A learning Machine

It is quite difficult to see the author’s main point in the sense that he simply discussed the findings of the five psychological scientists regarding their research on the neural plasticity of the brain. It appears that the author adapted the findings of the scientists which have served as the main point of the article.That is, based on the scientists’ findings the author depicted that the brain is â€Å"a learning machine† that it is capable to bend, stretched, expand, and specialize it self in order to respond to challenges. The author apparently believed that the topic was a breakthrough in scientific research regarding the human brain.The author made this clear citing the remark of one of the presenter; Nelson states, â€Å"Psychological sciences are on the point that it should become a big science. We should think about the way that chemistry became great sciences.The time of each person in his own lab may be over.†[1] As stated earlier, the authorâ €™s main point is to show that the human brain is capable of adjusting to the current challenges. The brain can be trained in order to become capable to cope up with the present challenges. It is true that the author described other people’s argument and he does have his own opinion. He simply cited the opinions of the five presenters and supports his main point by citing the remarks of the presenters regarding the topic.The information presented by the author is that the neural plasticity in able the brain to adapt to sort and interpret a huge variety of incoming data from the world. This finding was derived from an experiment on the adult monkey’s brain which concludes that human brain can be train to adapt new skills. The author says it is a breakthrough in scientific research of the human brain.What are the strong features of the author’s argument?Indeed, the author does not have his own argument, but the strong feature of the article is that it tells th e reader of what more the human brain is capable of.On the part of the writer, he simply presented the findings of the five scientists. However, the argument is definitely supported by solid data because they are based on actual experiment. Yes, the research appears to have been conducted properly because obviously, the writer validated all his information through the statement of the scientists which conducted the actual experiments regarding the topic. Regarding information, I do not think the author provided more than one side of the issue.The author simply presented what is necessary to give fair information. In my opinion, the weak feature of the article is its humanist notion. The article is not based on anecdote nor does it rely on isolated case study but on evolutionary principle. But generally, the author research is adequate as it is informative. The data presented was not misinterpreted nor the author tried to infer a causal connection from co-relational data.Comparison w as not possible rather the author corroborated the findings the scientists. Regarding other possible interpretations, this seems not possible as even the writer simply presented the opinion of the presenters. Nelson was careful not to make any unsubstantiated claims or has ignored other explanations as there was not such thing in the article.What have you learned in the course that supports arguments made by the author?I have learned from the course that the brain carries various cognitive activities and that it is a very complex information processor which process input information in many different levels of consciousness and unconsciousness. While this is a common knowledge, it clearly connects to the author’s argument that the brain is a learning machine.That is the brain is capable of adjusting, bending and acquiring skills. This argument is specifically noted by the author citing Michael Rutter of King’s college observation of the cognitive capability of Roman ch ildren form an adopted by UK families from an orphanage. Rutter noted the progress of the children who were all tested as mentally retarded upon their arrival, but after some years of living in above average environment, â€Å"they were nearly normal†[2].The thing that I have learned from the course that goes against the author’s argument is that the human brain distinctly set apart human’s from animals because of its capacity to adopt, to develop new skills, and bend stretched in order to respond to challenges. This kind of capability is so distinct from that of animals which attest that human beings are a special creation and not a product of evolution.This runs counter to the author’s argument which clearly adheres on the theory of evolution. Citing Gopnic, the author stated, â€Å"evolution requires that we discover new things about the works and use this knowledge to imagine new things, to change the world based on imaginings†[3] I could apply what I have leaned from this events first, locally by telling people who are struggling to cope with new challenge that they are capable of imagining a better situation and of turning it to reality.Second, nationally, I can write article which discussed on the capacity of human brain to cope and to adjust with new challenges which I will seek to publish on a national level. I understand that this is easier said than done but if this will help people to overcome their current difficult situation, then I will be willing to pursue it. Globally, this may sound impossible, but publishing an article of international circulation may be possibleSelect a concept from the article and connect it to or relate it to events happening in the world today.The concept I selected from the article is the concept that brain can be trained. The human brain can be trained to be skilled, can be trained to become sensitive and can be trained to adjust or stretched.   Today, the world is witnessing the ri se of new technology and the world is fast becoming technology drive.The need of new skills, new knowledge, and visions requires human being to respond by adapting to the new situation. In this new development, the ability of the brain to acquire new skills, to adapt to new situation, to cope with challenges, and the capability of the mind to be trained relates highly because the new knowledge demands new skills. In other words, training people for this type of knowledge is possible because of brains capability to adjust and to adopt.

Emotion and Stress – Does Guilt and Sympathy Affect Helping Behavior?

Helping behavior is perceived as socially acceptable and highly appreciated. Therefore, people tend to praise others when they have helped the needy. We used to think that only those people with positive personality, such as sensitive and kind, perform helping behaviors. Nevertheless, whether one acts good or not also greatly depends on his or her emotional states. Through this psychology project, I found that people are more likely to perform a helping behavior when they feel guilty or sympathetic. Emotion is an indispensable part of humanity. It is a way for people to understand what they feel towards events and people around.Unlike lower-order animals, emotion helps people to act like a human. Serial killers are emotionless. People with emotionless may probably feel nothing when they are hurting or harming others which are highly unacceptable in society. Since people tend to engage more when they are happy but withdraw from daily activities when they are upset, we can see that our behaviors are always determined by our emotions. Yet, people tend to perform more helping behaviors when they feel guilty or sympathetic. How do these negative emotions push people to help their neighbors?Guilt is an emotion that occurs when people believe that they have violated a moral standard while sympathy is the feeling of being sorry for somebody showing that people understand and care about somebody’s problem. They are both negative rather than positive emotions. People do not feel good when they are guilty or sympathetic towards somebody. Is that true people involve more in altruistic behaviors when they are guilty or sympathetic? There is an experiment conducted by Jean Decety (2009) who is a neuroscientist studying the relationship between guilt, sympathy and helping.He is a professor of Psychology at the University of Chigago and is specialized in affective neuroscience. In the study, student subjects are required to observe their coworkers receiving shock. Some of them are made to think they are responsible for the coworker’s suffering (guilt condition), while others merely observe the suffering (observer condition. There is also a group working with coworkers receiving no shock. Later the three groups are given opportunities to help a third party who is not in the original experiment.The result shows that subjects in the guilt and observer condition are more likely than the control group to give their helping hand to the third party. The finding suggests that the feeling of guilt and sympathy and the willingness in engaging in an altruistic act is highly correlated. Subjects are more willing to help others when they feel sorry for a third person even they do not responsible for their unfortunate. At the same time, altruism may aroused merely by witnessing one’s suffering. There are three reasons for people who feel guilty and sympathetic to engage in helping behaviors.Altruism is a form of disguised self-interest and helps i n mood management while restoring one’s self-image. People help others for their own benefits. It is always unpleasant to watch another organism suffer. When one empathizes because of their misfortune, strong negative emotion is arisen. People are actually seeking to alleviate the unpleasant feelings that their distress arouse in them. It is a kind of internal self-reward. This can reduce the negative feeling by saying they have at least done their part in helping the unfortunate. Therefore, altruism is the attempt to reduce the empathetic feeling that arises in people.Besides, people help others when they are guilty and sympathetic for mood management. Both guilt and sympathy are negative emotions which are unpleasant. Therefore, they can be reduced by performing a helpful act or any other positive means. In a study (Decety, 2009), subjects who had inflicted or witnessed an unfortunate situation received an unexpected monetary reward. The result shows that subjects who recei ved rewards are less likely than those who do not receive any and remain in bad mood in engaging helping behaviors. This indicates that helping is just one of the positive means which can uplift one’s emotion.People are motivated to engage in altruistic act in order to alleviate the negative emotion associated with guilt and sympathy. Apart from that, when people feel guilty, they have probably done something wrong and regret for their actions. For instance, students have cheated in an examination. Their self-images are broken due to the negative behaviors performed. They understand that their behaviors are unacceptable and they do not want to be perceived as bad. In order to restore the self-image in others’ eye, people will perform more pro-social behaviors.This is to prove that they are still the good guy. It seems to be upsetting that if humanity performs a helping behavior just for reforming their own self-image rather than from a genuine feeling of guilt in helpi ng others. Fortunately, it is not the case. Research suggests that unwitnessed transgression causes the same amount of donation as witnessed transgression. Therefore, it is acceptable to conclude that people perform altruistic act are at least partly caused by the feeling of guilt but not a need to repair their own self-image in others’ eye. Undoubtedly, there is a use for these findings.Since many charitable organizations know very well the psychology of human, many of the fund-raising activities we can see in daily lives make use of people’s empathy. It is common to see volunteers showing photos of the needy in the less-developed countries persuading pedestrians to donate money to them. Guilty may arises as people may recall they have wasted a lot of resources and sympathy may arises as living conditions in those less-developed countries are really poor. With the arousal of these negative emotions, people may therefore engage in altruism.It is true that one’s personality largely determines the likeliness in performing helping behaviors. Yet, our willingness in performing these behaviors also depends on the emotional states at that moment. The experiment done by professor, Jean Decety, proves that the feeling of guilt and sympathy can definitely facilitate altruistic behaviors. As a result, organizations may make use of this psychology as we know that even the meanest person may have the experience in helping others provided that they are at the right emotional state.

John Stuart Mill s Argument That Happiness Is The Only...

In this essay I am going to write about John Stuart Mill’s argument that happiness is the only intrinsic good. Mill’s proof focuses on defending utilitarianism, one of the most prominent works in moral philosophy and most prominent form of consequentialism as proposed by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Mill defines the theory and provides his responses to common misconceptions people have surrounding it. Utility, the Greatest Happiness Principle, states that actions are right in that they generally promote happiness, and wrong as they produce the opposite of happiness. Utilitarianism, on the other hand, tends to focus on the general good and happiness of the world over individual pleasure. In this essay, I am going to argue for Mill’s argument that happiness is the only intrinsic good. In the first part of the essay, I am going to present John Stuart Mill’s point of view and defense of utilitarianism, and in the second part of the essay I am going to argue for it. I conclude my essay by formulating a basic summary of my argument supporting Mill’s proof that happiness is indeed the only intrinsic good. Part I The idea at the central to utilitarianism is that actions should increase the amount of happiness in the world. Mill was introduced to this doctrine rather early, and decided to dedicate his life to developing and further spreading it. Utilitarianism can be defined as â€Å"not so much an argument for the principle of utility as it is an argument for the claim thatShow MoreRelated Immanuel Kants Ethics Of Pure Duty and John Stuart Mills Utilitarian Ethics Of Justice2753 Words   |  12 PagesImmanuel Kants The Grounding For The Metaphysics of Morals and John Stuart Mills Utilitarianism Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill are philosophers who addressed the issues of morality in terms of how moral traditions are formed. 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Jeremy Bentham who advocated for utilitarianism just like Mill influenced much of Mill’s works. Mill’s works were also greatly influenced by Jeremy Bentham’s brother, Samuel and Mill’s father, James. Mill had many early works prior to his writings on utilitarianism. Mill discusses how to determine right and wrong, but this seems to be an ongoing conflict. Mill believes that in order to prove goodness you must have ethical morals lined up inRead MoreJohn Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism1771 Words   |  8 Pages John Stuart Mill s Utilitarianism Throughout Philosophy, morality is a central component. Although, each scholar views the definition of morality differently, the common underlining theme is that of individuals striving to become better and think for themselves. Morality plays a big part in utilitarianism. Many philosophers have defined utilitarianism in a variety of different ways like Jeremy Bentham who believes an action is right if happiness is promoted and wrong if it reverse happiness, includingRead MoreArgument For Criticizing Utilitarianism And Deontology1138 Words   |  5 PagesSociety Instructor: Joseph John Argument for criticizing utilitarianism and deontology In this paper, I will discuss various ethical courses of action during ethical dilemmas. I will be examining how utilitarians and deontologists use different approaches to solve ethical dilemmas, by citing the text â€Å"Doing Ethics: Moral Reasoning and Contemporary Issues† and views of philosophers such as John Stuart Mill, Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham. Using these, I will develop an argument for why I think the mostRead MoreUtilitarianism : A Look At J.s1731 Words   |  7 PagesKevin Billings Canzanella PHL-202 2/7/15 Utilitarianism: A Look at J.S. Mill John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher in the 19th century whose views continue to change the world today. He was a proponent of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is based on consequentialism and happiness. So in order to understand utilitarianism we must first understand what consequentialism is, and then understand how happiness is related. Consequentialism is a philosophical view in which morality means to produceRead MoreImmanuel Kant And The Categorical Imperative1437 Words   |  6 Pagesdeontologist, has two imperatives: the hypothetical imperative and the categorical imperative. These imperatives describe what we ought to do and are only applicable to rational beings because they are the only beings that recognize what they ought or ought not to do. The hypothetical imperative is when an individual’s actions are reasoned by their desire, so they only act with the intention of fulfilling their desires. The categorical imperative is what human beings ought to do for their own sake regardlessRead MoreMoral Judgements Are Morally Wrong?2025 Words   |  9 Pagesthe most utility. This also means that actions need to present the most overall good for all and not just a single person. John Stuart Mill, a nineteenth century British philosopher, would agree with the utilitarian approach by arguing that actions are deemed morally permissible if they will make more people happy than any other alternative course of action. In this paper, I will contrast Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill’s ethical theories, and then argue that Mill’s view of utilitarianism is theRead MoreWhat Has Posterity Ever Done For Me By Robert Heilbroner1626 Words   |  7 Pagesresponsibilities towards future generations in regards to preserving the planet. In this paper, I will present Heilbroner s arguments for posterity, in relation to how we treat our environment. In addition, I will compare two ethical theories, Kant s Categorical Imperative to Mill s theory of Utilitarianism. I will then argue as to why Utilitarianism is more plausible in respect to Heilbroner s environmental view on posterity. Furthermore, I will point out why Kantian theory does not at all support the ideaRead MoreBentham And Mill ( 1806-1873 ) And John Stuart Mill Essay1302 Words   |  6 Pagesimportant utilitarian’s in history are Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873). Bentham and Mill were very important individuals when it came to philosophy. Their theories has had a major impact both on philosophical work and also an impact when it comes too economically, politically, and socially. Utilitarian’s are consequentialist individuals who believe that actions are right inasmuch as they promote happiness. But Mill defines utilitarianism as a theory based on the principle that

Plato - Knowledge vs. True Belief Essay - 661 Words

Knowledge vs. True Belief The discussion of true belief and knowledge in the Meno develops in the analogy of the traveling men; one who knows the correct path to Larissa and the other who has a true belief of the correct path to Larissa (Meno 97a-c). Socrates tells Meno that if both men led to the same result, then true belief is no more useful than knowledge and both beneficial (Meno 97c). This comparison changes in book five of the Republic when Socrates says an ideal state must have a philosopher-king as a ruler (Republic 473d-e). Socrates and Glaucon conclude that knowledge and true belief are different powers so their natures cannot be the same (Republic 477c-478a). Knowledge is the most effective power, while true belief†¦show more content†¦Socrates then introduces the discussion of â€Å"what is completely,† â€Å"what is and what is not,† and â€Å"what is not completely,† (Republic 477a, 478a-478c). Knowledge is to know something that exists (i.e. object of knowledge) . While objects of belief consists of what does exist and does not exist. This shows how knowledge is infallible and true belief is fallible. Knowledge is eternal and does not change or go anywhere, and true belief is the opposite. It is a similar reference that Socrates speaks about in the Meno, specifically on the example of the Daedalus statue (Meno 98a). Having the statue tied down ensures its eternal presence. It is always there in the soul and never wrong. While not having the statue tied down conveys true belief. When the statue is there it serves as a benefit to man, it is what exists. Since you cannot be guarantee the statue will remain, the departure of the statue explains how belief will change over time. This is what will change belief to what does not exist. The meaning for the particular will change, indicating it is not eternal. 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Is College Still Worth It - 915 Words

In â€Å"The Great Debate: Is College Still Worth It?† author Ricardo Azziz endorses post-secondary education by stating its economic advantage in today’s society. The author begins his article by introducing a survey done by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which shows that the majority of college graduates believe college education is worth its cost. Not only are people convinced of the value of a college education, adults with a degree of some sort (bachelor’s degree or associate degree) tend to earn more than those without one. But also, post-secondary education gives people a better chance at achieving the â€Å"American Dream† through diligence and hard work. Azziz states that â€Å"college graduates were 5.3 times more likely to leave the bottom quintile than non-college graduates†. In addition, in times of an economic downturn, individuals with a college degree are often able to better cope with the difficult y than those without. However, amidst the benefits of college, Azziz does not forget to address the reality that attending college is still, without a question, an expensive endeavor. The author raises many key points that I find to be all valid. As an avid believer of college education, I find value in it and that is why I am currently attending university. There are a myriad of claims and stories of people who have succeeded without a college degree, and therefore argue against its necessity. However, in reality, such cases are rare andShow MoreRelatedCollege: Is it Still worth it? Essay1199 Words   |  5 PagesElementary school, middle school, high school, college―that’s how we’re told our education careers should go. After college you go on and get a job based on the degree you received. Seems simple right? According to Erik Lowe in his Seattle Times article â€Å"Keep Washington’s College Tuition Affordable,† he informs that people in his generation are the first to be less educated than their parents, in the United States. He explains that this is due to the high cost of tuition followed by a huge amountRead MoreIs Col lege Still Worth The Expense?921 Words   |  4 Pagesthemselves asking is college still worth the expense? With tuition continuing to sky rocket each year. Textbooks with their outrageous sales tax. It adds up, that I am sure of. So again is it really worth it? I say, yes. College changes and shapes individuals in ways unimaginable. Whether you attend college or go immediately into the workforce, many recognize the amazing opportunities college has to offer its students. In high school, high school opens doors for college. In college, college unlocks opportunitiesRead MoreIs An American College Education Still? 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College students weigh out these factors every day; but at the end will it all be worth it? As a college student, I have witnessed these phases happen to not only me, but my fellow classmates as well. For example, we see students switching

The Period From The Eighth To The Fourteenth Century Was One Of Vast R Essay Example For Students

The Period From The Eighth To The Fourteenth Century Was One Of Vast R Essay eforms,some for the better and some for the worse. During this period in Europe, commonlyknown as The Middle Ages, economic reforms took place as well as social, political, andreligious changes. One common theme throughout The Middle Ages consisted of therelationship between the Church and the State. The Catholic church during this era held aprominent role in society, and it had an abundant amount of power and authority duringthis time. The Catholic Church exercised its authority in many different stages, in which aresponse from the people occurred because of the way the Church showed its power. The nature of the Catholic Church began its reform around the time Charlemagne,from 768 to 814, took control. He became a Christian emperor and the first great politicalleader in Western Europe. His main goal was to promote the Roman Catholic religionthroughout all of the world known to man, and to do this Charlemagne coordinated withthe pope, which in turn the pope crowned him the holy Roman Emperor. Charlemagnestrived to reestablish central authority and revive the culture of the Early Middle Ages,and he succeeded by gaining authority over a large area, including almost all of Westernand Central Europe (Charlemagne p.130-131). Charlemagne also made many reforms,mostly Church and educational ones. He first reformed the monasteries by making themBenedictine; he also made sure that the churches were abiding by the rules and not doinganything wrong. Charlemagne designed a system in which four archbishops were set up infour different regions with their headquarters in cities in that par ticular region. Thearchbishops appoint bishops authority in their territories. As the Catholic Churchsauthority increases during this time, it also comes with consequences. This system ofarchbishops and bishops are great for the Church, but Charlemagne uses them as royalagents, which is part of royal policy. Furthermore, Charlemagne makes reforms ineducation in order to further improve the Church; he sets up a system which strengthensthe priesthood by setting up bishop schools. These reforms indicate a lack of divisionbetween religious and secular affairs (Charlemagne p.131). Who really has authority, is itthe pope or the king? King Charlemagne did make all of the reforms, but the pope alsocrowned him holy Roman Emperor. This will create problems in the near future betweenthe Church and the State. The nature of the Catholic Churchs authority again changed during the HighMiddle Ages in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Basically, the papacy became moreconfident by claiming greater powers and actually challenging the monarchs themselves fortotal authority (Sherman p.166). Pope Gregory VII is a great example of the increasedconfidence and authority during these times. The papacy under this pope asserted itspowers under the proposition derived from Pope Gregory VII. It indicates many of thepowers that the Church claims to hold. Some of them include: The pope is the onlyperson whose feet are kissed by all princes. He may depose emperors. He may bejudged by no one (Pope Gregory VII p.168). The pope is obviously claiming higherauthority over the State, especially over the emperor. The Church also had the power toexcommunicate members of the Catholic Church, which holds a sever punishmentespecially during the Middle Ages. Because an excommunicated person was forbiddenfrom all socia l intercourse, this punishment would thus be terrible politically, socially, aswell as economically (Noble p.204). In the thirteenth century, Pope Innocent IIIcontinued to claim powers for the Church and even had some of his claims hold up. Heclaimed that the royal power derived the brilliance of dignity from the pontifical authority,which includes the pope (Pope Innocent III p.197). Central governments in the Europeannations began to evolve and try to change the ways of the papacy, which, in turn, broughtup problems for the Church (Noble p.205). This is especially true with the case of PopeBoniface VIII. He issued a letter which forbade the taxation of the clergy without explicitpapal permission, and King Philip IV responded by campaigning against the pope. This,in turn, rallied support for the monarchy in France (Noble p.222). This attack on PopeBoniface VIII unveils the extreme splits in the Christian community; it seemed apparentafter these events that European governments had n o intention of recognizing absolutepapal authority (Noble p. 226). .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 , .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .postImageUrl , .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 , .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:hover , .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:visited , .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:active { border:0!important; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 { 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; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:active , .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .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; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60 .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9141eefa22db5cc4f0798aecd2df2d60:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: In Cold Blood EssayThe nature of the Catholic Church was basically transformed during the LateMiddle Ages in the fourteenth century, due mainly to the aftermath of the Great Schism, asplit between rival popes in Rome and Avignon. Because of the problems between theChurch and the State and the challenges that kings laid on the Church, popes had to dealmuch more carefully with the governments of Europe. During the Late Middle Ages, thekings of France and England along with the rulers in Germany, Italy, and the papacy allovercame the political and cultural crises that arose during the schism. The nature of the Catholic Churchs authority during the Middle Ages is apparent,but how does the Church use the power they hold and beset to discharge its religiousmission? During the Early Middle Ages, Charlemagne mostly spread Christianity throughconquering new lands and basically forcing the new peoples to abide by the rules of theCatholic Church. He was often on the move with his troops and missionaries going tonew lands preaching Christianity. Charlemagne became involved in numerous wars withthe Saxons. Soon, the Saxons were forced to accept the terms of Charlemagne; they hadto leave their pagan religion, accept Christianity, and be united with the Franks (Einhardp.133). During the eleventh and twelfth centuries in the High Middle Ages, the Churchdischarged its religious mission through the crusades, initiated by the Church in order tospread Christianity at the cost of the Islamic religion (Sherman p.183). The first crusadeswere very successful because the Christian forces reestablished control of Spain andestablished control in the Holy Land for most of the twelfth century (Sherman p.183). Pope Urban II justified his call for a crusade in a plea that he stated. He justified his callfor a crusade because the Persians, a race of people which he states are alienated fromGod, have destroyed the churches of God or appropriated them for the rites of their ownreligion (Pope Urban II p.185). Basically, he seeks change in the areas where the Persianslive, and he demands a change; therefore, he called for a crusade. Furthermore, PopeEugenius IIIs inducements for crusades further exemplified the power of the papacyduring the twelfth century. He states that the Church can grant full remission of sins, andthe mens wives, children, and other possessions are under protection of the Holy Church(Pope Eugenius III p.187). In the fourteenth century of the Late Middle Ages, the churchs authority wasbeing questioned by powerful European monarchs, so the Church had to fight for the rightdischarge its religious mission; the powers it used to hold were being questioned, so theChurch was more worried about keeping those rights than anything else. Furthermore, theConciliar Movement was brought up in discussion and placed ultimate power to a Churchcouncil, which would diminish the powers of the pope. This movement was extremelypopular and also revealed the problems facing the Church; no spread of Christianity wastaking place. The Decree Sacrosancta declares that the Church council had powers overanyone in the areas of things that pertain to the Church of God (Sherman p.218). TheDecree Frequens states that a council will always be in session (Sherman p.219). Thesetwo decrees would definitely limit the powers of the pope, but this never happened due tothe election of a single pope, Martin V. Moreover, heresy was a major problem facing theChurch. Groups like the Waldensians posed a major threat to the Church. They wereexcommunicated because they did not abide by the Church, they preach that they are in noway under the power of the pope, and they claim that they hold the power of hearingconfessions without even being a member of the Church (Gui p.219-220). Heresy posed ahuge threat to the Church; they were more worried about losing authority during thesetimes instead of promoting Christianity. .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a , .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .postImageUrl , .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a , .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:hover , .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:visited , .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:active { border:0!important; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a { 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; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:active , .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .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; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc092c4f43d4381ab4c108f1b8c09364a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Espionage and thrillers EssayChristianity throughout the Middle Ages, from the eighth century until thefourteenth, has been impacted several times by the monarchies of Europe and by thepapacy. Considering everything the Catholic Church has gone through , was it successfulin the religious mission it set out for. The answer to this question is very opinionated tohistorians, but I believe the answer is no. Notably during the High Middle Ages in whichthe crusades occurred, many popes set out into various lands including Byzantium andIslam in order to spread Christianity and stop the popularity of the Islamic religion. Manyhistorians believe that the Crusades contributed to the economic and intellectualdevelopment of Europe by reopening Mediterranean east-west trade, but these people arewrong (Cantor p.192). All the Crusades did was stir up religious prejudice and theintolerance of Muslims (Cantor p.193). Although the Christian world learned a great dealfrom the Muslims, the Crusades were not a part of this occurrence. In addition, the factthat heresy occurred from such groups as the Hussites and the Waldensians further provesthat the papacy had problems with people actually turning away from the Catholic Church. How could the Church be successful in its religious mission if groups of people arebreaking away from it?

Maya Angelou Explains ( In Her Autobiography, Why The Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou explains ( in her autobiography, Why the Caged Bird Sings,) why her religious background and church upbringing are so important to her life and poetic writing. I came to know Jesus, as I was married and sad, I found in him a resting place, and He made me glad. (page 124). She also states The good Lord gave me another day and I'm thankful. (page 122). I know I am a witness for my Lord. (Page 124). The Bible says, he who can hear let them hear. Maya wants the world to hear her sing through her poetry. Understanding Maya Angelou's religious upbringing and faith in God is the key to understanding her as a bblack female poet and writer caged in the rascism of America. Her belief in God shapes her writing and gave her the courage to sing in a caged racist society. After reading Maya Angelou's book, Why the Caged Bird Sings, it was obvious that her religious background and upbringing in the church is an important key to understanding her writing. As I read her book , I came to realize the caged bird is symbolic of how Maya feels about life. She is the caged bird. The cage is the racsim and pejudice in America against Blacks and females. Maya's poetry is her song. God meant for birds and Maya to sing. God also meant for birds to be free. Maya's faith in God has freed her to sing her beautiful poetry. Her religious upbringing gave her the courage to sing through her poetry as a black female trapped in an invisable cage made of racial prejudice and economic poverty. Maya Angelou literally and sybolically sings through her writing and her poetry. The caged bird is sybolic of a black female learning to cope and fight against the the racist attitudes and realities that exist in America. Maya knows why the caged bird sings because she realizes she is a caged bird in a rascist society. A caged bird can sing a beautiful song or a black female in America can write beautiful poetry. Her belief in God set her free to express herself without fear of reprisal. God gave Maya a gift and she uses it to honor God. Her family and church upbringing gives her the confidence and belief in herself that she can succeed base upon her her own character and God-given talents. Maya's determination and drive to succed as a poet, literally sets her free from the rascist cage she is imprisioned in both as a child and a young woman. A bird is set free when it sings whether it's caged or not. The act of singing or freely expressin oneself through poetry sets a person free. The soul and spirit cannot be caged. A true belief in God set Maya Angelou free to pursue her dreams and use the literrary talents God gave her. Religion and family are central influences on Maya Angelou's life. She called her grandmother, a big bullheaded Christian who was always witnessing to everyone. (page 254) Her Grandma was like a mother to her and her brother and always took them to church twice a week. Maya's grandma was always quoting biblical scripture. Maya believes her grandmother was trying to teach her through the examples of Jesus Christ. Grandma always had a moral to her religious stories. (page 131). Like her grandma, Maya takes great comfort in the fact that she has accepted Jesu into her heart and knows she's going to Heaven. Maya has no fear with God and is free to sing. Church gatherings are also a major influence on Maya's life. These gatherings give her a chance to learn the Word of God , and intreract with her peer and elders. Socially and spiritually, Maya finds a place where she's accepted. She learns to be free of the racial shackles that oppressed her people. She learns to sing like the caged bird. Nothing can keep her from singing even if she and her people are caged. God gives her the faith and belief that she can do anything. Like the old Negro Hymnal states, We shall overcome. Religious revivals bring Maya's whole community together. Revivals are a