Robinson Crusoe: Coins

Robinson Crusoe: "Why did he take the coins off the ship?"


In this work, Robinson Crusoe found himself stranded upon a deserted island where he learns how he shall be successful. If you compare chapter eight with one of the beginning chapters you'll see a drastic difference. In one of these chapters, Crusoe finds money on his wrecked ship, and he takes it. The reason that Crusoe took the money, in my opinion, is this: that Crusoe still wanted the money because it was still fresh in his mind and he was used to collecting it. And likewise, that he saw some possible use for it in the future.

Thanks for reading!

English Term Paper: Outline

1. Optimism in western history/literature.

   A. Opening statements.

2. Point of optimism. 

   A. Why we need it.

    B. Why books need it. 


    C. A story without it.

3. The role of optimism in western literature.

 
      A. Main Stories.
        
            1. Plots.
        
            2. Characters.

4. Optimism in fictional works.

           
      A. Lack or abundance?

    B. The effect?
       

5. Optimism in non-fiction documents, speeches, etc.

   A. Lack or abundance?
    
    B. The effect?
    
6. The importance of the theme of  optimism since 1493.
   
   A. What did we find out?

            1. How the optimism/lack of optimism effected us.
   
              2. Did it seem coherent, crucial, or unnecessary to the stories?

    B. Closing statements.

          1. End.   

Discussion on the Just War Theory, as well as the Later Scholastics

"Describe the main principals of just-war theory."


I think that this will be one of the easier topics for me to describe, as well as one of the easier ones for you to understand.

Just war theory is simply the theory of just war.  It is ideals and principles that make a war "just".  For instance, according to the just war theory it would be wrong to go to war with a country or state that had simply stolen a single apple.  It would likewise be wrong according to the just war theory to slaughter mercilessly all of the civilians living in the place that you are at war with once you had already won.

I hope you have a basic idea of what the just war theory is now.



"In what fundamental way did Duns Scotus and William of Ockham challenge the position of Thomas Aquinas?"


These two later scholastics were of the opinion that reason and faith simply did not go together.  They were two completely separate things in the eyes of these men.  This of course was a complete and utter challenge to the position taken by Thomas Aquinas.  Thomas Aquinas had spent a great deal of his life trying to prove that faith and reason went hand in hand.  Faith could be proven using reason according to Thomas Aquinas. This was the fundamental way that Duns Scotus and William of Ockham challenged the views of Thomas Aquinas.


Thanks for reading, and please give me feedback!  I would love to hear from you!

The 9th-and 10th-century invasions, and how they affected life in the West.

"Describe the ninth-and tenth-century invasions.  Apart from the physical destruction involved, how did they affect life in the West?"


The 9th-and 10th-century invasions were brought about by the Norsemen/Vikings, Magyars, and the Muslims.  These forces caused much fear and loss to the people of the 9th-and 10th-century.

The Vikings (mixture of Scandinavians/raided the coastal river cities of France) would burn down countless villages, destroyed many churches and monasteries, took innocent people into slavery, and of course looted.  I think it goes without saying that the Vikings were a treacherous people.

The Magyars (attacked Germany, northern Italy, and parts of France) would burn down French monasteries and suburbs, and they also took part in despicable looting and pillaging.

The Muslims ( based in Africa and Spain) took part in looting and plundering the places in which they were attempting to conquer, and they would even go about the horrible deed of kidnapping.

As far as how the invasions affecting life in the West goes, it is safe to say that they caused much distress.  Beside this though, they also brought upon two very important things called feudalism and manorialism.  If you would like to learn more about these two aspects of life in history, please proceed to the section of this essay dedicated to them below.


"Describe feudalism and manorialism."


Feaudalism and manorialism came about as a creative response to the outside invasions of the 9th-and 10th-century.  The victims of the Vikings would try to find protection through people called lords by becoming the lord's vassal.  The vassal would be given land and protection from the Vikings in exchange for service to the lord.  These are the basic ideas of feudalism and manorialism.


I hope that you have enjoyed this essay, and please let me know what you think!
     

The Merovingians, Carolingians, and Charlemagne

"What picture of Charlemagne emerges from Einhard's biography?"


The picture that I see of Charlemagne in this biography is one of elegance and respect.  I see a man who worked to bring up his children in a secure environment, and I see a man who worked to beautify the place in which he lived.

For many, I believe that they will probably pay closest attention to the wars in which he fought, or perhaps they will particularly notice the power which he held.  I personally have little interest in the wars or politics.  I have interest in the description of the man, and aren't I supposed to be describing the picture of the man?

For me, the picture of Charlemagne that emerges from Einhard's biography is one which demands attention and wonder.  I see a man who was quite admirable.  That is the picture which I believe emerges from Einhard's biography.




"Discuss the shift in power from the Merovingians to the Carolingians.  Why did it occur, and how?"



First of all, the Merovingians were not exactly what I'd call skilled administrators.  For instance, they fought among each other in bloody slaughters between brothers and cousins.  They also would take place in human sacrifice.  Needles to say, these weren't the kind of people that you would like as your neighbors.

As time went on, a man named Pepin the Short came to power thanks to the Pope.  Pepin asked the Pope if it was right that a ruler whom did nothing had power, but the one who did something had no power.  The Pope said that was not right, and this is where the shift between power changed.

I hope that you have enjoyed this essay, and please let me know what you think!  I would love to hear from you!          

The Fascinating world of Taxonomy

"What are some of the challenges of systematics and taxonomy?  Should a biologist's classification be taken as absolute, inviolable truth?  In your opinion, is taxonomy necessary and/or important? Why or why not?


     I was asked to tell you about some of the challenges of systematics and taxonomy.  I will do just that! First of all, when a biologist tries to classify a species he can run into some annoying problems.  The problems that I'm talking about are how some species share both animal and plant characteristics.  As you can probably imagine, this poses quite a snare for the person who is trying to classify this creature.

     This information will prove crucial to answering the next question, which is if a biologist's classification should be taken as absolute.  I think not!  In the past we have seen classifications being changed as we gain more knowledge about the species that we are attempting to classify, so how is this any different?  That's just it, it's not!  Of course, most of the time we don't have people wondering where a horse falls into the grand scheme of taxonomy, unless they have completely gone mad.  But for some things, such as with the plant or animal scenario, it is entirely possible for something to be classified wrong.

     This poses a new question.  Is taxonomy important?  Well, just because we might classify something wrong every once in a while doesn't mean that it isn't important in my opinion!  I think that taxonomy is absolutely necessary!  Without taxonomy, how else would we figure out where a cow or woodpecker go. Without it, we would have difficulty differentiating between one species from another.  Without it, we might not be able to properly communicate which species we are talking about!  That would certainly cause some major challenges for scientists and biologists who are trying to study a certain species don't you think?

     Anyways, I hope that you have enjoyed this essay, and please let me know what you think!             

The Peloponnesian War and Pericles' Funeral Oration

"What points is Pericles trying to make about Athens in his Funeral Oration?"


     Pericles was trying to get across how wonderful Athens was, praise the people, and honor the dead at the same time. 
     
     He talked about all the advantages that Athenian citizens had, he tried to motivate the living during a time of war, and as stated earlier, honor the dead.  
     
     He wanted to help the people to keep going by telling them about what they had to live up to (The dead soldiers).  He also tried to give them a reason(s)to keep fighting by telling them about all that they had to lose.  He told them about all of the amazing advantages that Athens had to offer like its freedom in government and ordinary life.  

     These were the points that Pericles was trying to make in his Funeral Oration.


"Why was the Peloponnesian War fought?  What was its long-term significance?"


     The Peloponnesian War was fought for these reasons.

1.  Athens appeared to be using the Delian League's ship-building funds to help beautify itself instead of to build ships for the protection of those in the Delian League.
2.  Sparta was afraid that Athens was becoming too powerful.

     Here is the war's long-term significance.

1.  Athens would lose its dominance of the other members of the Delian League.
2.  Sparta would take control of things.
3.  In the end, this war between the Greeks would ultimately weaken them and spell out some serious consequences.

     Well, That's all for this week. I hope that you have enjoyed this essay on "The Peloponnesian War and Pericles' Funeral Oration". See you next Friday, and please let me know what you think! 

     

Ethics and the Development of History

"What is the view of the biblical materials on the role of ethics in the development of history?"


     In the development of history, biblical materials have influenced ethics by a very large degree.  We see this when we give money to the poor and needy, help build homes for those who don't have any, etc.  
     
     There are lots of people out there who don't believe in God and yet, they do their best to help those in need.  Why? The answer is simple.  In every society, people have believed in some form of morality that was handed down from one generation to the next.  For many, what was handed down to them was biblical ethics.  For instance, it is illegal to commit murder.  Where else do we find this law?  We find it in Exodus chapter 20, verse 13.  "Thou shalt not kill."  What is another law that we have in the world today?  Let's look at Exodus chapter 20, verse 15.   "Thou shalt not steale."   These are two very well known laws in today's world, as well as the world of the past.     
     
     Although some might not agree with everything in the Bible, you have to admit that biblical materials did play a huge part in ethics, and the history of the world in general.

     Thank you very much for reading, and please let me know what you think! 
   

Biology Essay 1

    As you probably know, the earth gets a huge amount of energy from the sun.  We are not able to get all of it though.  What does reach the earth's surface is obtained by organisms called producers.  Producers are able to use this energy to help them make their food.
    Now we come to consumers.  Consumers are creatures that need to consume the producers to get energy because they are not able to make their own food.

    Here is an important little bit of information.  When one creature eats another one, it does not get the same amount of energy that the other had.  It gains about ten percent of the energy.  Many animals starve for this reason.  When the energy is diminishing, it eventually runs out, and the animals are not able to use it.  If there is a change in primary producers or consumers, then bye bye animals that used to feed on them.  This is an example of how delicate our lives are.  One simple change, and our world can be turned upside down.  

    Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think!

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Cite for this report:  Lesson One