Personal Narrative in Game Maplestory Essay -- Online Roleplaying Game

Warriors: Wizards :: Mushrooms: Pigs The sun shone brightly as I stared off into the distant grass, swaying unrelentingly as the winds lashed upon it. But within the silky surface of the monotonous sea of green, I spotted an interruption – a staccato in the melody of the breeze. From afar, I could see only see a vague outline, but I knew it was approaching me, mindlessly yet fervently as if I were a light and it were a bug. And so it began. I tightly wielded my club. I could feel the coarseness of the wood beneath my battle-worn fingers. I lifted the weapon and situated it in front of me, grasping it firmly with both hands. I was a warrior, ordained by the venerable Chief Sitting Bull under the auspices of the proud tribe of Perion; I was not going to disappoint them. Honor above life, and killing enemies above all. Yeah†¦ I painfully watched my brother play his third hour of Maplestory, an online interactive game made by Korean programmers where the whole purpose is to defeat monsters to acquire new levels, magic, items – stuff you want, basically. He had just started what was soon to be his utmost craze and had just spoken to Chief Sitting Bull, an elderly man who appeared to be Native American, as he was adorned with elaborate feather-work and his clothing was of tanned skin. He was the typical Native American, you might say, and everything seemed to be in place. Almost too perfectly in place – except for the random black people that sporadically appeared among members of the Perion tribe. â€Å"Why don’t you head south east?† Perion was located in the northwest, and, seeing as he had a lot more training to do, I suggested that he explore the vast world. He headed south towards Henesys, which was a small uneventful, unimp... ...that it logically looked completely harmless – I was not ready to underestimate it because of my preconceptions. In this world, it was either kill or be killed. I swung at it with the heavy club, and, within moments, it closed its eyes serenely and dissolved. Works Cited Barash, David P. â€Å"Sociobiology and Behavior 2nd edition†. Elsevier: New York, 1982. Boehm, Christopher. â€Å"Hierarchy in the Forest : The Evolution of Egalitarian Behavior†. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, 1999. Breuer, Georg. â€Å"Sociobiology and the human dimension†. Cambridge Press: Cambridge, 1982. â€Å"racism.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. 16 Oct. 2007 . Tseng, Roger. Personal Interview 10 Oct. 2007. Willson, Peter J. â€Å"The Domestication of the Human Species†. Yale University Press: New Haven, 1988.

The Significance of Art in The Republic of Plato

The Republic of Plato as parasols the justice of a censored society which, in reading The Republic as a philosophical treatise, is not surprising. Quotes abound in The Republic supporting this claim, such as â€Å"we must supervise the makers of tales; and if they make a fine tale, it must be approved, but if it's not, it must be rejected. We'll persuade nurses and mothers to tell the approved tales to their children and to shape their souls with tales more than their bodies with hands. Most of those they now tell must be thrown out. Bloom, Bibb)' Through-out the education of the guardians of the city within The Republic, Socrates restricts the poets and story tellers more and more, tossing out what ever would seem to harm his perfectly Just city or diminish the patriotism of those living within. It comes as no surprise that the casual reader may have qualms with this extreme censorship of the artist and what they are permitted to create. A closer reading and an Idea of the social s ignificance of the artist 2500 years ago, seems to reveal a different Intent to Socrates seemingly stubborn pollen of art.Plato was an artist himself, writing beautiful dramatic dialogues, which are most unlike the more modern philosophers like Kant or Hegel who write philosophical treatise. This distinction becomes important in how Plato Is read in comparison to other philosophers. In the mainstream philosophy of our time the most common way to read a philosopher's writing is through a collection of excerpts from many writers on a certain topic. These books are great for getting a lot of different views but unfortunately they destroy the messages contained in non philosophical treatise type writing, such as Plat's.Flats writing can not be taken out of context with excerpts. It would be Like taking Machete's speech from Shakespeare play Macbeth and saying that Is Shakespearean philosophy on the meaning of life, It simply does not do Justice to the writer and their work. The Republic Is about searching for Justice In the human soul, it is also about leading Glaucoma away from a political life because he has a possibly tyrannical soul (Palmer, 33-34)2. The arguments used to bring about these two points cannot be taken out of context from the book to portray a different theory of Plates.The prejudices against Plates philosophical writings usually come from taking an excerpt and applying logical analysis to prove his arguments invalid which simply displays a lack of understanding of how Plato writes. How Socrates came to talk to those in the dialogues, why he is talking to them, and what is not said is Just as important as what Is said in the Platonic dialogues, they are all dramas and should be read as such. Now that we have some reasons for doubting the common criticism of Plates views on art from The Republic.I would like to demonstrate specific reasons for doubting sides to bring about the perfectly Just city in speech and follow up with Socrates own criticism of this city and his reasons for doubting its relevance. The city in speech brought about with The Republic begins with the end of Socrates seeming refutation of Trashcans which Glaucoma rejects and restates the argument for further scrutiny (AAA-361 d). The argument is over whether it is a better life to live perfectly Just or perfectly unjust.Glaucoma states the argument as such â€Å"For I desire to hear what each is and what power it has all alone by itself when t is in the soul†dismissing its wages and its consequences. â€Å"(Bloom, Bibb) After some convincing, Socrates accepts the challenge to defend Justice (ICC). In taking on this feet, Socrates contrives an easier way to spot Justice in the soul. He claims that justice in the soul is like small letters and hard to see while Justice in a city is like big letters and will be easier to see (ICC-d). So Socrates sets out to creating a perfectly just city in speech to flush out Justice in the soul.Whether or not this is a decent attempt to find Justice will be dealt with later by Socrates himself. The first city created, or the first stage of the city, is based on a â€Å"city of utmost necessity' and grows only to the size of a small city (Palmer, 16; Bibb-371 b). Glaucoma rejects this simple city and wants one with more luxury (ICC-d). Socrates believes the first city created was the true and healthy city but he agrees to create a â€Å"feverish† city (IEEE). This forces the city to grow much larger and to take land away from neighbors to support it and, in doing so the city will need an army (37th-e).Attendants urges for a discussion of how these â€Å"guardians† of the city will be educated and reluctantly Socrates accepts and says like men telling myths within a myth we will educate the guardians (Palmer, 16; 37th). Socrates, in his own creation of this city in speech, is claiming here that he is telling a myth, and further, that the education of the guardians is a myth within a myth. This, ironically, is the beginning of the education of the guardians in which Socrates brings about his famed censorship.Socrates continues to give clues to his disapproval of his own argument, as if he is just putting on a show at this point. After discovering Justice in the city, Socrates ants to find out if it corresponds to Justice in the soul, remember the big and small letters. Socrates says â€Å"We were, I believe, saying that in order to get to the finest possible look at these things another and longer road around would be required, and to the man who took it they would become evident, but that proofs on a level with what had been said up to then could be tacked on.And you all said that would suffice. And so, you see, the statements made at that time were, as it looks to me, deficient in precision. If they were satisfactory to you, only you can tell. â€Å"(Bloom, Bibb; n reference to Dodd) Amazingly, Glaucoma accepts what Socrates called a deficient argument on both occasions, although the serious reader probably should not. (As Palmer, 23, remarks: â€Å"Heretofore, the arguments were so lacking in precision that they may have been without any value whatsoever (AAA-b). ) Socrates to tell how it could come into being (471 c-e). Glaucoma forgets, as most readers do, that the city was not created for the purpose of creating a city but for discovering Justice in the human soul. Socrates reminds him, in length, of his mistake and what the true purpose of the city is (Bibb-Bibb). Glaucoma's demand that the good city in speech be realized measures exactly the degree to which he has not understood the Republic. (Penetrate, 123)3 As seems to be true for anyone who believes Socrates was trying to create a true city, and therefore, any regulations Socrates makes within this city. Further evidence for this is evident later on when Glaucoma declares that the philosophers will not mind the business of politics because he finally understands the nonsen sical nature of the city. But, Socrates again reminds him of what they were really talking about and that the philosopher will mind the equines of the city within himself, he will mind the business of his own soul (Palmer, 32).Although the city in speech within The Republic does not seem to represent a real city and should not be taken as a literal attempt to create a perfectly Just city in reality, the fact remains that Plato does seem to be very hard on the artist, especially the poets. The image of the cave sets up mankind as looking at the shadows of artifacts displayed on the wall of a cave by the poets (Palmer, 28; AAA-51 AAA). This gives good reason for Socrates being so hard on them in the creation of the city in beech if the poets are the ones deceiving mankind.Today, of course, poets are not an influence on political life and it would seem ridiculous to accuse them of writing false poems. In Athens and ancient Greek culture, the poets were a major influence. They were the authority on the gods and on virtue. In fact, they were the only authority that would be quoted in a trial or by a representative of the people. They would be very well known by almost all inhabitants of Athens. â€Å"The poets are the unacknowledged legislators of mankind† (Penetrate, 223). It was not the arts homeless which Plato was attacking but their significance in politics.Plato was attempting to replace the poet's authority with the authority of philosophy or of reason, which would seem most natural to anyone today. Plat's true intent in his criticism of the poets is brought up later on in The Republic when in book X he attacks Homer specifically. He compares Homer to the likes of an artisan that makes objects or anything he wants including gods through representation (ICC). Glaucoma claims that this man could only be a sophist (59th). The implicit problem that Socrates poses with the poet is that he does not give an explanation of himself.Homer talks about virtuous p eople and the fantastic deeds they do but these heroes do not praise the poets for their deeds. The poet seems to have no place in his own writing and their â€Å"Speech seems to be subordinate to the deed. † Of the people they are praising (Bloom, 430). Socrates claims that the poet is an imitator of an imitator, in that, the poet appeals to the people and what they want and is only popular if they approve, he must follow the popular view. The people's view is shaped by the legislator who lays down laws in view of what he believes would be natural law (Bloom, 432).

Genocide in Germany - The Holocaust - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1591 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/26 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Holocaust Essay Did you like this example? Genocide is by definition the intentional, methodical, and targeted destruction of a particular ethnic, religious, or racial group. The term genocide is derived from the Greek prefix genos, which translates to race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, meaning killing. The Holocaust, also known as Shoah, is the most notable and deadliest instance of genocide in the world. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Genocide in Germany The Holocaust" essay for you Create order The Holocaust began in Germany in the 1930s and expanded to Nazi occupied Germany, until the last liberation of death camps in 1945 . The Holocaust was a genocide in which the systemic and brutal killings of Jewish, Roma, Slavic, Serbic, Soviet, disabled, and homosexual, and many more, took place. The Holocaust originated in Germany, was fueled by anti-semitism, and committed by the Nazis. Anti-Semitism is a term used to describe the prejudice, discrimination, and general hatred of Jewish people. It is equally important to remember, however, that there were other victims of the Holocaust as well, which included Roma, Slavic, Serbic, Soviet, disabled, and homosexual people. Anti-semitism, had already been present in much of Europe before Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party rose to power. Germany, in particular, looked to Jewish people as the cause of many of their problems. Firstly, Jewish people were blamed for the German defeat in World War I. With the defeat now resting on their shoulders, it was no wonder that the German people also accredited the War Guilt Clause that resulted from the Treaty of Versailles to them as well. The Treaty of Versailles required that Germany pay reparations to the victors of the war, and this absolutely crippled the German economy, angering citizens further. This belief was made even more damaging considering the fact that many Germans also perceived Jewish people to be economically successful, which added insult to injury during a time when many Germans struggled to make ends meet. Lastly, Jewish people were deemed inferior to the pure Aryan race; to the Germans, Jewish people were unpatriotic, sneaky, backsliding tricksters, whose differing customs and religion polluted the superior German race. There is much speculation as to why Adolf Hitler may have hated Jewish people so fervently. Some historians suspect that it could be related to his heritage; Hitlers father Alois was born out of wedlock, and there were rumors that he might have been of Jewish descent. Adolf did not have a healthy relationship with his father, leading some to believe that this is a possible explanation for his contempt. Another possible case for Hitlers disgust for Jewish people could relate to his mothers Jewish doctor, Eduard Bloch. Kara Hitler suffered from breast cancer and received treatment from Dr. Bloch towards the end of her life. Some people correlate the unsuccessful treatment and death of Hitlers mother by a Jewish doctor as a cause for his rage. However, these rumors have never been confirmed and remain conjecture. A more plausible explanation for Hitlers disgusting and severe animosity was his time in Vienna, Austria. Hitler moved to Vienna in 1908 in hopes of attending the Vienna Academ y of Fine Arts. He was rejected, and instead spent his remaining time there living in squalor, at one point becoming homeless. Vienna at this time was characterized by vehement, socially accepted, and widespread anti-Semitism. Hitler lived out his formative years surrounded by anti-Jewish propaganda and persistent nationalism whilst dealing with rejection, poverty, and struggle. Hitler himself stated in his book Mein Kampf that his experience and indoctrination in Vienna is what led to him becoming an anti-Semite. Hitler and the Nazi Partys rise to power was fairly easy, considering the growing despair, outrage and unrest that was already present in Germany. The Nazis capitalized on this and convinced a desperate nation that Jewish, Romani, Polish, and Slavic people, along with homosexuals, communists and other minorities, were the reason for their misfortune. People belonging to these groups were consistently dehumanized, and considered a problem to be rectified. The Nazi party promised to restore Germany to its former glory, solve the Jewish question, and establish a new, larger state wherein pure Aryans could flourish. The star of the party, Adolf Hitler, was appointed as Fuhrer in January of 1933, and became Fuhrer, or leader, sometime in August 1934. Soon enough, the Nuremberg Laws were passed, marking the start of the systematic destruction of the Jewish population within Germany. The Nuremberg Laws passed in September 1935, consisted of the Reich Citizenship Law and the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor. They were designed to directly discriminate against Jewish people; the Reich Citizenship Law revoked Jewish Germans citizenship, and the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor forbade non-Jews from marrying Jews. Under Hitlers reign, anti-Semitism increased as did anti-Jewish propaganda and school curriculum. Jewish people were forced to wear yellow stars, identifying themselves as Jewish to the public, and were denied the right to their own businesses. More tragedy befell the Jewish people when Kristallnacht, a series of attacks on Jewish business, synagogues, people, occurred in November of 1938. Following the invasion of Poland, the Nazi party began establishing ghettos in order to further segregate and separate Jewish people and other minorities from society, and to make it easier to transport them to the concentrati on camps so they could begin the genocide. The preliminary step in implementing the horrific and systematic killings was Operation Reinhard, an operation that consisted of liquidating ghettos and transporting survivors to the concentration camps. The deportation and transportation of Jewish people occurred over several days. They were often times loaded like animals into boarded up, cramped train compartments, where they would have to endure long journeys without food, water, or a place to relieve themselves. Many died due to this inhumane treatment. Upon arrival at the camps, Jewish people and individuals from Germany, Poland, Holland, Belgium and other countries were stripped of their belongings, shaved, sometimes tattooed with a prisoner number, and given striped uniforms. This was meant to strip them of their dignity and dehumanize them further. The victims were then separated into groups; those designated to work as slaves or subjects of experimentation, and those who would be killed immediately by gas chamber or firing squad. Surviving prisoners suffered from disease, were starved of food, crammed into inadequate living spaces, and worked to the bone. The population of the concentration eventually grew too large, so the Nazis established even more camps that were expressly reserved for killing. Many more horrors occurred in these camps, the depths of which many people today cant imagine. There will always be people who to choose to disregard or downplay tragic occurrences, and the holocaust is no different, despite the multitude of evidence. Holocaust denial is a serious and racist issue that remains prevalent today, and describes multiple and incorrect beliefs on what happened; it includes minimizing the number of victims deaths, claiming that the Final Solution culminated in Nazis deporting the Jews without killing them, that the gas chambers were not used for execution but delousing, and that the Jews died of disease or were casualties of war, just to name a few. Many Holocaust deniers operate under the guise of historical revisionism, but the method of Holocaust deniers are faulty and differ from actual historians. Holocaust denial is without a doubt completely wrong, inaccurate, and anti-Semitic. The various testimonies of survivors, Nazis, and Allied soldiers who liberated the concentration camps, not to mention the undeniable evidence, are testament to what ha ppened during the Holocaust. Holocaust denial is used as another tool with which to hate Jewish people, and by minimizing the pain and suffering of the victims of the Holocaust, Holocaust deniers are effectively continuing the hate that has persisted against the Jewish community for centuries. The results of the Holocaust are absolutely devastating. After the liberation of the concentration camps upon the victory of the Allied powers, millions of Holocaust survivors and refugees still could not return home, due to the anti-semitism that was still rampant. They lost their families, belongings, and suffered tremendously from trauma. Those who tried to emigrate to the west lived in displaced persons camps where they remained for years, and some were turned away at the borders of multiple countries . Numerous people advocated for an exodus to Palestine, where they could form a safe haven and an independent Jewish state, but were still turned away. However, Israel was eventually established on May 14, 1948. The Holocaust not only decimated the European Jewish population, but affected them for the rest of their lives. The number of victims of the Holocaust has not been definitively proven, because it was never properly recorded, and what records were kept had been destroyed by t he Nazis prior to their loss. With that being said, most estimates place the total victims combined as low as 6 million and as high as 20 million. In the end, the Holocaust was an evil, methodical, deliberate, and completely barbaric genocide that ended and destroyed the lives of millions of people. The Nazi party, including Adolf Hitler, capitalized on the anger of the German people in order to facilitate hatred for the Jewish people, amongst others. Through established law, they identified and then removed Jewish people and other victims from their homes, and transported them to concentration camps. Evil within the concentration camps knew no bounds, and millions of people were killed, living the remainder of their life in fear and agony. The Nazis dehumanized their victims and acted with infinite cruelty. The Holocaust must never be forgotten, and stands as a reminder to the unparalleled malevolence that human beings are capable of.