Friday, August 21, 2020

Application of ethical theory to a case study vignette Essay - 1

Use of moral hypothesis to a contextual investigation vignette - Essay Example The paper will toss light over major moral issues and investigate this case in the light of Consequentialist (Utilitarian) and Deontological moral methodologies. Furthermore, the scientist will likewise talk about how he would act or would have acted expecting himself as a top official of Great Brands showcasing organization. There are two fundamental moral issues for this situation. The primary issue is about Ahmed’s ravaging of private data of Great Brands when he electronically replicated the client database and a portion of the modified programming applications programming on the off chance that he sets up his own organization later on. The inquiries that emerge here are whether Ahmad’s act was infringement of company’s protected innovation rights and whether Ahmed had some other alternative on the off chance that he was truly keen on setting up his own business. The subsequent significant issue is that in the event that Ahmed would build up his own organization by utilizing looted covert data, at that point his firm would turn into an immediate contender of Great Brands. Again the inquiry is whether this is an infringement of formal agreement with Great Brands that Ahmed would not help or encourage whatever other organization that rivals Great Brands due to privacy he guaranteed with the authorities. It ought to be referenced that Utilitarian hypothesis of business morals is a commitment of defenders of Consequentialists who makes a decision about the feasibility of an alternative by dissecting its positive and negative results. Utilitarian methodology underpins the way that an answer that carries more noteworthy great to most prominent number of individuals is the best arrangement on the grounds that the whole society profits by usage of this other option. As it were, the supporters of Utilitarianism have suggested that the extent of each proposed arrangement ought to be assessed based on expenses and advantages (in quantitative terms) (White and Taft, 2004). Moreover, the proposed options ought to be imparted to

Sunday, July 12, 2020

It should be presented as a Journal opinion article and address an

It should be presented as a Journal opinion article and address an It should be presented as a Journal opinion article and address an economic issue of current interest to Wall Street Journal readers â€" Essay Example > U. S. Earning and Spending Differences The rise in housing and food prices has pressed the income of many Americans for many years. This is because even with inflation being low, most of the Americans earning low income devote an uneven portion of their earnings on housing and food. According to recent data by the Customer Expenditures Survey, less than 10 percent of Americans devote approximately 17 percent on food and 42 percent on housing, which amounts to around 60 percent of their overall spending. On the other hand, around 10 percent of wealthiest Americans devote roughly 11 percent on food and 31 percent on housing, amounting to approximately 40 percent of their overall earnings. This means that diverse households feel inflation differently, forcing them to spend their earnings in diverse ways (Zumbrun). In 2015, for instance, the expenditure survey introduced additional data, which made it possible to segment Americans into tenths. About 12.5 million units of consumers prevail in each tenth. For the bottom three subdivisions, the individuals here earn about $20,000 or less every year, although they spend more than they earn. After breaking down their income sources, the poorest 10 percent of Americans are accorded extra public support compared to other groups. The subsequent 20 percent generate at least half of their earnings from retirement programs and social security. Among the third and fourth 10 percent of Americans, retirement programs generate a big part of their income, indicating that retirees comprise the large portion of the income distribution among the lower-middle income earners. The upper half of individuals in America receive more than three-quarters of their earnings from salaries and wages. Furthermore, Americans between the sixth and ninth divisions are anticipa ted to earn from $51,000 to $112,000 yearly. The top ten earners generate approximately $220,000. In this group, most individuals in America generate most of earnings from wages, although they get around 10 percent from various sources, mostly self-employment (Zumbrun). When consumers grow wealthier, they change their patterns of spending, sometimes melodramatically. Consumers who earn high income spend less on health care, food, and housing. Although they dedicate more funds to these categories, such spending is less when compared to their overall expenditure. Transportation is accorded a large portion of expenditures for individuals in the middle-income class, while it is less for individuals earning low income. The middle group serves as a beneficiary when prices of gas go down. Education occupies the largest portion of expenditures for both of those at the top and bottom of income distribution. In addition, whenever households generate additional income, they allocate slightly more funds to entertainment, and more on financial products, including retirement programs, annuities, and insurance. The bottom 10 percent allocate about 1.4 percent of their income to these financial products, which amounts to about $300. Top 10 percent contribute more than 17 percent to the sources, which amounts to more than $20,000 annually (Zumbrun). From the paper, I have realized that individuals adopt different spending patterns based on the earnings they generate. I believe it is right to worry about the ways in which economists can keep track of how people manage their expenses. However, the information presented offers more details concerning how diverse Americans spend their income. Therefore, it is true that even when inflation remains low, the rise in prices for food and housing for particular families are challenging households compared to others. Work Cited Zumbrun, Josh. How Rich and Poor Spend (and Earn) Their Money. Wall Street Journal, 6 Apr. 2015. web. 7 Apr. 2015..

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing - 1302 Words

Standardized Testing is a regulation of rigorous dialogue and debate. Both sides of this subject impose arguments based upon moral and financial justifications, and span from the local to national level of legislation. The policy of standardized testing as a means to identify schools who are lacking in successful educational processes neither harm school districts through unequal distribution of power, nor negatively affect students’ learning; rather, it benefits students, faculty, and districts by encouraging student success and aiding in improvements for school curriculums. Standardized Testing assists schools by yielding results that illustrate the academic strengths and weaknesses of students within that school, which may be used†¦show more content†¦When this is the case, schools often embrace the standardized test as a positive outlet to gain new and important information about how they can help their students thrive in the academic realm. Whitby, a private s chool, states on their website, â€Å"We gain a valuable metric [from testing] we can use to check the quality of our curriculum† (2016). As standardized tests become embraced more in academic communities, children and schools will gain better perspectives and knowledge on how to perform well in the classroom. Testing can also show the inequality gaps in schools and various demographics of students. Although it is believed by some that standardized tests are discriminatory for specific groups of students, the tests are uniform in order to ensure that there is an equal baseline present for test scores. One organization, ProCon.org, stated in a recent article responding to the idea that standardized tests are biased: â€Å"standardized tests are inclusive and non-discriminatory because they ensure content is equivalent for all students† (2017). Alternate tests would be unfair to students because there would be an unequal system of accountability and expression of dat a based upon national baselines. It is if such schools lose even more funding that the practice of standardized testing would becomeShow MoreRelatedPros And Cons Of Standardized Testing801 Words   |  4 Pagescontroversial topic Since Middle School, I was not opposed to standardized testing. I thought of it as a way of testing us of what we have learned. Although, after reading some articles about standardized testing I am re-thinking the pros and cons. From personal experience, I thought of it as a challenge to pass them. But now that reminisce about it, I noticed some of the cons of standardized testing. I remember having a week or two dedicated for testing, and in case of students failing they had to take timeRead MorePros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1400 Words   |  6 PagesEven though there are many downsides to standardized testing there are still viable reasons why they are still being used today. One of the main reasons includes the easy and quick access of testing students. Standardized testing allows schools to quickly access a large amount of students at one time. This is also one of the cheapest ways to tests such a large crowd due to machinery that grades which results in low tests costs f or students. These tests also help by setting a national curriculum forRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing1050 Words   |  5 Pageseducational world is standardized tests. All fifty states have their own standards following the common core curriculum. There are many positives and negatives that go with the standardized tests. A standardized test is any type of â€Å"examination thats administered and scored in a predetermined, standard manner† (Popham, 1999). These standardized tests are either aptitude tests or achievement tests. Schools use achievement tests to compare students. There are pros to standardized examinations as toolsRead MorePros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1025 Words   |  5 PagesWhat are standardized tests? Standardized tests are exams that are administered, scored, and interpreted in the same way for all students. Now there are many pros and cons of standardized testing however, I believe that public and private schools should just abolish standardized testing all together. These tests determine a student’s academic performance and each student is given the same test with the same questions and answers. These tests are designed to measure the students learning capabilitiesRead MorePros and Cons of Standardized Testing583 Words   |  2 PagesStandardized testing has its pros and cons I do not believe in it but I will give you proof for and against the testing. We will cover some the history and where the testing came from and why we do it. I will talk a little bit of how I feel about testing and how much we should focus on ho w the students do on the test. I have interviewed a few teachers that I had when I went to school and some personal friends that are teachers now and how it effects how they teach. Most historians trace the beginningRead MoreThe Pros and Cons of Standardized Testing Essay674 Words   |  3 PagesStandardized testing is a down fall to many students but also an opportunity for many others. Standardized testing has its pros and its cons. It can be the make it or break it factor into getting into colleges you are hoping to attend or the scholarships you want to earn. Some people may have their opinions about the test, whether they hate it or not but the fact is that it’s here to stay. What exactly is standardized testing you may ask, it is a test which measures the knowledge among differentRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1491 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized testing was introduced by French psychologist Alfred Binet in 1905. The test originated because Binet was commissioned by the French government to create a tool to identify which students needed remedial studies. Over time, the standardized tests evolved into multiple different tests in multiple subjects for varying age groups of students. The tests were initially seen as a way to test a large sum of people with the same general questions to see an individual’s knowledge. Some peopleRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1511 Words   |  7 PagesOver the years the educational system has faced various controversial issues, but the most recent one making a negative impact on students, is standardized testing. Standardized testing is a type of testing used to evaluate stud ents academic abilities . It is a way to measure if standards are being met but does not provide a variation in the type of administration based on the students needs (Sacks, 2000). In other words, all children are provided these test to track their learning progress basedRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1100 Words   |  5 Pagesscience, history, and science. Then, every year, students typically take one big standardized test, or even more. These tests are claimed to give educators an objective that’s unbiased. Standardized testing supposedly helps identify the natural tendency of individual students, identifying skill development and progress. However, are these things what standardized testing really do for students? Standardized testing only measures a small portion of what makes education substantial. This means thatRead MorePros And Cons Of Standardized Testing1201 Words   |  5 Pages Standardized testing is all based on your performance as a student on a specific day, time and place. What it doesn’t show is how you perform on a day to day basis. These types of test can be given in any type of form that requires test takers to answer the same questions, and is then scored in a â€Å"standard† or consistent manner. Students should not have to take standardized test because of many reasons. As a human I have days where I’m tired and didn’t get enough sleep the night before or it is

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Essay the Tao Of Pooh Book Review - 2340 Words

THE TAO OF POOH Philosophy is a complicated subject. Since the beginning of human existence, many tried to come up with theories about life, happiness, reality and knowledge. From philosophical ideas different beliefs sprung, and existence of different religions followed. Every theory raised by a philosopher attracted different followers. In todays modern society aside from major religions, there are thousands of others that suggest that their explanations to universal questions are the only accurate ones, and all of these religions seek to gain more followers to join their quot;wayquot;. One of these religions is the religion/philosophy of Taoism. Taoism has it roots in China, where the founder of Taoism Lao-Tse was searching for a†¦show more content†¦The second principle of Taoism that is presented in this novel is the belief that quot;The wise are not learned; the learned are not wisequot;. This principle can be simply explained by the fact that although intellect may be useful for rati onalizing and analyzing certain things, deeper spiritual matters are beyond intellects grasp. Every day people try to use knowledge and come up with ideas that interrupt with the natural order of things. They fail to recognize the fact that everything has its own place and function. Everyone have their limitations that they need to accept and be aware of, which if ignored will only cause them to fail. Pooh illustrates this principle, by the fact that he never tries hard to be something that he is not. He recognizes the fact that he cant fly or live under water, therefore instead of trying to ignore his natural abilities and recognize his weaknesses he enjoys his every day life as a bear in the forest, eating honey exactly how nature intended him to be. The third principle of Taoism described in this novel is the principle of Wu-Wei, in other words -3- Taoism in action. This principle states that actions should evolve from inner sensitivity and be a part of the natural rhythm of things. In order to practice Wu-Wei one must learn to work with his inner nature and the surrounding natural laws operating around him or

Social Media in our life free essay sample

?How Strongly Can Social Media Influence and Control People’s Lives? What comes to your mind when you hear the term â€Å"Social Media? Perhaps some people thinking about the media that makes them able to meet and communicate with people around the world. While some others think about that, social media is the channel that gives them the chance to send and receive many information. Others think that social media is about the way we get many updates from people who we follow and maybe someone out there thinks social media is a part of a new marketing strategy. Nowadays, social media seems like a big part of our life. When your friends didn’t reply to your text, you can greet them on Facebook. When you want to listen to music or see a music video from your favorite singer – go to YouTube. When you just wake up and open your eyes, you don’t have to walk outside to get the newspaper, just take your phone and scroll your Twitter timeline then you’ll get the information. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Media in our life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Blog and Forum are also types of social media because they allow you to share â€Å"what you think† about articles, pictures, videos and so on. There is social media which allows the users not only to share about their profession, major of study, works and company, addresses, political views and religion, but also allow them to find a job and allow the company to find the employees. Everything looks and feels easier to do with social media. But from the examples above, I have a question on my mind â€Å"If everything looks and feels easier to do with social media, isnt something strange if society is extremely dependent on social media. How strong can social media influence and control people’s lives? † This question leads me to recall a case that happened about 5 years ago. Let me tell you a very interesting case from Indonesia about social media. In August 2008, there was a women who has known by Indonesian people as Prita Mulyasari. Her case begun when she wrote about her disappointment of the services of a Hospital in Jakarta. She told and wrote everything about the hospital and the bad services that she got from the doctors, nurses and administration staff. Then, she sent a message to her friends on the mailing list. Actually, she just tried to remind her friends to be more selective in choosing the hospital and to be more careful in accepting many kinds of services. But, her message became a big problem after her friend shared it to a website (the people’s forum) with so many read and commented about the issue. In September 2008, the management of the hospital reported Prita Mulyasari for the bad news about the hospital that she has spread. The management of the hospital demanded her to pay a material loss of about Rp. 161 million as a replacement for clarification in national newspapers and Rp. 100 million for immaterial losses. She wasn’t only to pay for the hospital losses but she was also detained in May 2009. After 8 months she went through the inspection and verification process and was convicted by the court for violating the law about using the ICT (Information and Communication Technology). This case rapidly spread among Indonesian people. As common issues, there are always pros and cons. Although the Indonesian people weren’t justified what Prita has done against the hospital, but most of people in Indonesia really cared about her life and Prita’s condition and tried to help her, at least to pay the amercement. The first Facebook account which made by some people is (https://www. facebook. com/KoinPeduliPrita). They were spreading â€Å"Bantu Bebaskan Prita† or â€Å"Help Free Prita† to Indonesian People and approached them to help Prita by collecting the coins. It didn’t take a long time. Many volunteers, social workers, activists, students and even artists came together to help her. They were collecting many coins from people on the street, office, and even an entertainment center. Some singers also held a charity concert to help her (http://koinkeadilan. com/). In December 2009, the campaign to help Prita was finished and they succeed by collecting the coins to help Prita raise about Rp. 825 Million. The money was extremely worth it for Prita, although she still had to go through the period of detainees. However, the money was very helpful for her not only to pay the amercement but also for her life, considering she has two kids. I’m not trying to spread bad news about my country or discredit someone or some institutions. I am just trying to make you believe that social media has the strength to influence and control people’s lives. Prita’s case clearly explains to us that social media were able to make people’s life get worse or get better. But, we don’t need to stay away or being anti-social media. People are stronger than social media because we can easily think before we act and think before we speak. There is nothing to be worried about if we are wise when we share something on social media. Sources: http://hukum. kompasiana. com/2009/06/03/kronologi-kasus-prita-mulyasari-13940. h tml http://www. hukumonline. com/berita/baca/lt4b3ac59e39184/pn-tangerang-vonis-bebas-prita-buka-perdamaian-dengan-rs-omni http://outthinkgroup. com/tips/the-6-types-of-social-media http://news. okezone. com/read/2009/12/21/338/286733/redirect How social media is affecting our daily lives: Have you ever had one of those moments when you’re working on completing an important assignment that’s due the next day, and then you think, â€Å"I wonder what’s happening on Twitter right now? † Three hours later, you’ve scrolled through hundreds of tweets, and your assignment is left terrible and unfinished. It’s safe to say that social media is a big part of my life. In fact, I would go so far as saying that it has taken over my life. I’ve got nothing to do, so I’ll see what people are doing on Facebook. When I’m bored, I tweet about it. Chances are all of you do, too. But just how much are we tweeting? NBC News published an article in 2012 that said the United States spent 121 billion minutes on social media in July 2012 alone. That’s 230,060 years right there. According to NBC, that’s 6. 5 hours per person if everyone in the U. S. used social media. I believe that in this way social media poses as more than a simple distraction. As fun as commenting on your grandmother’s cat photos can be, there is no real value to the string of 10- to 15-second comments or updates are generally meaningless. Unless you are getting involved in a meaningful substantive dialogue (as opposed to pokes and likes), the time spent on a social network doesn’t add to your life. Social media is supposed to bring people together online to share information. In practice, it does neither of these things in a meaningful way. What is nefarious and subtle is what use of social networks takes away. Time that could be spent working on far more important things is wasted on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Tumblr. Think of what you could do with an extra 6. 5 hours of studying, time with family, and time with friends in person. Think of the sleep and the money you could make working. Sadly, cutting down on â€Å"Internet time,† as it has been frequently dubbed, is easier said than done. Social networking has gotten so big because of the ease with which it facilitates communication, allows people to connect with others who have similar interests, and provides businesses with opportunities to reach out to consumers. People can miss real life important events because they didn’t see the Facebook invitation. My intent is not to criticize, but to enlighten. Social media has been key in helping me keep in touch with friends and family, and it is a wonderful tool for communication as well. The issue at hand is the excessive amounts of time being spent on social media and how it has unwittingly become a priority in our lives. It simultaneously enables and replaces socialization. On the other hand, recent studies conducted by researchers from Miriam Hospital have found a correlation between lower GPAs and higher social media use in female college students. This further reinforces the idea that while social media may be the norm and is currently popular, I don’t believe it’s bettering society. So next time you’re bored on the bus on your way home from school, try talking to the person sitting next to you on the shuttle instead of spending the ride scrolling through Instagram. If you’re sitting in a lecture hall, forget about tweeting throughout the class and actually pay attention. If there’s one thing social media isn’t doing for you, it’s helping you be social. Social networking sites and our lives: Questions have been raised about the social impact of widespread use of social networking sites (SNS) like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, and Twitter. Do these technologies isolate people and truncate their relationships? Or are there benefits associated with being connected to others in this way? The Pew Research Center’s Internet American Life Project decided to examine SNS in a survey that explored people’s overall social networks and how use of these technologies is related to trust, tolerance, social support, and community and political engagement. The findings presented here paint a rich and complex picture of the role that digital technology plays in people’s social worlds. Wherever possible, we seek to disentangle whether people’s varying social behaviors and attitudes are related to the different ways they use social networking sites, or to other relevant demographic characteristics, such as age, gender and social class. The number of those using social networking sites has nearly doubled since 2008 and the population of SNS users has gotten older. In this Pew Internet sample, 79% of American adults said they used the internet and nearly half of adults (47%), or 59% of internet users, say they use at least one of SNS. This is close to double the 26% of adults (34% of internet users) who used a SNS in 2008. Among other things, this means the average age of adult-SNS users has shifted from 33 in 2008 to 38 in 2010. Over half of all adult SNS users are now over the age of 35. Some 56% of SNS users now are female. Facebook dominates the SNS space in this survey: 92% of SNS users are on Facebook; 29% use MySpace, 18% used LinkedIn and 13% use Twitter. There is considerable variance in the way people use various social networking sites: 52% of Facebook users and 33% of Twitter users engage with the platform daily, while only 7% of MySpace and 6% of LinkedIn users do the same. On Facebook on an average day: 15% of Facebook users update their own status. 22% comment on another’s post or status. 20% comment on another user’s photos. 26% â€Å"Like† another user’s content. 10% send another user a private message Facebook users are more trusting than others. We asked people if they felt â€Å"that most people can be trusted. † When we used regression analysis to control for demographic factors, we found that the typical internet user is more than twice as likely as others to feel that people can be trusted. Further, we found that Facebook users are even more likely to be trusting. We used regression analysis to control for other factors and found that a Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day is 43% more likely than other internet users and more than three times as likely as non-internet users to feel that most people can be trusted. Facebook users have more close relationships. The average American has just over two discussion confidants (2. 16) – that is, people with whom they discuss important matters. This is a modest, but significantly larger number than the average of 1. 93 core ties reported when we asked this same question in 2008. Controlling for other factors we found that someone who uses Facebook several times per day averages 9% more close, core ties in their overall social network compared with other internet users. Facebook users get more social support than other people. We looked at how much total support, emotional support, companionship, and instrumental aid adults receive. On a scale of 100, the average American scored 75/100 on a scale of total support, 75/100 on emotional support (such as receiving advice), 76/100 in companionship (such as having people to spend time with), and 75/100 in instrumental aid (such as having someone to help if they are sick in bed). Internet users in general score 3 points higher in total support, 6 points higher in companionship, and 4 points higher in instrumental support. A Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day tends to score an additional 5 points higher in total support, 5 points higher in emotional support, and 5 points higher in companionship, than internet users of similar demographic characteristics. For Facebook users, the additional boost is equivalent to about half the total support that the average American receives as a result of being married or cohabitating with a partner. Facebook users are much more politically engaged than most people. Our survey was conducted over the November 2010 elections. At that time, 10% of Americans reported that they had attended a political rally, 23% reported that they had tried to convince someone to vote for a specific candidate, and 66% reported that they had or intended to vote. Internet users in general were over twice as likely to attend a political meeting, 78% more likely to try and influence someone’s vote, and 53% more likely to have voted or intended to vote. Compared with other internet users, and users of other SNS platforms, a Facebook user who uses the site multiple times per day was an additional two and half times more likely to attend a political rally or meeting, 57% more likely to persuade someone on their vote, and an additional 43% more likely to have said they would vote. Facebook revives â€Å"dormant† relationships. In our sample, the average Facebook user has 229 Facebook friends. They reported that their friends list contains: 22% people from high school 12% extended family 10% coworkers 9% college friends 8% immediate family 7% people from voluntary groups 2% neighbors Over 31% of Facebook friends cannot be classified into these categories. However, only 7% of Facebook friends are people users have never met in person, and only 3% are people who have met only one time. The remainder is friends-of-friends and social ties that are not currently active relationships, but â€Å"dormant† ties that may, at some point in time, become an important source of information. Social networking sites are increasingly used to keep up with close social ties. Looking only at those people that SNS users report as their core discussion confidants, 40% of users have friended all of their closest confidants. This is a substantial increase from the 29% of users who reported in our 2008 survey that they had friended all of their core confidants. MySpace users are more likely to be open to opposing points of view. We measured â€Å"perspective taking,† or the ability of people to consider multiple points of view. There is no evidence that SNS users, including those who use Facebook, are any more likely than others to cocoon themselves in social networks of like-minded and similar people, as some have feared. Moreover, regression analysis found that those who use MySpace have significantly higher levels of perspective taking. The average adult scored 64/100 on a scale of perspective taking, using regression analysis to control for demographic factors, a MySpace user who uses the site a half dozen times per month tends to score about 8 points higher on the scale.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

The Struggles of Life Essay Example For Students

The Struggles of Life Essay Everyone is faced with struggles in life, whether physical or emotional. These strugglesinevitably shape an individuals personality and outlook on life. Timothy Findleys novels, TheWars and Stones, suggest that the consequences of struggles in life result in a journey of self-discovery.War exists in the characters physical and psychological accounts of the horror oflife. In the novel The Wars, Robert Ross actually goes to war and fights in World War I . In thenovel Stones, Minna Joyce encounters a war in her life as a child, trying to survive on the streets. These physical encounters with war lead to a psychological change in the characters and theirperception of living.Robert and Minnas experiences make them want to escape and helpothers overcome the terrible war, in their own lives. Furthermore, experiencing these strugglesleads to the characters ultimate realization and self-discovery of life and of themselves. Thehorrors of war which Robert endures are instrumental in his psychol ogical change. Minnasexperiences in life, in death and her internal struggles, lead her on a journey of self-discovery. We will write a custom essay on The Struggles of Life specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In the novel The Wars, Robert Ross is a sensitive nineteen year old boy who experiencesfirst-hand the horrors of battle as a Canadian Soldier in the First World War. Being named aLieutenant shortly after arriving in Europe, Robert is thrust into combat. While advancing to thefront with his troops Robert witnesses his first images of the brutality of war: He was taking his troops to the front and they were walking along a road that had been shelled and there was a soldier lying dead by the road whose head had been smashed. It was an awful shock. The first dead man hed seen.(The Wars 99)Robert has not yet experienced anything that could prepare him for the conditions he faces. In 2this instance, Robert experiences brutality for the first time, in the form of a dead body whichhas been gruesomely wounded. The shock of seeing a dead body can be very disturbing to anyindividual, and not even an experienced veteran could be prepared for the horrific sight Robertendures here. Minna Joyce , a writer in the novel Stones, also experiences and reacts to thehorrors of life. Minnas war is not like the World War in which Robert participates, but is astruggle with everyday life in the large city of Toronto. Minna witnesses horrific sights on with all its resident rubbies and gentle crazies, dressed in all weathers in their summer coats . .. and their eyes as crafty and innocent all at once as the eyes of bears.(Stones11)Minna Joyce experiences the harsh reality of individuals who have nothing, and are forced tolive on the streets of downtown Toronto. Minna was brought up in an area of the city inhabitedby many homeless people, orartistsas she calls them, a little less horrifying. The thought of having to watch the people suffer is horrifying to her. The war of life is apparent in thechallenges that both Minna and Robert are faced with in their lives. One of the most notableevents which Robert faces is trench warfare during the First World War. After being sent awaywith a small battalion to begin the digging of another trench, Robert comes back to the front tofind the trench destroyed and his comrades dead. When they made their way back through the trench there was nothing left alive. They had all been gassed or had frozen to death. Those who lay in water were profiled in ice. Everything was green: their faces and their fingers and their buttons and the snow.(The Wars146) 3In this situation, Robert witnesses many of the horrific ways in which soldiers were killed duringthe First World War. Snow and the bitterly cold weather attributed to many Canadian soldiersdeaths during World War One, and nearly one thousand men died from frost bite alone. Thesight of his friends frozen dead in the water is terrifying, and to look down and see anothersoldier in the ice with his entire body green is a gruesome image. One of the most popular anddeadly tactics used by the Germans during World War One was chlorine gas, which Robert waslucky to survive. He is subjected to the poison when it was sent up into the atmosphere whichproduced huge masses of chlorine gas clouds. These clouds made their way a cross no mansland, to the trenches, killing all in sight including Roberts comrades. Minnas experiences inlife are not to the same degree comparable to Roberts, but can be related to everyday life. Robert struggles in World War One, experiencing brutality and death at its worst. Minnastruggles on the streets of Toronto. Both characters struggle for survival in life. Robertsexperiences are quite extreme and the average person may not be able to relate to them. Eventhough Minnas experiences are common, they are nonetheless frightening. Minnasexperiences with the homeless became more terrifying when she had to live on the streets. alife of inherited privilege mixed with deliberate squalor. (Stones11) She spent some nightson the streets because she could not find work. She was subjected to the horror that peoplebelieve it will never happen to them. Queen Street and, in fact, the whole of Parkdale offered aworld of unwanted people (Stones51) Minna was a part of a war that is lasting lon ger thanWorld War One. Although the books are set in different time periods, both Minna and Robertstruggle to survive day to day. Their situations are different but the goals are the same; survival. Roberts physical accounts of trench warfare and Minnas physical accounts with the homeless 4displays to the reader the fact that war exists in a physical state. The consequences of the warwith life allow the two characters to justify who they are, and help them to become mentallyThe psychological change in the characters dispositions and their increasing awareness of the importance of life is evident throughout the novels The Wars and Stones. ThroughRoberts experiences with the utter brutality of war, he experiences a psychological change incharacter. After being saved a day earlier on the battlefield by one of his comrades, Robertexperiences difficulty trying to get to sleep. All he wanted was a dream. Escape. But nobodydreams on a Battlefield. There isnt any sleep that long. Dreams an d distance are the same. (The Wars102) At the young age of nineteen, dreams are common. The impact of the war hasbegun to affect Robert, as he has difficulty even dreaming. Sleep and the night are veryimportant to soldiers. The ability to dream allows them to leave the horror of war on earth andenter into a fantasy where they can forget. Roberts inability to dream is based on the fact thathis mind is filled with the horrors of war which prevent him from entering this dreamworld. Minna also experiences a psychological change in her perceptions of living. She, too, wantedto escape. (Stones43)Minna and her husband both want to depart the reality of their life inParkdale. She wanted trees and grass in their backyard, which is not conceivable when living ina small apartment. Minna, like Robert, wants to escape the reality of life as she knows it, and bein a place where everything is splendid. Minna wanted even once a week to make her waydown the and into the street without the ever-prese nt threat of someone elses panic waiting tograb her sleeve. (Stones44) Minna seems to enjoy working with the homeless, but shewould just like to get away once in a while to have more peace and security. Minna and Robert 5both want deliverance from the horror in their lives. In the novel Heart of Darkness Kurtzs finalwords are, The horror, the horror (Conrad 118). These words are Kurtzs final judgement ofwhat he succumbed to in both the Congo and in his psychological journey into his own heart ofdarkness. The horrors that Robert and Minna face are reality and must not be forgotten. Thedifference between Kurtz and Robert and Minna is that Kurtz succumbs to his inner demons andgoes mad, whereas Robert and Minna do not. Robert has experienced every aspect of the brutality of war. His psychological change isevident through his outlook on life: Robert struck a match and caught the rat by his tail. It squealed as he lifted it over the edge and set it free. Robert wondered afterwards if setting the rat free had been a favour but in the moment that he did it he was thinking: here is someone still alive. And the word alive was amazing.(The Wars127)Robert has witnessed deaths by the thousands, and the difference between a human and animallife has escaped his mind. In this instance, Roberts act of setting the rat free is one that couldbe questioned because of the deaths that he has seen. However, because of the impact of war onhis mind, Robert recognizes the beauty of life in the midst of madness. Robert feels that hecontributed to the saving of a life, which allows him to feel better for that one instant until hegoes back out to fight again. Minnas psychological change is evident when she makes thehomeless person feel wanted. Just to be seen and heard and acknowledged. Thats what theywanted. Witness. Not to be forgotten. (Stones51)Minna likes to see the homeless happy,and feel better about themselves. Minna, like Robert, does not like the reality of thesurrounding s. Minna tries her best to change that by bringing the poor woman, Elizabeth Doyle, 6home to let her sleep in a bed. Minna realizes that all that the people on the streets want is to benoticed and not to be forgotten. The trauma of the horrors of life on Robert and Minna leads thereader to believe that war does have psychological effects on the individual. The charactersphysical and psychological accounts of war lead the characters on their own personal journey of self-discovery. The horrors of war which Robert endures are instrumental in his psychologicalchange. In Roberts final stand to declare the existence of life in the midst of death, he attemptsto save some horses from a burning barn: Robert couldnt stand it any longer and he said to Devlin: Im going to break ranks and save these animals. Will you come with me? Devlin wanted to and said so. But he was afraid of Captain Leather. Leather is insane, said Robert flatly. It cannot be called disobedience to save these animals when theyll be needed, for Gods sake. .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db , .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .postImageUrl , .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db , .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:hover , .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:visited , .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:active { border:0!important; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:active , .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u38799a288da8094871b8a90f21daa8db:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Essence of Teamwork EssayThe importance of life to Robert is evident here as he breaks ranks in order to save the horses. Disobeying an order in the army can lead to a Court Marshall, dishonorable discharge and evenworse the possibility of being accused of treason. However, these consequences pale incomparison to the thought of more deaths. Throughout Roberts time as a soldier in the armyduring World War One he witnesses first hand the destruction of war. These horrors of war leadto his psychological transformation which inevitably leads to his journey of self-discovery,recognizing the importance of life in the midst of death. Minna comes to a conclusion along thesame lines as Robert. As Minna is dying of an inoperable cancer of the lung, she moves toAustralia. Her physical accounts of the horror in her life lead to the psychological change whichmade her change location. She has a daughter now and does not want her to grow up with the 7same horror that surrounded Minna as a child. They say it is quite civilized . (Stones 19) Hermove to Australia lead to her journey of self-discovery. She realizes how important life I know why she wanted her ashes scattered there at Ku-Ring-Gai. It was the joy and the liveliness the sense of endless celebration that clung to all figures in the rock.(Stones25)Minna realizes and wants others to realize that everyone, no matter of what the individual lookslike, should be able to enjoy happiness in life. Robert wantes the horses to have the freedom ashe does in life. Minna wants her daughter to have the freedom that she has in life. Minna wantsher daughter to also experience the joy of love and the sense of endless celebration. The figurecut in the stones at Ku-Ring-Gai was a child. The child of the two stick figures rejoicing by its side beneath the moon. And the child had long, albino hair and one six-fingered hand stretched out for all the world to see forever.(Stones26)Minna concludes her life with the discovery with herself. The importance of life to Minna isapparent here, as she wants her daughter, who has six fingers on each hand, to be exposed tosociety. Hiding her from people would show how she does not respect what she created. Insteadshe wants to display her miracle which was created inside her, for everyone to behold. Throughout Minnas time in Toronto on Queens Street, she had witnessed first-hand thedestruction of life. These horror lead to her psychological change which inevitably leads to herjourney of self-discovery.Minna, like Robert, comes to the conclusion of the importance oflife, and how it should be set free to live with others. In many ways, the war of life affects i ndividuals, leading to physical and mental change. 8Through facing hardships in life, one can assess his/her experience and discover more aboutthemselves and the world around them. War does exist in Roberts and Minnas physicalaccounts of the horror of life. Roberts experience is in World War One. Minnas experience islife on the streets of Toronto with the homeless.The psychological change in Robert andMinna can be attributed to their physical encounters of the war in life. Robert and Minna bothchange their view on life because of their struggles. Furthermore, these two worlds lead Robertand Minna to acknowledge the importance of life. Thus, in the novels The Wars and Stones,Findley has demonstrated that the war does have an effect on the individual, leading to a journeyBibliography:?Works CitedConrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Markham: Penguin, 1981. Findley, Timothy. Stones. Toronto: Penguin, 1988. .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 , .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .postImageUrl , .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 , .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:hover , .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:visited , .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:active { border:0!important; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:active , .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724 .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u05525706b0fb4a1de2355e8452139724:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Peter the Great Argumentative EssayFindley, Timothy. The Wars. Toronto: Penguin, 1977.