Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
onyms, as defined by the online Miriam Webster dictionary, are place-names. This is a simple definition for a broad subject. The names that people assign to locations define more than a logistical point on a map. Names give others clues to the history, culture, and even the philosophy of a location.
The "shift of Cape Canaveral (Florida) to Cape Kennedy (1963-1973) after the late president's (1917-1963) untimely death" is a perfect example of a toponym that reflects a moment in time (Nuessel, 46). In Kentucky there is a place named "Bachelors Rest, a reference to males who sunned themselves on a bench in front of a local store (Rennick 1984:11)." (Nuessel 48). All place-name allusions do not depict a tragic moment, or have deep historical resonance.
From a cultural standpoint, toponyms give clues to the original settlers of a region, their customs and beliefs. "Foreign names often reflect the settlement patterns of European immigrants who came to this land after Columbus's discovery of the New World" (Nuessel 52). The name Los Angeles is the abbreviated version of the Spanish La Ciudad de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles. A fact easily learned by contacting the Chamber of Commerce for Los Angeles in California.
Place-names can even suggest the philosophy of a particular location. "Enterprise (Alabama, California, Oregon), for example, refers to a characteristic of the inhabitants" (Nuessel 51). This can be misleading. One might find that not all inhabitants of these locations are enterprising individuals!
In conclusion, toponomy is a fascinating study that encompasses several disciplines. The names people give to places contain an overwhelming number of clues to the history, culture, and philosophy of the location. While some can be misleading, they are always elucidating.
Works Cited
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=15138768
Nuessel, Frank. The Study of Names: A Guide to the Principles and Topics. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1992.
Philosophy Analyzing Rembrandt The following paper is a response to questions regarding the painting, "Aristotle with a Bust of Homer." The painting was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1653. It is oil on canvas and access to the painting is gained by the website of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, physically located in New York City. The paper will first contextualize the painting, trying to situated in history and establish a historical
Philosophy Matrix II Ancient Quest for Truth Philosophy Matrix II: Ancient Quest for Truth Use the matrix to analyze Plato and Aristotle's theory of knowledge and apply both to current day practices. In the first column, using the readings about Plato's search for truth and his theories of knowledge, discuss how contemporary people may be living in a cave and which steps, based on Plato's model of the Divided Line, will be necessary for
By "personal" and "social" goals, I meant the achievement of ideals set by the individual for himself/herself and for the society in general, respectively. Education and learning gained from it is meaningless if the individual cannot enjoy and optimize it to achieve his/her own needs and aspirations in life. However, similarly, one's success in achieving his/her aspirations becomes irrelevant if these achievements do not benefit society. A recognize the need
Berkley stated that because the senses were potentially faulty, everyone's sense perceptions and thus everyone's 'truth' was unique and variable. However, most empiricists like Locke believed that some (few) things could be known with certainty, like shape and color, even if other properties of things could not be known. The empiricists come from the Aristotelian rather than the Platonic tradition of philosophy, and had rigorous standards of truth based upon
Philosophies of Life: Personal and Traditional When one considers the many aspects of one's "inner life," it becomes clear that most, if not all of them are based upon some philosophical conception. Psychologists have long known that individuals, who have a strong sense of their life's purpose, as well as a spiritual, religious, or ethical viewpoint, tend to live longer, healthier lives. Further, they are less likely to suffer from depressive episodes
However, when looking more closely at the specific philosophy suggested by Socrates, a more specific view appears to suggest itself. Socrates appears to favor the view that true knowledge is only possible once the soul separates itself from the body. For Socrates, the sense, i.e. touch, hearing, sight, taste, and smell only distract what he refers to as the "soul" from truly experiencing the nature of the external world. According