PopeHypocriteIII's New Writeups

speciesism (idea)

2005-01-05T00:25:03Z

Since the publication of Animal Liberation in 1975, Peter Singer has been one of the most vocal proponents of animal rights reform and remains a controversial figure for the views he espouses. The following will concern itself in discussing his claim that the interests of non-human animals deserve consideration equal to those of human beings, as well as in ascertaining the strength of that claim. To this latter end, throughout the course of the analysis I will examine whether there are any relevant exceptions or differences between the human situation and that of other animals that would alter the strength of his case. By way of introduction, I will first discuss Peter Singer's arguments against what he perceives as species-based discrimination and the unequal consideration of non-human interests which results from it.

To begin, Singer challenges two commonly-held conceits. Firstly, that all humans are equal in moral status and, secondly, that all…

Epicureanism (idea)

2005-01-04T10:12:22Z

As an ethical hedonist, the search for pleasure defined Epicurus' teachings. This cannot be understated, for he related all human aspirations and actions to it. Leaving minutiae by the wayside for the moment, we must concede that there are sensations which human beings find preferable to others and which they feel driven to seek. Given this, Epicurus held pleasure to be central to human existence because, as he reasoned, "every act of choice and aversion originates with it."¹ That is to say, the efficacy and desirability of all choices are evaluated by determining the amount of pleasure which results from them. Consequently, we may conclude that it comprises the most influential force and the ultimate goal to the Epicurean mindset; the "primary native good"² of humankind, which naturally motivates human activity.

At this point, however, the matter becomes more complex. Although Epicurus regarded all forms and means of pleasure to be…

Minoan (thing)

2004-08-02T09:31:38Z

Around 6000 BCE, settlers from Asia Minor (modern Turkey) migrated to the island of Crete in the Aegean Sea; by 2500 BCE, a prosperous and technologically advanced Bronze Age culture had arisen. Almost completely unknown until the discovery (in 1900) of a great palace at Knossos by Sir Arthur Evans, the British archaeologist who coined the term 'Minoan' (after the legend of King Minos and the Minotaur), this culture is widely considered to be the first European civilisation. Minoan Crete is regarded as one of the three founding cultures of ancient Greece, the others being the Cycladic (so named for the Cyclades, where it developed) and the Mycenaean (which developed on the mainland during the later Helladic Period). Of these three, Minoan Crete rose to prominence first and, perhaps, most spectacularly; individual aspects of Minoan culture (such as art, architecture, religion and language) will be covered in greater detail later.

The chronology of the…

Europe and the Other (idea)

2004-06-14T08:12:18Z

The European Ideal

As the world progressed towards modernity, the nations of Europe fought vigorously to attain security in their identities and, swept along by the phenomenon of imperialism, to relate those identities to the wider world. In order to come to terms with this, intense debate and speculation was undertaken in order to define what Europe was by juxtaposing it with and pitting it against what it was not, the intent being to demonstrate that European civilisation was unique and superior in the world and, most importantly, that its identity was more than a matter of mere geography.

Based both in fact and fiction, the apparent need to achieve delineation gave rise to theories which held issues of race, gender, sexuality, class and religion to be central and paramount in defining the European identity and likewise in deciding bases for exclusion; such theories were heroically ambitious (if usually unsound) as the diverse,…

Europe until the Modern Era (idea)

2004-05-20T13:25:40Z

Introduction

The means by which Europe was transformed from an inchoate mass of feudal monarchies into modern nation-states is, understandably, ambiguous. One significant trend, though, is the movement away from feudalism (embodied by both monarchy and papacy) and towards nationalism (in various forms), with entrenched concepts of law and civil rights. Another is the natural tendency for polemic ideologies to have provoked strong reactions from their opposites, thereby creating a competitive environment in which each was consistently required to confront challengers. Most significantly of all, though, is the constant factor of Europe's perpetual political disunity which leads to the primary assertions contained herein: firstly, that the condition of modern Europe's surviving ideologies are the product of intense conflict and, secondly, that this actually means very little. While cosmetically the change has been…

Muscovy (place)

2004-01-24T20:39:33Z

In the Beginning...

The chain of events which led to the foundation of Muscovy and its eventual emergence as a sovereign power is lengthy and convoluted. Among the many difficulties it faced in its ascent were lengthy subjection to the Golden Horde, raids conducted by fragmenting Mongol khanates and Timur's rogue lieutenants, a civil war (instigated by Iurii Dmitrievich, following a dispute over the system of succession instituted by Vasilii I) and the waning of Byzantine power (and so too the power of the Orthodox Church). Even then, Russian history is characterised by internal disputes, as each city strove to best its neighbours (although it must be remembered that each city claimed territory equivalent to that of a western European kingdom). Amid the clamour, Muscovy became the dominant power. It must be understood why this is the case and what ramifications this fact has before a chronology of events and policies…