How Augustine accounts for the existence of evil Essay Example

How Augustine accounts for the existence of evil Essay Example How Augustine accounts for the existence of evil Paper How Augustine accounts for the existence of evil Paper Augustine started from the assumption that God is God holy good and that God created a world free from defects. Following the teaching in genesis 1, Augustine emphasised that all God has made pleased Him. Suffering and evil were therefore unknown. He made the logical point that it is not possible for God to be responsible for evil since evil is not a substance. Instead evil refers to what is lacking in a thing; it is a privation of good. Augustine used the analogy of blindness which is not an entity in itself but an absence of sight. If God can not have created evil, Augustine traced its origin to those areas within the world that have free will, namely, angels and human beings. These abused Gods gift of freedom and chose wilfully to turn their attention away from God, the supreme good, and to idolise instead lesser goods. In keeping with the story of the fall in genesis 3, he argued that the desire for power proved too much for Adam and Eve, who were tempted by Satan, to break Gods command and eat the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. Having explained the origin of evil, Augustine went on to show that all suffering is a fully deserved consequence of human sin. Natural evil originated from the loss of order within nature following the first sin. This destroyed the delicate balance of the world. From then on, there was to be enmity between humans and other creatures. Humans would have to battle constantly to grow enough food. Pain, such as that resulting from child-birth, entered the world, along with death. The first sin also caused the world to be distanced from god. In this new ad damaged environment, remote from god, moral evil flourished and spread. Both types of evil are interpreted as a punishment; all evil is either sin or punishment for sin. Augustine made the essential point that all humans, including innocent babies, deserve to suffer as all humans were present in the loins of Adam. This reflects the ancient belief that every generation was seminally present in Adam, and therefore that every generation is guilty because they inherit his guilt for disobeying god. Augustine concluded this theodicy with a reminder of gods grace if god was simply just every one would go to their rightful punishment in hell. Through his grace however, god sent his son to die on the cross so that some might be saved and go to heaven. This shows that god is merciful as well as just. Augustines view that evil is the result of human free will rather than gods will can be supported. For example, we can argue that if god gives human beings genuine free will this necessarily entails the possibility of moral evil. Augustines theodicy successfully accounts for the existence of natural evil as a result of the introduction for moral evil into the world. We can also support Augustines assumptions that free will is so valuable that it justifies the risk of evil. Because of its compatibility with, and reliance upon, the genesis account of creation, Augustines theodicy appeals to Christians who accept the authority of the bible as the word of god. Some weaknesses of the theodicy are that it has been argued that his theodicy contains; logical errors, scientific errors, and moral errors. Augustines appeal to the free will defence poses a logical difficulty within the specific framework of his theodicy. It is hard to see how, in a perfect world, where there was no knowledge of good and evil, there could possibly be freedom to obey or disobey god, since good and evil would be unknown. The fact that gods creatures chose to disobey him seems to suggest there was already a knowledge of evil which only could have come from god. The scientific difficulties stem from Augustines reliance upon the creation and fall stories in genesis. As a result, much of the arguement rests upon ancient and scientifically controversial Judaeo-Christian theology. One problem is Augustines idea that the world was made perfect by god and then damaged by humans. This contradicts evolutionary theory which asserts that the universe has continually been developing from an earlier stage of chaos. The second major weakness concerns Augustines assumption that each human being was seminally present in Adam. This theory must be rejected on biological grounds which mean that we are not in fact guiltily for Adams sin. This means that god is not just in allowing us to suffer for someone elses sin. One moral difficulty in Augustines theodicy concerns his concept of hell. Hell appears to b part of the design of the universe. This means god must have already anticipated that the world would go wrong and have accepted it. Finally, although Augustine argued that gods selection of some people for heaven shows his mercy, other would argue that it displays irrational inconsistency, further questioning gods goodness. The combined effect of these criticisms leads most people to concluded that Augustines theodicy does not work.

Is that possible all students and techers or professers have a healthy Research Paper

Is that possible all students and techers or professers have a healthy insurance from their university or college - Research Paper Example The students as well as the professors spend the maximum time of their day in the college or the university which enhance the probability of accidents, being the main reason why health insurance is not only a possibility rather a necessity. Firstly, as a general rule health coverage is found to be directly correlated with better health outcomes amongst individuals (Bovbjerk & Hadley 2007), this being the main reason for acquiring a reliable insurance plan. Students and even professors work under high pressure situations in a competitive college environment which increases the risks of acquiring health problems. Thus, the need for a reliable health insurance plan by the universities increases as better health outcomes will lead to a high production. Nowadays, the cost for education is being increased by every passing day which puts a lot of pressure on the students. Besides, there is a lot of competition in the job market which further stresses out the students. An average student is found struggling to balance school life, work life and the social life which increases the risks of anxiety and depression. To counter this condition, universities and colleges should ensure a health insurance plan along with regular checku ps as basic requirements to make sure that the students are in best health. Secondly, depending on the degree and the college environment, various activities pose different threats to the health of an individual (Baker 2010). For instance, sports are the basic components of the school as well as university life of many students. Some of these sports are highly aggressive in nature and chances are that a severe injury might occur. It is the sole responsibility of the college in this case to keep the students covered under a reliable health insurance policy. Also, students conducting experiments in the lab handling highly toxic chemicals are also at a high risk of getting mild injuries. In such a scenario, the college or the university is responsible

The Tragedy of Macbeth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Tragedy of Macbeth - Essay Example Macbeth’s guilt and his words demonstrate that he knows it is an evil act he and his wife have plotted and are talking about in this scene, but having been approached in Act 1, Scene 3 by the Weird Sisters, the three witches, who, before disappearing, give Macbeth their prophesies as to his ascension to the King’s throne, Macbeth seems to reconcile himself to the fact that he must murder the King and fulfill the prophesies. The seed of what is to come has been planted in Macbeth’s mind, and that it is prophesized by the three withes, in Macbeth’s mind, makes it somewhat of a done deed. It is at this point that Scene 1, Act 1 becomes vitally important, because it is in that scene that the withes meet and talk about their ideas, and upon departing the third witch declares, â€Å"Fair is foul, and foul is fair,† which sets the stage for the notion that for every action there is a reaction. Though the result of â€Å"fair is foul,† as it certainly is in the mind of Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 7, there is, too, the end result of what is â€Å"foul is fair,† which is what Macbeth seems to be concerned about in Act 1, Scene 7, when he says, â€Å"False face must hide what the false heart knows.† This, as Macbeth resolves himself to what he is about to do to his kind and friend, Duncan, knowing that it is evil, and his face must not betray what his mind knows lest his evil be detected. There is a balance in the universe that comes from the concept of the idea that for every action there is a reaction, or a balance. Act 1, Scene 7 prepares us for that which will be the reaction to the couple’s murder, in that Macbeth’s troubled conscious will manifest itself in a way that brings physical and mental distress to Macbeth. His wife, who denies her conscious in this scene, will suffer equally great physical and mental distresses. Avarice, the basis for the pair’s evil, will meet with the balancing

Identifying, Organizing, and Analyzing Your Sources Essay Example for Free

Identifying, Organizing, and Analyzing Your Sources Essay Each statement below contains a logical fallacy. Identify the fallacy and briefly explain, in one or two sentences, why it is an error in reasoning. 1. Mabel is not qualified to lead the school board because she used to drink liquor in her 20s. †¢ Ad hominem: committed by attacking the person whos making an argument, rather than the argument itself. One of the most common fallacies, it is a direct attack on a persons character rather than focusing on his or her arguments. Stating that Mabel used to drink that why she is not qualified it a person attack. 2. A child can be either an athlete or a good student. †¢ Either/Or: An oversimplification that assumingly reduces several alternatives to a mere binary opposition, basically means you only have two choices. You only have two choices of being a athlete or a good student. You can choose to be bad student if you wanted. 3. Any change in health care will lead to socialism; we don’t want to live in a socialist country, so we can’t reform health care. †¢ Slippery Slope (Bad Precedent): assuming that a proposed step will set off an uncontrollable chain of undesirable events. Changing health will lead to socialism is an extreme statement. 4. All teenagers text while they drive; therefore, we should raise the driving age to 21. †¢ Hasty Generalization: drawing conclusions from too little of evidence and often relying on stereotypes. Say all teenager text and drive, well some teenager don’t have a car and/or a cell phone. 5. If we don’t all drive hybrid cars, the world will end in the next decade because of environmental damage. †¢ Slippery Slope (Bad Precedent): assuming that a proposed step will set off an uncontrollable chain of undesirable events. That an extreme statement stating that the world will end because we’ll don’t drive hybrid. 6. Senator Range has been seen entering a strip club; therefore, his economic reforms are not plausible. †¢ Ad hominem: committed by attacking the person whos making an argument, rather than the argument itself. One of the most common fallacies, it is a direct attack on a persons character rather than focusing on his or her arguments. In this case strip club makes the senator economic reform wrong it a personal attack, degrading his character which will degrade his reforms as mediocre  or of no value to the public. 7. Everyone else is getting rid of TV, so we should too. †¢ Bandwagon: Just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it right. We used to think that our planet was flat. 8. Because of the recent shootings in schools and theaters, we can conclude that these are inherently dangerous places that need more regulation. †¢ Begging the Question: an argument is held to be true because of practical truths and common sense. Common sense is sometimes correct, but all too many times all too commonly incorrect. 9. If you want a successful child, you should enroll him or her in as many early learning classes as possible. †¢ Creating false needs: emotional proof appeals to what people value and think they need. Advertisers often create a false sense of need in order to sell a product. 10. Music education is useless because it just teaches kids how to play music. †¢ Begging the question: restating the premise in the conclusion rather than disproving. Choose your answers from these eight fallacies. Note: Some of these will be used more than once. †¢ Begging the question †¢ Either-or †¢ Slippery slope †¢ Ad hominem †¢ Creating false needs †¢ Red herring †¢ Hasty generalization †¢ Bandwagon

Abington VS/ Schempp :: Free Essay Writer

Abington School District vs. Schempp Required School Prayer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1949, a state-wide law was passed in Pennsylvania that required public school students to read scriptures from the Bible and recite the Lord’s Prayer everyday in class. This law stayed intact until Edward Schempp challenged it nine years later. Pennsylvania wasn’t the first or the only state to enforce law making it mandatory for students to read from the Bible during school. Twenty-five additional states had laws allowing â€Å"optional† reading for the Bible. But in eleven of the twenty-five states, courts had decided those laws were unconstitutional.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mr. Schempp took the case to court in to 1958, claiming that required reading for the Bible and recitation of the Lord’s Pray prohibited free exercise of religion for his children, and was therefore unconstitutional, under the First Amendment. Mr. Schempp son, Ellory, stated under oath, that he didn’t not believe in Jesus Christ, or the Christian beliefs. He testified that ideas opposing to his were presented to him while he was at school in Abington High. He received punishment because he refused to stand at attention during the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer and when requested to leave during the exercise, his demands were denied.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the greatest witnesses was Rabbi Dr. Solomon Grayzel. Dr. Grayzel explained the psychological harm that could come from reading the New Testament without explanation. The context of the New Testament, without explanation of the work, had caused grievances in Jewish children while in similar required situations. This also came to show that if a Jewish child could be offended and upset by the Bible reading, any child of a family rejecting the principles of the Trinity and Jesus Christ would be equally offended, to the point that reading the Bible could be considered blasphemous.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In argument for the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, they said that reading the Bible not only was essential to the building of good morals and development of the minds of impressionable school children, it was free to be interpreted anyway because of lack of comment and explanation. They claimed that the Bible was not a religious work, but when viewed from the eyes of a Christian, it did express the message of Christianity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This case bounced back and forth between Supreme Court and district court before eventually ending in 1963. Abington school district appealed to the Supreme Court after it was not satisfied with the verdict at district court level.

A Day Without Latinos

Nine percent of Utah’s population is Latino or Hispanic.   And, at least thirty percent of the households of Utah have a Latino or Hispanic individual present, regardless of whether the immigrant is living as a relative or working as a maid in the household (Overview, 2004).   Indeed, the Latinos are very hard working people.They are studying with other racial groups in schools and colleges, and although many of them feel that they are discriminated against, they have already proved themselves to be â€Å"a growing and developing economic power base† (Warner, 2004).   This means that the Latinos are rather important to the economy of Utah today.They are especially represented in the service industry.   Hotels, restaurants, the agricultural industry, construction and reconstruction – a variety of businesses are using the help of Latinos.   What is more, Latinos are paid less than the other workers are on average.   For every 72 cents given to a Latino for his or her work, a person from another racial group gets a dollar (Media).Now if all Latinos were to leave Utah for a day, the economy would most definitely slow down and experience loss.   There would be countless absentees in the workplace, school attendance would fall, and those that discriminate against the Latinos would breathe a sigh of relief.   Still, the economy would bear the brunt of the departure of the Latinos.In order to produce the goods and provide the services that the Latinos were previously helping businesses to produce and to provide, businesses would have to hire for a day workers that would charge more than the Latinos do.   Budgets would have to be changed, as businesses face a rise in their expenditures.Moreover, businesses might decide to cut the supply of their products because of the increase in expenditures.   It may also be that businesses would not find replacements for the Latinos through the day.   Hence, businesses would have to slow do wn if not close down for the day.   In the long run, the economy of Utah would be seen to have been affected by the departure of the Latinos for a day.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Utah, like all other states of America, thrives on diversity.   As a matter of fact, there is no state in America where diversity does not hold a very special place in the societal structure.People who are living with the Latinos, and those that study with young Latinos in schools and colleges would testify that Latinos do add value to their particular groups.When Latino maids in the home have to leave for a day, the mothers of the children for whom they had hired Latino maids, would also have to leave their workplaces in order to care for their children without maids.   This, too, would have an affect on the economy.   What is more, the value that Latinos add as family members is known only to the members of the households that Latinos occupy.A Latino wife or husband leaving home for a day might turn out to b e a problem for the spouse.   And, when the effects of the losses are accumulated taking into consideration the entire society, it may become obvious that Latinos are indeed an interwoven part of the societal fabric that cannot be torn apart without negative consequences.Those that discriminate against the Latinos of Utah might breathe a sigh of relief in the absence of the Latinos.   Still, when the effects on the economy are brought into full view, the people that discriminated against the Latinos would also be seen to have been affected by the loss.Latinos are today akin to an engine in a factory that cannot be done away with although there are many other engines in the same factory performing the same kinds of tasks in a different way.   Seeing that the first engine is present is evidence enough that the engine is important to the factory.   Similarly, Utah cannot imagine itself without Latinos at present.This racial group has become an indispensable part of the lives of people who occupy Utah, in addition to their livelihood.   Gladys Gonzales, the editor and publisher of Mundo Hispano, explains this indispensability thus: â€Å"We are bringing synergy to this state†¦ We are hard workers with an entrepreneurial spirit.   We want to contribute positively to this state and this country† (Warner).It is this positive attitude that has allowed the Latinos to be fairly successful in Utah, despite the problems that they might face in their personal or public lives.   Furthermore, the Latinos are expected to continue adding value to the society and the economy of the state.   Indeed, if the Latinos were to leave Utah for a day, they will be missed by their friends, employers, and customers in Utah.Even those that were displeased with the presence of the Latinos in Utah would face a loss as their favorite restaurants are closed down, and their businesses face an increase in expenditures.   Perhaps for such people, a day without Latino s would serve as a wake up call.   The Latinos would be anxiously awaited back in Utah.ReferencesMedia Contacts. â€Å"U of U Researcher Reports Latino Immigrants’ Experience in Utah to be Mixed.† University of Utah. Retrieved from http://www.utah.edu/unews/releases/05/jun/immigrants.html. (4 April 2007).Overview of Utah’s Hispanic/Latino Demographics. (2004). State Office of Ethnic Affairs. Retrieved from http://ethnicoffice.utah.gov/public_policy_and_research/documents/oea.his.lat.0505.pdf. (4 April 2007).Warner, Laura. (2004, March 27). â€Å"Bias exists, but Utah Latinos optimistic.† Deseret Morning News. Retrieved from http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595052024,00.html. (4 April 2007).

A Dolls House Character Analysis - 1222 Words

Nora is presented as having a strong male that fulfils her needs for belongingness and love throughout the play: Torvald. Torvald and Nora are presented as affectionate in their relationship. Ibsen uses of romantic language: Torvald refers to Nora with names such as ‘little skylark’ and ‘squirrel’. Nora is presented as reciprocating this love, as she frequently acknowledges how her husband loves her, stating that the ‘time will never come’ when Torvald will stop loving her. However, Ibsen highlights how Nora does not wish to share the news of the loan with Torvald as she believes it would ‘completely wreck their relationship’ and therefore, Ibsen utilises other characters to become her confidante, as it is in this way he shows the audience†¦show more content†¦Nevertheless, it is irrelevant how and by whom Nora’s psychological needs are fulfilled: her debts ensure her survival needs are not fulfilled, surmounting all her psychological support. This could be reinforced by Far From the Madding Crowd: Bathsheba does not marry Francis troy until her farm is successful. Hardy presents Bathsheba as having a deep desire for independence and self-actualization, surmounting her other needs. Although she talks at the beginning of the novel of her family’s financial issues, she still declines Oak’s offer of marriage. She is presented as ‘too independent’ for him; he would ‘never be able to’ tame her. This is unorthodox behaviour for a young woman at this time, Oak was richer than her, and it was supposedly a woman’s objective in life to get married. By not conforming to this ideal, continuing to be independent, and providing her own survival through her farm, Bathsheba is presented as achieving self-actualisation. She goes on to decline Boldwood’s proposal to marriage also, and only marries when she is presented as truly in love; this is true in the cases of both Troy and Oak. Through this, Hardy provides Bathsheba with independence and self-actualisation, something that was uncommon at this time. By e nsuring Bathsheba stays true to this, he presents Bathsheba as happy by the end of the novel.Show MoreRelatedA Dolls House Character Analysis1555 Words   |  7 Pagesnow, I am no wife for you†(Ibsen 887) This statement is from Henrik Ibsen’s play, A Doll House, is a play based in 1879, and it sets the tone of the remainder of the story. Ibsen seems to be making a statement that women need to mature and be independent before they have a family of their own. All of the women in this play leave their loved ones behind to gain their independence. Ibsen’s statement and character portrayal helps make Ibsen’s play take on feminist characteristics. Ibsen’s play shows thatRead MoreA Dolls House Character Analysis872 Words   |  4 PagesA Dolls House Essay on Love By comparing Ibsens play A Dolls House and the movie Me Before You one can see that gender roles play a big factor in love. A romantic relationship that involves gender roles will bring out love’s most raw form; the emergence of one’s true feelings towards his/her significant other whether it is a negative or positive view. A Doll’s House and the movie Me Before You shows how gender roles impact the lives of Nora [from Doll’s House] and Will Traynor [from Me BeforeRead MoreAnalysis of the Character of Mrs. Linde in A Dolls House1084 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.† In Henrick Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House, the character of Mrs. Linde contributes to the exposition and pivotal moment of the decideding factors of Krogstad, she also has a profound influence on the character development of Nora Helmer. Mrs. Lind e directly contributes to Nora’s moment of realization and Nora’s decision to leave her husband at the end of the play. WomanRead MoreShakespeare s A Doll s House Essay1352 Words   |  6 PagesThe Performance of Gender in Ibsen’s A Doll’s House It can be said that the sound of Nora Helmer slamming the door behind her as she leaves her husband and children in pursuit of self-actualization is one of the most famous in theatre history. The journey the characters in A Doll’s House take in order to build to this powerful moment is a fascinating one. Countless scholars have analyzed aspects of Ibsen’s famous play; some have examined the complicated marriage between Nora and Torvald Helmer,Read MoreHenrik Ibsens A Dolls House1489 Words   |  6 Pagesparticular response. The play â€Å"A Doll’s House† by Henrik Ibsen provides an excellent example for analysis, with each component strongly supported. Often the first, and most obvious, component that can be observed when reading drama is the point of view that it is written from. Point of view determines the perspective from which the story is told. In a play there is typically not a narrator, leaving the audience to witness the action and dialogue of all the characters and compose a personal interpretationRead MoreBibo1025 Words   |  5 PagesHenrik Ibsens A Dolls House. In Bloom, Harold, ed. Human Sexuality, Blooms Literary Themes. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2009. Blooms Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 6 Nov. 2012. In this article, Kristin Brunnemer explores writer Henrik Ibsen and the transformation of Nora, the main character in Ibsen’s â€Å"A Doll’s House† (Brunnemer 1). There is much debate over whether Ibsen intended to promote feminism through his main female character, Nora, in his playRead More Essay on Lies and Self-realization in A Dolls House1162 Words   |  5 PagesSelf-realization in A Dolls House    In Ibsens play,   A Dolls House,   the characters willingly exist in a situation of untruth or inadequate truth that conceals conflict.   Noras independent nature is in contradiction to the tyrannical authority of Torvald.   This conflict is concealed by the way they both hide their true selves from society, each other, and ultimately themselves.   Just like Nora and Torvald, every character in this play is trapped in a situation of untruth. A Dolls House, can beRead MoreA Dolls House -H.Ibsen ,Critical Analysis1554 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Subject : Drama B Writer : Henrik Johan Ibsen Genre : Realistic Modern Drama Name of the Work / Play : A Doll’s House ( 1897 ) in three acts Characters : Major Characters / Minor Characters Nora Helmer ( wife of Torvald Helmer ,mother of three children ) Torvald Helmer( husband of Nora Helmer , a lawyer ,father of three children ) Dr. Rank ( doctor ,friend of Nora Torvald Helmer, confidant ,commentator ) Mrs. Kristine Linde ( old friend of Nora Helmer ) Nils Krogstad ( barristerRead More A Dolls House: A Push To Freedom Essay examples1371 Words   |  6 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sometime after the publication of quot;A Dolls Housequot;, Henrik Ibsen spoke at a meeting of the Norwegian Association for Womens Rights. He explained to the group, quot;I must decline the honor of being said to have worked for the Womens Rights movement. I am not even very sure what Womens Rights are. To me it has been a question of human rightsquot; ( ). quot;A Dolls Housequot; is often interpreted by readers, teachers, and critics alike as an attackRead MoreRealism Theatre Essay1085 Words   |  5 Pagessymbolism, character development, stage setting and storyline and is exemplified in plays such as Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House and Anton Chekhovs The Three Sisters. The arrival of realism was indeed good for theatre as it promoted greater audience involvement and raised awareness of contemporary social and moral issues. It also provided and continues to provide a medium through which playwrights can express their views about societal values, attitudes and morals. A Dolls House is the tragedy