Epistemology and the Legend of the Sphinx in Oedipus Rex Research Paper

Epistemology and the Legend of the Sphinx in Oedipus Rex - Research Paper Example The idea of pharmakos in Oedipus Rex is embodied in the interaction between the sphinx and Oedipus and how the sphinx guards and reveals knowledge. Pharmakos is the idea that there is a duality to things; that an item can be both a cure and a poison. The sphinx is used as a pharmakos in Oedipus Rex because not only does her physical appearance portray a duality, but also her riddles conceal knowledge in their ambiguity, but also in a sense, reveal truth concerning Oedipus and the Greek society. Epistemology Epistemology can be defined as the branch of philosophy that looks at the nature, origin, methods, as well as limits of human knowledge. It seeks to answer the question of how to distinguish true knowledge from false knowledge. One of the outstanding epistemological problems in Oedipus Rex is the ambiguity presented in terms of the nature and extents of Oedipus’ knowledge about his true origins (Carel 103). Many philosophers have argued that Oedipus may have been too ignora nt to figure out facts about his past. However, at the beginning of the play, his intelligence is well portrayed when he is the only man who has the ability to solve the riddle of the sphinx. This ambiguity brings forth the vagueness of the extent to which Oedipus can and should be held responsible for his actions, which are: killing his biological father and marrying his own mother. Sophocles tells the story of Oedipus in reverse: he starts with the ending and goes to explain how it happened. According to the oracle, the plague that has befallen Thebes will find no cure until the person responsible for the murder of King Laius is found and expelled from the city. Oedipus starts an investigation to reveal the murderer, but this investigation quickly turns into an investigation of Oedipus’ real identity. Initially the epistemology lies around finding an answer to the question â€Å"who did it†, but this changes course to the question â€Å"who am I?† (Foster 22)T he psychological journey of discovery takes up much of this story. Knowledge is supposed to end with gratification and satisfaction. However, in this story, epistemology led to a discovery that was more tragic than the events that led to the discovery itself. The Sphinx The word sphinx comes form the Greek verb which when translated means â€Å"to squeeze† or to tighten (Gosse 65). Some historians however argue that the word is a corruption of the Egyptian word â€Å"shesepankh† which translates to â€Å"living image† (Zivie-Coche and Lorton 9). In Greek mythology the Sphinx is represented as having a serpent’s tail, a lion’s hunches, a large bird’s wings and a woman’s breast and face. This malevolent creature is normally characterized as being merciless and treacherous. She is the demon of bad luck and destruction and kills and mauls those who fail to correctly answer her riddle. According to myths, the sphinx was the guardian of the gates into the City of Thebes. To be allowed entry, one had to correctly answer her riddle. The riddle is â€Å"which creature has four legs in the morning, two at midday and three in the evening, and the more legs it has, the weaker it is? It is said that no man had ever been able to give a correct answer to the riddle (10). Oedipus was the only one who gave the correct answer which was ‘man’. After Oedipus gave the correct answer, the sphinx is said to have been infuriated and she killed herself. The original purpose of the sphinx

Film assignment Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Film assignment - Movie Review Example All the couples find their means and the logistics of getting to the mountains. As the movie depicts each couple’s journey, the audience realizes that all the couples are having rough patches in their marriage. This justifies the purpose intended for the retreat. On arrival in the house, activities of the week were expected to be spontaneous since they did not have a stringent schedule. Mike, Sheila’s husband preferred to take along Trina to the retreat, although she was single. Mike and Trina took a flight while Sheila faces the compulsion of driving to the mountains and faced a serious snow storm, a factor that made her arrive the following morning. On the night she was away, her husband cheated with the single lady he had brought along (Telsch n.p). The first morning in the mountains was marked by serious arguments by all the couples. In the days that follow, serious revelations are made about each couple a factor that makes them plan their journey back. However, Sheila and Mike chose to divorce because of the infidelity while the other couples leave the mountains for home. The rest of the movie depicts the actions taken by the three remaining couples to reconcile at a point whereby they were tempted to separate. In the end, the three couples reconcile while Mike and Sheila remain separated. Sheila moves on with Troy, whom she met on her journey to the mountains (Telsch n.p). The four couples face a dilemma of either separating from their partners or making the efforts to save their marriages. Some of the characters are struggling with infidelity or the loss of interest in their partners while others have focused on careers forgetting their marriage. Through the four couples, the audiences identify different causes of tensions in their marriages (Telsch n.p). Who were the most significant characters in the movie?

The Gospels--Mark Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

The Gospels--Mark - Essay Example Based on the reading in your text, what would be your argument for/against this belief? I would disagree with a person that said the blessing of the children advocated infant baptism. The context of the blessing was simply a way for Jesus to show that children were of worth in the sight of God. Baptism, on the other hand, is an expression of faith that involves the making of covenants with God. Infants cannot reason at this level, therefore I do not fell that Jesus blessing children was a mandate for infant baptism. Verse 21 is most important according to Brooks because this is where it is indicated that Jesus spoke to the rich young man with love, not condemnation. This indicates the tone that Jesus took towards the rich. Jesus loved everyone. He also indicated that it was the trust in riches that was the real sin, not the riches themselves. Much of the specific nature concerning the passion prediction in Mark centers on the anointing of Christ with oil. In other versions, it is clear that Jesus hints at his passing and that he will soon not be able to be with his disciples. In Mark, he clearly states that he is going to die and that the anointing has happened, as a prelude to is impending burial. 5. When James and John requested that they be seated in the most prominent places in Jesus glory, He asked them if they could drink the cup He drank or be baptized with the baptism He was baptized with. Some scholars believe these were no the words of Christ, but from the early church. Based on your reading, present your argument for or against these words being inserted in Scripture by the early church after the resurrection of Christ. I would argue that these words were Christ’s because they are in keeping with the message that he had been teaching to his disciples all along. He had been reminding them that he would not always be with them, that he would be going away and that he would leave a Comforter to

The Essence Of Miranda Warnings Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

The Essence Of Miranda Warnings - Research Paper Example For example, this right grants an arrestee to refuse from answering questions which he or she thinks would compel him or her to give incriminating statements which could possibly be taken as admissible evidence and might be used against him. The Fifth Amendment gives right against compelled self-incrimination and the due process of the law. If the arrestee was formally charged with a crime, the Miranda Warnings must be made known to the arrestee. Further, the sixth amendment grants the right to a legal counsel or an attorney during all subsequent questioning process. The sole example that is presented on this study is a domestic violence case and should a police officer perform the interrogation process.  If a person is under custody for interrogation, any police officer called to perform the interrogation process must read to the arrestee the Miranda Rights. If in any case, the respondent did not respond to give an affirmative answer, silence should not be taken as a waiver of the se rights. The interrogation can still proceed but responses from the arrestee are considered void and ineffective during a trial if the statements were made prior to Miranda Rights.  In the case of domestic violence, if the arrestee was formally charged, the police officer must warn the arrestee of his or her constitutional rights. All the responses of the suspect under custody shall be taken as admissible evidence, provided, the rights were made known to her. In addition, the suspect’s 6th amendment protection shall be applied and may not be doubted or questioned relating to subject matter of the offenses being charged to the suspect if there is an absence of a legal counsel or an attorney or anything that waives the right to an attorney.  If the suspected criminal has not been formally charged, it is necessary to determine if Miranda Warnings are needed. If the person is not â€Å"in custody†, Miranda Rights are not necessary and the statements made by the arres tee are admissible.

Entrepreneur Interview Paper (small business) Essay

Entrepreneur Interview Paper (small business) - Essay Example At one point in the interview, he defined an entrepreneur as â€Å"Someone who works ninety hours a week to avoid working forty hours a week for someone else†. It takes a lot of stamina and patience. â€Å"Entrepreneurs are not easily discouraged† (Schramm cited in Petrecca, 2010). The first and the foremost challenge an entrepreneur is exposed is of the management of cash. There has to be adequate cash flow particularly in the initial four to five years as they are very intensive in terms of cash flow. To achieve this, the entrepreneur must have stable and reliable sources of funds identified at the outset. Starting a new business is a risky process as on the entrepreneur’s part, as it requires him/her to be determined and consistent. Good business takes time to evolve. Still, not all businesses grow with time. It depends to a large extent upon the entrepreneur’s fortune. If circumstances are unfavorable, and the business does not yield the intended benef its, the entrepreneur’s time, money and often repute are at stake. However, if the business turns out to be successful, rewards included profitability, success and psychological satisfaction. Another factor that carries immense tendency to destroy the business is the influence of generations on it. Originally, the person from the first generation starts the business in a certain way following certain principles that become the secrets of the company’s success. The following generations tend to run the business in their own ways and often have inadequate knowledge or understanding of the fundamental principles that helped the first generation take the business to the level where it stands. While it is advisable for the future generations to gain proper schooling and education in business,... The paper tells that to start a new business and make it successful also requires the entrepreneur’s passion which fundamentally drives his/her motivation to chase the goals. However, for an entrepreneur to be successful, there are certain things that need to be taken serious care of. The entrepreneur must have done sufficient homework on such aspects of the business as demography, capital required, sources of capital and the insurances involved. Alongside, the entrepreneur needs to assess how much time he/she can reserve for his/her personal life apart from work. Outright and rational assessment enables the entrepreneur to make informed decisions along the way. Every business has an obligation towards the society. While a business is meant to be profitable for the entrepreneur, it needs to play a positive role in enhancing the economic strength of the country. Small businesses have a huge contribution in the national economy. Particularly, in the contemporary society, when th e notions of corporate social responsibility and green working are being much emphasized upon, entrepreneurs are expected not only to be more ethical in their works, but also make the world a better place to live in by producing useful services and products. The Saver Systems achieves this by providing people with high quality and cost effective solutions for their masonry chimneys.

Identify and describes four cultural resources Essay

Identify and describes four cultural resources - Essay Example The men were the ones who go out and hunt, while the women gathered the small animals, fruits and plants that could be utilised for making food, tools and clothes. The women are also regarded as the â€Å"light of the family†, wherein their role are also confounded to making meals and overlooking the overall welfare of the family. Their traditional values were kept alive through dreamtime stories, songs and dances that are being passed on from generation to generation. Dreamtime stories were also relayed through rock or bark paintings (Australian Builder, 2006). There are hundreds of aboriginal groups in Australia. Some are defined and named through their autonyms or name used by the group while some from their exonyms or the name given by another group for a certain aboriginal group (and not by the group themselves). In some instances, these groups were named from their area. One of the aboriginal groups present in Australia is the Irukandji, situated in the coastal strip of Cairns, Queensland. From the word â€Å"east†, the Irukandji group were seafarers who lived with their ancestors or extended families. During night time, they reside in sand dunes with the beach fire burned to light their surroundings and keep mosquitoes away from them. On the other hand, they reside in semi-permanent huts during the wet season. Like the rest of the aborigines, they believe in nature spirits. The Irukandji believed that the Rainbow Serpent Gudjugudjum created their landscape (Tindale, 1974). Often referred to as â€Å"the Cradle of Western Civilisation†, Greece and its unique culture is one of the pivotal influences in the field of arts, philosophy, architecture, religion, math, sciences and music (among other influences) all over the globe. Western art and early Christianity have been tremendously influenced by the Greeks through the latter’s Byzantine art and architecture

Explain what the term 'fair trade' means and what are the importnent Essay

Explain what the term 'fair trade' means and what are the importnent issues for the business world - Essay Example The Fair Trade Federation states that members are committed to seven key concepts: to pay fair wages; to support participatory workplaces; to ensure environmental sustainability; to supply financial and technical support; to respect cultural identity; to offer public accountability; and to educate consumers. Fair trade consists of 10 standards a business must adhere to. These include: working to create opportunities for disadvantaged producers; transparent management and accountability; helping producers to develop independence; raising awareness and promoting the opportunities of fair trade; paying a fair price; offering gender equality; providing safe and healthy work environments; respecting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; working toward environmentally healthy approaches; and fair trade relations—taking into consideration the social, economic and environmental well-being of producers and not taking advantage of the producers by profiting at their expense. 2 To be included as a fair trade business, one must first determine what is considered â€Å"fair†. Fair Trade Resource Network (FTRN) says that being fair constitutes more than just paying a fair wage. â€Å"It means that trading partnerships are based on reciprocal benefits and mutual respect; that prices paid to producers reflect the work they do; that workers have the right to organize; that national health, safety, and wage laws are enforced; and that products are environmentally sustainable and conserve natural resources.†3 The products included in fair trade business are numerous. These include: apparel, accessories, art, crafts, agricultural products, furniture, cards, holiday items, house wares, jewelry, music and musical instruments, paper, pottery, rugs, textiles, toys and others. For consumers, it’s not always easy to determine if a product comes from a fair-trade business.