To What Extent Does Oedipus Cause His Own Downfall free essay sample

Oedipus’ fate was determined by the Oracle, the cause for his demise was himself. One aspect of Oedipus personality that leads to his downfall is his constant search for truth. We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Does Oedipus Cause His Own Downfall or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Throughout the play, Oedipus is always trying to discover something whether it be about himself or an attempt at uncovering someone else as an enemy. If he hadn’t been in that mindset, he may have been able to keep himself oblivious from his mistakes. Another aspect of Oedipus personality that causes his misfortune is his hubris. Oedipus hubris causes him to act impulsively and disregard the advice of others which in the end, doesn’t pay off. At the start of the play Oedipus announces to the Thebans â€Å"I shall shrink from nothing in my search to find the murderer of Laius† (pg. 16). Although this is the plan of action that most Thebans would want, in reality, the city and Oedipus have nothing to gain from finding the murderer of Laius but a sense of justice, this highlights Oedipus unnecessary search for truth. Had Oedipus not even begun an in depth search for Laius’ killer, the tragedy would not have taken place. It was a selfish search for an invaluable piece of information to begin with, that is why his search for the truth is not beneficial. Also, part way through his journey towards his downfall he decides to investigate his own identity. Jocasta advises against it strongly but he ignores her. Him of all people, assuming he recognizes that he has killed people in the past, has a wife old enough to be his mother and has a prophecy foretold about him that is beyond horrifying, chooses to point out his own faults by pursuing his own identity. He should have taken in to account that he isn’t perfect, and perhaps shedding light on his past for any reason wouldn’t have a positive outcome because no matter how you slice it, Oedipus is a murderer regardless of whom he thought he killed. But he still chooses to follow through with his search. Had he not found out that he was his wife’s son, Jocasta would have no reason to kill herself and he would have no reason to take out his eyes. He could have lived happily even though his wife was also his mother as long as he kept himself from finding out. This is why his personal choice to expose his identity leads to his demise. In terms of how the play could have ended, Oedipus chooses to search for himself, therefore choosing tragedy. Throughout the play, Oedipus has an overwhelming sense of confidence (his hubris) that isn’t humble in the least; his tragic flaw. With every choice and accusation he makes he has a passionate knowledge that he is doing the right thing, which is untrue. It is his choice to be this cocky though, which is why any consequences resulting from his hubris are no one’s fault but his own. At the start of the play, Tiresius says to Oedipus â€Å"Dismiss me, send me home. That will be the easiest way for both of us to bear our burden. † (pg. 19) advising Oedipus to end his search, and return to being king of Thebes. But instead of piecing the information together that not only is Tiresius an excellent giver of advice because of his wisdom, and it is possible that the man he killed on his way from Corinth may have been Laius, he selfishly draws to the conclusion that Tiresius is trying to attack him; when Tiresius announces that Oedipus’ is the murderer, Oedipus reacts defensively instead of apologetically, which highlights the fact that Oedipus doesn’t see himself as someone that can do wrong. His hubris causes him to not only ignore Tiresius’ advice but also to anger and offend him long before Tiresius had revealed anything. Later on in the play, Oedipus says to Creon â€Å"that fact shows what a disloyal friend you are† (p. 33) criticizing the fact that Creon must be plotting against him even though he has nothing to gain. This is a mistake, and although there are no direct consequences of his accusation, Creon was on Oedipus side from the beginning, and did all he could to help; by introducing Tiresius to Oedipus. When we meet Creon again later, after it’s revealed that Oedipus killed Laius, he is aggressive and very cold. Had Oedipus not offended Creon, Creon may have been there with him for the long haul, but instead Oedipus chose to offend his friend through his hubris, choosing to solve the mystery without help, leading to his tragic discovery. Towards the end of the play Jocasta says to Oedipus â€Å"In God’s name, if you place any value on your life, don’t pursue the search. It is enough that I am sick to death. † (pg. 60) regarding Oedipus’ search for identity. Once again, Oedipus is given very explicit advice that is guaranteed to benefit him, but he wanted to figure out the puzzle, and his hubris leads him to believe he always makes the right decision. So once again, Oedipus not only ignores the advice but he also insults his wife, which is a slap in the face when she is trying her best to save him. Oedipus made the choice to follow through with his search and ignore Jocasta, when if he had been humble and listened, he would have been happy. That is why Oedipus hubris leads to his demise. The extent of which Oedipus’s failure results from his own flaws is difficult to define, because although the Oracle foretold his misfortune, the series of events had to go hand in hand with his flaws for the tragedy to play out. The same goes for the events, because if his hubris and search for identity were present but the prophecy hadn’t been revealed, Oedipus may not have even ever come to Thebes, and there would be no tragedy. Oedipus was haunted with a dark prophecy, but it is through his flaws that the prophecy did come true†¦

I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Essay Example

I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Essay Example I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Essay I Came, I Saw, I Conquered Essay They say that the records are meant to be broken, Fortresss are built to be conquered and benchmarks are set to be achieved because if it was nt for a record to be broken, benchmark to be achieved or a fortress to be conquered cipher would hold of all time built it in first topographic point. A great personality one time said that anything could be achieved but for that you should go forth no rocks unturned and triumph will be yours. I, Shakeel Maqsood, and my squad of Food Division, Gujranwala zone had the same thing in head when we set the mark of accomplishing a reeling 42.7 Million rupees sale in the month of August 2009 ; 10 Million rupees gross revenues in Gujranwala metropolis and 10 Million rupees gross revenues in Sialkot metropolis. My squad s supervisors viz. Shehzad Shah in Gujranwala and Adnan Yousaf in Sialkot took on the duty of presenting it and goodness me did nt they do good. Duties were delegated to the single squad members of puting their ain day-to-day marks harm onizing to the program and seek to set in their best attempt. Cipher was allowed to go forth early even if the day-to-day marks were met, they were asked to be after for the twenty-four hours in front. It was for the first clip in all my old ages with my squad that I saw them turning from boys into work forces as they achieved such a immense mark. It was intense work for best portion of one month and I would wish to compliment my squad for accomplishing this milepost which we ve been looking to make so since really long. I would wish to thank my beloved God Almighty Allah for doing me accomplish this mark and I would besides wish to heap congratulations on our respected NSM, Mr. Nadeem Khan and RSM, Mr. Amjad Niaz for giving us the sort of support we needed to accomplish this mark. Besides I would wish to thank National Food s Supply Chain and Logistics section because if it was nt for their on-time stock bringings this mark would non hold been possible. I hope that we keep on prese nting better marks and accomplish them in expansive manner. May God be with us All. Ameen.

In what ways has Internet changed fashion journalism Essay

In what ways has Internet changed fashion journalism - Essay Example The paper tells that social technologies are no longer a niche market of lifestyle activities for the user of the Internet. Blogs, video-sharing applications and social networks are becoming mainstream activities globally, thus changing the methodology of relationship with media and fashion. The mainstream properties of Internet usage are dominating the distribution and flow of information in very wide demographic audiences. Traditional fashion journalism, such as fashion magazines, provided limited opportunities for gaining market interest or disseminating information as these sources of journalism were targeted as specific, homogenized groups of potential buyers that were restrained through geographics. Fashion industry marketers now have a much broader audience to target using blogs, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter (as several examples) in order to promote their information and products. The mainstream aspects of Internet usage no longer constrain the fashion industry in gaining mar ket interest, which can lead to higher profitability or establish a quality fashion brand. Traditional fashion journalism relied on cultural intermediaries, individuals in society â€Å"who transmit information from those engaged in the creative and production processes of fashion design to consumers†. These include photographers, journalists, ad agencies, salespersons and celebrity models. Cultural intermediaries bring value to the fashion content or marketing strategy as it relates to targeting customers or providing valuable fashion information. For instance, the usage of celebrity models gains sales advantages from the consumer culture under social learning theory. This theory describes that individuals in society will model the beliefs or behaviours of role models who are deemed credible and attractive in the eyes of the receiver so long as they witness the model being rewarded for these actions (Neubert, Carlson, Kacmar, Roberts and Chonko, 2009). This has been one of the fundamental aspects of providing equity and value for fashion journalists as the legitimacy, in the eyes of society, of the cultural intermediaries provides reproduction of similar values and attitudes. This has, traditionally, led to higher sales for fashion merchandise through fashion journalism and associated print or televised media. The Internet, despite those who believe it is eroding traditionalism in fashion journalism, is still modelled against the value of cultural intermediaries. Why is this? Consider the fashion blog as a relevant example. Fashion blogs allow for interactive commentaries to be posted by a variety of consumers where compliments or complaints can be searched by hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Internet users worldwide. â€Å"Peers listen to and trust these reviews† (Fichter, 2007: 27). Under Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a model that is intended to serve as a template for universal foundational motivations and needs, individuals in society are motivated by affiliation with peer groups (Gambrel and Cianci, 2003). The fundamental needs for a sense of

The Effects of Computer Science on the history of our Nations Wars Research Proposal

The Effects of Computer Science on the history of our Nations Wars - Research Proposal Example Generally, computer science refers to the study of some theoretical standing, with regard to computation and information, and often focuses on the practical application of the techniques, necessary for implementing them in computer systems (Diffie, 2008). Presently, a considerable number of disciplines under the scope of computer science do not exclusively incorporate the study of computers (Longo, 2008). Such disciplines include the military science, which incorporates the use of computer technology. Many scholars in the field of science have put a keen focus on the connections between the computer science on the theoretical basis and the execution of the military operations. This is with regard to how such operations were being planned and carried out, during the time of the Cold War. Since the 20th century, great effort has been put to the scientific researches in the military operations. This has led to the development of science-based military technology. These efforts have seen the subsistence of strong militaries across the world. For instance, the First World War, which is widely known as ‘the chemists’ war, was characterized by the application of many explosives (Diffie, 2008) owed to the computer science. Among the pioneer military technologies was the extensive use of the poison gas by the British and Germans, in 1915. Computer science also contributed to the development of the wireless communication technology, which advanced the methods of executing attacks, and detecting enemies, besides acting as a means of communication within the militaries. The wireless radio technology was a key player in the coordination of the German, British and American troops (Arquilla, 2011). By the Second World War, the computer technology had advanced the military technology, and at this time, the unveiling of the atomic bomb was marked (Bousquet, 2008). Hand in

The Treatment Of Men During Slavery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Treatment Of Men During Slavery - Essay Example Slaves in the ancient Roman Empire consisted mostly of prisoners of war, captives sold by pirates, or even children of Romans in penury who had been sold. The slaves were engaged in farming, businesses, working for private households, and in the construction of infrastructure for public use including aqueducts, bridges, roads etc. It was common for the owners to treat the slaves cruelly, and even kill them and not be punished for it. But some slave masters were also kind and considerate to their slaves (Nardo) as indicated by the saturnalia festival which was an occasion for the slaves and masters to be thankful to each other and enjoyed peaceful time together. Also, a hallmark of Roman slavery as compared to the modern variety was manumission or the formal release from slavery by the owner. Contrasting the ancient system of slavery in Rome with the system that existed until the end of the 19th century in the Americas, in particular North America, the glaring difference was that the latter was based mainly on race. Marysue Andreozzi The import of slaves from Africa to America began mainly due to the shortage of labor. And the blacks were believed to be hard workers. Furthermore, the practice did not meet with any religious disapproval either, since the Church law did not prohibit black slavery. Thus began slavery with racist overtones. Gradually, the slaves themselves became a trade commodity. Thus, what began as a need to overcome shortage of labor became the means to acquire more wealth (McKay et al., 2008). It is believed that in a span of a little more than 300 years (between 1500 A.D. and mid 1800 A.D.), around 12 million black slaves from Africa to the Western Hemisphere. A first-hand account of the harrowing life of the slaves aboard the ship on their voyage from Africa to America has been given by Alexander Falconbridge (1788) who was the British surgeon on four of those voyages. As mentioned in the narrative, the blacks who refused to eat had their lip s almost scorched by red-hot coal that was brought on a shovel very close to their lips and also issued dire threats that they would be made to swallow the embers if they continued to resist eating food. The author mentions that he heard of a captain pouring molten lead on some slaves who obstinately refused to eat (p. 23). On the voyages Falconbridge saw that the Blacks were provided extremely uncomfortable accommodation on the half deck with planks to sleep on. Lying on the bare planks caused their skin and in even flesh of the emaciated men to get rubbed off from their shoulders, hips and elbows due to the constant motion of the ship (p. 28). Exercise being deemed necessary to keep the slaves healthy, they were forcibly made to dance on the deck even in foul weather when it was difficult to be on the deck. They were flogged if they showed any reluctance or were not Marysue Andreozzi active (p. 23). On longer voyages such as from the coast of Guinea to the West Indies, the food ra tion was very small, which led to quarrels among the slaves (Falconbridge, 1788, p.22). Also, the allowance of water was restricted to about half a pint per head per meal. The life of the slaves once they reached the shores of America became just a shade better. They were housed in slave pens a description of which has been provided by Abdy

The Vision of the Researcher as a Neutral Social Scientist Essay Example for Free

The Vision of the Researcher as a Neutral Social Scientist Essay The approach to any of the social scientists has always been one of detachment.   Any researcher or scientist in any of the fields of Social Science will emphasize the need for the scientist to maintain a neutral stance and maintain a certain level of distance from the research subjects.   Recently, there have been schools of thought that challenge this perception, arguing that once a researcher has been â€Å"captured† he becomes a participant in the â€Å"fierce fight to construct reality† (Latour and Woolgar, 1979, pg 31). Other schools of thought criticize the vision of the researcher as a neutral social scientist by insisting that there is no way that a researcher can maintain neutrality in this field (Mulkay, 1983).   These criticisms on the vision of the researcher as a neutral social scientist now raise a relevant issue in this field pertaining to what is necessary to become an effective researcher. This discourse will therefore seek to resolve the issue regarding the neutrality of researchers in social science by first identifying the particular needs of social science as a discipline and then by analyzing the traits that have made the researcher effective.   The next segment will discuss the relevance of maintaining neutrality as a researcher or social scientist. The analysis portion will attempt to shed light on the criticisms raised regarding this issue and to show how they may be effective traits or characteristics of researchers.   Finally, this study will attempt to synthesize the proper traits that make for an effective researcher given the complexity of the issues surrounding the current discipline of social science by proposing that the neutral approach may not always be best suited for every study in this field. The Social Sciences   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Social Sciences are basically characterized as academic disciplines that study and examine the human aspects of the world.   While social sciences studying subjective, inter-subjective and objective or structural aspects of society, the scientific method, including quantitative and qualitative methods is often used in this field.   Thus social science had a need for theoretical purity which was addressed by the scientific method (Sasson, 1997).   The triumphs of mankind in the field of natural sciences such as biology and physics planted the seed for the idea that human society and actions could be studied under the framework of the â€Å"scientific method†.   The prominence of this idea soared as it provided hope that a complete understanding of the nature of humans was possible and that the affairs of human beings could now be more rationally controlled.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the greatest problems of the field of social sciences lies in the fact that there have been problems delineating the role of social scientists due to the nature of their work and the relative significance of the field that they are studying (Sasson, 1997).   The role of the researcher in social sciences has been affected by the perception of people that social science does not provide a clear line as to the role it plays, whether as a pure researcher, a technocrat or as a public moralist.   This is the source of most of the controversies regarding the vision of the researcher as a neutral social scientist. The Researcher   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A researcher must possess certain traits and characteristics to preserve the theoretical purity and integrity of any scientific work under the scientific method.   This trait however is made most difficult to possess because of the human tendency to create bias or to completely detach oneself from other social beings.   There are however certain guidelines and rules that are helpful in delineating the role and setting the amount of â€Å"acceptable† involvement that an effective researcher may have with the research subjects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As mentioned in the previous section, there have been problems with regard to the role of researchers and thus creating controversy over their neutrality.   For the purposes of this section, the role of a social scientist as a pure researcher and what makes him effective will be briefly discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   An effective researcher is able to properly understand the qualitative and quantitative approaches to empirical research.   Ideally, an effective researcher is able to come up with conclusions or theories regarding the action of humans in society by simply just â€Å"crunching the numbers† (Chubin, 2003, pg 75).    The quantitative was seen as the more accurate method as it was in line with the principle of the scientific method and since it principally worked by gathering data through objective methods.   This enabled researchers to provide relevant information concerning relations, comparisons, and predictions.   This was the initial attempt at removing the investigator from the investigation, or in this case, detaching the researcher from the research subject (Smith, 1983).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As the social sciences began to expand and it became apparent that the scientific method of employing a quantitative approach was not enough, more and more disciplines in the social sciences began requiring that the interview become a more interested part, or more involved in the research study that had to be conducted (Jacob, 1988).   This led to the emphasis now on maintaining the neutrality as a researcher. Relevance of Neutrality as a Researcher   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As previously mentioned, the most important aspect of being an effective researcher lies in being able to maintain total or at least an acceptable level of impartiality with regard to the subject matter as well as the research subjects.   More often than not, most researches become drawn into the conflict because of the nature of man as a social being (Wolcott, 1990).   Social Sciences, as the name implies, demands a certain level of interaction between the researcher and the subjects for the study which has in turn led to the criticism that it is impossible to attain total impartiality in the field of Social Sciences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Participant Observation is one of the key tasks in the social sciences and it deals with involvement in the development of the research object or study.   The problem here is that more often than not these acts are considered as acts of intervention on the part of the researcher and tend to affect the credibility and integrity of whatever research is being conducted (Hacking, 1983).   There for the relevance of such neutrality becomes apparent because for a researcher to be able to maintain a certain level of credibility and assume a certain moral standard, it becomes necessary to adopt a position that is neutral to the issue and neutral with the subjects of the study. Criticisms against Neutrality   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The foremost criticism against the neutrality of social scientists and researches is that the so called neutrality of any social scientist or researcher in the field of social sciences is a myth particularly when it comes to controversies surrounding the issue (Scott, 1990).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"Neutral researchers of the social sciences†, according to Scott, Richards and Martin (1990), â€Å"will be always be thought of by participants as being on the side of the underdog† (pg 480).   Regardless of the fact that the researcher is neutral, whatever work he accomplishes, he will always been drawn into a debate concerning his topic (Collins, 1979). One field of social science where this has been prevalent is in controversy analysis.   While according to a study on this issue, â€Å"the disadvantage of studying controversies is that it may give an unrealistic picture of the day-to-day operations of normal science,† it cannot be denied that this is a growing field of interest and has also invited the participation of researchers of the social sciences in an attempt to further understand human behavior (Mulkay 1983). There is impossibility in keeping the neutrality that a researcher is required to possess particularly in this field.   Though a researcher may insist on his neutrality, the problem arises once the researcher is drawn into a debate surrounding the controversy and the neutrality that is demanded can no longer be maintained. What this school of thought therefore proposes is that in order for a researcher to maintain his impartiality particularly in this field or in other fields in the social sciences which require intervention and interaction, a certain level of acceptable â€Å"partiality† must be allowed for.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The next criticism is one against the utter impossibility of conducting experiments without any degree of interaction between the researcher and the subjects of the study in order to prevent any biases and involvement (Ribes, 2005).   The degree of intermingling and cross disciplines among the social sciences and even natural sciences today has created a problem for the researcher to maintain the vision of his neutrality (Bowker, 1999).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It has been accepted that Participant Observation is relevant in the conduct of research in the social sciences and that it does allow for a certain degree of involvement.   The problem now lies in the significance of the study as a totally neutral research study can quickly become a very biased study depending on the degree of relevance it has to society.   An example of this would be research on certain factors in society that contribute to violence. Too much intervention and involvement can lead to too much media participation that the sample becomes unusable.   Since social sciences deal with people, any intervention can be seen as contaminating the samples since people become aware of the study and may no longer react naturally.   It is clear however that there is a need for intervention because of the cross disciplines that have been developed over the years and it cannot be denied that such are more effective and accurate at coming up with ground breaking studies (Ribes, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The other major criticism is that social scientists are unable to clearly research anything without any biases because of the strong link or bond between social scientists or researches and the state (Baritz, 1960).   Relevant historical accounts state that even as early as 1662, England and France have utilized the services of social researchers to further the ends of the state (Popper, 1945).   The state is therefore theorized by some to be the father of social scientists and researchers and as such the social sciences cannot exist without the state.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This attack on the neutrality of researchers of the social sciences uses the findings that there has constantly been state support for the social sciences and as such these researches owe a certain allegiance to the state and cannot be considered as purely impartial because of this so called â€Å"intrinsic link† (Popper, 1945).   The strength of this argument lies in the assumption that without the state, no society can exist and therefore leading to the conclusion that social sciences cannot exist without society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While there may be logic to this argument against the vision of the researcher as a neutral social scientist, emotionally detached and socially separated from their research subjects, this is the   weakest argument as such because it basis most of its arguments on unproven relationships.   The arguments presented in this criticism clearly show the bias of the researcher with regard to the issue and subject matter. This criticism, however, lends strength to the main flow of this discourse.   This shows that it is in the nature of the researcher as a human being to create certain assumptions and bias that make it impossible to maintain total impartiality and neutrality with respect to the field that he is currently involved in.   Secondly, this also shows how letting go of one’s neutrality in favor of bias and disposing of the scientific method can lead to very faulty assumptions and poorly conceived arguments. It is because of these reasons that lead to the findings that theory that the vision of the researcher as a neutral social scientist, emotionally detached and socially separated from their research subjects, cannot be totally abrogated and must be accepted to a certain degree while allowing for the field to progress given the various advancements in the field of social sciences. Application of Contemporary Social Theories   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In analyzing the criticisms against the vision of the researcher as a neutral scientist, it is relevant that this be analyzed in the context of contemporary social theories.   The first contemporary social theory that is relevant in this case is structural functionalism and how it shows the difficulty in maintaining a certain level of detachment from the subject of the study.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Structural Functionalism basically tackles the relationship of social activity of human beings to the overall social system that exists in their society (Barnard 2000).   The relevance of this theory in formulating the basic guidelines in guiding researches to maintain a neutral stance lies in the fact that all human beings, researchers included, belong to a basic social structure from which it is impossible to detach oneself from.   The fact that integral units of every society work together unconsciously towards the maintenance of overall social stability means that a researcher is also unconsciously involved in the social issue which he is studying (Barnard 2000).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another theory of significance in this discourse is the views of contemporary feminism.   â€Å"Contemporary feminism†, according to Grosz, (1994), â€Å"is the negation of factors such as: relationship of gender, sexuality, and the daily lives of specific women to collective needs, capital, labor, and their relation in the mode of production.† (pg 153)   Essentially, the contribution of this contemporary social theory is that it provides a solid framework for establishing a method by which a researcher is able to maintain academic credibility and integrity by being able to participate objectively in the studies being conducted.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The method by which contemporary feminism has disconnected itself from the struggles of changing the social relations that affect women’s lives should serve as a model by which a researcher should also be able to disconnect himself from not only the subject matter of the study but the other factors as well (Grosz, 1994).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   These two perspectives on contemporary social theories then provide the backbone for the argument in the next segment which will show how a researcher can still be effective as a neutral social scientist. Effectiveness of a Researcher as a Neutral Social Scientist   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This discourse has so far shown that the traditional method of maintaining total impartiality is very difficult if not impossible to achieve.   It defies that characterization of man as a social being and goes against the natural order of humans as social beings.   This leads one to the conclusion that there are positive points that one can learn from the criticisms.   It is therefore relevant at this point of this study to assess the validity of such criticisms and if possible synthesize the main points of the arguments to form a single guideline regarding the role of researchers and in the vision of maintaining not only the â€Å"perceived† neutrality but also the reliability and integrity of any work by a researcher in the field of the social sciences.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first key to being an effective researcher therefore lies in the ability to abide by the principles of the â€Å"scientific method† and in being able to conduct the research, analyze the data and properly maintain a certain distance from the subject matter (Scott, 1990).   Yet, it has been proven in this discourse that intervention is relevant and thus total neutrality cannot be maintained by the researcher.   This leads to the second key to the success and effectiveness of the researcher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A researcher must therefore maintain the vision of impartiality and neutrality despite the participant observation that is required in the pursuit of certain studies (Collins, 1979).   While the researcher may be linked with and interact with the subject of the study, detachment is not totally necessary to maintain that neutrality that is required (Ribes, 2005).   This problem is also resolved in controversy resolutions and debates which, as previously mentioned, reveal whatever biases may have existed and at the same time this may also improve the integrity and credibility of the research project in question.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is therefore clear that the vision of researchers as a neutral social scientist emotionally detached and socially separated from their research subjects is not required in all aspects of the social sciences and can be accepted within a certain degree in order for this field to be able to advance the current level of understanding on society and of human interactions. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, the vision of researchers as neutral social scientist, emotionally detached and socially separated from their research subjects is correctly criticized by most groups for the main reason that the demands of social sciences given all the various technological advances and methods by which impartiality may be threatened.   The danger that the integrity of the social sciences will be deeply questioned by the continued practice of total neutrality is apparent. In order to cope with the ever changing disciplines and to properly apply the deeper understanding of cultures, society and human interactions, it is important to adopt a method that is flexible enough to adapt to the needs of this discipline.   It is therefore important to maintain an acceptable degree of involvement or participation while still being aware of the unintended consequences that it may bring as well as the danger of too much intervention.    References: Baritz, L. (1960) The Servants of Power. A history of the use of social science in American industry, Wesleyan University. Barnard, A. (2000). History and Theory in Anthropology. Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Bowker, G. C. and Star, S. L. (1999) Sorting things out: classification and its consequences. MIT Press. Cambridge, Mass. Collins, H. M., and Pinch, T.J. (1979) The construction of the paranormal: Nothing unscientific is happening. In Sociological Review Monograph No. 27: On the margins of science: The social construction of rejected knowledge, edited by Roy Wallis, 237-70. Keele University Press: University of Keele. Chubin R., Daryl E., and Restivo S. (1983). The mooting of science studies: research programmes and science policy. In Science Observed: Perspectives on the Social Study of Science, Karin D. Knorr-Cetina and Michael Mulkay (eds), 53-83. London: Sage. Grosz, E. (1994) Volatile Bodies: Toward A Corporeal Feminism. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Indiana Hacking, I. (1983) Representing and intervening: introductory topics in the philosophy of natural science. Cambridge Cambridgeshire; New York, Cambridge University Press. 1983 Jacob, M. (1988) Utilization of social science knowledge in science policy: Systems of Innovation Social Science Information. 45: 431-462 Latour, A., Bruno, W. and Woolgar, S. (1979) Laboratory Life: The Social Construction of Scientific Facts. London: Sage. Mulkay, M, Potter, J. and Yearley, S. (1983). Why an analysis of scientific discourse is needed. In Science Observed: Perspectives on the Social Study of Science, ed. Karin D. Knorr-Cetina and Michael Mulkay, 171-203. London: Sage.    Popper, K.(1945) â€Å"Much of our social science still belongs to the Middle Ages., The Open Society and its Enemies. Princeton University Press. New Jersey Ribes, D. (2005) The Positions of the Social Scientist: Social and Technical Acts of Intervention Sociology and Science Studies, University of California-San Diego â€Å"Stufying Digital Library Users in the Wild JCDL Workshop Sasson, H. (1997) On Social Science London School of Economics Centennial Address, London School of Economics Press, London Scott, P, Richards, E. and Martin, B. (1990) Captives of Controversy: The Myth of the Neutral Social Researcher in Contemporary Scientific Controversies Published in Science, Technology, Human Values, Vol. 15, No. 4, Fall 1990, pp. 474-494 Smith, G. (1983) An International Review of Research in the Social Dimensions of Science and Technology Volume 13, No. 1 Sage Publications Wolcott, H.R. (1990) Qualitative inquiry in education: The continuing debate. New York. Teachers College Press Pp 121-152.

Does Playing Violent Video Games Promote Aggressive Behavior? Essay exa

Introduction Violent video games are becoming more popular among children and adolescents of all ages since its debut approximately 30 years ago. This growing popularity is generating an increasing concern that these sometimes very graphic videos and life like characters can have a negative influence on the younger generation. Although never proven, there has been speculation that some of the high school shootings across the country were committed by students who were habitual players of violent video games. Due to these concerns, a non-profit, self-regulatory organization was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to appropriately rate all video games from EC (early childhood), E (everyone), E10+ (everyone 10 and over), T (teen), M (mature), and AO (adults only). While assessing the efficacy of violent video game ratings, it is unknown how effective these ratings are for the intended audience (Becker-Olsen & Norberg, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on existing articles relating to the possibility of violent video games promoting aggressive behavior. The hypothesis set forth was that people who played non-violent video games displayed more Prosocial behavior versus those who played violent video games displayed more antisocial and aggressive behavior. A search was conducted on regular search engines on the internet, and on EBSCOhost using the title â€Å"can violent video games promote aggressive behavior.† The research articles presented are obtained from five case studies each focusing on different measures that were obtained, methods used, the participants involved, the designs of the study, and the results of the studies. Measures Demonstrating Viole... .... DOI: 10.1080/10888690903288748. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Research Database. Polman, H., Orobio De Castro, B. & Van Aken, M. A.G. (2008). Experimental Study of the Differential Effects of Playing Versus Watching Violent Video Games on Children’s Aggressive Behavior. Wiley-Liss Inc. Interscience. Doi: 10.1002/ab.20245. Retrieved from EBSCOhost Research Database. Saunderson, Matt (August 17th, 2005). The American Psychological Association says violence in Videogames is bad for children’s health. Kombo.com. Retrieved from http://ps3.kombo.com/ Article.php?artid=1760. Suhn Lee, M., & Barr, R. (August 2004,). Effects of Video Game Violence on Prosocial and Antisocial Behaviors. Journal of Young Investigators, 11(2). Retrieved from http://www.jyi.org/Volumes/volume11/issue2/articles/lee.html.