Self-Preservation Is the First Law of Nature Essays

Self-Preservation Is the First Law of Nature Essays Self-Preservation Is the First Law of Nature Paper Self-Preservation Is the First Law of Nature Paper â€Å"Self-preservation is the first law of nature. † The above quote is an often heard line regarding an individual’s response to the demands of nature. It can be said that self-preservation and security outweigh the need to act independently and freely of the constraints of others. This is but one of the ways one can attempt to balance out the desire to act independently but also with the need for security. The idea of resolving these seemingly irreconcilable needs is brought up in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, wherein he writes of two main characters who attempt to resolve their need for independence and security. The playwright utilizes character to suggest that in the attempt to reconcile independence and security, it is ultimately the need for self-preservation that takes immediate priority. A character who is faced with the task of uniting his desire to act independently with his need for security is Hamlet. Hamlet shows a melancholy side to him when confronted by these opposing demands. From his soliloquies, the reader is immersed in the thoughts of a pensive young man who struggles with the need for safety and freedom. He debates whether â€Å"to be, or not to be,† and although he does not hold his life at a â€Å"pin’s fee,† his heart harbors discontent with the â€Å"unweeded garden that grows to seed. † It is seen that he is conflicted with the demands set upon him by his dead father, as well as that of Claudius and the people of Denmark who want to move on from the passing, and he struggles with the desire to resolve his need for security and autonomy in this matter. From this, it is seen that Hamlet values self-preservation over independence as his soliloquies are only words and not actions, and as such, are the product of his own safety thereby allowing him to immerse himself in the safety of this own thoughts. Furthermore, it is evidenced that he is a procrastinator in his quest for independent action, and this ultimately turns out to be his tragic flaw. Even though he is set upon the task of avenging his father’s â€Å"foul and most unnatural death,† he stands â€Å"unpregnant of his cause. It is clear from this that Hamlet procrastinates in order to preserve his own well being and acts in his own self interest despite the desire to take revenge upon Claudius for his father’s death. He does not wish to act independently when his security is put at risk, especially in the presence of a â€Å"smiling, damned villain,† so he procrastinates in order to put off dealing with matters that might jeopardize his wellbeing. Conversely however, Hamlet has been shown to have an impulsive streak in the face of settling his desires for safety and freedom. This is clearly seen when he â€Å"follows [the ghost]† despite the apparitions intentions being unknown. The ghost could be the work of the devil, only to condemn Hamlet to his own personal oblivion, however, he still actively seeks out the spectre because he wishes to learn the truth of the matters concerning his father’s death. As well, he displays decisive action when he says the â€Å"rat dead, for a ducat, dead. † This violent and impulsive action results in the death of Polonius who was eavesdropping on his and Gertrude’s conversation. In both of these examples it is seen that Hamlet acts independently and decisively, with the underlying intent being that of self-preservation. He seeks out the ghost’s intentions because of his desire to live securely despite the rule of Claudius, and he kills Polonius only because he was acting on behalf of his own primal instinct to preserve himself. From these examples it is inferred that in his desire to harmonize safety and the need for independent action, hamlet acts impulsively to secure the security he craves. Lastly, it is seen that Hamlet exudes an aura of intelligence and quick wit when opposed by the daunting task of reconciling safety and independence. He has an innate ability to transform a turn of events to his advantage as is witnessed when the players come to put on a show. He utilizes them in order to â€Å"catch the conscience of the king,† wherein he collects enough evidence to cement the validity of the ghost’s statements. His ability to think quickly is invaluable, as this keeps his wellbeing a top priority while still unifying his need to act freely as well. Another character who deals with the prospect of reconciling his need to act independently with his need for security is Claudius. Unlike Hamlet who is a procrastinator in his deeds, Claudius is a man of decisive action. This is clearly seen when he decides to have Hamlet sent to England with â€Å"fiery quickness† due to his â€Å"antic disposition. † It is evident that Claudius does not deliberate on matters that require immediate attention as â€Å"[he’ll] have Hamlet hence to-night. † From this, it can be inferred that Claudius wishes o preserve himself against a suspicious threat as he manages to actively deal with his adversary as well. In combination with his decisive action, it is known that Claudius is incredibly manipulative in his desire to unify freedom and safety. When Laertes makes his return to Denmark with every intention of avenging his father by killing Claudius, he does everything in his power to give†[Laertes’s soul] it[s] due content. † He placates Laertes’s indignant spirit and as a result, Laertes end up â€Å"rul’d by [Claudius]. From this, it is seen that Claudius utilizes manipulation for the sake of self-preservation while keeping his own independent actions an ulteriot motive. As well, Claudius has displayed a creative and strategic ingenuity when it comes to reconciling his own security and free will. He is determined to be rid of Hamlet, but his strategic nature indicates that he will do so by way of a cunning scheme. When Laertes and Claudius plan hamlet’s demise, Claudius maintains a skillful approach that will allow â€Å"purpose[to] hold there. It is evidenced that Claudius utilizes his own strategic nature in order to act for sake of saving his own flesh. While in the process of working towards acting independently, he also manages to keep his safety a top priority which is his ultimate motive against a dangerous opposition such as Hamlet. Lastly, it is seen that in his pursuit of uniting his own independent action and security, Claudius has shown a paranoid and guilt stricken side to him. He is responsible for the death of his own brother as his â€Å"stronger guilt defeats [his] stronger intent. † However, he cannot truly repent as his â€Å"words [are] without thought,† and as a result, they will â€Å"never to heaven go. † It is seen that because of his desire to remain secure in not only the eyes of the public, but as well as Hamlet and Gertrude, he cannot openly admit to his wrong doings. This is due to the fact that in doing so, he will risk the unbridled and justified wrath of hamlet which will compromise Claudius’s sport on the throne. Just like a scavenger whose actions are cowardly in order to live another day, Claudius too, lives securely to rule in the coming days due to his own inability to act independently. In conclusion, it is seen that in the attempt to reconcile ones desire for independent action as well as security, it is ultimately the self-preserving instinct that takes immediate control. This is clearly evidenced by both hamlet and Claudius in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, who although take different approaches to this matter, fundamentally have the same mentality of keeping their desire to be secure the utmost priority. It is derived from the play that it is almost always security that takes precedence over freedom of actions; however it is up to the members of society to decide for themselves how they wish to approach their own attempt to reconcile their own need for security as well as the desire to act independently. There are many different approaches and ways to attempt this harmonization, and as such, each is tailored to an individual’s unique ability to decipher what it is that one really values and desires.

Globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

Globalization - Essay Example Only on the first issue can one reasonably argue that the purported center of economic representations - mainstream academic economics - plays a leading role in the debate. And, even then, the free trade, pro-globalisation orthodoxy that, with few exceptions, has predominated within mainstream economics for generations has been contested in all three areas: within the discipline of economics, in other academic disciplines, and outside the academy. Another important question is how abrupt the future changes will be. Abrupt climate change generally refers to a large shift of climate that takes place so rapidly and unexpectedly that human and/or natural ecosystems have difficulty to adapt. Globalisation has increased migration, which resulted in deforestation and global warming. Since 1850 A.D. the climate is dominated by a clear steady warming trend, which has become known as global warming. This warming is particularly noteworthy because the rate of temperature increase is enormously high. In addition, the recent 50-100 years have been the time of unprecedented growth of human activities, accompanied by industrialisation, massive deforestation, and other human interferences with the nature with a thoughtful (harmful) effect on the environment. The natural agents, exerting their influence upon climate has been thus recruiting with a new powerful mean to produce sizeable changes in the climate. One of the essential problems of the present days is to answer the question to what degree the mankind may be responsible for the present-day climate warming. Is the observed global warming just of natural origin, or does it have certain anthropogenic component Is the fact that the climate is getting warmer the result of human insensitive approach to its habitat Is this warming to continue in the future and how serious are the potential environmental consequences If so, the problem of the worldwide increasing air temperature comes to an end as the strictly scientific discipline, but became the uneasy task for everybody on this planet. For about the last decade, there has been an ongoing debate on the contribution of human activities to the global warming of the past century and especially on how anthropogenic activity will contribute to further warming that may occur during the twenty-first century. What is the physical basis for the fear of human-induced changes Similarly to other living organisms in all epochs, the mankind has influenced surrounding environment. However, an impact of human activities has drastically increased after the Industrial Revolution that began in the mid-eighteenth century in the UK and at the present time embraces the continental and/or global scales. The industrial revolution began with the invention of the steam engine. The most important human activities at present that may have an impact on both regional and global climate are connected with: 1. the combustion of fossil fuels and the biomass burning that produce GHG, 2. the

Climate Change and Soil Formation in Southern England Essay

Climate Change and Soil Formation in Southern England - Essay Example At the same time there has also been an increase in the population, and a change in the way individuals make a living and support themselves and their families. The first people to live in southern England were hunters and gatherers, but they slowly evolved into farmers as more people inhabited the area and methods of farming improved. Later, another change occurred with the coming of the Industrial Revolution, which changed farmers into industrial workers. These changes, along with climate changes have had an impact on the soil in southern England (Jarvis, 1984, 12). The start of climate change and its effect on soil began in southern England with the ice age. Approximately one-third of the earth was covered in snow and ice, and due to its location in the northern hemisphere, England was affected. While much of the country was covered year round with ice and snow, the southern parts occasionally had periods where the temperature would raise enough to melt some of the snow and ice and provide precipitation for the soil underneath (Bridges, 1997, 36). However, due to the cold temperatures, the ice age slowed the process of soil formation and change, essentially slowing the rate soil was able to intake precipitation. It also slowed the speed at which organic matter decomposed and the rate of plant and vegetation growth. This in return slowed the rate at which the soil could consume needed nutrients and organic matter, which slowed the entire process of formation and change. The ice age made an important contribution to the soil of southern England by bringing in new soil. The ice and snow that covered the area was brought from the north, and with it came a large amount of debris that included fine particles, small rocks, and even huge boulders (Bridges, 1997, 36). When the ice melted, the debris remained and became embedded in the soil. This provided the ground with a large amount of parent material in which young soil was able to begin formation and maturation. In certain areas, the effects of the ice age on soil and landscape can still be seen today. After the ice age passed and the climate changed to warmer weather, people started migrating from other parts of Europe into England. This was considered the Neolithic period and started around 4500 B.C. This period of time was essentially similar to the Stone Age, when houses, buildings, fences, etc. where all constructed out of rocks and stones. Many of these structures still exist, while others have been torn down or broken apart. This had an impact on the soil in southern England, due to the fact that remnants of this period, in the form of small rocks can be found embedded in the soil in certain areas. In addition, during this time and even into the Bronze Age, individuals moving to England were beginning to develop agriculture fields. These early farmers impacted the soil on their land by using domestic waste as fertilizer to provide extra nutrients and organic materials to the soil and the crops they were trying to grow. In addition to using fertilize during the Bronze Age to change the soil, tools, such as the plow, were introduced that assisted individuals in developing fields for agriculture. This led to farmers having the ability to grow a crop, plow the ground, and immediately replant a new crop. The constant presence of plant growth on

Alcohol consumption Essay Example for Free

Alcohol consumption Essay Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health. Here’s how alcohol can affect your body: Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. Heart: Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including: †¢CARDIOMYOPATHY – STRETCHING AND DROOPING OF HEART MUSCLE †¢ARRHYTHMIAS – IRREGULAR HEART BEAT. †¢STROKE †¢HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Research also shows that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may protect healthy adults from developing coronary heart disease. Liver: Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including: †¢STEATOSIS, OR FATTY LIVER †¢ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS †¢FIBROSIS †¢CIRRHOSIS Pancreas: Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. Cancer: Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the: †¢MOUTH †¢ESOPHAGUS †¢THROAT †¢LIVER †¢BREAST Immune System: Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk Consequences of drinking too much Alcohol enters your bloodstream as soon as you take your first sip. Alcohol’s immediate effects can appear within about 10 minutes. As you drink, you increase your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, which is the amount of alcohol present in your bloodstream. The higher your BAC, the more impaired you become by alcohol’s effects. These effects can include.

Attention Hyperactive Deficit Disorder Essays -- essays papers

Attention Hyperactive Deficit Disorder â€Å"You know how it feels when you’re leaning back in your chair and it’s just about to fall over? I feel like that all the time!† This is how a person affected with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) feels every day. ADHD refers to a family of related disorders that interfere with an individual's capacity to regulate activity level, inhibit behavior, and attend to tasks in developmentally appropriate ways. Some statistics: 75% people with ADD get divorced 50% stay behind a grade 46% have been suspended 11% have been expelled 3-5% (going on 15-20%) school aged population has it. 2.5 - 3 million school aged children have it The most common behaviors of ADHD fall into three categories: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD may show several signs of being consistently inattentive. They may have a pattern of being hyperactive and impulsive, or they may show all three types of behavior. Inattention is when people have a hard time keeping their minds on any one thing and may get bored with a task after only a few minutes. They may find it agonizing to do homework without getting bored. Often they will forget to plan ahead by writing down the assignment or bringing home the right books. When finally trying to do work they may find themselves drifting to something else; as a result, work will rarely get done. People who are hyperactive always seem to be in motion; they cannot sit still in one position. They may squirm in their seat or talk incessantly. Sitting through a single class could be an impossible task. For example, hyperactive teens and adults may touch everyt... ...ouglas A. (2002). What's Wrong with Doug? The Academic Struggles of a Gifted Student with ADHD from Preschool to College. Gifted Child Today, 25, 48-59 http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=EJ657356&db=eric 9. Greene, Ross W.; Beszterczey, Sara K.; Katzenstein, Tai; Park, Kenneth; Goring, Jennifer. Are Students with ADHD More Stressful To Teach? Patterns of Teacher Stress in an Elementary School Sample. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 10, 79-89. http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=EJ647177&db=eric 10. Heilegenstein, Eric; Guenther, Greta; Levy, Andrea; Savino, Felix; Fulwiler, Jan.(1999) Psychological and Academic Functioning in College Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Journal of American College Health, 47, 181-185. http://search.epnet.com/direct.asp?an=EJ580716&db=eric

Big Time Toymaker V. Chou Essay

1. At what point, if ever, did the parties have a contract? I believe that there were two contracts made in this scenario. The first one was the verbal contract that sated that the stipulations of price and the fact that there needed to be a written contract before distributing the product. The email, since it was in writing can also count as a written contract; both parties had knowledge that there would be some sort of written agreement. Chou was in the right to think that the email stating the key terms and agreements counts as a contract. 2. What facts may weigh in favor of or against Chou in terms of the parties’ objective intent to contract? The facts that Chou was in a verbal agreement with BTT will be helpful in proving that they had a preliminary agreement pending a written one. The fact that an email was sent to him with all the key terms, price, time frames and obligations is also helpful in proving that Chou had a valid agreement with BTT. I believe that that email would count as a binding contract since both parties had a promise pending performances. This was a mutual assessment in which there was an offer by BTT and an acceptance by Chou. 3. Does the fact that the parties were communicating by e-mail have any impact on your analysis in Questions 1 and 2 (above)? In a way it does because when I think of an agreement I think of it as a written and signed agreement by both parties. However BTT did not specify in what kind of writing this contract needed to be. They did not specify if there was need to sign, notified or have witnesses for the contract. Email communication between two people describing the key terms of a contract and having both of them acknowledge the key terms to me serves a contract. While there was no signature, it had both parties’ names on it, it could be said that it was an E-signature. Also we have to keep in mind that the terms were also discussed verbally prior to the email being sent. 4. What role does the statute of frauds play in this contract? I believe that this email communication meets the statute of frauds and the fact that it had the named of the people in business counts as a contract. There have been cases were the name at the end of an email counts as a signature, example Stevens v. Publicis, were the publicis won because the name of both parties were in the written emails. In this case both parties names are on the emails and that signaled both parties intent to do business. 5. Could BTT avoid this contract under the doctrine of mistake? Explain. Would either party have any other defenses that would allow the contract to be avoided? I think that BTT might have a chance to void the contract under the doctrine of mistake because they can claim that Chou misunderstood the fact that the emails meant that he was able to go ahead and distribute the product, making it a bi ding contract. However it was clear that the email stated the facts of the contract and BTT did not specify that Chou should in fact continue to draft the contract for both parties to sign. I think that BTT would have a hard time voiding the contract under the doctrine of mistake. I think that fact there was no specification to how the contract would be written leaves a lot of vague results. BTT should have been more specific in their emails saying that Chou should still have to draft a contract agreement and that the email was not enough for the contract. In this scenario BTT would have a ch ance at voiding the contract. 6. Assuming, arguendo, that this e-mail does constitute an agreement, what consideration supports this agreement? The fact that BTT promised distribution rights to Chou pending an agreement counts as consideration. In this case, something of value was put on the line by both parties, entering them into an agreement to exchange mutual performances. In this case there was also a value that we can determine, and that was $25,000 paid to Chou in exchange for exclusive negotiation rights. I think that consideration was present in this agreement, making a valid contract. At the end of the scenario, BTT states that it is not interested in distributing Chou’s new strategy game, Strat. Assuming BTT and Chou have a contract, and BTT has breached the contract by not distributing the game, discuss what remedies might or might not apply. In this scenario the remedies that would apply would be, compensatory damages because in this case Chou suffered a loss of potential profits that he would have made by his new game. It would also repay him as if BTT had not breached the contract. I think that if he could not claim compensatory damages then he would also be able to claim consequential damages because it states that it compensates the non-breaching party for foreseeable indirect loses. It also states that it involves a unique circumstance beyond the contract. In this case the contract BTT made was taken over by someone else who at the end did not want to do business with Chou. Restitution and Liquidated damages do not applied to this because there was no unjust enrichment by BTT due to the breach of contract. BTT and Chou did not agree to any damages ahead of time there fore liquidated damages does not apply.

Herbal Anti Cancer Medicine The Vinca Alkaloids Isolated...

The first herbal anti-cancer medicine was the vinca alkaloids isolated from the Madagascar periwinkle plant, Catharanthus roseus. Extracts from this plant was found to have therapeutic anti-tumour activity and clinically began being used as Vinblastine and Vincristine in 1960. [2] The mechanism of Vinca Alkaloids is the inhibition of microtubules. The drug prevents the alignment of daughter chromosomes by depolymerizing the tubulin molecules inhibiting the formation of spindle fibres ultimately causing mitosis arrest and killing dividing cells. [3] This class of drug is at danger due to resistance mechanisms via the over expression of multi-drug associated p-glycoprotein which acts as an efflux pump to remove the drug out of the cell. [5] Resistance has led to the development of second generation Vinca Alkoids – Vinorelbine and Vinflunine. these drugs disrupt microtubule formation by alternate methods compared to the older generation hence prolonging multi-drug resistance and anti-angiogenesis which prevents new blood vessels forming to the tumour. From clinical studies Vinorelbine is approved for treatment of Non-small cell lung cancer, (Gregory et al. 2000) over 15 trials with Vinorelbine as monotherapy has produced an overall response rate of 23.6% increasing patient’s survival. A phase 3 trial from an Italian study in 1999 (The Elderly Lung Cancer, Vinorelbine) found that ‘monotherapy vinorelbine seemed reasonable in the elderly whom polychemotherapy is not possible’.Show MoreRelatedHerbal medicin e is the traditional medical practice and it’s an important part of medicine to this1200 Words   |  5 PagesHerbal medicine is the traditional medical practice and it’s an important part of medicine to this day. To treat different ailments there are various indigenous systems such as Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani and Allopathy use differnt plant species1. Allopathic medicine is a system of medicine that focuses primarily on reacting disease rather than on promoting health. The use of herbal medicine is popular due to toxicity and side effects of allopathic medicines. Cancer is presently responsible for about