Alex Sale Ms. Mittleman 11/18/09 To Live Free From Society Or Die A Conformist Transcendentalism began when some philosophers started challenging the state of culture and society. Transcendental ideas are the keys to a better future. One must rely on his/her own self, in essence self-reliance, and from the reliance of the self comes self-assertion, and putting yourself out into the world. Transcendentalists believed that one should not rely on anyone else but his/herself, and that one should be free in his/her thoughts. The most important aspect of the transcendental self is the concept that one should free itself from society’s boundaries.
Mill believed it was extremely important that an indivduals free will should not be crushed by society. Mill believed indivduality is what it is to be human and anything that takes away your indivuduality is wrong. Mill state in his book On Liberty “Whatever crushes indivduality is despotism.” Despostism is the idea of dictatorship so Mill is saying that anything that stops our indivduality for example religion is controlling us and not allowing us to be free, which is wrong. Althought we are free we must consider others, this means that we can use our freedom however we must make sure we are not spoiling the freedom of others. This is supported by Paul Kurtz who states humans have the right “to satisfy their tastes” but however they shold not “impose their values on others.” For example you may want to murder someone with your free will however if you go ahead and commit the crime you are negatively effecting others in society and this is wrong.
MORALLY RIGHT - ASSISTED SUICIDE DONE Does physician assisted suicide belong in this world? Is it ethical to voluntarily kill oneself and gain relief from the sufferings of society? Many philosophers have a broad range of opinions on this issue. Some argue that it is valid and the correct step to take, while others disagree and state that it has no place in the medical world. For instance, a philosopher named Albert Campus states , “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide.” Furthermore, some commentator’s voice that physician assisted suicide is requested because of poor care, is simply wrong, only leads to a downhill path, and goes against the purpose of medical treatment.
He means that if the venture needs you to be anyone else but yourself, it will lead to no good. This reveals to me that Thoreau believes strongly in the individual, being yourself, and seeking your own path. This quote is also applicable to modern life because many ventures nowadays require you to conform for some purpose. The second aphorism I remembered is “Our life is frittered away by detail...Simplicity, simplicity.” Thoreau means that our focus and attention to detail now in society and culture do nothing but to waste our lives away needlessly. He believes simplicity is the better choice.
Utilitarians fixate on this exact notion. The idea is that nothing is intrinsically right or wrong, consequences are all that matter. Utilitarians focus primarily on welfare in order to make the best decision, or rather the more just decision. It is based on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, in the long run. Utilitarianism emphasizes the idea of welfare as a means for justice because it primarily defers to the masses.
Also “empty alliances” refers to how when confrormed into a society, people are unified, but it is empty because there is no real meaning to the unity of society because peple want to be with other people. “An end to ego baths” says that once sineone is free, they will not have any gratitude in helping smeoneout because there will be no one with you to help, so therefore you won’t have the same ‘happy’ feeling. Referring to the results of being free, freedom “confronts loneliness and lives with it”. In other words, one will be lonely once they are in a state of freedom. There are also some positives to being free.
This staple of his beliefs is why he doesn't fear death, but in fact looks forward to it. By escaping he is committing an unjust act against the state, and committing unjust acts ruins the soul. With a ruined soul there is no point in living life as the soul is the only important thing, not the body. Therefore the most important thing is not only living life, but living a just life. While Socrates arguments may be sound in his opinion, I'm not sure if I agree with them.
Is this movie designed to advance a particular worldview or value-set? If so, describe its agenda and cite scenes/dialog that are particularly relevant The film advances an existentialist worldview. It values individual freedom over one’s life. Christof can be seen as God in Seahaven. When Truman decides to leave, he is saying that it is better to live in a cruel, dangerous, unfamiliar world where he can control his own destiny, than to live in a happy, safe, world controlled by a deity.
All the evidence is there and it proves why this tale is one of caution. The story warns the reader that if you were mean and greedy, no one would like you. Also, the book shows how a man like Scrooge would not leave a positive impact on the world. One of the biggest fears in life is to die alone without leaving some sort of positive impact on the earth, or at the very least in one persons life. People should take caution in these facts, so that they can live their lives happily and not obtain the same unfortunate fate as
Kant’s theory maintains that actions themselves are right or wrong, regardless of the consequence that occurs as a result (Waluchow 173). Most arguments for assisted suicide are based on the probable consequence that the person won’t suffer anymore, however Kant’s theory would not accept this assertion as morally relevant. The arguments that include suffering of friends and family and cost to the health system would also be viewed as insignificant. Most justifications for assisted suicide are consequential in nature, and would therefore be dismissed by Kantian