Protestant Reformation and economy

Introduction Social activist have been trying to determine the relationship between religion and economic growth especially during the medieval times in Europe and America. It has been argued that the emergence of Protestants from the Catholic Church had a positive effect in the economic growth. This is because Protestants had a capitalist ideology while the Catholics still held on to the socialist ideologies, which hindered economic growth.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Protestant Reformation and economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More England and Netherlands for example attribute their economic growth during the 17th and 18th century to the change in their religion from the traditional Catholic beliefs. At the same time Spain and Italy saw a decline in their economy and political stability during the same period. Many scholars speculate that this fall might be due to the fact that these empires still held on to the traditional Catholic beliefs. Max Weber theory Many scholars have come up with theories which have tried to explain the relationship of Protestantism and economic growth during the medieval times. One of the strongest theories was put forward by Max Weber in his essay which was released in 1905 called Protestant Ethic (Cantoni 1). To this date historians, scientists and sociologists have never come to an agreement on the correct meaning of Weber’s ideas. However, during the early days, the essay was understood in its simplest terms where people believed that economic growth was tightly related to the changes in religion which were experienced during the sixteenth and seventieth century. With time, different people had different interpretation of the essay which brought about arguments as a result of difference in ideologies that people had. The sixteenth century is a period where Europe and America experienced a lot of economic changes. Much of these changes had alrea dy been experienced even before the period of reformation. However, it is during the reformation period that drastic changes occurred in the economy. That is why many scholars like Weber believe that the change in religion might have changed people’s ideologies, triggering economic growth. When people started to embrace the new religious ideologies they also developed the concept of capitalism, a key factor that led to economic growth over the years. This led to the development of trade on a credit system and the development of companies and trade unions. The western civilization was engaged in mass importation of sugar, silver and gold. There was also a massive increase in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade which involved large amounts of money that led to the development of the Atlantic coastal cities. This led to a shift in trade from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic as a result of the good market that the Atlantic region was offering. As a result some merchants became very r ich thus spread their businesses to new regions defying the rules which were set up by the state or the church most of which were governed by catholic beliefs. During these times many people enjoyed monopolies and thus imposed high lending rates to the loans which they offered to people.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In his essay Weber assumed that the western civilization was distinguished from other societies by its spirit of capitalism. This is because most of the people in these societies were Protestants and they embrace the worldly asceticism a reaction to the doctrine of predestination. He believed that greed and the love of making money were the key elements behind capitalism. Supporters of Weber’s Work Kemper Fullerton was one of the people who defended the works of Weber. He said that people have been having the element of greed all their lives but the con straints in the society suppressed this feeling. He believed that the elements of capitalism had been present in all societies but lacked the right of environment to sprout out. This is because the traditional religion and the early church were against the activities which would have led to the development of capitalism in the society. Weber also discovered that there was a difference between the lifestyles of the people who were Catholics and Protestants and that this difference could not have been just a matter of chance but it held some elements of truth behind it all. Therefore, Calvinism ethos resulted in the emergence of capitalism in the medieval societies. That is why Weber referred to Benjamin Franklin as the father of capitalism. Franklin most famous phrase was; time is money. People therefore needed to work hard all the time and make as much as they can because once time is gone it cannot be bought back. Therefore to capitalists, making money is more of a passion. As stat ed earlier, Weber believed that Protestantism had a direct influence to capitalism. In his thesis Weber looked at two villages in ancient Germany (during the sixteenth century). One village had Catholic believers while the other had protestants, mainly Lutherans. These two villages therefore offered extreme conditions for his studies. He managed to notice that Protestants earned more income as compared to the Catholics. He also noticed that the Protestants attended technical schools while Catholics attended liberal art schools. He therefore concluded that Calvinism was successful in instilling the notion that work and moneymaking was a vocation. This attitude thus could have been the avenue through which capitalism rose through into the modern society during the medieval times which later led to industrialization and economic growth in Europe and North America. As a matter of fact, many religious scholars also point out that Calvinism was a means through which bourgeois and urbaniza tion developed from which finally led to the growth of businesses, the economy and industrialization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Protestant Reformation and economy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People thus became rational and developed industrious spirits since they knew that hard work led to success at the end of the day. People therefore dedicated much of their time in commercial activities and accumulation of capital. Calvinists cities also approved imposition of interest rates on money borrowed especially for commercial purposes, a thing which the catholic cities had refused to approve. Interest earned from money earned made the lender to feel the value of his money and also gave them extra money to invest in other businesses. This made the economy of protestant cities to be much stronger compared to catholic cities. One should thus expect as a result of these theories that protestant cities had a st ronger economic growth as compared to catholic cities especially if the cities had a strong potential in commerce and trade. Other theories suggest that the rise in Protestantism changed people beliefs and ideologies. These changes had a positive impact in the development of the spirit of commerce in individuals. This is because these beliefs had a form of economic teachings to the people who believed in them. Some branches of Protestantism like the puritans and pietists might have led to the emergence of modern science. The protestant teachings also stressed on individual freedom and flexibility in life which might have made individuals to be open to modern ideas. If these theories are true then Protestantism might have played a huge role in economic development and industrial revolution during the medieval times. Other scholars suggest that trust is a major element in the development of strong economic ties and market exchange. In ancient civilization when cities were under the ca tholic rule there was lack of trust even among the leaders of the society. This is because the hierarchical leadership under Catholicism discouraged horizontal ties among people leading to lack of trust in these individuals. Hierarchical states thus performed in a somewhat poor manner in terms of political stability, economic development, civic participation, development of infrastructure and corporations. Further studies on the issue show that Protestants are not likely to lie on taxes, take a bribe but might easily trust a stranger unlike Catholics who do not easily trust strangers, teach their young ones thrift and do not deal well with competitions. This might be reasons why Protestant states grew stronger in terms of development as compared to Catholic states.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More To expound further on the theory, it is believed that Protestants Cities taught their people how to read and write thus they were literate unlike the people living in catholic cities. They therefore could read and interpret the bible on their own which may have lead to the accumulation of human capital. This may have led to the development of the industrial economy by the Protestants especially during the nineteenth century. A classical example of this was in the Prussian communities who were mainly Lutherans and were taught how to read and write while they were in elementary schools. They thus became literate and acquired much wealth both in the cities and on the countryside which gave them a strong base of economic capital. Historians have gone on to analyze deeper the work of Weber and discovered that his work had a global and universal application. They say that he might have invented the term rationality as a key aspect to the development of modern capitalism. In his thesis, th e term rationality distinguished modern capitalism from other forms of development. According to these historians, rationalization in an individual can be measured as the degree which magical thoughts and beliefs are replaced. These thoughts and beliefs are strong in individuals who believe in ancient religion such as Islam, Catholicism and other ancient religions. This is because the orientation of religion contemplates on magical beliefs which hinder economic development. That is why dominant religions of the world during the medieval times did not have a strong economic base. The people who believed in the doctrine of predestination, the bible was seen as a sole authority which put an individual directly before God. This had the effect of displacing the magical beliefs which were the key elements of the ancient religion giving an individual the chance to get in touch with God directly and to make his own decision. This is the point at which individuals started to become rational in their thoughts and behavior. It came as a result of them being able to decide what they want and what they did not want. In the end capitalism emerged as the people had the thirst of making money and gathering capital. Calvinism thus led to the spirit of capitalism to develop in the people who believed in this new religion. Critics of Weber’s work However, not all historians and scholars were in line with Weber’s thoughts and beliefs of the development of capitalism. This is because Weber believed that capitalism developed as a result of the reformation that led to the development of Protestantism. Some scholars and historians argue otherwise since they believe that capitalism had long been experienced in the western civilization before the period of the reformation. It is just during this period that much of the development of capitalism was experienced and that is why Weber and other scholars think that capitalism may have been related to Protestantism. A theory w hich was advanced to critic the work of Weber was referred to as Leuthy Thesis (Wright 5). It was advanced by Herbert Leuthy, an Italian politician. This theory is in line with Weber’s thesis that the western civilization is characterized by the ideology of rationalism amongst individuals. However, it rejects the fact that capitalism and economic development during this period is related to Protestantism. According to Leuthy, the development of all sectors of the economy such as technology, economy, development of the mind and the liberation of man’s personality were related to the spirit of wealth accumulation which preceded the reformation in all parts of the western civilization. However, the other half of Europe did not experience these developments because of inquisition and trials based on heresy. In Calvinist Europe on the other hand, spiritual liberation was connected with the dropping of submission and fear, factors which led to the development of the modern c ulture that embraced capitalism. As a result, radical changes took place in the society. People started to apply and pursue scientific knowledge while the need of democracy in the society started to emerge. Meanwhile, a move to counter the reformation that was led by catholic scholars discouraged a free market which the forces of demand and supply determined the price of goods and services; a market which the Calvinist had established. These catholic scholars followed the beliefs of Aristotle which stated that an ideal market should be composed of natural goods which were mainly agricultural in nature. Businesses such as loaning money for interest and selling of goods for a profit were discouraged. The people who believed in the Roman Catholic religion were unable to adjust to the changes which had hit the market. They saw that this new culture was against the beliefs and practices of their religion. They therefore rejected to be involved in the market and economic activities leavin g those who were actively involved to wallow in sin. All these events had taken place even before the reformation and led to casuistry. According to Leuthy, Calvinism did not favor casuistry and led to its decline after the reformation started to be experienced. Protestantism only legitimatized capitalism which made people to have a true and natural economic spirit. It also clearly differentiated between private charity and acquired economic activities, things the Catholic Church was against. Due to the poor beliefs of the Catholic Church, many merchants and liberal Erasmian fled the religion and joined Protestantism bringing in their talents and skills. In their previous societies, merchants and Erasmians worked as subjects of the rulers, but in these new lands they actually earned money from their services leading to a rise in their living standards. Another scholar who differed with the works of Weber was Luther. He did not encourage avarice or greed. Avarice makes money to be de emed as the most necessary thing in life even though it cannot be eaten. It should be noted that Luther did not attack the development of trade and commerce. However, he was against their incorrect usage where one individual took advantage of the other in the name of trade. He also complained about usury especially in the advancement of loans where the lenders usually looked for loopholes to make the law to be in their favor. He believed that in the event of loan advancement, a security should be used. If a profit was earned in the process it should be shared between the two parties and losses should also be shared in the same manner. Impact of the Reformation on the Social and Economic Realm This whole argument can be summed up by looking at the impacts of the reformation on the social and economic realm. The works of Weber where the aspect of Calvinism was expounded on and the works of Luther both had a common feature of controlled begging as a means of discouraging poverty in the society. Through these concepts, lending of money started to follow certain stipulated laws and procedures which other economical sectors also started to follow. Drastically with time, capitalism emerged from these practices and beliefs in the society. This therefore led to the establishment of a rational society. Private and individual needs were abandoned and people started to focus on community issues and problems using a secular and rational approach to solve these issues. They people therefore recognized poverty as a bad thing and wealth to be a good thing in the society. That is why almost all communities in the world even at the present moment strive to eradicate poverty from their society and try to attain economic stability so that they can have a stable lifestyle. Conclusion The reformation had drastic impacts on the development of the economy. Although many contrasting theories have been advanced to explain the phenomena, they all have some common elements. During this p eriod people were rebelling against the Catholic Church and started protestant religions which gave the people the freedom to think and choose what is right. The ideologies of rationalism and capitalism developed in them. As a result, the economy of the states which believed in the protestant religion started to grow. This was a positive change in the lifestyle of man and his society. Thanks to the reformation people could now earn from their hard work. This made them appreciate their efforts. People could also engage in numerous economic activities which if carefully planned would earn them a good profit. The increase in income improved their living standards, gave them a chance to expand their businesses and also gave them the chance to come up with new ideas and innovations. In the end the general economy of these societies and of the entire world as a whole grew, revolution in the industrial and scientific world occurred leading to where the world is at the present moment. Works Cited Cantoni, Davide. The Economic Effects of the Protestant Reformation: Testing the  Weber Hypothesis in the German Lands. 2011. Retrieved from www.econ.upf.edu/docs/seminars/cantoni Wright, William. Economic Impact of the Reformation. Age of Reformation. (2003): 1-9. Retreived on 17 March 2011 from www.utc.edu/Faculty/Bill-Wright/ecoimp.pdf This essay on Protestant Reformation and economy was written and submitted by user L1ndsey to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Alhambras Structure Buildings and Gardens

The Alhambras Structure Buildings and Gardens Introduction The Alhambra is now considered to be a real masterpiece of Islamic architecture; to a great extent, it represents a conception of Paradise as it was imagined by Muslim architects of the Middle Ages. This paper is aimed at examining the structure and relations of buildings and gardens in the Alhambra.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Alhambras Structure: Buildings and Gardens specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In particular, it is necessary to show what kind of purpose various elements of this complex serve and how they complement one another. The main focus will be on such components as the use of water, the selection of plants, architecture, and decorations, especially arabesques. Overall, it is possible to say that in the course of its history, the Alhambra transformed from an ascetic fortress into a beautiful palace and garden complex that was supposed to recreate or reflect the image of Paradise in various ways. The transformation of the Alhambra It is worth noting there was no master plan according to which the Alhambra had to be constructed. Its construction began in the middle of the fourteenth century, but since that time this complex was redeveloped and expanded several times (Mauriers Ossart, 2001, p. 70). Some buildings make the Alhambra resemble a medieval stronghold. In fact, its very name can be translated as red fortress. The Tower of Justice, which was built in 1348, exemplifies castle architecture (MobileReference 2007, p. 60). Nonetheless, the development of water supply system and the use of canals enabled architects and gardeners to transform the Alhambra into a courtly residence and a garden complex. The buildings located in the Alhambra can be characterized by austere exterior design which is a characteristic feature of Islamic architecture.Advertising Looking for essay on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Moreover, one should take into account that the designers included those elements which were not present in Islamic courtly palaces; in particular, we can speak about the lion sculptures that can be found in the Court of Lions (MobileReference 2007, p. 62). This feature can be viewed as untypical because the portrayal of animal life was encouraged in Islamic art (Lehrman, 1980, p. 97). Furthermore, the columns located in this pavilion are decorated with foliage. Moreover, this court is divided into four parts which are supposed to symbolize different parts of the world (Cornell, 2007, p. 101). Furthermore, this court is irrigated by four water channels which may represent rivers of Paradise (Cornell, 2007, p. 101). The symbolism is an important characteristic of every building located in the Alhambra. The columns in the Court of Lions are located in an almost irregular or random way. As a result, they look very similar to trees in a forest or a garden (Leh rman, 1980, p. 97). Certainly, at this point, one can only hypothesize whether the original intent of the architect was to recreate an image of Paradise. Yet, these columns do resemble trees in the eyes of a person who walks in this place. Such examples as the Tower of Justice and the Court of the Lyons are important because they illustrate two aspects of the Alhambra, a fortress and a courtly place at the same time. Additionally, the second example indicates that the theme of Paradise played in important role in the construction of these gardens. The following section will discuss the themes and conceptual background of this architectural complex. The Alhambra as a metaphor of Paradise Overall, the Alhambra can be viewed as an architectural metaphor of Paradise for several reasons. First, one has to remember that Islamic architects had to strive for coolness and shade because they had to work in climates with a particularly hot climate.Advertising We will write a custom ess ay sample on The Alhambras Structure: Buildings and Gardens specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is one of the main reasons why many Islamic courthouses and palaces were located within gardens. This was probably the most optimal choice that architects could make. Alhambra is probably the most well-known example of architectural complex. Yet, it is important to bear in mind that Islamic gardens had to have several constituent part, namely water, planting and geometric arrangement of elements of various architectural elements (Bowden-Pickstock, 2009, p. 132). They have to perform several functions, apart from bringing shade and coolness. First, they have to be pleasing to the eye, but they also have to remind visitors about harmony and peace of mind. As a rule, such architectural places are often called paradise gardens because they reflected the description of Paradise provided in Quran. This concept originated from Ancient Persia, but it la ter became very popular in Islamic architecture. On the whole, the Alhambra eloquently illustrates the notion of a paradise garden. First, the gardens of the Alhambra are surrounded by a fortified wall; to some degree. This layout is reminiscent to the notion of enclosed paradise garden that is not accessible to everyone (Bowden-Pickstock, 2009, p 130). Various entrance gates to this garden can symbolize the gates to Paradise that are open only to righteous people. As it has been pointed out before, the presence of such gates can be explained by the fact that for a long time, the Alhambra was used as a stronghold. Additionally, one has to speak about the importance of fountains in this place. The thing is that according to Muslim views, Paradise is a reminiscent of a garden in which large trees grow and water springs never become depleted. This problem was of great importance to Moors who lived in the medieval Spain. This is one of the reasons why there are so many fountains in the Alhambra. In this regard, one can definitely mention the fountain near the palace called Generalife (Mauriers Ossart, 2001, p. 70). The cascading water was to symbolize the splendor of Paradise. Additionally, it had to act as music for visitors. These fountains also show that the construction of this site required a significant amount of engineering effort.Advertising Looking for essay on architecture? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apart from that, there are many pools in Alhambra and they reflect the facades of buildings. In many cases, such reflections appear to be more even more fascinating than the buildings themselves. This type of visual effects demonstrates the excellent of those architects who created these gardens. This is an example of how different elements of the Alhambra can interact with one another. Water does not serve only practical purposes such as cooling or refreshment. As it has been said before, fountains, pools and channels have to represent rivers of Paradise. They can also produce a very calming impression on the view. This is also an important function because the paradise garden must be a place of peace and tranquility. The second important aspect which should be discussed is the role of plants. In Islamic architecture, gardens can be divided into two categories: 1) bustan gardens which were used for agricultural purposes mostly, and 2) gulistan gardens that served mostly aesthetic p urposes and had to be pleasing to the eye (Bowden-Pickstock, 2009, p 130). The Alhambra gardens represent both these types. The thing is that there are many fig, olive and cedar trees in this place and their fruits fed many people who lived inside or outside the Alhambra (Bowden-Pickstock, 2009, p 130). Yet, these gardens are also fool of ornamental flowers which are planted their mostly for aesthetic reasons. Again, they create a structure and aesthetic union with buildings and fountains of the Alhambra. The choice of plants is also related to the concept of paradise. First of all, fig and olive trees are important for Islamic faith because they are mentioned in Quran (Bowden-Pickstock, 2009, p 135). Thus a paradise garden has to provide plenty of food to its dwellers and be pleasing to the eye of an onlooker at the same time. Therefore, one can argue the Alhambra was an attempt to recreate such a garden. Furthermore, this discussion should touch upon the importance of architecture and the use of geometry in the Alhambra. In the previous session, we have already mentioned that the Court of the Lyons was divided into four sections that were supposed to symbolize four parts of the world (Cornell, 2007, p. 101). Yet, this is only detail exemplifying the use of geometric forms. The interior and exterior sides of building located in the Alhambra are full of arabesques, rectangular figures or other decorative elements resembled flowers. In part, the entangled lines of arabesques symbolize growing plants and flowers in the garden. Secondly, the location of palaces is also important. The thing is that from outside palaces are virtually drowned by gardens. This impression is particularly strong when a person looks at the Alhambra from outside. Furthermore, there are no places within the Alhambra that do not have trees or flowers. Overall, this discussion shows that different elements of the Alhambra are supposed to conjure up the image of garden in which a person can be distracted from earthly problems. The selection of plants, fountains, the location of buildings, and various decorative elements such as arabesque were designed to recreate the image of the paradise garden. The metaphor of the garden is conveyed in several ways. First, one can speak about the emphasis on fountains and plants which can reflect the atmosphere of the paradise garden. Yet, one should not disregard the importance of architectural and decorative elements such as arabesques and columns symbolize flowers or trees. Overall, the theme of paradise is crucial for this architectural complex, and each element strives to emphasize the idea that this place is an attempt to recreate Paradise. Conclusion In the course of its history, Alhambra was redeveloped several times, but this architectural site retained its image of the paradise garden. Various elements of this complex symbolize the paradise garden, a concept which is very widespread in Islamic architecture. This complex evo lved from a fortress into one of the most beautiful courtly places in Spain. Certainly, it is not the first architectural complex that is based on the idea of the paradise garden, but it is definitely one of the most famous ones. References Bowden-Pickstock, S 2009, Quiet Gardens: The Roots of Faith?, Continuum International Publishing Group, New York. Cornell, V 2007, Voices of Islam: Voices of art, beauty, and science, Greenwood Publishing Group, New York. Lehrman, J 1980. Earthly Paradise: Garden and Courtyard in Islam, University of California Press, LA: Berkeley. Mauriers, A Ossart, E. 2001, Paradise Gardens, I.B.Tauris, London. MobileReference. 2007. Travel Andalusia, Spain for Smartphones and Mobile Devices Illustrated Travel Guide, Maps, and Phrasebook, MobileReference, New York.

Sustainable Management Futures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sustainable Management Futures - Essay Example Today, McDonald’s declares to be the leading global foodservice retailer (McDonald’s, 2011). There are more than 32,000 local restaurants in 117 countries which cater around 60 million people. As noticed, the number of people served increased more than twice from 1994. As a result, franchising strategy would make sense and in fact, 75% of McDonald’s restaurants globally are owned or operated by local business persons. McDonald’s believes that the world’s favorites among its product offerings are its world famous fries, big mac, quarter pounder, chicken mcnuggets, and egg mcmuffin. Just like any other existing big companies today, McDonald’s and its humble beginning is remarkable. Its founder Ray Kroc has successfully created a legacy by instituting a strong foundation leading to where McDonald’s is right now. The very goal of McDonald’s is to pass on the vision from generation to generation. As part of this, the firm continues t o invest on talented executives in order to continue the spark that McDonald’s tries to establish in the market. As a result, McDonald’s continues to recreate its innovative strategic moves that continue to become a cut above the other in the competition. In fact, McDonald’s is willing to try another competitive move just to be able to make sense among its consumers. For instance, the increasing trend of customers becoming health aware is a market opportunity for McDonald’s at some point. This is a great opportunity for the firm to try to stimulate needs for another market segment. This only proves that McDonald’s has never closed its doors for probable innovation as far as the market trends continue to make a difference. Analysis of the context Politics Politics is about power (Williams, 1998). In the United Kingdom, power in the government comes from the executive power of the Monarch as the head of the state and the Prime Minister as the head of government. These two are interrelated positions in the UK government which eventually have corresponding impact on how the business operates in the country. The Monarch has the supreme power in the state because it has the capacity to dismiss and appoint a Prime Minister. In general, the entire business environment may depend on the overall management of the head of the state. However, the specific function lies on the head of the government. Thus, any instability of the business operation in the state may be addressed importantly directly towards the head of the government. Economic The global economic recession is another important aspect that strongly linked the entire business environment and specific firm’s operation. McDonald’s surely is in line with the business that produces product and service offerings that are to be consumed at a specific range of time. The global economic crisis was a doorway for various firms to move into recession (United Nations Settle ments Programme, 2009). This is a specific indicator that business may not be working out well and various aspects should be taken into account such as employment, foreign direct investment, economic growth and more. In the midst of global economic downturn especially in the UK, McDonald’s surely has to struggle when it comes to hitting its maximum performance in all areas. The most

A Critical Review of Socrates Stances Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Critical Review of Socrates Stances - Essay Example Socrates stance is that the role of a philosopher in the society is parallel to that of a gadfly in stimulating a horse. As gadflies, philosophers have the responsibility of challenging the society to think clearly about things which may otherwise be taken for granted. Philosophers question the inconsistencies and fallacies that are acceptable to the rest of the society (8). Upham (71) supports this view of the Socratic gadfly, stating that philosophy involves uncovering assumptions, asking pertinent and unwelcome questions alongside mocking self seriousness. The analogy is immensely strong, as the gadfly is deemed irritating in a similar fashion by which philosophy in this approach may be quite unwelcome. The gadfly metaphor is of significant value in the academic and intellectual pursuit of philosophy since it spells out philosophers’ roles. This helps in defining practice of philosophy; without it, philosophy may be solely constrained to knowledge seeking and having no role s in society (72). ‘†¦the unexamined life is not worth living.’: In Socrates proposal for his sentence, he ponders the question of whether he should stop practicing philosophy and go into exile. To this, Socrates observes that the greatest good a man can do is to converse about virtues. He highlights the value of philosophy (examining self and others), arguing that an unexamined life is not worth living (Colaiaco 147). The context of this statement involves the issue of silencing Socrates from engaging in philosophy. As he explains in earlier passages, Socrates had been undertaking conversations with the â€Å"wise men† of Athens in a bid to determine their wisdom. Socrates believed in this as a divine calling, and in the process found out that much of the said wisdom was indeed self gratification and absent. The young people of Athens attended Socrates enquiries. Exposing the lack of wisdom among his respondents won Socrates many enemies, who then plotted h is downfall based on unfounded issues.  

USA Isolationism Essay Example for Free

USA Isolationism Essay Focus areas * What form did Isolationism take? * Why did successive presidents feel they had to follow this policy? * Why did the Isolationism era end? * Was the US truly Isolationist during this period? 1. THE BASIS FOR SUPPORT IN AMERICA FOR ISOLATIONISM * Dislike of entanglement For over 140 years there were no US forces in Europe, and many American wanted to return to this independence from the Western Hemisphere. There was a sense that they needed to escape the corrupted Old World. Many also felt that involvement in WW1 had been a mistake they had been tricked into making by bankers and arms manufacturers. * Sense of self-sufficiency Many Americans were unaware of the complex nature of the American economy and how it relied on the rest of the world. They were happy in the thought that America could provide for America and not need to rely on anyone else. * Domestic priorities Successive Presidents had to follow public opinion and put their emphasis on home affairs. For example, Roosevelt stressed this nationalistic approach during the depression and in hindsight this is understandable intervention in trouble might have hindered the New Deal 2. THE LIMITS OF ISOLATIONSIM * Economic and cultural influences All around the world American influence was being felt in fashions customs. The rest of the world saw US movies, drove Ford cars and drank Coca-Cola. Economically, the USA helped bring stability to countries through investment * Independent internationalism In reality America was not truly isolationist. They did have contacts and dealings with Europe, Asia S.America, although they made no commitments in the international arena or accepted any limitations on their freedom of action. It was involved in a wide spectrum of affairs e.g. economic expansion, German reparations, naval land disarmaments and international efforts to promote peace. Herbert Hoover was the man who oversaw this policy. He saw that it was vital for America to have a world fit to trade with. 3. THE PRACTICE OF ISOLATIONISM IN EUROPE AND LATION AMERICA * Economic assistance to Europe The USA loaned money ($110 million) to Germany so they could pay their reparations, which were in turn given back to the Americans by GB and France as payments for war debts. German reparations were also reorganised in 1924 1929 by Charles Dawes and Owen Young. It was seen as being in the interests of America to rebuild Europes economies as they consumed over 60% of Americas exports * International peace agreements The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) was the brainchild of the US Sec of State and the French Foreign Minister. This was beneficial to the USA, as only war could remove Americas economic dominance in the world. * Good Neighbour policy This relates to Americas policy in Latin America. It was first coined by FDR, but the policy was active in the 1920s. In this area the USA was far from isolationist, intervening or having its forces in many countries (eg Haiti). These were the actions of a country that thought they knew what was best for its neighbour. One example of this is its support for right-wing regimes (Nicaragua, Cuba, Dominican republic) to keep out any left-wing influence in latin America, which might endanger their economic interests there. 4. FDR AND ISOLATIONISM 1933-38 * Little response to external aggression FDR was restricted in the 1930s to talking about ways in which the US could influence others to keep peace. In the end his peace plans, such as that offered in Jan 1938, were not thought through. FDR offered gestures and a posture of helplessness as the world drifted to war. * Tide of opinion in the 1930s Throughout the 1930s the mood of the country was still isolationist. FDR could not go against the sentiments of the public, nor could he go against the Isolationists in Congress, who he needed to pass his New Deal legislation. * Neutrality legislation Passed between 1935 1937, these were designed to prevent a repeat of the events of 1917 it said that the USA should not trade with any belligerents in times of war, nor should they provide loans. These tie FDRs hands and encouraged the aggressors. 5. THE END OF ISOLATIONISM * Preparation for war The ground work was already being made before Pearl Harbour for the US to enter the war on the side of the Allies. Co-operation with GB extended in 1941 with Anglo-American naval planning; the US navy occupied Greenland to build naval bases; the US marines were sent to Iceland to prevent a possible German invasion; US merchant ships were armed before Pearl Harbour in response to German U-boat attacks; US helped GB navy to pinpoint U-boat positions; the US possibly provoked the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbour. * Action rather than words to counter Japanese and German aggression American destroyers were swapped for leases of GB bases in the Western Hemisphere (Sept, 1940) and a conscription bill was agreed in the same month. In March 1941 the Lend Lease agreement was made this in realty was a declaration of economic warfare against the axis powers. * Continued strong opposition to American intervention in the Second World War After 1939, FDR was trying to educate the American public of the threat to US security if the Axis powers won, but isolationist feeling was still strong in July 1939. As well as the rejection of a proposed revision o the Neutrality laws, during most of 1940 1941, 80% of Americans opposed a declaration of war against the Axis powers, but did favour aid to victims of axis aggression.

The Reconstruction of African History

The Reconstruction of African History This context will analyze the contribution of historian B.A Ogot in the reconstruction of the African History. It will explore Kenya as one of the African nations and/ or countries where the work of B.A Ogot has contributed a lot in historical reconstruction. His significance in history can be accredited to the fact that his life was surrounded by the major events with specific reference to the independence period among other events that has built the history of this nation. In order to understand his contributions to the study topic, both his past and current dispositions will be analyzed by reviewing his literature that he has produced over the years. Following this, this study will also highlight various historical processes from the pre-colonial time to colonial administration in Kenya based on the Mau Mau organization, composition and its impacts. His reconstruction of Africans History The work of B.A Ogot presents various aspects of both pre-colonial history and colonial era in Africa. According to the researches conducted based on his contribution into the African history with reference to Atieno (2002) in The challenges of History and leadership in Africa, his main role was to offer defense for humanity, durability, historicity, complexity and wealth of African societies together with their culture. He offered criticism on studies based on African institutions and customary practices that were said to have failed in offering any defense to African history through adherence to African ideas of the universe, destiny and its existence. He examines the main aspects of Nilotic societies and cultures based on the concept of Jok  [1]  . This term is found in different forms of Nilotic languages whose meaning is God, spirit, Ghost among others. Ogot had immense interest in the institutional practices and the history of African thought for instance religion which was captured in his three essays he wrote. On making of a sanctuary is the essay that examines padhola religion that has been said to be contented in Jok concept and cannot be understood beside Nilotic culture. Ogot trace changes imposed in Padhola religion by the migration of Nilotes to the south, establishment of Bura shrine as a worshipping place, other denominational rivals and the infiltration of strangers among padhola in nineteenth century. Ogot embarked on effects of European religiosity on the lives of the Luo people, which led to religious contradictions in Nyanza. According to Ogot, there exists a complex process of converting first African Christians based on their motivations, training, sacrifices and evangelical activities among others. He presented how the first African Christians faced troubles from the European missionaries, African chiefs and the c olonial government. The religious struggle led to the establishment of Anglican Church in which Mango broke and founded his own church the holy ghost church. Both religious contradictions and conflicts resulted to the murder of Mango in 1934 during an attack that sprouted on the village he belongs. The essay A community of their own Ogot looked at both the rise and effects of the Maria legion of African church that resulted from a reformation of Roman Catholic Church in Nyanza. Ogot is argued to have been normalizing African initiatives, cultural systems, choices, activities and adaptations through analyzing religious based on their terms. He also showed how religion resisted toward the colonial rule in Africa. The emergence of the Nomiya Luo church and Church of Christian Africans offer a better indicator of resistance to colonial rule and/ or power. In his essay on Kingship and statelessness Among the Nilotes, he challenged the racist hypothesis that holds that, there exists a correlation between degr ee of political evolution and the peoples hamitic blood. Based on this hypothesis, he suggested that the establishment of both Shilluk and Bunyoro kingdoms was based on factors such as political, economic and military. In his work, Ogot identified segmentary states that were observed to be less advanced as compared to the Bunyoro Kingdom. Examples of these segmentary states include the Ruothships that belongs to Luo and Acholi and the stateless societies of the Dinka and Nuer. The work of Ogot showed that the process of state formation comprises different groups of people and other historical contexts. Ogot produced many essays that enable one to trace his contribution to the reconstruction of the African history from Kenyans independence to date  [2]  . There was only one essay that concentrated on the colonial state alone while others lay emphasis on the anti-colonial resistance: For instance, the Mau Mau movement that was Kenyas liberation movement during the colonial period or era. Ogot highlighted the colonial rule and its contradiction nature in Kenya and Africa as a whole. His work presented the view that the colonial state and/ or the conquest were observed to be both authoritarian and weak as it lacked legitimacy. Another contribution of Ogot is that through his work, he describes how illiterate and incom petent officials in Africa struggled to cope with colonial version of administration, the missionarys roles, impacts of both the first and Second World War, religious movements and the reformist political associations that resulted from the educated elite. Through the work of Ogot, it is clear that a connection exists between local and national manifestations of what was referred to as nationalism. Ogot explains why the nationalist party KAU failed to establish itself in Nyanza. He argued that Kikuyu leadership in KAU was the major cause of its failure in Nyanza since they only focused on land grievances in kikuyu, which had little connection with Nyanza. According to Ogot, Mau Mau movement had historical significance since it was based on Kenyas decolonization. The goals of this movement were to make Kenya a nation in other words, to nationalize Kenya but we cannot call this movement a national movement since it was confined to one part of Kenya that is the Central Kenya. In addition, B.A Ogot focuses on both the ideology and social composition of Mau Mau and its origin in the context of African imagination and colonial era.  [3]  His writing focused on the people especially those who supported the movement and who opposed it amon g the kikuyu community. He indicated that the class and ideological divisions among kikuyu people mainly implicated the variations between the loyalist and fighters. These variations were based on access to land, affinities to Christianity and traditional culture, attitudes based on constitutionalism among others. He further showed that the differentiation of memories, age, political ecologies in terms of location and dreams about the future accounts for variations. It has been argued that, songs played a major role in peoples culture because people use songs to express their visions, problems, social values and appropriate possibilities. It was therefore through songs that the Mau Mau movement came into practice in Kenya as people expressed their demand for decolonization after a long period of suffering from the colonial states. Through songs, people were able to mobilize each other therefore reinforcing their strength and spirits of other supporters. According to him, the use of songs implicated that the Mau Mau movement was anti-colonial movement fighting for the decolonization of Kenya. These songs were sang in kikuyu language, symbols, history and legends and this explains why they were said to limit their accessibility and their national appeal. Another contribution of B.A Ogot in the reconstruction of African history is showed on his analyses of The birth of national language. During colonial era most of Africans in Kenya lacked national language since the European language used by the elite lacked nationality in it The researches conducted by B.A Ogot on national language showed that kikuyu was first made a national language because the origin of Mau Mau movement took its roots in Central Kenya  [4]  . The elites borrowed their language from the European and/ or colonial state but were few to make the language a national one. Mau Mau left behind legacy in Kenya based on the inherent biases and propaganda that its still in practiced in Kenya of today. He analyses how different and important figures of Mau Mau movement were arrested and detained with unintended outcomes. Ogot has addressed several critical issues that faced African societies from the colonial period to independence. He examined Africa in terms of politics, leadership, culture, development, identities, and functions of universities and impacts of globalizalisation on Africa. Through his work, Ogot urge writers to investigate more into the social realities that resulted to the current forms of leaders and treat Africans as evil.  [5]  The corruption presented by the modern African elite began during the colonial period with writers such as Elspeth Huxley who was said to have had distrusted the over educated African elite. It was argued that most of African nationalist used political slogans of the western during their struggle against the colonial states. In conclusion, the African history is a complex process of historical events that occurred from colonial era to date. The study highlights that the struggle for African history began with the view of Ogots generations and continue s to the current generation meaning that as we come up with new topics, theories and methodologies we must adhere to the mission that Inspired Ogott generation.

Case Study Discussion: Walgreen Co. Essay

Please discuss the following: Review the Balance sheet of the latest Walgreen Co. 10k Filing. Select two of the following questions to review/discuss: 1. Which current assets are the most significant? 2. Which non-current assets are the most significant? 3. Asset the level of debt and risk that Walgreen has by looking only at the balance sheet. 4. Evaluate the creditworthiness of Walgreen based on the balance sheet 5. Does Walgreen use off-balance sheet financing? Explain your answer. 6. Compute the current ratio and debt ratio for the past two years. 1. Which Walgreen current assets are the most significant? In 2011, Inventories were the most significant current asset ($8,044 million). The Inventories section of Note 1, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, advises Walgreen Co. valued 2011 inventories with the last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost method. Had Walgreen elected to use the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost basis for the 2011 inventories would have been greater by $1,587 million. GAAP permits companies to select which inventory accounting method they will use to report inventories (LIFO or FIFO). Companies must state the method selected in the financial statement notes. Most companies calculate the value for both methods and select the method with the lower tax liability. For the past couple of decades, costs have risen (inflation). LIFO has been a popular choice as it produces the largest cost of goods sold expense, the greater the expense deduction the lower the taxable income. 6.Compute the current ratio and debt ratio for the past two years. Current Ratio = Current Assets Current Liabilities Debt Ratio = Total Liabilities Total Assets 2011 2010 Current Assets $12,322.00 $11,922.00 Current Liabilities $8,083.00 $7,433.00 Current Ratio 1.52 1.60 2011 2010 Total Liabilities $12,607.00 $11,875.00 Total Assets $27,454.00 $26,275.00 Debt Ratio 45.9% 45.2% Current Ratio measures a company’s ability to pay current liabilities as they come due. It is a measure of short-term liquidity, an indicator of how easily a company can pay amounts due for the next 12 months. A current ration greater than 1.0 is considered healthy as it indicates a company can meet all its upcoming expense for the next twelve months. With a debt ratio of 1.52, Walgreen appears very health. Of concern, is the decrease from a  2010 debt ratio of 1.60. Further investigation is warranted. If this trend continues it could indicate mismanagement of company assets. A look at the notes gives a clue into the reason for the decline. Note 4, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, state in 2011 Walgreen completed several acquisitions. Through the acquisitions, Walgreen assumed additional debt. The increase in liabilities explains the decrease in current ratio. With this in mind, current ratio is within acceptable limits. Debt Ratio indicates the percentage of the company financed by debt. It measures solvency, an indicator of a company’s ability to pay back long term debt when due. A low debt ratio indicates less financial risk and strong solvency. Debt ratios greater than 100% indicate a company has too much debt and will have trouble paying back principal with interest. Walgreen’s debt ratio for 2011 is 45.9%, up 0.7% from 2010. Considering the increase in assets and liabilities from the acquisitions Walgreen completed in 2011, a 0.7% increase in debt ratio is acceptable. A debt ratio of 45.9% indicates Walgreen is solvent and should have no issues paying back long term debt as payments come due. References Schoenebeck, K. P., & Holtzman, M. P. (2010). Chapter 1 – Balance Sheet. In Interpreting and analyzing financial statements: A project-based appro2ach (pp. 38-39). Boston [u.a.: Prentice Hall. Ormiston, A., & Fraser, L. M. (2013). The Balance Sheet. In Understanding financial statements (10th ed., pp. 56-59). New York, NY: Pearson Education.

Principle Economics Essay

In your view, what is economics? Economics has been defined as the allocation of scarce resources among many different players.   Simply understood as mere supply and demand, Economics can also be made to apply to more complex systems such as production frontiers and economies of scale.   Put simply, economics can be understood as the study of how different market systems interact with each other in order to provide each with the resources that they desire. The law of diminishing returns is short run analysis. True or false? The law of diminishing returns is a long run analysis.   It basically postulates that for every additional input that is added to the production scale, the resulting output per unit will increase up to a certain point then start to increase.   This is a long run analysis because it factors in the effect of additional units of input vis-à  -vis output on the production scale over a long period of time.   Such effects cannot be tracked in a short term scale and if done would most probably be inaccurate. Demand and Supply are operating forces in the market. How then can the equilibrium achieved? The supply-demand model is one of the fundamental concepts of economics. The price level of a good essentially is determined by the point at which quantity supplied equals quantity demanded. To illustrate, consider the following case in which the supply and demand curves are plotted on the same graph. Supply and Demand On this graph, there is only one price level at which quantity demanded is in balance with the quantity supplied, and that price is the point at which the supply and demand curves cross. The law of supply and demand predicts that the price level will move toward the point that equalizes quantities supplied and demanded. To understand why this must be the equilibrium point, consider the situation in which the price is higher than the price at which the curves cross. In such a case, the quantity supplied would be greater than the quantity demanded and there would be a surplus of the good on the market. Specifically, from the graph we see that if the unit price is $3 (assuming relative pricing in dollars), the quantities supplied and demanded would be: Quantity Supplied = 42 units Quantity Demanded = 26 units Therefore there would be a surplus of 42 – 26 = 16 units. The sellers then would lower their price in order to sell the surplus. Suppose the sellers lowered their prices below the equilibrium point. In this case, the quantity demanded would increase beyond what was supplied, and there would be a shortage. If the price is held at $2, the quantity supplied then would be: Quantity Supplied = 28 units Quantity Demanded = 38 units Therefore, there would be a shortage of 38 – 28 = 10 units. The sellers then would increase their prices to earn more money. The equilibrium point must be the point at which quantity supplied and quantity demanded are in balance, which is where the supply and demand curves cross. From the graph above, one sees that this is at a price of approximately $2.40 and a quantity of 34 units.

Importance of Stakeholders Essay Example

Importance of Stakeholders Essay Example Importance of Stakeholders Essay Importance of Stakeholders Essay The importance of stakeholders has increased over recent years. Previously, shareholders were deemed as the main consideration for organisations. After all, these are the people that invest in the company. This is known as stockholder theory and is closely associated with Milton Friedman (1970). Friedman believed that an organisations primary responsibility is to increase its profits for the benefit of shareholders. This was demonstrated in the Dodge v Ford Motor Company case in 1919. Henry Ford deemed that the company had made too much profit, and wanted to share these profits with the public (stakeholders potential customers) by reducing the cost of vehicles. However, shareholders challenged this development and won the case in the Supreme Court, when the court ruled that a business was for the purpose of making profit for its investors. This view has changed in the past 80+ years since this case. Whilst shareholders are an important element to an organisation, they are only one group of stakeholders that organisations have a duty to. It is now recognised that organisations have obligations to other groups that have a vested interest its operations. This change in thinking has led to the development of the stakeholder theory, advocated by Freeman (1984). This theory argues that there are a number of groups to whom businesses are accountable to when determining strategy and pursuing objective(s). The traditional belief is that only direct links to a business, such as shareholders, customers and employees have an input into organisational decisions. But as previously mentioned, stakeholders are not just internal to the organisation itself. When commenting on the importance of stakeholders, Halal (1996:64) referred to a stakeholder model of the organisation. This model views the organisation as a socio-economic system composing of various equally important groups, a view which links in with Freemans theory. Halal believes in the theory of the nature of the firm. In this theory, its stated that managers are dependent on stakeholders and have a need to combine the unique resource each stakeholder contributes, such as investor capital, talents of employees etc. This is a valid viewpoint and builds on the stakeholder theory by identifying the importance of such groups. An organisation that embraces the stakeholder theory is the ING group. In a speech at the Georgetown Business Ethics Institute in 2002, Ewald Krist, the CEO of ING stated: Greater influence is now put on organisations by external stakeholders, such as society itself. Shell fell foul of this in the early 1990s with its Brent Spar plant. The plant, decommissioned in 1991, was due to be dismantled by Shell and disposed of via Deepwater disposal. This created outrage from environmental groups with a belief that the seas should be kept clean. This led both Shell and the UK Government to look at alternate options, with Shell abandoning the deepwater plans in 1995. The plant was finally disposed of in 1999 after long discussions with various stakeholders, and the majority of the construction was used to form a new quay in Norway, a solution acceptable to environmental groups, along with other stakeholders. This showed that even large global companies had important stakeholders to answer to. Shareholders are still an extremely powerful stakeholder. Investors primarily concentrate on profit maximisation but this is not the most important consideration for other stakeholders such as customers, contractors or the local community. There have been numerous occurrences of shareholders ousting directors and chairmen. The most recent one occurred this month, when the chief executive of Deutsche Telecom, Kai-Uwe Ricke resigned after losing the support of key shareholders in the organisation (the German government and private equity firm, Blackstone). FT.com reported that support was lost due to poor results and plans to move 45,000 jobs to lower paid areas. This shows the difficulty in keeping all stakeholders happy. By moving the jobs, it should have increased the profitability of the organisation, and therefore would please shareholders. However, this conflicts with the unions viewpoint, which looks after the workforce and did not want to see profits increase at the expense of employees. Many organisations hit problems when trying to change their strategy. Even basic changes can be met with disdain from certain stakeholders, e. g.

korean temple essays

korean temple essays Talk about irony. Buddhist monks, those shaven-headed figures in gray robes, choose to leave this earthly world (that is, mundane society) in favor of an ascetic existence based on prayer and self-denial. But now their unworldly lifestyle is becoming a tourist product... with the monastics' approval! Monastic life as a tourist attraction? It's part of a global craze for monasticism. From the Himalayas to the Hudson River, monks are in. Japanese salarymen are chucking their jobs and fleeing to monasteries. In Taiwan last year, monasticism become big news. Hundreds of families were shocked when their promising sons and daughters opted for Buddhist monastic life instead of comfy careers in business. Meanwhile, in the United States, at least one monastery finds it necessary to turn away would-be novices. we are not soliciting vocations, the monastery says gently The worldwide renewal of interest in monasticism has reached out to Korean Buddhists too. People are interested in Buddhist monks and how they live. Many people, whether seeking enlightenment or just fed up with the noise and glitz of consumer society, would like to try the monastic way of living. So why not give them a taste of it? That is precisely what monasteries in Korea are doing. They offer tourists a brief but revealing look inside Buddhist Monasticism. Western usually think of Buddhism as a religion of vegetarians who expect to be reincarnated after leaving this world at death. Buddhists aim to correct this oversimplified image. Buddhism has a long and complex history. It originated in India some 2,600 years ago and was introduced to Korea in about the fourth century A.D. Since then, Buddhism has exercised a tremendous influence on Korean culture and produced many widely admired works of art. Pulguksa Temple are Sokkuram Grotto, built in the eight century, are two of the most famous examples of Buddhist art and architecture. ...

A contract to enter into a contract is not enforceable. when contract Essay

A contract to enter into a contract is not enforceable. when contract is subject to Negotiation, it is too uncertain to have a binding force - Essay Example ses the Courts have generally demonstrated a tendency to render a decision on the basis of interpretation of such agreements, taking into account all the circumstances of the case. In the case of contracts where the price for a service or transaction is to be determined, this element of uncertainty has become even more relevant. The extent to which Courts have allowed recoveries in some cases has been determined by the extent to which damages may be suffered by one party, but when there is uncertainty introduced into the contract or pre-contractual agreement, such recoveries may be difficult. In the case of Courtney and Fairbairn Ltd v Tolaini Bros(Hotels) Ltd2 the appellants were property developers and had secured finances for the defendants to develop a hotel. Prior to the appellants securing the monies, they had entered into negotiations with the defendants; there was a written agreement between them that the defendants would negotiate to use the services of the appellant to develop the hotel property. However, when the appellant actually secured the finances, the defendants went ahead and hired different property developers rather than using the services of the appellants. This led to the legal action. Lord Denning, in providing the judgment on the case, pointed out that there had been some preliminary steps taken by both parties as an act of good faith in pursuance of their negotiations. Mr. Courtney of the appellants found a person willing to finance the property development, while the defendant Mr. Toliani appointed a quantity surveyor with a view to negotiating the price with Mr. Courtney. There was a written agreement between them; however Lord Denning did not equate this to a contract. He held that there was no actionable contract between the two parties because the agreement between them was only an agreement â€Å"to negotiate fair and reasonable contract sums†, and no agreement could be found â€Å"on the price or on any method by which the price was to

Formal Analysis Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Formal Analysis Assignment - Essay Example The art places Christ in a liminal state transforming from death to life. The picture depicted is much calm and motionless as the final moments described by the Scripture1. For an artist who painted modern paintings, religion appears as an odd space indeed for Manet’s artistic skills. The style in which he composed Christ and the angels (with a careful attention to detailed copying of costumes, models, and stage) in design relation to the other parts of the piece, it definitely sums up to a notion of admiration. By looking at the piece of the dead Christ, It is difficult to establish whether a controversial effect was Manet’s objective with the piece. The intent is obviously contentious, but the level of artistic amazement is unquestionably classic. A profound streak of color is used by Manet to thicken Jesus’s face. Closer to his forehead top, varying smudges of maroon represents the appearance of desiccated, scaly blood. Manet uses Harsh yellow hues to emphasize the tip of nose of Christ, the curves just beneath Christ’s eyebrows and the apples of his cheekbones, while his nose and sunken-in eyes sockets are depicted using darker hues. Christ’s mouth and eyes are half-open. The spread of shadow transversely on face results in his head appearing to recede in the background. The white shading of fabric covering up his lower body justly dominates the composition. On both sides of this imposing corpse of Christ, two women, costumed in bright, colorful clothes and unusual angels’ wings, appear to attend to the lifeless body. The angels’ colorful looks fail to overshadow the Christ’s body’s overwhelming grimness. Out of the combination of repugnance and beauty, pallor and color, a to tally comfortless Christ emerged. The artist is demonstrative in his pallet exploration, and there’s no mix up with the pathos created in the scene. The Dense folds of clothes that cover Christ’s body instill the artist’s mastery of