A Case Study of Change: Obesity

A Case Study of Change: Obesity Obesity in primary care has become an increasingly common problem. Like any other medical condition overweight and obese patients should have access to appropriate treatment and care using a delicate, understanding and non-judgemental approach. Weight loss in primary care is of interest for the purposes of improving a persons quality of life. During the study the author will explore the prevalence of obesity using the geographical trust region with a population of 158,000 (Office of National Statistics (ONS) 2007) in comparison with the town centre based practice where the author works as a trainee nurse practitioner. The practice has a mixed socioeconomic, predominately (95.53%) White British population of 15, 186 (Annual Public Health Report 2008). Local authority with in which the author works has been ranked as 49th most deprived out of the 354 local authorities in England in 2007 in the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007 (IMD 2007). Although obesity is increasing at the same rat e in all social classes, the prevalence of obesity is higher in lower socio-economic groups, particularly in women (Henderson and Gregory 2002). The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) developed guidelines on identifying and treating obesity in 2006 following on from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN 1996), this in turn along with Primary care service Framework 2007 has lead to Health Care Professionals looking at ways to gain the background knowledge, provide and implement a service to deliver integrated obesity management enabling patients to change their eating and activity habits and motivate obese individuals to lose weight, maintain weight lose and increase fitness in accordance with the White paper (2004). It is also thought that additional training in behavioural counselling maybe vital when assessing a patients readiness to accept change (Drummond 2000). Individuals who are not emotionally ready to tackle the issue of lifestyle changes are more likely to fail. Dealing with obesity in the practice setting can be achieved by setting up specific lifestyle clinics dedicated to offering support and advice to patients who wish to lose weight or maintain a healthier lifestyle looking specifically at behaviour change. This clinic can run alongside or in conjunction with existing chronic disease and routine Health check clinics with self referral or healthcare professional referal. By helping the patient look at how unhealthy behaviours can be an element of their lifestyle and daily choices (see table 1) it is possible to suggest ways in which to change in a mutually agreed plan of care. Awareness and knowledge of what change is required and why, are fundamental first steps in enabling change to occur. Motivation is an essential part of nearly everything we do. Regular reviews can provide motivation and change behaviour through incentives and penalties. Personal factors, such as individuals self motivation, drive and desire to improve their appearance and health are also important. Target and objectives can influence how much people want to change but their priorities and commitments may also obstruct their ability to change. Change to clinical practice can only be successful if the reasons for introducing the change are clear, compatible with current practice and ideas and the process is planned carefully in advance (Davis1999). Change theories share common factors. To ascertain behavioural change, according to these theories, patients need the desire to make a change, have the ability to make the change, believe that they will have a better quality of life if they make the change, believe that the change is right for them, and discover how and when to make changes. Obesity management needs an integrated approach involving a multi-disciplinary team of Healthcare Professionals. General Practice is an ideal starting point to influence and initiate management strategies. Healthcare professionals need better training and access to management programmes that include dietary advice, physical activity and behavioural change if they are to initiate the policy effectively. For the programme to succeed the patient needs to be the central component. Obesity does not lend itself to the classical medical model where the condition is diagnosed, treatment prescribed and then the professional responsible for the outcome. It is ultimately the patient who is in control over their decision to proceed and succeed. Weight lose/maintenance is not easy for obese/overweight patients, many of whom have already tried and failed in controlling their weight. It is the role of the primary care team to support and encourage weight management and lifestyle change. In an attem pt to achieve these changes in behaviour management are vital. Eating and physical activity are human behaviours which can be modified even though they are predisposed by a complicated set of factors. If in practice the overweight/obese patient was identified and advised of the fact, they simply wouldnt care. Consultation with the patient and establishing if they recognise they have a weight problem using a sensitive and respectful manner is the first essential step to change. It is then possible to produce a plan of action involving providing information and eliciting the patients views about their weight as well as details about their weight history and any previous attempts at weight loss. The early stages of consultation are about building a rapport with the patient through active listening. Communications skills are essential to implement a behavioural approach effectively (NICE 2007). Professionals should also have the ability to express consideration, build self-belief and provide clear, structured and relevant information. Raising the issue of lifestyle changes can be extremely difficult to talk about as the patient may feel uncomfortable and they may feel responsible. This could have a negative effect on the patient-professional relationship (Drummond 2000). As a professional it can be maintained that we have a duty of care to discuss the importance of a behavioural approach in managing obesity and its practical application in helping overweight patients achieve and maintain behavioural changes. Pearson 2003 suggests that ‘linking weight to a current health concern is often an appropriate way to introduce weight management issues. Advice should be individualised to condition and patient. By providing the patient with the appropriate information to help them make informed decisions about their health behaviour is part of the professional role. By individualising programmes to assist/support patients in changing their lifestyle for good can give them the incentive to lose some weight or prevent further weight gain. There is always the risk at this point that the patient will abandon the change process altogether. Behaviour change theory examines the difference between models of behaviour and theories of change (Darnton 2008). Models of behaviour identify us with specific behaviours, by pointing out the underlying factors which influence them. By contrast, theories of change illustrate behaviour change over time. The theories are complementary to each other; understanding both is essential in order to improve successful advances in behaviour change. Numerous models can be incorporated together to assist in understanding the reasons for our behaviour and how they interrelate but also help us work out the relationships between the reasons to allow us to envisage the behavioural outcomes. Tim Jackson writes ‘models reveal factors where policy can work (Jackson 2005). Models essentially recommend a feature menu for policy makers to choose from making no one model the perfect model but giving the policy maker choice and flexibility to use several different models. Social-psychologist Kurt Lewins Change Theory (1951) involves group work to change habitual behaviours, using an unfreezing, restructure, refreezing guide in which habitual behaviours (attitudes, values and behaviours) are studied by the group and reorganised, before being reintegrated back into everyday routines (Coghlan and Brannick, 2003; Coghlan and Claus, 2005; Lewin, 1951). Lewins work on change has provided the basis for many later advances in change theories (Lewin 1951). Lewins change theory will be the basic model for the proposed change in practice. Lewins early research entailed changing the patterns of diet in America and is therefore particularly relevant to issues, such as obesity, that we face today. Lewin concluded ‘that we are likely to modify our own behaviour when we participate in problem analysis and solution and more likely to carry out decisions we helped to make (Lewin 1951). Unfreezing is a reflective process that involves unlearning without removing own uniqueness and difficult relearning and restructuring of thoughts, awareness, beliefs and way of thinking. In the planning process of change this critical starting point for change can be overlooked. Three pre-conditions simultaneously need to be satisfied for current patterns of behaviour to unfreeze. Firstly ‘disconfirming information which involves disproving a theory. Secondly Lewin (1951) suggested creating ‘guilt or survival anxiety, getting patients to accept behaviour is incorrect but this destructs self-esteem and identity. The third pre-condition was that disconfirming information could also create what he termed ‘learning anxiety. This creates a sense of weakness, a feeling that change cant be initiated due to being unable to learn quickly enough to enable a move into a new situation and adapting inadequately often looks more acceptable than risking failure in the learning pr ocess. Overcoming learning anxiety is probably the hardest and most critical element in unfreezing. Unfreezing is the most significant and complicated part of any change process, and also the most difficult to achieve as self-esteem and identity securely control people. Yet achieving this is not the end but a gateway to the next level Lewins (1951) next stage, ‘restructuring, also had three elements beginning with reorganising thinking. He called this ‘cognitive redefinition and it is at the heart of much of todays ‘systemic thinking (Senge 1990). Albert Einstein quoted ‘the significant problems we have cannot be solved at the same level of thinking with which we created them. It is therefore essential to meet and communicate with others to look at the same problem in different ways. Lewin (1951) then suggested ‘managed learning. ‘Imitation or identification is the simplest way of learning in this situation. Learning by copying those we respect and trust. This process is very evident today in standard setting and peer-based learning. Lewin (1951) suggested learning in this way to be shallow and superficial; seen as an easy alternative in a difficult situation as it is a case of doing what has been advised without really understanding the implications of why it is being done. Kurt Lewin (1951) therefore favoured a different means of learning that he called ‘scanning. This meant seeking alternative sources of information including reading, travel and conversation with people from different backgrounds in order to obtain an accurate understanding of your own situation and adapt accordingly. The problem he saw with peer approaches was that if nobody had research a subject in detail data was incomplete. And if the new behaviour isnt correct for the behaviour and understanding of the learner then it becomes ‘disconfirming. The final element of Lewins model (1951) is ‘refreezing: making things stick. What he found was that working with ‘gatekeepers, collectively, through ‘scanning rather than ‘identification creates change that sticks and becomes eventually refrozen into the new norm. Lewin offers a basis for change within an ever changing environment. Health Belief Model Janz and Becker 1984 was influenced by Kurt Lewins theories (1951) which state that perceptions of reality, rather than objective reality, influence behaviour. For an obese patient to perceive the effects their weight has on their lifestyle they need to be able to admit they have a weight problem. The stages of change model Prochaska and Diclemente 1984 describes change as a process, broken down into a series of stages through which individuals progress, dependent on the degree of interest in the desired outcome of the individual. The concept of change is that the patient considers the consequences of actions for changing behaviour, what their desired outcome is and which results in a contract to make change. Changing habits happens gradually and often people will need to go through stages of the cycle many times before they achieve lasting change. Gottlieb 2004 suggested that the stages of change model conceived that everyone is on a journey of change, beginning with limited knowledge and progressing through numerous stages to achieve change. ‘Societal models are also important to those developing policies and change as often it is necessary to work on the background factors limiting behavioural options directly. Enabling change is not just about changing a persons perception of these material factors (e.g. cost). The Main Determinants of Health model (Dahlgren and Whitehead 1991) needs to be incorporated into obesity management and is a good ‘Societal model. The model shows the individuals behaviour as one element, beneath four other ‘tiers of influencing factors including social and economic factors, cultural factors, environmental factors and also the services that are available locally. Since Lewins field theory (1951), theoretical approaches to change have recommended developing theory through practice. Piloting and evaluation, followed by figuring learning back in, are the final stages in a process of intervention development which can be characterised as learning through doing. Guidance on policy development needs to be clear; however, it must also be flexible to different frameworks. Evaluation of any policy is undoubtedly important. Obesity as we have seen is measured in many different ways. Evaluations should measure change in the intended behaviour among the consultation group, as well as the effect on the key influencing factors. Process evaluation concentrates on how a program is put into practice rather than the outcome. It asks how services are delivered, differences between the intended population and the population served, how programmes are accessed and managed. It aims to provide an explanation of how or why proposed outcomes of the project were (or were not) met. Information from process evaluations can be used to decide future action, looking at whether a program should be abandon and a new plan of action devised , revise the current program (or components of it) to improve delivery, or how best to deliver it. This type of evaluation may also provide understanding about a programmes cultural, socio-political, legal and economic contexts that affect i mplementation Impact evaluation measures overall achievements; it is interested with the direct result of a program when it is finished. It should include a way of measuring unintended effects of a program, as well as the individuals targeted by the programme. Outcome Evaluation measures program goals and is concerned with longer term benefits of the program among the targeted population, and by how much. Monitoring of outcome is useful and necessary to determine whether outcomes were achieved within a specified timescale (Health Promotion, 2002), whereas evaluation attributes the changes observed to the intervention tested The models and theories used to underpin the intervention may then be reassessed in the framework of the target behaviour, and understanding of the behaviour itself assist in progression to the closing phase of the cycle in which learning from the evaluation is fed back into the policy process. As part of the evaluation process, the appropriateness of the behavioural models used in the intervention should be assessed. Evaluation findings should update the development of the intervention itself and future interventions in similar policy areas. Audit is a technique that can be used to monitor then maintain or improve the quality of care and services provided. It is the method used ‘to assess, evaluate and improve the care of patients in a systematic way, to enhance their health and quality of life (Irvine 1991) Structural audits are undertaken in relation to what resources there are available, suitability and access to the clinics, access to continued support either 1:1, self-help, buddying up with others, web based support or group and also the staff available to run the clinic looking at skill mix. Process audits focus on what was done to a patient, where clinical protocols and guidelines followed and did they work in practice. The audit may look at how an individual or the team operate, looking at waiting times from referral, patient recall for review, management plans, record keeping, communication between the patient and staff. Outcome audits relate to the impact of the team or services provided on the patient. This could be achieved through patient satisfaction questionnaires provided at the start of the intervention, part way through and on reaching target. Has there been an impact on their lifestyle and if so was this a positive experience or has it had a negative effect on their lives. Clinical audit gives valuable insight into how effective a service is being provided by systematically collecting and analysing data on current practice. This allows the lifestyle team to become involved in assessing the effectiveness of their interventions. Clinical audit can help identify areas of behaviour and management which meet required standards, identify area which could be improved, promote changes in problem areas, improve quality of patient care, develop Healthcare Professional skills, give direction for the most effective use of resources and evaluating how successfully changes have been implemented. Audit is also an important part of clinical governance, there to encourage the continual monitoring and improvement of healthcare services. When designing an audit many factors need to be considered (see table 2) A fixed date of 6 months would be agreed from the start for the collection of data and interpretation of the results initially but then audit would continue as long as needed to provide information to continue improving the service. Cost effectiveness also needs to be evaluated. Cost-effective analysis compares the cost-benefit ratio for one intervention against an alternative intervention. Benefits maybe expressed as patient-orientated health outcomes such as quality of life. The economic impact of lifestyle change maybe assessed in terms of direct costs, indirect costs and intangible costs. Direct costs arise from the use of health care resources and if the direct cost of providing treatment is lower than the direct cost of illness, the treatment is cost-saving for the health care system. Indirect costs look at the cost of illness to the economy. The broader costs to society and the economy from weight problems already cost the wider economy in the region of  £16 billion, and is set to rise to  £50 billion per year by 2050 if left unchecked (Department of Health 2009). Intangible costs are monetary values attached to the physical or psychological effects of illness, such as joint and back pain, breathlessness, varicose veins and gallbladder problems. Obesity is estimated to cost the National Health Service approximately  £4.2 billion (Department of Health 2009). Simple activities like getting around can be problematic for an obese individual (Drummond 2000). Quality of life for an obese person is thought to be less than optimal and this can lead to psychological problems. Intangible costs of illness maybe compared with the intangible costs of treatment, such as surgery.

Lao Tzu and Machiavelli’s View of “The People”

Azhar A. Sapargaliyeva Professor Hammerbeck Introduction to Critical Issues 18 September 2012 Compare Lao Tzu’s and Machiavelli’s view of â€Å"the people†. How does each author’s conceptualization of â€Å"the people† affect what kind of government they support? Life experience, culture, language, time of living and many other factors affected Lao Tzu’s and Niccolo Machiavelli’s views on how an ideal leader ought to govern a country. These views, expressed in their texts, reflected on how these writers perceived the fellow men. Lao Tzu is a Chinese philosopher and founder of Daoism.He is the author of a philosophical document called â€Å"Tao-te Ching†. Niccolo Machiavelli, is a 15th century aristocrat and a writer, mostly famous for his political treatise, â€Å"The Prince†. This essay will attempt to analyze both authors’ views on human nature and the way these views affected the types of government supported. A s mentioned above different lives of Lao Tzu and Machiavelli influenced their images of human nature. Lao Tzu worked in the court of the ruling dynasty and lived a quite stable and peaceful life in around the 5th century B. C.E. Whereas Machiavelli lived during the time of political turmoil in Italy. He was suspected of conspiring against the royal family and was even tortured for that (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Thus, these different living conditions led both philosophers to think of â€Å"the people† differently: Lao Tzu had a positive opinion of individuals, which is contrary to that of Machiavelli’s suspicious and cynical image of â€Å"the people†. This is important to analyze because these views in some way determined the way they portrayed an ideal government.Lao Tzu, in his â€Å"Tao-te Ching†, has an optimistic, almost idealistic perception of â€Å"the people†. His proposed attitude for the ruler to have toward citizens resemb les that of parents toward a child. They treat the child with love and care. At the same time they let go of restrictions and rules, so that he/she learns from their own mistakes and grows up to be self-reliant. The â€Å"upbringing† of children can be compared to governing people. Lao Tzu in paradoxical way proposes to stick to the â€Å"practice of not doing† (Jacobus 24) and let the things take their natural course.The author encourages leaders to give â€Å"the people† more freedom and rights: â€Å"I let go of the law and people become honest† (Jacobus 29). He believes in the good in people and in their ability to choose the morally good paths. He says: â€Å"Throw away morality and justice and people will do the right thing† (Jacobus 25). His description of an ideal government resembles a modern day democratic type of government as â€Å"democracy† literally means â€Å"ruled by the people† (Britannica Online Encyclopedia). â₠¬Å"The Prince† reveals an entirely different view of â€Å"the people†.Lao Tzu is mostly concerned with their well being. He advocates politics based on moral considerations while Machiavelli advices the leader not to bother with such things and focus more on practical politics. The latter is a reflection of a pessimistic and cynical view of â€Å"the people†. According to the author they are â€Å"ungrateful, fickle, avoiders of danger and greedy for gain† (Jacobus 46). The very title of the book, and its form as a handbook for the ruler, a single person, hint at support for monarchic type of government.Monarchy is a type of political system in which authority is represented in a single person who exercises supreme power (Britannica Online Encyclopedia). Moreover, strictly speaking, Machiavelli basically says that â€Å"bad† people need a strict ruler, who would be feared. As a matter of fact â€Å"it is better to be feared than loved†, beca use love is temporal, while fear is constant (Jacobus 46). Therefore, his kingship seems more like an autocracy or even dictatorship. Dictators gain despotic power, which they then maintain through the use of intimidation and oppression (Britannica Online Encyclopedia).The advice in these two texts, however, might not be as relevant as handbooks for politicians these days. Practice shows that there have not been many prosperous absolutely democratic governments, which at the same time imposed no laws and restrictions whatsoever; neither have there been many despotic monarchs in power to successfully run a country. The views of â€Å"the people† by both writers represent two extremes, and seem to be unrealistic and in a way paradoxical.Reading and understanding both books, however, is still of significant value, because they represent the literary and historical legacy of political thought and most importantly they disc?lse the tw? particular ways of l?oking at the world. On t he one side â€Å"The Prince† gives an insight of what the w?rld looks like from a dem?ralized and cynical realist’s perspective. On the other hand â€Å"Tao-te Ching† expresses utopian perceptions of an idealist. To sum up Lao Tzu in his â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching†, he advocates the â€Å"practice of not doing† as a way to govern people.One of the reasons for that are the author’s high opinion of and a belief in their ability to adopt a morally right behavior. He proposes for things to take their natural course. Therefore, adapted to modern times, the type of government that Lao Tzu supports resembles democracy. Machiavelli, on the contrary, views ‘the people’ as â€Å"simulators and deceivers†. Thus he directs â€Å"the prince† to rule by keeping ‘the people’ in awe. He signals his support for monarchy and, possibly, dictatorship. Works Cited Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Democracy. 15 Se p. 012. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Dictatorship. 14 Sep. 2012. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Monarchy. 15 Sep. 2012. Jacobus. Lee A. A World of Ideas. Boston: Bedford / St. Martins, 2010. 925-28. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Niccolo Machavelli. 8 Sep. 2009. 14 Sep. 2012.

It Is Not the Power but Fear of Loosing

â€Å"It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it†. (Aung San Suu Kyi’s speech on Freedom from Fear) â€Å"Power has only one duty –to secure the social welfare of the people† Disraeli Benjamin. However, the reality is somewhat different. History has led us to conclusions where those in power dominated over the weaker ones and used their supremacy to carry out immoral actions.Keeping such views under consideration, the norm that power, the authority to rule over and influence a group, tends to corrupt an individual as power brings an individual closer to his desires and grants him unquestionable authority. What is of more significance in corrupting a person is the fear of losing the power, the influence that one holds because fear takes away the ability to discriminate between right and wrong which results in immorality of actions.Humans act close to the theory of opportunism, and are motivated by self-interests without considering the values of their actions. Therefore, it is obvious that when one attains power, the person is attracted towards material necessities since being in power brings a person, closer to the fulfillment of his desires. The influence of being powerful allows people to manipulate the circumstances to suit their own needs. It is important to relate to William Jefferson in this scenario. W.Jefferson is a former American congressman who has been included in CREW’S report 2006 (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington  (CREW) is a  nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization  that describes itself as â€Å"dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials – regardless of party affiliation – who sacrifice the common good to special interests) as being a corrupt politician. Jefferson has been accused for getting invol ved in attaining financial benefits through illegal means.For instance, Jefferson accepted bribes from multiple firms in exchange, introduced the firm to Congressmen and other business officials and used his influence as a member of congress to support those firms in their corporate goals. The bribe received was used to finance Jefferson family business. However, members of the congress as Jefferson may fear the time mandate since they are appointed for a definite period of time after which they might not remain in power.Such a fear makes an individual to think about would the person have enough with themselves once they do not hold power to live a good life. Thus, a person based on the concept of opportunism, would try to make as much wealth as possible within the time span, keeping in consideration that once out of power, the opportunity to accumulate wealth would no longer be available. The word â€Å"power† is often interpreted in terms of a person, having unquestionable authority. The person who holds power may not be answerable to anyone and therefore may enjoy supremacy.Such individual creates a cult of personality and thus earn themselves, honorable titles to further exaggerate their influence. Within this notion of supremacy and unquestionable authority, individuals tend to waiver towards the path of corruption in order to maintain their influence. There are countless examples where leaders such as Stalin have been criticized for killing thousands of innocent people and pursuing other actions that by no means justify themselves. Stalin ruled as a dictator, with absolute power.Was it the unquestionable authority acting behind the misdeeds of Stalin? What is important here to consider is the force acting behind Stalin, the force which historians titled as insecurity? People had started to question his authority and showed criticism towards his five years plan that was developed to enhance economic potential. Further, members from his own party st arted to criticize Stalin’s leadership. Considering the rising oppositions, Stalin passed a law which levied a death penalty on anyone who was found plotting against the government.This law was just the beginning of the great purges that Stalin later carried out to secure his position. The purges include the trial of sixteen, trial of seventeen and trial of twenty one and the common element of all these trials was the execution of all the members who were rising against Stalin. The intensity of the fears he had developed turned clear with the assassination of Sergei Kirov. Sergei Kirov used to be a close supporter of Stalin and Stalin treated Kirov as his son.However, when Kirov refused to conform to Stalin’s authority, he was eliminated just as all the others before him. Later, a constitution, which reinforced his political position, was passed that was to prevent uprisings in the future. Although this allowed Stalin to regain his political strength but that came at t he expense of economic downfall, weakened army and loss of numerous lives. Thus, what seems to be the consequences of unquestionable authority in reality sneaks out of fear that developed in Stalin to counter his oppositions to reinforce his supremacy. To come under siege†¦. was the inevitable fate of power† Frank Herbert, Dune Messiah. However, when one fears of losing the authority and influence, such people are no more concerned of morality of their behavior, and all of their actions are directed towards securing the authoritative place. Fear is a very strong force which exists in nature of the living being. It can and does produce alternate behavioral phenomenon in not just the human kind but also across other kingdoms; certain kinds of female snake would eat their own eggs because of the fear of an attack.Lizards cut-off their own tails when a predator attacks to distract it while it escapes. These traits have been described by scientists as characteristics conferrin g an advantage and allowing them to survive. Man, nature’s most evolved product, obviously possesses a similar in-built survival instinct which has enabled it to dominate nature’s landscape since it came into existence especially with its enhanced and complex social ability. Imagine a situation in which a group of people is under attack. Would they hurt or kill the intruders or would they be nice to them? NO.They would definitely attack the intruders to protect their power and authority even at the expense of immorality found in their actions. This is genuinely supported by the incidents that occurred in Musharraf’s regime. The early years of his rule witnessed calmness in terms of law and order of the country. However, what became the turning point of his regime was the fear, he developed when the circumstances turned against him and his presidency came under threat after the Lal Mosque incident. His actions were no more bounded by constitutional laws and what mattered to him was the maintenance of power.The illegal deposition of chief justice of Pakistan and attacks on judiciary in which several protestors were tortured, contest for presidency while still holding the status of army chief in 2007 and attack on a channel’s headoffice are examples of incidents where, to maintain power, a leader as Musharraf did not remain concern whether his actions were justified or not. Apart from this, fear can result in alternate behavioral phenomenon as mentioned earlier in the text. This might result in a complete different response to a situation by an individual under certain circumstances.The historical event that took place in Egypt just before the birth of Moses is a demonstration of the same phenomenon. The pharaoh of Egypt feared losing his power at the hands of the growing number of Israelites. His fears aggravated when a group of astronomers informed the pharaoh that a male Israelite child would bear who would throw the pharaoh’ s kingdom. Keeping in consideration the patriarchal societies that have persisted for long, pharaoh ordered all the new born male children to be murdered. This was certainly not normal.In societies such as Egypt, where male dominated every sphere of life and where they were ranked far above women, it was the fear of losing his power that caused the pharaoh to act even against the conventions of the Egyptian society. In relation to the text, it is evident that corruption does not branch out of power itself. Rather it is the fear, the thought of losing the superiority and charisma that one has developed over time, which leads a person towards unjustifiable means to protect and maintain his authority.The struggle to maintain power out of the fear of losing it has led to disastrous consequences for the humanity over the years. What influential people need to consider now is that though a lot of damage has been done, it is time to consolidate. Accepting the temporary nature of power and carrying out the assigned responsibilities that the authoritative position endorse one with would allow the humanity to be protected against ill consequences. Work Cited â€Å"Benjamin Disraeli and the Two Nation Divide. †Ã‚  The Victorian Web: An Overview. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. http://www. victorianweb. org/authors/disraeli/diniejko3. tml Pakistan Weekly. â€Å"Musharraf Trial. †Ã‚  Project. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. http://musharraftrial. net/ Ariela Pelaia. â€Å"The Passover (Pesach)A  Story. †Ã‚  About. com Judaism. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. http://judaism. about. com/od/holidays/a/The-Passover-Pesach-Story. htm â€Å"Stalin's Russia. †Ã‚  ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. . John Simkin†The Great Purge. †Ã‚  Spartacus Educational. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. . Dr. Lawrence Britt†A  Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism.   A  Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. ;http://www. rense. com/general37/char. htm;. â€Å"Hitler, Stalin and Macbeth. †Ã‚  Angelfire. com. Web. 06 Mar. 2012. ;http://www. angelfire. com/ma/totalitarianism/essay1. html;. Crew Org. â€Å"Beyond Delay. †Ã‚  Citizenforethics. org. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. ;http://www. citizensforethics. org/page/-/PDFs/Reports/Most%20;. Doug,†The Trouble WithA  Power. †Ã‚  Japan and Korea: Life, Language and Religion. Web. 14 Mar. 2012. ;http://japanlifeandreligion. com/2010/11/07/the-trouble-with-power/;.

Essay on Principles of Human Nature - 909 Words

Fundamental Principles of Human Nature The heated controversy over how human beings develop their behavior, ideas, reasoning and other abstract traits has been in ongoing debate for centuries. John Locke’s â€Å"blank slate† theory of experience and sensation, and Edward Wilson’s theory of evolutionary biology and innate genes are both valid and apply to the development of human nature. It is has been proven through scientific research of the human genome over time, that both sides of this controversial subject are partially correct (Powell). However, I believe Wilson’s theory is the most reasonable and legitimate in influencing the outcome of one’s character. John Locke’s theory states that the mind begins as a â€Å"blank slate†, and that†¦show more content†¦Locke’s theory that all ideas and knowledge result directly from experience is quite reasonable, however I believe that experience only goes so far in determinin g the overall outcome of who a person is and the way in which they behave. A common saying some like to say when referring to the way a person acts or behaves is, â€Å"Oh, she got it from her mother/father.† I hold this true to myself, being my own example, I know for a fact that I inherited certain unique qualities and behavioral traits from my mother and father. My older sister and I were raised together in the same environment for 18 years, under the same/similar circumstances, and it is quite obvious that although we share many interests and ideas, our personalities are nearly polar opposite. She is calm, patient, and extremely shy, which is strikingly similar to my father’s personality. I am very outgoing, impatient, and (unfortunately) emotional, which my mother finds humorous at times, seeing how we are so similar in the way that we reason and react to things. Although there is no documented or scientifically proven evidence that this is true, I know that it mu st be true to some extent, and that hereditary must have played a role in my collection of reasoning and understanding. For instance, if genetics did not play any role in this outcome, then how could fraternal twins, raised under the same environment and conditions, differ at all in behaviorShow MoreRelatedRen Descartess Principles Of Human Knowledge And The Nature Of Knowledge1732 Words   |  7 Pagesrationalist of the 1600, studied and critiqued the nature of knowledge and the reality of the world. Descartes was well known for his Method of Doubt where he encouraged using doubt explicitly and systematically as a tool for reaching certainty. He aimed at proving ideas and beliefs to be true but, to him, it is essential to detach from trusting the senses to provide certain knowledge. Jonathan Bennett overviews Descartes’ ideologies and principles on human knowledge and material things; He also describesRead MoreUniversalist Theory Of Universalism1237 Words   |  5 Pagesse xuality, and other distinguishing features (Greenwood and Harris, 2011). Universal ethics refer to a moral system that applies to the entire humanity, transcending personal whims, and culture in the process. The justification for this rises from human nature, which is a shared vulnerability of suffering and demands universal reasoning. It also involves religion mandates and existing moral codes. It contrasts moral relativism, which claims that moral truths are relative to personal, historical, culturalRead MoreEssay on Nature, Beauty, Gratitude678 Words   |  3 Pagesmagnificent images that divulge the exquisite beauty of nature, gratitude, and the universe. In Louie’s Ted talk show, he clearly delineates his ideas of preserving the nature, appreciating the nature, and be grateful of the nature. Louie want to inspire others to do the same thing as him, to see the beauty of nature, to appreciate then, and to thank the nature for what they did for us, instead of taking the na ture for granted. These ideas and principles that Louie illustrated in the video can be appliedRead MoreConfucianism Vs Taoism1378 Words   |  6 Pagestwo religions has influenced many people over time. It can also be said that when the principles of both philosophies are put together, the outcome is a well-rounded person. The following is a discussion of the principles and philosophies behind these two religions as well as how the two religions interact and connect to influence an individual. Confucianism is a religion that bases its philosophy and principles on the teachings of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived between 551 and 478 BCRead More Whitmans Interpretation of Emerson Essay902 Words   |  4 Pagesto use Emersons principles that are outlined in The Poet to springboard into something more expansive than Emerson was able to describe or create. Emerson states in his 15th principle in The Poet that there is no fact in nature that does not carry the whole sense of nature. To elaborate this claim Emerson states, the distinctions which we make †¦disappear when nature is used as a symbol. Thought makes everything fit for use,(Emerson Principle 15). Emerson is seeing nature as being a symbolRead MoreEssay on Sigmund Freud on Human Nature1381 Words   |  6 PagesSigmund Freud, a noteworthy trailblazer of modern-day philosophy, developed a deterministic view on human nature based on instinct and personality. Unlike other theories, Freud considers us not as humans, but animals with inborn biological drives: a complex species with primitive urges. These urges, he says, are only kept under control by the pressures between peers and the repression of society. Though the word â€Å"instinct† can relate to a wide range of impulses, Freud narrowed it down to fourRead MoreAnalysis Of Rawl s Theory Of Justice895 Words   |   4 PagesBy examining Rawl’s philosophy, I will agree with his original position, veil of ignorance, and justice as fairness which contains his view of human nature. Then, I will compare and contrase John Lockes’ differing views of human nature to Rawl’s position of human nature and defend possible assertions towards Rawls’ position. Rawls view of human nature assumes everyone makes decisions based on self-interest alone, while making a rational account to the available information around, such as theRead MoreAristotle Vs Human Nature Essay1321 Words   |  6 PagesThe term nature signifies a set of characteristic that distinguishes humans, as a species, from all other beings (Wiles). A set of characteristics distinctive of a species is known as the Greek term, Phusis. According to both Plato and Aristotle, human nature is unchanging. On the contrary, Sarte has a different belief on the topic of essence that do not accord with classical philosophical tradition. Human souls are characterized by their capacity to reason. This capacity exists, perhaps in varyingRead MoreHuman Nature Vs. Moral Logic Essay1140 Words   |  5 PagesWith numerous wars, murders, and rapes it’s normal to think that humans tend towards disorder. Even at a young age, humans are selfish and think egocentrically. If they are lucky, they grow up to think abstractly, only to use those thoughts to outsmart another human. However, human nature is fundamentally good: if one was to strip a human of their social responsibilities and influences, they would realize that a human is simple-minded and morally good. They openly donate their time and resourcesRead MoreSummary Of Extending The Ethical Wealth Of Nations 1256 Words   |  6 Pagesthat the nature of being is goodness but Xunzi believes it is evil. Mencius advocated the theory of original goodness in human nature. His theory has affected the classical Chinese culture deeply and has been considered the most important theory of his thought. Mencius illustrated that: The feeling of commiseration belongs to all men; so does that of shame and dislike; and that of reverence and respect; and that of approving and disapproving. The feeling of commiseration implies the principle of benevolence;