Teens Who Commit Serious Crimes - 1629 Words

Chelsea.Haugen Mrs.Ford English 5 February 2015 Teens Who Commit Serious Crimes Although many people believe that juveniles who commit crimes should be imprisoned, it is not as black and white as many see. In fact, many teens suffer from mental illness, poverty, drug abuse, victims of abuse, and no role models in their early ages of life. Also, other contributing factors are single parent homes and poor education. All of these issues are complicated factors for the courts to consider when they are trying to decide what to do and what to charge the adolescent with.The media tells people about all of the horrible crimes that are happening; in reality,in the last twenty years crime has gone down, but the actual crimes themselves are more serious than ever before. If teens commit serious crimes and are charged as adults they would have to take a mental test,being a rehabilitation program, and get back into school. From all of the modern movies and media teens are thinking that it is okay to carry guns,rob stores and getting into physical fights, The more that teens are introduced and being low income areas in the United State they think that it is okay to commit serious crimes. Being in a low income family many of the teens are addicted to drugs and in serious gangs. Many of these teens will be in gangs at a very young age. A larger number of teens who fall into this category they will be arrested multiple times throughout their life. Many of the teens are coming from a oneShow MoreRelatedJuveniles Treated Like Adults Essays1330 Words   |  6 PagesEveryday a vast number of brutal crimes occur somewhere in America. Teens as young as thirteen commit murder, rape, and burglary to an extent. What can be done about it? The best answer I can think of is to treat juveniles like adults. They have just as much responsibility and knowledge of their actions just as adults do, so they deserve the same punishment if they commit the same crime. Believe it or not, teens commit the same level of crimes that adults commit. Crimes will get even worse in the futureRead MoreMy Day At Your Child878 Words   |  4 Pagesmake it. The real questions should be will the victim have a fighting chance to live? They were also someone’s relative and they may have been young, so why should we protect a teen who decides to make a adult decision and let them escape the repercussions of their actions. Our textbook side notes about the teen boy â€Å"Malvo who was 17 years of age, when he went on a sniper spree in 2002 with another man named John Muhammad.† (Santrock 2013) Unfortunately, stories like theses are captured in nationalRead MoreEssay on Should Juveniles be Tried as Adults1503 Words   |  7 Pagesas adults when they commit certain crimes. The justice systems of America are becoming completely unjust and easy to break through. Juvenile courts haven’t always been known to the everyday person. The Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1899 was the first juvenile court established in the United States (Locked Up†¦). The juvenile court was created to handle the offenders on the basis on their rather than their crime. In the 1980’s and 90’s many states passed laws to try teens as adults (Should Juveniles†¦)Read More Juvenile Justice Essay1308 Words   |  6 Pagesfourteen-year olds accused of murder or rape automatically be tried as adults? Should six-teen year olds and seven-teen year olds tried in adult courts be forced to serve time in adult prisons, where they are more likely to be sexually assaulted and to become repeat offenders. How much discretion should a judge have in deciding the fate of a juvenile accused of a crime - serious, violent, or otherwise? The juvenile crime rate that was so alarming a few years ago has begun to fall - juvenile felony arrestRead MoreColumbine High School Massacre : Self Control Theory Essay1709 Words   |  7 Pagess tudents and 1 teacher. Aside from the kills they injured 21 other people, and an additional 3 more while trying to escape the horrendous event. After their killing rampage, the murderers committed suicide. The exact reason of why the committed this crime to this day is unclear. The personal journals of the two perpetrators referenced that they wanted the event to compete with those of the Oklahoma City bombing and other deadly events that happened in the United States around the 1900s. The attack isRead MoreShould Juveniles Be Charged As Adults?956 Words   |  4 Pagescharge to whether the child committing the crime should be charged as an adult, as well as why housing minors whom charged as adults should not be housed in adult facilities. Most agree that minors who commit murder should be charged as adults and others believe that it depends on the charge itself. Society should be for juveniles being sentenced at adults because they know the difference between right and wrong, use being children to commit crimes, and are more likely to reform. SocietyRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Has Increased Throughout The Years1421 Words   |  6 Pages2005 and again in 2006. Data show increases in some offense categories but declines in most. Most changes being less than 10% in either direction. According to the data arson at 47% is one of the biggest crimes that juveniles commit. Following are robbery at 27%, burglary at 27%, and property crimes at 26%. Juveniles are creating more problems for parents, schools, and communities. In 2007 juvenile courts dealt with a large amount of juvenile delinquents. About 4,600 cases per day were being treatedRead MoreJuvenile Offenders And Juvenile Delinquency1610 Words   |  7 Pagesminors8. A juvenile delinquent in the United States is a person who is typically under the age of 17 and commits an act that otherwise would have been charged as a crime if they were an adult. Depending on the type and severity of the offense committed, it is possible for persons under 18 to be charged and tri ed as adults. Juvenile crimes can range from status offenses (such as underage smoking), to property crimes and violent crimes. The first Juvenile court was formed in the year 1899 in ChicagoRead MoreThe Incarceration Of Prison Rates Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pages(Incarceration and Crime). We focus heavily on severity and longer incarceration rates; the idea is that a 10% increase in incarceration would lead to a 1.6%-5.5% decrease in crime (Lieka 2006) but this is not true. Prison rates have increased tenfold since 1970 and yet the crime rates have not dropped near those percents.The leading argument against increase in incarceration uses other states as examples of how ineffective it is; for example Florida heavily focuses on imprisonment to reduce crime with no effectRead MoreAdolescent’s Committing Violent Crimes809 Words   |  4 Pages Adolescent’s Committing Violent Crimes Teenagers, who commit violent crime such as murder, first degree murder, second degree murder, homicides, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter should be tried as adults. These teenagers knew exactly what they were doing and they also had the intent to kill. Families are blaming it on violent movies or violent TV shows, hello it is called parental control. Maybe if we start trying them as adults teens would think twice. Adolescents should

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is...

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is one of the most widely researched aptitude tests available in this country. It is used extensively in the military, but also has been made available to students in secondary and post-secondary education (Whiston, 2013, p. 176). It is a group-administered, multiple-aptitude battery that has been used since 1976. The ASVAB is required upon being admitted into any of the Armed Services, and was created as an instrument specifically for those who choose to join the Armed Forces. Additionally, the ASVAB is frequently used in schools where career counseling is available. The ASVAB has application outside of the military, and is often given to students in combination with the Find†¦show more content†¦However, in 1950, the Services returned to using a single test, the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). This test was developed and modeled after the AGCT, and was the first test used in the military as a screening in strument. It measured the individual’s general ability to grasp military training within in the necessary allotted time, and it also offered a uniform measure of the individual’s potential performance in the military. Also, tests like The Army Classification Battery and the Navy Basic Test Battery were used to classify recruits into service specific jobs. In 1968, the ASVAB was introduced as a part of the Student Testing Program. The Air Force was the first to use the ASVAB in 1973, followed by the Marine Corps in 1974. However, the Army and Navy did not adopt the ASVAB until 1976, after the Department of Defense decided that all Services should use it for the purpose of screening enlistees and placing them in military jobs. The AFQT has been mostly retained and is now a subtest of the ASVAB. Since the introduction and adoption of the ASVAB, it has undergone many changes as far as content and scoring. Scoring for the ASVAB uses the IRT model. The model underlying the ASVAB scoring is a three-parameter logistic (3PL) (â€Å"ASVAB Scoring†, n.d.). The 3PL model essentially represents the probability that an examinee with a certain degree ofShow MoreRelatedFemales, Like Males, Are Capable Of Being Airborne Rangers?1196 Words   |  5 Pagesproven that they can go through the same training as males, they are also wrong in their views of female intelligence. Secondly, people have this abstract notion that females are less intelligent than the male Rangers due to their lower ASVAB test scores. The ASVAB is a testing system that was developed in the military for the specific purpose of testing an individual’s intelligence of general studies to see if they were able to meet the standardized intellect of a specific job that is offered inRead MoreServing in the United States Military Essay1142 Words   |  5 Pagesrequirement is passing of the ASVAB test. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is an academic, timed test meant to gauge the ability to learn a new profession usually made available to all high school juniors. The score received on the ASVAB is the percentage of the people that the test taker has done better on the test than. For example, scoring a 61 would mean the test taker was more successful on the test than 61% of the people that have already taken the ASVAB. It’s all a huge competitionRead MoreTrainin g At The Recruiting Station Essay976 Words   |  4 PagesNasser for several days I worked with Sergeant Kaylor who is in charge of transporting and helping recruits navigate what jobs they may be eligible for by giving them a practice ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) test which decides their scores on general aspects of different skills. After giving practice ASVAB tests, SGT Kaylor plans on a date with the recruits and takes them to Syracuse MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) to get started on all necessary paperwork needed toRead MoreNegligence Of The Military Entrance Process Essay978 Words   |  4 PagesArmed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is 50. One might think in order to enter the military; a tester must meet this benchmark. After all, a score of 50 would indicate the recruit is at a minimum of average intelligence in the fields of mathematics, arithmetic, word comprehension and paragraph comprehension. Unfortunately, a score of 50 is not a requirement. In fact many recruits fall well below the average. All DoD services have an ASVAB score requirement for the mid to low 30s.Read MoreThe Naval Actions Of The War Of Afghanistan1610 Words   |  7 Pagesbecause of the benefits or other reasons. Here are the steps of joining the Marines. Is becoming a Marine right for you. You need to decide if you’re truly ready, you need to choose the right path for you, you need to meet with a recruiter, and ace the ASVAB (Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery), process in MEPS, get ready for Marine Boot camp, the School of Infantry, the MOS school, and then your first duty station. If you can do all of this, you can become one the proud, the few, the Marines. Read MoreCreating An Military Career853 Words   |  4 Pagescomputer cannot do for you. Upon contacting a local recruiting station, the next step is usually to take a standardized test call the ASVAB. Asvab.com defines this test as â€Å"[a] multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military† (asvab). Although people can go and take the ASVAB without accruing a service obligation, this test is used to determine job eligibility in the military. After discussing your scores withRead MoreThe United States Marine Corps1122 Words   |  5 Pageselectronics, and ask your recruiter for a list of items you are able to bring to basic training. The   process at MEPS is you must first take the   ASVAB test, then you will . Then you will have a. Physical. Next you select a Job This is what you will train for after basic training, and lastly you are sworn in.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While at MEPS you will take the ASVAB test which stands for Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. This test is multiple choice and shows where your skills are in these ten areas:Read MoreService For A Rock Solid Career Choice3315 Words   |  14 Pagesthey need to clear is the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Test. When preparing for the ASVAB test, it is important to know and fully understand what you are about to take and how important your score is to be able to enlist in the US Air Force. The ASVAB is a timed multiple-choice test that the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command administers. The entire test is approximately three hours long. The ASVAB is categorized into ten sub-tests. Four of these tests, Word KnowledgeRead MoreJulissa Martinez . Mrs.Campbell . English Ii3Rd Period1623 Words   |  7 Pagesa war zone. ASVAB- â€Å"The Army requires a minimum AFQT score of 31 to be eligible to enlist. If a recruit scores higher than a 50 then that recruit is eligible for enlistment bonuses†(asvabbootcamp.com). To get enlisted with better bonuses you have to score better than a 50. The US Army asks for a high school diploma or a GED and on occasions they may recruit people without either. The ASVAB helps determine  ¨whether you have the mental aptitude to enlist ¨ (www.goarmy.com). The ASVAB is a series ofRead MoreServing as Part of the Green Berets825 Words   |  4 Pagesenter Army basic training. The enter any of the Armed Forces a person must take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) which measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. The Army’s Special Forces requires a general technical score of 107 or higher and a combat operation score of 98 on the ASVAB. A person must qualify for a secret securi ty clearance, pass the Army Physical Fitness Assessment, and have 20/20 vision. After

Aristotelian Metaphysics & Political Philosophy-Free-Samples

Question: Explain Aristotelian Metaphysics within the Context of Eudaimonia. In other words, how does one achieve Eudaimonia or how does Aristotle link happiness to good character? Answer: As a Greek word, Eudaimonia literally implies happiness or welfare. As a central concept in Aristotelian metaphysics and political philosophy, Eudaimonia is being equated with the highest virtue, as Aristotle clearly states: "If happiness is activity in accordance with virtue, it is reasonable that it should be in accordance with the highest virtue. According to Aristotle, Eudaimonia is the central purpose of human life and existence, and he firmly believed that Eudaimonia can be achieved only through the cultivation of virtues. Aristotle argued that if an individual is virtuous, he can never be miserable. The virtuous man behaves in a reasonable way, and that begets him the Eudaimonia (Ryan et al., 2013). As an activity that essentially belongs to the soul, Eudaimonia is achieved when a human being lives well and does well in the affairs of the world. According to Aristotle, happiness is the ulterior aim and end that humans should try to achieve, and it is an activity that involves both moral and intellectual arte. Every human being is endowed with an inherent capacity to become good and noble, and a man can be good by constant practice, and thereby achieve Eudaimonia. The Doctrine of the Mean is an important doctrine of Confucianism, which is being known for representing a sense of moderation, rectitude, sincerity and rectitude. The important concept that guides and underlies the Doctrine of the Mean, is that no one should act in excess than what is required, and that a sense of balance and harmony is required for leading a healthy life. Aristotle has also spoken of the importance of following the Doctrine of the Mean. According to Aristotles Doctrine of the Mean, just the way excess of any element in body leads to disease, while the balance of the elements restores health, an excess of behaviour will also prevent a man from achieving ethical excellence (Dudley,2 017). Excellence of character can be achieved only when the acts and emotions of an individual are performed and experienced at the right time in the right way or the right amount. Self-watchfulness, Leniency and Sincerity are the three attributes that can help one achieve mean in life th at will lead to his happiness, enabling him to lead a virtuous life. The philosophers believe that there are two kinds of passion- the concupisciblepassion and the irascible passion. As far as the concupisciblepassion is concerned, the passion refers to those passions which stand related to a sense of good and evil. For example, love is an example of a concupisciblepassion that is related to good and again sorrow is also an example of a concupisciblethat is related to evil. Hence, passions such as joy, grief, sorrow, pain, or love are examples of the concupisciblepassion. The irascible passion, on the other hand, refers to those passions which are known for following the irascible appetite. Hence, fear, courage, hope and timidity are the common examples of irascible passions (Hauerwas, 2016). According to Aristotle, a soul is not a corporeal thing, and yet the structure of the soul is such that it does require bodily parts and organs for proper functioning. For example, one would need sense organs to enable to act of self-perception of the soul. Unlik e the body that refers to the matter, the soul refers to the form. However, since the soul if the form of the body, its structure makes it impossible to live without the body, according to Aristotle. Aristotle believes that the soul is nothing but the sum total of all the operations of the human body, and it enables a man to become a human being rather than a mere body of flesh. However, the immorality of the soul is an absurd concept. A wide variety of arguments have been claiming and establishing the existence of God. While Plato and Aristotle referred to the existence of a cosmological being, philosophers like Descartes claimed that a benevolent power like God does and should exist for the evidence of the senses to be meaningful. Without the existence of God, it is impossible to explain the origin of mankind or the world at large, establish a sense of meaning, control and harmony that acts as a guiding force in the Universe. However, Immanuel Kantclearly rejected the idea of existence of any God, by stating the clear distinction between the natural objects which we can actually experience such as the observable world, and supersensible objects such as God, divine being or soul. Kant believed that one can only consider the knowledge of those things which he can experience, and existence is not merely a property that can be attributed to any object or being like God. Similarly, David Hume has also rejected the ide a of God, by stating that human beings usually tend to attribute anthropomorphic attributes to unseen forces, which however can never the survive the application of scientific standards. Hume claimed that God is a complex idea the existence of which cannot be proved or disproved by human reasoning, and hence his existence cannot be established (Alter Howell, 2015). As far as the nature of God is concerned, God is deemed as the spiritual force that transcends everything and everyone on earth, and is distinguished from the ordinary mortals in its immortality. Although many religions have diverse names for Gods, God is believed to be one, undivided and an absolute power. Thus, immortality and spirituality define God. Besides, God is also believed to be the omnipotent, omniscient force that pervades within and without the world. Although there are some attributes present in both God and man, there is always an Otherness quality of God that distinguishes God from any mortal existing on the earth (Putra et al., 2015). God is not only immortal and invisible, but is also omniscient and omnibenevolent, offering justice to the world. Most importantly, God is self-existent who is neither created nor can be destroyed. On the other hand, any form of evil is a negative phenomenon, and it is something that lies in direct opposition to the creative nature of G od. Evil refers to a sense of destruction, pain and agony, and an act or a power is considered to be evil if he involves the act of un-doing the being. While good involves acts that assist in the creation of a better world, the evil reverses the process of becoming, and compels people to lapse into non-being. St. Augustine tried to understand soul in order to gain an insight into the idea of a Supreme Being. He believed that the human soul is essentially corporeal, and it is immortal. A soul enables one to think, judge, feel and reflect. Being incorporeal, the soul can never be perceived, but it is discovered to our consciousness by our living energy. The human soul is of two types- a pars inferior which possesses the vital and sensitive powers and a pars superior which possesses the intellectual or rational powers of the mind (Holscher, 2016). While discussing about material reality, Aristotle rejected the idea that there is any form of real or ideal world, apart from the material world one lives in. Aristotle stated that if such an eternal, unchanging world would have existed, how the world relates to the material, imperfect world of mankind. Thus, the former is imaginary, and the latter is real. However, as per the Christian metaphysics, there is an ideal world that is beyond the physical world. According to Aristotle, God is the Prime Mover and First Principle that is the ultimate cause behind the creation of earth and human beings. However, unlike the Christian view of God, Aristotle does not speak of a Holy Spirit, or Father, whose Holiness should be worshipped in the Churches. Aristotle believes that the body and soul both are interrelated parts of human existence, whereby while the body moves, the soul helps the body to move. On the other hand, the Christians believe in the immortality of a soul that represents the Divine Power, which is thoroughly rejected by Aristotle, who believes that soul has no independent existence outside the body. Plato brings in an idea of the Absolute Truth that is equated with the idea of ultimate reality of the world. The idea of reality according to Plato creates in people a sense of Absolute Truth. On the other hand, St Augustine believed reality to be external to human mind in general, and that a human being must have faith so that they can experience the semi-real reflection of reality. The absence of reality in a creature makes him non-God, while the presence of reality implies a Divine Truth. While reconstructing theological perspective on metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and politics, it can be said that the reason, an essential attribute of the human mind helps a man to distinguish between the right and the wrong. The idea of God is closely associated with the idea of performing virtuous actions, and leading a noble life, and hence the anything good, virtuous and noble is termed as just, and reflecting the principles of the Absolute Truth. Machiavelli believed in the individual power of a man in capturing and retaining his power, and consequently he took no interest in any abstract concept such as ideal world, or God or virtue. According to him, the highest pursuit an individual can engage in, is to capture and hold power, and thus his moral rules are not virtuous acts dictated by God, but are practical rules about how to hold power (Machiavelli, 2017). An action is good not because God commands it, nor because it comes from virtue, but because its consequences are the attainment and keeping of power. Machiavelli was a man who was believed that the political environment is corrupt and dangerous, and mankind is essentially wicked, hence one will not gain anything by believing in God, or upholding the importance of virtue in human life. Both Hobbes and Locke spoke of the man living in a primitive world, without the presence of nay political authority or formal checks on the behaviour of the respective individuals. However, if this was to continue man could never move out of his primate state and hence people realized the importance of natural law governing mankind. Hobbes and Locke both had argued that the state had arisen out of a voluntary agreement, or social contract, made by individuals who recognised that only the establishment of sovereign power could safeguard them from the insecurity of the state of nature. However, while Locke and Hobbes claimed that a man was inherently evil, and his natural state was man, and hence required a government, Rousseau believed that man was inherently good (Skyrms, 2014). According to him, that stage of society where the individuals could stay independent was the best. According to Hobbess theory of social contract, each individual man was interested in his own good, and he can fight with other men for his own glory. Hence, to keep his self-interestedness in check, an authority should be present. Unlike Hobbes, Locke did not believe man was immoral, but claimed that being free and independent, and hence he can take liberties with his rights (Ogbuju, S., Eneh, 2016). Hence, a king should be there whose power will be based on the consent of mankind. Rousseau, on the other hand, did not believe in monarchy, and claimed that a man should submit to the general will of the public, and not the political will of any man. According to Kant, the fundamental concept of morality is reason, and in fact pure practical reason is the only possible way of determining what ought to be done without reference to empirical contingent factors (Aune, 2014). A rational will is free from any bias, and is the most logical alternative to be acted on. As opposed to reason as taught by Kant, Kierkegaardbelieves that an individual can be moral if he believes in the absurd ideas such as God which cannot be proved rationally. Nietzsche does not believe in morality, as he states that moral codes are forcefully imposed on a specific section of people to favour the interest of a selected few. Sartre as opposed to Kant and Kierkegaard, believes in the individual responsibility of a man in deciding what is right for him, as his consciousness enables him to understand how things are or how it should be. Sartre does not acknowledge the importance of relying on a moral code of conduct external to human mind. The cogito ergo sum is an idea propounded by Descartes, which literally means I thinks, therefore I exist. Descartes believed that in case the entire world turns out to be an illusion, the only thing a person can be sure of, is his own existence. The only thing real in such an illusory world is the idea of I as he himself is capable of thinking. However, Descartes himself stated that all the senses can be trusted if God is said to exist. Since God is the omniscient and omnipotent being, the idea of human mind as an essentially defining feature of human existence is subjugated to the concept of a greater force (Hertogh, 2016). The terms are explained below: Realpolitik: It is a political system of a country based on the specific needs of the country rather than the moral obligations of its residents. Social Contract: It is a form of agreement between the ruled and the ruling people to determine the nature of society the people would live in, and to explain the moral obligations, each would have. Tyranny: This refers to the extremely cruel and oppressive government ruling a nation or a society. Despotism: This is a political scenario where the monarch or ruler holds absolute power, and is an autocratic leader, allowing none to ventilate any idea against him (Heywood, 2017). Plutocracy: Plutocracy is a form of government that constitutes only the wealthy and elite class of rulers ruling in favour of the interest of their class. Polity: It is an organized society, where a group of people have collectively united by a self-reflected cohesive force such as identity, who have a capacity to mobilize resources, and are organized by some form of institutionalized hierarchy. Monarchy: A form of government headed by a king. Dictatorship: A form of government led by one individual or party who works to keep his power intact. Oligarchy: A society governed by a small group of people. Democracy: A society governed by people elected by the common men as their representatives. Timocracy: A form of government where one needs to possess property and wealth to rule. Common Good: Common good refers to anything that is shared by or is beneficial to all the members of a society. Natural Law: Natural law states that certain rights are inherently and naturally present in human beings and cannot be denied. Liberalism: Liberalism is a political doctrine that believes in enhancing the liberty of all the members of the society. Utilitarianism: It is a doctrine that believes that an action can be considered to be right and moral only if it can prove to be beneficial to maximum number of people. Kierkegaards teleological suspension of the ethical implies the suspension of the ethical law in order to fulfil the divine purpose. Kierkegaard believes that an individual having absolute faith in God must set aside the normal canons of ethics and humanity before the command of religion (Kierkegaard, 2013). For example, Abraham sacrificed his son at Gods command, even though the act is immoral. According to Fidet et Ratio, faith and reason has a close relation as both combined together helps an individual explore the truth (Orr, 2014). It claims that the absence of either one will diminish man's ability to know himself, the world and God Reference List: Alter, T., Howell, R. J. (2015). The God Dialogues: A Philosophical Journey. Aune, B. (2014).Kant's theory of morals. Princeton University Press. Dudley, J. (2017). Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean. Hauerwas, S. (2016). Habit Matters: The Bodily Character of the Virtues.Ecclesia and Ethics: Moral Formation and the Church, 71. Hertogh, C. P. (2016). Thought Experiment Analyses of Ren Descartes' Cogito.Trans/Form/Ao,39(3), 9-22. Heywood, A. (2017).Political ideologies: An introduction. Palgrave Macmillan. Holscher, L. (2016). The Reality of the Mind: St Augustine's Philosophical Arguments for the Human Soul as a Spiritual Substance. Kierkegaard, S. (2013).Kierkegaard's Writings, VI: Fear and Trembling/Repetition(Vol. 6). Princeton University Press. Machiavelli, N. (2017).The prince. Knickerbocker Classics. Ogbuju, S., Eneh, O. C. (2016). Locating the reality of the social contract theory and the failed state concept in Nigerias governance.Sustainable Human Development Review,6(1-4). Orr, J. A. (2014).The development of the use of reason in Karol Wojtyla and its influence in John Paul II's Fides et ratio(Doctoral dissertation, Liverpool Hope University). Putra, D. A., Hum, A. N. M., Hum, S. H. M. (2016).The Ignorance of People to The Nature of God in Nawal El Saadawis The Fall Of The Imam Novel (1987): a Sociological Approach(Doctoral dissertation, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta). Ryan, R. M., Huta, V., Deci, E. L. (2013). Living well: A self-determination theory perspective on eudaimonia. InThe exploration of happiness(pp. 117-139). Springer Netherlands. Skyrms, B. (2014).Evolution of the social contract. Cambridge University Press.

South African non

Introduction The impact of peaceful demonstrations against repressive authorities has proved that the democratic tool is significant tool that can be used to change the society in favor of majority rule. The mainstream South Africans employed this tool after being forced to bear the brunt of four-decade repression under the apartheid government.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on South African non-violent protests against Apartheid specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Strategic acts of peaceful civil disobedience saved several lives in mid 1980s, but drove home the message of popular disapproval of the political establishment. Peaceful strikes such as refusal to purchase goods from white men shops; failure to remit monthly rental fee, and job boycotts forced the repressive regime into submission, after its revenue dwindled. The paper explores various peaceful activities that forced the white ruling elite of South Africa to embrace negotiations that would open more room for African-led democracy. Additionally, Thoreau argument that democracy is not analogous to justice is also analyzed in regard to the fight against Apartheid in South Africa. South Africa Overview Painter and Blanche (521-525) indicate that widespread unrest rocked major South African towns in 1980s, protests which the locals churned against the colonialists. In spite of the largely peaceful demonstrations, which the locals believed would limit casualties and bring the change they yearned for; security forces were deployed by the government to contain the protests. The government applied a confrontational containment strategy that led to altercations between the law enforcers and the protesters. Isolated cases of violence were reported as youths and the police came face to face during protest and containment of the situation. Hapless activists of African descent were routinely manhandled and incarcerated by the government agents. P rotesters, who were aware of the ruthless government machinery against them, began to convince the ordinary man to refrain from violent confrontations with security forces and adopt peaceful modes of expressing their dissatisfaction with the political elite. According to Davis (369-372), the protesters learnt of the insignificance of their disparate actions and thought of adopting a united front that would coordinate their efforts to ease their cause.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People’s committees were established at the grassroots level. New leaders also were enlisted from the neighborhoods to help champion the freedom agenda at their localities, which involved taking care of the interests of the people and promotion of peace in the society. On the national arena, the United Democratic Front (UDF) was gaining popularity. Painter and Blanche (520-539) believed the outfit promoted a string of benign boycotts, such as refusals to pay rent, failure to report on duty, learning centers. These efforts were intended to force the minority government into submission, which was in line with Thoreau’s argument. Thoreau Argument as applied in South Africa case Thoreau (6-11), suggests that because any polity typically harbors more harm than good, actions of such organizations is generally acceptable by the society. Thoreau (6-7) suggests that this is what led the mainstream South Africans to rise against the minority government during apartheid rule in the country. The philosopher, however, refuses democratic leadership, arguing that the system is not sober enough to guarantee the whole society fairness and wise judgment. Further, he indicates that an individual’s opinion based on his or her conscience may be superior to the general resolutions reached by a political organization in form of policies or the general mass in the streets. In view of t his, Thoreau (8-9) indicates that a culture of total respect for the rule of law is undesirable. According to the philosopher, the suitable thing that an individual should engage in is to act decisively at the right time: that total respect for the rule of law, in one way or another may turn the true advocates of law into victims of the same law. For instance, by â€Å"Placing the sabotage campaign in historical context †¦ it resembled ‘the earlier tradition of armed resistance to the entrenchment of the foreigner,† (Davis 359), he implies that black agents of justice in South Africa such as Nelson Mandela, clamored for fair application of the law by the government. However, such activism led them into snares, resulting to their apprehending during mass protests. Eventually, they were charged under the same law they were pushing its implementation. This turn of events, according to Thoreau (7-8), is akin to deep corruption, which he suggests exists in any governmen t. Thoreau indicates that the high level of dishonesty in government circles hampers wisdom and rational argument of cases that involve the governed. Due to this insensitivity of the ruling class, disenfranchised persons tend to rebel and forcibly attempt to change the administration. Revolutions are however, undesirable, according to him, because they are linked to profound damages and suffering of the people (Lusted 40).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on South African non-violent protests against Apartheid specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More By suggesting that â€Å"We have to agree on a certain set of rules, called etiquette and politeness, to make this frequent meeting tolerable, and that we need not come to open war,† (Thoreau (10), he implies that South Lusted (41) believes that Africans might have weighed the damages that may have impacted from revolutionary actions, against the gains of the same. Event ually, they shunned revolution because the suffering would be unbearable. Thoreau indicates that revolution should not be contemplated when the ruling elite and its agents are actively hell bent on implementing injustices such as brute force against unarmed protesters. Such public ‘immorality’ calls for the implementation of any necessary means by the government, to quell the unrest, the repercussions on the common man notwithstanding. Significance of peaceful protests in South Africa According to Sweet (404) suggest that â€Å"Thoreau thus functions as a marker both for key episodes in environmental history,† which implies that nonviolent mode of expression was better, as it reduced government brutality and damage to economic and social infrastructure. Economic strikes against the apartheid government forced the whites to incur losses on their goods. Beneath their clamor for conscience, the aboriginals’ underlying point was that the corporate world is dir ectly connected to social stability; hence could not function against a background of social instability and injustice. Though, excessive use of force was used by the government, the country went beyond the control of the apartheid government, eventually earning blacks their freedom. Conclusion Generally, peaceful protests led to the defeat of the apartheid government of South Africa. Although, the people were frightened by brute force, which was the government’s response to the situation, boycotts minimized casualties and sent a clear message of the urgent need for independence of the blacks. White business owners, who were feeling the pinch of economic boycotts, demanded the termination of the impasse. In 1989, peaceful mass protests and strong advocacy groups negotiated the release of Nelson Mandela. Political outfits in the country were also declared legitimate. In 1994, South Africa popularly elected her first black president, Nelson Mandela, even though Thoreau argued t hat democracy is not justice for the minority. Works Cited Davis, R. Stephen. The African National Congress, its Radio, its Allies and Exile. Journal of Southern African Studies, 35.2 (2009): 349-373.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Lusted, Marcia Amidon. Peaceful Protest. Cobblestone, 29.4 (2008): 40-41. Painter, Desmond, and Blanche, Martin Terre. Critical psychology in South Africa: Looking back and looking ahead. South African Journal of Psychology, 34.4 (2004): 520-543. Sweet, Timothy. Projecting Early American Environmental Writing. Early American Literature, 45.2 (2010): 403-416. Thoreau, Henry David. Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Life in the Woods. Read, 54.16 (2005): 6-11. This essay on South African non-violent protests against Apartheid was written and submitted by user Nehemiah O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.