Writing for university assessments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Writing for university assessments - Essay Example opportunity for students to learn different strategies for approaching writing tasks so that one may communicate theories learned and relay an understanding of a particular topic to specific audiences. In writing for university assessments a student’s task is to communicate an understanding of a topic. In this regard, this essay is written with the objective of proffering the features of an academic essay in which this aim is achieved. An academic essay is a short piece of literary work written for the purpose of expressing the students’ thoughts, reflections, and reactions on diverse topics usually with a developed thesis used to establish the validity of the discourse. According to Duffin (1998, par. 1), academic essays â€Å"may vary in expression from discipline to discipline, but any good essay should show us a mind developing a thesis, supporting that thesis with evidence, deftly anticipating objections or counter-arguments, and maintaining the momentum of discovery†. Several literatures are available presenting rules for effective writing. Despite the span of time which evolved, the rules for effective writing remain the same and remain true and applicable to contemporary writing. For academic essays to be effective in communicating an understanding of the defined topic there are standard features that must be present. The following portion would proffer features of an academic essay accomplishing required objectives. Effective writing needs more than rules to compose a fairly effective essay. Rules are merely practical guides that give the writer direction and focus on the concepts and theories which he already has a competent grasp of. An academic essay requires the following basic features to be effective in the achievement of its objective: (1) a given topic; (2) an organized structure; (3) appropriate resources or reference materials; (4) adherence to prescribed writing style, correct grammar, and citations; and (5) reviewed, edited, and revised

The Use Of Technology To Infuence Previous Generations Essay Example for Free

The Use Of Technology To Infuence Previous Generations Essay Introduction There is a common saying that necessity is the mother of invention. Most inventions were designed to make our lives more comfortable and to improve our standards of living. The internet was initially designed to provide a reliable communications network that could be used even if some sites were destroyed by nuclear attack (Howe, 2007). Routers would be used to direct traffic around the network by means of alternate routes if most direct route was not accessible. It was made solely for national defense. In those days, the internet was not user friendly and it was solely used by computer professionals, engineers, scientists and librarians. Due to its complex system, home or personal computers were not available. The Baby Boomers or those who are within the age of 43 and above have seen the advent of telephone, transistor radios, black and white television sets, typewriters and automobiles that created changes in the lifestyle of some individuals. As technology progress, we can now see a lot of modern appliances and better equipments than ever before. These days, we have digital phones and mobile phones, mp3 players and iPods, high definition television sets, computers and more sophisticated automobiles. The days of heavy and bulky gadgets that are often left at homes and offices are over. These days, we can see people walking around carrying a phone, listening to music or radio on the streets, watching the news on their mobile phones and using laptops in the restaurants. The functions and the features of these gadgets are getting better each day. Smaller, slimmer and lighter gadgets provide comfort and portability for most consumers. We have grown to be totally dependent on technology. The question that we need to raise now is for whom was these gadgets designed for? Were the electronic companies targeting the mature consumers or the young generation users? Did the present generation influence the Baby Boomers to use their technology? What are the effects of technological determinism in our society and culture? Technological Determinism Defined Technology means tools and gadgets such as mobile phone, computer, internet, iPod, etc. while determinism means that it is technology which determines the type and degree of social change and the course of history (Johnson, 1955). The term technological determinism was coined by Thorstein Veblen, an American sociologist and economist (Chandler, 1996). It refers to the assumption that the new technologies are the primary cause of major cause of major social and historical changes at the macrosocial level of social structure and processes and/or subtle but profound social and psychological influences at the microsocial level of the regular use of particular kinds of tool (ibid.). It is the belief that technology develops by its own laws, realizes its own potential, limited only by the material resources available and regarded as an autonomous system controlling and ultimately permeating all other subsystems of society (Web Dictionary of Cybernetics and System, n.d.). Marshall McLuhan, the philosopher and electronic media guru defined technological determinism simply as â€Å"we shape our tools and in turn they shape us† (Huster, 2000). McLuhan (1962) state that when media technology was introduced, it has shaped the way people in a society talk, write, feel and think and the channels of communication are the primary cause of cultural change. It also change the way our society operates from one technological age to another. Hence, a change in the medium is a change in society’s way of communicating. Today, people use mobile phones for wireless communication and instant messaging for talking through computer. Technological determinism is a school of thought believing that technology is the single most important factor in determining the success of an organization (Oxford University Press, 2005). The advancement of technology is a sign of the countries’ progress. The creation of technology cannot be avoided. The believers in technological determinism often fear the impact of technology. They are the critique of technological progress and oppose the belief that technology is the only determinant of change. Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y The early Baby Boomers were born between 1946 to 1964 and aged between 43 to 61 (Marchand, 1979). They are starting to retire. Generation X is a term used to describe generations who were born between 1965 and 1980 and aged between 28 to 42 and they are noted for being the most tech friendly generations in American history (Wikipedia, 2007). They are referred to as Gen X, Gen Xers or Xgen. These generations have founded billion-dollar companies like Yahoo, Google, and You-tube among others. The term Generation Y is used to describe those children born between 1981 to 1995 (Markiewicz, 2003). Today, the term has changed to include anyone born as early as 1976 to late as 2000. The term Generation Y is often shortened to Gen Y, Gen Yers or Ygen or Gyen. They are primarily children of the Baby Boomers. Baby Boomers and Technology New research shows that the Baby Boomers nowadays are overwhelmed by high-tech gadgets that often make them feel embarrassed, unhappy or plain dumb (Hendrick, 2005). The age of the person is a factor that contributes to the feeling of intimidation. Only 36 percent of those who are below the age of 40, said that they were tech-shy. However, 43 percent of those who are above 40 and 49 percent for those who are 55 and above claimed to be intimidated. Among the 28,000 people interviewed, close to 50 percent of those who are younger than 40 adapt to new technology while 29 percent of those older than 40 are not willing to try out the new gadgets. Findings also show that the new gadgets are not attractive to people who are using corrective lenses. Hence, some products need to be redesigned without complicated instructions and intimidating features if companies intend to attract the older Baby Boomers. A strong preference for a human guide or instructor on the usage of any gadget is evident for those who are 50 years old and above. These people are intimidated, annoyed and less patient to read the instructions written on the manual and prefer sales people to show them how to operate a digital camera, mobile phone, TiVo, iPod or PDA. The rapid change of technology magnified their inability to catch up and accept change. Just when they are comfortable with the gadget that they have mastered, a new one emerge on the market that makes them feel that they need to relearn things all over again when they upgrade their device. Although more women are using instant messaging on computers or cellphones, gender is not a factor in terms of being intimidated with the new gadgets. Age remains to be a deciding factor in their acceptance of these new devices. The older they are, the less interested they become. It is very common that older people have poor eyesight and they have difficulties in reading the messages, menus, icons and toolbars. Therefore, when manufacturers design products, they must consider the needs of the aging population. The Influence of Technology The present technological environment is the major crossroad in the history of communication. Today so many people rely on the internet as a source of information and a medium of communication. Instead of going to the post office to mail the letters that we have written, we use the email as a quicker and convenient means of communication. The internet has also provided a cheaper means of communication. Now, people use the broadband to keep in touch with anyone instead of spending for costly overseas calls. Students use the internet to do their research homework instead of using the school or public libraries. People read the news on the internet instead of reading the newspaper or watching the news on television. Some prefer to shop online instead of going to the department store. On one hand, technology has reduced time consumption, eliminated the inconvenience of traveling, and facilitated inexpensive global communication. On the other hand, the electronic advantage has also made human interaction and socialization suffer as a lot of people these days prefer to spend so much time staying in front of their personal computers. The ultimate effect of the internet is undefined and unpredictable. Its long term impact remains uncertain. However, the internet is a typical example where we shaped a tool, and now that tool is shaping us. In the 1700s, fossil coal was developed as a source of energy when England ran out of wood. However, the continuous digging of coal mines resulted in a flood and the removal of water from the mines using hand operated pumps became inadequate. Hence, the steam engine was developed to solve the problem. As time progresses, the steam engine was used in textile factories, locomotives, steamboats, farm equipment and power plants that resulted in an increase demand for iron, steel and coal (Merkel, 2000). This demand resulted in large-scale coal and iron ore mining and steel plants. Labor union movement and industrial revolution emerged that gave rise to human progress and wealth. The steam engine is also a classic example of technological determinism. Mobile Technology for all Generations In terms of connective technology, mobile phones and internet usage are widely used around the world. In a study made by InsightExpress (2007), 80 percent of the 2015 mobile respondents in the USA owned a mobile phone, while 78 percent of the Americans have internet access spread evenly across the generations. Leading the survey is Gen Y (ages 18-24) at 85 percent, followed closely by Gen X (25-44) at 82 percent, younger Baby Boomers (45-54) at 80 percent, and older Baby Boomers (55-64) at 79 percent. With regards to their plans in upgrading their mobile devices, over half of Gen Y-ers and 37 percent for Gen X-ers plan to upgrade next year or so, and 30 percent of younger Boomers and 24 percent of older Boomers plan to upgrade next year. This indicates that all generations want the latest mobile gadgets. In terms of having mobile phones that allow users to connect to people and information in a variety of ways, 51 percent of Gen Y-ers have mobile phones that can access the internet followed by 47 percent of Gen X-ers, 39 percent of younger Boomers and 32 percent of older Boomers. This shows that the Boomers are not far behind from the Gen Y-ers and Gen X-ers. In addition, 75 percent of younger Boomers have text messaging capabilities, 54 percent have ring tones, and 52 percent have camera phones. Mobile Behavior Sending text messages is a cheaper means of communication in comparison with making phone calls. Forty-three percent of the Gen Y sends text messages on a daily basis while 16 percent of the younger Boomers and 10 percent of older Boomers text daily. This may be attributed to the fact that the Gen Y-ers are not as financially stable as the Baby Boomers; hence their preferences for an economical mode of communication. A strong preference for calling instead of sending text messages may be due to the Boomers desire for a faster and easier ways of communicating. When it comes to accessing the mobile internet daily, the survey finds that 8 percent of Gen Y uses the mobile internet while 4 percent of the younger Boomers and 3 percent of the older Boomers do so. The temptation of using the mobile phones is strong for individuals of all ages. In spite of the laws in many states against using mobile phones while driving, the survey reveals that 47 percent of Gen Y-ers, 42 percent of Gen X-ers, 37 percent of younger Boomers and 28 percent of older Boomers send and receive text messages while driving. All generations engage in the practice of talking on the phone without a hands-free device. The research conducted by InsightExpress clearly shows that mobile technology is widely used and accepted by the consumers regardless of their age. Although the Gen X-ers and the Gen Y-ers grew up with the sophisticated gadgets, the Boomers have managed to adapt to the rapidly changing technology. Regardless of whether the internet or mobile devises were designed, produced and marketed today or tomorrow, people of all generations will accept anything that would make their lives comfortable. Generation Gap Although there are studies made that the older generations are moving towards acceptance of the technology of the present generation, a generation gap still exist in terms of the usage of the latest gadgets. A survey and news articles revealed that a conflict between generations exist when it comes to using online services (Pew/Internet American Life Project, 2005). While the younger generations are impatient with the older generations’ sluggishness to adopt the latest online product, there is a strong value for privacy among the older generation who believe that any private information should not be published on the internet (Nussbaum, 2007). Hence, while the youngsters are having fun with the social networking tool as MySpace, Skype, ot YouTube, in searching for friends, and contacts, the oldsters still prefer a face-to-face contact (Hamm, 2007). They also use the information superhighway to post videos to and pictures of their weddings, and the birth of their children. Teenagers prefer to use instant messaging or text messaging for talking to friends to reach them wherever they are or post to a communications network and they use e-mail to communicate with old people and with their professors (Carnevale, 2006). Although 86 percent of more than 1,300 students at the University of Illinois at Chicago have not given up on email, they often consider messages coming from their colleges a form of spam (ibid.). People who are born from the internet generation have innate technological skills and they require little or no training in usage. This however, does not suggest that older adults do not go online. They also use the internet for banking activities, do online shopping, share pictures of their families, and download music and movies. The big difference lies in the fact that the seniors have the money to pay for these activities. The older groups were not as fast to pick up on the information on a Web site and they do not see the links as quickly as the younger group (Zook, 2007). The web designs are not as comfortable to the older generations although suppliers of user generated online content are not age restricted and all generations are included when describing social networking phenomenon (Dye, 2007). The major purpose of using new technology in creating blogs, website, emails or text or instant messages is to enable the users to communicate effectively and to connect people with a shared purpose, regardless of whether they belong to the generations of Baby Boomers, X-ers or Y-ers. What matters is to know how to reach them in their own world and in their own preferred medium. Technological Determinism One of the debates in the field of science, technology and society studies is whether technology has shaped society or has society influenced the development of technology. The former is associated with technological determinism and notions of technology as a force dominating other basic social institutions. The latter is associated with social construction of technology. Langdon Winner was the leading defender of some aspects of the technological determinism thesis in his first book, Autonomous Technology: Technics-out-of-Control (Cutchliffe and Mitcham, 2001). In the chapter â€Å"Do Artifacts Have Politics?† of his second book, The Whale and the Reactor: A Search for Limits in an Age of High Technology, Winner noted the irony of the contentions of the strongest defenders of technology who felt that although technology is beneficial, it is impossible to change the direction of its development. With this contention, we can now question ourselves as to whether our history has been defined by its technologies considering the technological development of our times. If we trace our technological development, we can say that we have progressed from â€Å"stone age†, â€Å"iron age† and now â€Å"computer age†. If the change in technology is good for all, why can’t we just accept and live with it? If technology is not good, why is there an absence of control in its progress and why is there no move in stopping technology? These questions can help us assess the strength or weakness of the self-directed force that technology has brought in our culture. The focus on technology and society debates was believed to be the important features of technology and technological change. One can only recognize that since Generation Y has grown with technology and Generation X started to modernized technology, they may welcome its progress and changes without even considering about its outcome in the society. In contrast, the economist, historians and social theorists would continue to stress that the force of technological change followed a path where its outcomes are predictable. To understand the effects of these changes will lead us to investigate the effects of modernization on human communication. Modernization means the appearance of modes of social life or organization that emerged in Europe from about the seventeenth century onwards which became worldwide in their influence (Giddens, 1991). Modernization theory has evolved in three waves and it explains the changing ways of communication and media use in traditional and post modern societies (University of Twente, 2004). The first wave of theory produced three variants in the development of economic, literacy and cultural and national identity most of which have been discredited because of their pro-Western bias (McQuail, 2000). The second wave of modernization theory does not support but criticize the influence of Western modernization that became popular in the 1970s and 1980s (Schiller, 1976). The third wave of theory that has risen in the 1990s attempts to expose the contradictions in the modernization process and explains the consequences of modernity for individuals in modern-day society (Giddens, 1991a, 1991b). It is neither in favor nor against modernization. Giddens showed that while traditional society is based on direct interaction between people living close to each other, modern society is characterized by time-space distantiation and disembedding mechanisms. Hence, Van Dijk (1993) stressed that the rise of computer networks and mobile telephony is an important tool for modern life. This will enable us to keep our interactions with people across the globe. As Stewart Brand (1995) explains to the readers of Wired magazine, â€Å"Technology is rapidly accelerating and you have to keep up.† Technology is the product of human action and the result of the workings of dynamic processes. As the outcome of past action and constraint, it has the potential to shape and enable action. It is not analogous to social structure because it takes material form; hence, technology does not acquire the status of a natural resource. Technology is always a product of human action and knowledge and always requires further knowledge and action to maintain and reproduce it (Garnsey, 1994). The experience of technology is often the experience of an ineluctable force which structures our way of life in ways we cannot control, as the forces of nature might do (Hill, 1988). An analysis of technology is presented in studies of the sociology of science and technology (Latour, 1987; Bijker et al., 1989) and resolves many of the problems of determinism that gave rise to the mechanical conceptions of technology. Barley (1986) and Orlikowski (1990) have shown that the concepts of structuration theory can be applied to the analysis of the role of technology in organizations and in social systems. But because technology takes material form, it may be misleading to treat it as a structural property of social systems as Orlikowski (1990) has proposed. Unlike technology, social structures and structural properties have no material existence. Social structures exist by virtue of the knowledge and actions of those who instantiate them through their practices; structure is seen as both medium and outcome of human action (Giddens, 1984). The physical interactions which are manifestations of social structure are not exhaustive of the relationships associated with those interactions; in giving primacy to physical interaction certain behavioral approaches come close to reifying social structure (Wellman and Berkowitz, 1988). Social structures draw on shared knowledge, on rules and roles, on shared symbolism and mutual expectations. Unlike social structure, technology can take material form. Technology has a physical form and is manifest as a set of entities, though a broader conception includes the knowledge and social practices required to create and activate technology. The problem of reification does not arise in relation to technology. With the growth of information systems, technologies have a symbolic dimension in the written word and number, reminding us that social systems are made up of symbolic as well as physical interaction. Mowery and Rosenberg (1979) pointed out that human needs are almost infinite and often long felt, and cannot explain the emergence of a particular invention at a certain time. They also criticized a series of confusing studies undertaken in the 1960s and 1970s which illustrated market demand as the force behind innovation. Eventually, Mowery and Rosenberg came to the conclusion that innovation is the result of the interaction between science and technology push factors (Katsikides, 1994). Freeman (1987) states that new technological systems can offer such great technical and economic advantages to a wide range of industries and services that their adoption becomes a necessity in any economy exposed to competitive economic, social, political and military pressures. Increasingly in this century, the world-wide diffusion of such new techno-economic paradigms dominates the process of technical change for several decades and powerfully influences economic and social developments even though it does not uniquely determine them (ibid.). Technological developments, like other social, economic and technical approaches, are not socially neutral, and in the end they deal with different traditions e.g. European, US, Scandinavian, Japanese, etc. (Katsikides, 1997). They accumulate social processes and reflect them, or, as Thomas Kuhn (1970), put it, a failure to assimilate fully new conditions and technology will strain the existing structures of society. Conclusion As we examine the progress of technology, we cannot deny the impact that technological development and innovation has brought to our society. Although researches have shown that the latest gadgets are challenging and frustrating for the Baby Boomers, there are studies that also revealed that this generation have accepted the use of the internet and mobile phones for communication. Although generation gap exists in terms of technology usage among the Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y, there are companies today that are designing user friendly gadgets for the Baby Boomers. This only shows that the industry has seen a growing market for the older group of people who are financially stable and have better purchasing capabilities. Hence, the design of the future technology will be made for all generations regardless of age. Technology, being a product of human action and knowledge, require further knowledge and action for its maintenance and reproduction. It has structured our way of life in ways we cannot control. The use of technology to enhance communication has greatly influence people to adapt to the medium that will enable them to send and receive messages that are commonly use by the norm. This explains that with every development of new systems of technology, our culture or society will change and adapt to that technology. There is no end to the continuous development and improvement of technology because we are living in a fast paced world where everyone spends more time away from home. Changes are inevitable and necessary. The theory of technological determinism will only be proven wrong if a new technology is invented and nothing changes in our society. Bibliography Barley, S. (1986). Technology as an occasion for structuring: evidence from observation of CT scanners and the social order of radiology departments. Administrative Science Quarterly, 31, 78-108. Bijker, W., Hughes, T. and Pinch, T. (1989). The social construction of technology. Cambridge MA: MIT Press. Brand, S. (1995). Two Questions, in Scenarios: The Future of the Future. Wired, 3(11) 28-46. Carnevale, D. (2006). E-Mail is for Old People, by Chronicle of Higher Education: Information Technology. October 6, 2006. Retrieved December 24, 2007 from http://chronicle.com/free/v53/i07/07a02701.htm. Chandler, C. (1996). Shaping and Being Shaped. CMC Magazine. February 1, 1996. Retrieved December 25, 2007 from http://www.december.com/cmc/mag/1996/feb/ chantd.html. Cutchliffe, S. and Mitcham, C. (Eds.) (2001). Visions of sts: counterpoints in science, technology, and society studies. New York: State University of New York Press. Dijk, J.A.G.M. van (1993b). Communication Networks and Modernization. Communication Research, 20(3), 384 407. Dye, J. (2007). Meet Generation C: Creatively Connecting Through Content. Information Age. Freeman, C. (1987). Technology policy and economic performance: lessons from Japan. London: Printer Publishers. Giddens, A. (1984). The constitution of society: outline of the theory of structuration. Oxford: Polity Press. Giddens, A. (1991a). The Consequences of Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press. Giddens, A. (1991b). Modernity and self identity; self and society in the late modern age. Cambridge: Polity Press. Hamm, S. (2007). Children of the Web: How the Second-Generation Internet is Spawning a Global Youth Culture-And What Business Can Do to Cash In. Business Week, 51. Hendrick, B. (2005). High Tech Intimidates Many Baby Boomers As They Move Into Midlife. Cox News Service. February 22, 2005. Retrieved December 22, 2007 from http://www.pulsejournal.com/news/content/shared/news/nation/stories/0222_TECH_BOOMERS.html. Hill, S. (1988). The tragedy of technology. London: Pluto Press. Howe, W. (2007). A Brief History of the Internet. An anecdotal history of the people and communities that brought about the Internet and the Web. January 16, 2007. Retrieved December 26, 2007 from http://www.walthowe.com/navnet/history.html. Huster, K. (2000). Technological Determinism. March 6, 2000. Retrieved December 24, 2007 from http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~kh380597/TD.htm. InsightExpress (2007). Baby Boomers Increasingly Embrace Mobile Technology. September 25, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/2007/09/25/ baby-boomers-embracing-mobile-technology/. InsightExpress (2007). Does ur Granny text? New Research from InsightExpress Finds Baby Boomers Are Embracing Mobile Technology. Retrieved December 22, 2007 from http://insightexpress.com/release.asp?aid=371. Johnson, N. (1955). Technological Determinism. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://www.uiowa.edu/~cyberlaw/writing/techdet.html. Katsikides, S. (Ed.) (1994). Informatics, organization and society. Wien-Muenchen, Oldenbourg. Katsikides, S. (1997). Sociology and the Functions of Technological Autonomy. Innovation: The European Journal of Social Sciences, 10(2). Kuhn, T. (1970). The structure of scientific revolutions. University of Chicago Press. Latour, B. (1987). Science in action. Milton Keynes, Open University Press. Marchand, P. (1979). Life Inside the Population Bulge The scared, scrambling lives of the Boomies. Saturday Night Magazine. October, 1979. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://www.itseemslikeyesterday.com/1998_fall/article_boomies.asp. Markiewicz, P. (2003). Whos Filling Gen-Ys shoes? May 5, 2003. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://www.brandchannel.com/start1.asp?id=156. Mcluhan, M. (1962). The gutenberg galaxy: the making of typograhic man. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. McQuail, D. (2000). Mcquail’s mass communication theory, 4th edition. London: Thousand Oaks. Merkel, K.G. (2000). Engineering Technology and Technological Determinism. Journal of Engineering Technology. Retrieved December 22, 2007 from http://findarticles.com/p/ articles/mi_qa3979 /is_200004/ai_n8883860. Mowery, D. and Rosenberg, N. (1979). The Influence of Market Demand upon Innovation. Research Policy, 8(2). Nussbaum, E. (2007). Say Everything! New York Magazine, February 12, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://www.nymag.com/news/features/27341/index.html. Orlikowski, W. (1990). The Duality of Technology; Rethinking the Concept of Technology in Organizations. Organizational Science, 3, 398-427. Oxford University Press. (2005). Principles of Organizational Behaviour 4e: Glossary. Retrieved December 25, 2007 from http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/ 9780199253975/01student/glossary/glossary.htm Pew/Internet American Life Project (2005). Teens and Technology: Youth are leading the transition to a fully wired and mobile nation. July 27, 2005. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://www.pewinternet.org/report_display.asp?r=162. Schiller, H.I. (1976). Communication and cultural domination. New York: International Arts and Sciences Press. University of Twenty (2004), Modernization Theory. Retrieved on December 28, 2007 from http://www.tcw.utwente.nl/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20clusters/ Media, %20Culture %20and%20Society/Modernization%20Theory.doc/ Web Dictionary of Cybernetics and Systems (n.d.). Technological Determinism. Retrieved December 24, 2007 from http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/asc/TECHNO_DETER.html Wellman, B. and Berkowity, S. (1988). Social structures: a network approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wikipedia (2007). Generation X. Retrieved December 23, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_X Zook, G. (2007). Technology and the Generation Gap. August 27, 2007. Retrieved December 22, 2007 from http://www.llrx.com/features/generationgap.htm.

The Failure of Black Robes Cinematic Redemption :: Black Robe Research Papers

The Failure of Black Robe's Cinematic Redemption Works Cited Missing Musings over Talk Radio [1] I've been listening to talk radio lately. Not exactly sure why. I suppose I derive a smug sense of superiority over callers who are a little too concerned with high quality mulch or the Phillies' relief pitching. People become incensed over the most ludicrous things. Recently, though, I heard callers venting over something a little closer to my heart, and I couldn't listen with the same ironic distance from which I usually stand. Pope John Paul II had issued (at a papal Mass on March 12) an apology for the sins of the church over the past 2000 years. As a Roman Catholic embarrassed by many parts of my Church's history--the Crusades, the Inquisition, silence in the midst of the Holocaust--I was gratified to hear that the Pope was asking forgiveness for the Church as a whole. As can be expected, many were dissatisfied with the apology. Some felt John Paul II was not specific enough, failing to mention Pope Pius XII's failure to condemn Hitler's mass execution of Jews and ot her minorities in the Holocaust. However, when listening to the radio phone-in show, what struck me was that many of the callers were Catholics who resented being implicated in the Pope's apology. [2] I can understand the callers' indignation. I remember elementary school days, learning the Catholic doctrine of original sin, the idea that the first sin against God--whether you believe it was the Adam and Eve story or some other version of humanity's origins--stained all descendants of those first sinners (in other words, everyone). How unfair, I thought, that the sins of some stupid people from the past would cause me to be "stained" in the eyes of God. And what did the thirty-something caller from Jenkintown, PA, have to do with the Inquisition? Partial Membership [3] It's been a long time since Catholic elementary school, and original sin is still a tough pill to swallow. However, I've come to understand it (and my problems with it) as a matter of my identity not just as an individual but as a member of a group. I may not have sampled forbidden fruit, but as a part of the human race I am affected by that act (I say this not to proselytize, but to express my perspective as a Catholic).

What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

i. Introduction Social Anxiety is a worldwide disorder that can affect anyone, no matter what ethnicity or gender they are. Social anxiety is an intense fear of social situations, especially when you are being judged or watched by others. Such as presentations, being the center of attention, public speaking, making phone calls or eating and drinking in front of others. I chose to study this topic because I find it interesting how certain social situations can cause fear in people.Also, I show some symptoms of having social anxiety and I wish to learn more about this topic. Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia. It is defined as the fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people. It is the fear and anxiety of being judged and evaluated negatively by other people or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. This leads to feelings of inadequacy, self-consciousness, and depression. The person with social anxiety disorder may beli eve that all eyes are on him/her at all times.Social situations that provoke social anxiety are eating or drinking in front of others, being the center of attention, public speaking, presentations, talking on the telephone and asking questions. People with this disorder will do whatever it takes to avoid social situations. The symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder are extreme self-consciousness, immense fear of being judged or watched, nausea, rapid heartbeat, sweating and trembling. ii. Overview There are many different perceptions about people with social anxiety. Statistics show that this disorder is the third largest mental disability in the world and can affect 19. million Americans at any time. Even though it can occur at any time in people’s lives, it happens most often in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Statistics also show that women are more likely to get diagnosed with Social Anxiety, than men. People who do have it are often seen by others as just being shy, u neasy or quiet. The people who are diagnosed with social anxiety may be conflicted by these perceptions, so they may fail to seek treatment. The problem is generally unheard and they may think that they are the only ones who suffer from it.People who do seek treatment are often misdiagnosed and labeled as â€Å"personality disorder† or â€Å"manic depressive. † This is because social anxiety is not well understood by the general public, or medical or health care professionals. Those with the disorder usually know that their anxiety, thoughts, and fears are irrational. They realize that it is angst and terror that they are experiencing. They know that people around them are not really judging them or evaluating them. They understand that everyone is not out to degrade or embarrass them.But despite this logical knowledge and sense, they still continue to feel and believe differently, which causes thoughts and symptoms of anxiety usually persist with no indication of goin g away. People with social anxiety may usually experience extreme distress in some of these situations: when they are being introduced to other people, being teased or criticized, being the center of attention or meeting important people or authoritative people. Or by being watched while doing something, announcing something in a public situation and getting embarrassed easily.Social anxiety may be selective. A person may have an extreme fear of one occasion, such as public speaking, but be perfectly comfortable in any other situation. People with a social phobia are nervous, anxious, and afraid about many social situations. Simply attending a business meeting or going to a party can be highly nerve wracking and intimidating. Although people with social anxiety want to be social with everyone else, their anxiety about not doing well in public is strong and hinders their efforts. They freeze up when they meet new people. ii. What Causes Social Anxiety Disorder? What Are The Symptoms? Knowing the exact causes of social anxiety is still an ongoing research and there is no single known cause. However, there are environmental and psychological factors that will play a role in its development. This development of this disorder can be from a humiliating experience the patient has experienced in the past. People diagnosed with social anxiety may have developed this disorder by seeing what has happened to someone else when that person has been embarrassed.As mentioned before, there are also emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms of social anxiety. Emotional symptoms can range from fearing that other people will notice that you’re nervous, to worrying for days or weeks prior to a social situation. Physical symptoms are nausea, sweating, rapid heartbeat, feeling faint, trembling and shaking. The behavioral symptoms are avoiding any type of social situation to an extent where it disrupts your life and hiding â€Å"behind the scenes† to escape from being noticed. iv. Treatment for Social Anxiety DisorderTwo types of treatment may be used to help patients suffering from social anxiety. A certain type of therapy can be used, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and it has proved to be effective in most cases. Medication is also useful in treatment. Antidepressant, such as MAOI’s, in contrast with CBT, is the most beneficial. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium and Ativan are prescribed to people who have social anxiety to treat it. But research has shown that if the two treatments are not used together, success is only temporary.Also, treatment must include a therapist and an active behavioral therapy group. Group therapy for social anxiety use CBT techniques includes role-playing and training of social skills. This group therapy uses acting or mock interviews to work on the social situations that will make you anxious. The most important steps in defeating social anxiety disorder is understanding, becoming aware of the problem, and c ommitting to go through all treatments, including therapy. v. Conclusion I learned that Social Anxiety Disorder can affect millions of people at any given time.I think I show signs of Social Anxiety Disorder because during social situations, such as presenting, I show the symptoms. I get anxious, shaky, nervous and rapid heartbeats. In my opinion, this is probably one of the worst mental disorders that someone can have, because it is so misunderstood and misdiagnosed. What makes the situation even more difficult is the fact that the disorder does not just come and go like other disorders. A person is faced with it every day of their life, every time they have to go out anywhere or are put in a situation where others are involved.They have to deal with this all the time, until they are treated. Unfortunately, most people do not know that they have it. Without some kind of formal education, knowledge, or treatment, social anxiety continues to ruin their lives. And if they finally do t ry to seek help, chances are that they will not find. This is the reality for 19. 2 million Americans, but yet there is very little being done in the way of trying to help them realize that they are not just shy or introverted, they really have a problem. REFERENCES Websites: Stein MB, Stein DJ. Social anxiety disorder.Lancet. 2008;371:1115-1125 – (http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001953/) Jaffe-Gil, Ellen, M. A. ; Smith, Melinda, M. A. -www. helpguide. org ;(http://www. helpguide. org/mental/social_anxiety_support_symptom_causes_treatment. htm) www. nimnh. nih. gove/index. shtml (http://www. nimh. nih. gov/health/publications/social-phobia-social-anxiety-disorder-always-embarrassed/what-is-social-phobia. shtml) www. wikipedia. org (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Social_anxiety  ) www. webmd. com (http://www. webmd. com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-social-anxiety-disorder)

Philosophical Belief Essay

What is the nature of humankind as it relates the field of psychology (ontology)? Since time immemorial, humans have questioned their own existence and their relationship to what is around them. The field of ontology is complex, having integrated science and technology into its sphere with the advent of artificial intelligence, medical science, and advanced exploration technologies. Yet in the beginning, Plato and Aristotle were considered the first true ontologists (Biography. ms, n. d. ). They were the first to call attention to the states of being and categories of being: physical objects, minds, classes, properties and relations. It is human nature to question our sense of being, such as what we are, why are here, who we are and why other people and things are around us. The nature of the mind is to probe into its world, perceived by the senses, and make some amount of sense of it all. Ontology is the fundamental basis for metaphysics, which includes all of science and religion. From the first questions relating to the existence of a supreme being or nature spirits or even the concept of having a spirit, ontology was born. When we first begin to associate ourselves as beings, we are practicing ontology. Naturally, part of developmental psychology falls into this category. Human nature dictates that we identify ourselves as an individual, as a part of a family unit, as a student of a school, a member of a community. Ontology is the most fundamental concept of psychological being, since our earliest concepts are â€Å"being-based. † Once humankind becomes more complex and intertwined, we begin to practice ontology with regard to cultures, countries and continents, as well as religions. In this way, each thing that can be named is considered an ontological thing, since it exists. We also have split ontology into very diverse cosmologies; this is where we can become very divided; Christianity as opposed to Islam, for example. Each religion exists, and is composed of rituals and systems that have ontological definitions. Yet the attachment to one’s own identity or one religion’s identity can become dangerous when taken to an extreme. It is our nature to categorize and retain what suits us and reject what is unpleasant. Yet behind these decisions, especially when speaking of ideas (or myths or legends) as if they actually exist in empirical reality is a departure from logic. From the days of the ancients to the present, ontology is largely now used in the science, in the form of empirical study of existing things and the relationships between them (Gregg H. Rosenberg, 1997). We continually explore the interrelationships of our world, leaving science as the main, if not only, modern form of formal ontology practiced today. What once began as a philosophy has transformed into pure science. As we continue to develop increasingly complex technologies in the forms of artificial intelligence, ontology will no doubt take on a different meaning and be applied to different circumstances than ever before. This is only on the surface, however. Ontology, even though not named until recently in human history, has been with us since we began, as creatures, to look beyond our simple survival as a species and consider our relationship to what is around and even beyond us. How do we know what we know in relation to the field of psychology (epistemology)? The many branches of psychology that exist today define the gaining of knowledge within the studies of developmental, cognitive, educational, social, etc. ; these fall under the philosophical domain of epistemology (synonymous with Theory of Knowledge). We question how we come to know certain things and study ways of learning, retaining and using knowledge. The concept of epistemology is very simple. How do we know what we know? But the application of this method is quite complex (Keith De Rose, 2003). Much of the knowledge we gain in any given day is via other people such as friends, family and co-workers. We also gain knowledge in school, from television and books and on the Internet. But how often do we question the source? Now we can see how complex epistemology becomes. Let’s say that Alice tells Jim that Steve is a thief. Jim has never known Alice to lie. In fact, Alice’s reputation is sterling in terms of credibility. Without any further inquiry, Jim believes Alice and has nothing further to do with Steve. How logical is that? Is it true knowledge? No, it isn’t. Jim simply knows what Alice has told him and it may or may not have anything to do with reality. This is where the games of the mind come into play. First we are told something and it becomes knowledge. From that knowledge we form a paradigm. Later we discover that what we know, or believe, is false. We must change our paradigm and everything attached to it. This is the stuff of war. If we look at knowledge, we can only truly know what we ourselves experience. We only learn through experimentation and our own inquiry. We are limited in how much we can know due to our limited senses. Epistemology is concerned with â€Å"propositional knowledge,† such as what is true. It is not so concerned with how to do things (Peter D. Klein, 1998 – 2006). This is where history, religion, politics, theory and other non-empirical learning comes into question. When it comes to the intangible topics in our lives, how do we know? Tradition holds that what we come to know in an empirical manner (the sun rises every day, the stomach growls when one is hungry, if a horse flattens its ears, it is angry) is real knowledge. These are repeatable events that we no longer notice because we know that they will occur with regularity. Plato’s argument was what we have come to know as Transcendental Realism. This means we come to know something through knowing its form and the changes it undergoes. Aristotle put forth the idea that a form does not transcend the material thing. Knowledge is the harmony between thought and fact. Going deeper into this form of philosophy and addressing how we know what we know in the field of psychology, we would have to say that we observe certain behavioral patterns as they relate to prevailing patterns in society, but the real question is, how real is psychology? We cannot empirically see a thought or the connections between thoughts; we can only observe behaviors and listen to the thoughts of others in determining their psychological status. Psychology is something that is not static, therefore it does not adhere to the definition of truth in the strictest sense. What is the role of morals and moral belief in the practice of psychology (axiology, moral psychology)? In order for psychology to be at all effective, the practitioner must acknowledge what is of value to the client; the observer must take note of what is of value to those being observed. What we value is what motivates us, and while we all value different things in different proportions, we do tend to hold common values as a species. One common value is survival. Survival is an interspecies value and can be utilized to study a wide range of behaviors at a basic level. As adults we should know the difference between right and wrong, and we have likely learned the values of our culture or group (Robert N. Barger, Ph. D. , 2000). According to Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, it is understood that people progress through a series of stages of moral development. Beginning with Level 1, most people (according to Kohlberg) pass through a series of six identifiable stages within three levels (Barger). Kohlberg believed that most adults never progressed beyond the second level of conventional morality; the third level, â€Å"post-conventional† morality, was unattainable by most adults and Kohlberg never met anyone who met the criteria of comprehending social mutuality and respect for a universal principle and the demands of an individual conscience. In the practice of psychology, one’s moral beliefs are the glue that holds an individual together through life. While the beliefs may change (and through psychological intervention they often do), the basic values of an individual are relatively unchanging once set in childhood and through social interaction. Practicing psychology is a continual process of setting priorities, which involves axiology. In a society that is ever more diverse and challenging, it is critical in the field of psychology to engage in axiological thinking in order to better assist clients with their own axiological processes. The very process of basic decision-making involves making priorities, and when priorities conflict over a long period of time, stresses occur that changes an individual’s behavior markedly. Since axiology is the study of how people determine the value of different things, it is of great importance that a psychologist can determine the values of a client in order for therapy to be effective. Assignments of value can either represent or distort reality (Clear Direction Inc. 2001). Since valuations are unique to each individual, they create individual thinking habits, which reveal what the true value is, even if it is simply a habit and not a true value. If the thinking habit distorts reality enough to render someone dysfunctional, the method of thinking needs to be evaluated and changed to a healthier pattern. Then new things take higher value than the old ones, and in theory the destructive thinking pattern is disrupted. Practicing psychology with an understanding of axiology and how it affects individuals, families, and cultures is critical, since western society is under continual pressure to change its priorities, causing enormous stresses on its members; for example, if a parent places a higher value on religious beliefs than their child’s education, the child potentially suffers withdrawal from mainstream society and the opportunity to grow and thrive in that very same society. Do you see a place for religious belief, spirituality, political, and socioeconomic philosophy within psychology (teleology, metaphysics, economics)? In a word, yes. From the dawn of time, rightly or wrongly, humans have incorporated the above disciplines into their daily lives and because they are an integral part of human consciousness they must be present, or at least understood, in the study/practice of psychology. It cannot be emphasized enough that our world is rapidly changing, our values and beliefs are changing, and in our Western society those changes can lead to dangerous consequences, such as extremism and violence. The role of psychology is the study of human behavior, and the more complete an understanding of the causations of those behaviors, the better it is for the discipline of psychology, which does have its roots in philosophy. No matter the progression of the physical sciences, it can be clearly argued that thought, belief and a value system has not been proven to be strictly mechanical. That being said, however, does not give the field of psychology carte blanche to incorporate intelligent design or any other religious preference in its practice. Much more study is needed before one can categorically say that psychology is an entirely separate discipline than the above mentioned, for the very factors in the previous pages of this essay are what build the individual personality. No matter the prevailing belief in one’s society, the mind is free to accept or reject it on whatever grounds of inquiry the individual has undertaken. It is the role of the psychologist to understand the importance of a spiritual belief to many people; belief systems are the underpinnings of every society, and the goal of psychology should be to better understand the purpose of such belief systems rather than disregard them due to their lack of empirical evidence. Reams of books can be written on this one question, no doubt for and against. The issue is so complex and convoluted due to the emotions involved and the agendas of each side for attempting to gain the upper hand. Yet this is, in itself, a study. What is it that is propelling Westerners to go to such lengths as to change laws regarding education of both sides? Before categorically stating that teleology, metaphysics, etc. has no place in psychology, we must consider that in assessing how theories or behaviors or thoughts develop, we do not understand the science behind them; hence, no empirical support is available in the strictest sense (Jean Bricmont, 1997). An individual in the social sciences can corroborate with those in the empirical sciences, yet the meaning attached to findings is a function of recognition of repeating patterns that cannot be measured by empirical means. This automatically throws metaphysics and other ambiguous categories into the mix. We must also remember that scientists are also humans with the very same patterns of cognitive development as everyone else; their jealously guarded positions within their areas of specialty are a study in themselves; one could even go as far as to say that they have formed a belief system all their own, to which they are as emotionally attached as any religious zealot. This is where psychology must be balanced in incorporating both empirical science and philosophy of mind. In order to understand what the driving force is behind teleology, we can only look at the results of its presence. We cannot empirically measure its growth and various ways of metamorphosis. While people can have ideas, people are not ideas in the empirical sense (Ian Heath, 2003). Wilhelm Wendt put the role of psychology quite succinctly in his three general principles of psychology: 1) Inner, or psychological, experience is not a special sphere of experience apart from others, but is immediate experience in its totality. 2) This immediate experience is not made up of unchanging contents, but of an interconnection of processes; not of objects, but of occurrences, of universal human experiences and their relations in accordance with certain laws. 3) Each, of these processes contains an objective content and a subjective process, thus including the general conditions both of all knowledge and of all practical human activity† (Wilhelm Wendt, 1897). In maintaining these principles and staying focused on the fundamental purpose of psychology, this discipline can easily incorporate belief systems into its practice by understanding them to be what they are: inner experiences that propel external behavior. Incorporating ideas and beliefs into psychology from the standpoint of better serving humanity in an attempt to understand itself and better educate itself is necessary for a dynamic global society that has the tendency to make what is simple complicated and what is important irrelevant in the face of fact. It is my belief that rather than create ever-new branches of psychology that focus on a small part of the function of individuals or groups, it would behoove the science of psychology to remember its roots and ethical standards in practice. Psychology should refrain from becoming political, yet acknowledge that is existence in politics is important.

Free Essays on EUTHANASIA

â€Å"Love: The Right Chemistry† In this article I think that the paragraphs are divided well. I have noticed that in most of the paragraphs that the last sentenced is usually what the topic is about in the following paragraph. I think that it helps the reader to anticipate what he/she will be reading next and it also helps the paragraphs flow together. I also like the way the author gives a definition of all the chemical terms that she is using. It helps me as a reader get a better understanding of what the author is trying to say. I found that in starting new paragraphs the author uses the word â€Å"still† and â€Å"above all† in new paragraphs. That helps me because the author isn’t switching form a new topic to another without some sort of transition.. The way that the author writes about love is helpful. She has used many statistics and examples. The order that she used those statistics and examples was interesting. She didn’t start the article out with any facts, it seemed like she was using many of her own observations about the subject : love. I really likes reading this article, I found that the way she wrote is was very successful. I think the paragraphs flowed very smooth, everything was clear and defined and they were many facts and examples.... Free Essays on Euthanasia Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia, which is also known as assisted suicide, is the painless inducement of death† (Weir 281). â€Å"The term â€Å"euthanasia† is derived from the Ancient Greek, and means â€Å"good Death† (Torr 12). â€Å"Euthanasia is a broad term for mercy killing-taking a life of a hopelessly ill or injured individual in order to end his or her suffering† (12). Euthanasia is done one of two ways. It is either done actively or passively. Passive euthanasia is when someone disconnects a respirator or removes a feeding tube from someone who is solely dependant upon it (Bender 13). Active euthanasia is giving a patient an overdose of pills or perhaps a deathly injection of a substance (13). While passive euthanasia has become acceptable, active euthanasia is very controversial issue. Euthanasia is not a new idea to our culture. â€Å"In ancient Greece, the government gave hemlock to those who wanted it (13). Though, individuals’ opposing the idea of euthanasia is not anything new. In 1868, over half of the thirty-seven states prohibited the act of euthanasia (13). In the United States Oregon is the only state where euthanasia has been legalized. Those who have been told that euthanasia means dying peacefully have actually been fed a lie. â€Å"For example, immediately following the passage of Oregon’s Measure 16, those who had said that it would enable people to die peacefully with pills, did an immediate about face and admitted that it would permit the types of activities carried out by Jack Kevorkian. They also said that, if pills were used, a plastic bag should also be used to ensure death† (Torr 57). The fact of the matter is that a murder done out of compassion is still a murder. While the state of Oregon supports and has legalized euthanasia, it is absolutely appalling. Those who support euthanasia argue the fact that it is ethical. Those who find euthanasia to be ethical claim that it is just... Free Essays on Euthanasia When a person commits an act of euthanasia, he/she brings about the death of another person because he/she believes that the latter’s present existence is so bad that he/she would be better off dead. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu means â€Å"good† and thanatos means â€Å"death†. The meaning of euthanasia is â€Å"the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies† (Religious Tolerance). However, euthanasia has many different meanings, which tends to create confusion. It is important to differentiate between the various terms used in discussing euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia refers to removing some form of life support which allows nature to take its course. Forms of life support include: removing life support machines, stopping medical procedures and medications, stopping food and water, or not delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Active Euthanasia refers to causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from the person. Physician Assisted Suicide refers to a physician supplying information and/or the means of committing suicide to a person, so that he/she can easily end his/her own life. This may also be referred to as voluntary passive euthanasia. Involuntary Euthanasia refers to the killing of a person in opposition to their wishes. It is basically a form of murder (Religious Tolerance, 2-3). Euthanasia has been accepted both legally and morally during the times of ancient societies. For example, the Romans and the Greeks both believed that â€Å"dying decently and rationally mattered immensely† (Hamel, 20). The Greeks and Romans were sympathetic to active voluntary euthanasia provided that the acts were done for the right reasons, such as, to end the suffering of a terminal illness. As a result â€Å"of this moral acceptance of active voluntary euthanasia under certain circumstances, Greek and Roman physicians ty pically did not ... Free Essays on Euthanasia When a person commits an act of euthanasia, he/she brings about the death of another person because he/she believes that the latter’s present existence is so bad that he/she would be better off dead. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu means â€Å"good† and thanatos means â€Å"death†. The meaning of euthanasia is â€Å"the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies† (Religious Tolerance). However, euthanasia has many different meanings, which tends to create confusion. It is important to differentiate between the various terms used in discussing euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia refers to removing some form of life support which allows nature to take its course. Forms of life support include: removing life support machines, stopping medical procedures and medications, stopping food and water, or not delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Active Euthanasia refers to causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from the person. Physician Assisted Suicide refers to a physician supplying information and/or the means of committing suicide to a person, so that he/she can easily end his/her own life. This may also be referred to as voluntary passive euthanasia. Involuntary Euthanasia refers to the killing of a person in opposition to their wishes. It is basically a form of murder (Religious Tolerance, 2-3). Euthanasia has been accepted both legally and morally during the times of ancient societies. For example, the Romans and the Greeks both believed that â€Å"dying decently and rationally mattered immensely† (Hamel, 20). The Greeks and Romans were sympathetic to active voluntary euthanasia provided that the acts were done for the right reasons, such as, to end the suffering of a terminal illness. As a result â€Å"of this moral acceptance of active voluntary euthanasia under certain circumstances, Greek and Roman physicians ty pically did not ... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia I’m sure everyone here has heard of Dr. Kevorkian a.k.a. Dr,Death. He has helped 120 people die. Recently, in April of 1999, he was convicted of murder for helping a man with a terminal illness die. Should he have been convicted? In my opinion NO! Why? I firmly believe that in certain cases where suffering from a terminal illness, (alzheimer’s, Multiple sclerosis, car accident leaving the person like a vegetable, cancer) should be able to make the choice to die with dignity. I know I would not want to live a life of constant suffering in pain. Would you? I will explain what Euthanasia is. The word Euthanasia comes from the Greek language; eu means â€Å"good† and thantos means â€Å"death†. The meaning of the word evolved from â€Å"good death†, and it refers to the act of ending another person’s life, at their request, in order to minimize suffering. There are two forms, one is Passive Euthanasia and the other is Active Euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia is the quick death of a person by, removing life support equipment (respirator,etc.), or stopping medical procedures, medications, or stopping food and water and allowing the person to dehydrate or starve to death. These procedures are performed on terminally ill patients, or suffering persons so that natural death will occur sooner. It also is done on people who have massive brain damage who are in a coma from which they will never recover. Active Euthanasia is the causingof the death of a person through a direct action, like injecting a lethal drug to help the person end his or her own life. Active Euthanasia is presently illegal, many professionals claim that it is practiced secretly on a regular basis. Active Ethanasia is very controversial, its argued that the patients are not informed of what steps are being done to them or are forced into agreeing to the act. Assisted suicide refers to a situation in which information and o... Free Essays on EUTHANASIA â€Å"Euthanasia The Great Debate Over Legalization† Over the past decade in the United States the most argued over, debated about issue has been a patient’s right to choose to end their life by means of euthanasia. Euthanasia has been and still remains an extremely controversial issue. With each debate or argument that takes place in regards to legalizing euthanasia there are many questions that have yet to be answered and no clear answers for these questions. Should euthanasia be legalized? Will it open the doors for abuse? Can safeguards be put in place and affectively enforced? Are there any ethical or moral reasons for choosing to die? And is it really painless and peaceful? These are just a few of the concerns that protestors have. However is it not the patients right to end their life? Do they now have the choice to die exactly the way they want? Supporters of legalizing euthanasia present these questions and more. The question at hand is whether euthanasia should be legalized and if it is can there be clear and strict safeguards put in place to reduce the opportunity for abuse. Before trying to answer the questions at hand, understanding what the meaning of euthanasia is and where it comes from is the first step. â€Å"The word Euthanasia originated from the Greek language: Eu means â€Å"good† and Thanatos means â€Å"death†. The meaning of the word is â€Å"the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who wishes to die.†(Robinson) Simply meaning that the person who wishes to commit suicide must be the one to initiate the act or request. The meaning or interpretation of this word can be like many â€Å"moral/ethical/religious terms†(Robinson) and have many meanings. Resulting in mass confusion when trying to distinguish a clear meaning and understanding for putting in place propitiate guidelines and regulations for both the patient and the doctor. â€Å"Killing in the name ... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia is the practice of painlessly putting to death persons who have incurable or painful diseases. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language which when translated means: Eu- â€Å"Good† and Thanatos-â€Å"Death† and is commonly called mercy killing. A distinction is made between active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia is the deliberate killing of a terminally ill person for the purpose of ending the suffering of that person while passive euthanasia is defined as the withholding of life preserving procedures and treatments that would prolong the life of one who is incurably and terminally ill and couldn't survive without them. I will be presenting the claims and views on this issue made by James Rachels and Richard Doerflinger. I will conclude by stating my position on the issue of euthanasia based on the views presented by the two writers. According to Rachels, the most common argument in support of euthanasia is one that we may call â€Å"the argument from mercy†. The argument from mercy says â€Å"euthanasia is justified because it puts an end to that† (Rachels p.175). Following his introduction, Rachels presents a supporting belief by adding a utilitarian view. He states several points about the Utilitarian view and is also careful to cover why it is not entirely viable when applied to euthanasia. He then goes on to state a modified utilitarian view of which he says is â€Å"sound and proves that active euthanasia can be justified†. He states that: (1) If an action promotes the best interests of everyone concerned and violates no one’s rights, then that action is morally acceptable. (2) In at least some cases, active euthanasia promotes the best interests of everyone concerned and violates no one’s rights (3) Therefore, in at least some cases, active euthanasia is morally accep table. Doerflinger’s argument stands in contrast to Rachels. The body of his argument addresses several issues surround... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia: Should it be Legalized? A few years ago, there was a young woman who had been in a coma for years. The husband of this woman finally decided it was time for her to go. But her parents thought that since she was still breathing, she was still ‘with us’. But the doctors confronted them, saying that the young woman may never come out of the coma. And they had full permission from the government to let her go if all the family members agreed on it. But the family refused to have their daughter ‘murdered’ and said that she stays hooked up, and she will awake. After months of trying to get the parents to except it, let her move on, and having many hearts to heart with the husband, with a very heavy heart, they finally turn off her machines. This is an example of one of the many kinds of euthanasia. It does, like most things in life, have its good parts and it’s bad. But what we haven’t decided yet is, are we ready for euthanasia to be legalized? Euthanasia has been looked at in numerous ways. The meaning has been altered and twisted in some peoples minds, and all they can think about when the word euthanasia comes up is, a depressed person asking help in committing suicide or killing people because they serve no purpose in life. .† In ancient times, euthanasia meant an ‘easy death’ without suffering. In today’s society, euthanasia defined as the â€Å"[†¦] mercy [of] killing, or intentionally ending the life of someone who is hopelessly sick or injured in order to save them from suffering†(3). There 3 specific types of euthanasia, voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary euthanasia. Within each of these three, there are two categories, passive euthanasia, which refers to removing or withholding treatment that is critical to keep a person alive, and active euthanasia, which refers to someone actually administering a drug or performing an action that causes death. Some examples of passive euthanasia woul... Free Essays on Euthanasia In today's society, one of the most controversial issues is physician-assisted suicide for the terminally ill. Many people feel that it is wrong for people, regardless of their health condition, to ask their health care provider to end their life; while others feel it is their right to be able to choose how and when they die. When a physician is asked to help a patient into death, they have many responsibilities that come along with that single question. Among those responsibilities are: providing valid information as to the terminal illness the patient is suffering, educating the patient as to what their final options may be, making the decision of whether or not to help the patient into death, and also if they do decide to help, providing the lethal dose of medication that will end the patient's life. For those who believe physician-assisted suicide should be their choice, they feel it should be legalized because: they don't want to go through the suffering caused by the terminal i llness; they fear the loss of their autonomy (independence); becoming a burden to their family or friends, and also the fear of dying alone. One the other hand those opposed to assisted suicide feel it goes against religious beliefs and medical ethics. They also believe that there is always the possibility that a miracle will occur and the patient will overcome the illness and also that the doctor could have provided the wrong prognosis/diagnosis to the patient. The strongest reason against physician-assisted suicide has been the idea that if assisted suicide becomes legal, it will get out of hand and target certain people in society, such as those with disabilities, or certain races. In 1990, physician-assisted suicide became better known to the public when Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a retired pathologist, helped to assist his first patient into death (Landau 80). Kevorkian had created a machine, known as the "suicide machine", which was made up of three g... Free Essays on Euthanasia Sexual intercourse with one’s partner is to some a way to express your emotions and to some a way to take the relationship to another level. In some cases the results of sexual intercourse can be unexpected such as pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. There are however many ways in which to help prevent such mishaps. Pre-marital sex is a topic that is heavily discussed among teenagers. Some teens engage in sexual intercourse with their boyfriend or girlfriend and some are quite promiscuous and have sex with a number of partners. In some cases people do not see anything wrong with pre-marital sex as long as the correct precautions are taken so as not to have unanticipated consequences. Others prefer to abstain from sex until marriage. There are a number of different opinions on sexual intercourse before marriage. The practice of sex before marriage by teenagers should be discouraged. Premarital sex is an act that can result in unanticipated pregnancies and marriages among teens. A number of teenagers have sexual urges, and while some can withstand these temptations, others give in. Some choose to fall for the statement â€Å"everyone is doing it† and choose to engage in the activity to fit in. Most do not think about the consequences they can face because of sexual intercourse. It is because of their mis-education and lack of knowledge why there are a number of unintended teenage pregnancies. Many people talk about the pleasures of sex but fail to inform people that sex outside of marriage is heavily laden with repercussions, especially for girls and women. A woman’s first child should be a great joy but out of premarital intercourse becomes a burden. Sometimes this consequence forces the girl to drop out of school and in most cases the father of the child continues living his life, suffering little to no consequences. Weddings are in a numb er of instances, not joyful because they are forced. Marriages that sho... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia: The Right to die Webster’s defines Euthanasia as â€Å"An easy, painless death; the putting of a person to death painlessly, esp. one in a hopeless condition.† But for the family members of patients on life support it is definitely not an easy or painless decision to make. People like Dr. Kevorkian have reminded us all of our own mortality and our need to think carefully about the kind of society we want to live and to die in but is Euthanasia a moral way to ease the suffering of friends or family? It is no defense to point to the fact that a person has requested to be killed: "No person is entitled to consent to have death inflicted upon him, and such consent does not affect the criminal responsibilities of any person by whom death may be inflicted upon the person by whom consent is given." claim the lobbyists against Euthanasia. This seems to mean that no one has a right to consent to have death inflicted on him or her because it is too close to playing god. In addition, if a person causes the death of another, the consent of the deceased does not provide the person who caused the death a defense to criminal responsibility. Is there a difference between a person who, at a dying person's request, prepares a poison and leaves it on the bedside for that person to take, and a person who helps the patient to drink it or who administers it directly at the request of a dying person who is unable to take it personally? Is there, in short, a real distinction between killing and le tting die? Well, this is the difference between passive and active euthanasia, and if you believe in euthanasia, you must decide which one is correct or even accept both to be correct depending upon the situation. We must carefully think through a number of conceptual issues. What is a person? What is death? How does the difference between active and passive function in arguments for and against euthanasia? Is there any d... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia is a controversial topic that features regularly in the news, but what is it? It is "mercy killing," the process of allowing an individual to die with dignity. Much of the arguments over this topic stem from whether we should give Doctors the right to assist their patients to death, or in fact to commit the deed themselves. This is the distinction between ‘euthanasia’ - the active process of ‘authorised murder,’ and ‘assisted suicide’ - where an individual will provide to the patient the means of commiting suicide, e.g. lethal drugs. Its use is mainly confined to people with terminal diseases, such a motor-neurone disease, AIDS or various cancers. Euthanasia is such a debated topic because it is not only about the patients right to die but also the doctors right to kill. The issue controversial because it deals intimately with death. Motor-neurone disease is just one of many examples of conditions that could be a justification for euthanasia, but is perhaps the most publicly raised as one of the greatest minds of this century, Stephen Hawking, has the disease. It is a horrific illness as it leaves the sufferers mind fully intact yet lets their bodies waste away, this must be unbelievably frustrating. There are several other recent cases such as Diane Pretty, who has the disease and also Phillip Such who went on a hunger strike, who are trying to attract the attention of the British government with the aim of changing the current laws prohibiting assisted suicide and euthanasia. However, the current laws are somewhat hazy. It is illegal, but at least 50 patients were allowed to die and not be resuscitated last year alone as a result of ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ orders. Medical personnel are calling for clearer guidelines. Despite this many people believe that terminally ill people should be given the right to end their own lives, with assistance. In fact over 80% of the public are willing the government to change ... Free Essays on Euthanasia ‘A person has the right to die if they wish’ Discuss In this discussion we are talking about euthanasia, this is killing someone who wishes to die but cannot perform the act themselves, or they can but feel that committing suicide would take away the dignity of dying in peace. Euthanasia is mainly debated due to people not agreeing about how someone can judge someone else’s quality of life. This is because your personal definition of quality of life could be the ability to get up and go to work every morning or being able to do what you please, but for someone who cannot walk very well it maybe simply seeing relatives and being in contact with other people. Some people would argue that people in a vegitive state have no quality of life and so euthanasia is acceptable here because they are only alive because of a life support machine and they do not know what goes on around them, they are just there. The problem with people in this state is we do not know if they wish to die or not because they are disabled and cannot give a sign either way. This is when living wills come into use, they are wills written while you are still at full health and when they no what they are doing. They state that if dying whether to resuscitate or not, this in some peoples eyes is not euthanasia just letting u die instead. But doctors are not supposed to do this because of the Hippocratic oath that was written in the 6th century which states that doctors should preserve life not destroy it. This is why Christians believe that euthanasia is wrong. Euthanasia is also done illegally by the help of doctors who help people who want to die but the problem with this is that if the doctor is caught they will be prosecuted and sent to jail. Some people believe they are doing good because they are ending peoples suffering and this is healing people in a way. The Christian point of view is that of using hospices instead of euthanasia. The point of hos... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia: The Right to die Webster’s defines Euthanasia as â€Å"An easy, painless death; the putting of a person to death painlessly, esp. one in a hopeless condition.† But for the family members of patients on life support it is definitely not an easy or painless decision to make. People like Dr. Kevorkian have reminded us all of our own mortality and our need to think carefully about the kind of society we want to live and to die in but is Euthanasia a moral way to ease the suffering of friends or family? It is no defense to point to the fact that a person has requested to be killed: "No person is entitled to consent to have death inflicted upon him, and such consent does not affect the criminal responsibilities of any person by whom death may be inflicted upon the person by whom consent is given." claim the lobbyists against Euthanasia. This seems to mean that no one has a right to consent to have death inflicted on him or her because it is too close to playing god. In addition, if a person causes the death of another, the consent of the deceased does not provide the person who caused the death a defense to criminal responsibility. Is there a difference between a person who, at a dying person's request, prepares a poison and leaves it on the bedside for that person to take, and a person who helps the patient to drink it or who administers it directly at the request of a dying person who is unable to take it personally? Is there, in short, a real distinction between killing and le tting die? Well, this is the difference between passive and active euthanasia, and if you believe in euthanasia, you must decide which one is correct or even accept both to be correct depending upon the situation. We must carefully think through a number of conceptual issues. What is a person? What is death? How does the difference between active and passive function in arguments for and against euthanasia? Is there any d... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia Euthanasia is often called a merciful killing. It is intentionally making someone die, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. It is sometimes the act of ending someone’s life, who is terminally ill, or is suffering in severe pain. Euthanasia is mostly illegal in the world today. Euthanasia has a positive and also a negative side. Euthanasia is contradictory to human rights; however, it is actually the ultimate human right. In a democratic society, the prevalent one today, everyone has the right to pursue happiness. Euthanasia must be allowed because of dignity, or self-respect. Usually, patients with a terminal disease see everything they cherished fall apart. For example, a cancer patient who is in the last stage would feel pain so great that, when he dies, he would remember the world not full of love, but full of pain. The family would feel the same, seeing a loved one depart suffering. Thus, to remember one’s life as dignifying, one must have the right for euthanasia. The negative side of euthanasia is that it goes against ethics, because we do not let nature take its course. We are disturbing what is occurring or happening naturally to the person. Every person has a natural inclination to continue living. If euthanasia were to become legal, anyone would have an involvement in making a decision to end a person’s existence. If a person’s life is considered less valuable than another’s life, then euthanasia may rage out of control. People simply considered unworthy or invaluable of living would be extinguished, and that may lead to genocide. The United States was founded because people wanted to be free. Americans have fought for freedom ever since. If euthanasia is made illegal it will take away one of the founding freedoms, the freedom of choice, the freedom for a person to choose a death with dignity and free of pain and suffering for themselves and their families.... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia is often called â€Å"mercy killing†. It is intentionally making someone die, rather than allowing that person to die naturally. It is sometimes the act of ending someone’s life, who is terminally ill, or is suffering in severe pain. Euthanasia is mostly illegal in the world today. Euthanasia can be considered a form of suicide, if the person afflicted with the problem actively does it. The person volunteering to commit the act to that person can also consider it a form of murder. The negative side of euthanasia is that it goes against natural law ethics, because we do not let nature take its course. We are disturbing what is occurring or happening naturally to the person. Every person has a natural inclination to continue living. It is also said that euthanasia denies us the dignity of dying like human beings. If euthanasia were to become legal, it would form a downward spiral of society. For example, euthanasia would be self-inflicted by the individual, and then it would be administered and inflicted by others. Then others who simply have knowledge of the situation would administer the euthanasia. Finally, anyone would have an involvement in the euthanasia process making a decision to end a person’s existence. If a person’s life is deemed less valuable than another’s life, then euthanasia may rage out of control. People simply deemed unworthy or invaluable of living would be extinguished, and that may lead to genocide. Euthanasia goes against the six prima facie duties. There can be no duty of self-improvement if you prematurely end you existence. By not allowing yourself to die naturally, you deny yourself the final stages of growth in the dying process – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Dr. Kubler-Ross, a psychiatrist, says that patients grow in the final stages, and finish all unfinished business. To administer euthanasia would deny a person this growth needed. Suicide is a tragic, ... Free Essays on Euthanasia The word `euthanasia ´ is a combination of the ancient Greek words `eu ´ and `thanatos ´, meaning `a good death ´ or `the bringing about of a gentle and easy death ´. Nowadays, the meaning of this word stands for mercy killing. In total, there are six different ways in which euthanasia can occur: Active euthanasia, which is the active intervention by a doctor to terminate a patient ´s life; Passive ethanasia, the deliberate withholding of the patient ´s medical treatment with the intention to terminate life; Voluntary euthanasia, on request of the terminally ill patient, asking to recieve medical treatment in order to die; Involuntary euthanasia, ending an able patient ´s life against their will, or just plain murder; Non-voluntary euthanasia, ending the life of a patient that is incapable of giving permission; and Physician-assisted suicide, almost the same as voluntary euthanasia, but instead the doctor only prescribes the lethal drug rather than giving it to the pa tient. Today, the support for legalising voluntary euthanasia increases with every year. And according to statistics, this sort of euthanasia is supported by the majority of people all over the world. Only a small minotity argues against this issue due to religious beliefs and moral or ethical disagreements. A current case arguing in favour of voluntary euthansia is the case of Diane Pretty, who suffers from the incurable motor neurone disease. She bids for an assisted suicide executed by her husband and has passed the first stage of the legal battle arguing in her favour. Now, her case has to be presented to the Director of Public Prosecusions, in order to prevent her husband from being prosecuted if he should assist her to terminate her life. Mary Warnock commented on this issue in `The Observer ´ of Sunday, September second. She was clearly able to distinguish between the moral and judicial aspects of euthanasia, giving her arguments in favour of Diane Pretty ´s case v... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia Euthanasia is the practice of mercifully ending a person’s life, in order to release the individual from an incurable disease, intolerable suffering, or undignified death (Encarta). The word â€Å"euthanasia† derives from Greek Eu, "good", and Thanatos, "death" and originally referred to intentional mercy killing (Encarta). Physicians may practice two forms of euthanasia: active and passive euthanasia. Active euthanasia means painlessly putting someone to death for merciful reasons by a doctor, who order a lethal dose of medication to the patient. Whereas, passive euthanasia involves not doing something to prevent death, for instance when doctors refrain from the use of an artificial respirator to keep a patient alive who is fatally ill. (Encarta) Euthanasia has been accepted by various societies trough history. In the ancient Greek and Rome it was acceptable to help others die or put them to death in some situations. Voluntary euthanasia was an approved custom for elderly who were suffering unknown or untreatable illnesses that was assumed lethal. Moreover, newborns with severe birth effects were put to death in the ancient Greek city of Sparta. However, as Christianity developed and grew powerful, euthanasia became morally and ethically abhorrent and was viewed as a violation of God’s gift of life. (Beauchamp, pp 102) Following the Christian tradition, laws generally treated the act of helping someone in dying as a form of punishable homicide (unlawful killing). However, those who wish to legalize euthanasia have argued that under the principles of liberty it is everybody’s legal right to choose the way of his or her own death. Therefore, organizations were formed in Great Britain and in The United States during the 1930’s. (Beauchamp, pp113) However, the Netherlands was the first countryand the only one sinceto legalize euthanasia. The Dutch practice of euthanasia provides a negative example to the ... Free Essays on Euthanasia â€Å"Love: The Right Chemistry† In this article I think that the paragraphs are divided well. I have noticed that in most of the paragraphs that the last sentenced is usually what the topic is about in the following paragraph. I think that it helps the reader to anticipate what he/she will be reading next and it also helps the paragraphs flow together. I also like the way the author gives a definition of all the chemical terms that she is using. It helps me as a reader get a better understanding of what the author is trying to say. I found that in starting new paragraphs the author uses the word â€Å"still† and â€Å"above all† in new paragraphs. That helps me because the author isn’t switching form a new topic to another without some sort of transition.. The way that the author writes about love is helpful. She has used many statistics and examples. The order that she used those statistics and examples was interesting. She didn’t start the article out with any facts, it seemed like she was using many of her own observations about the subject : love. I really likes reading this article, I found that the way she wrote is was very successful. I think the paragraphs flowed very smooth, everything was clear and defined and they were many facts and examples.... Free Essays on Euthanasia The nurse continuously assesses and intervenes on the patient’s behalf. Not only does the nurse protect patients from potential risks and complications, but the nurse also has the task of providing patients with comfort and support. This task is among one the most challenging of a nurse’s responsibilities. It is not simply a task that involves going back to the books to find a specific protocol that will work for all patients. The nurse needs to know which interventions will be most comforting to which patients. In addition to analgesics, therapeutic touch can help the nurse to provide patients with the care and support that they deserve. Contrary to the layman belief, therapeutic touch consists of more than simply hugging or touching someone’s shoulder. Therapeutic touch â€Å"is a healing modality that involves touching with the intent to help or heal. Therapeutic touch decreases anxiety, facilitates healing, and relieves pain† (Ignatavicius, Workman, & Mishler, 1999, 39). Therapeutic touch looks at the patient holistically and assumes that one is an energy field. TT mobilizes areas in the patient’s energy field that are not flowing correctly. The practitioner’s body is used to facilitate in redirecting the client’s energies (Ignatavicius et al., 1999, 39). The concept of TT is supported by Roger’s theory of unitary human beings. Nursing research provides the profession with ways in which the practice can be directed. However, drawing from nursing research and making applications to practice, makes it imperative that the nurse be able to analyze and critique a study. This ensures that the interventions that are carried out on patients actually work. There are many extraneous variables that need to be considered when reading a research article. The nurse should be able to read research and be able to determine if the study was conducted rigorously enough that its findings could be supported. Turner, Cla... Free Essays on Euthanasia â€Å"Euthanasia† is a broad term for mercy killing - taking the life of a hopelessly ill of injured individual in order to end his or her suffering (Torr p.12) . The term â€Å"euthanasia† is derived from ancient Greek, and means â€Å"good death†. While the debate over mercy killings has been going on for centuries, many people today believe that it is harder than ever before to achieve a good death. Advances in medicine have increased people’s health and life span, but they have also greatly affected the dying process. For example, in the beginning of the twentieth century the majority of Americans died at home, usually the victims of pneumonia or influenza. Today most people die in the hospital, often from degenerative diseases like cancer that cause a painful, lingering death (Manning, p 4). In our judicial system today there is an ongoing battle whether terminally ill people have the right to end their lives. The question is, if the quality of life has deteriorated is it our right to end it? Is assisting someone to commit suicide unethical behavior? Some would argue that it is not only unethical, but immoral. It is my belief that it is not unethical nor immoral. When death is inevitable and the quality of life has deteriorated, that person has the right to die with dignity. Jack Kevorkian, a proponent of euthanasia and assisted suicide has become a controversial figure in America. He believes individuals who have afflictions that are terminal have the right to end their lives. Using a â€Å"suicide machine† he developed, patients are allowed to administrate their own deaths by hitting a switch, and releasing a lethal amount of drugs into their system. Death would come quickly and painlessly. The pain suffered by patients with terminal diseases can last for years. If an individual’s quality of life has deteriorated and life has become painful, doesn’t he/she have the right to end it? People opp... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia is defined as â€Å"the act of killing an individual for reasons being considered merciful.† It is a planned self-deliverance from a painful and hopeless disease. Today’s society has many different names for it such as: suicide, self-deliverance, auto-euthanasia, aid-in-dying, assisted suicide, death with dignity, and playing God. I believe that no one or any one else has the right to decide when it is time for a person to give up on life. The first and most common reason for why someone might end their life is that an advanced terminal illness is causing unbearable suffering. Another reason is a severe physical handicap causing them to be completely dependent on those who care for them. This is rare though. I believe that life is precious and is worth fighting for. I am glad that assent-suicide is a crime in most places, including here. The word euthanasia comes for a Greek word meaning literally â€Å"good death.† â€Å"Disconnecting respiratory devices is not a acceptable method of euthanasia. It causes the patient to starve for oxygen and gasp for it, but when he/she cannot breathe, the body is starved for oxygen and suffocates. This is not merciful by any means, (Euthanasia).† There is also another point that has to be looked at which is future medical advances. It would reduce pressure on scientists to come up with cures and symptomatic treatments for those of us who do want to live, no matter the circumstances. It would have to be thought of through a different point of view, think about the past. If euthanasia had been legalized 40 years ago, there is a good chance that hospice care would not exist. I think that the improvement in terminal cared is directly effects how good treatments to minimize suffering. â€Å"If that suffering had been extinguished by extinguishing the patients who bore it, then we may never have known the ad... Free Essays on Euthanasia Assisted Suicide Thesis: We do not have the freedom of speech unless we have the freedom to refuse to speak. And we do not have the freedom of religion unless we have the freedom to not be religious. So then how do we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness unless we have the freedom to deny any of these? â€Å"Our Life Is Not Our Own If We Cannot Choose When To End It!† Euthanasia: the final analysis in America today many arguments are centered around the right to choose: the right for women to have and abortion, the right for gays to be allowed to raise children or to be legally married, and the right to physician assisted suicide. ( ) These arguments all have something to do with the individual having the right to make this choice, but what if they are unable to make this choice? Say for instance, a man was hit by an oncoming truck, and is being held alive by a machine, what will happen to him? Who will make the decision for him to live or to die? In most case’s it will be the physician. Well you may ask yourself why cant we choose, that is to die? If a person is terminally ill and has a quality of life so low that they do not have the will to go on, ( ) they are not given a choice. Why then are those people not allowed to seek out a painless alternative in their situation? ( ) Though it is illegal many seek out p hysician assisted suicide ( ) or assisted suicide. Most memorable are those involving Dr. Kevorkian. Known as â€Å"Dr. Death† as some headlines read, Dr. Kevorkian has become famous for his many assisted suicides and his suicide machine. ( ) This all may sound fine and dandy, but not everyone agrees with it. Many religions contend and advise against a person seeking suicide of any kind. ( ) In religious views, life is a gift from god and one not to be thrown away or wasted. ( ) It is viewed that by committing suicide of any kind we are di... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia Most people in the United States die what may be called a bad death. More often than not, patients die in pain, their desires concerning treatment neglected. Euthanasia and physician assented suicide have been one of the biggest disputes in U. S. for a very long time. The word euthanasia originated from the Greek language: eu means â€Å"good† and thanatos means â€Å"death†. One meaning given to the word is â€Å"the intentional termination of life by another at the explicit request of the person who dies.† That is, the term euthanasia normally implies that the act must be initiated by the person who wishes to commit suicide. However, some people define euthanasia to include both voluntary and involuntary termination of life. Like so many moral, ethical, and religious terms, euthanasia has many meanings. The result is mass confusion. The different types of euthanasia are as follows: Passive Euthanasia Active Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide Involuntary Euthanasia Passive euthanasia hastens the death of a person by altering some form of support and letting nature take its course. For example: removing life support equipment, stopping medical procedures, stopping food and water, and not delivering CPR. The most common form of passive euthanasia is to give patients large doses of pain-killers to control pain; in spite of the likelihood that the pain-killer will cause death earlier than if nature would have taken its course. Administering such lethal doses of medication is regarded as ethical in most medical societies. Active euthanasia involves causing the death of a person through a direct action, in response to a request from that person. The most famous and well known example of mercy killings of patients was administered by Dr. Jack Kevorkian. His patients were frightened that advancing diseases and terminal illness would cause them to die a horrible death in the near future; they wanted q... Free Essays on Euthanasia The origin of the word euthanasia is from the Greek eu meaning â€Å"good† and thanos meaning â€Å"death† (â€Å"All†). Euthanasia has been traced as far back as ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. These ancient societies approved of voluntary euthanasia. Religion increased as time passed and life was viewed to be sacred. This caused euthanasia to be seen as wrong in all forms (Home). Euthanasia is the action of inducing the painless death of a person for reasons assumed to be merciful (â€Å"Death†). This usually means killing in the name of passion (â€Å"Frequently†). Euthanasia and assisted suicide are subject to much debate over whether it should be legal and whether it is ethical and moral to allow it to be done. There are many forms of euthanasia. They are passive euthanasia, active euthanasia, and involuntary euthanasia. The patients are not required to have to extend their lives for as long as possible (Battin 336). Allowing a person to die a natural death by withdrawing some form of support is passive euthanasia. Some examples are removing life support, stopping medical procedures and medications, not delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and depriving a patient of food and water (â€Å"All†). It is widely accepted for a mentally competent patient to refuse treatment (â€Å"Assisted). Technically, passive euthanasia is legal because the patient is dying of a natural disease (Cundiff 2-3). Causing the death of a patient through direct action is active euthanasia (â€Å"All†). The most common active euthanasia performed is an overdose of medication (Cundiff 3). Active euthanasia is considered murder, therefore is against the law (1). Involuntary euth! anasia is usually considered mercy killing, which is when someone kills a suffering individual who is unable to request or perform the act themselves (Thomasma 20). Some patients request something else besides euthanasia. They sometimes request assisted suic... Free Essays on Euthanasia What Is Euthanasia? By definition, euthanasia means â€Å"good death†, originated from the Greek-â€Å"eu†, meaning good and â€Å"thantos†, meaning death. It is generally defined as a method of causing a painless death to end suffering. There are three types of practices that are involved with euthanasia. The first one is voluntary, â€Å"active† euthanasia, where the person asks to be killed. This involves painlessly putting individuals to death for merciful reasons, as when a doctor administers a lethal dose of medication to a patient. The second practice that is involved with euthanasia is involuntary. This concerns the killing of persons who cannot express their wishes, because of immaturity (i.e. a newborn infant), mental retardation or coma. Here is it decided by others that that person would be better off dead. The third practice is passive euthanasia, where withdrawing some kind of medical support kills the patient and lets nature takes its course. For example this would include removing life support or stopping medical procedures which are unwanted. The Controversy of Euthanasia Euthanasia has been a topic of controversy within many societies, for some amount of time. In ancient Greece and Rome euthanasia was tolerated as long as the person received official permission and was logical. In fact the Greek magistrates kept supplies of poison for anyone who wish to die (Humphry). During the Renaissance, most enlightened people didn’t view it as wrong, but they met resistance from Catholic and Protestant Churches who condemned any form of suicide as a sin (Humphry). In modern time, the topic of euthanasia has turned into a very heated debate. By addressing the issues of refusing prolonging life medically, assisting suicide, or active euthanasia, we eventually confront our own society's fears toward death itself. Above others, our American culture breeds fear and dread of aging and dying into its people. It is not easy for... Free Essays on Euthanasia Euthanasia A considerable size of society is in favor of Euthanasia mostly because they feel that as a democratic country, we as free individuals, have the right to decide for ourselves whether or not it is our right to determine when to terminate someone's life. The stronger and more widely held opinion is against Euthanasia primarily because society feels that it is god's task to determine when one of his creations time has come, and we as human beings are in no position to behave as god and end someone's life. When humans take it upon themselves to shorten their lives or to have others to do it for them by withdrawing life-sustaining apparatus, they play god. They usurp the divine function, and interfere with the divine plan. Euthanasia is the practice of painlessly putting to death persons who have incurable, painful, or distressing diseases or handicaps. It come from the Greek words for 'good' and 'death', and is commonly called mercy killing. Voluntary euthanasia may occur when incurably ill persons ask their physician, friend or relative, to put them to death. The patients or their relatives may ask a doctor to withhold treatment and let them die. Many critics of the medical profession contend that too often doctors play god on operating tables and in recovery rooms. They argue that no doctor should be allowed to decide who lives and who dies. The issue of euthanasia is having a tremendous impact on medicine in the United States today. It was only in the nineteenth century that the word came to be used in the sense of speeding up the process of dying and the destruction of so-called useless lives. Today it is defined as the deliberate ending of life of a person suffering from an incurable disease. A distinction is made between positive, or active, and negative, or passive, euthanasia. Positive euthanasia is the deliberate ending of life; an action taken to cause death in a person. Negative euthanasia is defined as the withhol...