The Concept of Justice in Platos Republic free essay sample

An analysis of the concept of justice as seen in this work. Socrates conception of justice as presented in this work is examined. The definition is then compared to a modern, democratic understanding of justice. A discussion of justice in terms of the individual versus the society as a whole is presented. `In Part Five of Platos Republic, entitled Justice in State and Individual the philosopher Socrates states that I believe justice is the requirement we laid down at the beginning as of universal application when we founded our state, or else some particular form of it. This statement is likely to set the modern reader up for a certain false assumption about the fundamental political structure of Platos Republic. Because of the phrase that `justice for all` is the cornerstone of American notions of democratic governance, it is tempting to ascribe similar notions to Socrates, a man presumed to be one of the founders of liberal thought, as the philosopher was a citizen of ancient, democratic Athens. We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Justice in Platos Republic or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (204)`

Why Learning Fractions Is so Important

Why Learning Fractions Is so Important It seems that many teachers will agree that teaching fractions can be complex and confusing, but that understanding fractions is a necessary skill for students to have as they get older. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution addresses how math is being taught in a recent article titled, Are we forcing too many students to take high-level math theyll never use? The author, Maureen Downey, notes that as a nation, we keep raising the bar for our students math performance, and observes that despite these high-level courses, many students are struggling with the complex teachings. Some teachers argue that schools may be advancing students too quickly, and they arent truly mastering basic skills like fractions. While some higher-level math courses are only crucial for certain industries, basic mathematical skills like understanding fractions, are crucial for everyone to master. From cooking and carpentry to sports and sewing, we cant escape fractions in our daily lives. Fractions Can Be Hard to Learn This isnt a new topic of discussion. In fact, in 2013, an article in the Wall Street Journal talked about what parents and teachers already know when it comes to math- fractions are hard for many students to learn. In fact, the article cites statistics that half of eighth graders can’t put three fractions in order of size. As many students struggle to learn fractions, which usually are taught in third or fourth grade, the government is actually funding research into how to help kids learn fractions. Instead of using rote methods to teach fractions or relying on old techniques such as pie charts, the newer methods of teaching fractions use techniques to help kids really understand what fractions mean through number lines or models. For example, the educational company, Brain Pop, offers animated lessons and homework help to aid kids in understanding concepts in math and in other subjects. Their Battleship Numberline allows kids to bomb a battleship using fractions between 0 and 1, and after students play this game, their teachers have found that the students intuitive knowledge of fractions increases. Other techniques to teach fractions include cutting paper into thirds or sevenths to see which fraction is bigger and what denominators mean. Other approaches include using new terms for words such as â€Å"denominator† such as â€Å"the name of the fraction,† so students understand why they can’t add or subtract fractions with different denominators. Using number lines helps kids compare different fractions- something that is hard for them to do with traditional pie charts, in which a pie divided into pieces. For example, a pie divided into sixths can look a lot like a pie divided into sevenths. In addition, the newer approaches emphasize understanding how to compare fractions before students go on to learn procedures such as adding, subtracting, dividing, and multiplying fractions. In fact, according to the Wall Street Journal article, placing fractions on a number line in the correct order in third grade is a more important predictor of fourth-grade math performance than calculation skills or even the ability to pay attention. In addition, studies show that a student’s ability to understand fractions in fifth grade is also a predictor of long-term math achievement in high school, even after controlling for IQ, reading ability, and other variables. In fact, some experts regard the understanding of fractions as the door to later math learning, and as the foundation of more advanced math and science classes such as algebra, geometry, statistics, chemistry, and physics. The Importance of Understanding Fractions in Early Grades Math concepts such as fractions that students do not master in the early grades can go on to confuse them later on and to cause them a great deal of math anxiety. The new research shows that students need to intuitively understand concepts rather than just to memorize language or symbols, as such rote memorization does not lead to long-term understanding. Many math teachers do not realize that the language of math can be confusing to students and that students must understand the concepts behind the language. Students who attend public schools now must learn to divide and multiply fractions by fifth grade, according to federal guidelines known as the Common Core Standards that are followed in most states. Studies have shown that public schools outperform private schools in math, partly because public school math teachers are more likely to know and follow the latest research related to teaching math. Even though most private school students do not need to demonstrate mastery of Common Core Standards, private school math teachers can also use new techniques to teach students fractions, thereby opening the door to later math learning.

Word Choice Farther vs. Further - Proofread My Paper

Word Choice Farther vs. Further - Proofread My Paper Word Choice: Farther vs. Further â€Å"Farther† and â€Å"further† mean the same thing, right? Well, sometimes. But in American English we distinguish between these terms in some contexts, so it’s worth knowing the difference. This is especially true in academic and other formal writing, where precision is vital. To find out how these terms should be used, learn the traditional distinction below. Farther (Physical Distance) Although these terms are increasingly used interchangeably, technically, â€Å"farther† is reserved for discussing physical distances. As such, we might say: The library is farther down the road from here than the post office. Here, â€Å"farther† simply means â€Å"at a greater distance,† since it’s the comparative form of â€Å"far.† The same rule applies to â€Å"farthest,† which means â€Å"at the greatest physical distance.† It might be worth distinguishing between farther and a father, while were at it. Further (Metaphorical Distance) So, how does â€Å"further† differ? When referring to physical distance, not at all. As such, it would be correct to say: The library is further down the road from here than the post office. This means exactly the same thing as using â€Å"farther† in the same sentence. However, â€Å"further† is also used for figurative or non-physical distances. For instance, if we were referring to something that happens at a later point in time, we’d have to use â€Å"further†: Proofreading happens further along in the publication process than editing. Likewise, â€Å"further† is used when referring to things such as how far prices rise and fall or the point we’ve reached in a book: Before you read any further, stop and reflect on the themes in this chapter. If referring to the greatest figurative distance, â€Å"furthest† is the correct term to use. This â€Å"metaphorical† sense of â€Å"further† is also reflected in its use to mean â€Å"additional,† such as when we say that something requires â€Å"further study.† In all of these cases, using â€Å"farther† would be incorrect according to the conventional distinction. Farther or Further? The good news is that â€Å"further† is usually correct regardless of context. Throw in the fact that â€Å"farther† is much less common these days, as shown in this n-gram chart, and you might be safer using â€Å"further† for all senses of the word. Farther or further? However, if you want to ensure in your work, it’s a good idea to maintain the traditional distinction between â€Å"farther† and â€Å"further.† Remember: Farther = At a greater physical distance Further = At a greater figurative or non-physical distance

Sandy Hook Evacuation plans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sandy Hook Evacuation plans - Essay Example Rousseau later hid most of the students into the bathroom before the shooter arrived in the classroom. Altimari, Mahony & Lender (2013) explained that Diane Day, the school therapist together with teachers and students withdrew to the gymnasium and locked the door. Most teachers while in hidden safety places protected the students and dialed 911 for help. Some teachers communicated through cell phones on the appropriate measures to evacuate students from the school. The school bus driver together with some students ran to a nearby home for protection. The entire neighborhood after hearing the shootings in the school decided to offer help to the children. Some neighbors with cars drove into the school and rescued some students to safer areas outside the school (Altimari, Mahony, & Lender, 2013). Rick Throne, a custodian in the school, rescued six first-grade students to a nearby gas station before calling the police for help. The Newton police on arrival at the scene evacuated the survivors room by room. Altimari, Mahony & Lender (2013) demonstrated that the police escorted groups of teacher and students from the hiding places away from the school. Danbury Hospital ambulance arrived at the scene and evacuated the wounded patients to the hospital for treatment. Altimari, D., Mahony, H.E., & Lender, J. (March 13, 2013). Newtown shootings: Adam Lanza Researched Mass Murderers, Sources Say. Hartford Courant. Retrieved from

Legal Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Legal Issues - Essay Example Very recently, an international incident happened to precisely involves a competition between two equally-important values: free speech and religious freedom. Last year, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons – twelve in all – about Islam and the Prophet Mohammad that was deemed offensive by the Islamic community at large. To illustrate, one cartoon showed Mohammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb. The issue generated international controversy. Some newspapers outside Denmark reprinted the cartoons in support of the concept of free speech. Flemming Rose, the culture editor of the newspaper, stated: The cartoonists treated Islam the same way they treat Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. And by treating Muslims in Denmark as equals they made a point: We are integrating you into the Danish tradition of satire because you are part of our society, not strangers. The cartoons are including, rather than excluding, Muslims. On the other hand, the Islamic community demonstrated their outrage at the cartoons through worldwide protests and calls of boycotts. They condemned the drawings as a form of hate speech and decried what they consider to be the offensive depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as well as the not-so-subtle link made between Islam and terrorism. This whole controversy makes a very interesting case for examining the role of the law in settling disputes that involve competing legal concepts reflective of competing values. There is a clear diversity issue at stake, it is not difficult to give credence to the arguments of Muslims all over the world that such depiction of their leader will foment even further inter-religious conflict, will marginalize Muslims and will be a setback for the cause of diversity and pluralism. On the other hand, there is no dispelling the argument as well that free speech is a right that should be cherished and protected. It protects not

Personal Identity :: essays research papers

Personal Identity Personal Identity can be broken down into three areas: 1.) Body 2.) Memory and 3.) Soul. In John Perry's "A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality" these composing aspects of personal identity are discussed at length. In the reading and class discussions the body was defined clearly as a part of one's person, even alluded to at times as a "prison" in which one cannot escape until one dies. Memory and one's Soul seemed to be lumped together many times, understandably so, for the two bare many things in common such as they are intangible, cannot be completely defined as to what each exactly is (people remember things that did not actually happen to them, are those still memories?; do you have one soul throughout your life?), and both are thought to compose one's character and beliefs. This essay will deal with the two aspects of one's personal identity which are the most obvious in day to day life, that of the body and of soul/memory. As stated beforehand, memory and the soul bare many of the same qualities. The body and soul, however, also share this trait. Perry illustrates in his essay that the body and soul are similar because there is a "link" between one another, that is they both make up a person and are responsible for the qualities associated with being an individual (height, weight, character, belief, etc.). Perry also comes back to challenge this using the analogy of a river. If one goes to a river, and then the next day goes back to the same river, the person will not say that it is a different river, although almost all of the properties of the river have changed (water molecules, pollution level, temperature, etc.). This is the same with a person, for we say that a person at adolescence is still the same person at adulthood, even though the the persons beliefs, knowledge, and character may have changed over the years. Perry answers this problem by saying that we can still regard the person as the same by the relative "similarity" of the person to how they were in the past, and that "[the] sameness of body is a reliable sign of sameness of all; of soul" . In another example, Perry differentiates between the body and the soul by saying that "personal identity" (referring to the soul/mind) cannot be based on bodily identity, for one can judge who one is without having to make any judgments about the body. Perry continues to elaborate on this by saying even if he woke

Greatest Chinese Inventions

The Greatest Chinese Inventions Gene R. Kelsey Strayer University The ancient Chinese culture produced major inventions that some of which still are relevant and useful to our modern culture all over world even today. When an Italian merchant named Marco Polo traveled to China in during the Song Dynasty in 1271 he discovered a place so technologically advanced far greater than any Western European nation of its time. The following is a listing of 9 important inventions instrumental to our growth as modern Human Beings.It would be a technical pilgrimage for me to win this contest. I would love to visit China. (1) The Process of Paper making. Although first used as wrapping and padding for over 100 years before it became a medium for writing upon around AD 105. Paper along with printing changed the way the world documented everything from history to science and many years later paper currency. Even though our modern culture is moving away from paper it will always be used in one form o r another. There is no such thing as electronic toilet paper. 2) The invention of the printing press with moveable text symbols by Bi Sheng. It was this invention that was eventually taken over to the West and used by Gutenberg for the printing of the Bible. Needless to say, this had a profound effect on the nature of knowledge and the development of literature, (The Franklin Institute). (3) Gun Powder and Fireworks. The use of gunpowder in weapons gave those with access to the technology a greater ability to protect themselves from enemies or to conquer and control others. It greatly affected the balance of power in many parts of the world.Whether we agree or not the invention of Gun Powder and the weapons that followed were huge game changers for Humanity. (4) The Compass which was really pre-dated by the discovery of magnetism by the Chinese which was first noted in a book from the Song Dynasty. However, the first suspended magnetic needle compass was written of by Shen Kuo in hi s book of AD 1088. The wet Compass was the most used. Eventually the Dry Compass took shape but was not as well accepted by the Chinese. (The Science Forum 2007) (5) The Great Wall of China. One of the wonders of the world its construction began in 221 BC in an effort to keep Mongol invaders out. The Sui Emperor Yang Di began the reconstruction and repairs of the wall around the 600’s AD. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were used to do the work. As some perished they were buried where they fell and remain in the wall. It is the biggest man made structure on earth and is said to be the only one visible from space. However, upon going to the NASA web site (www. nasa. gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall. html) you will find some contradiction to that story.Only from low level orbit can it be made out to the unaided eye. (6) Cast Iron. In the 4th century BCE due to the prior discovery of refractory clays to allow for construction of a blast furnace that could handle the heat required to melt down iron the Chinese were able to pour and mold cast iron. That along with the use of phosphorus to reduce the heat required using coal as the fuel. With the development of annealing ploughshares, longer swords, and buildings were also using iron in their construction. (Asiasociety. Org). (7) Row Crop Planting 6th Century BC. 200 years before the western world adapted this practice the Chinese were growing stronger crops much faster than previously done by planting in rows. This process allows for greater access to the plant for watering, weeding, and harvesting along with greater protection for the plant from the elements. This practice is still used today as it still remains the perfect way to grow and harvest. (8) Deep Drilling. Around the 1st Century BC the technology to drill deep bore holes using equipment that would be recognizable today.They used Derricks that towered has high as 180 feet and could reach depths of 4800 feet. They captured natural gas i n bamboo tubes to use as fuel for evaporating water by boiling brine to produce salt. There is also evidence that they may have burned it in lanterns for light. It wasn’t until the 1800’s before western nations adapted the use of deep drilling. (9) Porcelain. To this day Chinese porcelain is prized by all cultures. The process of using materials such as glass and mineral compounds in a kiln at high heat. Invented during the Sui Dynasty and perfected in the Tang Dynasty most notably by Tao-yue (c. 08 – c. 678). By the time the Sung Dynasty it reached its peak around the 10th century. It wasn’t until over 500 years later the monopoly was broken by a German Physicist Tschirnhausen who invented European porcelain. Generally speaking most scholars believe the 1st four I have in order are the most important contributions to humanity. Although the greatest written works of man may have eventually reached the pages of a book using other materials other than paper . And printing hadn’t been created when it was following paper by the Chinese.Take the time to consider the Chinese were hundreds of years or more ahead of the west so think how many works would have been lost if man continued to carve in wood and write on cloth. And of course Gun Powder which led to fireworks and firearms. And lastly the compass so one can find their way home at the end of the fireworks show. I think the greatest invention from the Chinese is their diverse culture. China is one of the four ancient civilizations (alongside Babylon, India, and Egypt) with 3600 years of written history. Out of the nine I have chosen Cast Iron which eventually became steel as something I couldn’t live without as I do.The Chinese invented the process but it wasn’t perfected until a British inventor names Henry Bessemer mass produced it in his facility in Sheffield, England in 1856. Steel is still produced using the process of blowing air through molten pig iron to o xidize the material to separate the impurities. Why would I choose cast iron and steel? All my life I have worked with iron and steel. I build cars and restore them by welding in new metal where old has rusted away. I build iron gates and art work with iron and steel. I have my work adorning many friends and family’s homes.The art of blacksmithing holds great interest for me. What other material on earth is so strong yet can be heated and molded into any shape. While doing research for this paper I ran into some of the writings of Shen Kuo. We have been studying the Renaissance of Italy. Shen Kuo was the Leonardo da Vinci of China. He was a mathematician, astronomer, meteorologist, geologist, zoologist, botanist, pharmacologist, agronomist, archeologist, ethnographer, cartographer, encyclopedias, general, diplomat, hydraulic engineer, inventor, academy chancellor, finance minister and it goes on.In the Song Dynasty he was the head of the bureau of astronomy in the Song court. One of the greatest Western sinologists of this century, Joseph Needham wrote â€Å"The Science and Civilization in China†. This Book is now one of the main references about Shen Kuo’s work in a western language. What this tells me is that genius is not limited to the west or east. The Renaissance was not limited to the west. Great minds are of the nature of the human race. They don’t come around that often. But every century has had a few of them since the eginning of man. And China has had their fair share dating back to the origin of what is China! References Secrets of Lost Empires (The Science Forum 2007) Bodde, Derk (1991). Chinese Thought, Society, and Science. On Shen Kuo. The Needham Research Institute (NRI), home of the Science and Civilization in China project. (www. nasa. gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall. html) (The Franklin Institute, 2012). The Humanities: Culture, Continuity, & Change: Volume 1 Second edition.