708 words

Locke's democratic theory in response to Filmer's monarchical arguments

History of Western Philosophy: John Locke was a little confused at first by the way this section started with Filmer's arguments in favor of the monarchy, but once Russell started speaking about Locke I realized the benefit of first setting up the theories Locke was reacting to when developing his…

~4 min read

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1,274 words

Tom Wolfe's critique of individualism in 1960s America

Third Great Awakening," first published in 1976 is both hilarious and thought provoking.

~7 min read

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3,136 words

The evolution of rhetoric from classical antiquity to modern theory

In philosophy and the human sciences, rhetoric has for centuries played a significant role.

~16 min read

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1,103 words

Accents as geographic and social markers in American English

That working definition takes into consideration the fact that "accents are loose bundles of prosodic and segmental features distributed over geographic and/or social space" (42).

~6 min read

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650 words

Reading and writing skills for developing democratic citizens

One of the frequently-cited reasons for including social studies in the curriculum is to prepare students to become good citizens. Because America is a democratic, free society, students must learn to make good choices because their choices will affect the national community.

~4 min read

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1,947 words

Interpreting line and composition in Basquiat's early untitled paintings

One of the most famous stars of the East Village graffiti scene and Neo-Expressionist movement of the 1980s, Jean-Michel Basquiat once famously remarked of his paintings, "Every single line means something." If this is true, then this sets an unprecedented task for the interpreter, who is faced…

~10 min read

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799 words

The death penalty is ineffective as a crime deterrent and raises moral concerns

Whether capital punishment is a good idea, and whether it is a deterrent to crime, have long been debated by many. There are no easy answers to the questions surrounding capital punishment, because there are many different opinions about whether it works and whether it is morally acceptable.

~4 min read

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1,441 words

Physician-assisted suicide as a humane medical practice

The debate about Euthanasia is an ancient one but it has acquired a new relevance in recent times as advances in medical science have greatly extended human life-spans and it is now possible to sustain life for indefinite periods through artificial means.

~8 min read

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669 words

Consumer decision-making in major purchases: value over price

The modern consumer is a far more sophisticated individual than those generations that came before; this is as much a reflection of the complexity of the present day economy as it is about consumer behavior itself.

~4 min read

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1,121 words

Public health institutions in American cities, 1820-1855

However, the title itself is a bit misleading, for the contents reveal it to be more limited and specific in nature. However, as a text on the historiography of American public health it is an exemplary expansion and welcome addition to the field.

~6 min read

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