Kant Moral Ethics Essay Example for Free

Kant Moral Ethics Essay Immanuel Kants moral theory can be best explained by comparing it to a math equation. Kants moral system will always hold true no matter what the circumstance just like how two plus two will always equal four. According to Kant, our lives should be lived according to maxims that can be willed into universal law (Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, p 303). However the action regarding a moral decision is not judged by the consequences of that action, rather by the motive of that action. Kants the method of moral reasoning starts off by first realizing the principle the rational agent is acting under. To fully understand what this means, a rational agent is to be defined as an entity who is capable of making rational decisions regardless of their natural inclinations. This condition excludes such examples as, animals, infants, and people in a coma from being considered to be a rational agent because they do not show the capacity to reason. After realizing the principle the person is acting under, determine if the reason is morally right. In order to determine if the maxim is ethical and able to be willed into universal law, it must pass three tests: autonomy, respect for humanity, and the kingdom of ends. Autonomy describes the feeling of accomplishment. This can be illustrated as a man who promises his wife that he will take off the weekend from golfing and file their tax reports. By keeping his promise to his wife he not only feels the satisfaction from finishing their tax report but also, more importantly feels good about following through with his promise. Autonomy is important because if the husband breaks his promises and lives his life as a promise breaker then this maxim is clearly self-defeating. The entire maxim of promising to break promises does not pass the test of autonomy therefore could never be passed as a universal law. However, if after passing the autonomy test, then a principle must also respect everyone elses autonomy. In order to respect humanity, make decisions that show an overall concern for rational agents. If by treating them as a rational agent, then the principle will not affect another persons ability rationalize. In order to do this, it is never acceptable to treat a rational being as merely a means (Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, p 307). That is to say, the act of rape treats the rational agent as a means to sexual gratification. The act of rape does not respect the agent as a rational being and could never be willed into a moral universal law. However if a principle was able to pass the first two conditions, then it is necessary to subject it to the kingdom of ends test. The kingdom of ends is composed of a group of rational agents all with different objectives in life. The importance of having different objectives in life insures that all perspectives and backgrounds have been covered. These agents have been given the responsibility of creating a free society. A free society entails laws that every rational agent in that society would agree upon. If the principle is not a measure that the kingdom of ends would enact, then the principle, by Kants definition, is immoral. Let us analyze the principle of apathy. Living an apathetic life does indeed pass the test of autonomy and by showing indifference to other rational agents it also passes the test of humanity. However, apathy would not pass the kingdom of ends, as no rational being would accept such a maxim. As a result, an apathetic life could not be passed as universal law. As an example, we will refer back to the persecution of Jews during World War II. Say a man is hiding a Jew in his house and the Gestapo comes knocking on door. However, as the Gestapo questions the man of the whereabouts of the Jew, the man cannot lie and say that no one is hiding within his house, but at the same time, if he were to tell the truth he would be indirectly bringing harm upon himself and the Jew. The man should question the Gestapo about what they plan on doing to the Jew once they have located him. According to Kant, consequences have no relevance, although if all possible consequences were known, then it would be permissible to lightly take them into account. Since telling the truth by giving the Gestapo the whereabouts of the Jew would bring direct harm, it is permissible to lie. The maxim would be to never lie unless the truth results direct or indirect harm. This maxim respects autonomy and human nature and would be pass the kingdom of ends test and thus can be willed into universal moral law. Now take the case of Harry and Sally, according to Kantian moral reasoning, should Sally seduce Harry? If Sally were to seduce Harry by taking him back to her place and having sex with him, she would be using him as a means to her ends. By Sally using Harry simply as a means to achieve her ends, that moral decision is breaking a fundamental Kantian principle. Using people as only a means is never acceptable. The difference between Sally seducing Harry into sex and Sally having consensual sex with Harry is the difference of deception and coercion. According to Mappes, deception and coercion are the methods for sexually using someone (Mappes, Sexual Morality, p. 166). The whole idea is based off the respect for an individual person to voluntarily make their own decisions. By deceiving someone, it is clearly misleading a person to make a decision that they would not have made, had it been on their own regard. However the objection can be made that Sally should do what ultimately brings her pleasure. Using Utilitarian morality, something that results in the greater pleasure, or avoidance of harm, of the populations involved is morally correct. Even though Harry is somewhat apprehensive of the whole casual sex idea, he is not defiant or strongly against it. It can even be reasoned that Harry might even enjoy himself once him and Sally are having sex. And also, casual sex is perfectly okay if there is no lying, deceiving, or exploiting (Elliston, In Defense of Promiscuity, p. 170). I believe Ellistons definition of deceiving is different that Kants definition. Kant covers all and any type of deception as immoral. Elliston agrees that deception is indeed immoral, but his definition of deception would be a man telling a woman he does not have herpes when indeed he does. As long as sex is consensual, there is no harm. Sally would only be seducing Harry back to her house under, say, the premise to watch a movie, however when the actual act of intercourse happens, Harry is not being deceived at all. Even with the arguments above, Sally would ultimately be using Harry simply as a means to achieve her ends of sexual pleasure. By using Kantian morality, Sally should not pressure Harry to going home with her nor should she try to seduce him. Kant reasons that human beings have been given this gift of free will to act as the dividing line between humans and animals. Animals are considered animals because they lack the ability to rationalize. What then, is the ultimate value and purpose of having a free will? If the point of having a free will was to seek pleasure and avoid harm, then we are nothing more than animals and have wasted this ability to reason. Instead, humans have free will so they could follow moral law. Therefore, follow moral law even in situations where social laws or natural inclinations could conflict. By following Kants moral reasoning, what we do in our lives is right not only because we ourselves believe it to be right but also since we have willed it to become universal law, it could not possibly be wrong. The maxims that we base our lives on are intrinsically good because we are able to will it into universal law. Therefore, moral decisions made using Kants ideas can be applied universally. Kants ideas show respect for humanity and peoples decisions are not made for selfish pleasure seeking reasons by treating people as a means, but rather they are made based on universal morals and by treating everybody as an rational agent. By following Kants moral reasoning a rational agent will be able to make the right decision when faced with any type of moral dilemma.

Case Study - An Ethical Dilemma Essay Example for Free

Case Study An Ethical Dilemma Essay Jackie, a young star with a prominent voice who gets picked up by a professional recording label after performing at a national talent competition. Overwhelmed with excitement, thinks it is a dream come true to start a career with a lucrative contract. Meets and has an intimate encounter with her soon to be manager, Kevin. Months go by as their relationship begins to flourish but soon she starts to hear rumors that Kevin has helped a new girl in the legal department get her position threw their own personal relations. Jackie has suspicions that Kevin may be having other deeper interactions with this new girl. Jackie’s suspicions turn out to be true and she is devastated. She obviously breaks off the relationship with Kevin but cannot afford to lose him as her manager. Time goes by with awkward silence between the two but eventually Jackie decides to be professional with her career and continues to keep Kevin on as her manager. This lasts awhile until Kevin starts to make inappropriate sexual advances towards her. She tries to laugh it off but as he continues she threatens to make a formal complaint to legal. He does eventually stop but has stopped all efforts to promote her music thus making it very difficult for her to continue on with her success. She eventually does decide to make a complaint with legal, there is where she runs into Leslie, the girl that Kevin had got the position for in legal. She tells her, â€Å"even I believed you, you didn’t report this relationship which goes against our superior-employee ethics code†. So either she had the choice to let the matter go or to make a complaint which would in turn have her also reprimanded. She is forced with  an ultimate decision and eventually decides to do nothing. Summarized Ethical Issue at Heart The unethical issue at heart is the manager, Kevin, making inappropriate gestures towards Jackie after they had broken up. Doing so with Jackie’s vulnerable position of whether or not to report the issue which would do more harm than good. Or to leave the matter alone and just hope that Kevin would leave her alone. Neither option are better suited for Jackie who in this case is the victim, which leads to the question of appropriate ethical responsibility of the company. Details that are missing in the case A 3rd party perspective on the details of both parties. More detail as to what accusations were being made towards Kevin and Jackie. Whether Kevin had proper ethical training. List of all stakeholders who would be involved with this ethical dilemma. Employees Other artists Board of Trustees Investors Legal Department Customers Community Media Three stakeholders and the concerns they may have. Employees Don’t like how they are working for an unethically sound company. Thinking how it could happen to them if they were put in the same situation If the  problem was ever made public how would my job security look? Would this company’s name stain my resume? Investors How will my portfolio look if this artist is to become successful with another producer? Will this story become public? Will my shares plummet from this company’s bad publicity? What would happen to the company outlook if the entire company was to go thru proper corporate ethical training? Could it be a success? Board of Trustees This will look bad if the story was to made public How must will it cost to perform proper corporate training on proper ethical behavior? Do the managerial levels need to be reevaluated? Could the company be looking at a lawsuit? Five solutions. Perform corporate training at all levels reviewing proper ethical conduct Fire the manager Workout an undisclosed settlement See if another manager is available to take her on Leave and try to find successes elsewhere Top three solutions with possible consequences. 1. Perform corporate training at all levels, monitor it and have employees sign off on regulating polices that are being implemented regarding superior-employee relations as well as all other common ethical practices. Doesn’t really solve the problem at hand, may be good for the future but doesn’t help Jackie Company sets public perception that their ethical standards are in question Very timely and costly Risk of employees losing interest/possible turnover of employees 2. Fire and Replace the Manager May get sued by Kevin for wrongful termination Jackie’s verbal threats may continue Incident is likely to be made public Board of Trustees would have to look over all management positions Loss of all positive profits that Kevin may have acquired 3. Workout an undisclosed settlement Costly Sets a standard for future wrong doings May not stay quiet Fellow employees and/or artist may exercise more scrutiny as they mature on with their job Three Stakeholders and Top Three Solutions with two pros and two cons effects on the Stakeholder. Make company employees take corporate training on proper ethical behavior Will benefit the company’s overall performance Give the media something different to talk about with regards to the company Very costly Employees may decline to take it/possible employee turnover Fire and Replace the Manager Jackie would be satisfied The company would have a bad employee released Fellow artists may lose that label Manager could sue for wrongful termination Workout an undisclosed amount Jackie would be happy and the problem would be resolved Stays quiet Costly Solves no future problems Two ethical principles upheld or violated by the top three solutions. Make company employees take corporate training on proper ethical behavior Provides positive integrity to the company As long as the training provided was paid hours it shouldn’t be seen in any way of being unethical Trust and Communication Fire and Replace the Manager Fails to meet ethical standards simply because not enough information is known Unethical towards the employees as some could suddenly be put into a disadvantage Work out an undisclosed amount Completely unethical from the rest of the company’s standpoint as this option would be odd and serve no purpose towards the rest of the company Financially unethical to use funds to serve as a settlement rather than other purposes of the company Performing corporate training at all levels, monitoring it and have employees sign off on regulating polices that are being implemented regarding superior-employee relations as well as all other common ethical practices will provide positive integrity to the company. If the training hours were paid and it didn’t have an effect on daily routine then it doesn’t seem to be unethical to request training hours. Firing the manager Kevin would solve Jackie’s problem but only hers alone. To be fair which is a principle of  ethics would be to implement a code that would benefit the company as a whole. Although what Kevin is accused of doing is warranted of being fired there just isn’t enough information for the company to let him go. Her words against his wouldn’t be enough to fire him. This is why a revamp of full corporate training probably stands to be the best possible solution for this situation. Decision and Implementation Identify the best solution. Implementing corporate training throughout the entire staff of the company maybe specializing in specific areas would be most likely to be the best possible solution. There are a lot more benefits to educating employees on proper ethics. A workplace in which an ethics code has been instilled is a naturally pleasant place. Employee morale rises in an atmosphere that promotes good behavior and honest interactions. Reasons why this is the best solution. It creates a better atmosphere in the workplace, teaches an office how to work as a team, promotes personal responsibility, and has always shown to boost staff morale. A work ethics training program promotes teamwork by instilling trust in co-workers. People are more likely to be amenable to working together when they appreciate and respect one another. Why the other solutions were rejected Firing the manager Kevin as well as making an undisclosed settlement were found to be unethical towards other members of the company. It would not be a good example to set if the company were to single out an incident and act in an irregular way towards that issue. There also wasn’t enough facts to the case to make the decision to fire the manager, Kevin. Especially doing so knowing full well it would affect other stakeholders. Possible objections to the solution The company may find that employee may complain that they do not need to take part in training. A mandatory requirement may need to be implemented for all employees. A turnover rate within the employees may be seen. Investors or Board of Trustees will look at all avenues of the cheapest method of implementing training. How would you overcome these objections? Make it a requirement to attain a certain number of ethics training hours. Find other avenues of funding that can contribute to the program to make sure that employees are receiving the best training. Self-inflicted training from the managerial level is a cheaper method to instruct employees. References Ethical Dilemma. (n.d.). Forbes. Retrieved , from http://www.forbes.com/2004/06/23/cx_da_0623topnews.html Advantages of Training Employees About Work Ethics. (n.d.). Small Business. Retrieved , from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-training-employees-work-ethics-44472.html Ethics Training in the Workplace. (n.d.). Ethics Training. Retrieved , from http://www.rctm.com/ethics.htm Institute For Ethical Awareness. (n.d.). Institute For Ethical Awareness. Retrieved , from http://www.instituteforethicalawareness.org The Online Business Ethics Training Program | Ethics Training Guide. (n.d.). Ethics Training Guide. Retrieved , from http://ethicstrainingguide.org/

Four Main Religions In Sri Lanka

Four Main Religions In Sri Lanka There is four main religions in Sri Lanka; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. The maps on the right hand side show where, and percent proportion of each religion in Sri Lanka. Buddhism: Theravada Buddhism is the majority religion in Sri Lanka, with about 70% of the countrys population as followers. Around 200 BC, Buddhism became the official religion of Sri Lanka. However, later on, Hindu and European colonial influences contributed to the decline of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. By the mid 19th century, a Buddhist monk started a revival movement in Sri Lanka. This movement eventually helped to return Buddhist dominance in Sri Lanka. Buddhism is a religion based on the teaching by Siddharta Gautama (Buddha). There are three different schools in Buddhism: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. In Sri Lanka they practise Theravada. Theravada means the Teaching of the Elders or the Ancient Teaching, and is the oldest of the schools. It is relatively conservative, and generally closest to early Buddhism. In Theravada Buddhism Buddha is above all an enlightened teacher which can show you the path to Nirvana. The monks have a high status, and are the only ones who can accomplish full enlightening. The religious ideal is Arhat, which is someone who has gained full enlightening and can thereby reach Nirvana. Nirvana is the contradictory of affliction. The word means to die out and that hatred, desire and ignorance takes an end. Nirvana denotes the condition that takes place when all karma is exhausted. First and foremost, the Theravada philosophy is a continuous analytical process of life, not only a set of ethics and ritual s. The ultimate theory of Theravada uses the Four Noble Truths; these can be described as the problem, the cause, the solution and the pathway to solution. The Noble Eightfold Path, the fourth of the Buddhas Noble Truths, is the way to the cessation of suffering. 1. Viewing reality as it is, not just as it appears to be. 2. Intention of renunciation, freedom and harmlessness. 3. Speaking in a truthful and non-hurtful way. 4. Acting in a non-harmful way. 5. A non-harmful livelihood. 6. Making an effort to improve. 7. Awareness to see things for what they are with clear consciousness; being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion. 8. Correct meditation or concentration. Buddha lived a life filled with love, compassion and charity. He formed five maxims to guide the people: 1.) I shall not kill any living being. 2.) I shall not steel. 3.) I shall not abuse sexually (only one partner). 4.) I shall not speak untrue. 5.) I shall not use drugs. Hinduism: Hindus make up 16% of Sri Lankas population. As Buddhism, it experienced some decline during the European colonization. In modern times the religion is still dominant in the Northern and Eastern provinces. The most important Hindu religious figure in Sri Lankan modern history is, Satguru Siva Yogaswami of Jaffna. One of the greatest and most profound mystics of the twentieth century, Yogaswami was the official satguru and counseling sage of Sri Lankas several million Tamil Hindu population. Satguru is a true guru, a master. Hindu practices generally involve seeking awareness of God. At home, Hindus often create a shrine with icons dedicated to their chosen form of God. Temples are usually dedicated to a primary deity along with associated subordinate deities. Visiting temples is not obligatory, and many visit temples only during religious festivals. Today three Gods are widely seen as all powerful: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is regarded as the ultimate source of crea tion; Shiva also has a creative role alongside his function as destroyer. Vishnu is seen as the preserver or protector of the universe. Out of these three, Vishnu and Shiva are far more widely represented and have come to be seen as the most powerful and important in the belief of Sri Lankan followers. Islam: Today, about 8% of Sri Lankans handset to Islam. By the 15th century, Arab traders had controlled much of the trade on the Indian Ocean, including that of Sri Lankas. Many of these traders settled down in Sri Lanka, encouraging the spread of Islam. However, when the Portuguese arrived at Sri Lanka during the 16th century, many of their Muslim descendants were persecuted, thus forcing them to migrate to the Central Highlands and to the east coast. In modern times, Muslims in Sri Lanka are handled by the Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department, which was established in the 1980s to prevent the continual isolation of the Muslim community from the rest of Sri Lanka. There are two major denominations of Islam, the Sunni and Shia. The schism developed in the late 7th century following disagreements over the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community. Roughly 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni and 15 percent are Shia. Muslims believe that God revealed the Quran to Muhammad, Gods final prophet, and regard the Quran and the Sunnah (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These five practices are essential to Muslims: 1. Shahadah (profession of faith) 2. Salat (prayers) 3. Zakat (giving of alms/charity) 4. Sawm (fasting, specifically during Ramadan) 5. Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) Christianity: Christianity make up 8% of Sri Lankas population, most are Catholics. Christianity first came to Sri Lanka upon the arrival of the Portuguese in the sixteenth century. Under their rule, Roman Catholicism was spread out on the Island with many Roman Catholic schools for the Sinhalese and the Tamils. When the Dutch took control of Sri Lanka, they encouraged their own missionaries of the Dutch Reformed Church. Under their patronage, 21 percent of the population in the low country was officially Christian by 1722. The relative number of Christians in Sri Lanka has declined steadily since the end of colonial rule. The Catholic Church holds that there is one eternal God, who exists as a mutual indwelling of three persons: God the Father; God the Son; and the Holy Spirit. There are seven sacraments in the Catholic Church that the Catholics go after: Baptism: is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which a person is admitted to membership of the Christian Church, Confirmation: is one of the seven sacraments through which Catholics pass in the process of their religious upbringing. According to Catholic doctrine, in this sacrament they receive the Holy Spirit. Eucharist: refers to both the celebration of the Mass, that is, the Eucharistic liturgy, and the consecrated bread and wine which according to the faith become the body and blood of Christ. Penance (confession): is the method given by Christ to the Church by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving Baptism. Anointing of the Sick: is the ritual anointing of a sick person. Holy Orders: include s three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon. Matrimony: catholic marriage.

Gulf War :: essays research papers

The Gulf War   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the early morning of August the second 1990, Saddam Hussein and a fleet of tanks as well as 100,000 thousand troops invaded neighboring Kuwait with out provocation or warning. Iraq also had surface-to-surface missiles to take complete control of Kuwait; this all took place just hours after Saddam Hussein had assured neighboring countries that there would under no circumstances be an invasion. George Bush entered the Gulf War for the sole reason of recovering the oil and Kuwaiti Boolean that Saddam Hussein had stolen. President George Bush’s goal in entering the war was to recover the stolen oil from the Iraqi’s, and ensure that it continues to be sold at a reasonable amount by the Kuwaiti’s, rather than have the prices raised or even the threat of being cut off by Saddam Hussein; there was also an extreme threat that the Iraqi’s possessed nuclear weapons which would endanger all bordering countries. The President said that anything less than the full cooperation of the Iraqi troops and tanks would result in immediate action by the U.S troops in his address to the people. Bush also demanded that full restoration of the Kuwaiti government must also take place rather than the puppet regime that was established by Saddam Hussein after his take over. This was one of the many incidents that lead President George Bush to take action against the Iraqi’s due to their involvement in the Persian Gulf crisis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United Nations placed sanctions upon Iraq, which lead to the starvation of one point two million Iraqi civilians. It was also the cause of the famine rate amongst children from the age five and below to rise almost one quarter from its rate the previous year. 960,000 women and children dead due to the sanctions brought forth by the UN. The sanctions, which were brought forth, involved the immediate hold put on all food, clothing, and medicines from entering Iraq. The points of the sanctions were to weaken the strength of Saddam Hussein and his task forces. In July of 1997 the U.S government held a press conference stating that it was indeed true that the figure was actually well over one point two million Iraqi civilians were killed due to the sanctions. This was one of the major set backs in the campaign of President Bush among the people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another fact that set President Bush back was the belief of the people that it was not worth putting the lives of American troops on the line for oil.

Solar Energys Ability to Power our Future Essay -- Energy Solar PV Pa

Solar ability to power our future Abstract Solar Energy is the process of using the rays from the sun and transferring the energy into thermal or electric energy. A main contribution to solar energy is PV panels. The Solar panels are found in a variety of locations, but mostly found on roofs of buildings or other large surfaces. The panels are devices used to capture the solar energy transferring it into electric or heat energy. Solar energy is beneficial in numerous ways, including helping the environment. Studies and attempts in working with solar energy have been around for decades and continue evolving. Solar Energy is very beneficial, but still has its disadvantages. Yet as the studies and experiments continue, the usage and benefits of Solar Energy will flourish. Introduction Solar Energy first appeared during the 1860s’. The first scientist that is believed to have turned solar power into mechanical energy was Auguste Mouchout. He began his studies in fear that his country was becoming too dependent on coal. After he received grants, he continued perfecting his theory until 1880, in which he created the beginning of outstanding and beneficial findings. (Smith 2007) Many people took his theories and experiments and evolved it more thoroughly. Since then solar power has come along way and now anybody has the opportunity to be involved in the struggle for energy. Numerous of households across the United States are cutting down on their usage of lights and appliances, and solar panels are being seen more frequent. Powering our future 3 Steps on how Sun rays are converted to electric energy. Figure 1: (Pacific Gas and Electric Company, 2007) The solar energy is created by the harboring of the Sunrays using Photovoltaic... ...eb site: http://www.solarenergy.com/info_history.html (2005). Solar Energy. Retrieved July 31, 2007, from BBC-GCSE Bitesize- Physics Web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/physics/energy/energy_resourcesrev7.shtml (2006). Discover Solar Energy. Retrieved July 24, 2007, from Solar Energy Advantages and Disadvantages Web site: http://www.facts-about-solar-energy.com/solar-energy-advantages-disadvantages.html (January 4,2007). Retrieved July 31, 2007, from ecosystems Web site: http://www.ecosystemssolar.com/sungrabber.htm (2007). About Solar Energy. Retrieved July 24, 2007, from Pacific Gas & Electric Company Web site: http://www.pge.com/about_us/environment/solar/about_solar_energy.html (2007). About Solar Energy. Retrieved July 24, 2007, from Pacific Gas & Electric Company Web site: http://www.pge.com/about_us/environment/solar/about_solar_energy.html

Guide Dogs :: essays research papers

My report is going to be on guide dogs. In this I will show how the guide dogs are used in everyday life. I will show how they are trained to help the blind. I will show you about guide dogs and service dogs. I will also show you the dog breeds used for guide and service dogs. In this I will show you the importance of guide dogs to the disabled.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Guide dogs begin training at just a puppy. The dogs are taught basic things like to sit, stay, wait, down, off, etc. and of course they are taught to be house broken. The social training for the dog is one of the most important of all they will learn. During this training dogs are introduced to sights, smells, sounds, and unusual surfaces. The trainers also keep close attention to their socializing toward dogs, people, and traffic. And this is a basic training for a guide dog.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many people refer to these dogs as guide dogs, but there is another way to call a dog that leads, a service dog. They are very alike in ways that they both have to watch out closely to everything that’s going on around them. A service dog are hearing dogs, they are used for the deaf. Another type of service dog is a seizure alert dog, but these dogs are very uncommon to see. And these are the types of service dogs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many breeds of dogs to choose from some of the most common are golden retriever, German shepherd, and Labrador retriever. Many people can pick almost any breed they are looking for though. The common breeds I pointed out are used because of their intelligence, willingness to work, and their mobility. The dogs that help are really filling a hole that these people have.

Our language our identity Essay

Identity can be perceived through language; is one of the many ideas that are illustrated throughout Gloria Anzaldua’s â€Å"How to Tame a Wild Tongue†. The language you speak is a part of your culture, and your culture is what defines a person the most. Living in a country that is seen to be melting pot of many cultures and heritages, you are bound to encounter someone of another culture but that doesn’t mean we suppress their ability to represent who they are because of their lack of knowledge pertaining to the primary language used in this country. Immigrants use language to preserve their culture heritage and identity in a foreign land but fear of judgment, suppression and linguistic terrorism affect their ability to fit in and be who they are not only by Americans but also by their own people. Linguistic terrorism is a term used by Anzaldua herself to express her strong emotions on the suppression of her language by others. This term is used to describe an action of suppression by a majority group to a minority group because of their values, norms and even language. This occurs because one usually feels dominant and superior over the other. Anzaldua states in her essay that â€Å"Our language has been used against us by the dominant culture; we use our language differences against each other.† (136) Living in a diverse cultural country such as the United States, many immigrants feel the need to learn the appropriate English in order to communicate and fit in with society. Many aren’t able to completely emerge themselves into the American way of doing things without sacrificing a part of themselves through their cultural heritage and identity. Majority of them feel the need to learn English in order to get a job. Even then they are suppressed because they speak with very simple English with heavy accents. Once these immigrants start to feel comfortable with their English, they are often pushed off by their native tongue because of embarrassment and disrespect to their own language. There are times when groups that have tried so hard to fit in with the Americans are looked down upon by their own culture and society. Anzaldua says, â€Å"‘Pocho, cultural traitor, you’re speaking the oppressor’s language by speaking English, you’re ruining the Spanish language,’ I have been accused by various Latinos and Latinas† (133). This portrays how her own people have looked down upon her because the English she speaks now is evident through her Spanish, shaming the language as a whole in their eyes. Such things cause people to feel discouraged and fear being judged by their own culture. This fear of judgment causes people to have multiple consciences. Sociologists use the term double conscience, a term that coined by W.E.B. Du Bois, to explain such phenomena. It is a way of awareness of who you are and a very different awareness of what other people see you as in contrast to that. The way you act at home would be different in terms of your values, social norms and language. Once you leave your home and enter another society, those values, norms and even language change to those that are commonly believed and used in that newer society. Anzaldua notes that â€Å"My ‘home’ tongues are the languages I speak with my sister and brother, with my friends†¦ last five listed†¦ From school, the media and job situations†¦ standard and working class English. From Mamagrande Locha and from reading†¦standard Spanish and standard Mexican Spanish† (134). A double conscience or a multiple on can be used to explain Anzaldua’s reason for using different languages in different parts and areas of her daily life. She talks about how she picked up different languages from different places because it was important for her to fit in and communicate with them, changing her conscience along the way . Gloria Anzaldua is a strong activist when it comes to the connection between language and identity. In her essay â€Å"How to Tame a Wild Tongue† she outlines her strong emotional arguments about the ability for one to conform to a society by disposing their own language or identity. Your identity is determined by language, the language you speak is a part of your culture, and your culture is what defines a person because of their beliefs, norms and values. Even though there will always be Linguistic Terrorism and suppression, it is important to remember that your language is what makes you who you are and changing from one language to another is something you must do but that doesn’t mean you let that change your true language or your true identity. Work Cited Page Anzaldua, Gloria. â€Å" How to tame a wild tongue.† Fields of Reading: Motives for Writing ed. Nancy R. Comley, David Hamilton, Carl H. Klaus, Robert Scholes, Nancy Sommers, Jason Tougaw. Ninth ed. New York; Bedford/St. Martin, 2013. 131-141. Print