A Literary Analysis of Two Kinds by Amy Tan free essay sample

Theme The title of this short story â€Å"Two Kinds† describes the theme of this story. The mother had stated that there are only two types of daughters. â€Å"Those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind. † (pg 412) Jing Mei did not understand the truth or meaning behind that declaration until after her mothers death. Jing Mei realized that her mother only meant that she could be an obedient child by listening to her mother while at the same time follow her own heart and want her own prodigy in life. The last paragraph in this story also indicates the theme of two halves being equal to one. The two songs â€Å"perfectly contented† and â€Å"pleading child† was actually two halves of one song. Despite Jing Mei and her mother’s differences they were like the songs, they may disagree but made one stunning song. Her mother only wanted her to use the capability she knew she had. We will write a custom essay sample on A Literary Analysis of Two Kinds by Amy Tan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Amy’s story tells me that she regrets not trying to do her best and how she had taken her mother for granted. Setting and Characters Jing Mei’s mother believed that you could be anything you wanted to be in America. (p 405) America is where all Jing Mei’s mothers hope lay.She had come to America in 1949 after losing everything in china. The main character of the story is Jing Mei (Amy Tan) who is also the protagonist in the story. Her mother is the antagonist, who is always urging Jing Mei to try new things and discover new talents. Jing Mei feels as if her mother wants her to be something she is not. Other characters in the story are Lindo Jong (known as Auntie Lindo) and her daughter Waverly Jong who is about Jing Mei’s age. Through out the story there is constant competition between Jing’s mother and Auntie Lindo with the daughters.There is also Jing Mei’s piano instructor, â€Å"Old Chong†, who she takes advantage of. Jing Mei’s father is also mentioned in the story but does not have as much of a part. It appears that Amy Tan created a story based on a relationship between mother daughter dynamics. Jing Mei is a nine year old daughter that has potential, who at the beginning of the story was ‘even as excited as her mother to find the right prodigy. ’ Jing Mei hated the raised hopes and failed expectations. When she looked herself in the mirror (pg 407) she saw just an ordinary face and began to cry.She then saw what seemed to be the prodigy side of her self. She saw an angry powerful girl that only wanted to use that energy to resist her mother hopes for her. Through out the story Jing Mei seems to be a complicated character having many inner and outer conflicts. The mother comes across as being controlling and constant on push her daughter to become famous. Plot Development Early in childhood Jing Mei dreamed of finding her prodigy and being a famous Chinese American, mostly because of the views and actions her mother placed on her. Her mother believed you could be anything you wanted to be in America. pg 405) Her mother was always pushing new tests and talents on Jing Mei. She even went as far as having her daughter Jing Mei models her physical appearance and actions after a child-star Shirley Temple. Her other was always testing her with many different things trying to discover Jing Mei’s talent. Later Jing Mei started to feel like her mother was just trying to make her into someone she was not and started to just fail and not try to do anything right hoping her mother would give up. When her mother died she had realized what her mother had been trying to do. Her mother had only wanted her to do her best.She had then to realize what her mother had meant when she said are only two types of daughters, obedient daughters and daughter who follow their own mind. She knew her mother just wanted her to listen to her authority and try to do the best she could at everything making the best for her life and her dreams. The title two kinds explain in detail a lot about the story itself. Two kinds of daughters and at the end Jing Mei plays two different song learning that it is two halves to one. This story shows that Jing Mei and her mother had disagreed about many things but in the end Jing Mei learns what it all really means. Symbolism In this story by Amy Tan the piano was one of the main symbols of the story. Through out the story when Jing Mei’s mother had her taking lessons she slacked off and did not even try to do her best. At the end of the story she had the piano reconditioned and tuned (p 413) for sentimental reasons which shows that Amy really did care about her mother and the piano. I also find that the two songs that she plays at the end are also symbols of the story. She plays two songs the first being â€Å"Pleading Child†, and the second one: â€Å"Perfectly Contented†.The song â€Å"Pleading Child† is one of the songs her mother had her play as a child. At the end of the story she noticed the second song on the right hand side for the first time or so it seemed and tried to play it as well as the first. (pg 414) â€Å"Pleading child† was shorter but slower; â€Å"Perfectly Contented† was longer but faster. It was not until then that she realized that these two songs were actually two halves of the same song. These songs seemed to represent her life and the meaning behind her and her mothers attitudes and relationship with one another.

Free Essays on Internet Users Turn Addicts

If you're an Internet user, you know who you are. They are among all of us in society, although many may choose to not acknowledge that they too, frequently use the Internet. As I sit here and look across the street, I see a man in front of his own computer; the screen glowing against the window behind him. He does not use his personal computer for work, he is a farmer. He has become what is known as an "Internet Junky". The addiction begins innocently. At the start, you are not even aware of the possibilities that may form from your excessive computer use. You begin to take an avid interest in e-mailing with your friends and family. Once the novelty of keeping in touch with your colleagues wears off, and researching starts to bore you, you may possibly expand your computer usage to chatting. Yes, chatting. It is something that is becoming more acceptable in our lives, but it is still looked down upon by many skeptics. Chatting through the Internet involves choosing an appropriate nickname for yourself (IE: Fisherman), and then finding a room where you feel compelled to spend time in. Once you've entered the room, other fellow chatters may say, "Hello...a/s/l (age/sex/location) please." And so begins the addiction. Once you become involved in meeting people online, it is difficult to break such a habit. You may even make a daily habit of it. People have been found to carry out exactly the same behavior, not only across the nation, but across the globe. In any one room, you may come across people from five different countries of the world. Granted, not everyone who stays online for hours on end, are enveloped in chatting, but it is more often then not, the cause for Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). (Goldberg, MD) The prevalence of Internet Addiction Disorder has been increasing in number, hence a support group, among many, The Internet Addiction Support Group (IASG) has been developed. IAD, a "maladaptive" pattern for Inter... Free Essays on Internet Users Turn Addicts Free Essays on Internet Users Turn Addicts If you're an Internet user, you know who you are. They are among all of us in society, although many may choose to not acknowledge that they too, frequently use the Internet. As I sit here and look across the street, I see a man in front of his own computer; the screen glowing against the window behind him. He does not use his personal computer for work, he is a farmer. He has become what is known as an "Internet Junky". The addiction begins innocently. At the start, you are not even aware of the possibilities that may form from your excessive computer use. You begin to take an avid interest in e-mailing with your friends and family. Once the novelty of keeping in touch with your colleagues wears off, and researching starts to bore you, you may possibly expand your computer usage to chatting. Yes, chatting. It is something that is becoming more acceptable in our lives, but it is still looked down upon by many skeptics. Chatting through the Internet involves choosing an appropriate nickname for yourself (IE: Fisherman), and then finding a room where you feel compelled to spend time in. Once you've entered the room, other fellow chatters may say, "Hello...a/s/l (age/sex/location) please." And so begins the addiction. Once you become involved in meeting people online, it is difficult to break such a habit. You may even make a daily habit of it. People have been found to carry out exactly the same behavior, not only across the nation, but across the globe. In any one room, you may come across people from five different countries of the world. Granted, not everyone who stays online for hours on end, are enveloped in chatting, but it is more often then not, the cause for Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). (Goldberg, MD) The prevalence of Internet Addiction Disorder has been increasing in number, hence a support group, among many, The Internet Addiction Support Group (IASG) has been developed. IAD, a "maladaptive" pattern for Inter...

McDonald's Organizational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

McDonald's Organizational Change - Essay Example tariffs, export fees and even import quotas. There has been a reduced restriction on the movements of capital from one country to another together with investment. These changes has increased comparative advantages of various companies that are currently rushing to open up various branches in the world as it has become easy to manage them due to increased information flow and improved technology. One of the companies that have recorded tremendous changes over the past decade is MacDonald’s company. The company deals with fast foods a sector that faces a lot of competition as result of mushrooming of food vendors both small and huge companies. As a result there was a need to change the old management system in order to install new skills that have adequate knowledge concerning the current global market. There have been an increase in the number of multinational companies that deal with fast food e.g. KFC. This has necessitated a reshuffle in the top management in order to be ab le to diversify and increase skills required in retaining the company competitiveness. The company has looked for leaders who have the latest skills and experience concerning the latest market trends (Roch & Boivin, 2010). Initially, the company agitated for individual work so that one can have an individual performance appraisal. This was meant to ensure that the employees work harder for their work to be recognized during awarding of the most hardworking person. Due to the latest organizational changes, the management has instead preferred to change this working strategy to instill teamwork. This has worked in helping the organization deal with different challenges that may face the organization. This is because team members are able to come together and bring about different ideas that can solve the current challenge. Team groups in an organization have also made it easy for the management to manage the organization easily. This is because the management is able to appoint team l eaders who report to them. The major implication of this move is that it has enabled the company to diversify its operations as the management has the opportunity to monitor the performance of other branches that are spread in different parts of the world (Huber & Glick, 1995). Macdonald has seen a tremendous change in organization culture. A culture of an organization plays a great role in setting the performance of the organization in the market. One of the major changes has been on power distance. This is the extent to which less powerful employees of the organization are treated unequally by their leaders. Initially leaders in the organization kept a distance and never related with other employees. Instead they used an intermediary or when they meet they addressed the whole group as they had no time for a single person enquiry. This created a rift between the employees and leaders an aspect that reduced the morale of the workers in the organization. This also put a barrier to em ployees who wanted to report any issue that may have been affecting the organization performance or the relation of the employees with each other. The change that has been implementation is open office policy. This is a policy which encourages any members of staff to meet the management and leadership of the company in case there is an issue or enquiry that the management can solve. This change has been received with a lot of positive attitude from

Emotion and Perception Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Emotion and Perception - Essay Example Once we have such level of awareness, we can then proceed to doing things that would be helpful to us in the future. For example, if we shall be able to identify, in light of these three factors, what causes us to be angry, we can be able to reduce the instances that we are angry. Therefore, studying these things is very important. For the purpose of this paper, we shall examine the different roles that sensation, perception, and emotion play in social interactions. By reading Jeffrey Zaslow's article "Pursuits: Happiness Inc," we shall try to situate these factors using three examples from the article: At David's Bridal, management believes the usual theory that the happier the workers are, the better are their performance. This is actually debatable, and many studies have been conducted on this area, but we shall not discuss whether this is true or not. We shall just assume this for the purposes of discussion. Zaslow (2006) cites in his article the study conducted by Positive Psychologist Martin Seligman about the direct proportionality of resilience and happiness. Thus, David's Bridal made a decision that if it wants its sales people to be happy, it must train them to be resilient. To encourage resilience, Zaslow reports, these sales people were taught to focus on the things "that would bring them joy." People perceive things differently. ... With that in mind, no specific instruction was given to the sales people of David's Bridal. Just focus on what will give them joy. Individual differences play on what will make someone resilient and happy. Different strokes of perception and emotion for different folks. These sales people were also taught about "emotion regulation," "impulse control," and "learned optimism." (Zaslow 2006) Emotion Regulation helps them not to be frustrated when it appears that a bride will not buy from them, or that they were unable to close a deal. Impulse control is another aspect of emotional intelligence. By having control on their emotions, such sales people are better able to draw on their creative energy and think of ways to handle their difficulties well. Whirlpool and Sensory Logic For this section, Whirlpool is intertwined with Sensory Logic. Whirlpool hired Sensory Logic to test its products before launching them to the market. Sensory Logic studies the reaction of their subjects by videotaping them. In this case, Sensory Logic was able to determine whether a particular subject is happy or not based on indicators as quick as a millisecond. According to the article (Zaslow 2006), Sensory Logic studied how subjects sensed and perceived the geometric patterns of the Duet products of Whirlpool. Accordingly, Sensory Logic was able to determine whether a particular subject was lying or not. Zaslow further adds that this is better than a focus group. Subjects provided information that Whirlpool needed, not what subjects think that Whirlpool wants to hear. In the end, Whirlpool changed some patterns in their products based on the feedback they got. Therefore, we are able to see that the roles of sensation, perception, and emotion played on the success of Whirlpool a s a

A review of development facility at Samsung Essay

A review of development facility at Samsung - Essay Example It has been found that foreign companies have a tough time managing labor issues when they enter Chinese markets. These issues include lack of educated workforce in China, reluctance of migration to work in Chinese industries and Union and Labor Law sensitive issues (Cia, Park and Zhao, 2007). Samsung group is a South Korean multinational engaged in the task of manufacturing consumer electronic and electronic components. It operates over 80 subsidiaries and serves globally employing over 470,000 employees. Samsung has been facing acute shortage of labor and problems in recruitment and selection of workforce in China. The study aims to find out reasons behind such labor problems and address them with suggested solutions. 1.1 Research title: A review of manufacturing facility of Samsung in China 1.2 Research Question: What are the reasons behind labor problems for Samsung in China? 1.3 Research Objectives: To find out the persistent problems associated with labor in China. Investigatin g reasons associated with recruitment problems for Samsung in the country. To identify ways that shall help overcome these labor problems. 1.4 Research Rationale Identify ways of managing Samsung’s labor recruitment and selection problems in China. 2. Literature Review Figure 1: Fishbone Diagram for Labor Problems of Samsung in China (Source: Joy-Matthews, Megginson and Surtees, 2004) 2.1 Main Issue 1: Cultural fit - Lack of educated workforce China is moving largely from being a labor intensive nation to a manufacturing concern that requires more of skilled labor. Such high technology work has attracted many a foreign workers and also returning overseas Chinese employees. Along with this, more and more Chinese people are trying to gain international work exposure before they return to China to get better and higher working positions in foreign multinationals (Zhang, Zhao and Lei, 2012). While undertaking a hiring process, with increased talent movement into China from global nations, gaining cultural fit has become one of the most important criteria’s for hiring new recruits. This feature has become more important than salary some companies. Companies engage employees in training into various types of technical skills if the person fits with the cultural fit requirements (Cockain, 2012). However, despite such great employment opportunities, companies in China, operating with their hierarchical work structure find it difficult to recruit right employee for the right place and at the right time. Recruitment of caliber talent has posed challenges in front of companies because the number of opportunities available for skilled workforce is far more than the availability if such skilled manpower within the country (Dryburgh, 2011). Another problem impediment in hiring top talent in organizations in China found in the study of Golley and Meng, 2011, is that most of the Chinese people are not confident about working with foreign management. They prefer to recruit a Chinese for all their managerial decisions. The company under this study is also in dire need for leadership talent. It is in need of experienced individuals with perspectives to run senior leadership. The problems with sourcing of such talent is in association with lack of knowledge of

Kantian Approach To Morality Philosophy Essay

Kantian Approach To Morality Philosophy Essay Philosophers across the divide around the have argued that human morality is determined by rationality in making decisions and acting upon them. Immanuel Kants approach to moral psychology and his rational agency concept were developed around a number of issues; first moral sensibility concept. Secondly is heteronomy, hedonism and the happiness principle which according to Kant determines human motivation and decisiveness or choice. Lastly is the categorical imperative which Kant conceptualized around practical rationality and its role in the formation of universal laws (Reath, 2006, p.1). Kants theory of human morality is conceptualized around human decision and action. This concept has not been well understood (McCarthy, 2009, p. xiii). This paper therefore, seeks to examine Kants approach to human morality his theories and principles with regard to their relevance to human life today. Kantians theories of human morality Moral philosophy is a concept that seeks to give answers to issue surrounding human morality. It gives basis to fundamental principles of human morality and to achieve this, ethical and moral obligations must be recognized and adopted by human agents. Kant in his approach to human morality, puts emphasis on basic human moral and ethical responsibilities based on the results of his famous work dubbed Groundwork in the metaphysics of moral. From this platform, therefore, it is clear that moral psychology gives answers on the fact that morality dictates human agents decisiveness and actions and also influences human socialization. As such Kants approach to human morality tries to account of these concepts (Johnson, 2008). In his human moral theories, Kant argues that the ultimate end of human decisions and actions ought to be good for ones own self and also to others. This is practical and gives meaning to moral life. He goes ahead to emphasize that good for morality is in itself a moral virtue in line with human agents happiness. Kant strongly emphasizes that moral virtue is a condition to deserving happiness in life by human agents. However Immanuel Kant also noted that in certain occasions, moral virtue may not at all time constitute to human agents happiness and may at times conflict with it (Johnson, 2008). Today, many philosophers have coined various action theories. Many of these theories have been formulated with reference to Kants principles of human morality (McCarthy, 2009, p. xiii). Kants emphasis on human actions is broadly linked to his works on metaphysics of human morality. Metaphysics of human morality was coined around various principles like; moral sensibility, human happiness, categorical imperatives, autonomy of human will, principle of humanity, human virtue and vice, principle of duty, principle of humanity and the philosophy of religion (McCarthy, 2009, p. xiii). Kants theory of moral sensibility revolves around respect for morality. He describes this respect as an important determinant of self motivation in pure practical reasoning by human agents. According to Reath, Kant broadly views this respect for morality as a major influencing factor in self motivation and decisiveness or human action and making of choices (Reath, 2006, p.1). Therefore, in this context, respect for morality can be viewed as recognition of the authority associated with moral law and also as an independent human moral feeling. In Kants theory of happiness in relation to hedonism and heteronomy, he argues that non moral motivation was unacceptable and termed them as crude hedonistic. Reath asserts that according to Kant, non moral decisions and actions are influenced by the desire for pleasure at the end. That non moral decisions and actions are inclination-based in nature. However, those opposed to Kants principle of happiness in relation to hedonism and hedonistic non moral decisions and actions, have argued that his perception of non moral decisions and actions undermine his theory of morality as they convey a misjudged opinion and mistaken conception of non moral decisions and motivation (Reath, 2006, p. 2). In his theory of happiness, Kant explains his view that the expected satisfaction and the strength of the desire are taken as sufficient reason for humans non moral decisions and actions. In his theory of categorical imperative, Immanuel Kant asserts that morality is based on human practical reasoning or rationality. He termed this rationality categorical imperative. He argued that categorical imperative was based on certain standards of morality which were either desired instrumental principles or were based on rational human intuitions. The Kantian approach to morality is based on the perception that the analysis of categorical imperative will reveal the determinants of rational human agents in morality based on instrumental principles of morality. According to Kant therefore, categorical imperative is the fundamental principle of morality. Kant regards rationality as practical reasoning that is independent and free and as such goes beyond human control and interference. Kant argues that it is this categorical imperative in every human being that gives them the power to make realistic decisions and a feeling of self worth and respect (Johnson, 2008). At the centre of Kantian approach to human morality is the principle of autonomy of human wills. He argues that human rational reasoning cannot exist without a sense of autonomy. According to Kant, laws should be humans own making and that freedom does not exist if there are no laws bound to it. Freedom in relation to laws defines human responsiveness to practical reasoning. Thus autonomy arises when there is will free from negativity and when decisions and actions are done independently. Perfectly rational decisions and actions are those that conform to those laws that are validly formulated for rational reasoning. However, imperfectly rational decisions and actions go against Kantian perception and as such have to undergo scrutiny of some other laws (Johnson, 2008). Kant also formulated another theory dubbed, the principle of humanity. The meaning of humanity in Kants approach to human moral psychology is good will (Dean, 2006 p. 8). In his works metaphysics of morals, Kant argues that every human being has the responsibility of raising himself more and more towards humanity, which he earlier described as good will. By so doing, humans have to set themselves ends which it is them alone who are capable of achieving. According to Kant, the capacity of human agents to set and adopt whichever end is characterized by humanity. However, he argues further that the capability of setting ends here is not the only way to realize humanity. The role of attaining humanity also includes accepting moral principles as sufficient need for making moral decisions, actions and choices (Dean, 2006, p. 9). According to Kant, good will is the only thing in the world that is naturally good and without conditions regardless of what it achieves or what it is attributed to. He argues that decisions or actions reached at out of good will have or out of duty have moral worth and as such represent the value of good will and human morality. Kant argues that decisions made out of duty or actions performed out of responsibility bear formal principle are as such are reason-based. They are not inclination-based as such do not bear material principle as its basis. However good will only favor inclination-based decision if they are in line with the requirements of morality (Denis, 2005, p. 18) Kantian theory of morality asserts that agents bear special status and because of that they deserve respect that must not be interfered. This principle of respect to humanity, Kant asserts is a key determinant to human practical and rational reasoning. In view of this, respect for humanity, human rights and human responsibility are the basis for human moral reasoning (Furrow, 2005, p. 49). Kantian principles of morality recognize that human agents have intrinsic value due the fact that they have the power to make rational decisions and independent judgments regarding their lives. Human beings have value regardless of whether they are cared for or not and no matter what their moral decision, actions and general behaviors are. According to Kant they posses objective worth which must be treated with respect (Furrow, 2005, p. 50). It is important to recognize that human agents poses objective worth which influences their conduct within the society from where they relate with each other. As such they must not be taken as mere objects or instruments. Kant, in his approach to morality argues that morality through practical reasoning must proceed from categorical imperative and not from hypothetical imperatives. Categorical imperatives commands that decisions and actions must be taken without conditions attached to them and independently. He recognizes that all human agents have interests, projects, goals and desires and are capable of rationally reasoning about them and acting on them (Furrow, 2005, p. 50). In his theory on human moral virtue and vices, Kant emphasizes that human beings have duties to fulfill, goals, ambitions and desires to realize. Kant describes the moral strength to achieve these as human moral virtue. He also describes moral vice as immorality in principle. In Kants view, humans set principles of moral conduct depending on basis of categorical imperative or simply rational agency. Therefore on this platform, Kant describes human trait of acting in accordance with these principles as human virtue. Kant further argues that human virtue can not be acquired through training or even through instilling second human character but rather comes from deep within humans. As such human virtue is oriented on human moral principles and human moral vice is then viewed by Kant as going against moral law in principle (Johnson, 2008). Kants approach to human morality has been the foundation for many philosophers. Whereas many have accepted his principles on human morality, others have often differed with some of these principles based on a number of contentious issues. However, according to McCarthy, Kants description of human virtue as moral strength of will is a psychological condition which is the most important in human agents. He argues that Kant conceptualized human virtue as a psychological condition of human moral appraisal and promotion. Human moral virtue is a determinant in evaluating human moral worth (McCarthy, 2006, p. 191). Human moral virtue therefore contributes to other important and related virtues like human happiness, goodwill, moral sensibility, the capability to make independent decisions and the ability to act for the good of humanity. The rationale for setting ends according to Kants principles on morality is what constitutes the ends set and adopted by human agents. Respecting the rational nature of the set ends will mean respecting human moral laws in all its functionality and not only its function or the mere obeying of human moral laws. According to Kant, the rational nature of the ends-setting has various roles in achieving humanity including the end setting itself that is influenced by human moral principles (Dean, 2006, p. 83). Webb, in his works dubbed Kants philosophy of religion, argues that there is profound connectivity between human morality and religion. Webb argues that this religion is in terms of moral faith and as such a very important connection between moral autonomy and nature. Webb asserts that it is this moral faith that Kant in his approach to human morality held to the notion that practical reasoning must prevail at all times. According to Webb, moral faith was a major determinant in his assertion that categorical imperatives were the basis on which human agents decided and acted (Firestone Palmquist, 2006, p. 7). What is attractive in Kantian approach to morality? Kant argues that agents are at all times rational in their being, decisiveness and action. They can express their desires, give their opinions and decide rationally on what they want to do. Kant sees human agents as beings that are able to act on principles. He goes ahead to categorize agents into two groups; perfect agents and imperfect agents. From his categorization of agents, it can be deduced that human beings are not the same in setting, adopting and acting on human moral principles, and may differ based on same principles. Perfectly rational agents act strictly on principle of practical or rational rather reasoning. They decide and act only on what they deem to be good. Imperfect agents may at time to act or decide contrary to their principle. They follow human morality principles out of duty while perfectly rational agents follow principles of human morality without much constraint (Denis, 2005, p.21). Kants principle of categorical imperative is an attractive approach to human morality. Categorical imperative requires that human agents realize or rather achieve the ends they have set in regard to morality. It encourages human beings or rather commands them to achieve targets they set in life. According to Kant, categorical imperatives are naturally contingent. They bind human agents to moral principles which in turn enable them to pursue and achieve the ends they have adopted (Johnson, 2008). This principle encourages hard work in human agents in order to realize self satisfaction and achieve human sense of accomplishment in life. According to Kants approach to human morality, human agents happiness lies on their own moral principles. According to Kant in his principle of happiness, agents happiness is critical and a basic need that cannot be rationally withdrawn. However, categorical imperative pertaining to the achievement of human agents happiness remains to be hypothetical. This therefore means that, for human beings to be happy they have no choice, but to make morally rational decisions and act in the same way as well. It is therefore, important to recognize that happiness in itself is a Meta end comprising all inclination-based ends human agents decide and act on (Denis, 2005, p. 21). What is unattractive in Kantian approach to morality? According to Stratton-Lake, various philosophers have found Kants approach to human morality based on a few of his principles. First, is his view that rational and good-willed human agent would decide and act only due to responsibility or out of duty. Secondly is that for any human duty to be realized, there must be categorical imperatives. Thirdly is his symmetry theory. Unfortunately all the Kantian moral principles are related and tend to borrow from each other. This makes it extremely impossible to reject a single principle while adopting the others. This has been the bond of contention between Kantian approach to human morality and other philosophers who appreciate his theories but do not totally agree with these theories (Stratton-Lake, 2004, p. 57). Kantian approach to ethical morality provides that human agents actions must be based on responsibility or duty alone. This presents challenge in distinguishing between what elements constitutes human agents moral worth and virtue. This situation ideally poses a serious confusion in trying to internalize these two principles by human agents. For instance, if human agents are expected to be virtuous in their decisiveness and action, then duties and responsibilities calling for virtuous decisions and actions should also be adopted. According to McCarthy, the principle of duty is the basis from which Kantian approach describe human moral expectations (McCarthy, 2006, p. 190). According to Denis, Kant argues in his early work Groundwork that good will decisions and actions are determined by a sense of responsibility or duty rather than due to impulse or inclination and that such decisions and actions gives them moral worth. Some philosophers have objected to this arguing that this reason-based principle perception of Kant is misguided. Objections arise from the fact that this principle gives human decisions and actions a more narrow account of morality in decisions and actions. Other scholars also object on the basis that Kants moral worth of reason-based decision and actions that it is okay not to love or sympathize with others in order to achieve moral worth helping others out of duty and responsibility (Denis, 2005, p. 19). Even though principles of morality require agents set ends to adopt and achieve, Kant argues that they are not bound to them and as such can free themselves from most categorical imperatives by withdrawing the ends or rather the targets to be realized or achieved. For instance if an agents goal or desire is to become family doctor and the means required to achieve this desire is to attend a medical school, rationally the agent will be required to attend medical school. However, the agent is free to withdraw this ambition then he or she will be relieved from the requirement of attending law school. In such a case the categorical imperative will no longer be binding on the individual (Denis, 2005, p. 21). According to Furrow, Kants approach to human morality jeopardizes freedom which to him is crucial to the wellbeing of human agents. In his approach, Kant argues that human agents are free only when their actions and decisions are not inclination-based but reason-based. Kant asserts that human agents are free only when their decisions and actions are free from external influences whereas these influences constitute attachments and commitments that result into human agents happiness. It is therefore; practically impossible to conceptualize autonomy and freedom without reference to human desires, targets goals or even purposes. Freedom is a paramount determinant of happiness in human agents. Therefore essential freedom is that which permits humans to decide and act in accordance with their personal needs, desires and values and not that which sets these values, desire and needs aside in order to make impartial judgments (Furrow, 2005, p. 89). Conclusion The Kantian theory of morality describes how human beings ought to relate to each other in the society. Kant, in his approach to human morality gives reason to human interaction and relationship. Although it has its limitations, Kantian approach to human morality describes a plausible lifestyle devoid of human immorality. The Kantian approach to human morality enables human agents to reflect and deliberate on their moral principles on elements that are meaningful and important in life like human relationships, virtues, principles and morals among others. Moral principles, theories and laws present human agents with not only better account of morally acceptable decisions and actions but also more plausible account of the role of moral law to human agents. Moral law therefore act as checks and balances on our morality as human agents. These theories and principles are based on practical cases in human lives in the views of Kant and should therefore, form the basis of human interaction and relationships today.

Mirror Images in Cat in the Rain Essay -- Cat in the Rain Essays

Mirror Images in Cat in the Rain      Ã‚   The opening paragraph of "Cat in the Rain" presented itself as a vivid painting, with Hemingway being the artist mentioned (Hemmingway, 167). This was the first in a series of mirrors that Hemingway placed in this short story. Reading this story was like being placed in a mirrored room, each mirrored wall being an element of the story reflecting upon another.    The reflection of Hemingway and the painter in the first paragraph was the first parallel that the reader is presented. However, unlike the inanimate paintings produced by the artists in the garden of the hotel, the nature of the images in Hemingway's painting changes throughout the short story. The description of the setting served more purpose than just setting the mood for the surface plot. The overall changes that occurred in the imagery was in accord with the condition of the American couple's relationship. The outside of the hotel was initially described as it would be in good weather, but gradually rain was set into the image. The dreary rain seems to lag through most...