Selfishness and Comment Shows Rufus - 1037 Words

In the book Kindred, there are many characters that are interesting. One reason this is true, is because the book forwards through time very fast and we see many characters go from infantile to grown adult. One character that changed throughout the story was Rufus Weylin. His development was incredibly interesting because the story somewhat revolves around what he does or what is happening to him. We see him as a very young child to a twenty five year old adult. In this story, Rufus is the most interesting because he develops from a young impressionable child, to a selfish man influenced highly by the antebellum South and other things. First off, when we get the first glimpse into Rufus the boy he is burning his drapery to get attention†¦show more content†¦His ultimate step into becoming a plantation owner was with his father passing, and now he was far from the person that said he would never sell a slave. His authority is really noticeable when he says, â€Å"You walk away from me, Dana, you’ll be back in the fields in an hour!...Don’t you ever walk away from me again!† At this point his threats aren’t him whining like when he was a child, he meant it. Rufus’ character develops a lot near the end of the book as we realize his feelings toward Dana all to clearly. In the middle of the night he approaches Alice and Dana and says, â€Å"You really are only one woman. Did you know that?† Rufus had Alice for his physical needs and Dana for his emotional. We start to see that Dana wasn’t just his friend; he needed to have her, no matter what. His jealously became clear when he sold the slave Sam for just speaking to Dana. He said, â€Å"He wanted you†¦he wanted you.† He then says to Dana, â€Å"Your so much like her, I can hardly stand it.† Rufus’ relationship with Dana had gone from friendship and understanding to Rufus wanting more and he aimed to have it. When we see that Rufus was allowing his son to call him daddy finally it was reminder of his humanity. We see that in some ways he was still good, and not racked with intense emotions. However, his humane side diminishes slowly with his i rrational wants, desires and need for affection. Rufus’ character is interesting because of his development

Oil Companies And Economic Power - 1554 Words

Oil Companies and Economic Power Introduction In the modern world energy has become very important since it helps drive most industrial as well as home based activities. The process that leads to production of the world’s largest energy provider, Oil, however has continued to receive criticism. This is so since production of Gasoline, Natural Gas, Kerosene as well as other components present in crude oil leads to some forms of environmental pollution. This has led to devastating climatic changes around the world which has in turn led to loss of lives and property. In the course of transporting crude oil to refinery stations, cases of oil spillages into oceans and other water bodies occur. The result is water pollution as well as death of†¦show more content†¦Mitchell, 98). Oil companies operate in defined regions where oil exploration and possible drilling is done. However some companies such as Shell BP engage in international drilling and distribution of oil products. Below are some of the most renowned oil companies in their constituent continents: Africa: Sasol of South of South Africa and National Petroleum Company of Congo. In Asia some of the leading oil companies include Nobel Group and the Bahrain Oil Company. It is important to note that Asia has a lot of oil resources and hence have extensive oil drilling activities. In Europe we have Partex oil and Gas Company, in South America three is Bridas Corporation based in Argentina. North America has one of the most advanced technology in the oil industry. These companies have extended their activities around the globe in a bid to discover more oil resources to sustain future energy requirements. Some North America companies include Shell Oil Company and the Apache Corporation. This paper will f ocus on the importance of oil companies over and above the problems that they pose to the environment as well as the political stability of the world. For practical examples I chose to use the state of Alaska where oil companies have based their operations as a case study. Role of Oil Companies in an Economy (a) Powering Industrial Activities Oil companies form the petroleum industry

Aristotles Virtue Theory Essay Example For Students

Aristotles Virtue Theory Essay Aristotle’s Virtue Theory †¢ The extent of Aristotle’s role in philosophy is outlined, including his concept of teleology and causation. In particular his theory of virtue is examined with examples. The lecture concludes with an overall discussion of virtue theory. Main Points Empirical Knowledge and the Realm of the Senses †¢ †¢ Aristotle rejects Plato’s notion that the Forms exist separately from the world; he envisions Forms existing in the world of the senses. This shift enables Aristotle to think in terms of empirical research. Aristotle the Scientist †¢ The importance of logic and observation for Aristotle; his intellectual interests in ethics, metaphysics, politics, drama, rhetoric, and so forth. Aristotle and Virtue Virtue and Excellence †¢ For Aristotle â€Å"virtue† means doing something with excellence. Teleology: The Concept of Purpose †¢ Aristotle’s theory that everything has a purpose. The Human Purpose †¢ †¢ †¢ The telos for humans as a species and the telos for an individual person are both defined by that species’ or person’s potential. The human purpose is to use one’s reason well. Aristotle’s two forms of virtue: Intellectual and moral. Theoretical and practical wisdom. The Golden Mean †¢ The Golden Mean: Not too much, and not too little. TIP Many students seem to think that Aristotle by his theory of the Golden Mean is praising mediocrity or is envisioning some bland average as a moral ideal. On the contrary Aristotle praises excellence as virtuous, and that requires the best possible effort. But the â€Å"best† effort is not the same as the â€Å"most† effort: That would be in xcess. Aristotle believes it is virtuous to know when an effort is sufficient; you may want to ask your friends for examples from personal experience (such as putting the right amount of effort into studying for an exam, writing a term paper, or—on a personal level—being the right kind of friend). The best possible (virtuous) result is far from being an average result; also, the question of â €Å"what is the right amount† is something most people have to face continually: How grateful should I be? How friendly? How assertive? There is no question of seeking the average, but the best, response in each situation.. †¢ Discussion of three questions about Aristotle’s virtue theory: (1) If this is supposed to be a theory of character, why does Aristotle talk about conduct? (2) What does developing a good character have to do with rational thinking? (3) Are we supposed to do everything in the right amount, such as stealing and lying? Isn’t The Golden Mean relative to the situation. Discussion of examples of Aristotle’s virtues: Courage, temperance, pride, eventemperedness, truthfulness, wit. How does one find the virtue? By trial and error and developing good habits. †¢ †¢ †¢ Happiness †¢ Aristotle’s idea of well-being: contemplation. Some Objections to Greek Virtue Theory †¢ †¢ The advantage of ethics of conduct over virtue ethics: Recourse to a common law. Virtue ethics is based in teleology, and we can’t make assumptions about natural human purposes.

Turgenev Realist or Romantic Essay Example For Students

Turgenev: Realist or Romantic? Essay The Great Reforms of the 1860’s generated an era of social and economic turmoil in Russia. These unstable times spawned the growth of a radical intellectual group known as, the intellegencia. These new reformers or radicals were the sons and daughters of the heads of Russia. They wished to sweep away the assumptions of the romantic generation of the 1840’s that â€Å"refused to accept the supremacy of reason over emotion† (Kishlanksy, Geary and O’Brien: 755) and any other non-scientifically proven truths of social, political, emotional and spiritual life in Russia. They rejected all common assumptions about serfdom, the foundations of Russian hierarchy, and its reform, including all of its social and economic ramifications. Turgenev’s novel â€Å"Fathers and Sons†, successfully identifies these diverse views (Romanticism vs. Realism) on reforming Russia through the depiction of its characters. Turgenev represents a contrast of old generation of liberal/conservative romantics, through the portrayals of Nicholas and Paul Kirsanov and the new radical, nihilist generation through Basarov. We will write a custom essay on Turgenev: Realist or Romantic? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Turgenev demonstrates the tension and difference in beliefs between the two generations early in the novel with the return of Arcady and the introduction of his nihilist mentor Bazarov. Within one of the first encounters between Bazarov and the Kirsanov brothers, Bazarov begins verbally assessing the differences between the generations. â€Å"He’s archaic! † (Turgenev: 24) Bazarov exclaims of Paul Petrovich’s pretentious demeanor and dress. â€Å"But your father’s fine. A pity he has a weakness for reciting verse; it’s unlikely that he understands much about estate management, but he must be a kindhearted man†¦. They simply amaze me these old romantics! They excite their nervous system to the point of irritation†¦ well, that upsets their balance. † (Turgenev: 24) This statement repined Bazarov’s opinion of the â€Å"men of the forties† and their ideologies. In Bazarovs mind, the former generation immersed themselves in art and philosophy to ease their discontent with Russian authority and backwardness. In the eyes of the intellegensia this was cowardice and proved a lack of intellectual prowess. These differences between nihilists and romantics appear throughout the novel and are represented by both the disapproval of the Romantic ideology by the nihilists and vice versa. For example, Paul Petrovich describes a nihilist as â€Å"a man who respects nothing. † (Turgenev: 29) The older generation believes in the necessities of the rule of law and the conventions of behavior, for them this is an unchallengable fact and the only viable alternative. Bazarov reinforces Nicholas’ Romantic emphasis on the arts by criticizing him for playing Schubert’s â€Å"Expectation,† a piece of classical music. Good Lord! At forty-four, a pater familias, in the province of X, playing the ‘cello! †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ (Turgenev: 50) While in the same conversation Bazarov, commented that â€Å"nature isn’t a temple, but a workshop, and man is the craftsman. † (Turgenev: 49) This statement of nature shows his rejection of Romantic ideals and his tendency toward practical and scientific views. Basarov also insults the Romantic ideals when he observes Nicholas reading Pushkin. Basarov suggests that â€Å"he is no youth, it is time he gave up such nonsense. Where is the sense of being a romantic nowadays! Give him something more practical to read. † (Turgenev: 51) Again Bazarov criticized romantic ideals, which he finds useless and detrimental to the reformation of Russia’s society. Furthermore, the young nihilists provide Nicholas with a book by Buchner, a German philosopher, and in his attempt to read it asserts â€Å"Either I am stupid or it is sheer rubbish. I must be stupid. † (Turgenev: 53) Given the educational background of Nicholas, it is certain that his intelligence is not in question. Later, Nicholas ponders how the new generation could possibly shrug off all literature and the arts. .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 , .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .postImageUrl , .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 , .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:hover , .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:visited , .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:active { border:0!important; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 { 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; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:active , .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .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; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960 .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ud08fce9715070bbc82340bbcb72ab960:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Soap History EssayThe â€Å"Battle Royal† between the generations began with Paul’s defense of the aristocrat, in essence the defense of social order, respect and dignity. Paul is insistent that self-respect and principle are the basis for progress. Essentially, Paul is reaffirming the necessity of society’s rules of behavior. Bazarov on the other hand, finds logic and principles ineffective in the daily plight of human existence. â€Å"I hope that you have no need of logic to find a bite of bread when hungry. † (Turgenev: 55) Bazarov retorted. Again defying the usefulness of philosophy and reinforcing his realistic interpretation of societal function. Turgenev epitomizes the opposition between the nihilist and the Romantic perspectives with Nicholas’ interjection, â€Å"you deny everything or, to put it more precisely, you are destroying everything†¦ But it’s essential to construct as well. † Bazarov responded, â€Å"That is not our affair†¦ First, we must make a clean sweep. † (Turgenev: 56) Both movements were advocates of change, the differentiation comes in the methods utilized to initiate the results. Early reformers were advocates of a moderate conventional change, nihilists on the other hand believed change was validated by taking radical risks often by unconventional measures. In conclusion, these characters represent three of the different sectors of Russian society at the time, a time when society as a whole was under going a major upheaval. Their society can no longer fully and confidently support either of the factions, therefore they attempt to define their own existence and are unwilling to compromise their beliefs. Essentially, they are a product of their unstable