Freud and Bataille Essay - 1462 Words

Sigmund Freud, Civilization and its Discontents (1930) * Georges Bataille, â€Å"The Pineal Eye† (1927-1930) First Paper Due: What is Freud’s central thesis in Civilization and Its Discontents? What evidence does he use to support his argument? How might Bataille’s work confirm or refute Freud’s central argument(s) in Civilization and Its Discontents? Using Freud’s book as a methodological tool, analyze and interpret Bataille’s writing—what does it demonstrate or suggest about the fate of the psyche in the modern world? In one respect, there is no difference in Sigmund Freud’s â€Å"Civilization and Its Discontents† (1929), and in Georges Bataille’s â€Å"The Pineal Eye† (1927-1930) in that both authors display interest in the disciplines of†¦show more content†¦He presents many examples throughout his essay demonstrating how â€Å"things can cause a disturbance to oneself. For instance he writes: â€Å"I can at any rate listen without taking umbrage to those critics who aver that when one surveys the aims of civilization and the means it employs, one is bound to conclude that the whole thing is not worth the effort and that in the end it can only produce a state of things which no individual will be able to bear† (pgs. 39-40). This is a far cry from Bataille’s â€Å"The Pineal Eye† in that Bataille uses mythology as a basis to discipline the mind verses reason verses form rather than a scientific method. Bataille rebels against science for its advancement where Freud welcomes science with open arms. In this coming statement made by Bataille, it appears that he is mocking Freud (a doctor of science) for replacing mythology with scientific methods: â€Å"Science, proceeding on the basis of a mystical conception of the universe, has separated the constituent elements of the universe into two profoundly distinct classes: it has elaborated, through assimilation, the necessary and practical parts, transforming a mental activity, which previously was only an instrument of exploitation, into an activity useful for man’sShow MoreRelatedSurrealism, And A New Mode Of Pure Expression1562 Words   |  7 Pagescolleague Philippe Soupault in homage to Guillaume Apollinaire, someone whom they believed had followed the discipline, and he explains the phenomenon in detail so that more can become aware and utilize the technique. Drawing heavy influences from Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx, Breto n reveals to us the limitless opportunities of surrealism and how it frees us from everyday reality, similar to how the exoteric texts challenged us to question our beliefs. I The first â€Å"Manifesto of Surrealism† was published inRead MoreRepresentation of Death through Texts1149 Words   |  5 PagesGoodwin, Sarah. Eds. (1993) Death and Representation. The John Hopkins University Press. Bronthen, Elisabeth. (1992) Over her Dead Body: Death, Femininity and the aesthetic. Manchester University Press. Freud, Sigmund. ‘The Uncanny.’ The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud. Ed. James Strachey, et al. Vol. 17. London: Hogarth Press, 1955. Gottlieb, Evan. (2013) ‘Zombie Babies and Frankenstein: Why Pop Culture Still Hesitates to Depict Undead Kids’ Huffington Post [online]Read MoreCleanth Brookss Essay Irony as a Principle of Structure9125 Words   |  37 Pageshave been comfortable simply interpreting literature rather than writing explicitly about methodology and philosophical presumptions.[edit] Key 20th-century texts * Benedetto Croce: Aesthetic * A. C. Bradley: Poetry for Poetrys Sake * Sigmund Freud: Creative Writers and Daydreaming * Ferdinand de Saussure: Course in General Linguistics * Claude Là ©vi-Strauss: The Structural Study of Myth * T. E. Hulme: Romanticism and Classicism; Bergsons Theory of Art * Walter Benjamin: On Language as

A Argument Against The Death Penalty - 1647 Words

Proposition 34 First degree murder is generally defined as the unlawful killing of a human being that was either deliberate or premeditated or takes place at the same time as certain other crimes such as, kidnapping. Current state laws make first degree murder punishable by death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole when specific â€Å"Special Circumstances† of the crime have been charged or been proven in court. It is possible though to be released by the parole board after a minimum of 25 years if they feel you are worthy. The death penalty is a topic that the United States is divided on. Currently there are 31 states with the death penalty and California is on that list. In 2012 a ballot was proposed that would appeal the death penalty as the maximum punishment for people found guilty of murder and replaces it with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. I am against prop 34 because keeping these inmates alive is very costly to the government and shows low morals for the victim’s family members. At the time of the election California currently had 725 people on death row who had exhausted all their appeals and were eligible for execution. Each inmate in prison costs $63,000 a year when that amount of money could go to road construction, education, military funding, etc. Due to the drawn out appeals process the cost of incarceration is increased and our social morals insure the health of a convicted criminal are part of the increasedShow MoreRelatedArgument For And Against The Death Penalty1051 Words   |  5 Pages When arguing for or against a topic, the goal is to convince others to accept you opinion, take your opinion seriously, and you must seek common ground in order to establish some form of compromise. A good communicator must be specific, contestable, significant and reasonable. For this assignment, I will be arguing for and against The Death Penalty. When it comes to a topic such as The Death Penalty, many individuals cannot fathom the idea of putting another human to death because it is not permanentlyRead MoreArgument Against The Death Penalty1247 Words   |  5 Pagesnot willing to demand a life of somebody who has taken somebody else’s life is simply immoral.† When considering the issue of capital punishment, many arguments are made in favor of proponents and abolitionists. There are utilitarian arguments, retributive arguments, and egalitarian arguments. Utilitarian arguments argue against the death penalty, for they look to punish criminals for the benefit and the â€Å"lesson learned† from the punishment. They believe that this is the most effective form of deterrenceRead More Argument Against the Death Penalty Essay3418 Words   |  14 PagesArgument Against the Death Penalty Life is sacred. This is an ideal that the majority of people can agree upon to a certain extent. For this reason taking the life of another has always been considered the most deplorable of crimes, one worthy of the harshest available punishment. Thus arises one of the great moral dilemmas of our time. Should taking the life of one who has taken the life of others be considered an available punishment? Is a murderers life any less sacred than the victimsRead MoreArgument Against The Death Penalty Essay1181 Words   |  5 PagesIn 1992, 17 year old Johnny Frank Garrett was put to death for confessing to raping and murdering a 72-year old nun. A crime as heinous as this certainly deserves the death penalty as a punishment right? The only problem is that Garrett didnt do it. Garrett was in fact, a mentally ill man who suffered severe childhood trauma, significant brain damage and multiple personality disorder. His mental instability and repeated police interrogation are only things tha t caused him to confess to killing theRead MoreArguments For and Against the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty for Murder1276 Words   |  6 PagesArguments For and Against the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty for Murder The death penalty was abolished in the United Kingdom in 1965. (Blackwell 1968.) The abolishment of the death penalty was not a simple case. Since 1957 the issue had been before the House of Commons more than 19 times. However the death penalty is still used today in many countries across the world. During the year 2000 at least 3,058 people were sentenced to death in 65 differentRead MoreSocrates s Argument Against The Death Penalty1189 Words   |  5 Pagesinstead of facing banishment, however, the court decided to give him the death penalty. There he slept in prison when Criton approached and attempted to persuade him to escape. He declined as it would go against his logic and reasoning he taught his whole life. Was it â€Å"just† of him to accept the death penalty that was catalyzed by absurd accusations? This paper will argue that it was Socrates â€Å"right† to accept the death penalty due to the consent he made with the society he resided in. When CritoRead MoreDiscuss the arguments for and against the re-introduction of the death penalty in the UK for crimes of murder.1778 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Discuss the arguments for and against the re-introduction of the death penalty in the UK for crimes of murder. Capital punishment is the act of executing somebody as a punishment for a crime that they have committed. Despite being around since the eighteenth century B.C, the death penalty was abolished in 1965 in the United Kingdom. Since then there has been a large amount of controversy and debate surrounding the matter, with some people wishing for capital punishment to be reintroduced forRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is A Controversial Issue1171 Words   |  5 PagesThe death penalty is a very controversial topic worldwide. People are either for the death penalty, or against it, and there is usually no changing their mind by introducing arguments that are contrary to their opinion. The death penalty debate is not a new one, â€Å"capital punishment [has been] practiced since colonial times despite persistent debates† (Jost). However, it was around the 1960s when countries began to abolish, or strictly restrain the death penalty (Jost). The death penalty has existedRead MoreThe Debate Over Capital Punishment936 Words   |  4 Pagescapital punishment is in regards to whether the death penalty contradicts the Eighth Amendment. If the death penalty does contradict the Eight Amendment, then the State should not have the power to sentence criminals to death for capital crimes. However, if capital punishment is not against the Eighth Amendment, then the State has the right to sentence criminals to death. In this essay I will first summarize Justice Brennan’s argument on why the death penalty is beyond the power of the State to inflictRead MoreA Critical Analysis of the Death Penalty1646 Words   |  7 Pagesdebate on whether or not the death penalty should be abolished has been ongoing for quite a long period of time. While there are those who believe that the death penalty does not serve its intended purpose, proponents of the same are convinced that the relevance of the same cannot be overstated and hence it should not be abolished. In this text, I examine the arguments for and against the death penalty. The Death Penalty: A Brief Overview In basic terms, the death penalty according to Stearman is

Gang Violence among Adolescents Free Essays

Whenever I see young adolescents loitering or hanging out in streets, doing nothing worthwhile but trying to act tough while showing it to their friends or hurting other people, I feel nothing but regret. They should have been at school, learning things that could help them have a better job and future, or at home helping their family and having fun with them. They could do so much if only they make better use of their time and youth. We will write a custom essay sample on Gang Violence among Adolescents or any similar topic only for you Order Now Local governments are faced with the problems associated with gang violence among adolescents. Preventing adolescents from wasting their lives should be a matter of importance for communities, and this should be prioritized because adolescents can have a better future away from the streets. When crowds of young people gather, they may take a group identity. Other groups or even them, may identify themselves as gangs. Furthermore, cliques tend to identify the formation of a gang as a result of threats or conflicts, police pressure and media coverage. According to studies, gang behavior is â€Å"situational in nature,† and the attribution of hostile behavior to one gang may further contribute to the formation and identity of a gang. In addition, it may be further solidified once â€Å"neighbors, police, school authorities, and others identify unsupervised groups of young people as gangs† (Short, 1996, p. 3). Preventing young people from being associated with violent gangs have been one of the priorities of communities. Past studies showed that gang violence continue to plague communities as gang-related crimes increased over time. For instance, in 1995, it showed that gang-related homicides increased. From 1979 to 1994 alone, a record of 7,288 gang-related homicides was documented in Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The proportion of gang-related homicides increased from 18 to 43 percent (Maceo, 1995). These figures alone would tell how worse gang violence has become. Gang violence brings young people to jails. In fact, many adolescents have been charged for being involved in criminal activities. Just this year, a 15-year-old student was killed by a young man who was an alleged member of a violent street gang. The 18-year-old suspect, who pleaded guilty, was charged with 30 years in prison (Castaneda, 2009). This scenario should not be the kind of life that young people must have. Families should be the first ones involved as they are the primary influencing factors in the lives of adolescents. In the case mentioned above, the parents of the victim were completely unaware that their son was a member of a gang. They learned about it when it was too late to save their son. Parents should know the things that their children are being involved in, and must find ways to talk to their children about the consequences of joining gangs that tend to be violent. Parents should encourage their children to be involved in more worthwhile activities, such as sports, that would further develop their skills and improve their talents and make them better individuals. The community also has responsibilities in preventing the existence of violent gangs. There should be constant patrols especially in dark and derelict areas. It would be also beneficial if there are programs designed to lure young people away from the streets, such as volunteer works or business ventures that would teach adolescents the importance of working and being properly compensated for a good work done. Moreover, a center for young people can help those who are trying to get out of gangs and trying to change. Attention must be focused to those who want a way out because they might be harmed due to their willingness to have a better life. These young people should really have a good, fruitful life that a violent gang can never give them. How to cite Gang Violence among Adolescents, Papers