Religious beliefs Essay Example for Free

Religious beliefs Essay In What Pragmatism Means, James writes that the central point of his own doctrine of truth is, in brief, that truth is one species of good, and not, as is usually supposed, a category distinct from good, and coordinate with it. Truth is the name of whatever proves itself to be good in the way of belief, and good, too, for definite, assignable reasons. Richard Rorty claims that James did not mean to give a theory of truth with this statement, and that we should not regard it as such; though other pragmatism scholars such as Susan Haak and Howard Mounce do not share an instrumentalist interpretation of James. Bruce Kuklick, (Kuklick, tells us that, â€Å"James went on to apply the pragmatic method to the epistemological problem of truth. He would seek the meaning of true by examining how the idea functioned in our lives. A belief was true, he said, if in the long run it worked for all of us, and guided us expeditiously through our semi-hospitable world. James was anxious to uncover what true beliefs amounted to in human life, what their Cash Value was, what consequences they led to. A belief was not a mental entity which somehow mysteriously corresponded to an external reality if the belief were true. Beliefs were ways of acting with reference to a precarious environment, and to say they were true was to say they guided us satisfactorily in this environment. † In this sense the pragmatic theory of truth applied Darwinian ideas in philosophy; it made survival the test of intellectual as well as biological fitness. If what was true was what worked, we can scientifically investigate religions claim to truth in the same manner. The enduring quality of religious beliefs throughout recorded history and in all cultures gave indirect support for the view that such beliefs worked. James also argued directly that such beliefs were satisfying—they enabled us to lead fuller, richer lives and were more viable than their alternatives. Religious beliefs were expedient in human existence, just as scientific beliefs were. † William James gave a further direction to pragmatism, developing it as a theory of truth. True ideas, according to James, are useful leadings; they lead through experience in ways that provide consistency, orderliness, and predictability. John Dewey was another leading pragmatist whose influence on educational and social theory is still prevalent in American society. We learn from (American Pragmatism I), that â€Å"James elaborated his theory of pragmatism in works such as Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking (1907) and The Meaning of Truth: A Sequel to Pragmatism (1909). He considered pragmatism to be both a method for analyzing philosophic problems and a theory of truth. He also saw it as an extension of the empiricist attitude in that it turned away from abstract theory and fixed or absolute principles and toward concrete facts, actions, and relative principles. James considered philosophies to be expressions of personal temperament and developed a correlation between tough-minded and tender-minded temperaments and empiricist and rationalist positions in philosophy. Theories, he felt, are instruments that humans use to solve problems and should be judged in terms of their cash value or practical consequences for human conduct. Reference American Pragmatism I. â€Å"Pragmatism†. Adventures in Philosophy. James, William. (1902-1920). â€Å"What is Pragmatism†. The Library of America. Lecture II Kuklick, Bruce. â€Å"William James†. The Introduction to William James’s Pragmatism. Wikipedia, The Free Dictionary.

Growth of Mormon Church Essay -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

On, April 6, 1830, a then 24-year-old young man named Joseph Smith Jr. gathered in a small room along with six other people to organize a Church that would change American history. Since the age of 14, Joseph Smith had always been a source of contentment and ridicule by people of all social classes and religions. Ten years earlier, in the spring of 1820, this young boy declared that he had seen a vision, that he had been visited by both God, and His Son, Jesus Christ. This vision is a cornerstone of the Church that is known today as, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed the â€Å"Mormons†, a religion that was built on the ideals of communal living and strict obedience to religious guidelines, a people that would be hunted by mobs, and that would eventually erect a â€Å"sanctuary† of 15,000 â€Å"saints† only 13 years after its foundation, a religion that Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum would be murdered for at the age of 38, a Church that would grow from 7 members in 1830, to a congregation of over 11 million in the year 2000.# Why did many early American settlers, both rich and poor, believe in the Mormon doctrines and, by contrast, why did so many early settlers despise these people for their beliefs? In order for us to understand how the early Mormon Church grew at such a rapid pace, and why this particular new religion survived when many others started with the same fervor, but did not have the staying power of Mormonism, we have to first look at the time and region in which this new faith began. I don’t know if there could have been a time and place any where in the world that was more prepared for Joseph Smith Jr., and the Mormon religion, than western New York in the early 1830’s. At this time in U.S. history, what was called the â€Å"Second Great Awakening† was taking place throughout the country,# and western New York had been labeled the â€Å"Burned-over District† by a lawyer from New York, named Charles Finney, because it â€Å"had been scorched by the flames of religious enthusiasm.†# Revivals and religious fervor were taking hold, and many new denominations were being formed, this area of the country became famous â€Å"for its hist ory of revivalism, radicalism, utopian experiments. It was fertile ground for new ideas to take root and spread to other parts of the country.†# Joseph Smith was able to capitalize on this when he founded the LDS Church ... ...wakening and Rise of Evangelicalism, 15 February 2005, http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA95/finseth/evangel.html Brodie, Fawn McKay. No Man Knows My History, The Life of Joseph Smith, The Mormon Prophet. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1945. Joseph Smith-History: Extracts From the History of Joseph Smith, The Prophet. Utah: Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979. Mississippi River Home Page, Mormons in the Midwest, 1830-1846, 15 February 2005, http://www.greatriver.com/mormons.htm National Humanities Center, Evangelicalism, Revivalism, and the Second Great Awakening, 15 February 2005, http://www.nhc.rtp.nc.us/tserve/nineteen/nkeyinfo/nevanrev.htm Public Broadcast Service. American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith. 15 February 2005, http://www.pgs.org/americanprophet/index.html. San Diego University History Department, The Burned-Over District, 15 February 2005, http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/civilwar/01/burned.html The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 15 February 2005, http://www.lds.org/ The National Parks Service, Mormon Pioneer, 15 February 2005, http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/mopi/hrs1.htm

Pros and Cons of Globalization Essay

Former CEO of Vodafone Group, Mr. Arun Sarin, at the 2009 Global Business Forum debated that there is a profound change occurring in the world today. The world is becoming more interconnected due not only to physical infrastructure but also the intellectual and software infrastructure that is being built; moreover, the way in that trade is being done today. For him, the United States is still the most powerful country in the world; however, if the country wants to have global excellence in the future, innovation is a most. Since its earliest appearance, about three decades ago, the term globalization has been used to describe a process, a condition, a system, a force, and an age. The term signifies a social condition characterized by the existence of global economic, political, cultural, and environmental interconnections and flows that make many of the currently existing borders and boundaries irrelevant. Globalization suggests dynamism best explained by the idea of change and the transformation of present conditions. In other words, globalization is an ongoing process rather than a static condition. According to Manfred Steger, author of the book: Globalization: A Very Short Introduction, globalization refers to a multidimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch, and intensify worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing awareness of deepening connections between the local and the distant. In the other hand, globalization is a complex and contradictory phenomenon that encompasses progress and degradation, opportunity and compulsion, freedom and restrictions. These countless contradictions are points of political contestation. Advantages of Globalization * Countries around the world have made the choice of establishing trade relationships with each other in order to improve their economy. Past hostile experiences were left behind, and globalization has announced an era of international peace and security. In addition, there has been propagation of democratic ideas among countries. * Countries have resolved to test free trade with some regions. Eliminating taxes, duties, and export/import quotas has allowed consumers to buy goods and services at a lower cost. * Globalization is encouraging the use of international connectivity such as the internet. Exchanging thoughts and ideas is helping interlink people around the world. * Several companies are investing in other markets providing better employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled labor all around the world. Globalization is helping in increasing the standard of living of the developing world; and at the same time is helping to reduce poverty. * Competition among different countries is leading to international innovation and quality goods. Consumers are benefited in the process because they get quality products at a cheaper rate and from a large variety available in the market. * Mutual trade has brought an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment and natural resources. Global environmental problems are being discussed. Disadvantages of Globalization * Many people from develop nations are losing jobs since corporations are outsourcing work to developing countries due to savings in cost of labor. There is a lot of pressure in the develop world; people are always under the threat of their job being outsourced. Outsourcing has resulted in unemployment. * Any sort of economic disruption in one nation will have a domino-effect on other nations that are closely related to that country in terms of trade and commerce. * Influence of local cultures and traditions will slowly start to wear down. Western ideas will impose over other cultures. * Globalization may lead to more environmental problems. A company may want to build factories in other countries because environmental laws are not as strict as they are at home. * Income distribution within countries is becoming less equal. The rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. * Transnational integration and increased mobility has simultaneously strengthened and diminished the protection of individual rights and the dignity of individuals. Globalized markets have facilitated more monitoring of social conditions but have also opened up more opportunities for economic exploitation. Example of the pros and cons of globalization The Philippines is one of the countries in Asia that has been affected by the contradictions of globalization. The country is taking part in the process since it became part of the World Trade Organization in 1995. Globalization has allowed major changes in the nation like more labor, more Filipino foreign companies, high levels of education, and high per capita income. Philippines have four regions that globalization has targeted and these four are: liberalization, mobility of capital, technology, and management of organization through private and public sectors. Nevertheless, the Philippine state has failed in organizing a socioeconomic environment that would have prepared the country for global competition. Many Filipinos believe that globalization has done nothing for their country. And this is due to the poverty that has been becoming worse each year. The Philippines is still corrupt and still faces economic and political problems, therefore, the nation and its people does not trust the process of globalization. About 60% of the population lives in poverty and poverty levels are still increasing. The institutional framework of a country, its political culture and the quality of its leadership play an important role in fostering economic development and in promoting social welfare. For some, globalization can make the Philippines a better nation if the Philippine leaders get involve in allowing for more global trading and more foreign investors to the help boost the economy. And by accomplishing those goals, the Philippines should be able to reduce poverty levels. The Future of Globalization Globalization is transforming the structure of worldwide interaction and people are changing along with it. The positives aspects of globalization are becoming more significant than the negatives ones. In the long term, the world will be transformed into a more prosperous, democratic, and peaceful environment. This may means that cultural conflict and global chaos will occur in the short term but large economic growth and democratic governance will prevail in the long term. Globalization is making the way for free trade and international business. It is also improving communication around the world. The biggest advantage is that globalization has the potential to make the world a better place to live in. Globalization cannot be stopped; however, leaders should always be on the top of its spread and outcomes. Work Cited Steger, M. B. (2004). Globalization, a very short introduction. New York: Oxford University Press, USA. Retrieved from http://library.books24x7.com.dml.regis.edu/SearchResults.aspx?qdom=author&scol={all}&qstr=Manfred B. Steger Hill, C. (2010). International business. (8 ed., Vol. 5). New York City NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Rupert, M., & Solomon, S. (2006). Globalization & international political economy. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers INC.

Acetate Definition - What Is an Acetate

Acetate refers to the acetate anion and the acetate ester functional group. The acetate anion is formed from acetic acid and has a chemical formula of CH3COO-. The acetate anion is commonly abbreviated as OAc in formulas. For example, sodium acetate is abbreviated NaOAc and acetic acid is HOAc. The acetate ester group connects a functional group to the last oxygen atom of the acetate anion. The general formula for the acetate ester group is CH3COO-R. Key Takeaways: Acetate The word acetate refers to the acetate anion, the acetate functional group, and to compounds that include the acetate anion.The chemical formula for the acetate anion is C2H3O2-.The simplest compound made using acetate is hydrogen acetate or ethanoate, which is most often called acetic acid.Acetate in the form of acetyl CoA is used in metabolism to yield chemical energy. However, too much acetate in the bloodstream can lead to adenosine accumulation, which causes symptoms of a hangover. Acetic Acid and Acetates When the negatively-charged acetate anion combines with a positively charged cation, the resulting compound is called an acetate. The simplest of these compounds is hydrogen acetate, which is commonly called acetic acid. The systematic name of acetic acid is ethanoate, but the name acetic acid is preferred by the IUPAC. Other important acetates are acetate of lead (or sugar of lead), chromium(II) acetate, and aluminum acetate. Most transition metal acetates are colorless salts that are highly soluble in water. At one time, lead acetate was used as a (toxic) sweetener. Aluminum acetate is used in dyeing. Potassium acetate is a diuretic. Most acetic acid produced by the chemical industry is used to prepare acetates. Acetates, in turn, are primarily used to make polymers. Nearly half of acetic acid production goes to preparing vinyl acetate, which is used to make polyvinyl alcohol, an ingredient in paint. Another fraction of acetic acid is used to make cellulose acetate, which is used to make fibers for the textile industry and acetate discs in the audio industry. In biology, acetates occur naturally for use in biosynthesis of more complex organic molecules. For example, bonding two carbons from acetate to a fatty acid produces a more complex hydrocarbon. Acetate Salts and Acetate Esters Because acetate salts are ionic, they tend to dissolve well in water. One of the easiest forms of acetate to prepare at home is sodium acetate, which is also known as hot ice. Sodium acetate is prepared by mixing vinegar (dilute acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and evaporating off the excess water. While acetate salts are typically white, soluble powders, acetate esters are typically available as lipophilic, often volatile liquids. Acetate esters have the general chemical formula CH3CO2R, in which R is an organyl group. Acetate esters are typically inexpensive, display low toxicity, and often have a sweet odor. Acetate Biochemistry Methanogen archaea produce methane via a disproportionation reaction of fermentation: CH3COO- H → CH4 CO2 In this reaction, a single electron is transferred from the carbonyl of the carboxylic group to the methyl group, releasing methane gas and carbon dioxide gas. In animals, acetate is most commonly used in the form acetyl coenzyme A. Acetyl coenzyme A or acetyl CoA is important for lipid, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism. It delivers the acetyl group to the citric acid cycle for oxidation, which leads to energy production. Acetate is believe to cause or at least contribute to hangovers from alcohol consumption. When alcohol is metabolized in mammals, increased levels of serum acetate lead to adenosine accumulation in the brain and other tissues. In rats, caffeine has been shown to reduce nociceptive behavior in response to adenosine. So, while drinking coffee after consuming alcohol may not increase sobriety of a person (or rat), it may reduce the likelihood of getting a hangover. Resources and Further Reading Cheung, Hosea, et al. â€Å"Acetic Acid.† Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 15 June 2000.Holmes, Bob. â€Å"Is Coffee the Real Cure for a Hangover?† New Scientist, 11 Jan. 2011.March, Jerry. Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure. 4th ed., Wiley, 1992.Nelson, David Lee, and Michael M Cox. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 3rd ed., Worth, 2000.Vogels, G.D., et al. â€Å"Biochemistry of Methane Production.† Biology of Anaerobic Microorganisms, edited by Alexander J.B. Zehnder, 99th ed., Wiley, 1988, pp. 707-770.