Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian Essay Example

Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian Essay Today, vegetarian diet has gained extreme popularity all over the globe. It is preferred by a number of people throughout the world. It is said that a vegetarian diet is a key to healthy life. Some organizations working for the animal rights are strictly against eating meat, fish or poultry. Vegetarian diet typically consists of whole grains, vegetables and fruits. They are, no doubt, good for health. But have you ever thought whether vegetarian meals are complete? Can it fulfill all the nutritional requirements of the body? Well, there are certain advantages and disadvantages of being vegetarian. What are they? Advantages Vegetarian diet mainly includes grains, nuts, cereals, seeds, beans, vegetables and fruits. Hence, it is rich in fiber, folate and vitamin C. Vegetables and fruits provide vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy body. Beans, tofu, seeds are some good sources of proteins. Vegetables consist of phytochemicals, which prevent some chronic diseases. Green leafy vegetables are the rich source of antioxidants. Vegetables and fruits also provide natural sugars, beneficial enzymes and trace elements. It contains low amount of fats, cholesterol and saturated fats. As a result, it minimizes the risk of weight gain. This, in turn, reduces the possibilities of developing the health problems caused by obesity. Vegetarian diet is also helpful for healthy weight loss. A vegetarian diet lowers the blood cholesterol levels and decreases the risk of various disorders such as high blood pressure, stroke, heart diseases, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney diseases, gallstones and cancer. Due to intake of high fiber diet, digestive health is improved. We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Vegetarianism protects you from certain food-borne diseases such as bird flu, mad cow disease, intestinal parasites, etc. Disadvantages Although vegetarian diet provides all the essential nutrients, there are certain factors that we can get in more amounts from the meat or fish. Vegetarian diet is found to be low in proteins, calcium, vitamin B12, iron and zinc. Vitamin B12 is found in soy products, fortified cereals and animal products in abundant amount. Meat is considered as the major source of vitamin B12. Soymilk, milk and other dairy products are the rich sources of vitamin D. Meat, chicken, fish and poultry contain more quantities of iron and zinc. Milk, cheese and yogurt are excellent sources of calcium. These nutrients are not found in large quantities in the vegetarian diet. Meat is a rich source of proteins and contains all the essential amino acids required by the body. Phosphorus present in the meat is easily absorbed than that present in legumes and cereals. Vegetarian diet is not recommended for bodybuilders, as they require a protein-rich diet. A diet lacking in sufficient carbohydrates and proteins can lead to anemia. Bowel irregularities can be commonly seen among the vegetarians. If your diet is totally free from fats, then its not good, because certain amounts of cholesterol and fat is necessary for the development of the nervous system and normal body functioning. Although, there are certain disadvantages of vegetarian diet, it definitely offers a number of health benefits. If you properly plan your diet, you can overcome the problem of nutrient deficiencies and improve your physical fitness and overall health. After all, healthy eating is a key to healthy living.

What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere Essays

What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere Essays What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere Essay What extent do the news media fulfil Habermas definition of the public sphere Essay The concept of the public sphere has had a long tradition, both in philosophy and also social sciences. The main understanding of the term is based on the work of the German sociologist Jurgen Habermas, whom provided a comprehensive analysis of the nature of the public sphere and also its historic transformations. Habermas defines ldquo;the public sphere as the network for communication and points of view, the streams of communication are, in the process, filtered and synthesised in such a way that they coalesce into bundles of topically specified public opinionsrdquo;. The public sphere is situated between households and the state. It is a space where free and equal citizens come together and share their opinions and information and also discuss their common concerns. Habermasrsquo;s social theory is interpreted as moving over the years from a Hegelian Marxist orientation to a sort of Kantian orientation, thought not without truth; this view underestimates the unity in his intellectual project. Kant occupies a central place as the theorist who offered the fullest articulation of the ideal of the bourgeois public sphere. However, in this public sphere practical reason was institutionalized through norms of reasoned conversations in which arguments or traditions were to be decisive. Even though, Habermas rejects Kantianrsquo;s theories, and its collary historical exaltation of philosophy as arbiter and foundation of all science and culture. In his current work he argues that something remains crucial from the Kantian view of modernity. nbsp;The notion of the public sphere is at the centre of participatory approaches to democracy. The public sphere is the arena where citizens come together and exchange opinions regarding public affairs, discuss and therefore form a public opinion. This arena can be a specified place where citizens gather for instance, town halls where they meet and deliberate these issues they feel needs looking into. This can also be a communication infrastru cture through which citizens send and receive information and their opinions. The public sphere can also be good governance, and without a good public sphere, government officials cannot be held accountable for their actions and citizens will not be able to assert any influence over political decisions. Moreover, the idea of a public sphere is normative since it is an ideal of good and accountable governance. Some historical roots of the public sphere will include the ancient Greeks where citizens directly participated in political discussions. The public life was tied to a specific local where their citizens will discuss and exchange their opinions on certain issues. European monarchies where the royal court was the public sphere and only the king would determine what should be said in public. Today, the public sphere is even more strongly tied to the media; it is also defined in relation to the mass media, since the mass media permits the circulation of information and also offers the conditions were forums can function. Internet and The Public Sphere; the internet is the single most important communication breakthrough of the latter half of the last century. It has revolutionalised how individuals communicate, access information including the mass media and how they respond to and comment on social and political issues. It has been argued that the internet facilitated the philosopher Jurgen Habermas. The internet is singularly the most important development in contemporary communication, which has produced a global public sphere. Every individual has direct access to global forums where they are capable of expressing their personal opinions and arguments without mediation or censorship. nbsp;Facebook and a vast number of blogs, chat rooms and discussion boards could fulfil the conditions of a public sphere as a forum for rational and critical debates. One of the theoretical perspectives is that Habermas argues that publicness or publicity of representation was not constituted as a social realm that is a public sphere; rather it was a status attribute. nbsp;Representation in the sense in which the members of a national assembly represent a nation. (Habermas, 1962). nbsp;Habermas goes on to argue that European society in the Middle Ages showed no indication of a public sphere as a unique realm distinct from a private sphere, and each stratum of power acted as mere spectators of the authority greater than theirs However, changes in the Europersquo;s political structure in the eighteenth century largely embodied in capitalist modes of production and the enlightenment philosophy culminated in the collapse of feudalism heralding the entry of the bourgeois into the centre stage. Whereas the feudal system which made no differences between the state and the society, private and public, the new social order defined the boundaries of state and private lives. More accurately a bourgeois public sphere where members of a property owning, educated reading public were engaged in rational debates on issues primarily relating to politics and literature (Habermas, 1989). Furthermore the bourgeois public sphere worn once again through structural and economic changes paving the way for what Habermas calls the modern mass society of the social welfare state, were critical debates the life blood of the public sphere has been replaced by leisure. In order words the state and society have become in twined into each otherrsquo;s sphere. Horkheimer and Adorno both argue that the change is the direct result of the mass produced, and the mechanically reproduce culture, which have been manufactures through structural changes in cultural industries. Horkheimer and Adorno suggest that the man with leisure have to accept that the cultural manufacturers offer him (Horkheimer and Adorno, 1995). Horkheimer and Adorno views are simply based on Marxist arguments which suggest the ideas of a ruling class are in every period the ruling ideas (Marx and Engels, 1976). These arguments suggest that the class which controls the means of material production also would control the means of mental production therefore the ideas of those who lack the means of production are subjected to it. Another sociologist called Antonio Gramsci argued the social groups attain hegemony; this is the dominance by inducing consent of the majority of the subaltern classes, the classes in the subordinate political position within a given social theatre. Horkheimer and Adornorsquo;s views on contemporary culture suggest the cultural industries treatment of culture as commodity and the mass media as a product filtered and packaged for customers based on the market statistics. This has created a media culture where every individual response has been carefully planned by the cultural manufacturers, since as this limits the possibility for any critical though outside of a prearranged equation. The contribution of cultural manufacturers including advertising and also public relations. Habermas arguments have manifested into refeudalisation of the public sphere, where the people in the public have been reduced to the status of spectators whilst the expert opinions have taken over the true public opinions. Every aspect of culture has been subjected to commercial imperatives of advertising entertainment and public relations and also the mass media to such an extent that any attempts of even creating the illusion of a public sphere by the mass media continue to be governed by bottom lined finances, therefore failing to conform to the broadest notions of public opinion in the public sphere. Moreover, public opinions published in mainstream media continue to be influenced by a series of commercial needs from availability of column space to consideration of possible increases to circulation figures. The internet is a freely accessible medium of mass communication; it has been introduced to this heavily commercialised theatre of mass communication and sparking great expectations in the publicrsquo;s minds that support the reinvigoration of the public sphere. Furthermore, it also should be stressed that while mass media have largely failed to create a public sphere, mass in itself at times play a very significant role in gaining and retaining democracy in numerous political threatens. It can also be argued that the internetrsquo;s potential in creating the public sphere can be and has to be harnessed by the public intellectuals, if the internet is to fulfil its potential as a forum for public spheres, this arguments can be presented in spite of the risk of over generalization as need for cyber analogues with the cafes and taverns which brought the intellectuals together, however creating an environment favourable for the sharing of ideas and hence the nourishment of a public sphere.

Midterm creative response paper Term Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Midterm creative response - Term Paper Example Hearing the news as a family we were filed with mixed emotions as we were placed in the balance between joy for victory and fear of the unknown. Not only was the event a surprise as the ending of the war was almost instantaneous after the bombings. One thing that mainly stood out to us was that the Japanese had been defeated a long time ago, however still continued to fight. The American troops had gained control of the majority of the Japanese waters. In addition, the Japanese army had lost many troops and was experiencing financial difficulties which further increased the element of surprise when the news came that the war was over. The first question was why, after the Japanese continued to fight in such a compromising position, they decided to quit after just two bombings. We had heard some information on the nuclear bomb; however, we were not completely aware of the extent of damage it can cause. Upon hearing the news that the war was over, the primary emotion that was present among members of the community was joy and relief that the war had ended. We celebrated together with our neighbors as the conflict was long and scarred with destruction, death and terror. Many of our neighbors including our family were waiting for the return of our relatives. However, we often engaged in some concerning discussions on the sides. I was all too careful in such encounters as opinions may differ, and change the jovial atmosphere that was in the community. One question that we mainly discussed in small but close company was whether the use of nuclear weapons was justified. To a certain extent, I would say yes, the use of the atomic bomb was justified. Without the intention of using this term too loosely, all is fair in love and war. The Japanese had previously misrepresented themselves, which led to the deaths of numerous America citizens. In addition, I feel Truman was running out of opti ons as the Japanese were refusing to surrender. During

See instructions Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

See instructions - Research Paper Example According to narratives by Fredrick Douglass ,who apparently was born in slavery but managed to educate himself and later escaped establishing himself as one of America’s greatest leaders, slavery continued to thrive in spite of slave owners claiming theirs was a nominally Christians democracy. Douglass wrote three main autographical narratives that have been identified not only as classics of American history but also as American literature. Douglass, normally, wrote with unmatched fierce intelligence and eloquence that made him a giftedly successful spokesman not only for the abolition of slavery but also in regard to equal rights. He thus shapes an extremely inspiring image of self-realization in the wake of colossal odds. In one of his narratives known as ‘Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, an American Slave’ that was published in 1845, 7 years after he escaped from slavery, Douglass writes in response to cynics who could not believe that such an arti culate orator was once a slave(Kornblith,2010). This is a powerfully compressed description of the oppression and cruelty that took place in Maryland plantation, where Douglass was born and brought up. This account catapulted him to the front position of anti-slavery crusade, drawing in thousands, white and black alike, to this cause (Douglass,2014). In another of his account, My Bondage and My Freedom which was published, in 1855, after Douglass had become a well-known newspaper editor, he further expands the narration of his slavery years. Douglass with astounding psychological penetration explores the agonizing ambiguities together with delicately corrosive consequences of black-white relationships under slavery and afterwards recounts his resolute resistance to the Northern segregation. In addition, the book includes extracts from some of the

Global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Global warming - Essay Example The Earth is heating up and it will affect the crops. The rising of the sea level, the melting of icecaps and the global climatic changes are all the impacts of global warming. Global warming has influenced the business strategies as people try to reduce the greenhouse effect through efficient operations or energy conservations techniques. Regulations are imposed every other day to reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide and other gases emitted into the atmosphere. Nevertheless, it is argued that global warming presents new oppurtunities to businesses; it encourages innovation and creativity with the help of advanced technology. Global warming is believed to be destructive and expensive (Richman, 2007) but smart companies know which way the wind is blowing and how fast the ice is melting (Gunther, 2006). They find new ways to innovate, save energy, cut costs and reduce emissions. Insurers manage $26 trillion of assets of companies and are trying to influence the government to change po licies so that radical action can be taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions (Webber, 2002). Businesses have to evaluate the risks and analyze the oppurtunities that climate change has posed (Hagen, 2007). Stronger storms, prolonged droughts in some areas and heavy flooding or precipitation in other areas can adversely affect the immovable properties of businesses. The value of properties in coastal areas could decrease and they may be required to construct sturdier buildings that are more solid and resistant.

Nature of Sociological Theory

Nature of Sociological Theory THE NATURE OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY OKUMAGBA, OGHENERO PAUL, FAYEYE, J.O.   EJECHI, EUCHARIA SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY DEFINITION AND MEANINGS Different people see Sociological theory in different ways. Different people have regarded different aspects of sociology as theory and students are also involved because their works are based on theories. How do we define a theory? In other to give an answer to this question, we must have some definition which must help us in this task. Mennell, S. (1972) distinguished what a theory should be and what by convention is named Sociological theory. He started by saying that sociology theory in some cases is not sociological theory. What this means is that, it deals in most cases with a body of ideas attached to theory, and this is not always their in the strict Sense of it. For Mennel a real sociological theory is formalized and ultimately testable explanations which are accumulated to a large extent in the ordinary process of Sociology Research i.e. sociological theory must be related to Sociological Research. Our theories may only try to explain limited and specific properties of reality. They may belong to some or all area of sociology such as Urban sociology, Sociology of the Family, Political sociology etc. i.e. they may only cover an aspect of sociology and not all. They may be what R.K. Merton calls MIDDLE RANGE THEORIES, i.e. theories that are interested in specific or limited areas e.g Social roles. Mennel goes on to ask the question, what is social theory in the customary sense. Sociological theory is a general collection to topics. it also tends to include the discussion of Some Epistemological issues such as what is science, what is sociological theory. Is it a science? Etc. this is what Stephen Mennel refers to as META THEORY. There is another category which Mennel calls PARA-THEORY. He got this from the works of Ralph Dorhendorf. He defines it as all statement before, around and after Sociological theory which are capable of empirical test themselves but are geared towards theories, We also wasn’t to distinguish this type of theory from what is known a s BASK THEORY. It does not necessary have to be scientifically validated, i.e. it does not contain empirical components as it basis. Although most of the great Sociologists may have developed theory without going on to test them. They ore more or less based on their experience or from reading. Some writers have called the above type GRAND THEORY. This theory is concerned with providing a scheme that can be used to explain the empirical data of research. This type of theory depends on interrelated construct, concepts, prepositions, scientific statements etc. that presents a systematic view of phenomenon by specifying relationship among variables with the purpose of explaining and predicting phenomenon. This type of their is based on data collected from society and it is usually used in explaining certain segments of social reality. We may s ay that Grand theory is based on abstractive ideologies, patterns and principles which undering given nature and social world order i.e. it is global scheme. Ware as empirically based theory concentrates on formulating, generalizing from specific data in other to explain phenomenon. We may say at this point, that the two seems necessary in order to provide a concueate analysis of social reality. However, they may not be isolated from eac h. other. Grand theory tends to be constructed on abstract terms and we may question what process of abstraction does it given to the understanding of the whole social process. Empirically. based theory is derived solely from the data collected from social processes. For Goode and Hatt:†¦. a theory states a logical relationship between facts. From this theory other prepositions can be deduced that should be true, if the first relationship holds. These d educed propositions are hypotheses. To them, and to many others as well, a hypothesis is a minor theory. it â€Å"states what† were looking for† and â€Å"Leads to an empiritical test†. It is a proposition capable to empirical verification but not yet verified. It is apparent at there is more then a semblance of circularity in the reasoning of those who discuss the relationship between a theory and a hypothesis. It is commonly claimed that all â€Å"scientific† hypotheses arc- derivations from empirically supportable theory. It is also typically asserted that every theory had its beginnings in on hypothesis. Hence, one mans hypothesis may be another’s theory. It all depends on the aim and ingenuity of the investigator. Scientific theories are logical systems of propositions which attempt to account for why phenomena ore the way they are and predict their behaviour. Theories are built of data generated, for example Mertonian paradigms and sociological perspectives are synonymous. The direct data generation and theorizing efforts to some aspects of the social world. Thus one can produce specific theories from a particular perspectives e.g. the theory of segmenting opposition and Merton’s social structure and anomie theory fall within the functional perspective. A theory can also be seen as a logically consistent statement of causal laws. Causal laws ore statements of regularities in concomitant occurrences between antecedents and events. The question we should be asking ourselves is, Are we limited by the process of data collection? We have to have a facilitating relationship between the two. Theories which are based on empirical footing helps to direct the grand theory and provides concrete d ata for the grand theory and helps the researcher develop a conceptual framework. The word ‘theory’ derives its meanings and usage from the user. To call a statement a theory is sometimes intended to increase its value by suggesting that it goes beyond ‘mere facts’ e.g when a person says I hove a theory about James he means that he cannot be deceived by him. But sometimes, the word theory as clearly used to reduce the value of a speculative idea by denying it a close connection with reality. In this sense it is often asserted â€Å"tings are all right in theory† but not in practice. Theories would have no value if they did not go beyond facts. Facts are nothing more than statements which we believe to bear truth about particular events which have occurred. Theories ore not meant to be about particular events but about the whole categories of events, it is generally said that Theories or some theories are nothing but general facts. A statement general fact would be either a shorthand or number of statements of the same kind or type, a general statements of the characteristics of a type of events. It is true that all theories go beyond facts; however not all statement which go beyond facts are theories. For example if say that, the colonial masters colonized Nigeria, and established a foreign culture that would otherwise not have developed. I am going beyond facts, but no one can know what culture would have developed if there had been no Colonization in the first instance. However, one can guess, and ones guess is an hypothesis. This guess is not a theory; because it stated something about particular events or particular complexes or events but it states nothing in general about the characteristics of colonial domination. To be testable this theory would have to state the kind of evidence that could be treated as refuting it. Instances of species which have survived being w c-Il adapted to particular environment or instances of Species which were well adapted to a particular environment but which had not survived. In the final analysis, the criterion of a adaptability is the capacity for survival 1.e. One does not really know how adoptable a species is until one has already observed its Capacity for survival. The fact that such a theory is not strictly testable does no mean that it has little value. Its values lies in directing inquiries of the students of evolution In conjunction other theories, some of which are highly testable it has helped evolutionary biologists to explain a great deal. Its own role is programmatic, it says if you are making enquires of this kind, makes a species more or less adaptable table in a particular environment This has proved useful. This example removed the assumption that if is only the social sciences attempt to be satisfied or utilize theories which ore not strictly testable. TYPES OF THEORY Cohen; (1968) in his book Modern Social Theory out lined four broad types of theories and they are as follows: Analytical Theory Normative Theory Metaphysical theory Scientific theory ANALYTICAL THEORY These are like theories of mathematics or logic which may state nothing about the real world but consist of some sets of axiomatic statements which are true by definition and from which other statements ore derived for example Adam Smith’s their on human economy which stress that people tend to maximize their gains while minimizing their losses. NORMATIVE THEORY These theory elaborates a set of ideal state of which one may aspire for example, ideologist fall within this category Normative theories are subjective in the sense that they deal with the ideal or what ought to be rather than what is. METAPHYSICCAL THEORY These are theories which are beyond the senses in other words, they have no empirical foundation. A good example is Darwin’s theory on Evolution of man and Malthusian’s theory of population. SCIENTIFIC THEORIES This is ideally a universal empirical statement which exacts a causal connection between two or more variables (or types of events). At this simplest, it has this form e.g. whenever x occurs they Y occur X = Y. Scientific theories are universal because it state something about the condition under which some events or types of events always occur If theories go beyond facts, they must have a connection with reality. Hence no experience of reality is worth recording, or could be recorded if it is not for theories. The most elementary theories, which we use a re embedded in our language. All language must use certain universal, categories; and to use a universal category is in effect to use a theory. If for example It says’ that ‘James is a deviant presume certain universal characteristics associated with deviance, as opposed to conformity. Without universal categories there will he no communication, without communication there will be no culture, no society, no science, no technology, no shored experience of die world of reality. Theoretical consideration end theoretical concepts, implicit or explicit have an essential rule in shaping the direction of research, in direction observation an and in guiding description itself, For a theory to be used wisely with sharp awareness, awareness users must have the knowledge of its nature and of its varieties. We need to know its concepts and diverse terminological forms they take. We should be familiar with the history of sociological theoretical endeavours with its changing emphasis, its successes and failure, and its promise for the future, These in themselves constitute the subject matter of the studying of sociological theories. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORYAND SOCIAL ORDER Theory is a set of prepositions complying ideally with the following conditions; The propositions must be put in terms of exactly defined concepts. They must be consistent with one another. They must be such that from them the existing generalization could be deductively derived. They must be fruitful i.e. show the way to further observation and generalizations were increasing the scope of knowledge. From the foregoing, sociological theory can be understood in the sense in which the word theory is used in other sciences. Hence it is; ‘a structure of systematically organized law like propositions about society that con be supported by evidence. The aim a sociological theory from the foregoing is explanation that goes beyond description and systematic definition (or taxonomy). Some characteristics of sociological theory. It is needful to odd that many sociological theories do not meet the ideal criteria of science (i.e. universality, empruism, and causality). CHARACTERIST1C OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY Theories are thoughts and ideas used to explain particular Social phenomenon or situations in society. It is a set of systematically relatered propositions a imed at explaining a particular situation. They are thoughts, ideas, or conceptual schemes used to solve societal problems. A theory is good and useful when it is able to solve problems successfully. Sociological theories attempts to explain and investigate problems, issues or events within the context of observable social phenomenon, they attempt to offer scientific and theoretical explanation which on the basis of the past have immediate applicability and are also capable of application to similar problems in the future. All theories attempt more than anything also the question â€Å"Why†. All contemporary sociological theories are selective in their analysis of social phenomenon. No one theory con interest or explain a total social phenomenon (such as the Grand Theory by TALCOTT PARSONS and middle range theories by ROBERT K. MERTON) for example, DEMOGRAPHISM as a sociological perspective is concerned with man’s various responses caused by increase in population. Then TECHNOLOG1SM emphasizes the effect of technology on man and social organization, while ECOLOGISM emphasizes the influence of non human environmental on human behaviour. Contemporary sociological theories must be empirically grounded. They are not merely thoughts or speculations. They are not â€Å"armed chair theories† but are based on observable facts that can be subjected to scientific observation and analysis. They are thoughts backed by verified fact or knowledge. Sociological theories tends to state scietific and observable relationships between variables usually between the dependent and independent variables. independent Variable -independent Variable X Y All sociological theories attempts to solve the problem of order in the society, All contemporary sociological theories deal with social phenomenon that are either imposed or generated by the individuals and these imposed or generated phenomena must either be subjective or objective. Finally, any sociological theory that does not fall into these set of categories is not qualified to be called a sociological theory. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES Theories in any discipline have certain function which they perform in investigation info societal problems, It extends the Scope of the original empirical findings by showing the interrelationship between various variables. It provides facts for the accumulation of both theory and research findings. If increase the fruitfulness of research through the successive exploration of the implicajiohs of research findings. lt introduces a ground for the predictions. It entails precision which is derivable from test-ability or verification The importance of precision in theory was stated by R.K, Merton when he wrote those theories which admits a precise precision confirmed by observation taken on strategic importance since they provide an initial basis for choice between competing hypothesis. THE CENTRAL PROBLEMS OF SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY AND SOCIAL ORDER The Problems of Order To take the position that sociological theory centers around the problem of social order may result into laying criticism of conservation ideological bias. To those who sees conflict, they will assume that the position presents or emphasizes order and affirms its desirability. It is certain that people in most societies desire order, they may not accept any kind of order at all cost. The fact that order is desired by many does not justify its central position in sociological theory. When order is presented as being at the centre of sociological theory it is done so because of the following Order is itself something positive, and its opposites only conceivable in terms of it. The very idea of human society presupposes order. The existence of social order is problematic and cannot be taken for grated. The investigation of the problem of order illuminates (or shows) the nature of disorder in its various aspects.

Swipping IDs can be dangerous :: essays research papers

ABOUT 10,000 people a week go to The Rack, a bar in Boston favored by sports stars, including members of the New England Patriots. One by one, they hand over their driver's licenses to a doorman, who swipes them through a sleek black machine. If a license is valid and its holder is over 21, a red light blinks and the patron is waved through. But most of the customers are not aware that it also pulls up the name, address, birth date and other personal details from a data strip on the back of the license. Even height, eye color and sometimes Social Security number are registered. "You swipe the license, and all of a sudden someone's whole life as we know it pops up in front of you," said Paul Barclay, the bar's owner. "It's almost voyeuristic." Mr. Barclay bought the machine to keep out underage drinkers who use fake ID's. But he soon found that he could build a database of personal information, providing an intimate perspective on his clientele that can be useful in marketing. "It's not just an ID check," he said. "It's a tool." Now, for any given night or hour, he can break down his clientele by sex, age, ZIP code or other characteristics. If he wanted to, he could find out how many blond women named Karen over 5 feet 2 inches came in over a weekend, or how many of his customers have the middle initial M. More practically, he can build mailing lists based on all that data — and keep track of who comes back. Bar codes and other tracking mechanisms have become one of the most powerful forces in automating and analyzing product inventory and sales over the last three decades. Now, in a trend that alarms privacy advocates, the approach is being applied to people through the simple driver's license, carried by more than 90 percent of American adults. Already, about 40 states issue driver's licenses with bar codes or magnetic stripes that carry standardized data, and most of the others plan to issue them within the next few years. Scanners that can read the licenses are slowly proliferating across the country. So far the machines have been most popular with bars and convenience stores, which use them to thwart underage purchasers of alcohol and cigarettes. In response to the terrorist attacks last year, scanners are now also being installed as security devices in airports, hospitals and government buildings.

Conformity Vs. Nonconformity Essay

Nonconformity is a force from one’s personal self to step outside of the norm and bring a sense of individuality to a world in which there is very little originality anymore. As a society, we are ruled by the media. They force their points of views down everyones throats without one’s consciousness even acknowledging so. We walk past billboards, view commercials, peek around all of our social media websites, and all the while our minds are being bred to be biased towards a certain fashion, a certain point of view, as far as even a music choice which is most preferable. To step outside of this commonality in today’s society to the eye doesn’t seem too difficult. In everyone’s minds they are â€Å"unique†, â€Å"original†, and â€Å"creative†. What we don’t notice is how this seems to be what everybody believes, yet the fashion, attitude, whatever is as a phase and a trend. To truly step outside is a great leap and itâ€⠄¢s not simply acknowledging just how original you are, it’s to live your life everyday in not simply the same consistency but in such a way that you aren’t driven to stand out or fit in. It’s a numbness to either side of the spectrum. Being able to cope and not be judged based upon an individual’s nonconformity today is not as hard as it was in the past, however it is still picked upon. It’s only natural to separate the one that does not belong, as seen in many animal species when an animal is bred with a genetic deformity causing it to not belong, thus being shunned by the rest of the basic of the species. Today, even, one of the main controversies is homosexuality. Despite all the recent movements and reformities of the law, gay male and females are still ridiculed. Sometimes to the point of suicide or even such bizarre, violent bullying leading to near fatal wounds and mental scars. So in a sense, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous aphorism is correct. â€Å"For non-conformity the world whips you with displeasure.† From personal experience, I cannot recall a certain point in time when my nonconformity has been looked down upon, however I do believe that I fit in such a space between conformity and nonconformity. If you were to judge based upon pure physical factors, I would say that I do not choose to dress myself in a way to stand out, simply on p ersonal taste with a hint of outside influence. Mentally, I believe I do have an abstract method of thinking. I enjoy questioning things and learning, which is growing more  uncommon in today’s generation. Colleges tend to lean towards the unconventional way of thinking. After a professor has read so and so many papers from his hundreds to thousands of students, things can get a bit repetitive and uninteresting. A writing that stands out tends to create excitement with extra attention. This is how you show yourself, as a student, just the potential that you do harness. The ability to think outside of the box and express your thoughts and perspective in a way that invokes thought is a way to prove not only that you understand yourself, but it also is a way to even provoke questions that would allow somebody to learn something new. However abundant and appreciated nonconformity may be in today’s society in the novel â€Å"Brave New World† by Aldous Huxley, this approach to life is completely opposite. Within the â€Å"Brave New World† conformity is a method in which this society prospers and maintains control. From the time people are born in this society they are ta ught how to think, what to believe, and where they belong. This method forces people to grow just exactly how the government wants them to grow. This society is controlled using various methods. If you feel any sort of emotion, which would then create individuality, you just take a â€Å"Soma†. This drug eliminates every feeling. If you feel sad, take a Soma. If you are overly excited or ambitious, take a Soma. Another method is how it is a norm to sleep around with other people frequently. In today’s society if you practice â€Å"free love† or do not have emotionally attached sex then you are awfully judged and are pegged names that deem you somebody not to get close to. In â€Å"Brave New World† the opposite is so, and if you have sex with a person regularly you are then criticized. This operates control in order to detach love from sex, for love is a feeling which would separate you in this world. John the Savage is an excellent example for what happens when a nonconformist steps foot into this society. After his displeasing trip, he tries to change the way things are run. He spreads word of how he was raised. Even hearing the word â€Å"mother† gives people there an uncomfortable feeling because they were not raised, they were not nurtured, t hey were engineered. After all is said and done John is banished, but before he can reach that point he simply falls to depression causing his most unfortunate suicide at the end of the book. To conform is an easy task for the simple minded. It is a meager achievement to breeze through life without  questioning outside of what you are taught to accept. To go above and beyond displays a true thinker, someone worth remembering for what they believed- a nonconformist.

Living With Aids †Creative Writing Essay

Living With Aids – Creative Writing Essay Free Online Research Papers Living With Aids Creative Writing Essay â€Å"Mom couldn’t stand to see me looking so sick and pathetic. She started to cry again, and hurried out of my room. She’d vowed she was never going to cry in front of me, because she figured if I knew how scared she was, I might give up.† (White, 48) Aids is a serious disease; it inevitably leads to death for the patient and to the most difficult struggle for the patient’s loved ones. There are many false ideas about aids which often makes life difficult for loved ones caring for an aids patient. In the early eighties when aids first became apparent aids was thought as a contagious â€Å"gay disease†. It took time and understanding for people to realize that it was not a â€Å"gay disease† and that innocent children and women were being infected as well. There is often a huge blanket of prejudice hanging above an aids patient which leads to making life even more unbearable for someone infected with aids. In Ryan White’s case he had to fight in court to be allowed back into school, only to be met with hate crimes when he was able to return. (White) Discrimination Many people still do not have accurate information about the aids virus, but during the eighties ignorance was at its height. AIDS patients often found it difficult to continue with their everyday activities because of the prejudice and misconception about the virus. When Ryan White was allowed to return to his public school he was forced to compromise with the school board to use disposable silverware and use separate bathrooms. (White) Bullets were shot at White’s windows, he was forced to resign from his paper route, and he was never free from insistent teasing from both peers and adults. (White) Everything that he touched was considered contaminated. The AIDS Virus â€Å"AIDS, which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is caused by a virus-the kind of bug that gives you the flu- which gets into your blood. Once it’s been there long enough, it knocks out your immune system, which is made up of particular types of cells in your blood that usually help you fight off illnesses and keep you well. Right now there is no vaccine or any other kind of medicine that rids your body of the AIDS virus and repairs your immune system. So once you have AIDS, you start coming down with all kinds of other diseases, and eventually you die from them. They knew you could get the virus from having sex with someone who had it, or by using a hypodermic needle that was contaminated with the virus. During sex your body absorbs your partner’s semen or vaginal discharge, which could carry the virus. A needle with contaminated blood on it is like a four-lane highway to AIDS, because you could inject the virus right into your own blood stream. A thi rd way the virus can get into your blood is from a transfusion of blood or blood products like Factor VIII that happened to come from someone with AIDS.† (White, 40) Some groups of people are more susceptible to being infected with the AIDS virus because of things that they do. The first group is gay men, who pass the virus along through sex. (White) Drug addicts who share needles can pass AIDS on as well. The third most common group is hemophiliacs and other people who need blood transfusions and injections of blood products. (White40-45) It is impossible to spread the AIDS virus to someone through casual contact. (White, 47) Living with Someone Infected With the AIDS Virus â€Å"If anything happens to Ryan,† she said, â€Å"I don’t want to go on without him. You and I should go out to the garage, close the doors, sit in the car, and let the motor run.† (White, 53) The combination of harassment from discriminating people, and knowing that someone you love will soon die, often leaves people caring for someone with the AIDS virus with the severe physiological trauma from dealing with it all at once. Medical expenses add up quickly for an AIDS patient’s family. The costly trips to and from the emergency room don’t come cheap, sometimes leaving families bankrupt. The time off from work that families must take doesn’t help with the financial situation. Siblings sometimes have to give up activities or stay with relatives for short periods of time off and on while parents take care of their sick AIDS child. A misconception about AIDS is that family members will also catch the virus, however that has never happened. â €Å"But you don’t have to worry,† Dr. Kleiman said. Nobody who lives with an AIDS patient has ever gotten the virus. You can’t catch it from casual contact with Ryan.† Research Papers on Living With Aids - Creative Writing EssayArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Genetic EngineeringCapital PunishmentThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsThe Spring and AutumnHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetThree Concepts of PsychodynamicThe Hockey GamePersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy

How to Make a Waterfall Firework

How to Make a Waterfall Firework A waterfall firework produces a long-lasting shower of glittering sparks, like a fiery waterfall. Here are instructions for making a waterfall firework yourself. This is a bright firework, intended to produce sparks that fall 20-30 feet. The waterfall may be suspended in the air or over a drop, as from a bridge. Waterfall Firework Mixture Potassium perchlorateMixture of 50-100 mesh aluminum and titanium and 300-400 mesh aluminum10% dextrin in water Prepare the Firework Mix together equal parts of potassium perchlorate and the metals with enough dextrin solution that you can pack the mixture.Press the composition into paper tubes approximately 8-1/2 inches x 5/8 inches (internal diameter). You can make the tubes using rolled regular paper, secured on the ends and middle with masking tape. Leave 1/2 inch open at the end of the tube for your ignition mixture.Combine equal amounts of waterfall firework mixture with gunpowder to make an ignition mixture. Pack ignition mixture and a fuse into the last 1/2 inch of the paper tube.Let the firework dry for a day or longer.Suspend a series of the waterfall tubes 20-30 feet in the air, using wire. Link the tubes together using quickmatch.When its time, light the quickmatch and enjoy the show! Waterfall Firework Safety Be sure the wire used to attach the firework to the supporting structure can withstand the heat of the firework. The burning metal produced by the firework will ignite any grass or brush underneath, so be sure to light this firework over a clean, fireproof area. Expect the sparks to be very hot, so let them burn out on their own. Dont attempt to stamp them out. Reference: Kurt Schumacher, pyrocreations.com Disclaimer: Please be advised that the content provided by our website is for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Fireworks and the chemicals contained within them are dangerous and should always be handled with care and used with common sense. By using this website you acknowledge that ThoughtCo., its parent About, Inc. (a/k/a Dotdash), and IAC/InterActive Corp. shall have no liability for any damages, injuries, or other legal matters caused by your use of fireworks or the knowledge or application of the information on this website. The providers of this content specifically do not condone using fireworks for disruptive, unsafe, illegal, or destructive purposes. You are responsible for following all applicable laws before using or applying the information provided on this website.

Book Review, King Leopold's Ghost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Book Review, King Leopold's Ghost - Essay Example King Leopold’s Ghost reminds us how man’s greed, power and desire to conquer and exploit far away lands far outweighs his compassion for humanity. The story begins with an informative history about the colonization of the Congo by explorer Henry Morton Stanley. The reader is offered a glimpse of Stanley’s lust for power and disrespect of humanity through his cunning plan to use Belgium’s King Leopold in a quest to exploit Africa as a goldmine. Leopold proves to be a suitable partner for Stanley, happy masking his true desires for power and money under the guise of philanthropy. He deceives the world with a false agenda, one which holds the best interest of the Congo locals at heart. Together, Leopold and Hochschild take steps which eventually leave the Congo in the hands of King Leopold. Thereafter, the locals are exposed to a dictatorship which enslaves them not only physically but also mentally, stripping their country of wealth. Leopold and Stanley’s titles of good king and adventuresome explorer are ripped away by Hochschild who is not afraid to use facts to paint a less flattering picture of the pair. Leopold was eager to cash in on the worlds growing demand for natural resources such as ivory and rubber which Africa was rich of and was not afraid to go to extreme lengths to achieve his goals. Punishment was measured out in whippings and included men, women and children. Hochschild uses Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad to illustrate the brutality inflicted by Leopold. Murder, decorating gardens with skull and rubbing salt into wounds were common occurrences that were openly accepted as common practice by the white Force Publique. It is estimated that the population of the Congo was reduced by half over a forty year period. Although Leopold’s exploits were well hidden, he was not free from opposition who was determined to expose his cruelty and true intentions to the rest of the world. Hochschild introduces us to

Attempts to Save a People Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Attempts to Save a People - Essay Example One of the problems with the advanced way in which human beings think is that great ideologies and mythologies about life can be envisioned. This means that there are great waves of innovation that sweep through political systems, scientific communities, and communities of those who wish to find something to believe in so that they can better understand their world. The problem comes when the thoughts of one people comes into contradiction with those of another. An assumption is made that the differences between two peoples means that one is right and one is wrong.  One of the problems with the advanced way in which human beings think is that great ideologies and mythologies about life can be envisioned. This means that there are great waves of innovation that sweep through political systems, scientific communities, and communities of those who wish to find something to believe in so that they can better understand their world. The problem comes when the thoughts of one people come s into contradiction with those of another. An assumption is made that the differences between two peoples means that one is right and one is wrong.   In particular, the rise of Western culture has created a definition of what is ‘civilized’, thus creating a great number of cultures outside of this definition for whom groups of people in the West have endeavored to find a way to ‘save’ them from the ‘backward’ nature of their culture. In addition, Christianity has been considered by many members of the religion to be the only way of life, thus furthering the interference that the West has made into indigenous populations.   Therefore, the attempts that the European settlers have made to interfere with the Native American populations created great changes that devastated those tribes. The nature of their culture was forever changed, through the introduction of disease, war, and vilification that took place during the great migrations of Euro peans into the Americas. Reforms that were attempted were too late and without effect as the tribes are now relegated to near extinction, their cultures almost completely lost, and their existence a mere fragment of their former rich heritage. The nature of the Native American in regard to his or her culture is to be lost within a world in which their culture and the rituals that defined that culture are now scattered. The Native American is an American, his or her existence defined by trying to fit the round peg of his ancestry into the square hole of the American landscape.   One of the concepts of anthropology is that one cannot study a culture without affecting it through the influence of one’s presence. The Native American tribes had more than the affect of someone looking at their culture.