the society that sees betterment in the future. OConnor herself believes into the brighter future despite the seeminglypessimistic depiction of the future of the South. The change in people wasapparent inthe man who was walking his two bulldogs. No longer were the dogs used astool forkeeping slaves under control, they became a hose pet. The artificialnigger serves greatimportance in the story. The statuette represent far more than meets theeye. It wasseparated from the rest of yard by a wall, just as black people weresegregated from white. And just as the plaster that once held the statuette cracked so did thebonds of slavery. The piece of brown watermelon represents the rotten values of Mr. Head andall of thosethat he represented. And just as rotten food thrown in the garbage, so isthe fate thatwould be expected for the old traditions of the South. .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 , .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .postImageUrl , .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 , .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:hover , .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:visited , .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:active { border:0!important; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:active , .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36 .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub854bcbfbbea01ba4375dc9a7f3d8a36:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Roswell Incident Argumentative EssayThe country was the cradle of the civilization, but just as one cannot stayin thecradle forever it is only a matter of time before old conservativetraditions will give wayto the brighter future. When they were reunited by the mysteriousartificial nigger, Mr. Head and Nelson returned home. It seems that OConnor depicted the futureof Nelson tolie along the same direction as Mr. Heads past, but Nelson is just a boyand he chose toreturn to his home to mature, to become an adult that could face thechallenges of life. His curiosity and his destiny would steer him into the city again. Perhapsnext time hewould see that there is more to the city than what was conveyed by hisgrandfather. SinceMr. Head went to the city twice on his own will despite all his hate forit, Nelson wouldeventually follow the same path. The future seems more exiting and brighterin the city. It is like a drug that captivates the person from returning to theirprevious state of life. The day will come when Nelson will feel the call of the civilization andleave his olddwelling just as his mother had done before him. Mr. Head has won a battlethat tookplace on that day, but ultimately he had lost in the long-term perspective. Once an imageis planted, the curiosity about it will never fade away. He exposed hisvulnerability toNelson, and no longer was the same powerful and knowledgeable figure thatNelsoncould trust without reservation. Even Mr. Head himself had experienced adeep religiouschange that might make him a better guide for grandson.
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