David Gauthiers Answer to Why Be Moral :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

David Gauthier's Answer to Why Be Moral ABSTRACT: In this paper I argue that David Gauthier’s answer to the Why be moral? question fails. My argument concedes the possibility of constrained maximization in all the senses Gauthier intends and does not rely on the claim that it is better to masquerade as a constrained maximizer than to be one. Instead, I argue that once a constrained maximizer in the guise of "economic man" is transformed through an affective commitment to morality into a constrained maximizer in the guise of the "liberal individual," then a purely rational justification for morality must become invisible to the latter. If I can show this, then I can show that rational justification can have no motivational power for the "liberal individual" and that Gauthier fails to answer the problem of moral motivation. I begin by making what I take to be a crucial distinction. This distinction separates two levels at which a contract theory may operate. At the first level the contractarian theory is directed at the question of moral motivation. That is, it takes the idea of agreement to be the source of motivation to be or become moral. The agreement thus serves to bring into the moral domain agents who, prior to the agreement, were not moral agents. At the second level the contractarian theory is directed at the question of the content and justification of our most general normative principles and values. That is, it takes the idea of agreement to be the source of both content and justification. For convenience I will describe a theory which is contractarian at both levels as complete, and a theory which is contractarian at only one level as partial. The problem of moral motivation, when understood as a problem of enticing non-moral agents into the moral domain, is a specific problem only for a contractarian theory which is complete or which is partial at level one. A contractarianism which is partial at level two has no special obligations, qua contractarian theory, to answer the Why be moral? question. In other words, such a theory does not offer, and does not aim at offering, a contractarian answer to the Why be moral? question since it is not concerned with moral-non-moral distinction. The early Rawls (1971) and Gauthier (1975,1986) both offer complete theories, while the later Rawls (1980) and Thomas Scanlon (1982) offer theories which are partial at level two (I will drop the ‘at level two': this can be assumed unless I indicate otherwise).

Martin Delaney Essay

Martin Delany was born in West Virginia a free man, the son of Pati and Samuel Delany. He was considered free because his Mother Pati was a free women. In his growing years he and his siblings were taught to read using the New York primer to learn to read. To keep from being arrested his mother moved the children to Pennsylvania a free state. He did have to leave school occasionally to help on the family farm but eventually he did migrate to Pittsburgh where he became a barber and laboroer to support himself.- In 1834 Delany met and married Catherine Richard with whom he married Catherine Richards and they had 11 children that all survived to adulthood. During the national choldera epidemic in 1833, Delany became apprenticed to Dr. AndrewN. McDowell, where he learned contemporary techniques of fire cupping and leeching then condidered the primary techniques to treat. He continued to study under the mentorship of Dr. McDowell and other abolisionist doctors, such as Dr F. Julius LeMoyn e and Dr. Joseph P. Gazzam of Pittsburgh. Delany became more active in political matters. In 1835 he attended his first National men of color convention, held in Philadelphia since 1831. He was inspired to conceive a plan to set up a ‘Black Israel’ on the east coast of Africa. He also became involved in the temperance movement and organizations caring for fugitive slaves who had escaped to Pennsylvania, a free state. While Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison were in Pittsburgh in 1847 on an anti-slavery tour, they met with Delany. Together the men conceived the newspaper that became the North Star. It was first published later that year in Rochester, New York. The business was handled by Douglass, while Delany traveled to lecture, report, and obtain subscriptions. During these travels, he was frequently confronted by mobs opposing his views, sometimes violently. While living in Pittsburgh, Delany studied the basics of medicine under doctors and maintained his own cupping and leeching practice. In 1849 he began to study more seriously to prepare to apply to medical school. In 1850 he failed to be accepted to several institutions before being accepted at Harvard Medical school, after presenting letters of support from seventeen physicians. He was one of the first three black men to be admitted there. Following the war, Delany continued to be politically active. He worked to help black cotton farmers improve their business and negotiating skills to get a better price for their product. He also argued against blacks, when he saw fit, however. He opposed the vice presidential candidate of J. J. Wright because he was too inexperienced, and also opposed the candidacy of a black man for the mayor of Charlston, SC. In the later 1870s, the gains of the Reconstruction period began to be pushed back by more conservative elements. White Democrats replaced Delany in office. Parlimentary groups such as the Red Shirts suppressed black voting in South Carolina, especially in the upland counties. In reaction to whites’ regaining power and the suppression of black voting, Charleston -based blacks started planning again for emigration to Africa. In 1877, they formed ‘Liberia Exodus Joint Stock Steamship Company’, with Delany as chairman of the finance committee. A year later, the company purchased a ship – the Azor – for the voyage. Delany worked as president of the board to organize the voyage. In 1880, he withdrew from the project to serve his family. Two of his children were students at Wilberforce College and required money for tuition fees. His wife had been working as a seamstress to make ends meet. Delany began practicing medicine again in Charleston. On 24 January 1885, he died of tuberculosis in Wilberforce, Ohio.

Why Farts Are Awesome

People are too uptight. Or maybe people just don't realize how funny farting actually is. And by people, I mean the feminine half of the population. The difference in opinion between the sexes on the humorous value of a good fart is one of the most telling signs that men are far more evolved than women. Or at least have a better sense of humor. Dammit, farts are funny. So what brought this on, you ask? Well today at work, I had to fart. So naturally I ran over to where one of my coworkers was standing, lifted my leg, scrunched my face up, and let ‘er rip. Apparently, that was rude. Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuse me. After I farted on my coworker, every single male working starting laughing their asses off, and the females looked at me as if I'd just committed the most heinous crime one can commit. The manager tried to keep the peace by politely asking me to not fart on people, but it was one of those times where you're trying to tell somebody not to do something, yet you just can't stop laughing. I was forced to admit that farting on someone is rude. Yeah, so? It's also very freakin hilarious. We do it to each other all the time, well, the guys anyway. We'll run over to each other's workstations, rip one off, then run away laughing as the other person covers their nose. Then an hour later they'll get us back. And you know what? It's damn funny too. So of course when I farted on my coworker people asked me if I would think it's funny if someone farted on me. Not especially, but it would be damn funny to them, and if they did it to me and didn't laugh, I'd kick their ass. Of course it isn't funny if you're on the receiving end, but it's comedic gold if you deliver a well-timed stinker to a friend. The humor value of a fart is judged by the level of humor in the eyes of the farter and the third-party audience, if applicable. The fartee's perspective doesn't count. That's the whole point of getting a good laugh at the expense of others. I don't mind if people get a laugh at my expense. It's the rules of the game, you live by the sword and die by the sword. I can take a fart from someone else, but you can bet your ass I'll be delivering one with your name on it. You see, if God didn't want people to fart on each other, he wouldn't have made it so funny. God wants us to fart in the funniest manner possible. Usually that involves assaulting the nasal passages of your fellow man. Farting is just funny. I mean think about it, it stinks, it makes a funny noise, and it comes out of your ass, how could it possibly get any funnier than that? As a matter of fact, I challenge you to name five things in life that are funnier than nailing somebody else with a big stinky fart. I don't think it's possible. To help all of you appreciate the art of farting a little more, I have taken the liberty of coming up with a few farting tips from a farting pro. If possible, make certain someone else gets the pleasure of smelling your fart. A fart nobody else smells or hears is an opportunity wasted and lost forever. If you have to fart and you're standing next to someone, bend your ass and â€Å"aim† toward them. This doesn't really make it any smellier for them, but it adds dramatic effect and makes the experience funnier. If you have to fart, and nobody is standing right next to you, hunt someone down, then lift your leg, scrunch up your face, and let it go. For bonus points, try to corner someone and then fart on them. Also for bonus, get down on your knees as though you're looking for something on the ground. Ask for help. As soon as the good samaritan gets on their knees to help you, quickly move your ass right up next to their face and let go. When someone is giving their opinion and you have to fart, say â€Å"You know what I think about that? † and then scrunch up your face and fart. When you have to fart and someone is walking in your direction, hold the fart until the are directly behind you, then release. If you're sitting down when you fart, lift the ass cheek facing the person nearest to you, that way they get the full effect. Upon completion of the fart, say â€Å"aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh†, as though you've just taken an eleven-pound shit. Quickly claim the fart as your own handiwork, especially to those who didn't hear it. If you don't tell them, they may never know you just farted. Raise your arms over your head as though you've just won the World Heavyweight Title in front of thousands of people. Announce what it was that made you fart. Make sure to use lots of description. Rather than say â€Å"I need to stop eating so much Mexican food†, say â€Å"God damn, those three bean burritos went right through me, I'll be lucky if I don't get diarrhea. † Describe to all around you how the fart felt as it came out. For example, was it a wet one? A cheek burner? Did you feel like a giant gas bubble in your stomach popped with the fart's release? Do you need to go to the restroom just to make sure a little feces didn't escape as well? Rate the fart. Unless it was a dud, in which case you shouldn't have done all the buildup. But if it was a good one, talk about what a great fart it was and how you wish you'd had a video camera.

How To Save Time Writing For Your Blog

How To Save Time Writing For Your Blog You cant invent time. No matter how appealing it sounds, it just isnt going to happen. But what if you could at least make a big dent in your efficiency and productivity? What if you really could save time writing for your blog? The number one thing that I hear over and over again from writers, bloggers, and marketers is that they simply  dont have enough time to write and create their content. Just take a look at this comment from blog reader Chuck Reynolds. He doesnt have the time either. See, youre not alone.   The question were all asking is how do I save time writing? I may not be the foremost expert, but here are a few of the strategies that I use to save time and write more content. There Are Only Three Ways To Save Time Not long ago, I hypothesized that there were only three ways to make a team more productive. Even now, I still believe that these are the only three ways to solve most productivity problems. They are: Add more tools (or in some cases people). Put in more time (or use it better). Eliminate something, and hone in on what matters. You can approach each of these differently, but they really are the only options at hand. Heres how you can apply them to your writing. Heres how to invent time and write more content. #contentmarketingOption 1: Add Better Tools One of the first places that we look for productivity improvements is in tools and talent. These are the tangible options with tangible solutions. With more people in seats, you can easily get more things done. The same goes for tools. It is easy to see why more efficient tools would help your productivity. If you can save a few minutes here and there, you can make more time available for writing, and creating the content that you want to be sharing on your blog. Here are five tools that might help your productivity right now: #1 – Evernote One of my all time favorite writing tools is most definitely Evernote. I use it to keep track of all of my blog post ideas and regularly add notes and outlines to my documents as I come up with new ideas or details for posts. With Evernote, I can easily take my blogging brain on the go, so time and location are never a limitation to my writing process. Heres this blog post in Evernote before it was a real thing. The beautiful thing about a notes application like Evernote (or OneNote, which  writer Julie prefers) is that there is nothing formal about them. They are the perfect place to literally dump your ideas on the page without making anything too final. This makes a good digital notes application the perfect option, as long as you have a system for managing these notes. Another option that you may want to consider is WordPress own SimpleNote. #2 – makes it easy to catalog and organize your blog post ideas. Using the drafts menu on the right side of the page, you can easily view blog posts that are currently in draft mode and unscheduled on the calendar. With an integrated search and filter option, post ideas are right at your fingertips. You can easily store and access your draft blogs posts with . *shameless plug, yes* At our office, we use drafts as the second level of idea cataloging. At least once each month we all get into the conference room and share our post ideas that weve created with the team. The good ones get added to the calendar or placed in the draft menu for another time. #3.  StayFocusd StayFocused is a free  Chrome extension that will help you to stay more focused on your writing by restricting the amount of time you spend on distracting websites. For exampleFacebook. You can decide to limit the amount of time that you spend on the site to 15 minutes per day. Once youve used your time up on the site, youre done for the day and have no excuses to not get back to work. How productive is that?   #4   Omm Writer OmmWriter is a desktop (Mac, Windows, or iPad) application that promises to give you your own private writing room where you can close the door behind you to focus on your writing in peace. Basically, it is an application that consumes the entire screen in an effort to block out the normal distractions that crop up in when youre writing. It provides a very pleasing experience, and can even be set to exclude sound on a desktop-based notifications. *Dont forget about WordPresss own full-screen option for writing you blog content. Its free, and even closer to home. #5 Draft Draft is another full-screen writing tools similar to Omm that works directly in your browser. It is worth mentioning because it almost combines the power of both Evernote and Omm together in one package, making it a simple place to store ideas and even write out entire posts. Save Time While Writing With These 5 Productivity-Boosting Tools Beware! New Tools Arent Always Productive It is important to keep in mind that not all tools will make you more productive. In some cases, they can even add more work, more process, and occasionally more down time. In our own office, we once added a new productivity tool to our office that felt more productive, but over time it slowly faded away because managing it was simply too cumbersome. It could do everything, and was unnecessarily complex. Sometimes, simpler tools are better tools. Option 2: Put In More Time The most basic and reliable method for  getting more done is to simply put in more time. This works, sure, but it may not always be sustainable. Most of us are struggling with time management in the first place, and putting in more time can even lead to writer burnout. The alternative is to make your time more efficient by improving your overall writing process, making your use of time much better. Here are few things you can do. #1 – Change When You Write I like to write first thing in the morning, but I didnt always know that these were some of my best hours for creativity.  For years I wrote most of my content during peak office hours, or even in the evening. I had no idea that I was missing out on some of my most creative thinking periods. By switching my normal writing time to the morning, I avoid common distractions and get things done  before the chaos of the day beings. Try experimenting with your own writing schedule. You might be surprised at what a difference a few small changes can make. #2 – Change How You Prepare To Write A while back when I was writing a new blog post every day, I started the habit of reviewing my post topic before I drove into the office. I would simply grab my iPad and open Evernote with my notes for the post that I was scheduled to write for the day. I ended up adding or  clarifying  a few things in my notes before  committing  the topic idea to  memory. Do everything you can to eliminate inefficiency from your writing process. This simple act would set off a chain reaction in my mind. I would spend the entire drive to work  reviewing  the post idea and coming up with new approaches or  additional  content, making double use of that drive time. The result was an efficient use of time, and a much faster writing process when it finally came time to begin writing.   #3 – Adjust Your Writing Process In the beginning, I used to sit down and write everything as if I was crafting the final draft. I would write (and then re-write) each sentence before finally moving on to my next point. This method was slow, and overly cumbersome, costing me precious time. I finally adjusted my writing workflow and began by creating an extremely rough version of post in a matter of a few minutes. This method allowed me to make progress quickly and get a big picture look at the post before I added final edits. As content creators, we can easily get ourselves in a rut where we follow the process without ever evaluating how we are getting there. By simply stepping back for a wider view, we might be able to eliminate inefficiency and save time writing for our blog. Your Writing Process Itself Is Preventing You From Saving Time While WritingOption 3: Hone In On What Matters The most difficult (and probably the most effective) method for saving time is to simply eliminate some things that you are doing. With less stuff to do, there is more time available for the things that matter. By making tough decisions now and cutting out activities or projects that might be otherwise good projects, you are better able to focus more closely on a few key goals and excel at them.

5 Fluctuating Forms of Gender-Specific Language

5 Fluctuating Forms of Gender-Specific Language 5 Fluctuating Forms of Gender-Specific Language 5 Fluctuating Forms of Gender-Specific Language By Mark Nichol The English language is riddled with suffixes that specify gender, and efforts to mirror the slow-but-sure improvement in gender equality are reflected in shifting usage in this area. Such progress, however, is inconsistent. Here’s where we stand with various treatments: 1. -ess Words altered to include an -ess ending to specify reference to a woman are generally going by the wayside: Often, a female movie, television, or theater performer is identified as an actor (though performing-arts awards retain best-actress categories), whereas terms for female members of royalty such as princess and duchess, in keeping with the anachronistic survival of the concept, persist. Likewise, there’s no reason to genderize host or waiter, or author or poet, but we hold on to enchantress, goddess, and mistress. (And, if we have any sense, we hold on to enchantresses, goddesses, and mistresses.) In addition, as you know, stewards and stewardesses were transformed into flight attendants long ago. (The U.S. Navy, by the way, no longer uses steward as an official term for an officers’ attendant.) 2. -e English preserves a few terms derived from French in which an e is appended to the end of the masculine form of some words to refer to a woman, including fiancee and confidante. Conversely and obscurely a man who divorces his wife is a divorce (like the feminine form, pronounced â€Å"di-vor-say† and, in print, with an acute accent mark over the e). 3. -trix Another French form, -trix, is obsolete when referring to a female aviator, but English preserves the form in dominatrix, even though one rarely refers to a dominator (not in polite company, anyway). 4. -ine and -ina Hero applies to male and female do-gooders alike (and retiring heroine avoids the accidental misspelling as heroin). But what about those heroes of the US government, the drug czars and the energy czars and their ilk? (The word czar is the more modern Russian form the older variant is tsar of Caesar.) No president has appointed a female czar, but if that happened, would we refer to her as a czarina? Not likely, except in jocular usage. 5. -woman and -person The same folks who bristle at being scolded when they refer to humankind as mankind will no doubt fuss about this next point, but don’t use the suffix -man unless you’re referring to a man: It’s not necessary to employ the cumbersome term chairperson to refer to a female presiding or administrative officer or the position itself, or to distinguish between a chairman and a chairwoman; just say chair. (No, chair is not just the word for a piece of furniture; it’s the time-honored term, on its own, for an elected or appointed position.) Unfortunately, no such shortcut exists for referring to members of legislative bodies, but congresswoman and assemblywoman are no-brainers. The nonspecific terms congressmember and assemblymember are attested but fairly rare; the open forms (with Congress and Assembly capitalized) are more common. (â€Å"Member of Congress† is also frequently employed, but â€Å"member of the Assembly† is not.) But what do you call a woman who likes to fish (other than, um, a great catch?). Fisherwoman may seem awkward, but that’s just because we’re not used to it yet. As is the case with chairwoman or congresswoman, it’s a matter of only one more small syllable inserted in an already lengthy word. If you’re a man who washes clothes for a living, do you want to be referred to as a washerwoman, just because that’s the dominant usage? By rejecting gender-neutral language, you’re subjecting half the population to the same indignity. This isn’t political correctness run rampant; it’s inevitable and inexorable usage correction, part of the evolution of language (with the obligatory Neanderthal-like branch stubs on the evolutionary tree like waitron and waitperson as gender-neutral forms of waiter). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:36 Adjectives Describing LightAcronym vs. InitialismTreatment of Words That Include â€Å"Self†

Assignment One Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assignment One - Essay Example The lives of Giovanni and Lusanna further portray the differing social statuses of women as well as the role they play in the revitalization. On the other hand, the lives of Martin and Bertrande show the arising events throughout the lives of this couple. However, all these events come back to a common ground, which is love. Love then grows and ends with marriage, and at this point, its relationship with law starts to develop2. These two stories about lives of two different couples are similar in a number of ways. To begin with, both stories reveal a lot of love between the couples, which in turn leads to marriage. According to the story about Giovanni and Lusanna, for instance, the theme of love proves to prevail on their day of marriage. The author states that their lives together proved that marriages actually happened out of love, not arrangements by parents. This means that two people had to come together and have a relationship before getting married to each other. Consequently , it served to enhance how much they knew each other and gave time for the two families to familiarize with each other. Similarly, the lives of Martin and Bertrande develop the aspect of marriage. Their story begins with the two getting married. Although their first appearance in the story is when they are teenagers, the author straight away drives us to the wedding ceremony. The usual procession then takes place after paying the bride’s dowry, and the wedding ceremony is over. However, with them it occurs in a much-unexpected manner. This renders marriage as a tremendously significant aspect in the story since it introduces it. In addition, the couples in each story go through a marriage ceremony perhaps with the intent of sealing their relationship and making it public. Furthermore, both stories incorporated the facet of law in them. In the life of Giovanni and Lusanna, her representation by her brother in the archbishop’s court incorporates the aspect of law. As men tioned in the Florence law, women could not represent themselves, but instead their legal guardians presented their cases. The author also explains the use of law to fight for the rights of women. Nevertheless, in the life story of Martin and Bertrande, law was a pivotal aspect in resolving disputes. The characteristic of law developed when Martin came back to their home and out of nowhere claimed himself as the rightful heir to the family’s wealth. Martin demanded that he get his portion of the inheritance despite his disappearance. He made it worse by threatening his uncle, who now headed the family, that if he did not give him his inheritance, he would take the disagreement to court. This tells the reader that people in the story recognized the presence of the courts, and they were subject to its ruling. Conversely, both stories had disagreeing aspects, for instance, the social interactions. In the lives of Giovanni and Lusanna, there is a clear background of social intera ctions, as opposed to the story about Martin and Bertrande. Additionally, in Giovanni’s and Lusanna’s lives, the entire process diffuses into the story in a progressive manner, perhaps in the effort to explain their background. Although support of premarital relationships was minimal in their times, people still engaged themselves in premarital intercourse. This explains the realities of

The Cannabis (Licensed Premises) Act 2000 (CLIP) (a fictitious act) Essay

The Cannabis (Licensed Premises) Act 2000 (CLIP) (a fictitious act) permits cannabis to be sold lawfully from licensed premises. Anyone wishing to sell cannabis - Essay Example Under the law, you are entitled to a fair assessment of your application and in the event of a denial such denial must be communicated to you replete with the reasons that the Council has for refusing your application. It is rudimentary under public and administrative law that a public agency must apprise a denied applicant the grounds for denying his application for license so that the applicant can prepare himself or herself with the appropriate rejoinders to such grounds for denial in the event that the applicant will elevate and appeal his case to the same board or a higher authority. In addition, flatly refusing you to put your case in person before the council, again without justification, so that you can appeal is in contravention of all known administrative procedural processes. The acts of the Bumbling Council, has in effect, denied you of your basic rights to notice and hearing under the fundamental tenets of due process constitutionally guaranteed by our laws. Existing statutory laws on premises licensing all enshrine these basic principles. The Licensing Act of 2003, for example, which is the current legislation and basis for premises licensing for use on licensable activities like alcohol sale and certain entertainment related businesses provide a mechanism for approving and denying applications. Specifically, Section 23 of Part 3 of the said law mandates the licensing authority to give notice of such denial with reasons, to wit: The CLIP, an older legislation, although silent on the matter is presumed to follow the elementary precepts of due process. In addition, the rationale for giving notice to the applicant of his denial and laying down therewith the grounds and reasons for such denial is founded not only on the basic principle of due process but for practical considerations as well. A denied applicant in premises licensing may seek to subsequently elevate his denied application to the magistrate court which will then