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Explain the concept of ethics
Explain the concept of ethics
The nature of society and its relationship with individuals
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What does it mean to be human? What is the definition of Human? Is there an afterlife? If so, then how is the afterlife structured? Questions about what constitutes a person to be humane have constantly lingered in the air since the conception of man. Concepts of this matter range from the existence of a deity, the development of morals, or the simple notion that our deoxyribonucleic acid contains a defined sequence that makes us a species. Is it that how we operate within society determines who we are? What does it mean to be humane? Humanity’s humanity is based solely on your interpretation.
In order to establish a basis of what it means to be humane, it must first be defined. To be humane is the equivalent to having or showing compassion or benevolence. However, a mere definition of such a broad word dictates nothing whatsoever. Perhaps to be humane simply means to abide by the invisible social code. One could state that human interaction is not what causes humans to develop a conscience. This statement is what justifies that humanity is incapable of being defined.
Throughout Dante’s venture through hell he is tempted by souls to assist them with their cause. However, he is constantly reminded that if he does so then he will be trapped for eternity in hell as well. There is an obvious sense of compassion brought forth by Dante towards other beings, but he constantly refused to enact upon his predicament. Since he did not take action then is he considered to be humane? This can only be determined by the reader’s definition of being humane. The definition of humane states that you must demonstrate a sense of compassion or benevolence. Benevolence is defined as an act of kindness or an inclination to be kind. In ...
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... “The Stranger”, Albert Camus, has a famous quote about life: “You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.”
The idea of interpretation of humanity comes from the fact that there are several types of people. Some people simply follow the path of least resistance and live for no apparent reason. It is as if they live to die. On the bright side there are people that actually wish to advance throughout society and potentially allow society to improve along the way. In my opinion it is these people that are humane. They are the saviors of society. They comprehend that they are not immortal. Therefore they must have some reason for being alive. As a result they decide to not only further themselves, but they decide to allow society to advance as well. In my opinion it is as if they are some sort of hero that I would definitely define as humane.
God states that we treat each other with the love he gives to us as individuals; while us stating violent acts against love, fraud constituting a corruption and, greed becoming normal thing amongst people defines everything god had envisioned for mankind. Yet, while Inferno implies these moral arguments, it generally states very little about them. Dante discusses with each of the souls in the different circles of hell although it is not truly stated as to why they are specifically in that circle. Only because God justifies there sin belonged there. In the end, it declares that evil is evil, simply because it contradicts God’s will and justification, and since God is God, he thus does not need to be questioned about his morals. Dante’s journey of evil progressed as he winded down the depths of hell pitiless and was driven to make it to purgatory. Inferno is not the normal text that most people would read, then think about how it relates to todays morals; its intention is not to think about the evil discussed but, rather to emphasize the Christian beliefs that Dante followed through his journey.
Throughout his journey Dante the pilgrims meets different souls who share their gruesome stories, and Dante the pilgrim does initially sympathize with them. Eventually as he gets lower into hell he does not pity the souls anymore. In Canto three Dante states "Inscribed on the lintel of an archway, master I said, this saying 's hard for me."(Inferno, III; 11-12). The claim can be made that Dante is very different from the dammed souls he sees in hell, and he is aware of that. In a way Dante sort of separates himself from those souls he meets. A single minded mentality is born unlike in Beowulf where his pride helps him to solve a problem that will help his
To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life”.- Walter Mitty (Movie).
It could even be said that those for whom life has never appeared problematic, have not really found - nor can they ever know - the meaning of life. For these people Life is just a matter of `living', and the question of its meaning simply does not arise.
To ascribe an entity with moral status ― whether an adult human, infant, foetus, or non-human animal ― is to declare that its treatment by other moral agents is mo...
Millions of years of evolution have taken us from a single cell to a genetically unique animal we now call humans. This progression and advancement has taken us from beings with no language or sense of thought, to what is now an extremely advanced human race, exploring the world as we know it. In Human Dignity, Francis Fukuyama explains the concepts of what makes an animal human. This can be a very hard concept to grasp and even Fukuyama cannot give a clear answer. Fukuyama agrees that there is not solely one characteristic that makes an animal human, it a group of elements, which he calls Factor X. These elements are what should ultimately give animals the right to be treated with dignity, honor, and respect. If animals can develop an advanced
Warren begins her argument by explicitly defining a human person as someone who is a “full-fledged member of the moral community” (Timmons 385). Warren believes that this community consists of all and only people that possess the ability to express the five qualities that were previously mentioned as opposed to all human beings that possess the genetic code of humanity. Being a member of this community entitles a person to have full moral rights, including the rights of life and happiness, which must be respected. Warren justifies that the five qualities are sufficient criteria of determining the apparent “personhood” of a being by stating that such principles of humanity would be used when attempting to study alien life forms on distant planets. Despite discernable differences in physiological and (potentially) cultural development, these alien beings may demonstrate enoug...
Each person has a different definition for what being human really stands for. To some, giving to others in a merciless way could constitute being human. In Orwell’s novel, his protagonist Winston would consider being human as the ability of a person to think and act freely. That is what Winston was trying to hold on to throughout the novel; his ability to stay human. With the government controlling every single aspect in the lives of their people, the
Each person has a different definition for what being human really stands for. To some, giving to others in a merciless way could constitute being human. In Orwell’s novel, his protagonist Winston would consider being human as the ability of a person to think and act freely. That is what Winston was trying to hold on to throughout the novel; his ability to stay human. With the government controlling every single aspect in the lives of their people, the ability to think and act freely was very hard to maintain. If one does not have the capability of controlling what they think, do, or even what they say then, according to Orwell, they cannot possibly remain “human”. In 1984 Orwell says, “’Who controls the past,’ ran the Party slogan, ‘controls the future; who controls the present controls the past.’” (Orwell. PG 34). This is a significant quote that can be used to support the claim that being human is related to one’s ability to
"People say that what we're all seeking is a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive...." Joseph Campbell made this comment on the search for meaning common to every man's life. His statement implies that what we seem bent on finding is that higher spark for which we would all be willing to live or die; we look for some key equation through which we might tie all of the experiences of our life and feel the satisfaction of action toward a goal, rather than the emptiness which sometimes consumes the activities of our existence. He states, however, that we will never find some great pure meaning behind everything, because there is none. What there is to be found, however, is the life itself. We seek to find meaning so that emptiness will not pervade our every thought, our every deed, with the coldness of reality as the unemotional eye chooses to see it. Without color, without joy, without future, reality untouched by hope is an icy thing to view; we have no desire to see it that way. We forget, however, that the higher meaning might be found in existence itself. The joy of life and the experience of living are what make up true meaning, as the swirl of atoms guided by chaotic chance in which we find our existence has no meaning outside itself.
In order to define personhood, one must first define a human. A Human can be thought about in two different senses, a moral human sense and a genetic human sense. In a moral sense, humans can be thought of as a person who is a member of the moral community. In a genetic sense, humans are merely any physical being categorized as a being in the human species. From this one can conclude that a person is a human in the moral sense. Furthermore, characteristics of a person must be defined in order to differentiate moral beings from genetic humans.
Are human beings animals, or are we something more? Human beings are nothing more than animals. Going to war over nothing more than to gain territory when they sustained perfectly well in the first place, selling dead men for gold, plotting for an even harsher revenge is all barbaric. There was never a need for so much war, and the punishments people received for petty crimes such as burying a dead man, which should not be a crime in the first place
It’s my conclusion that my very broad definition of what makes us human is still intact even though it contradicts the above. The only way a human can be inhuman is through another human’s perception. The definition of what is not human is decided by the majority. The idea must then be accepted by the group that is the majority. It is through this system that some of the most atrocious things have been done to those found to be inhuman. In the end the only inhuman, are those who think they have the right and authority to decide who is and isn’t human.
What does it mean to be human? Sure, one must have the usual physical features such as fingers, eyes, arms, hands, feet, etc., but what does it really mean? Must the human be able to speak? To take upon the actions of themselves? Whatever it means, it can be interpreted in any way from anyone. The physical attributes of any human can be compared to those of our evolutionary ancestors. However, it is possible to believe that there are many characteristics that make a human, but only six define the true, ideal human.
“Humanism is to mean the development of human virtue, within all its approaches, to its fullest extent. Hence! The term implied such qualities as are associated to the modern world humanity, understanding, benevolence, compassion, mercy as well as aggressive characteristics as fortitude, judgment, prudence, eloquence, and even more the love of honor. The consequences of the possessor of humanism could not be merely a sedentary and isolated philosopher or man of letters but was of necessity a participant in active life. It looks to be just as action without action rejected as barren and imperfect. Humanism called for a fine balance between action and contemplation, a balance born not of compromise but of complementarity.”