There is nothing wrong with being ignorant as long as you are contented Essay Example for Free

There is nothing wrong with being ignorant as long as you are contented Essay b) â€Å"There is nothing wrong with being ignorant as long as you are contented† Dicuss. This discussion topic is one that is regulary debated by philosophers and people in general. Surely if we asked ourself the question – if we can live in peace and happiness why should it matter if we live in ignorance or not? Surely we would just be jepodising our happiness for the â€Å"real† truth? Then again some may argue that how can we know what happiness really is if we are actually living in ignorance, because that happiness were feeling wouldnt actually be real. Platos stand on this evident; he believes that by living in ignorance you are living far from the truth. As a philosopher Plato argues that you should always question the world that you live in, whether you are contented or not. His attitude was simple: how can you be content with something thats not possibly real? His famous teaching was the analogy of the cave. In this he taught others that there was once a cave, and in that cave lived a group of prisoners who had lived there all their lives. One day one of the prioners decided to break free and walk along the path of unknown, towards the sunlight. Plato continued this story of saying that the prisoner was finally â€Å"englightened† by the real truth, and then returned to tell his fellow prisoners of what he had learnt. This evidently shows us that Plato did in fact agree with breaking free of ignorance, as it is the whole meaning of the analogy of the cave. Plato also believed that we as humans are ignorant, in the sense that we believe the real world is the Empirical world, and that no other worlds exist. Which Plato thought was complete and utter nonsense, because there is the world of forms: the Metaphyical world. If humans didnt believe that the Metaphysical world was not the world where all perfect forms lie, then we are all in fact ignorant. Plato b melieved that we all need to open our minds to all the possibilties and not be blinded by our ignorance. We also know, due to Platos theories, that in the question where it says, â€Å"there is nothing wrong with being ignorant,† we know for a fact that Plato would disagree with this. Stating that there is nothing wrong with something, from the Empirical world, was absurd in his eyes, unless in was in the Metaphysical world where everything is in its perfect form. However, some philosophers such as Aritotle (student of Plato), believed that the Empirical world was all that there was so therefore there is no ignorance to live in because the Empirical world is the world that exists. So in a way we can say that Aristotle would agree with this statment because his attitude is that we dont live in ignorance we live in this world, and this world alone. However some may also say, Aristotle is still a philosopher, he still questions this world. So for example, if he did think that we were living in ignorance, would Aristotle say that we should be content with that or should we question what content was? If we looked at another philosopher, Hereclitus, we can see how some of her ideas and theories may actually link to an idea that would agree with this statement. Heraclitus once said â€Å"reality is unstable†, surely if reality is unstable then ignorance must be bliss? Heraclitus also said that â€Å"you can never step in the same river twice†, teaching people that reality is ever-changing and is constantly in the process of change, therefore things go out of existance. Then surely, if Heraclitus is right, who would want to live in a reality that is unstable? Wouldnt you just prefer to live in a more stable world even if it was in ignorance? At least then you knew where you stood with the world rather than exprecting the Empirical world to always change. Therefore, this shows us that there was a philosopher that disagreed with Platos words and that ignorance should be aceepted if you are content with a stable world. Although in the film â€Å"The Matrix†, aired in 1999, it has a situation in the film which would apply to this statement. In the film the Morpheus tells the main characters Neo and Cypher that they have a decision to make. Do they take the blue pill which allows them to remain in the city where they live and live in blissful ignorance, or do they take the red pill, which would lead them to escape the city and to go into the â€Å"real† world, where they would embrace the sometimes painful truth of reality? The characters choose the red pill. They risk their happy life to understand the real truth. However, we soon see that they start to regret their choice. They wish they had taken the blue pill, even if it was living in ignorance. So even though at first it shows the characters disagreeing with the statement and that all humans, when faced with the decision of knowing the truth, they accept. It turns out that ignorance won in the end. It shows that though humans do like to know the truth, the majority of us are content with our lives and would rather live day by day and see where it takes us, rather than constantly questioning what is content? What is living in ignorance? Another example that we can discuss this statement on is: animals in captivity. Animals that are born in captivity are more likely to live longer than animals living in the wild. There a vets at the ready incase one of the animals get hurt and there are no fearful preditors about. The animals are completely safe. However, some argue that an animals natural habitat is the wild and that is where they should be living. Not in a confined cage. Many say that animals get stressed and its completely un fair for them to be living under the influence of humans. But surely, if the animal was born into capivity, they wouldnt know any different? No animal would know that their natural climate was maybe in the south of Africa (essentially the wild.) Really were saying should they be living in ignorance, where they are safe to bring up their young and can live a long, good life? Or.. are we saying that reality is better? Where animals could get hunted down before they even grow to be an adult? How are the animals supposed to know whether theyre living in ignorance or reality if they dont know any different? Linking this back to the statement, for me i think in this certain situation living in ignorance would be better than living in the harsh realities of the unknown wilderness. To conclude with, I believe that those who wish to live ignorance as long as they are content with it should do so. I can completely understand where they are coming from if they live a happy life. Why would you want to change that when reality may be bleak? Even though Plato said that we are blinded by this Empirical world and that we should widen our knowledge to venture into the Metaphysical world, the â€Å"real world†, my belief is that Plato took his theories a bit too far and that maybe he was questioning a bit too much and should just accept that this world is the only and real world there is. When we hit our head, it hurts. How can this not be the real world? I believe that an ignorant world does not exist, but a ignorant state of mind does. But as long people are content with that then why should it matter? Were not living their lives so it has no influence on us.

French democracy 1970- future :: essays research papers

A comparative chronology of democracy/election and how it has and will influence politics in France between the time period of 1970-2020.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1958, the highly centralized Fifth Republic was created, which lasts to the present day. Its constitution is characterized by the strong executive powers vested in the presidency. This constitution was approved by popular vote, and direct elections every seven years elect a President. The President presides over a cabinet of members headed by a Prime Minister of his or her choosing. The legislative body is divided into two houses, the National Assembly and the senate, whose members are elected for nine-year terms. The National Assembly's members are directly elected for five-year terms. The Senate members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms. The French judicial system assesses the constitutionality of legislation that is referred to review by the Parliament, Prime Minister or President. The Fifth Republic was almost overthrown in 1968 by a radical alliance of students and industrial workers. In reaction, conservative presidents and center-right majorities in the National Assembly governed France throughout the 1970s. In 1981, a Socialist Francois Mitterland won the presidential election, the first time the Socialist party’s candidate had been victorious. In May 1988, he was reelected for a second term. Jacques Chirac, who had been both mayor of Paris and Prime Minister, had succeeded Mitterland as president in May of 1995 after a narrow victory over the Socialist challenger Lionel Jospin. In the legislature, Chirac had the benefit of a conservative majority. This came about after a victory for the right in the legislative elections in March 1993: unusually, the two right-wing parties, the Gaullist Rally for the Republic Party (RPR) and the more centrist Union Democratique Francaise (UDF)-normally fierce rivals, agreed to present joint candidates. Edouard Balladur of the RPR, a sometime Minister of Finance, became Prime Minister. In 1995, Balladur was replaced by Alain Juppe, whose rigorous pursuit of an economic austerity program undermined the support for the government and opened the way for revival of the left.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Presently, France has a mixed presidential and parliamentary government that unites directly and popularly elected President, as Head of State, with a cabinet dependent on parliamentary confidence. As in other presidential governments, the president’s term is fixed, but he or she may be reelected an unlimited number of times. The French Constitution of 1958 reduced the power of the Parliament and conferred onto the President the right to dissolve the National Assembly and to appoint the head of French government, the Prime Minister, as well as the Council of Ministers. French democracy 1970- future :: essays research papers A comparative chronology of democracy/election and how it has and will influence politics in France between the time period of 1970-2020.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1958, the highly centralized Fifth Republic was created, which lasts to the present day. Its constitution is characterized by the strong executive powers vested in the presidency. This constitution was approved by popular vote, and direct elections every seven years elect a President. The President presides over a cabinet of members headed by a Prime Minister of his or her choosing. The legislative body is divided into two houses, the National Assembly and the senate, whose members are elected for nine-year terms. The National Assembly's members are directly elected for five-year terms. The Senate members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms. The French judicial system assesses the constitutionality of legislation that is referred to review by the Parliament, Prime Minister or President. The Fifth Republic was almost overthrown in 1968 by a radical alliance of students and industrial workers. In reaction, conservative presidents and center-right majorities in the National Assembly governed France throughout the 1970s. In 1981, a Socialist Francois Mitterland won the presidential election, the first time the Socialist party’s candidate had been victorious. In May 1988, he was reelected for a second term. Jacques Chirac, who had been both mayor of Paris and Prime Minister, had succeeded Mitterland as president in May of 1995 after a narrow victory over the Socialist challenger Lionel Jospin. In the legislature, Chirac had the benefit of a conservative majority. This came about after a victory for the right in the legislative elections in March 1993: unusually, the two right-wing parties, the Gaullist Rally for the Republic Party (RPR) and the more centrist Union Democratique Francaise (UDF)-normally fierce rivals, agreed to present joint candidates. Edouard Balladur of the RPR, a sometime Minister of Finance, became Prime Minister. In 1995, Balladur was replaced by Alain Juppe, whose rigorous pursuit of an economic austerity program undermined the support for the government and opened the way for revival of the left.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Presently, France has a mixed presidential and parliamentary government that unites directly and popularly elected President, as Head of State, with a cabinet dependent on parliamentary confidence. As in other presidential governments, the president’s term is fixed, but he or she may be reelected an unlimited number of times. The French Constitution of 1958 reduced the power of the Parliament and conferred onto the President the right to dissolve the National Assembly and to appoint the head of French government, the Prime Minister, as well as the Council of Ministers.

Benefits of Recycling

Recycling has been around for generations, sometimes in different forms, but still around. Earlier generations preserved food items, a unique form of reducing, or recycling (Blashfield and Black). Most people see recycling as throwing paper, plastic, glass, and other items into a blue bag then throwing it on the street for a local company to dispose of; however, others reduce and reuse items to recycle and make items last longer. Recycling has been proven to make a difference in many aspects of materials and energy. According to Nicky Scott, â€Å"The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle will operate a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.†Recycling doesn’t have to be complicated and tedious; it can be easy and very beneficial. As society has grown and the impact of the economy has set in, recycling has become more popular. Many people are seeing the gracious financial, economical, and useful benefits of recycling and its components. Not only are individuals recyc ling, but businesses are too. â€Å"Greening the office will therefore have significant benefits environmentally and financially†¦as many other businesses have experienced† (Clift and Cuthbert 1). Businesses are realizing, as well as individuals, the positive effects of recycling.The benefits of recycling are endless. Virtually anyone can accomplish the task and make a positive change while doing it. With so many items that can be reused or recycled, every person should recycle. According to Nicky Scott â€Å"thirty percent of America now recycles. † Everyone in America should recycle because it helps the environment, benefits society as a whole, and is a cost effective choice. Recycling efforts have been proven to help the environment we live in. Reducing, reusing, and recycling truly help the environment and essentially preserve it.Simple items such as composting help the environment. â€Å"Recycling and composting diverted nearly 70 million tons of material aw ay from landfills†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (National Recycling Coalition). Another major component to the environment that benefits from recycling, or its sub-parts reducing and reusing, are the trees in the environment. Essentially, the more paper products people use, the more trees are needed to supply this habit. Supply and demand play a key role in waster and recycling. If one ton of paper is recycled, twelve trees can be saved.Destruction of forests occurs whenmore paper is needed and trees are cut down, therefore, using less paper reduces this destruction. (Nicks J). The global environment also is positively effected by recycling, or reducing and reusing. Carbon emissions are put out everyday by coal mines, cars, houses, and other buildings. By reducing, a part of recycling, the usage of heat, or energy, can substantially help the environment. â€Å"Recycling benefits the air and water by creating a net reduction in ten major categories of air pollutant† (National Recycling Coalit ion). Many pollutants can be eliminated or diminished if everyone simply recycles or reduces.Many people drink items out of an aluminum can. Aluminum is one of the easiest items to recycle, and it also takes 95 percent less energy to recycle aluminum than it is to produce it (National Recycling Coalition). This reduces the negative effect on the environment greatly. Main energy sources such as coal, methane, and oil will not last forever, maybe hundreds of years, but not forever. Recycling helps preserve sources of energy and other products for future generations and people (Bainbridge). The benefits of recycling on the environment are endless.Simply math calculates that the benefits outweigh the negatives. For future and current generations to recycle is a must, the benefits prove that the environment is a major beneficiary of the efforts to recycle. After all, facts are facts, and recycling has been proven a fact to benefits the environment we all live in. Opposing viewpoints and other sources claim that by not recycling, the environment benefits more than if someone does recycle. Although there are many benefits to recycling, there also are some negative aspects, as with any situation.Opposing viewpoint states, â€Å"Curbside recycling is substantially more costly and uses far more resources†¦This means more iron ore and coal mining, more steel and rubber manufacturing, more petroleum extracted and refined for fuel†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Opposing Viewpoints 81). This negative effect to the environment is focused on the emissions put out and material used, not the natural environment. Recycling, in some cities although, can be somewhat costly and unorganized. Some people also claim that recycling can be harmful to the natural environment.Recycling sites and places at landfills for recycling can become dirty and unhygienic if managed improperly. The chemicals the recycled material puts of can be harmful if not taken care of precisely. The rainwater also can mix with the material making an especially uncleanly environment, if not organized effectively (Nicks J). If recycling is not managed or organized properly, as with any program or organization, negative effects will occur. Minor oppositions and negatives are associated with recycling, but with anything in life, there are always a few resisting aspects.The environment benefits greatly from recycling by reducing emissions, saving trees and destruction, and preserving wildlife that lives in the environment. Most recycling plants are managed by professionals and attain the highest level of organization; this diminishes many hazards that are caused by mismanaged material. Recycling and composting materials has been proven to benefit and nourishes the environment, not create hazards and risks (Kalenberg). Also, recycling programs cost less to run than landfills or other â€Å"dumping† organizations.â€Å"Well-run recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, landfill ing, and incineration† (National Recycling Coalition). These costs also indicate that fewer emissions are put out because many recycling centers are located where the everyday traveler is going, reducing the amount of time a car is running and creating emissions. Recycling also cuts down the need for more energy to be created, reducing emissions in the air and helping the environment. â€Å"Recycling used materials reduces energy requirements in many manufacturing processes such as refining and mining† (Nicks J).By cutting down the destruction and emissions mines, plants, and factories cause, the environment is enhanced not hindered. Another reason why recycling is beneficial and not a hindrance to the environment is pollution. Everyday, in any situation, aluminum cans, plastic containers, and paper products are thrown, not into a garbage can, but out into the environment. People who litter cause many damaging effects to the environment. With recycling, this problem is diminished; there is no garbage lying around and the environment prospers.Recycling is an enormous and outweighed benefit to the environment, not a restraint like Opposing Viewpoints and others claim it to be. Next, recycling is a must because it benefits society in many positive ways. Recycling has become more popular every year because of social and convenience benefits. More people of society are realizing the benefits of recycling. â€Å"The recycling business continues to expand at a faster rate as more and more people are emphasizing the need for eco-friendly surroundings† (Bainbridge). Another benefit to society is the â€Å"lead by example† teamwork aspect.Many people lead byexample and come together for a certain cause. In many cities and towns across the United State, this cause is recycling. People come together, which is a great social benefit. â€Å"Any place you go—school, church, club, business—can become a place where you can get recyclin g activities started and get other people caring about the Earth† (Blashfield and Black 117). Recycling has been proven to bring members of a community together to support a cause, on of the most marked benefits of recycling. Many large cities also have gotten into the realm of recycling, realizing the benefits, but also leading by example.â€Å"New York City leaders realized that a redesigned, efficient recycling system could actually save the city $20 million and they have now signed a 20-year recycling contract† (National Recycling Coalition). Recycling also is very easy to accomplish and virtually anyone can do it. Simply digging a hole and putting many garbage items in it, then covering it up with dirt provides an easy and beneficial compost site (Kalenberg). Recycling is so easy that many children can get involved. Children love to help; recycling also can be a game for children, putting certain items where they go.â€Å"Children really like the idea of recycling (and composting)†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Scott 35). Blue bins and bags also make recycling very easy. Most people can recognize a blue bag and put recyclable materials (represented by three arrows) into the bag, an idea that is simple and easy. Three key â€Å"R† words also make recycling simple. Reduce, reuse, and recycle combine to create the perfect and simple reminder for recycling. Many household and common products can be recycled in some way. Taking wire hangers to a second hand store or giving them to a steel center is a simple recycling fix (Scott 39).Recycling has been proven to benefit different because it is very easy and provides many widespread social benefits. Opposing Viewpoints, however, claims that recycling is not beneficial to society in any aspect. Some sources say that a recycling program can be unorganized and confusing. Some social negatives towards recycling are also presented. â€Å"Despite the many thousands of curbside recycling programs†¦packaging w aste still account for between 35 and 40 percent of the household waste†¦Americans don’t care enough about recycling, it seems†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Opposing Viewpoints 42).Socially Americans will not become environmentally conscious until all of our energy and consumable resources are used up, Opposing Viewpoints also claims. Some people find recycling confusing by sorting out certain materials, deciding what to recycle, and how to go about recycling. Opposing viewpoints adds, â€Å"Mandatory recycling programs aren’t good for posterity. They offer mainly short-term benefits to a few groups†¦Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Skepticism is only represented when little evidence is to prove against recycling.Other groups believe that certain types of recycling can also be complicated and tedious. â€Å"There are different kinds of plastic and one has to sort them systematically† (Nicks J). Different materials call for different types of action when recycling, considered a negative view to some. Very little penalties contribute to the effects of recycling on society as a whole. Minimal negative benefits are present to society; however, the positive benefits of recycling to a society outweigh the minimal negatives. â€Å"It seems† does not contemplate a fact or something solid when arguing a point, the first mistake on the Opposing Viewpoints side.Also Nicky Scott states, â€Å"360 million plastic bottles were recycled in 2002. † This shows how many people are taking advantage or recycling because it is very easy. The number shows that each day over 1 million bottles are recycled! Socially, it is important to take care of future generations; daughters, sons, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and so on are the future of America. For these generations to thrive and make the world better, resources are needed, and we need to start preserving them now. Americans and leaders are not wait ing for energy sources to become fully used before recycling.â€Å"Many cities now collect part of the trash for recycling† (Blashfield and Black 15). This shows how society is starting to influence government and cities to do what is right for society. Also, with more people recycling, the packaging waste would be cut down dramatically. Over 80 percent of all the plastic products we use end up in a landfill somewhere (Scott 68). Recycling plastic and reusing plastic cans cut this number dramatically and the need for processing anymore. Also, sorting through recycled material is very easy. Labels on the products (usually a three arrow diagram) explain how to recycle the item.Most directions in recycling are simple and easy. When in drought, put an item with your already recycled material. â€Å"Remember the three Rs of 3RC. Reduce the waste you make. Reuse those items your can. Then, recycle everything possible† (Blashfield and Black 29). The claims that have been made against the benefits recycling can provide for society are merely statements, not facts. Recycling has been proven to help society in aspects ranging from convenience to social bonds. Attempts to nullify these benefits lack research and observation.Recycling is also very economically smart because it costs less and provides more jobs. A conscious financial decision can be to recycle. From a multi-million dollar corporation, to a family in a small town, recycling has been proven to be financially beneficial. Companies are very smart and often set a trend for many Americans. â€Å"Thousands of U. S. companies have saved millions of dollars through their voluntary recycling programs. They wouldn't recycle if it didn't make economic sense† (National Recycling Coalition). Reusing items, reducing consumption of energy, and recycling old products save money, plain and simple.Each time a product can be cut back or reused, is one less time more money has to be spent. Recycling also p ositively effects society by creating more jobs. Research and development can also benefit from recycling by creating fresh and new ideas. â€Å"It [recycling] stimulates the development of eco-friendly technologies†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Bainbridge). Private sector jobs that are created almost every day to help research and conduct recycling programs along with other recycling-involved jobs create almost 1. 1 million careers in the United States (National Recycling Coalition).This helps stimulate the economy and creates American jobs, which stay in America. Recycling and buying recycled materials also helps to cut down costs. If more items were recycled or made out of recycled material, the cost of a product would be dramatically reduced. â€Å"Roughly 30 cents of every dollar consumers spend on packaged goods goes towards paying for the packaging† (Scott 12). Recycling can be very cost effective to companies and families when accomplished correctly. Some companies and organization s can even increase productivity to become more competitive in a certain market by recycling, reusing, and reducing.Companies in society can benefit from recycling and reducing. Overhead costs, energy costs, water bills, and other expenditures are cut down when recycling and reducing is involved; sales and productivity also are increased due to a good recycling reputation and cost minimization (Clift and Cuthbert 1-2). Also with the current economy recycling is beneficial. Reusing, a part of recycling, can be a very smart financial decision. If materials are reused and recycled, the need to purchase new items decreases. This is very beneficial in an economy that is recovering from a recession, and when budgets are tight.â€Å"Recycling helps families save money, especially in communities with pay-as-you-throw programs† (National Recycling Coalition). Programs all over the United State are designed to make sense financially and economically. A simple task, such as using less p aper towels for clean-up by using and recycling cloth rags, can be a conscious cost decision also. Opposing Viewpoints, however, claims that recycling is not beneficial to society in any aspect. Some sources say that a recycling program can be costly and not a financially sound decision for society.Opposing Viewpoints states that in Ann Arbor, MI the cost of a recycling program is around 1,014,000 dollars, and with other costs associated the program costs over 400,000 dollars more than a typical garbage program (Opposing Viewpoints 103). Others also claim that certain types of recycling are costly and not economically smart for a program. â€Å"Paper recycling can be a bit costly, as additional industrial processes such as bleaching, are required to make the paper reusable† (Nicks J). Recycling programs have also been accused of being expensive to maintain and enforce.Opposing viewpoints also claims that curbside recycling is 35 to 55 percent more than disposing of an item. T hey also state, â€Å"Using less of one resource usually means using more of another† (Opposing Viewpoints 81). This statement refers to recycling and the benefits of it. Some sources agree that recycling costs more than a generalized landfill, or garbage program. Others claim some of the items and products that are made of recycled products can be costly because some items cannot be used, even after being recycled. â€Å"There is no guarantee that the new recycled product obtained will be of good quality.This is because recycling involves manufacturing products from used materials† (Nicks J). There is a slight risk that is associated with recycling and the products that come as a result of a recycling program. Overall, little evidence is presented on why recycling is not beneficial to the American society. Although mismanaged recycling programs can be costly, most recycling programs cost less than a traditional garbage system. Using words like â€Å"usually† of ten result in a lack of research and representation, concluding why the opponent used these words.Opposing Viewpoint’s information for society was based on one city, Ann Arbor. This cannot speak for the entire nation; it is one cities bias towards recycling. The facts that benefit economically outweigh the opinions of the opponents. Society does benefit from recycling with regards to economic interests. Compared to the landfill industries, recycling is definitely more beneficial. â€Å"Recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries† (National Recycling Coalition). Creating jobs can be one of the most important blessings to society economically and socially.According to Ross Bainbridge recycling is beneficial to society because it offers financial and social benefits such as cutting costs and increasing production for some businesses. Although, the opponent claims that recycling costs more than other programs, there is no support or statistics to support these findings. On the other hand research has been done to prove otherwise. â€Å"Well-run recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, landfilling, and incineration† (National Recycling Coalition). Many curbside programs cost no extra money at all.The recycled items are placed beside garbage and are disposed of at the same time. Despite the faulty claims by opponents of recycling, organized recycling programs have been proven to be cost effective and economically comprehensive. Recycling programs are beneficial and continue to be. The benefits of recycling are endless. Many benefits offer no reason not to recycle. Every person should recycle because it helps the environment, is economically sound, and benefits society. With so many items that can be reused or recycled, every person should recycle.Recycling also is very simple and easy to do. Even many children and teens are getting involved with the revolutionary pro cess. According to Nicky Scott thirty percent of America now recycles. An increase that has happened in just a few years. Everyone should to recycle and help this figure grow until every American is recycling and witnessing the benefits of it. Everyone also should recycle because it benefits the natural environment, provides many positive effects on society as a whole, and is very cost effective. Benefits Of Recycling The highly material intensive nature of the modern industry has led to huge resource consumption and compilation of large amount of industrial and municipal waste leading to depletion of natural system, erosion of earth’s resource base, global warming, rise of sea level, deterioration of environment, and increasing extinction rate of animal life, causing severe impairment to earth’s ability to support the human civilization in its current framework.The dangers presented by the unchecked growth and resource consumption became manifest to the world in 1985 after the discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica that informed the global community of the urgency of problem. As a consequence and in the response to the challenge presented to humanity’s future by its own march towards development, leaders of world met in June, 1992 in Rio De-Janeiro in the first earth summit where against the current pattern of development, sustainable development was identified as the re quired path for the world to follow.One of the important aspects of sustainable development has been recycling of products and waste. Benefits of recycling for society Recycling as a process holds important place in the course of sustainable development for any society. As an activity, its relevance extends beyond a goodwill action to one that holds crucial environmental, economic and social significance for the society and the country (Pellow, Schnaiberg, Winberg, 2000).Recycling helps to constitutes a perfect model of social and urban development where resource consumption is optimized and needs for new material contained while production is maintained at the same levels, thereby driving up the profits and quality of life in the urban communities. The urban community in the post industrial phase has been swamped by the problem of municipal waste and garbage, which has taken menacing proportion, both from the point of view of making valuable urban landscape as redundant as well as causing significant environment damage.In the initial phase of recycling that started in 1960s, it was an avenue for employment for the marginalized section and profit making opportunity to many private entrepreneurs. The hauling, collection and dumping of garbage was a big problem for municipalities of many cities and was considered an unnecessary drain on their already constrained financial resources, causing deterioration in quality of city life.As the private entrepreneurs saw opportunity in the business of waste management and trash disposal they developed professional expertise in gaining maximum value out of the waste that was an important step in emergence of recycling (Pellow, Schnaiberg, Winberg, 2000). In the forthcoming years it was realized that recycling was also an important tool with tremendous potential to reduce the human pressure on environment, land and natural resources that were strained due to continued cycles of consumptions and waste production over years (Y oung, 1995).It was a vital break from its image of a ‘just a do good activity’ to one that was fundamental to driving economy and society on a new path. Environmental benefits of recycling Various studies in industry and academic circles have reported that recycling is among the most effective techniques to reduce the threat of greenhouse gases, contain global warming and alleviate the dangers of extreme climatic change that the world is facing (Benefits of Recycling, 2005).These studies point out that as reusable material is made available through recycling prevents the environmental damage that the fresh extraction of these materials would have caused. Further it also saves the amount of energy, water and other raw materials that are considerably higher in manufacturing of virgin products than recycling. The Department of Environment and Conservation conducted a comprehensive study on the feasibility and benefits of recycling of some of most used substances which are (Benefits of Recycling, 2005) (a)Paper/Cardboard; (b) Liquid paperboard; (c) Glass;(d) Aluminum, (e) Steel;(f) PlasticIn addition, research has also shown the usefulness of recycling for solid and municipal waste and water in optimizing the resource use without compromising with the requirements of the society. The major environmental benefits of recycling are in the area of 1. Green house gases. Recycling helps to contain the extraction of resources and limit the release the green-house gases thereby helping to reduce global warming. The gases whose emission is commonly controlled and mitigated by recycling processes are (a). Carbon Dioxide; (b) Methane; (c) Nitrous Oxide and (d) Oxides of sulphurMost of the households in world use considerable amount of products that are easily recyclable, such as paper and cardboard. Their recycling prevents thermo mechanical pumping of wood, a process that releases gases like carbon-di-oxide and methane in the atmosphere leading to greenhouse ga ses concentration. Similarly useful results come from recycling of glass, which is third in weight proportion among all recyclable materials. Manufacturing of fresh glass requires treatment with soda wash and lime, that contribute significantly to the concentration of greenhouse gases.Recycling of aluminum also saves cutting down in emission of many environmentally harmful gases and products that cause global warming. 2. Energy savings: Energy consumption has been recognized as environment conservation, as it’s the disproportionately greater flow of energy through natural systems that is causing problems of greenhouse gases and global warming. Recycling helps to greatly improve energy efficiency by reducing the energy demands otherwise required for manufacturing and processing of virgin materials.As most of the heat required for creation of products such as paper, cardboards, and packaging materials is obtained through burning bio-mass, recycling become significant in both th e protection of the bio-mass, increasing earth’s capacity to contain carbon dioxide as well helping to reduce the production of carbon-dioxide and methane. Water savings: Decreasing fresh water resources have become a cause of global concern. The scarcity of drinking is already prominent many Asian and African countries, and its estimated that it would effect even the developed European, American and Pacific countries in the eventual run.Among the sectors consuming fresh water, industrial processes emerge as the primary users as well as pollutants of the rivers, lakes and other fresh water resources. Recycling of substances, especially plastic materials and products, results in saving of enormous quantities of fresh water that is otherwise wasted in first batch production. Industrial benefits Recently attempts have been directed towards improvement in recycling process through introduction of recycling parks and recycling industrial zones, that are based on generic concepts o f reuse and recycle etched in the industrial ecology framework (Pellow, Schnaiberg, Winberg, 2000).A recycling industrial park or zone contains a host of facilities and technical features such as solar power inputs, waste reduction technologies, refinery, greenhouse gases monitoring plant, and central heating plan. All of these facilities are integrated in a system design that helps them to share and transfer energy and waste, thereby minimizing the requirement and production of them. Further, the wastes produced in one process is used as input material for another processes (ibid).Paper industry and aluminum industry have been among the foremost users of recyclable products, introducing structural changes in their operation and functional modes to help them use the huge amount of recyclable material that was available through just one decade of emphasis on recycling (Young, 1995). The increasing prices of aluminum raw materials and wood also made recycling a very prospective and co st cutting option for these industries. As a result, in New York alone, whereas the annual cost of disposing newspaper was $ 6 million every year until 1992, recycling made it a profitable business generating over $ 30 million from 1994.Business and industries are also more focused on recycling after a general social consciousness towards environment that has increased the demand of recyclable products. Hazardous and municipal waste management United states produces enormous volumes of solid waste, a great part of which is hazardous and presents serious risks to health of people if left unattended. The problem of managing hazardous waste became a challenge for government and civic administration in 1970s as it required landfills and incineration at wide scale, thereby creating the dangers of severe land pollution and air pollution (Needleman, 1994).In response the EPA instituted policies that started to govern unchecked disposal of hazardous wastes in landfills and encouraged compan ies towards using a significant part of the recyclable material, causing a significant reduction in amount of waste being disposed (Needleman, 1994). It was immediately recognized in the civic administrative circles that by far, recycling was the cheapest and most convenient method of waste management, as well as promising avenue to boost economic development.Consequently various city administration and states have taken steps towards financing measures, tax assistance and technical help to promote recycling on a wider platform (Young, 1995). Various facts related to benefits of Recycling Various informative facts related to benefits of recycling are (Benefits of Recycling, 2007) 1. One ton of paper made from recyclable material helps to save 17 trees, 7 gallon of water, approximately 460 gallon of oil, 590 pounds of air pollution, 3 cubic yards of landfill space and 4 kilowatt hours of energy.Effectually it results in reduction of air pollution by 74 percent, water pollution by 35 percent and energy consumption by 64 percent. 2. Recycling of aluminum helps to save every year around 19 million barrel of oil. For a comparative analysis, this is equivalent to energy supplied to about 18 million household every year. 3. Recycling one glass bottle saves energy that is sufficient to light a 100 watt bulb for four hours. 4. Recycling one ton of plastic helps to save energy that is equivalent to 1100-1200 gallons of gasoline. 5. Use of recycled aluminum to make cars decreases the comparative air pollution by a margin of 95 %.6. More than 41,000 tress could be saved every day in US alone if all the newspapers published in a day are recycled. 7. Recycled motor oil helps to reduce dependency on the imported oil. 8. Recycling industry helps create a number of jobs, helping in growth of economy in generating income as well as cutting costs. According to the Office of Federal Environmental Executive, Recycling and remanufacturing industries have helped to create more than one million jobs in the economy and their aggregate revenues have been over a staggering $ 100 billion (EPA, 2006).Further, the industry has a rich job profile offering employment to part time and low level workers to top management personnel and scientists. Recycling industry is also instigating discovery and invention of new research and development techniques to utilize greater number of materials as recyclable products, along with keeping the process of recycling cost incentive, so that it is able to compete with the mainstream industrial production processes on the real-time scale of quality, cost and profits.Conclusion As the recycling industry is maturing and creating its own niche, it has become evident that the industry holds enormous potential in restructuring the entire economic, environmental social paradigm. On the one hand the recycling industry helps to save precious and limited natural resources, while bringing down the cost of manufacturing, and on the other it crea tes hundreds of thousand of jobs as a full fledged industry in itself.By reducing the pollution of land, and helping to cud down greenhouse gases, recycling also plays a foremost part in containing the threats of global environment and securing the future of humanity on the path of consistent development and progress. Reference Pellow, D. N, Schnaiberg ,A. Weinberg , A. S 2000. Urban Recycling and the Search for Sustainable Community Development. Princeton University Press. : Princeton, NJ. Young, J. E. 1995. The Sudden New Strength of Recycling. World Watch. Volume: 8. Issue: 4. Benefits of Recycling. 2005. Department of Environment and Conservation.Accessed online on 16. 05. 2007. http://www. environment. nsw. gov. au/resources/2005140_gov_benefitrecysum. pdf Benefits of Recycling. Hamilton County Environment Services. Accessed online on 16. 05. 2007. http://www. hcdoes. org/sw/benefits_of_recycling. htm Economic benefits of Recycling. 2006. Environmental Protection Agency. Access ed online on 16. 05. 2007 http://www. epa. gov/jtr/econ/index. htm Needleman, B. 1994. Hazardous Waste Recycling under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Problems and Potential Solutions. : Environmental Law. Volume: 24. Issue: 3. Page Number: 971-1044

Stuart Davis, American Modernist Painter

Stuart Davis (1892-1964) was a prominent American modernist painter. He began working in the realist Ashcan School style, but exposure to European modernist painters in the Armory Show led to a distinctive personal modernist style that influenced the later development of pop art. Fast Facts: Stuart Davis Occupation: PainterMovement: Abstract art, modernism, cubismBorn: December 7, 1892 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDied: June 24, 1964 in New York, New YorkParents: Helen Stuart Foulke and Edward Wyatt DavisSpouses: Bessie Chosak (died 1932), Roselle SpringerChild: George Earle DavisSelected Works: Lucky Strike (1921), Swing Landscape (1938), Deuce (1954)Notable Quote: I dont want people to copy Matisse or Picasso, although it is entirely proper to admit their influence. I dont make paintings like theirs. I make paintings like mine. Early Life and Education The son of sculptor Helen Stuart Foulke and newspaper art editor Edward Wyatt Davis, Stuart Davis grew up surrounded by visual art. He developed a serious interest in drawing by age sixteen and started illustrating adventure stories for his younger brother, Wyatt. Davis family moved from his childhood home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to New Jersey, where he got to know a group of his fathers artist colleagues known as the Eight. This group included Robert Henri, George Luks, and Everett Shinn. Bar House, Newark (1913). Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Stuart Davis began his formal art training as a student of Robert Henri, who became the leader of the Ashcan School, an American art movement known for focusing on painting scenes of daily life in New York City. They took much of their inspiration from Walt Whitmans poetry in Leaves of Grass. The Armory Show In 1913, Davis was one of the youngest artists featured in the groundbreaking Armory Show, the first extensive exhibition of modern art in the U.S. First showing at New Yorks 69th Regiment Armory, the exhibition then traveled to the Art Institute of Chicago and Copley Society of Art in Boston. The Mellow Pad (1951). Brooklyn Museum / Wikimedia Commons While Stuart Davis exhibited realist paintings in the Ashcan style, he studied the works of European modernist artists included in the exhibition, from Henri Matisse to Pablo Picasso. After the Armory Show, Davis became a dedicated modernist. He took cues from the cubist movement in Europe to move toward a more abstract style of painting. Colorful Abstraction Stuart Davis mature style of painting began to develop in the 1920s. He became friends with other influential American artists including Charles Demuth and Arshile Gorky as well as poet William Carlos Williams. His work began with realistic elements but he then abstracted them with bright colors and geometrical edges. Davis also painted in series, making his work parallel to musical variations on a theme. Swing Landscape (1938). Robert Alexander / Getty Images In the 1930s, Davis painted murals for the Federal Art Project, a program of the Works Progress Administration. One of those, the monumental painting Swing Landscape shows the style of Stuart Davis in full flower. He began with a depiction of the waterfront of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and then added the energy of the jazz and swing music he loved. The result is a highly personal explosion of color and geometrical forms. By the 1950s, Davis work evolved to a focus on lines and a style influenced by drawing. The painting Deuce is an example of the shift. Gone was the cacophony of bright colors. In its place was a lively set of vibrant lines and shapes still echoing lessons learned from the European cubism of the early 20th century. Later Career After he established himself as a vital member of the New York avant-garde painting scene of the mid-20th century, Stuart Davis began teaching. He worked at the Art Students League, the New School for Social Search, and then Yale University. As an instructor, Davis directly influenced a new generation of American artists. Nightlife (1962). Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons 2.0 Although his late-career work continued to incorporate abstract elements, Stuart Davis never moved completely away from referencing real life. He rejected the abstract expressionism that dominated the American art world of the 1950s. In the early 1960s, Davis health quickly declined until he suffered a stroke in 1964 and passed away. His death came just as art critics saw the influence of his work in a new movement, pop art. Legacy Deuce (1954). Andreas Solaro / Getty Images One of Stuart Davis most lasting contributions was his ability to take lessons learned from European movements in painting and create a distinctly American twist on the ideas. His bold, graphical paintings contain echoes of the work of Fauvists like Henri Matisse and the cubist experiments of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. However, the end product finds inspiration in American life and architecture, a factor that makes Davis work unique. Pop artists Andy Warhol and David Hockney celebrated Stuart Davis blending of content from commercial advertisements with the shapes of everyday objects that he first depicted in the 1920s. Today, many art historians consider Davis work to be proto-pop art. Source Haskell, Barbara. Stuart Davis: In Full Swing. Prestel, 2016.