Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Definition Of The Politeness Theory - 704 Words
1.4. Theoretical Framework 1.4.1. Definition of the politeness theory. Watts (2003) explains, ââ¬Å"Politeness is not something we are born with, but something we have to learn and be socialized intoâ⬠(p. 9). Each linguist defines politeness in a different way. Cobley (2010) says that politeness is a way of showing consideration and social position in language. Politeness includes words that show respect such as please . He indicates, ââ¬Å"The phenomenon has been the object of the considerable scrutiny in pragmaticsâ⬠(p. 290). In addition, Yule (2006) describes politeness as ââ¬Å"showing awareness of and consideration for another person s faceâ⬠(p. 119). Huang (2014) defines it as any behavior that maintains his or her face through an interaction. Brown (1987) threw light on different aspects of behavior such as manners, courtesy, tact, etc...(p. 142). On the other hand, Thomas (1995) sees politeness as a real world goal, which means that politeness happens t o be only a desire to be pleasant to others. In his point of view, politeness should not be included within pragmatics, because linguists do not have access to the speakers intentions, they only hear what the speakers say and see how the hearers react (p. 150). Pinker (2007) indicates that politeness is not an etiquette to learn, but to the countless ways that can confuse their listeners (p. 380). Hence, one can define politeness in many ways, but what is surely common between them is thatShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On The Semantics Of Face And The Harlequin / Al Bhlwan /1671 Words à |à 7 Pagesimportant theories in the pragmatics field, which is the Politeness theory. This theory is proposed by Penelope Brown and Stephen C.Levinson (1978) and it is based on the notion of face by Goffman (1967). This paper applies this theory to two plays, which are The Misanthrope by Moliere and The Harlequin /Al-Bhlwan/ by Yusuf Idris. In both plays, through the main characters, the authors point out the hypocrisy in the society they each belong to. This study explains the politeness theory throughRead MorePoliteness and Pragmatics in the Context of Cross-Cultural Communication1160 Words à |à 5 PagesThroughout almost all societies, politeness plays an integral role in the effectiveness of social life and interaction within the context of both inter-cultural and cross-cultural communication. Within different cultures the definition of politeness may vary substantially and as a result may be appropriated in ways that are largely misunderstood within the context of other cultures. It is for this reason that scholars such as Brown and Levinson have derived theories on politeness and its use within globalRead MoreThe Problem Of Face Theory1627 Words à |à 7 PagesFace theory, developed originally by Goffman (1969), is defined as how we view ourselves through the interpretation of others in interaction. A key part of his theory suggests that, in avoiding pot ential threats to face, defensive (for the self) and protective (for others) measures are employed. Brown and Levinson (1987) expand on this theory. They suggest an individual has a positive and negative face, reflecting our feeling of self-worth and the desire for our thoughts and actions to be unimpededRead MoreThe Role Of Critical Race Theory941 Words à |à 4 PagesThe role of Critical Race Theory provides us with the idea of ââ¬Å"racial realismâ⬠, the idea that racism, the normalcy of white supremacy is part of the everyday life of an ââ¬Ëotherââ¬â¢, in other words, racial or indigenous minorities in Canada. Consequently, the Critical Race Theory gives an understanding of the power that can be given to a definition such as ââ¬Ëraceââ¬â¢, and how heavily influence the way society functions and sparked in a cultural divide in Canada due to the simple idea that biological and aestheticRead MorePoliteness Theory and Its Application in Arabic1840 Words à |à 8 Pagesdifferent ways to express politeness and they usually use a range of different linguistic expressions to do so, depending on the relationship with the addressee. This research will explain Browns and Levinsonââ¬â¢s politeness theory and will recognize how universal this theory is and weather it can be applied on Japanese language taking into account the difference in cultures. Brown and Levinsonââ¬â¢s theory of Politeness and how it applies in Arabic: Brown and Levinson`s theory is mainly based on threeRead MoreInteraction Ritual by Erving Goffman1369 Words à |à 6 Pagesalongside five more essays featured in this book and focuses on the concept of the face. His essay on face-work offers an analytic study which explores interaction as a ritual process. It is instrumental in providing a sound understanding of the definition of face and is a comprehensive insight into basic kinds of face-work. Some of Goffmanââ¬â¢s other works include ââ¬ËThe Presentation of Self in Everyday Lifeââ¬â¢, ââ¬ËAsylumsââ¬â¢, and ââ¬ËStigmaââ¬â¢ which are a series of books about social behaviour. They areRead MoreCulture, no doubt one of the most complex words of the English language, for years, scholars1900 Words à |à 8 PagesCulture, no doubt one of the most complex words of the English language, for years, scholars debated its definition. Clarifying what culture means in this essay or what culture means in an Intercultural respect would be to start by defining what it is not. Culture does not refer to products of the intellectual and artistic elites, or ââ¬Å"high-cultureâ⬠, nor does it refer Lady Gagaââ¬â¢s dress sense or Miley Cyrusââ¬â¢s Twerking or otherwise known as ââ¬Å"pop-cultureâ⬠both examples of such culture are merely aestheticsRead MoreDeviance1701 Words à |à 7 Pagescriminals were atavists ââ¬â evolutionary throwbacks whose biology prevented them from conforming to societyââ¬â¢s rules Why people become deviant ââ¬â Positivist theories Social typing process ââ¬â the process through which deviance and normality are socially constructed ââ¬â Interpretive and critical theories Why do People Become Deviant? Using Positivist Theories Interested in explaining why people act in particular ways Positivist-sociologists seek cause-and-effect relationships in the form of statisticalRead MorePoliteness - a Comparison Between Chinese and English3483 Words à |à 14 PagesTable of contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Politeness Ãâ" a theoretical approach 3 3. the concept of limao 4 4. Request strategies 4 4.1. Request strategies in Chinese 4 4.2. Request strategies in English 5 5. Forms of address 6 5.1. Forms of address in Chinese 6 5.2. Forms of address in English 7 6. Chinese: Politeness across social groups 8 7. Conclusion 9 References 11 1. Introduction In many parts of this world, former existing borders are removed and peopleRead MoreProblematic Issues Arising with Intercultural Communication2857 Words à |à 11 Pagesof people from othersââ¬â¢. Even though Hofstede does attempt to define culture, his definition can be deemed as being inexplicit and somewhat confusing. A more comprehensive definition of ââ¬Ëcultureââ¬â¢ is provided by Goodenough (1971, p4) who defines it as ââ¬Ëa cognitive cultural anthropology, as a body of knowledge shared by members of a society as to standards of perceiving, believing, evaluating and actingââ¬â¢. This definition indicates that culture can indeed play a large role in the behaviour of an individual
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
At the end of the Baroque Period in the eighteenth Essay Example For Students
At the end of the Baroque Period in the eighteenth Essay and nineteenth century art was divided into two distinct categories, Romanticism and Realism. Romanticism, the passion-filled works illustrating stimulating accounts of specific events with symbolic gestures emerging from the scene, separated itself from the more politically correct stance taken by Realists. A fine example of Romanticism is Gricaults Raft of the Medusa. The brutal scene, set afloat on the wild seas, is emphasized by the chiaroscuro modeling of the lump of figures in the center of the raft. The X form of the composition draws your eye all around the composition. The eye starts at the top right with the Revolutionary figure holding on to a piece of cloth in the colors of the French Revolution and then is drawn down the diagonal. Gricault then depicts the striving, the dying, and the dead as they overlap each other in a fierce struggle to survive. The eye is then drawn up and down the dark opposing diagonal. This whole scene is then placed on the mighty ocean to delineate the fact that the raft is a metaphor for France being on a hostile ocean of depravity. The Grande Odalisque also typifies Romanticism. Ingres, using example such as the Mannerist Parmaganinos Madonna with a long neck, takes the artistic license to elongate the figure of this Turkish harem girl. Influenced by the neo-classical revival Ingres draws upon the Greek technique of flat linear forms and depicts his model in an impossible position allow us the view of both her shoulders and her breast; the figure is given an extra three vertebrae in order to maintain this position. Ingres endows a feeling of sensuality into the figure instead of the paint. The chromatic effect of the composition pulls the harem girl to the front as she is the only warm color in the piece. Ingres also gives her a very exotic feel with her accessories: the peacock fan, velvet drapes, and other exorbitant furniture. Ingres also uses Raphaels typical female head and a gaze that says, You have just interrupted me, but you dont know what you interrupted further intriguing the voyeur. In contrast to the almost mystical passion and intrigue of Grande Odalisque is Rue Transnonain. This lithograph by Daumier is realism in the truest sense. Daumier depict the social injustice of the innocent killing of all the workers in a housing block. Daumier draws in the viewer with the initial scene of a man in his pajamas lying dead against his bed. The viewer is then drawn to pay closer attention to the work. In careful examination of the piece the viewer sees a baby crushed under the man with just its head and arms coming out from under the weight of this man. There is a pool of blood forming from the baby which intends to play on the viewers sympathy eliciting violent emotions of hatred towards the butcher who took the lives of these innocent people who were obviously sleeping as indicated by the attire and disarray of the bed. The awful scene depicted in Rue Transnonain. elicits emotions and a need for social reform. The Third Day of May, by Goya is an example of a transitional piece which reflects both Realism and Romanticism. In this piece Goya depicts a specific incident in which a number a civilians in Madrid were rounded up in killed in retaliation for the deaths of French soldiers a few days before. Painted during Goyas Black Period the tenebroso conflict of the light fighting away at the dark sky is extremely dramatic and the chromatic effect from this adds to the suspense and drama of the situation at hand. Goya also puts the victim of this murderous rampage in a white shirt to symbolize innocence, strongly drawing on the Romantic style. But Goya also uses the harsh reality of the dead body and the pool of blood accumulating on the ground to make a social commentary on the death of these men, drawing on the school of Realism. .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 , .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .postImageUrl , .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 , .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:hover , .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:visited , .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:active { border:0!important; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:active , .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39 .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udfea8e9f8c762cdeafe337afe52e9b39:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Good Man is Hard to Find - Foreshadowing EssayCourbet, considered by many the father of realism, also uses techniques of both schools. To illustrate, in Burials of Ornans, Courbet depicts a funeral scene with an intense feel for the emotions felt by the mourners. Unlike the superhuman or subhuman actors on the grand stage of the Romantic canvas, this Realist work move to the ordinary rhythms of contemporary life. (Gardners, p. 898) Courbet, though, also incorporates the romantic landscape into this piece with the broad sky at dusk composed of grays and the last yellows of the setting sun. The truly impassioned, yet somber, landscape draws out a heartfelt sympathy for los s that the mourners are feeling independent of any expression that a figure may have. Romanticism and Realism played a major part in the development of art and had a direct influence on one another. The division of art during this period is definitely due to the enlightenment and the revolutionary times, in which heated debates between moralist of the Romantic school and the scientific naturalist of Realism and the combinations and the divisions of the two schools. The art of these times paralleled the economic divisions. The industrial revolution helped fuel the fire of the rivalry making the rich richer and the poor poorer; the art always reflecting the differences in the classes and their attitudes about the quality of life in their day and age.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Research Proposal on Tax Evasion Essay Example
Research Proposal on Tax Evasion Essay Tax evasion is the activity which is practised by companies and individuals and is characterized with the evasion of paying taxes with the help of different means. Taxes are considered to be a very important and essential factor which maintains the existence of the state. Individuals, small firms, big companies and great international corporations have to pay taxes to support the life of the country and all its spheres. For example, education, health care, salaries, grants, the work of the police, fire brigades, the work of the power stations which provide people with energy and water ââ¬â everything depends on taxes. From its side, the state provides people with the possibility to work, live, enjoy themselves, use the advantages of the civilization, live in peace and security. As a reward for these opportunities the state requires taxes. Taxes appeared already at the dawn of the human civilization when the first countries appeared. The monarchs provided their people with security and demanded payment for it in the form of taxes. Today many people and organizations try to evade taxes with the help of the illegal means to save more money for themselves. The most common method to evade taxes is to reduce the real profit of an individual or the whole company, because the sum of the tax depends directly on the profit of the company (the higher the profit, the higher the tax). Tax evasion is considered to be a serious crime and it is punished severely. We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Tax Evasion specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Tax Evasion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Research Proposal on Tax Evasion specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Taxes play an important role for the development of a company, so if rich companies which work in the developing countries and report dishonestly low taxes, the process of economic grow will be extremely low, because there will be no finance supply into the local and national budget. If a student expects to prepare a successful research proposal, he should devote much time to the research of the topic and only then he can try to investigate the other points of the topic and suggest writing his own research paper on it. Before that, one should succeed in research proposal writing and prepare an interesting, informative and thought-provoking paper which will persuade the professor that the problem is worth researching. Every student often faces troubles while writing a research proposal, because the process requires special rules and standards. A free sample research proposal on tax evasion found in the Internet is quite a good piece of writing assistance, because it is written by an expert. Due to the experience and knowledge of the professional writers and their free sample research proposals on tax evasion one can learn how to format the paper well and how to organize it in the convincing manner. At EssayLib.com writing service you can order a custom research proposal on Tax Evasion topics. Your research paper proposal will be written from scratch. We hire top-rated PhD and Masterââ¬â¢s writers only to provide students with professional research proposal help at affordable rates. Each customer will get a non-plagiarized paper with timely delivery. Just visit our website and fill in the order form with all proposal details: Enjoy our professional research proposal writing service!
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
The End of Poverty
The End of Poverty Philippe Diazââ¬â¢s documentary, The End of Poverty, is a piece that attempts to dissect the causes of the huge economic inequalities that exist between countries in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The End of Poverty specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The documentary, through the narrator Martin Sheen, gives a graphic description of the years of exploitation that have turned American and European countries into economic superpowers while, at the same time, impoverishing the weak economies of the developing world. The poverty, suffering and misery in the Third World are brought to life in the documentary. A central argument that the documentary focuses on is the supply of raw materials to the developed countries. Diaz explains that the ever hungry industries of the developed world import raw materials from the developing countries at a very low cost and use the raw materials to convert their own countries into export economies for finished products. The producers of these raw materials in Africa and Latin America continue wallowing in untold poverty despite the effort they put into production (Diaz, 2009). What makes this documentary especially poignant is the realization that the exploitation of these economies has been going on for many centuries. Lack of technology and means of value addition mean that the miners and the farmers do not get the true value of their efforts. Bolivian miners and sugarcane farmers in Brazil are shown in graphic detail toiling daily with no commensurate reward while the world economy continues to be controlled by the rich economies. The colonial legacy that is all too evident in the developing countries is also illuminated in the documentary. It documents how the impoverished countries pay huge amounts of money to their former colonial masters to repay debts that were built up in the course of the colonial perio d. The independence governments of the developing countries are forced to shoulder the burden of their colonial masters who accumulated these debts during the colonial period. As these countries repay these huge debts, their citizens continue to suffer under the burden of social inefficiencies. The issues explored in the documentary have been the subjects of debate in many social and economic forums, with the poor countries attempting in vain to highlight the serious issues that confront them.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The point that Diaz makes is that poor nations are not seeking for aid and financial assistance but justice over the exploitation that they have endured over the centuries (Diaz, 2009). Financial institutions such as the World Bank come under intense criticism for this state of affairs with Diaz castigating their lopsided economic policies regarding the poor nations. However, the documentary fails in one critical area: the prescription it gives in solving the problem of poverty. Towards the end, the film delves into what is obviously an unworkable solution to the problem of poverty. Diaz prescribes the nationalization of resources in the developing countries as a way of solving a complex historical problem. This prescription obviously falls short of expectations considering the powerful theme being presented in the documentary. However, the way the documentary uses experts, such as author John Perkins to dissect the problem is a major strength. Other experts featured in the film include Economics Nobel prize winner, Joseph Stiglitz, and other social activists. At the end of the film, one agrees with the theme, which essentially points out that people are poor by design and not by any accident of nature. Reference Diaz, P. (Director) (2009). The End of Poverty, (Documentary). Cinema Libre studio, Robert Schalkenbach Foundation. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903943/
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Orientalism. Franois Bernier and Kaempfers Manuscripts Essay
Orientalism. Franois Bernier and Kaempfers Manuscripts - Essay Example This was extensively practiced by the imperialistic European scholars and it paved the way for an entirely new discipline of study called "Orientalism". Orientalism is the study of near and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, and peoples by Western scholars. It also refers to the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West. When used in a neutrally descriptive sense, "Orientalism" describes a development in the history of ideas that was shaped by the attitudes of the era of European imperialism in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. But, the term when it is interpreted antagonistically, it implies trivializing, dismissive and prejudiced interpretations by Westerners of Eastern cultures and peoples. Thehistoryandcultural influence of these "Oriental books" can be felt consistently. Writers who explored various facets of the countries cultures revealed only those in consistency with their culture and despised the other facets of the target countries culture. The traveler's manuscripts were beneficial in a number of ways, for example the traveler's records have paved the way to improve the trade relations between the east and the west. Also we learn ancient secrets from their books. From their rich experience the travelers provide a huge amount of information which is useful at many times and confusing at times. Sometimes works by some intellectuals are merely baseless, thanks to their very little knowledge about other intimates and ethos of the country they describe and so they end up with some records which are just entirely misleading. Let us evaluate the various pros and cons of these travelers's account. Kaempfer's manuscripts: At Kaempfer's death his mostly unpublished manuscripts were purchased by Sir Hans Sloane, and conveyed to England. Among them was a History of Japan, translated from the manuscript into English by J.G. Scheuchzer and published at London, in 2 Vols. in 1727. In this manuscript he gives a good account about Japanese and their culture. In first hand, he describes the highways of Japan. Kaempfer has provided a map about ancient Japan paving way for various explorers in the later years. Kaempfer says "An incredible number of people daily use the highways of Japan's provinces, indeed, at certain times of the year they are as crowded as the streets of a populous European city." He also gives a good account of Japanese Shrines and 33 important temples. Further, he gives a good account about the Japanese warlords richness and their might. Besides Japanese history, this book contains a description of the political, social and physical state of the country in the 17th century. For upwards of a hundred years it remained the chief source of information for the general reader, and is still not wholly obsolete. But his description about the pilgrims as 'Beggars', clearly portrays author's ignorance about the Japanese tradition. Pilgrimages to Ise have been popular for centuries and seven visits was said to ensure salvation. Even in the secular Japan of today, Ise holds a place equivalent to Mecca or Jerusalem for many Japanese. It is their holy duty to walk to the shrine barefooted. They renounce their earthly wealth before starting on the pilgrim and depend on the alms for their living in their travel. Further, his categorizing of 'Beggars' as 'Kannons', silent, common and his description about the prostitutes clearly depicts his imperialistic goals. He tries his best to establish the superiority of the West over the East. In this contest he even criticizes the work of moderate Oriental writer like Francois Caron. Further, his ridiculous description
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Intro To Business Management Exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Intro To Business Management Exam - Assignment Example Also, a lot of opportunities emerge in the recession or in the times of economic depression. The opportunities revolve around sale of existing businesses at considerably lower rates which makes them easy to be acquired. Also, various physical asset, which are considered highly important for a startup venture are available at relatively cheap prices and high rate of discounts (Gordon, p. xiii). Also, during various recessionary times as well as in the times of economic boom, government funding agencies, venture capitalists and private lenders share a bias to promote various entrepreneurship ventures which have the ability to promote radical or incremental innovation in its product or service offerings, thereby generating and adding value to the clients and customers. Hence while proposing an entrepreneurship venture for the purpose of funding; the focus will be on the innovativeness of the product offering as well as the amount of value that can be generated for the target audience. T he main focus of the presentation will be the unique selling proposition of the offering. The conversation will rotate around the factors of minimum initial investment, the demand forecasting, estimated sales forecast, the breakeven period, and the intended targeted market share. The cash flow cycle for the new venture will also be brought into highlight in this case. 2. Ethics in the workplace is a very important factor in the case of a new startup manufacturing firm. The following ethical practices should be practiced in the firm (Trevino & Nelson, p. 219): Worker Safety High priority will be given at all times to ensure safety of the consumers at the work place. Product Quality The employees of the company should comply and cooperate with the stringent processes and measures regarding quality check that have to be followed at all times in order to produce high quality products. Labor Relations The workers have to follow the various rules and regulations that are laid down by the company management in order to address the issues related to labor relations. The workers are to be informed that the management follows an open door policy for the purpose of addressing the problems of the employees. Intolerance to Harassment The company does not tolerate any harassment or discrimination on the basis of age, gender, beliefs, and religions. The company also has stringent policies to address issues related to harassment on the basis of racism. Corruption The company has strict policies including the ultimate termination of the service contract in order to deal with corrupt practices at the workplace, that are practiced by the employees on a individual or a collective manner either within or with people outside the physical boundaries of the organization. 3. The process of business planning is a very important factor in the part of designing a strategy as it helps in smooth running of the business operations in the long term. It ensures the fact that the company is mo ving ahead with proper goals while having proper synchronization of the business processes with regards to the current market conditions (Reading, p.7). The business planning helps in determining the future goals of the company. This helps in identifying the amount of resources that is required in the production processes in order to produce the desired amount of inventory that is necessary to meet the forecasted demanded.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Assess the Ontological Argument Essay Example for Free
Assess the Ontological Argument Essay The ontological argument was first formulated by St. Anselm in the 11th century. It argues the existence of God from a deductive and a priori stance. God is a being than which none greater can be conceived. This is the response given by St Anselm to the fool in the psalm who believed there was no God. St Anselm the Archbishop of Canterbury and of the Benedictine Order explained that for God to exist in the mind he would not be the greatest being. However were God to exist in the mind and reality this would make a being ââ¬Ëthan which none greater can be conceivedââ¬â¢, this means God must exist. This demonstration for the existence of God was immediately criticised by his contemporary Gaunilon. He argued that Anselmââ¬â¢s argument could easily be used to prove the existence of many different beings or even places. In Gaunilonââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ëresponse on the behalf of the foolââ¬â¢, he argued that he could conceive of a perfect island ââ¬Ëblessed with all manners of delightââ¬â¢, yet it did not mean it must exist. However, Anselm responded to this claim arguing that a perfect island contains contingency; it is dependent, whereas God possesses aseity, is self-sufficient. This means that Godââ¬â¢s existence is therefore, necessary, independent. Descartes famously wrote his version of the ontological argument in the ââ¬ËMeditationsââ¬â¢ in which he argued that God is an infinite being, perfect. For God to remain perfect he must then retain existence. He used the illustration of a triangle with three angles which all add up to 180 degrees. This quality of the triangle allows the triangle to be perfect and to be defined as a triangle. If the angles were taken away from the triangle it would no longer be a triangle. This is similar as to God; he could not be God if he did not exist. This proves according to Descartes that Godââ¬â¢s existence is necessary. But, it can be argued that the ontological argument is using an analytic format to define God as existing. Immanuel Kant refutes this as he believes that existence as a predicate or property cannot define God. For instance, the analytic statement ââ¬Ëa spinster is an unmarried womanââ¬â¢ is tautological and true by definition. But if you were to add the predicate existence it would have no direct effect on the statement, this means that existence cannot be a property of God. David Hume also went on to support this idea, as we cannot prove that existence is even a positive attribute, we know that ââ¬Ëevilââ¬â¢ exists yet could this ââ¬Ëexistenceââ¬â¢ be the same as the ââ¬Ëexistenceââ¬â¢ of God? They would argue that the ontological argument failed to understand and make existence a meaning of God. However, there have been responses by other philosophers such as Frege who argues that existence is actually a first level predicate which is able to explain the second level predicate. For instance, the ââ¬Ëgreenness of the appleââ¬â¢ is known through our senses but by adding ââ¬Ëthe greenness existsââ¬â¢ we are able to understand that such a predicate exists in reality. This means that ââ¬ËGod existsââ¬â¢ allows us to understand that such a being as powerful as God does exist in reality as well as the mind. However from an empirical view, Thomas Aquinas would argue that the flaw in the ontological arguments attempt to demonstrate Godââ¬â¢s existence stems from the fact that Anselm wanted to argue that Godââ¬â¢s existence can be proven from ââ¬Ëde dictoââ¬â¢ instead of what is ââ¬Ërealââ¬â¢, and this caused the argument to be weak. On the other hand, some will still argue that St Anselm and the ontological argument is still strong in the second half, ââ¬ËGod is a necessary beingââ¬â¢. This is due to the fact that only Godââ¬â¢s existence can be either necessary or impossible and because it is possible, God is proven to exist. To evaluate the whole ontological argumentsââ¬â¢ attempt to prove and demonstrate Godââ¬â¢s existence, it is clear due to the deductive stance, it shouldnââ¬â¢t be argued as the conclusion drawn must be ââ¬ËGod is a necessary beingââ¬â¢, ââ¬ËGod is a being than which none greater can be conceivedââ¬â¢. But as soon as you understand that definition you will find that it could be used to prove the existence of many things and beings. The ontological argument proves the idea that if God exists he is going to be a necessary being, but it does not prove that he actually does exist. Therefore as Richard Dawkins would describe it ââ¬Ëinfinite, playground argumentââ¬â¢ and does not demonstrate Godââ¬â¢s existence.
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