How Voltaire utilizes Candide, Pangloss,and Martin to...

Blind optimism has concealed the eyes of human beings from the defects of the world since the age of Enlightenment. Defying the archaic thinking of society, Voltaire searched for practical and useful knowledge to explain the world he lived in. Voltaire mocked philosophers, such as Leibniz ,who believed in the â€Å"best of all possible worlds† ,and presupposed that all things happen for a reason rather than convincing himself that good and bad are one and the same( 12). The term blind optimism refers to naievty, or having a tendency to expect the best of all possible outcomes and never accepting conclusions in a negative way. In the novel Candide, Voltaire strikes his major characters with atrocious events to challenge the unquestionable†¦show more content†¦The syphilis disease causes Pangloss to lose an eye ,and an ear. Pangloss then tries to justify his loss by stating that without him capturing syphilis, people would not â€Å"have had chocolate†(21) to th is day.Pangloss trying to conceal a serious sexually transmitted disease by presenting the argument that people got chocolate from the new world, shows the absurdity of the logic that is going through Pangloss’s brain. Pangloss is shown to talk without thinking, thus he interprets syphilis as acceptable, because the world received a luxury item in return. Pangloss evokes laughable pity to the reader ,because it is absurd of Pangloss to generate all horrible events happening in his world as favorable affairs; such as him being â€Å"hanged, dissected, [and]whipped†(123). At the end of the novella, Pangloss admits his philosophy of blind optimism can’t explain the â€Å"dreadful suffering† he has faced, and confesses he â€Å"didn’t believe it at all†. Therefore, Voltaire exemplifies through Pangloss’ many disasters that the belief of blind optimism is not only unrealistic, but it is ,as in Pangloss’ case, an attempt to protect blissful ignorance by closing one eye to the rough side of things and as seen affects not only Pangloss , but also Candide by making him just as ignorant, and naive to the world. Although Voltaire makes blind optimism seem ridiculous, by juxtaposing Pangloss’s optimism to Martin’s blind pessimism, Voltaire doesnt castigate

The edocrine system Free Essays

The endocrine system The endocrine system is a collection of ductless glands which are positioned through the whole body. The endocrine glands pass their secretions of hormones directly into the blood stream so that they are always adjacent to blood vessels. Hormones are chemicals in the body produced and secreted in the body that regulate the function of a particular tissue or organ (Bing dictionary). We will write a custom essay sample on The edocrine system or any similar topic only for you Order Now These chemical messengers transfer information from one set of cells to another. Despite many chemicals being transmitted and circulated around the body via the bloodstream, each one only acts n the cells that are genetically programmed to receive and respond to its message. Hormone levels can be influenced by many factors including stress, infection and changes in the balance of fluids within the body. A gland is a group of cells that produce and secrete chemicals (http://kidshealth. org/parent/general/body_basics/ endocrine. html). A gland will select and eliminate waste materials from the blood, then process it and secrete the end product for use at another location in the body. Endocrine glands release more than 20 major hormones straight into the loodstream and from here they can be transported to the cells in other parts of the body. There are many major glands that make up the endocrine system and these include the: hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pineal body and the reproductive glands (testes for males and ovaries for females). The pancreas is also involved in secreting hormones which are involved with the maintaining of blood sugar levels within the body. The pancreas is also associated with the digestive system as it produced hydrolytic enzymes which aid with digestion. Neuro- endocrine system The nervous and endocrine systems control all the biological processes within the body and they can almost control one another. The nervous system can stimulate or inhibit the release of certain hormones while the endocrine system can promote of inhibit nerve impulses. Hypothalamus The hypothalamus is found in the lower part of the brain and is a collection of particular cells. It has key links with the nervous system and the endocrine system and has an important role in secreting hormones. The nerve cells in the hypothalamus control the pituitary gland by producing certain chemicals that can timulate or supress hormone secretions from the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is moderately small and is located at the base of the brain beneath the produced hormones that control other endocrine glands within the body. The hypothalamus can convey information sensed by the brain to the pituitary gland to make any changes that could be influenced by factors like emotions and seasonal changes. The pituitary Gland The pituitary gland is divided into 2 sections: Anterior lobe This regulates the activity of the thyroid, adrenals, and reproductive glands. It also roduces growth hormone which stimulates the growth of bone and other body tissues. It also produces prolactin which stimulates mammary gland growth and activates milk production in females. Thyrotropin is another hormone produced and this stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. Corticotrophin is produced which causes the adrenal glands to produce certain hormones. Follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) is also produced and affects ovaries in females and stimulates the development of oocytes. It also affects the testes of males and stimulates the production of sperm. Luteinizing hormone (LH) affects the ovaries in females and stimulates ovulation, the formation of the corpus luteum and results in secretion of oestrogen and progesterone. It affects the testes of males and stimulates the production of testosterone. The pituitary gland also secretes endorphins. These are chemicals that act on the nervous system and allow us to reduce our sensitivity to pain. It also triggers the reproductive organs to release sex hormones such as testosterone in males, and estradiol and progesterone in females which play a part in the menstruation cycle. Posterior lobe This releases antidiuretic hormone and this encourages reabsorption of water by the kidneys. The posterior lobe also produces the hormone called oxytocin and this helps induce labour and produces milk in the mammary glands of females. Another hormone produced in the posterior lobe is Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and this helps with the darkening of the skin. Hull. R, Anatomy Physiology for Beauty and Complementary Therapies, the Write Idea Ltd, 2009) Thyroid The thyroid is positioned in the lower region of the neck at the front and it produces a hormone called thyroxine. This is an amino acid derivative and increases the metabolic rate and heart rate. It also promotes growth within the body. Another development also, and helps with body temperature and plays a role in metabolism. Calcitonin is another hormone formed which targets bones and lowers the level of calcium in the blood. The production and release of these thyroid hormones is controlled by Thyrotropin and this is secreted by the pituitary gland. If a person has more thyroid hormones circulating in the blood stream, the chemical reactions within the body will occur much quicker. Parathyroids There are 4 small glands that are attached to the thyroid called the parathyroids. These release a hormone called parathyroid hormone and this adjusts the level of calcium in the blood with the help of calcitonin, which is also formed in the thyroid. (http://kidshealth. rg/teen/your_body/body_basics/endocrine. html). It also decreases the level of phosphate in the blood and promotes the formation of calcitriol by the kidneys. Thymus The thymus gland plays an important role in the immune system and secretes numerous hormones. One of these is thymosin and this promotes the growth of T- Cells which are a type of white blood cell. (Hull. R, Anatomy Physiology for Beauty and Complementary Therapies, the Write Idea Ltd , 2009). Adrenal Glands The adrenal glands are situated above each kidney and release many hormones that are important in the body. The adrenal glands are divided into 2 sections and each one has a particular function: Adrenal cortex The adrenal cortex produces steroid hormones that are essential in the body. These hormones are grouped into mineralcorticoids, glucocorticoids and sex hormones. This produces corticosteroids that regulate water and salt balance in the body. They also play a role in the bodys response to stress and help maintain metabolism. The adrenal glands also produce mineralcorticoids (mainly aldosterone) and this acts on the kidneys. It regulates the mineral content of the blood by increasing blood levels of sodium and water, it also decreases blood levels of potassium. Sex hormones called androgens and oestrogens are also produced in the adrenal cortex and these have a small contribution to sex drive and libido. The adrenal medulla in innervated by neurones of the sympathetic branch of the ANS and can quickly release hormones called catecholamines. One example of this is epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and this produces many effects which are related to short-term stress response. It is also responsible for the â€Å"fght or flight† response which is triggered during times of stress. This increases blood pressure and heart rate (from own personal notes). Another hormone called norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) plays a role in the body’s response to stress. It decreases the rate of digestion and stimulates cellular metabolism. Pineal Gland The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain and it secretes a hormone alled melatonin and this regulates sleep patterns in the body. Reproductive glands In males the reproductive gland is the testes. It produces a hormone called testosterone which regulates the development and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. In females the reproductive gland is the ovaries. A hormone produces is estradiol which regulates the development and maintenance of secondary sex characteristics. Another hormone produced is progesterone and this prepares the uterus for pregnancy and is involved in the regulation of the menstrual cycle in females. Pancreas The pancreas is also involved in secreting hormones around the body and also links with the digestive system as it secretes digestive and hydrolytic enzymes. The pancreas produces 3 hormones. Insulin: this is secreted from the beta-cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and is secreted in reply to a raised blood glucose concentration. The effect of insulin is that is lowers blood glucose concentration to normal levels. The modes of action for this are that it stimulates the absorption of glucose from the blood by the muscle fibres, liver cells and adipose cells. How to cite The edocrine system, Papers

AMERICANS GETTING TOUGH Essay Example For Students

AMERICANS GETTING TOUGH Essay In a time that Americans are feeling very unsure about our safety, I fully agree with thePatriot act, which was passed only six weeks after September eleventh. It is time we start protecting America. The patriot act is crucial to national security. I do not feel that the war on terror has opened the doors to abuse of civil rights of the prisoners being held at Guantanamo Bay Naval base in Cuba. I feel that we need to be more cautious of who we let walk our streets. We have to remember the visions of September eleventh, they were not pretty and many innocent people died. Had we been more cautious then on who we let into our country, we would not have been as vulnerable and the incident of September eleventh might not have happened. If we detained some of these prisoners for a long period of time, until we can be completely sure that they are not a threat to us Americans, than so be it. According to CNN.com prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base which is referred to asCamp x-ray are provided with an eight-by-eight foot outdoor cell with a concrete floor, roofand surrounded by a chain linked fence. On arrival they are given a mat to sleep on, a towel for showers and a towel for praying . They are given soap, toothpaste, a toothbrush and they are able to take a shower each day. They get served three meals a day with water. Two meals are hot and one meal meets the Muslim religious requirements. On entry they are provided with medical care. According to US Attorney General John Ashcroft, They have the right food, shelter and the right environment to avoid injury. I think we are providing these prisoners more comfort than the many homeless people living in the United States. It is sad that we worry more about the prisoners who are a potential threat to all Americans than we do for our own people who have been American citizens all of their life. We need to get a grip on reality this is war!According to Eugene Fidell, these detainees who are labeled enemy combatants will be able to have what is called a revue tribunal. The purpose of this will decide whether the detainees qualify for this label. The board who will decide this is made up of three military officers, people who had no prior involvement in the decision to label enemy combatants. Of the three people there will be a lawyer, a second lawyer as a legal advisor, recorder to the panels and the detainee will have an opportunity to defend himself. As stated in the Philadelphia Inquireron November 28,2004, two people accused of being members of the taliban and a man accusedof having links t o Al -Qaeda appeared before a review tribunals at the U.S. Navy base inGuantanamo Bay , in Cuba. The hearings are to decide whether the 550 prisoners have beencorrectly labeled enemy combatants, and if not they should be released. So far, one Pakistaniprisoner has been released. In closing, I feel the detainees are being offered a fair situation. They are given food, shelter and they are given a revue tribunal to prove themselves innocent. It makes you wonder how our people are being treated, hopefully as well as we are treating theirs.

The Importance Of Correct Pronunciation Essays - Book Of Judges

The Importance Of Correct Pronunciation Throughout history there has been a strong need to express words clearly. Time has shown that even the simplest mistake in pronunciation has led to the loss of life as well as great confusion. If we are to be effective in this world, we must speak clearly and precisely. In chapter 12 of Judges, we see that this was no different for the Ephraimites. This passage of scripture states that 42,000 men of this tribe were put to death by the mispronunciation of the word shibboleth. There were a few factors that precipitated this event. One factor that we encounter is that of the Ephraimites. The Ephraimites shared the same border, the same God, and many of the same customs. They do, however, seem a little bit different from the Gileadites. Their language was the same but their dialect was a bit different. They also appear to be very brash in their mannerisms. Even Gideon had a few problems with this tribe when he went to battle with the Midianites. We see this recorded in Judges, chapter 8, Then the Ephraimites said to him, What have you done to us not to call us when you went to fight against the Midianites? And they upbraided him violently. Not much has changed since the time of Gideon because they are in the same situation again with someone else. It appears that they were only willing to take offense, at not being invited into battle, only if the Israelites were victorious. Jephthah was a person whom his tribe needed desperately even though he had a few character flaws that worked against him. In Judges, chapter 11, we see that he was one that did not easily give in to pressure, and was very stubborn. This is shown in two instances. First, when he was asked to lead the battle against the Ammonites, he quickly questioned the fact that he was sent away because he was the son of a prostitute. Jephthah only continued when they vowed at Mizpah to make him their leader. Secondly, we see though a long explanation, the reason why Israel was allowed to inhabit the land. Only when Jephthah received no reply did he decide to attack. Yet another character trait that Jephthah possessed was that he could be unpredictable. This is clearly shown when he made a foolish vow to sacrifice the first thing that came through his household doors. Jephthah was victorious over the Ammonites and their oppression was stopped. Under normal circumstances there should have been great rejoicing within the land of Israel. This was, however, not the case. When the Ephraimites heard of the victory, they became upset that they were not invited to the battle. Jephthah, however, tells them that they were invited but did not send anyone to the battle. It is clear that there was some bad communication, but regardless of this dilemma, the result is clear. When two groups of people come together, who are strong willed, and have opposing objectives, the result is generally war. Jephthah had no tolerance for excuses and summarily went to war with the Ephraimites and the Ephraimites quickly lost. When they tried to escape across the Jordan river, their escape route was quickly cut off and they were required to pass a simple but an effective test, in order to survive. The Ephraimites were required to say a simple word that would give them away. The word shibboleth was apparently easy for the Gileadites to say, but difficult for the Ephraimites to say. If the word sibboleth was pronounced then the person was an Ephraimite and was summarily executed. This is a very tragic story. The tribes of Israel should have been able to get along much better than this story suggests. When we consider all that they have been through together, we should see great joy, great unity, and a strong dedication to God. Unfortunately this is not always the case. We see these people fall away from God on many occasions, and, have many curses fall upon them. We also see that they did not always work together towards a common goal. Sometimes their differences lead to civil war. Even though a victor