Comparing and Contrasting Two Images Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Comparing and Contrasting Two Images - Essay Example illions of Americans out of work and created the justification for more government intervention in business and society that continues today through the financial stimulus package. Photographs of desperate people during this terrible period in American business history abound but one of the most famous is that by Dorothea Lange which captured the sheer desperation of a mother who was worrying how to feed all her seven children (although only three were shown in that iconic photograph with the youngest still an infant). It is an unforgettable sad portrait. On the other hand, this photograph will be contrasted with a picture of another mother in a formal (official) historical portrait by an extremely talented female painter by the name of Elisabeth-Louise Vigee-Le Brun who struck up a healthy friendship with her painting subject. It is a curious twist of history that the mother portrayed in this painting happened to be the queen of France named Marie Antoinette who was of Austrian origin but was married off to the French dauphin (heir apparent to the royal throne) at that time to cement the relations between the two countries of France and Austria. The French people soon soured of Marie Antoinette and killed her through the guillotine. These two photographs show how life can be unfair at times which in turn validates the old idiomatic expression of â€Å"thats the way the cookie crumbles.† Discussion – the first photograph is entitled â€Å"Destitute Pea Pickers in California† and it was taken by Dorothea Lange in Nipomo, California at around February or March of 1936. This was around the time when the depression was at its peak (the vicious cycle was at its worst time) and this photograph, alternatively called as â€Å"Migrant Mother† (Lange, 1936) by photograph enthusiasts, is considered as the most iconic of the Depression era. It captured the sheer sense of hopelessness, anxiety, and desperation which many Americans felt at that time but this one photograph

Berkeley :: essays research papers

Berkeley As man progressed through the various stages of evolution, it is assumed that at a certain point he began to ponder the world around him. Of course, these first attempts fell short of being scholarly, probably consisting of a few grunts and snorts at best. As time passed on, though, these ideas persisted and were eventually tackled by the more intellectual, so-called philosophers. Thus, excavation of "the external world" began. As the authoritarinism of the ancients gave way to the more liberal views of the modernists, two main positions concerning epistemology and the nature of the world arose. The first view was exemplified by the empiricists, who stated that all knowledge comes from the senses. In opposition, the rationalists maintained that knowledge comes purely from deduction, and that this knowledge is processed by certain innate schema in the mind. Those that belonged to the empiricist school of thought developed quite separate and distinct ideas concerning the nature of the substratum of sensible objects. John Locke and David Hume upheld the belief that sensible things were composed of material substance, the basic framework for the materialist position. The main figure who believed that material substance did not exist is George Berkeley. In truth, it is the immaterialist position that seems the most logical when placed under close scrutiny. The initial groundwork for Berkeley's position is the truism that the materialist is a skeptic. In the writing of his three dialogues, Berkeley develops two characters: Hylas (the materialist) and Philonous (Berkeley himself). Philonous draws upon one central supposition of the materialist to formulate his argument of skepticism against him; this idea is that one can never perceive the real essence of anything. In short, the materialist feels that the information received through sense experience gives a representative picture of the outside world (the representative theory of perception), and one can not penetrate to the true essece of an object. This makes logical sense, for the only way to perceive this real essence would be to become the object itself! Although the idea is logical, it does contain a certain grounding for agnosticism. Let the reader consider this: if there is no way to actually sense the true material essence of anything, and all knowledge in empiricism comes from the senses, then the real material essence can not be perceived and therefore it can not be posited. This deserves careful consideration, for the materialist has been self-proclaimed a skeptic! If the believer in this theory were asked if a mythical beast such as a cyclops existed he would most certainly say no. As part of his reply he might add that because it can not be sensed it

Great Depression and Person Adolf Hitler Essay

â€Å"If you want to shine like sun first you have to burn like it.† The words were rightly said by mankind’s greatest mind and most despised person Adolf Hitler. Many Historians wonder how such a commonplace, comical-looking figure could have become the object of mass hysterical adulation. Many see Hitler as a diabolical adventurer, motivated solely by envy for personal power; he was misunderstood for his mental capabilities. He was not interested in grappling serious, wit profound intellectual problems. Instead, he portrayed himself as a â€Å"great simplifier† who could solve problems and reduce them to elementary slogans and solutions. His success in pulling Germany out of the depression and virtually eliminating unemployment reinforced this view of himself as a great simplifier. This taught me that no matter how big or complex a problem is; a trick is all u need to make it simple enough even for the dull to understand. Hitler precisely said â€Å"Do not compare yourself to others. If you do so, you are insulting yourself.† Because of competition among the major world powers, he felt under confident but then because of sturdy will he was able to overpower them all. Many a times when I feel under confident, just because I am compared to the better people out there, I remember this and get right back on the track. For the first few months He took to the stage, he appeared nervous and spoke haltingly. Slowly he would begin to relax and his style of delivery would change. He would start to rock from side to side and begin to gesticulate with his hands. His voice would get louder and become more passionate. He ranted and raved about the injustices done to Germany and played on his audience’s emotions of hatred and envy. By the end of the speech the audience would be in a state of near hysteria and were willing to do whatever Hitler suggested. This gave me the optimism to interact to people of higher status and education level. Speaking in front of huge crowds and in formal organizations is surely nerve-wrecking. But if a man of his altitude can be nervous so why can’t I. Slowly and gradually I gained more confidence. He possessed an unusually retentive memory much like that of an elephant. So he could remember his faults and not repeat it ever again. From this I got encouraged to remember and learn from my mistakes. He saw everything in terms of extremes opposites. People were either his followers or his enemies. War for Germany meant either world power or defeat. My perspective to this was weather give in your 100% or don’t try it. Adolf Hitler was not a power hungry psychopath; rather a patriot who was determined and devoted to work for the country. The man was plainly a nationalist. Just his methods for vengeance were vicious. There are innumerable examples wherein Hitler used his extraordinary power as dictator to push both evil and good policies such as providing cars and radios, making highways making laws for animal integrity. Again, it’s important to keep in mind the ‘yin yang’ concept, when attempting to make sense of such information concerning a person and his achievements. I would like to end with another of Hitler’s saying â€Å"It is not truth that matters, but victory. Because if you win, you need not have to explain..If you lose, you should not be there to explain.†

Thomas Hobbes And The Enlightenment - 878 Words

Can you imagine America with a monarchy? Can you imagine America with a king? All the power possessed by a single individual. This means that there will be no voting on who should be a leader, but the power goes from one to the other by inheritance. There will be a king fulfilling his role as a supreme leader by surrounding himself with people who will help him govern. This is hard to imagine, but Enlightenment thinkers expressed their opinions on different questions related to this. The Enlightenment was an era from 1600 to 1800. It was a break from strictness of the Catholic Church and a period of intelligence and business growth in Europe. It grew out of the Renaissance, especially humanists. During this era, there were philosophers who were known as Enlightenment thinkers. They thought about two questions. First, are people naturally good or evil? Second, what type of government is best? Thomas Hobbes, an Englishman born in 1588, is one of the Enlightenment thinkers. Hobbes wrote The Leviathan, published in 1651, observing the violence and behavior of people near the end of the English Civil War. He believed that monarchy is the best government. John Locke, another Enlightenment thinker, is an Englishman born in 1632. Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government, published in 11689,expressing his opinions on the â€Å"state of nature† and types of government. He, on the other hand, believed that democracy is the best government. While Thomas Hobbes believed that people areShow MoreRelatedHobbes, Marx, and Shah1503 Words   |  7 PagesThe cold, calculating, and logical brains of Enlightenment thinkers are much different from the emotional, fantasy-loving mind of Romantics. The Enlightenment was an 18th century movement in which rationality and science were placed as the number one things a human could have (Brians). The Enlightenment also propagated the idea equality and liberalism (Brians). Romanticism was an international movement which occurred aft er the Enlightenment during the late 1700s to the mid-1800s (Melani). ItRead MoreThe State Of Nature And Government1315 Words   |  6 Pagessubject that Hobbes and Locke both discuss in their book. The enlightenment period was a time of Learning, new inventions, new theories, and new government. Two prominent figures that became known during the enlightenment were Thomas Hobbes (1588-1674) and John Locke (1632-1704). These enlightenment authors represent two different side of the political spectrum; Locke represents the right wing with his book â€Å"Second Treatise on Civil Government† and â€Å"A Letter Concerning Toleration† and Hobbes representRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightenment In Frankenstein835 Words   |  4 Pagesworks of individuals during the Age of Enlightenment. Consequently, many of the ideas and theories that were expressed during the Age of Enlightenment are found throughout Shelley’s gothic novel. Furthermore, the Age of Enlightenment impacted the events depicted in Mary Shelley’s gothic novel, Frankenstein, such as man’s state of nature, as discussed by John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Thomas Hobbes is considered one of the first major figures of the Enlightenment, and his major argument presented atRead MoreEssay On John Locke And Thomas Hobbes1076 Words   |  5 PagesLocke and Thomas Hobbes John Locke and Thomas Hobbes, two English Enlightenment philosophers, were both very influential politically and philosophically despite having almost opposite beliefs. While each individually influenced later documents and events such as the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, they had an equally big impact in history. Today, everyone recognizes natural rights and the modern system of government uses social contracts every day. Thomas Hobbes was bornRead MoreThe Enlightenments Eras Most Notable Thinkers1684 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿The Enlightenment was a crucial period in modern history for the simple fact that it engendered some of the thoughts that are directly responsible for contemporary social, political, and religious institutions. This epoch, along with the Renaissance, helped to spur Western Civilization out of the Dark Ages and into contemporary conceptions of modernization. Not surprisingly, this time period is characterized by a number of different seditions and the revolutionary tenets that fueled them which wereRead MoreThe Enlightenment : The Ideas Of The Enlightenment720 Words   |  3 PagesDuring the Enlightenment era, both elite culture and popular culture had influences, philosophers dominating the ideals of the time period. In the eighteenth century, philosophers such as Adam Smith, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean Jacques Rousseau empowered people to think upon their natural rights and sugg ested new ideologies to follow and/or support. Additionally, because of the Enlightenment, the Realist and Neoclassical Art Movement spurred and gathered momentum as artists changed the art scene withRead MoreThe Enlightenment : The Greatest Impact Of The Enlightenment945 Words   |  4 Pageswould be very different if the Enlightenment did not occur in the 18th century. With people like Immanuel Kant, Baron de Montesquieu, and John Locke, the Enlightenment was one of the most revolutionary events to ever occur. For example, Immanuel Kant explored human experiences, Montesquieu believed that there should be three branches of government, and John Locke believed in the social contract and the ability to own life, liberty and property. The ideas of the Enlightenment drastically changed the worldRead MoreThe American Constitution And The Bill Of Rights1463 Words   |  6 PagesThe Enlightenment was an eighteenth century scholarly development moved in France that had enduring repercuss ions all through Europe and America. Addressing conventional teachings and qualities denoted the Enlightenment; there was a prominent propensity towards independence and accentuation on the thoughts of human advance. The American Constitution and the Bill of Rights are both results of the Enlightenment and thoughts of the philosophes, specifically John Locke. Thomas Hobbes and John LockeRead MoreEssay about European Enlightenment612 Words   |  3 PagesEnlightenment The enlightenment was the growth of thought of European thinkers in the 1600’s. The spread of enlightenment was a result of the Scientific Revolution during the 1500’s and 1600’s. It resulted as a need to use reason to distribute human laws. It also came about from a need to solve social, political and economic problems. Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier built the framework for modern chemistry during the enlightenment. Edward Jenner built a vaccine against smallpox, a deadlyRead MoreEssay on Thomas Hobbes and the Social Theory Contract597 Words   |  3 PagesPhilosopher, Thomas Hobbes and the Social Theory Contract for a clear understanding of the issues. The Social Contract Theory is the basis for the Declaration of Independence and the guiding theories for the Unite States Government as well as many other governments, such as the European Union, England and France, to name a few. The theory is about why people choose to give us some of their rights and powers in order to form a government. That government has a series of purposes. Thomas Hobbes theorized