Wednesday, October 30, 2019

The topic for your paper will be Baze v Rees, a Supreme Court hearing Term

The topic for your will be Baze v Rees, a Supreme Court hearing on lethal injection. The question for your 3-4 page - Term Paper Example First and foremost, the main argument on the part of the Baze’s lawyers was that sodium thiopental, the first drug to be given, is likely to be injected improperly making the petitioners feel an ominous pain before the final death provoked by the second and the third drugs, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride (Supreme Court, 2008). It is a precedent to appeal to the 8th Amendment. The idea is that this prescription to the paramount law document of the US judicial system gives ground to consider causing pain as an undemocratic step within the law system and capital punishment at large. Insofar, the 8th Amendment states as follows: â€Å"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted† (U.S. Constitution - Amendment 8, 2010, p. 1). Thus, the Constitution provides a particular background to justify the case of Baze v. Rees. Thus, an unconstitutional administration of lethal injection had become the main thesis by the petitioners – both convicted in double homicide – stating that there is the â€Å"risk that the protocol’s terms might not be properly followed, resulting in significant pain† (Mandery, 2011, p. 483). ... There were different arguments to make such a conclusion. First of all, â€Å"cruel and unusual punishments† are those inflicted for the sake of the punishment and pain, in particular. Thereupon, lethal injection does not presuppose disembowelment, torture, beheading, burning alive or some substantial risk going apart from humane procedures regarding capital punishment. To say more, three justices had a concurrent claim that following the case Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U. S. 153, capital punishment complies with the constitutional norms: â€Å"Because some risk of pain is inherent in even the most humane execution method, if only from the prospect of error in following the required procedure, the Constitution does not demand the avoidance of all risk of pain† (Supreme Court, 2008, p. 1). This is the standpoint supported by the majority of the Court. It makes a strong assumption that has nothing to do with the precedent of Wilkerson v. Utah, 99 U. S. 130 (Supreme Court, 2008 ). Nonetheless, petitioners overall claim of the substantial risk in case of improper following the administration of the lethal injection encountered another counter claim by the Court. In this respect the minimal risk is imposed while mixing the death â€Å"cocktail†, and it is a generally accepted fact which suggests â€Å"manufacturers’ thiopental package insert instructions† to be clear to follow even by a newbie (Supreme Court, 2008). The alternative proposed by the petitioners did not correspond to the humane character of the 8th Amendment. As a matter of fact barbiturate-only protocol used primarily by the veterinarians to put animals to sleep was not acceptable in this respect (Supreme Court, 2008). It would definitely go apart with the federal system of capital

Monday, October 28, 2019

Religious Experience is Nothing but Fantasy Essay Example for Free

Religious Experience is Nothing but Fantasy Essay The above criticism to religious belief was proposed by Sigmund Freud; who thought that the origin of relig exp (religious experience) is rooted in the unconscious and that they are a product of eschewed psychosexual development. Freud rejected any appeal to the supernatural to explain these occurrences as our mind regularly deludes itself, pointing to dreams as an obvious example. The materialistic approach to explaining relig exp has led scientists to pinpoint specific physical causes of this phenomena; St Paul of Tarsus is thought to have possessed a form of epilepsy. In this case, Pauls relig exp would be a fantasy but perceived as real experience. A theistic challenge to materialism is that God and organic explanations of religious phenomena. In this way our brains may be wired up to experience God; materialism does not necessarily deem all relig exp fantasy. But how does one explain those who do not experience religious phenomena? Are some people born with Gods calling card? This in my mind is where atheists and theists will never agree; theists will say God only chooses some to be his messengers and atheists will say that our genetics and upbringing predispose some of us to superstition. In this way we cannot know whether each and every religious experience is fantasy; a conclusion reached by Bertrand Russell who reasoned that the fundamental truth that we cannot get inside someone elses head and verify the experience deems this argument irresolvable. William James set out specific criteria for a religious experience. For example, the experience must be transient i.e it is temporary and therefore cannot be sustained. This conveniently prevents science from examining the psychological causes of the experience; further evidence that this argument is irresolvable. James based in conclusions in part on Pragmatism; the doctrine that truth is the acceptable conclusion for whomever concerned; in this sense, religious experiences are very much true to the believer. This would be seconded by Ludwig Wittgenstein who indentified religion as a closed language game; proposing that the experiences are fantasy is not an accepted move and is only know to the outside observer. Ergo, to say religious experiences are fantasy excludes the one accepted explanation upon which religion is based; God did it. The term fantasy is vague; does this indicate a belief that we want to be true and know is false or rather a true deception ourselves. The former seems plausible in the case of Mass Hysteria e.g The Toronto Blessing, where our desire to fit in overtakes our desire to be right; what psychologists call Normative Social Influence. As James pointed out, these psychological explanations do not necessarily reject God. However, they do give us no reason to believe in him via Occams razor (believe in the most simple of the explanations) and thus reckon religious experiences as fantasy. This brings to mind Anthony Flews Death by 1000 qualifications; constantly changing the goalposts for the definition of God so that the eventual result is an idea that possesses no verifiable or falsifiable claim. Thus God cannot be counted in or out of existence, or even on the fence. Kant objected to the term religious experience; calling it a contradiction. How can we experience that which is fundamentally beyond our sensory capacity? We experience people and trees and the world around us because it is finite; as are we. We can level the challenge that we experience the universe, which is infinite, but that we experience finite sections of the infinite set. Similarly we can count numbers but not count to the be it and end all of real of the numbers. God we can experience in short, transient bursts but cannot experience the sum of him; this is not logically impossible. Kants reasoning is not the reason to reject religious experience as fantasy; as with religion there can only be one wholly true explanation of religious phenomena. Only one religion can be wholly true as they make incompatible claims; and so we must dismiss most religious experiences as fantasy. And if we reject most religious experiences, then those remaining must be of the same psychological nature so they too can be dismissed as fantasy. Jamess pluralism is merely another get out clause; another death by 1000 qual which offers no explanation to how faiths are linked, and is infinitely less simple than materialism. In conclusion, not every criticism levelled against religious experience is sound. However, only one is sufficient; that because we can track the experience of God to psycho/physiological phenomena, there is no reason left to believe in God even though the two are not mutually exclusive. Since the debate cannot be resolved ala Russell, we must assume the answer is not the theistic one.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

A Man Called Horse Character Analysis :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dorothy Johnson in â€Å"A Man Called Horse† writes about a young man who was born and raised in Boston. He lives in a gracious home under his grandmothers and grandfather’s loving care. For some reason, he is discontent. He leaves home to try to find out the reason for his discontent. Upon leaving he undergoes a change in status and opinion of himself and others. He begins a wealthy young man arrogant and spoiled, becomes a captive of Crow Indians- docile and humble, and emerges a man equal to all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The young man begins the story wealthy and spoiled. Johnson in the opening paragraphs suggest that the protagonist is just a wealthy and spoiled young man. He is just in search for a new life, â€Å"...he still brooded about his status in the world, longing for his equals.† So he decided to travel out West in search for these equals. Even though his â€Å"...father had raged and his grandmother had cried...†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon leaving Boston, the young man’s status and attitude change drastically. He becomes a captive of Crow Indians who treat him badly. He becomes property of a â€Å"...scrawny, shrieking, eternally busy old woman with ragged graying hair..† He must gain her trust to earn more freedom around the camp and such. During this time he was â€Å"...finding out what loneliness could be.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He earns a future, and in his final stage of transformation becomes a man equal to all. This happens after he marries Pretty Calf and understands their customs and traditions. The captive was like a horse all summer, â€Å"...docile bearer of burdens, careful and patient..† Until he earned trust that is.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

William and the Khans

With little gifts to bear, William is advised by the merchants of Constantinople that the captains and the Mongol Khans must be greeted with gifts, otherwise he will not be looked upon properly (William, p. 49). William embarked on this mission to deliver a letter on behalf of King Louis IX to Scratch, and to encourage conversion to Christianity. However, In his encounters with Scratch, Abate, and Managua Khan the purpose of his visit is misunderstood by a linguistic misinterpretation.Despite his allure to convert many people to Christianity, his letter is significant in presenting some of the educational and religious movements occurring within Europe, and the relations that were emerging through commerce In the thirteenth century. Rupee's growing emphasis on education would broaden the horizons of Christianity, and commerce created interconnectedness among cultures regardless of religious differences. Western Europe developed a growing desire for advancements In education during th e twelfth century.Places such as Toledo, spawn was â€Å"renowned as a center f learning where Muslims, Jews, and Christians freely intermingled† (Smith, Crossroads p. 414). After the Latin translations of Aristotle works began to enhance the method of thought towards the natural world, Pope Innocent Ill, along with the other popes of Rome, â€Å"placed Pearls schools of theology under their own supervision†, and recognized them as the first university (Smith, Crossroads, p. 414). The school's basis on Christianity was built on language of religion, translation of texts, and the notion of spreading Christian values.With driven by such educational ND religious values, William Informed King Louis IX that his letter had been translated into Arabic and Syrian, so that it could be interpreted for Scratch Khan (William, p. 105). To his misfortune, the lack of linguistic accuracy did not allow the letter to be delivered as he expected. From this mistake, he was sent to see Ab ate, who then sent him to see Managua Khan. Upon seeing Managua, William was Informed that Abate had sent a letter to Managua informing him that he had â€Å"asked for troops and aid from Scratch against the Saracens (William, p, 166). Pone hearing this, William as overcome with a sense of astonishment and annoyance toward what he believed to be a misinterpretation. However, during this period Europe was heavily involved In the Crusades, and a plea for assistance from King Louis IX by letter might have been a probability. Western European universities promoted a sense of support for the 1 OFF to be overcome to properly interact the religious teachings. Williams attempts, though futile, were agreeable with the church and universities in the spread of Christianity.Along the way to Khartoum, William encounters many people of diverse cultural ND religious backgrounds. Some of which include Muslims, Tibetan, Buddhists, and Insertion Christians. With such a willingness to allow the exist ence of other religious sects in the Mongolia Empire, there is a better sense of commercial mentality throughout the land. During this century, economic growth â€Å"was driven by rising agricultural productivity, population increases, and the expansion of markets, rather than revolutionary changes in industrial organization and technology' (Smith, Crossroads, p. 381).European benefactors that contributed to this growing immemorial environment include, innovations in navigation such as the nautical compass, Portland, and the astrolabe (Smith, Crossroads, p. 382). Intercultural commerce became interdependent and more efficient. In the sass's â€Å"the Mongol conquests dominate the history of Eurasia†, which allowed them to control many components of commerce along China, the Pacific Ocean, and the Mediterranean (Smith, Crossroads, p. 443). This reign in intercultural trade and commerce was expressed in the Mongol's excessive representation of pride in their culture, and apath y towards others.Before Williams encounter with Abate, he mentions that â€Å"they have risen so much in their pride, that though they may believe somewhat in Christ, yet will they no be called Christian, wishing to exalt their own name of Moll above all other† (William, p. 107). As a leading culture, the Mongols represent their religious and political dominance by moral expressions, and a vast control in agricultural trade around the time of Williams visit. The connections between Williams visit to Khartoum, and Rupee's new found sire for educational institutions can be drawn together by a desire for advancement.Just as educational acknowledgements in â€Å"Christian teachings, Summary Theological† were core ideas for progress in the overgrowing number of Universities, the spread of Christianity had a similar drive within European society (Smith, Crossroads, p. 414). Williams attempt to translate the French Kings letter was done in a hopeful effort to make it understa ndable to Scratch, and to show his acceptance of Christianity as suspected prior to the mission. Rather than converting Scratch, he as sent to see Abate, where his mission and efforts of conversion continued.Williams experience throughout his Journey was one of constant struggle. He was thoroughly misunderstood by the Mongolia people, and was looked down upon at various times. During this period the Mongolia Empire had a sense of superiority for their culture, which was a reflection of their successes. Controlling and preserving China's â€Å"agriculture way of life would generate far greater rewards†, and would allow them ample opportunities in the trade market (Crossroads and Cultures, p. 42).Despite Williams detailed recollections, the events and circumstances that surrounded him superseded the importance of a single friar on a conquest to covert people into Christians. Following his Journey, he noted that his efforts only allowed him to convert six people. Whether this ac count is truthful is unknown. His recollections must be taken as observations of a time period, rather than an when we observe how the outside world reacted towards the writer, we are able to get a better perspective of the time and context of discussion.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Four Key Barriers to Communication Essay

There are four key barriers to communication. These barriers are Process barriers, personal barriers, physical barriers and semantic barriers. As a manager I plan to overcome all of these barriers using guidelines, tools, processes and procedures. Process barriers are a big barrier to communication. The process of communication involves sending and receiving a message between two people. Sometimes things go wrong during the transmission of information. To overcome these barriers I would work on my communication skills. I would make sure I am speaking slowly and clearly in easy to understand terms. I would ask the other person to repeat back to me what I said and make sure I use my listening skills to fully understand what they comprehended. I will also not use text messages or email to communication. I will rely on phone and face to face. Another barrier to communication is personal barriers. Personal barriers are related to trust and ego. If two people don’t trust each other the communication process will be distorted. I will use honesty and integrity to earn the trust of my employees. I will not let my ego get in the way of how I run my business. We will have a strict policy for honesty, respect and fair treatment of employees. Physical barriers are pertaining to distance time and work office noise. Sometimes because of distance and time companies use email to communicate. I feel that this is not as good as face to face communication because communication is often misunderstood through email. I will enforce a strict policy of actually talking to each other rather than emailing. Phone calls and Skype will be our primary form of communication at our company. Everyone will have their own office to cut down on background noises. Flex time schedules will be used to compensate for the time difference on the west coast. Sematic barriers are encoding and decoding errors because of phrases and jargon. Cultural diversity is a key contributor to sematic barriers. As a manager I will not allow any company jargon or phrases to be used. We will only speak in terms that the average person could understand. Also when hiring new employees they will be interviewed by 3 different managers with  different foreign accents. If they have trouble understanding different accents then they will not be hired. We will also encourage hiring a very diverse workforce from every culture.