Abortion Should Remain Legal Essay -- Argument For Abortion

The average woman is pregnant for 38 weeks. However, what if a woman decides she no longer wants to follow through with her pregnancy? If a woman chooses to no longer be pregnant; abortion has become a popular way to terminate a pregnancy. There can be many reasons as to why a woman might have an abortion. It may be due to an unwanted pregnancy, health issues with the mother that will cause her sickness throughout the pregnancy, inability to care for a child, ectopic pregnancy, and even awareness of life threatening illnesses that will not allow the baby to live outside of the womb. Abortion has been a controversial subject for decades. Not only has abortion been controversial in the United States, but it has been an issue around the world. There are many powerful reasons as to why some people are against abortion; and there are also numerous reasons as to why some people advocate abortion. Some people feel that abortion is an act of murder, evil, and selfishness; while many others feel that it is a womans decision and right to do what she wishes with her body; as well as the decisions that she makes. To those who are unaware of exactly what an abortion is; it is when a pregnant woman has a fetus removed from her womb. To this day, there are 682 abortion clinics in the U.S; and there are numerous methods to abortion; although the aspiration method is most popular. The aspiration method, also known as the vacuum method, takes place within the first trimester of pregnancy. According to lifesitenews.com, a website that discusses abortion, the methods of abortion depends on the stage the pregnancy is in, as well as the size of the fetus. Due to health concerns and less chance of complications, abortions are usually performed within t... ...s." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. . "Roe v. Wade." Roe v. Wade. N.p., 13 Dec. 1971. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. . "Share." The Bible's Teaching Against Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. . Sifferlin, Alexandra, and Alexandra Sifferlin. "Study Linking Abortion to Mental Health Problems Is Flawed | TIME.com." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. . "Surgical Abortions." LifeSiteNewscom RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. . Abortion Should Remain Legal Essay -- Argument For Abortion The average woman is pregnant for 38 weeks. However, what if a woman decides she no longer wants to follow through with her pregnancy? If a woman chooses to no longer be pregnant; abortion has become a popular way to terminate a pregnancy. There can be many reasons as to why a woman might have an abortion. It may be due to an unwanted pregnancy, health issues with the mother that will cause her sickness throughout the pregnancy, inability to care for a child, ectopic pregnancy, and even awareness of life threatening illnesses that will not allow the baby to live outside of the womb. Abortion has been a controversial subject for decades. Not only has abortion been controversial in the United States, but it has been an issue around the world. There are many powerful reasons as to why some people are against abortion; and there are also numerous reasons as to why some people advocate abortion. Some people feel that abortion is an act of murder, evil, and selfishness; while many others feel that it is a womans decision and right to do what she wishes with her body; as well as the decisions that she makes. To those who are unaware of exactly what an abortion is; it is when a pregnant woman has a fetus removed from her womb. To this day, there are 682 abortion clinics in the U.S; and there are numerous methods to abortion; although the aspiration method is most popular. The aspiration method, also known as the vacuum method, takes place within the first trimester of pregnancy. According to lifesitenews.com, a website that discusses abortion, the methods of abortion depends on the stage the pregnancy is in, as well as the size of the fetus. Due to health concerns and less chance of complications, abortions are usually performed within t... ...s." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. . "Roe v. Wade." Roe v. Wade. N.p., 13 Dec. 1971. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. . "Share." The Bible's Teaching Against Abortion. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. . Sifferlin, Alexandra, and Alexandra Sifferlin. "Study Linking Abortion to Mental Health Problems Is Flawed | TIME.com." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. . "Surgical Abortions." LifeSiteNewscom RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .

End of Life Essay

According to IOM (2008), the next generation of older adults will be like no other before it. It will be the most educated and diverse group of older adults in the nation’s history. They will set themselves apart from their predecessors by having fewer children, higher divorce rates, and a lower likelihood of living in poverty. But the key distinguishing feature of the next generation of older Americans will be their vast numbers. According to the most recent census numbers, there are now 78 million Americans who were born between 1946 and 1964. By 2030 the youngest members of the baby boom generation will be at least 65, and the number of older adults 65 years and older in the United States is expected to be more than 70 million, or almost double the nearly 37 million older adults alive in 2005. The number of the â€Å"oldest old,† those who are 80 and over, is also expected to nearly double, from 11 million to 20 million (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies [IOM], 2008, p. 29). The United States health care system faces enormous challenges as the baby boomer generation nears retirement age. Current reimbursement policies, workforce practices, and resource allocations all need to be re-evaluated, and redesigned in order to prepare the health care system for meeting the needs of the inevitably growing population of older adults. Areas such as education, training, recruitment, and retention of the health care workforce serving older adults will require remodeling. To accomplish this will require the dedication and allocation of greater financial resources, even at a time when budgets are already be severely stretched. â€Å"The nation is responsible for ensuring that older adults will be cared for by a health care workforce prepared to provide high-quality care. If current Medicare and Medicaid policies and workforce trends continue, the nation will fail to meet this responsibility. Throwing more money into a system that is not designed to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care or to facilitate the development of an appropriate workforce would be a largely wasted effort† (IOM, 2008, p. 1-12). Ethical Standards for Resource Allocation Ethics have a paramount role in solving the complex dilemmas surrounding the aging population and health care. There are several ethical standards I believe should be used in determining resource allocation for the aging population and end of life care. Yet realistically, most are unreasonable with the already limited resources available for health care. Unfortunately difficult decisions need to be made in the allocation of resources. Three primary ethical standards that could realistically improve health care for the aging, which I believe should determine resource allocations are: 1. Autonomy: suggest that individuals have a right to determine what is in their own best interest, though that interest may be limited if exercising that right limits the rights of others. 2. Beneficence: means that clinicians should act completely in the interest of their patients. Compassion; taking positive action to help others; desire to do good; core principle of our patient advocacy. 3. Justice: implies fairness and that all groups have an equal right to clinical services regardless of race, gender, age, income, or any other characteristic (Teutsch & Rechel, 2012, p. 1). It is inevitable that difficult decisions have to be made regarding how health care resources will be allocated for the aging and dying. In my opinion scarce health care resources should be offered as fair as possible (justice), to do the most good for the patient in every situation (beneficence), with respect of the individual human right to have control of what happens to their own body (autonomy). Elderly and end of life patients have a right to care that is dignified and honest. The three ethical standards noted above should be the driving force behind determining health care resource allocations, allowing for quality care delivery, tailored to individual health needs at any stage of â€Å"aging† through the end of life, ensuring protection and satisfaction to such a vulnerable patient population. As stated by Maddox (1998), perhaps the impact of the array of problems, issues, and the myriad difficult decisions that policymakers and managers make may be softened by imaginative and rational strategies to finance, organize, and deliver health care when resources are scarce. Decisions related to scarce resource allocations must be made in consideration of the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and especially justice. Ethical issues related to scarce resource allocation are likely to become increasingly complex in the future. Thus, it is imperative that health care leaders diligently and ethically continue to explore these issues (Maddox, 1998, p. 41). Somehow, while using the three standards noted, we need to reform our health care system to benefit the aging and dying, and adhere to the codes of conduct the best way possible with the limited resources available. If there is a will, there is a way! Ethical Challenges The critically challenging ethical issue of â€Å"aged based health care rationing† is faced when preparing for an adequate health care system that will meet the care needs of the aging and dying. According to AAM (1988), the rationale for a program of health care rationing based on age rests on the assumption that society should allocate its resources efficiently, and that age-based rationing represents the most efficient method of resource allocation. Within this context, it has been argued that since most of the elderly are not in the work force they do not directly benefit society. Although the elderly, it is argued, should be provided with basic necessities and comfort, the greatest portion of health care resources, including expensive medical technologies, are better deployed on younger, more productive segments of the population (American Medical Association [AMA], 1988, p. 1). One tool developed by economist that has been used to measure value of ones life so to speak is known as â€Å"quality adjusted life years or QALY†. It is a widely used measure of health improvement that is used to guide health-care resource allocation decisions. The QALY was originally developed as a measure of health effectiveness for cost-effectiveness analysis, a method intended to aid decision-makers charged with allocating scarce resources across competing health-care program (Kovner & Knickman, 2011, p. 258). Another common term for health care rationing is known as the â€Å"death panel, or Obama Death Council†. This panel is a government agency that would decide who would receive health care and who would not receive health care based on some form of standard implemented by the government. One difficult ethical question posed is, if we do ration health care, who decides how it is rationed, when and why? The advocates of rationing argue that society benefits from the increase in economic productivity that results when medical resources are diverted from an elderly, retired population to those younger members of society who are more likely to be working. As stated by Binstock (200), promoting age-based rationing is detrimental to the elderly because it devalues the status of older people and caters to the values of a youth- oriented culture, a culture in which negative stereotyping based on age is prevalent. One possible consequence of denying health care to elderly persons is what it might do to the quality of life for all of us as we approach the â€Å"too old for health care† category. Societal acceptance of the notion that elderly people are unworthy of having their lives saved could markedly shape our general outlook toward the meaning and value of our lives in old age. At the least it might engender the unnecessarily gloomy prospect that old age should be anticipated and experienced as a stage in which the quality of life is low. The specter of morbidity and decline could be pervasive and over- whelming (Binstock, 2007, p. 8). Other ethical challenges related to the provisions of aging based health care are: 1. Lack of education amongst health care providers in meeting the care needs of the aging and dying as well as providers faced with ethically challenging decisions especially at the end of life. 2. Lack of funds to support the diverse and challenging health needs of the aging, and promotion of comfort when dying, whether it be funds for care, facility placement, or ability to hire enough staff to me the high demands of a large population, and education. 3. Cost effectiveness vs. quality of care vs. quality of life â€Å"In the end, there is no â€Å"solution† to the problem of aging, at least no solution that a civilized society could ever tolerate. Rather, our task is to do the best we can with the world as it is, improving what we can but especially avoiding as much as possible the greatest evils and miseries of living with old age: namely, the temptation of betrayal, the illusion of perpetual youth, the despair of frailty, and the loneliness of aging and dying alone† (Georgetown University, 2005, para. 62). One way or another it is imperative to our aging society that a health care system is developed under the principals of autonomy, beneficence, and justice that will not deliver care based on rationing and determination of ones’ worth, but based on the individual and their health needs that will facilitate optimal aging and peaceful dying. References American Medical Association. (1988). Ethical implications of age-based rationing of health care (I-88). Retrieved from http://www. ama-assn. org/resources/doc/ethics/ceja_bi88. pdf Binstock, R. H. (2007, August). Our aging societies: ethical, moral, and policy challenges. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 12, 3-9. Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com. ezp. waldenulibrary. org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? sid=64fb29eb-cd59-49c6-8750-ad2528de0fba%40sessionmgr110&vid=13&hid=114 Georgetown University. (2005). Taking care: ethical caregiving of our aging society. Retrieved from http://bioethics. georgetown. edu/pcbe/reports/taking_care/chapter1. html Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2008). Retooling for an aging America: building the health care workforce. Retrieved from http://www. fhca. org/members/workforce/retooling. pdf Kovner, PhD, A. R. , & Knickman, PhD, J. R. (2011). Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States (10th ed. , pp. 1-404). New York: Springer Publishing Company. Maddox, P. J. (1998, December). Administrative ethics and the allocation of scarce resources. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 3(3). Retrieved from http://www. nursingworld. org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol31998/No3Dec1998/ScarceResources. html Teutsch, S. , & Rechel, B. (2012). Ethics of resource allocation and rationing medical care in a time of fiscal restraint _ US and Europe. Public Health Reviews, 34(1), 10. Retrieved from http://www. publichealthreviews. eu/upload/pdf_files/11/00_Teutsch. pdf

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome FAS Essay - 2732 Words

Could you ever imagine feeding your infant alcohol through a bottle? This is equivalent to what alcohol does to the fetus in the womb. This results in a tragic disease known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Alcohol can affect a human body in many different ways. Alcohol can be the highlight of a party and make anything exciting, but also can seriously alter human life. It’s quite often that we see on the news another victim dead, or in critical condition because their signs and symptoms were loud enough for others to notice, because a baby cannot speak for itself it isn’t able to show signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is effecting it. Most mothers would agree that they would not feed their infant alcohol through a bottle so why do they†¦show more content†¦It isn’t as common for brain damage to occur in the last trimester, but brain damage is at its highest vulnerability rate 15-25 days into the pregnancy. Malformations common to these areas suggest that structural damage commence early ( Caleekal 1). This information could greatly help determine on how much of the effects a child will have of Fetal Alcohol syndrome, but there is still no safe amount of alcohol a pregnant women should be safe to consume. Alcohol is a chemical that is toxic to the developing of the Central Nervous System(Stratton et al.2). According to The Sunday Times ,just one glass of wine a week can make babies â€Å"jump† in the womb throughout a nine-month pregnancy. The Sunday Times also reported that â€Å"experts believe this abnormal hyperactive behavior is the result of alcohol slowing or retarding the formation of the central nervous system.† Even before the actual child is born it faces problems that it has no control over and these problems will continue to hinder the child for the rest of its life. There is no known cure for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, no medication to control the side effects, the cure may seem simple and it is do not drin k if you believe or suspect that you may become pregnant. Unfortunately, the simple cure still does not work. However, there are some ways to prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome from claiming another victim. A woman who consumes alcoholShow MoreRelatedFetal Alcohol Syndrome ( Fas )1404 Words   |  6 Pagesdisorders is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). According to Feldman (2009), Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a disorder that is induced by pregnant women who have consumed alcohol during the duration of their pregnancy, possibly resulting in mental deformity and delayed the growth of the child. Some characteristics of FAS include growth deficiency and central nervous system dysfunction (Mattson, 2006). Although the child may not be diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, if the child was exposed to alcohol duringRead More Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Essay925 Words   |  4 PagesFetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) One of the leading causes of mental retardation in the United States is fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS. Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance by pregnant women because its legal and socially acceptable. A greater majority of young women are not aware of the complications that are involved with pregnancy. They see pregnancy as a way of bringing a life into the world but do not use the necessary safety measure in their dietary habits to prevent such damage orRead MorePrenatal Alcohol During Pregnancy Results Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome ( Fas )1497 Words   |  6 Pagesprenatal ethanol exposure. Alcohol. 2013; 47 (2): 109-120. Introduction Consuming alcohol during pregnancy results in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). The spectrum of FAS ranges from barely detectable to severe functional and cognitive birth defects. In the United States approximately 9.1 out of 1,000 live births exhibit some degree of FAS spectrum. Although excessive consumption of alcohol is considered a human teratogen the biochemical mechanism and the developmental origins FAS spectrum remain unclearRead MoreEssay on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome1390 Words   |  6 Pagesin this essay is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS); caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Since the alcohol is consumed in such a developing stage of the fetus, it can potentially cause many different complications in the unborn child. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome could easily be prevented with more awareness to the issue and its defining characteristics, how it affects the fetus during growth, and finally the long-term effects on the individual’s life. The science behind FAS will be explainedRead MoreFetal Alcohol Syndrome Essay1699 Words   |  7 PagesFetal Alcohol Syndrome Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a condition affecting children born to women who drink heavily during pregnancy. There are three criteria used to describe the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and to make a diagnosis of FAS. The first of these is a pattern of facial anomalies, these features include: #61558; Small eye openings #61558; Flat cheekbones #61558; Flattened groove between nose and upper lip #61558; Thin upper lip These characteristicsRead MoreThe Disorder Of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome1018 Words   |  5 Pagesthe the disorder Fetal Alcohol Syndrome .This paper will aim to discuss what the disorder is ,it s history how it is diagnosed and the treatment and prevention of this disorder. Taking a sip a int hip Introduction :Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing(Bible-Judges 13:7).It has been known throughout history that the effects of alcohol use in pregnancyRead MoreThe Truth About What Alcohol Abuse Does to a Fetus1118 Words   |  5 PagesThe Truth About Fetal Alcohol Abuse Would you have ever thought of physically, mentally, and/or emotionally harming an unborn child? In the 1990s people have noted the significant impact alcohol-related birth defects are having on our society then and now. My essay will discuss alcohol consumption among pregnant women and its adverse effects on fetal development. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS is physical and mental health problem that destroys a childs learning development.Read MoreThe Effects of Alcohol from Utero into Later Life600 Words   |  3 PagesThe Effects of Alcohol from Utero into Later Life During the ten months of gestation, the ever-growing fetus goes through the stages and changes of becoming a functional human. Unfortunately for some, these children will not get the full advantages of life because of the choices of another. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) has been calculated to have an impact on nearly forty thousand infants a year (fasdcenter). To really see the magnitude of the effects of this easily preventable disorder, researchersRead MoreFetal Alcohol Syndrome942 Words   |  4 Pages Fetal Alcohol Syndrome According to Seaver, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is birth defects causing learning, and behavioral problems in individuals whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy. This disorder is very serious, yet it is recognized as one of the most preventable. This causes major issues, when something so serious could be prevented but is not. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a problem because it leaves a permanent effect on the unborn child, but some solutions could be educating women andRead MoreThe Effects Of Alcohol During Pregnancy On Children1041 Words   |  5 PagesAlcohol is a TERATOGEN, meaning that it will cause developmental damage to a FETUS or EMBRYO. The degree to which a TERATOGEN wreaks havoc on an unborn child largely depends on four factors: dosage, heredity, age, and additional negative factors. The most vulnerable prenatal period is during the stage of embryonic development, which occurs between the third and eighth weeks of pregnancy. Once alcohol penetrates the PLACENTA an d enters the fetal bloodstream it hinders the neurons inside the child’s

Driver Education Key Vocabulary for English Learners

Many ESL speakers and learners are required to take driver education courses to obtain their driver license from the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). In the United States, each state DMV provides a different written test (for example the California DMV has a different test than the Florida DMV or the NY DMV). International driver licenses also sometimes require a written test. The key vocabulary provided is based on a standard DMV written test and is broken up into categories such as Nouns (Persons, Types of Vehicles, Dangerous Situations, etc.) Verbs, and Descriptive Phrases. Study these keywords to help you or your classes better understand driving manuals and driver education courses. Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Nouns Persons bicyclistdriverofficerpassengerspedestrianspoliceman Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Types of Vehicles and Car Parts bicyclebrakechainsequipmentheadlightslightsmirrormotorcyclepickup trucklicense plateseatsignalssteeringtirestow trucktruckvehiclewindshield Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Dangerous Situations accidentalcoholcollisionconvictioncrashdangerdrugsemergencyevidencefoghazardinjuryinsuranceintoxicantslawsoffensereactionriskwarning Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Driving arrowdistanceDMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)documentDUII (Driving while Under the Influence of an Intoxicant)guideID (Identification)identificationinstructionlicensespeed limitmovementpermitprivilegeregistrationrestrictionsrequirementssignsspeeding Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Roads crosswalkcurvecurbdistrictdrivewayexitfreewayhighwayintersectionlanepavementrailroadramproadwayroundaboutroutesidewalkstop lightsstop signtraffic lights More Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Verbs approach a roadavoid an accidentbe alert while drivingbrake a car (step on the brakes)change laneschange lanes, tirescheck, look into mirrorcrash into somethingcross a roaddamage somethingdrive a car, drive defensivelyenforce a lawexit a roadfollow a car or vehiclehit a car, an objectinjure a personinsure  a vehicle or carmerge onto a roadobey a layobtain a permit or licenseoperate a vehicleovertake a car or vehiclepass a car or vehicleprotect passengersreact to a situationreduce speedrefuse to take a testride in a carshow identificationsignal a turnskid on the roadspeed (drive above the speed limit)steer a car or vehiclestop a car or vehicleturn a car or vehiclewarn another driverwear safety beltsyield to (oncoming) traffic Key DMV Driver Education Vocabulary: Descriptive Words (Adjectives) and Phrases amber lightsapproaching car or vehiclebehind somethingcommercial vehicleconvicted driverdisabled passengerflashing lightshazardous situationinterstate freewayintoxicated driverlegal documentlicensing departmentmanual transmissiononcoming trafficone-way streetout-of-state license plate, driverpedestrian crosswalkposted signprohibited by law, movementrecreational vehiclereduced speedreplacement tirerequired by law, equipmentsafety feature, seatslippery roadsteering wheelstraight roadsuspended licensetwo-way streetunsafe driving, driver, vehiclevalid drivers licensewarning signals, lights

The Chemistry of Knowledge Essay - 1905 Words

The Chemistry of Knowledge Hippeas thought he had all the answers. â€Å"I have never found any man who was my superior in anything,† he boasted. Then he meets Socrates. Though he had made thousands of public speeches about virtue, a dialogue with the wisest of Athenians leads Hippeas to confess that he â€Å"cannot even say what [virtue] is† (Hippeas 70). Lesser Hippeas discredits Hippeas but offers little more than a negative definition of knowledge. Meno, Phaedo, and the Republic provide a more comprehensive discussion of the definition, the good and the teaching of knowledge. The following pages will explore Plato’s theory of knowledge and will conclude with an examination of organic chemistry at Swarthmore College. According to Plato,†¦show more content†¦Meno provides a more grounded discussion of Plato’s ideas about the acquisition knowledge and about his conception of the soul. According to Plato, the immortal soul provides the potential to gain knowledge: â€Å"there is nothing which [the soul] has not learned, so it is no way surprising that it can recollect the things it knew before† (Meno 71). Recollection is a process of â€Å"searching and learning† (71) whereby a person extracts knowledge from the memory bank of their soul. Socrates’ dialogue with a slave reveals that any person can give a â€Å"right answer of their own accord,† (Phaedo 111) given sufficient information and an able interrogator. The recollection of opinion can subsequently be translated into knowledge when it is stirred â€Å"stirred by questioning† (Meno 78) and discussion yields â€Å"an account of the reason why† (90). In Meno, Plato introduces the idea that knowledge and the Good are inextricably linked. Lesser Hippeas alludes to the moral neutrality of skill and broaches the subject of wrongdoing in conjunction with knowledge. In Meno, Plato first refers to the relation between knowledge and the good: â€Å"there is nothing good that knowledge does not encompass† (80). Moreover, Plato insinuates that the knowledgeable man knows no evil. Plato’s Sun analogy in the Republic makes more explicit the relationship between knowledge, understanding, truth, the soul and the Good. The sun emits light and bestows sight to the eye.Show MoreRelatedPersonal Knowledge And The Chemistry Field1339 Words   |  6 PagesShared knowledge is assembled by a group of people. For example, biology is an enormous subject comprised of work done by many people over hundreds of years. To add to this knowledge, individual scientists can perform experiments. The results from these experiments are then taken and written in research papers, a very basic version being a lab report. If enough experts from the chemistry field agree with the results, then they can be accepted, used, and taught in that particular field of biologyRead MoreOur knowledge of chemistry, and the many ways that it surrounds us has helped us better understand500 Words   |  2 PagesOur knowledge of chemistry, and the many ways that it surrounds us has helped us better understand the world we live in and the ways in which we can use chemistry to better our world, and improve our exploration of it. Chemistry in Astronomy: Although it may not seem like there is much use of chemistry in the world of astronomy, knowing that everything is made of the elements in one form or another, astronomy must have some use of chemicals, and surprisingly there are many. For starters what powersRead MoreChemistry Galvanic Cell1634 Words   |  7 PagesStage 2 Chemistry Investigation Folio: Practical – Galvanic Cell Name: YY Names of Partner: ZZ Part A Investigation Design Proposal: Purpose of Experiment: To determine the effect of concentration of reactants on the current produced by a galvanic cell. Hypothesis: The greater the concentration of solution in the two half cells reacting with the two metals to produce current, the greater the flow of current will be produced from the galvanic cell. Independent Variable: ConcentrationRead MoreHow Can We Define Teachers Cognitive Goals For Chemistry Lab1302 Words   |  6 PagesImplementing the study cycle to the structure of the First-Year Chemistry Laboratory to enhance their conceptual knowledge Yoko Toriyabe TH 885: Teaching College Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Francisco State University Research questions How can we define teachers’ cognitive goals for chemistry lab? Can implementation of the modified study cycle to chemistry lab coursework improve students’ conceptual knowledge and motivate them to self-directed learning? Background DifferentRead MoreThe Ethics Of Energy And Environment1087 Words   |  5 Pagesseemingly ordinary objects by using a few reagents. I became a regular follower of such shows and thus began my love for Chemistry. During my undergraduate studies, I discovered that Analytical Chemistry formed the backbone of these so-called magical techniques,which further influenced me to get a higher degree in Analytical Chemistry. Another topic that gave me inspiration toward chemistry was sustainability of energy and environment. Being a citizen of a developing country, I observed energy crisis andRead MoreThe Cartoon Guide to Chemistry by Larry Gonick1400 Words   |  6 Pages The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry by Larry Gonick and Craig Criddle is a non-fiction book that utilizes visual images and cartoons to cover the basics and intricacies of Chemistry. It consists of two-hundred and fifty-six pages and was published by Collins Reference on May 3, 2005. It covers topics such as chemicals reactions, solutions, acid basis, and chemical thermodynamics in unique fashion that makes chemistry fun and easy to learn as well as understand. The book has no consistent build up orRead MoreChemical Reactions And Transformation Of Matter1146 Words   |  5 Pagesanalytical, biological, inorganic, organic, or physical chemistry. Chemists also have a good variety of workplaces such as laboratories, hospitals, private companies, government agencies, or colleges and universities. I was always curious how things were made up what formed from what and so on so forth but these are only a few of the reasons I want to go into the chemistry field. Chemistry began in Egypt when they started gathering knowledge about matter and organizing it into systems, developingRead MoreThe History of Chemistry Essay1235 Words   |  5 PagesThe History of Chemistry Chemistry is the science of the composition and structure of materials and of the changes that materials undergo. It is also used in improving standards of living, making it possible for such substances as rubber, nylon, and plastics to be made from completely different materials. New materials and new properties of old materials are always being discovered. Some earlier products discovered from chemical reactions are ceramics, glass, and metals. Dyes and medicinesRead MoreChemistry in Everydaylife1042 Words   |  5 PagesChemistry is a big part of your everyday life. You find chemistry in daily life in the foods you eat, the air you breathe, your soap, your emotions and literally every object you can see or touch. Here s a look at some everyday chemistry. Elements in the Human Body Steve Allen, Getty Images Your body is made up of chemical compounds, which are combinations of elements. While you probably know your body is mostly water, which is hydrogen and oxygen, can you name the other elements that make Read MoreEssay about The History of Chemistry and Technology883 Words   |  4 Pages The History of Chemistry is ancient, starting at 1000 B.C to present time. Chemistry has evolved drastically over the centuries. the first civilization to take over chemistry were the Egyptians and Babylonians founded practical knowledge concerning the arts of metallurgy, pottery and dyes, but didnt develop a systematic theory. In this period of time tons of civilizations tried to figure out the life of chemistry and how it worked. A basic chemical hypothesis first emerged in Classical Greece

Warriors in Peace the Economic Life of the Samurai Class Free Essays

string(258) " Villages that engage in agriculture were called noson aside from them there were the mountain villages the sanson in which upland and forest production was their mode of production and lastly the villages that depend on fishing the gyoson \(Nakane, 1990\)\." University of the philippines, baguio| WARRIORS IN PEACE| THE ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE SAMURAI CLASS IN TOKUGAWA JAPAN| | ANIDA, CESNA CO| 3/20/2013| The warriors of Japanese history the samurai belongs to the upper class of the society. During the Warring States and before that samurai were used as killing machines ready to slay anyone who was against with their masters. But during this time of peace, samurai have no war to fight anymore. We will write a custom essay sample on Warriors in Peace: the Economic Life of the Samurai Class or any similar topic only for you Order Now Despite their high status in the society their economic life is not proportional to it all. They only depended on the rice-stipend given to them by their daimyo and was produced by the farmers. | Table of Contents Introduction2 Short History of the Samurai2 Establishment of Tokugawa Japan3 The Economy4 The Samurai of Tokugawa Japan5 Change of Perspectives6 Social and political Position of the Samurai6 Role in the Economy9 Role in the Fall of Tokugawa11 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11 Introduction This paper aims to explain primarily the economic life of the samurai class during the Tokugawa Japan. Moreover this also covers the economic structure of the Tokugawa Japan as well as political and social feature, because discussing Japanese economy alone is impossible without covering some of the political and social facets of this country. To make this paper possible records and book archives were studied and analyze. By studying this paper the colorful and vibrant everyday life of the samurai was discovered and what did they contribute to make the modern Japan possible. The life of the samurai was full of extremes from loyalty to the way of death, their economic life to their social status and other paradoxes of their life. Reading this paper will help you to understand the long running history of the one of the most beautiful cultural achievement of the Japanese including their way of thinking and deep rooted sense of identity. Short History of the Samurai Originally from the old Japanese word saburahi which means ‘to serve’ (Ikegami, 1995), samurai class emerged from the Heian period around ninth or tenth century when land became the most important asset and must be protected. There were three groups were the samurai class began. First, the protectors of the aristocratic family in urban areas which also served as police evolved into warriors. Next the kondei or ‘stalwart youth’ was bestowed by the government with power to protect their lands and borders from barbarians and lastly the private soldiers that were systematized to defend the shoen or estates of the local elites against bandits or the government itself. Some families that established power developed military expertise and became regional forces (Andressen, 2002). Example of this was the early samurai family from the Heian period – Taira and Minamoto. The power of the samurai class became further recognized because the establishment of the Karakura peiod in 12th century by Yoritomo Minamoto. This was the first official government lead by the military shogun or by the shogunate which means literally ‘Barbarian-Subduing Generalissimo’ (Nakane, 1990). Yoritomo was able to rise up in power because he sought support from the samurai class then after usurping the power he created a semi centralized regime with the imperial court on the other side. These were the two power structures governing the medieval Japan but eventually the shogunate was able to monopolize the power whereas the emperor became a mere symbol. This lasted until the fall of Tokugawa in 1868 which was succeeded by the Meiji Restoration. Establishment of Tokugawa Japan The period of Warring States in Japan was the time of chaos and political instability that eventually cause scrappy political and economic control. The shogunate loses their grip in power while the regional feudal lords arose and fought each other to be on top. One of these feudal lords was Oda Nobunaga from Owari. He wanted to bring the Japan into a one nation state and use the banner Tenka Fubu which means ‘extension of military rule throughout the land’. Unfortunately he was not able to bring this to reality because he was killed by his own vassal Akechi Mitsuhide. But later on he was succeed be his loyal follower, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. By brutal force he was able to win this position by killing Oda’s slayer and murdering his rivals. After the death of Hideyoshi he was succeeded by Tokugawa Ieyaso, by succeeding the seat he benefitted in the land that Oda and Hideyoshi unified. He was the one that established the Tokugawa Japan. He created the bakuhan system wherein the bakufu was the central government under them was the 270 daimyo domains (Nakane, 1990). This was the political framework of this period which the Tokugawa shogunate seized the power. Tokugawa Japan lasted 265 years of peace from 1603-1868 (Tokugawa, 2009). The Economy The early Japan was basically a feudal society which means that they were an agricultural based society. The economy depended on land-tilting and crop planting, rice was there main crop and staple food and peasant-farmers dominated the population. Before the official inauguration of the Tokugawa Japan one of the most important propellers of order and stability especially in terms of the economy was the policy that Hideyoshi delivered which was originally planned by Oda. The Taiko Kenchi which refers to the nationwide cadastral survey where the land was surveyed and a uniform official measurement for rice was created called kyo-masu. Thru this nationwide standardization the process of calculating the rice production by means of koku was introduced. This system was called kokudaka system where a certain locality was manage by a daimyo and in that village it was required to produced 100,000 koku of rice measured in kyo-masu (Nakane, 1990). After the death of Hideyoshi which marked the inauguration of Tokugawa Japan by Tokugawa Ieyaso the kokudaka system remained a policy on the economy. Ieyaso benefited in what Oda and Hideyoshi established and accomplished. Tokugawa Japan was the last stage of agricultural society of Japan. Villages that engage in agriculture were called noson aside from them there were the mountain villages the sanson in which upland and forest production was their mode of production and lastly the villages that depend on fishing the gyoson (Nakane, 1990). But still the main source of income came from the agricultural sector and rice production which can be pointed in the richness of the land of the provinces that generated massive agricultural making. More than agricultural economy of Tokugawa Japan also another phase that defined this period was their closed-door policy or sakoku jidai that was implemented by the bakufu. This solidarity significantly contributed to Japan’s peace and stability by focusing in the internal affairs of the country. The Samurai of Tokugawa Japan In general there was a paradigm shift in the life of the samurai class in the Tokugawa Japan. This transformation happened in their different facets of life. From political, economic and social there were changes in which gave more color and life in the history of samurai. From the brutal and violent warriors they became administrative officers that planned and over looked the lands in where their daimyos was taken post. Samurai now were not allowed to tilt the land and became a farmer at the same time. Instead of learning the art of killing they became also scholars and artist that contributed in the cultural history of Japan. These very men that were once only used as soldiers in war became the leaders that govern and guide Japan in their building of a strong and firm nation. Change of Perspectives Like what had been said above change became an element of this period for the samurai. Historically the samurai class was established to become human machines that will be used to protect and to serve their lords with lifelong loyalty. But from the transition of the Warring states to Tokugawa era their identity will change and transform into a simple foot soldiers into leaders that will build an empire. Because of Hideyoshi’s ‘Sword Hunt’ in 1588, the samurai class became a pure samurai class. Sword Hunt restricted peasants to hold swords and other weapons while samurai were not allowed to become farmers. This policy resulted to the rigidity of the social structure in Tokugawa Japan which was only fully executed in the term of the 3rd shogun Iemitsu (Sansom, 1963) where he considered this policy hereditary and fixed. Social and political Position of the Samurai The military class includes all weapon-holding family which starts from the warlords to the poorest samurai. Inside of the classes there were sub-structures. Clear distinctions were between upper and lower class samurai. Upper class rode horses while lower class travels only using their feet (Kublin, 1973 ). Koshogumi were the personal attendants to the daimyo belongs to the upper class and other samurai belonging to this class were chief minister, high officials, Confucian scholars as well as doctors. After that, were the lower samurai class and on top of it were calligraphers and then the stable keeper the nakakosho. Other attendants of the daimyo were the tomokosho and those who do the duties of patrolling and guarding the gate and the estate. The lowest of the class were the ashigaru the common foot soldiers (Bellah, 1957). Mobility between these sub-structures was so small that within the 265 years of Tokugawa only hand-full movements in these sub-structures were recorded. Despite these micro-distinctions inside this class, the samurai were highly privileged people. In Tokugawa Japan the basis of the social hierarchy was not wealth but power. The position in the society was based on value system: prestige correlates directly with power (Bellah, 1957). Position in the society was legal and hereditary; wealth has less importance than status. The samurai class does not belong to the common people unlike the other classes– farmers, artisans and merchants. Samurai class was above these classes and had the right in using their swords against the people belonging in the lower class in any chance they disrespect a samurai. Even though Tokugawa Japan was a time of peace the swords of a samurai was not just for decoration but a sign of their social status. Also samurai was the only asides from the nobility that were allowed to use surnames. Politically just like their social status the samurai hold much of the power and control in governing the Japanese people. The very fact that the bakufu or shogunates belong to the warrior class was an evidence of their political domination in Tokugawa Japan. After the bloody war during the Warring States the samurai class have no wars to fight and peace was almost everywhere therefore they were the ones that filled the government position and became officials. This undertaking can be narrated in correlation to the education of the samurai in this period. Because of the problem in unemployment in the samurai during the beginning of Tokugawa Japan the shogunates educated the warrior class and see the potential of them working as officials and government workforces. Ieyasu stated that learning and military arts should be equally pursued (Kublin, 1973 ). These resulted to the employment of the samurai as teachers in military arts and sciences, officers and clerks in the feudal and bakufu government. Moreover some became intellectuals and artist. These war soldiers became steward of the lands of their daimyo being more than just their soldier but their loyal attendees and personnel. These teachings that the samurai class undertake, especially by the upper echelon, came from Song Neo-Confucianism. The change in the system required new models and values to be applied in the military government. Therefore, the scholars and intellectuals develop beliefs system which will work for this kind of regime. The Bushido or â€Å"the ethics or the way of the warrior† was a code created and harmonized only in the early Tokugawa period, during the middle of 1660’s. Though the way of the samurai already existed on the early periods, the samurai were expected to have a life of discipline and loyalty, it was rarely expressed consciously as a structured ideology centered around a preoccupation with moral behavior (Ikegami, 1995). It was only during the time of Tokugawa that the need for a national philosophy has to be established and it was the bushido. In this philosophy the samurai were projected as leaders by showing the people the example of life-long loyalty. Civil officers charged with the moral and intellectual guidance of the masses. It was also credited that a samurai not doing his ‘moral obligation’ was no different to ‘bandits and drifters’ (Tokugawa, 2009). Also the samurai were also expected to not to think about money or anything that concerns it. The responsibility of the samurai was more than a fighter but he should be a model of morality in doing his duty as a loyal servant to his master, to be wise and a man of character wherein he will lead the people. From the beginning of the; feudal society it was the ethics of loyalty, discipline and obedience that held it together. It was the foundation. Samurai were expected from the beginning to sacrifice their lives for their masters. This is how the samurai culture became really unique and a foundation to the Japanese wholeness. The samurai distinctive belief in honor was the basis of unique cultural style and identity. Samurai were called haji aru mono which means â€Å"those men with a sense of shame†. This was also another factor that separated them with other classes– they would sacrifice and give their live for by doing this was an honorable act (Ikegami, 1995). The way of the samurai or bushido became the national ethic of Tokugawa (Bellah, 1957). Its basis in the new interpretation of the Neo-Confucianism developed the Tokugawa Japan’s civil service with a strict code of moral values. All in all the social status and education of the samurai which help them to hold the political position in nation building became their way in creating a national identity and a sense of unification, for the samurai were the nation’s leaders that guided their people by showing example of loyalty, discipline and morality which resulted in building a strong and unified country. Role in the Economy It may be said that this paper already focus on the wrong direction, but let me clarify again the reason why spending a notable pages in explaining the social and political role of the samurai in Tokugawa Japan. I believe by narrating these aspects the reader will able to see the real position of the samurai in the Japanese society. It will shred light in understanding the significance of the samurai class in the nation building of Japan. So as I take to the main study of this paper I would like to keep in mind everything that was already discussed and told about the samurai. As told by history before the establishment of the Tokugawa Japan, samurai were also farmers, they were peasant-warriors. They avoided battles during the harvest time or in the plantation itself. Throughout the Warring States, 15th and 16th century there was a risk that a village would become a battleground for the samurai (Tokugawa, 2009). This problem was solved by the Sword Hunt of Hideyoshi by that unemployment flooded the population of the samurai. Mostly those who belong to the low ranking samurai, that sparked the ronin (samurai that were master less or free samurai) revolt of 1651 (Sansom, 1963). The population of the samurai was only a 5 to 7 percent of the total population of Japan (Tokugawa, 2009). Their economic life was really unique versus with their other contemporaries in other countries that also belonging to the warrior class, the knights of Europe for example. The mode of production of the Tokugawa Japan was feudal which means that they rely highly on agricultural means in producing their resources. The land was rich and Japan feudal society was a rice economy. Rice was the primary commodity and it was not monetized. Surprisingly, samurai did not own any lands and belongs to the â€Å"parasitic class† (Bebedict, 1946). This is why it was said above that the samurai class was different in other warrior classes of that time. Their economic wealth did not reflect their social status at all. Samurai class was said to be â€Å"parasitic class† because they were pensioned by the daimyo and received only stipends from the rice production that time which was produce by the peasant-farmers. Their houses and lands were basically not their property but only given to them by their daimyo. This stipend was fixed for the family of the samurai (Bebedict, 1946). During the Tokugawa Japan the feudal lords or daimyo were subjected to the bakufu government wherein to subdue them their han (the land they were conducting) were not given to them permanently but daimyos were in a continual rotation. After sometime the shogun will send another daimyo in change of the daimyo that was posted on that land. This system affected the samurai that they will follow wherever their daimyo will go. They were both living in the castle town ‘assigned’ to the daimyo. These factors now clearly show how the samurai is dependent to his daimyo. The loyalty between the samurai and to his lord Tokugawa Japan was based on the unending war that were happening that time but after that their relationship became primary economic in nature. It was also mentioned earlier about the micro-structure inside the samurai class. This discrepancy in position also affects how much the stipend of a samurai was. The higher the rank of the samurai the larger amount of rice was given to him and vice versa. Higher class samurai receive sufficient amount to support his family while the lower did not receive enough. Therefore, some have to supplement themselves by creating handicrafts and some engaged in secretive trading enterprises (Bellah, 1957). Another implication of this stipend-system in the samurai was that some part of their stipend was converted to money in order by selling it to merchants to buy commodities other that rice. But this doing became only eminent during the later years of Tokugawa. Higher ranking samurai were the ones that collect tax in terms of rice and their share in the harvest was about 40 percent (Tokugawa, 2009). While high ranking samurai were taught polite accomplishments the lower class learned writing and arithmetic to prepare in clerical work. Because of this the lower class became very influential in actual administration (Bellah, 1957). Now it was described how poor the economic position of the samurai class can get no matter how high their social status. This crisis became worst when the rice-dependency declined in the later years of Tokugawa Japan in 18th century. Japan was slowly becoming a money economy and the value of rice started to deteriorate. Moreover, wealth rested on the hands of the merchants that were the lowest in the social structure. The variety of goods or commercial commodities that can be bought by money increased, the importance of the rice within the national economy dropped (sharp) (Tokugawa, 2009). The implication of this to the samurai as well as to their daimyo was they became poorer and some were suffers with large debt. Merchants became richer and samurai became poorer, moneylending became of part of their life were the borrowers were the samurai and those who lend the money were the users that were mostly merchants too. Furthermore, some samurai were able to acquire money by selling their statuses and rights (Bellah, 1957). Also when they arranged with a merchant an adoption of the merchant’s son in the samurai family the samurai family will be able to attain wealth while the merchant will be able to obtain status. Samurai were poor people that only depended on the rice stipends given to them by their daimyo and produce by the farmers. They were expected to be contented with everything that they have for they were perceived not to live in a comfortable way of living. Their top priority should be their loyalty to their master and guiding the people with their discipline and moral values. Their duty in the government should not be motivated by any compensation per say. But this was not the whole picture. Tokugawa Japan started to decline and the rice based economy was starting to be not able to support the growing demands of the country. Money became powerful and merchants became richer while those who were sitting in the government itself were becoming poorer. These challenges piled up in front of the bakufu and to add to these pressures were the external factors. Other countries like the Dutch and Americans were finding their way in this close country of Japan. Role in the fall of tokugawa Shift in the economic system of Tokugawa Japan during the middle to the last years cause the gradual fall of it. Rice production was still important and rice still remained as Japanese staple food but its role as the basis of wealth and means of acquiring commodities eventually decline when the economy became more monetized. More commercial commodities were being produce and consumed that implies a more sophisticated urban living. This marked the end of the agricultural society of Japan and modernization was already peeping in the horizon. Though in the late 18th century the economy of the Tokugawa was changing the main schema of power shifts still remain political. This was where the role of the samurai came in. There was a huge discrepancy between the wealth of the classes those merchants that belongs to the lower class were the richest and most economically stable rather than the daimyo with their samurai who manage the land and the government itself. Order was able to maintain because of the strong authoritarian principle leading the country. Also the economic revolution in Japan did not trigger war but instead it created more unity between the rising merchants and the government. The Shingaku movement led by Ishida Baigan was an economic movement membered by many merchants in the late Tokugawa. Instead of stratification between the bakufu and the merchant class this movement parallels its ideology to the existing moral principles that time. The way of the warrior or the bushido should be also the way of the merchant as Baigan implies. Merchants should become greedy industrialist. But like the samurai should serve the people but assistance with the empire and the profit they acquire is just a reward of their services (Bellah, 1957). The samurai honesty and loyalty should as be modeled. More than being a role model of the merchants, the samurai class worked and moved in the coming modernization of the old Japan. It was the lower samurai class that was responsible for the restoration of 1868 (Bellah, 1957). Because the lower samurai was the one assigned in the doing the clerical and government jobs they were the ones that know the real situation and seeing that poverty became rampant and the system was no longer effective, the coup d’etat was launched and they were able to overthrow those in power and established back the meaning of the emperor, that it was in his name that the people of Japan will be unified. This was popularly known in history as Meiji Restoration and from the ranks of the lower samurai the new government was formed. The restrictions between classes were abolished and the samurai class was encouraged to enter industry. Samurai were the Meiji architects; they were the one that provided the initiative and leadership that the merchants were not able to develop (Bellah, 1957). The economic change indeed propelled the change in Tokugawa Japan but the primary tool and reason remains political. The young leaders of the Meiji Japan were able to see the need for more national power that could be paralleled with the Western countries. By them we saw an uprising of an Asian power that shook the whole world in the upcoming years. Conclusion The history of Japan cannot be complete without knowing the samurai. Samurai were not just simple foot soldiers but eventually they became the unifiers and leaders of Japan. It was the warrior class that pacifies every people in Japan. We saw in the history of Japan how samurai took part in shaping every periodization in Japan. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally Ieyasu Tokugawa were an example of the role played by the samurai in the shaping of Japan. Interestingly though samurai held a very high position in the society and respected, their economic life was not that prestigious. Samurai were taught to be disciplined and simple in the way that they live. That is why they just depend on the stipend given to them by the daimyo and farmers. It was against in their morals to be associated in money. Aside from their financial mentality, samurai were expected to have loyalty more than everything. They were expected to give their very lives to their masters. This was where the control and monopoly of the samurai came from. This kind of social upbringing and rigidity in the life of the samurai cause him to be a man of ambition and achievement. Samurai should grab every opportunity to keep his word and morals. This is the kind of leaders the Meiji Restoration had and the secret to the success of the Japan. People were taught of discipline and loyalty. Morality that will serve not only themselves but to properly embody the role they have for the society. By this it is clearly see how a samurai was created our time and this was shown in the very history of Japan. These warriors are not motivated by money or wealth and it is very obvious in their economic status. But these warriors were propelled by their sense of loyalty and morality. Works Cited Andressen, C. (2002). A Short History of Japan from Samurai to Sony. Australia: Allen Unwin. Bebedict, R. (1946). The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Pattern of Japanese Culture. Boston Cambringe: Houghton Mifflin Company Riverside Press. Bellah, R. N. (1957). Tokugawa Religion: The Values of Pre-Industrial Japan. Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press The Falcon’s Wing Press. Ikegami, E. (1995). The Taming of the Samurai: Honorofic Individualism and the Making of Modern Japan. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. Kublin, H. (1973 ). Japan. ( Rev. Ed. ). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Olenik, W. S. (2005). Japan: Its History and Culture (4th Ed. ). New York: McGraw-Hill. Sansom, G. (1963). A History of Japan 1615-1867. Stanford, California: Stanfrd University Press. Tokugawa, T. (2009). The Edo Inheritance. Tokyo, Japan: Intertional House of Japan. Morton, W. S. ; Olenik, J. K. (2005). Japan: It’s History ; Culture (4th Ed. ). McGraw-Hill. Nakane, C. ; Oishi, S. (Eds. ) (1990). Tokugawa Japan: The Social and Economic Antecedents of Modern Japan. University of Tokyo Press. How to cite Warriors in Peace: the Economic Life of the Samurai Class, Essay examples

Edith Wharton’s novel Essay Example For Students

Edith Wharton’s novel Essay Lily Bart, the central character in Edith Wharton’s novel, The House of Mirth , was born into the fringes of high society in late nineteenth century New York. She developed a, â€Å"lively taste for splendour†(page 30) and a fear of, †dinginess†. (page 35). Everything within this social circle is measured in monetary value, people and things alike are treated as commodities. This is the only way of life Lily knows, and without the financial means to sustain herself, Lily is destined to be a victim of this commodification of people and objects. Victim is defined in the Oxford Concise Dictionary , as a, â€Å"person or thing harmed or destroyed in the pursuit of an object or in gratification of a person†. Commodifiaction is defined as â€Å"the action of turning something into, or treating something as a commodity† and commodity is defined as, â€Å"an article of raw material that can be brought and sold†. It was Mrs Bart who had raised Lily to value the finer things in life and fear the â€Å"dinginess†(page 35) that she associated with those who did not have money, or those who did not choose to spend their money on luxury. When Mrs Bart died, she died, â€Å" of a deep disgust. She had hated dinginess, and it was her fate to be dingy†(page 35). But Lily’s mother alone is not solely to blame for this want, Lily says of her need for luxury, .. I suppose (it was) -in the way I was brought up, and the things I was taught to care for. Or-no I won’t blame anybody for my faults: I’ll say it was in my blood (page 226) Although Lily felt that she should not blame anyone else for her high tastes she does not blame herself. She uses the excuse that it was in her blood that her fate to live for splendour was predetermined. Lily therefore sees herself as victim, a victim because it was her fate. Mrs Barts parental guidance did help to shape Lily’s value for the extravagant. It was Mrs Bart who taught Lily to value her beauty. Lily was told by her mother, â€Å"after they had lost all their money† (page 28) that Lily’s asset was her beauty. Mrs Bart saw the potential for trading Lily’s beauty for a rich husband, so they would have the means to sustain themselves in ‘high society’. Mrs Bart saw Lily’s beauty as: .. the last asset in their fortunes, the nucleus round which their life was to be rebuilt. She watched it jealously, as though it were her own property and Lily it’s mere custodian; (page 34) by treating Lily’s beauty as a commodity, she was treating Lily the person to which that beauty belonged, as a commodity. Lily also sees her beauty and therefore herself as a commodity. So from the age that Lily ‘came out’ her purpose in life, bestowed upon her by her mother and her ‘predetermined fate’, was to marry wealth. For Lily like any good victim, there are always flaws to even the most water tight plans. Lily’s first challenge to her goal of , â€Å"marrying a great deal of money† (page 83) is the constant threat of time. Lily Barts physical beauty, is a perishable commodity. Miss Bart is first introduced to the reader at the not so tender age of twenty-nine, the commodity of physical beauty only depreciates in value with age. This sense of time running out for Lily to secure her fortunes is always present, . she was frightened by the two little lines near her mouth, faint flaws in the smooth curve of her check. and it seemed an added injustice that petty cares should leave a trace on the beauty hich was her only defence against them (page 28) Ironically when Mr Van Alstyne, discusses Lily posing for a portrait, he talks of how, â€Å".. the picture’d appreciate a hundred per cent in ten years†. An item such as a portraiture of beauty, would only ever gain value with time unlike her physical beauty. The name, â€Å"Lily† would have been seen by the reader, (at the time the novel was first published) as a reference to the â€Å"art nouveau† panting style witch often exaggerated a woman’s â€Å"capacity to be decorative† (xxiii), by depicting women, â€Å"in explicitly floral terms†(xxiii). Great Barrier Reef EssayRosedale says to Lily as his reason for the proposition, â€Å"money doesn’t seem to be of any account unless I can spend it on the right woman†(page 175). Because Rosedale does not belong to the same social set as Lily’s friends, although, â€Å"Rosedale’s millions had a faintly seductive note.. † (page 176) she does not accept his offer of marriage. But as Lily loses her rank in the social hierarchy, she begins to realise that these moral values that she holds are the values and morals of people with money. . a woman’s dignity may cost more to keep than her carriage; and that the maintenance of moral attribute should be dependent on dollars and cents, made the world appear a more sordid place than she conceived it (page 169) Woman are not meant to worry about fiscal matters, but because Lily is not wealthy she has to concern in herself with such matters. The first major step towards her social downfall, is when against her value, Lily asks Mr Trenor to help her to invest her money â€Å"She understood only that her modest investments were to be mysteriously multiplied without risk to herself†. Lily is stepping outside the social norm as it is seen as unacceptable for a woman to borrow money. It is to Rosedale that Lily turns when she falls out of favour with high society, she asks him to reconsider his proposal of marriage, but as she has lost her social standing, if he married Lily now he would also lose his own social standing â€Å"If I married you now I’d queer myself for good and all, and everything I’ve worked for these years would be wasted†(page 256). Rosedale, the self made man, has had a taste for the high life and is to sacrifice his perceived ‘love’ (page 256) in the pursuit of a more quantifiable social success. It is for this same reason that Lily is unable to marry the man she loves. Sheldon, the man who’s marriage proposal Lily rejects for his lack of wealth; is the only man that Lily thinks she has ever loved. Because love is an unquantifiable commodity, Lily is unable to appreciate it’s true value. Sheldon who sets himself apart from others in Lily’s social circle, feels that he is â€Å"amphibious† as he can live in both worlds, that of the dingy and of high class. Sheldon is keen to point out his objections to the, â€Å"decorative side of life† in which Lily belongs but is unable to show Lily a better alternative. For all his objection to the values of the upper class, Sheldon himself sees Lily as a commodity, â€Å"He had a confused sense that she must have cost a great deal to make† (page 5). By viewing Lily as a decorative object he has stepped into the role of the society of which he feels Lily is â€Å"a victim†(page 7). So ultimately Lily has become a victim of a society that commodifys people. This is the society that Lily has seen as the only way of life. A world that sees woman only for their decretive value. Without wealth, or the potential to sustain the only way of life she new, even with her beauty she was unable to obtain the lifestyle that she so craved. As Lily loses sight of life, for the first time she feels comfortable with herself, she begins to feel as though she is not alone, â€Å"she suddenly understood why she did not feel herself alone. It was odd-but Nettie Struther’s child was lying on her arm† (page 323). Lily in death finally realises that commodities are not the most important thing in life. This child who is with Lily holding her does not see the world in terms of commodities. The baby is represents Lily’s ability to love an emotion that she has never been able to commodify and therefore understand. A child is a blank canvas that has no need for the materialistic world that Lily Bart belongs. All a child needs is warmth sustenance and love, it is with this thought that she dies. Lily would not have true victim if she had not realised her own misgivings in life before she was able to stop them.