Should children who commit crimes be seen as responsible for their actions?
TMA 01 Should children who commit crimes be seen as responsible for their actions? To discuss whether or not it is possible, for a child who has committed a crime, to be held responsible for that crime. It must first be decided at what age a child is able to distinguish between right and wrong. To come to this conclusion, one can make use of three different approaches. The scientific approach, a process of constructing theories with predicted outcomes, these theories are then tested and observed to find out the actual outcomes. These outcomes are then used to access whether or not an 'individual' child has reached a particular level of cognitive competence and moral understanding. Secondly the social constructionist approach believes that the change from childhood to adulthood is when a child has knowledge of right from wrong, and that childhood is influenced or 'constructed' through social processes. Because of this we have to consider the place and time in history a child is from. Deconstruction playing an important role also, helping people see things, they take for granted in everyday life, from a different perspective. Showing them how their everyday lives are constructed. Implying that 'children are a product of human-meaning-making' (Chapter 1, p26). The final approach to be discussed will be that of the applied approach. Elements from both scientific and social
Is globalization new and inevitable? Discuss with reference to EITHER culture, economics OR politics.
Is globalization 'new and inevitable'? Discuss with reference to EITHER culture, economics OR politics. Globalization is a phenomenon including changes in culture, politics and economics globally, where some parts of the world are getting closer and others a drifting further apart with no reference to geographical distance. It is a process of transformation of local to regional trends into global trends. Globalization describes global interconnectedness. Some people might benefit from globalization (winners) and some might not (losers). This essay is going to discuss whether globalization is new and if it is inevitable, with reference to culture. First it will outline four concepts "stretching", "intensification", "interpenetration" and "infrastructure" which are helpful in exploring the impact of globalization. Secondly it will introduce three theories by Globalists, Inter-nationalists and Transformationalists, and how they see globalization. Then it will compare the four main theories with reference to culture and decided if globalization is new and inevitable or not. The twenty-first century brings many changes to all societies. For example people in the UK can eat sushi, read Cosmopolitan or buy tropical food without any hassle. Individuals all around the world can communicate within the internet or by phone any time they want. Accidents which happen in one country are
Compare and contrast the views of human nature, the state and war of any two of the following thinkers: Thomas Hobbes and Thucydides.
IR 2003: Power and Violence in World Politics, Tutor: Dr M. Rologas Compare and contrast the views of human nature, the state and war of any two of the following thinkers: Thomas Hobbes and Thucydides. Andre Wegner, [email protected] Submitted: 19/11/2003 Thomas Hobbes once acknowledged that he drew inspiration from Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War for his master piece Leviathan. In effect the theories represented in their books are more similar than other works of political theory might be. Undeniably both Thucydides and Hobbes argue that war is inevitable, that human nature is anarchic and that the strongest will therefore "rule whatever one can"1. However, despite these similarities there are also marked differences. Whereas Hobbes might argue this law of nature can be disrupted by the peoples desire for peace and security, Thucydides remains pessimistic and sees no way past the inevitability of war. Many more differences, which will be examined further on in the text, widen the gap between the two theorists who nonetheless remain fundamentally close, despite over two thousand years age difference. In April 1588 Thomas Hobbes was born into a tumultuous era of political and scientific change. An Oxford education and his short exile during the civil war revealed to him the significance of these changes and it became an obsession of his work to link the
Multiculturalism and its discontents: Discuss.
Multiculturalism and its discontents: Discuss. On the brink of the 2010 United Kingdom general election, I cannot think of a more pertinent topic to discuss than multiculturalism. Migration to this country is one of the most important subjects debated by the competing political parties looking to express their policies to the electorate. At the heart of these debates lies multiculturalism, and its successes or failures, depending on what your viewpoint is. I for one believe that the idea of multiculturalism, with its strong moral basis and optimistic outlook is an ideology to be celebrated. A rich network of cultures interwoven throughout communities, treated equally and living side by side, is something that the people of a nation can be proud of. However, it does have its discontents. Throughout this paper, I am going to talk about multiculturalism as well as its criticisms in an educational and societal context. Focussing on four key areas, my aim is to highlight the disadvantages of multiculturalism, as shown through the academic writings of its endorsers and its detractors, many of whom fall under both categories. Furthermore, the aim of this discussion is to stay UK specific. Along with the four key areas, I wish to provide a voice to a subgroup of the United Kingdom which I feel has no exposure: the liberal, multicultural-endorsing citizens of western cultures that
Did Hobbes demonstrate that a valid theory of government could be derived from a general theory of human nature?
Alex Williams Did Hobbes demonstrate that a valid theory of government could be derived from a general theory of human nature? To Thomas Hobbes, the natural behavioural tendencies of mankind are no more and no less than those of the other animals of God's creation. They are neither sinful nor unjust, because if man existed in a state where he was governed only by these desires, there would be no morals to disregard or laws to break. His behaviour would be directed only by his desire to stay alive and improve his lot against that of others. It is this condition, argues Hobbes, that motivates man, as an animal capable of using "Reason", to realise that advantages of co-operation as a survival tool outweigh the disadvantages of surrendering rights and choices to an authority that directs such co-operation. Hobbes uses method to prove that the origins of man's most basic urges are in the very fibre of his being, and thus establishes the first function for his theory of human nature, as a link between the divine law of nature and the man-made law of politics. This role leads further into Hobbes's political theory, and establishes the second function of the natural condition of man, as the foundation of civil society and the basis of man's ongoing cultural and scientific achievement. These things are only possible through co-operation, and co-operation is the only way to survive
Russell On Platonic Universals
Russell On Platonic Universals Russell On Platonic Universals The consideration of Platonic universals consequently rouses controversy among philosophers. Thinkers like Bertrand Russell and Thomas Hobbes contribute reflective explanations for the undeniable usage of question-begging ideas in language and thought. While the deliberation of Platonic universals might seem to be fruitless and, at best, obscure to the layperson, it does function as a critical foundation for metaphysics and epistemology. Whether a philosopher agrees or disagrees with the idea of Platonic universals is irrelevant to the certain truth that he or she must form some opinion of them preceding most any philosophic endeavor. To attempt to summarize Plato's theory of universals in a paragraph would do it a great injustice but a simple, working definition of the theory is necessary to move any further. Plato's theory can be condensed as follows: A universal (or form) is an independently existing, nonspatial, nontemporal "something" known only through thought and that cannot be known through the senses; independently existing objects of thought; that which makes a particular thing uniquely and essentially what it is. In even simpler terms, a universal would be something like the "redness" of an apple. According to Plato, the red quality of the apple must exist because the apple is red. But
Working Mothers
Running head: ROLE STRAIN, STRESS AND COPING. THE STRESS OF ROLE STRAIN ON PROFFESSIONAL MOTHERS AND THEIR COPING STRATEGIES. Neema Mngwamba University of Houston-Downtown PSY3309 06/25/10 Abstract. Among the many complex roles that a lot of people live, married women with children have the most stressful roles. This review focuses on the multiple roles that married working mothers hold and how that caused role strain which indeed lead to stress. Mothers in this case refer to those that have young children, the ones that are the most demanding. Also we will see how those mothers coped with the stress. The role strain discussed is basically the conflict created when the women were trying to balance their multiple roles as wives, mothers, professionals etc. Out of all them, the mother role and the professional role were the two that conflicted the most. One major thing that was found to contribute a lot to the stress and had to be taken into account was gender role/stereotypes. In coping with the stress many of the mothers were forced to adopt different strategies that were mainly categorized into two main strategies, problem-focused and emotional-focused strategies. Many of them preferred to utilize a strategy that leaves conflict/stress reduction as a responsibility of the individual. This means that while the work load/ demand remained the same they chose to work
Consider when and how researchers might use qualitative and quantitative approaches in their research about children and young people. In this essay I will compare and contrast the qualitative and quantitative approaches adopted by Coates and Takei in th
Consider when and how researchers might use qualitative and quantitative approaches in their research about children and young people. In this essay I will compare and contrast the qualitative and quantitative approaches adopted by Coates and Takei in their research. I will initially describe these two different research methods and discuss how a qualitative method of research differs to a quantitative method of research. I will also compare and contrast these approaches in relation to Coates and Takei's research papers and then analyse the nature of any similarities or differences. I will discuss my opinion that neither research method is superior to the other. Quantitative and qualitative are two of the predominant methods of research used within the social science field. Quantitative research is a method which involves collecting numerical data (which is analysed at a later stage) in order to test a particular hypothesis or analyse a certain assumption about society. 'Quantitative research is empirical research where the data is in the form of numbers'. (Punch, 2005, Pg. 3) This type of data is often collected through methods such as questionnaires, surveys, and structured interviews. The term 'quantification' means to measure on some numerical basis, therefore whenever we count or categorise, we quantify. In comparison, qualitative research does not focus on the
It is incorrect to draw a sharp distinction between Eastern and Western cultures and ways of thinking - Discuss.
"It is incorrect to draw a sharp distinction between Eastern and Western cultures and ways of thinking." Discuss. Our cultures permeate our everyday lives; influencing the way we behave, make decisions and of course the ways in which we think and process information. However, is there such an explicit distinction between the thought patterns of a "Western" individual and those of someone from an "Eastern" background? Firstly, it is important to define what we mean by "Western" and "Eastern", although this is a difficult task as there is no clear-cut definition of either. Generally speaking, the term "Western" encompasses those from Europe, the United States, Canada and Australasia, and "Eastern" includes peoples of Asia, the Far East and the Middle East. However, the lack of an unambiguous definition produces an even greater quandary as to whether we can draw a sharp distinction between Eastern and Western cultures and ways of thinking. It is equally important to identify what we mean by "culture", which we are able to define more easily as "the enduring behaviours, ideas, attitudes and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next" (Myers, 2008). Knowing what each of these terms means, we can now attempt to discover whether Eastern and Western cultures and ways of thinking really do differ so greatly. Let us initially
Assess the competing theories of De Facto, Plato, Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke, whose justification of the State is based on the notion of a social contract.
In order to examine the legal obligations imposed on us by the State and the justification of them, it is important to define what the 'State' is. This discussion will focus on and assess the competing theories of De Facto, Plato, Hobbes, Rousseau and Locke, whose justification of the State is based on the notion of a social contract. Anarchism will also be examined as it opposes the other theories. These theories attempt to explain under what conditions citizens are politically obligated to the State in terms of law and liberty. Analysis will demonstrate that there is no theory that justifies the legal obligations imposed on us by the State. FIX AND ADD TO The 'State' has been defined as a unit, which incorporates various departments, which form the government as well as the agencies, which enforce State law. Territorial boundaries provide the State with exclusive jurisdiction or sovereignty. In Britain, where the coastline defines the territory, jurisdiction is extended to Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. Therefore, authority is not necessarily confined to a particular area. (Jones et al, 1991, p11) It has been traditionally accepted that there is a connection between eh State and sovereignty. By claiming a domination of legitimate force within defined boundaries, the exercising of a monopoly suggests sovereignty. According to Hinsley, sovereignty is 'the idea