The Nature of Evil

The Nature of Evil What is evil? A question pondered by many. Blake tells us that ' Cruelty has a human face.' Although ironic as evil is not external, it is suggesting that evil comes from within and is inside everyone. Blake is using the human face as imagery to show that it is not just individuals who can be evil but society as a whole. Both pity and mercy are products of this. Humans are the creators of suffering therefore encouraging such emotions; 'pity would be no more if we did not make somebody poor.' In this quotation, Oscar Wilde uses the word 'we' to refer to everyone and implies that society creates the suffering, which it then feels obliged to pity. No person is born evil; it is something that is formed through society. Thomas Hobbes says 'In a state of nature, life is 'single solitary, nasty, brutish and short.'' The one single thing we are guaranteed in life is death, therefore why should we punish when surely God will decide our fate later. The Oxford dictionary defines evil as being 'either a force or power that brings about wickedness and harm' or 'a morally wrong act.' However these are what society has defined evil to be. Blake uses the analogy of a tree of evil, which 'bears the fruit of Deceit.' On the tree is a caterpillar and fly, which are making the fruit rotten and symbolise crime. The tree represents society and the insects are the

  • Word count: 1210
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Evaluate the whole workshop both your work and work of others in the group. Look particularly at social, cultural and historical issues explored.

Evaluate the whole workshop both your work and work of others in the group. Look particularly at social, cultural and historical issues explored. Before the workshop began, I knew little about the death penalty, what qualifies a criminal to receive this sentence, and countries in which the death penalty was accepted. The workshop included different methods of bringing the texts to life and to develop the classes understanding of each task. Each stimulus that was studied also gave a different viewpoint to the death penalty, by displaying opinions through a speculation or a monologue. Every stimulus also described scenes which differed from others socially, culturally and historically. Though each stimulus was studied using a variety of explorative strategies, and showed different situations where the death penalty was prominent, the majority of students in the class came to a conclusion on capital punishment. By the end of the workshop, (it is unknown whether the workshop influenced these opinions entirely) a total of four out twenty three students were for the death penalty, with a huge nineteen students standing opposed to the sentence. "Long Black veil" was sung by Joan Baez, and written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin. The melody is originally a 1950s song, though it was re-released in the 1980s. The song was written and sung as Anglo-American contempory folk

  • Word count: 1901
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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I Would Reintroduce The Death Penalty.

I Would Reintroduce The Death Penalty An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth, therefore a life for a life. Every individual has a right to 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. Those who violate this right must pay the ultimate penalty. There have been many debates and protests about the death penalty for years and two views dominate this debate. On the one hand the criminal must be given the punishment they deserve which may be death but on the other hand under no circumstances is it possible to justify the use of the death penalty. The aims of the punishment are to find a way to deal with criminals and at the same time protect society and the individual. It is hoped that the punishment will discourage the person from repeating the crime and also prevent others from committing that crime. There are many reasons for and against the death penalty; here are some arguments for the death penalty. * When someone is sentenced for life it normally means 25years or less. Life should mean life but far too often the prisoners are released after a much shorter sentence and can be regarded as a great risk to society. * Sometimes the death penalty is the only way for criminals to understand what will happen if they commit such a crime. * Quite often criminals prefer to be executed than to spend the rest of their lives in prison. Some even commit suicide, as they cannot live

  • Word count: 560
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Matters Of Life and Death.

Matters Of Life and Death .a) Immortality of the soul means when your soul (personality, your inner self, the real you) will survive. Only your physical body dies. Your soul goes to a spiritual place, which is non-physical (beyond the senses) where God is. b) Resurrection is when the body is raised from the dead to a new life. 2. Christians have quite different views about life after death. All Christians believe in life after death, but there views vary about what actually happens. Evangelical Protestants believe in resurrection of the body. This means the body will die at death but the soul will carry on living until the end of the world. They believe that when Jesus returns the dead are raised, and join the living in Gods presence. It is kind of like death is a long sleep. Also that everyone is judged, good Christians go to heaven and bad or non-Christians go to hell. These teachings are from 1 Corinthians 15, St Paul and the evidence of Jesus's own resurrection. Protestants believe in immortality of the soul, and when dead your souls live on in a spiritual realm. They also believe that we get judged in the same way as Evangelical Protestant. They believe this because from Luke 23:43, John 14:2 and communion of saints. Roman Catholics believe resurrection and immortality. There have quite a similar view to the other two about getting judged. Christians that have not

  • Word count: 673
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Self Harm discursive essay

Discursive Essay Good evening, my name is Cora. I am going to talk to you today about self-harm. Some of you may think this topic is irrelevant to your own lives but, in fact, the group with the highest rate of self-harm are young women aged fifteen to nineteen. Also, it is believed that two in ten teenagers self-injure at some point in their teenage years. Look around you now... Roughly six people in this class self-harm. Now so you think it's more relevant? Research shows that half the people in the UK know of someone who has self-harmed but according to expert, Simon Armson, a large proportion of us have little or no understanding of it. So in the next few minutes I hope to fill you in on what you need to know about self-harm. For those of you who don't really know what self-harm is, it is very broadly defined as the deliberate attempt to physically injure yourself without causing death. Self-injury can take the form of burning, scratching, cutting, biting, scalding, poisoning and ripping hair out. Although very damaging and distressing eating disorders, unsafe sex and alcohol and drug abuse are not officially counted as self-harm. So now that you know what it is, how do you feel about it? For many of you the notion of deliberately cauising pain to yourself and putting yourself in serious danger is baffling. However for others it may make more sense. Krysten, who has

  • Word count: 1195
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Capital Punishment - In the United States, about 13,000 people have been legally executed since colonial times.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT In the United States, about 13,000 people have been legally executed since colonial times. By the 1930´s up to 150 people were executed yearly. There are 7 main methods in current use worldwide. These are: hanging, the electric chair, the firing squad, the gas chamber, the lethal injection, the guillotine and stoning. The arguments in favour of Capital Punishment are: the Bible; the Bible requires the death penalty for a wide variety of crimes. Justice/Vengeance; many people feel that killing convicted murderers will satisfy their need for justice and/or vengeance. Deterrence; many people feel that the death penalty will deter crimnals from killing. Value of human life; "It is by exacting the highest penalty for the taking of human life that we affirm the highest value of human life" (Edward Coch). "Let the punishment fit the crime" Cost; Once a convicted murder is executed and buried, there are no further maintenance costs to the state. Safety; once a convicted murderer is executed and buried, there is no chance that he will break out of jail and kill or injure someone. The arguments against capital punishment are: the Bible; some people feel Christians that the death penalty is no longer required. Effect on society; some people feel that permitting premeditated murder is totally unacceptable, even if done by the state. "It violates our belief in

  • Word count: 530
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Capital Punishment has been recognised as a civilised way of disposing of their unwanted criminals by most countries any some point in time.

Capital Punishment has been recognised as a civilised way of disposing of their unwanted criminals by most countries at one time in their history. Slowly countries that claim it is uncivilised to kill people for crimes they have committed have abolished the death penalty. There are strong arguments for and against the use of the death penalty in a society that claims to be civilised and in this essay I will examine them. I will also look at the impact of the death penalty on crime figures in Britain before and after 1965 and in the USA today. I feel it is important to include the USA in this essay as it is the only westernised country where you can still be executed for crimes you have committed. Over the years countries have tried to come up with the most seemingly civilised ways to putt people to death. One of the main arguments for the abolishment of the death penalty was that it is unreasonable to ask someone else to kill someone for their crimes thus making them a murderer. Countries have tried to find the most indirect way of putting criminals to death however the act still have to be committed. Technology has come along way from the primitive times of just chopping someone's head of with an axe or hanging them by their neck from the nearest tree. In 1887 an American dentist made of the biggest advances in 'humane´ capital punishment. He devised and built a chair with

  • Word count: 1831
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Capital Punishment debate

Should Capital Punishment be restored in the U.K.? Capital Punishment is the lawful infliction of death by the state as punishment for a wide variety of offences. The topic of Capital Punishment is an emotive one. Not only does it have the ability to provoke and divide public opinion, it also, most essentially, is an issue of life and death. Very few people do not have an opinion on it; you are either for it or against it. Through this piece, I will look at both sides of the argument, in order to evaluate if Capital Punishment is indeed something that should be consigned to history books, or if it's needed now more than ever. The movement towards the abolition of the death penalty appears to be a global one. By the end of 2005, from the one hundred and eighty nine nations in the U.N., one hundred and eight had abolished capital punishment compared to eighty one which still continue with the idea that, by taking revenge, and killing their criminals, society will be a better place for all. Seven of these countries and some states in the U.S., despite a ban, use capital punishment on juveniles and inmates with special educational needs, further showing that even the most fragile members of civilization, are subject to harsh punishments, instead of help, this despite the disapproval of liberal people across the world. The U.S.A., Korea and Japan are the only three fully

  • Word count: 1586
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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Capital Punishment: An injustice or a necessity?

Capital Punishment: An injustice or a necessity? The most severe of all sentences, also known as the death penalty, capital punishment involves the state in deciding whether a criminal should or should not die for their crimes is requires law to kill the criminal. Capital Punishment is a very controversial issue in today's society, with opinion being very much divided for or against the issue and I will study to find out which is the more responsible and better for our society. Most people believe that Man deserves the highest respect. This is not however considered crucial for the one who hurts his fellow man only for the victims of crimes and their family. Sympathy and unity with the victim causes many people to believe that the death penalty is the only appropriate punishment for murder. They believe it will give the victim's family closure; it will satisfy their need to avenge their loved one. If however the state murders a murderer, the state is every bit as wrong in my view. It is only adding to the cycle of violence. As the belief for respect of man states, it would also come forth that these criminals have a right to life, a natural human right and capital punishment is a direct violation to that right, which is internationally agreed upon in the UN. Most anti-death penalty organisations, like Amnesty International, base their stance on human rights arguments. Many

  • Word count: 1676
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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All by Myself - Night by Ellie Wiesel

Kris Scheller Adv. Comp. 2/15/01 Literary Analysis All by Myself In the novel Night, an autobiography by Elie Wiesel, he tells how the horrific encounters during the battle for survival effects a person. These encounters are enough to drive anyone to death, but not everyone has the heart of Elie Wiesel. The actions of fellow inmates, guards, and family members are enough to negatively affect Elie. The gloomy conditions of the camps and the bland surroundings can only assist in the destruction of his life. Just stripping someone from their home or family can change anyone dramatically. Taking Elie from his home started the beginning of his road to misery. At the beginning of the novel, the family learned that they would be transported in a few days to a place they've never seen or probably even heard of. The jam-packed ride to Birkenau could have only sent chills down through Elie's body, knowing this was only the start of what could become. The screams of Madame Schachter just made the crammed ride into a tiny, overcrowded vehicle worse. "Jews, look! Look through the window! Flames! Look!" (25). Seeing adult men hit her to the brink of death only terrified Elie even more. Birkenau became a place full of uncertainties for Elie. Would this become the place where he last saw his family? Could this become the place where he saw his father suffer until his

  • Word count: 548
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)
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