Virtues and Vices Essay Example for Free

Virtues and Vices Essay Would you sacrifice your identity just to fit into a certain crowd? Higher social class increases unethical behavior. Social class confuses Pip into believing his vices are really his virtues. In a study by Paul K. Piff, Daniel M. Stancato, Stephane Cote, Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, and Dacher Keltner, they found that people of higher social class were more likely to cheat, steal, and break the law. Why does Pip feel the need to be a gentleman, or in a higher social class? Pip grew up in a low social class in England around the Mid-nineteenth century. Joe, Pip’s father figure and brother in law, taught him the importance of kindness and generosity. You can recognize this in Pip’s fundamental inclination to help. Pip gets invited to Miss Havisham’s home; also know as the Satis House. Miss Havisham, Estella’s adoptive mother, plays Pip in one of her sick, twisted games by harassing Pip into seeing how beautiful Estella is. The only reason Estella does what Miss Havisham wants of her is because she is bribing her with family money and gems. Miss Havisham manipulated Pip by making him fall in love with Estella just so Estella can, metaphorically, rip his heart out. Miss Havisham was left on her wedding day by her fiance; therefore she has made it her life’s mission to destroy any man in her she can get away with. Because of Miss Havisham’s influence, Estella gives Pip the impression that she will only like him if he would be a gentleman. To become a gentleman Pip mixed vices and virtues by believing that education, dress, and manners was the most important thing over love, appreciation and hope. No matter what Joe taught Pip, the new beginning that could behold him captivated him. Joe was not enough to hold Pip’s virtues, but if Pip had more people who cared for him when he was younger, he would have never succumbed to Estella. A virtue is a positive trait of quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. A vice is opposite of a virtue, it is a practiced behavior or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, depraved, or degrading in the associated society. Pip practices both in this novel, however somewhere in the middle of all that was going on, he couldn’t differentiate between vices and virtues.

The Effectiveness of the International Criminal Court Essay example --

There is a close relationship between human rights and criminal law. The scope of my paper will surround human rights and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in addition to human rights and international crimes. International criminal justice in this context speaks to those interested in prosecuting against the background of international human rights and humanitarian norms. The use of criminal law has many positive effects and pursues many goals that are worth considering. For example, deterrence, accountability and punishment are important principles that will be discussed in the context of human rights. Is the International Criminal Court an effective method to promote and protect human rights internationally? If so, why and how? My thesis is that the International Criminal Court is an effective mechanism for the promotion and protection of human rights internationally because, by embodying the principles of criminal responsibility, it brings forth the notion of the individual as an agent in human rights and, by doing so, upholds the progressive shift that human rights conventions have developed. Criminal responsibility for human rights violations is important given that, by categorizing certain human rights violations as such, it allows for a progressive move internationally against those violations. International criminal law is an important tool that those advocating for human rights can use. The continued use of criminal law internationally, including the adoption of the ICC in 2002, will allow for a shift in legal norms resulting an increase in human rights. In this way, criminal responsibility allows for the education of peoples around the world by making an example of certain cases and displays the im portance of ... ...l Criminal Justice, 3 (2005): 608-620. Lynn Sellers Bickley, â€Å"U.S. Resistance to the International Criminal Court: Is the Sword Mightier than the Law?† Emory International Law Review, 14 (2000): 214-276. International Criminal Court. 2013. Accessed online on November 5, 2013: http://www.icc-cpi.int/EN_Menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx. Payam Akhavan, â€Å"The Rise, and Fall, and Rise, of International Criminal Justice,† Journal of International Criminal Justice, 11:3 (2013): pp. 527-536. Rebecca Young, â€Å"Internationally Recognized Human Rights Before the International Criminal Court,† International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 60 (2011):189-208. Hans-Peter Gasser, â€Å"The Changing Relationship between International Criminal Law, Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law,† The Legal Regime of the ICC: Essays in Honour of Prof. I.P. Blishchenko (2009) pp. 1111-1117.

Explain the Utilitarian & Deontological Aspects of Informational Privacy for Employers & Employees

Patricia Dunn, placed number 17 on FORBES list of most powerful women, landed herself four felony counts by making unethically chivalrous decisions. Patricia Dunn, once a chairwoman on the board of Hewlett-Packard, a position she held from February 2005 until September 2006. Her tenure was cut short on October 4, 2006 as she was charged with four felony counts for her role in a spying scandal. Five months later on March 14, 2007, California Supreme Court judge Ray Cunningham dropped criminal charges against her in the â€Å"interest of justice† on all four felony counts: fraudulent use of wire, radio or television transmissions; taking, copying, and using computer data without authorization. (A&E Television Networks 2011) She broke the golden rule of honor by teaming up and taking unethical measures to seek out a â€Å"leaker. She claims she had no idea â€Å"pretexting† (the practice of deceiving individuals into surrendering personal information for fraudulent purposes) could involve identity misrepresentation. In addition, she testified that she believed personal phone records could be obtained through legal methods. Showing more respect to her peers by giving them the benefit of the doubt would have been a more Utilitarianistic direction. Had she openly expressed the concern with HP’s long term strategy being public, it may have been resolved just that simply. SO, where does this leave Patty Dunns ethical reasoning? Her utilitarianism reasoning does not show happiness for the greater number. Her deontological reasoning held a lot to be desired by failing to ensure laws and regulations were standard. Ultimately, it appears that Patricia Dunn did not have a strategy or plan of attack. BODY In Patty Dunn’s case it seems she failed to implement either deontological or utilitarianism reasoning. Had she followed a more utilitarian mission she would have been more focused on appeasing the masses. Her course would have had to include a morally correct course of action that was in the best interest for the company as a whole, and it did not. Therefore, her system of ethics judged by its consequences is neither utilitarianism nor that of deontological reasoning. Patty Dunn should have approached the board from the get go. By not doing this, she followed a questionable trail of illegal activity Her utopian dreams of maintaining discretion of HP’s goals and even her â€Å"in-house† attempt at corralling the leaker are seemingly understandable. However her tact and failure to use common ethical business practices will be discussed in detail here. She had to have at least had an inkling that what she was about to embark upon was sensitive. Not only sensitive but dangerous! Dangerous in that cautions should always preface any actions involving personal information. Patricia Dunn is too smart to successfully play dumb. Utilitarianism reasoning does not care whether the benefits are produced by lies, manipulation, or coercion. (Issues in Ethics V2 N1 Winter 1989) Patricia Dunn did not use utilitarianism aspects of information privacy for the employer. Instead it appears they were used more so as her personal vendetta. Patricia Dunn’s case seems to be believable until Felony count #1, overt act #9. Which reads, â€Å"†¦Patricia Dunn on or about February 24, 2006, requested a comprehensive summary of the resources and techniques used in the investigation. (State of California, 2006) This is the crucial moment where she could have stopped the investigation and saved her career. Our ability to measure and to predict the benefits and harms resulting from a course of action or a moral rule is dubious, to say the least. Perhaps the greatest difficulty with utilitarianism is that it fails to take into account considerations of justice. (Issu es in Ethics V2 N1 Winter 1989) On the contrary, had Patricia Dunn taken a more Deontological approach she would have ensured that right decisions were being made dutifully throughout the investigation. In example, Patty Dunn could have taken several different courses of actions: a) Speaking with each board member, one by one, not only as a peer but also as a HP concerned board member b) Hire an adjudicator or a go-between to question and observe members of the board in gaining a working knowledge of recent events c) Approach/explain/question as a group with honesty at the forefront (like therapy) Had she considered a more deontological approach, her moral compass would have at least led her with legal decision making. Her obligation to duty would have referred to regulation and law guidance versus the hush hush beat around the bush technique. In fact, had she prefaced her investigation with a more strategic baseline of rules and regulations governing acts of pretexting or obtaining personal information, she may have discovered a more deontological method for discovery. A more deontological reasoning here would have verified and sought legal counsel for the information collected. It was her steadfast dedication to the mystery that took over. Yes Patricia Dunn should have been forced to resign. She failed as a professional to respect her fellow board members. Tom Perkins had been agitating to vote her out for some time. This says a lot because even prior to this act of inappropriateness she was trouble. And I don’t say this because Tom Perkins and Patty Dunn did not share business ideals. Success is not dependent on compatible personalities. One of my bosses had us complete a Merrill-Reid quiz, which categorizes his staff (including me) into their personality types: * Driver * Expressive Amiable * Analytical The results show these four personality traits on a grid, and your answers created your greater and weaker abilities as a box on the chart. Also were tips on communicating with each personality. Some employees, their box was solely in the â€Å"analytical† section, others their box would cover into two or more areas of chart and some (like mine) shared all four categories equally. The Colonel went on to explain that in the past he has chosen people from this so that he gets the many perspectives from the different personalities. He laughingly explained that it is okay to be in one category and how everyone has strengths and the point is that by placing the certain personalities into position, we can accomplish more. The moral here is the focus. In the paper, Tom Perkins noted early on with two memories of Patty Dunn’s off track focus on â€Å"little things. † This could have been just the idiosyncrasy that results from such a trait. A solution would be for companies of this size implementing a professional development program that meets periodically keeping ethics and its formalities at the forefront.

Themes In Othello Essay - 2144 Words

Top Square Assignment Song is labeled â€Å"Othello.wav† in the class folder. It can also be found as a link on the â€Å"Othello Song† document in the class folder. Centre Square Assignment 1. Themes in Othello Love - Othello says, â€Å"For know Iago, // But that I love the gentle Desdemona, // I would not my unhoused free condition // Put into circumscription and confine // For the sea’s worth.†(Shakespeare, I.ii.24-27) This quote supports the theme of love found in the play Othello by William Shakespeare. This can be seen in how invested Othello seems to be emotionally when speaking about Desdemona. An aspect of love is already present in the fact that he and Desdemona are set to be wed, but this quote further shows that Othello is not†¦show more content†¦This quote alone shows just how sinister and revengeful Iago is and how representative he can be of this theme. This quote and many others exist in the book to show the actions and words o f the characters in the novel are illustrative of the theme of revenge. 2. Quotes surrounding characters in Othello Cassio - Cassio says, â€Å"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my // reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what // remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!†(Shakespeare, II.iii.241-243). Iago says, â€Å"Reputation is an idle and most false imposition: oft got // without merit, and lost without deserving. You have lost no // reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a loser. // What, man! there are ways to recover the general again.†(Shakespeare, II.iii.246-249) These quotes show just how reputation driven the character of Cassio is in the play. Cassio acts completely and utterly destroyed after learning that he has lost his position as Othello’s lieutenant and with it his honour and reputation. He goes as far as crying out, proclaiming that he has just lost an essential part of his being, and even going as far as pleading out his feelings to Iago. At this point in the play, we know that Iago still has use of Cassio for his ‘masterful plan’, so he is trying to do whatever it takes to keep Cassio on a tight leash. The second quote goes on to show Iago consoling Cassio in sort of a mockingShow MoreRelated Othello: Themes Essay1946 Wo rds   |  8 PagesOthello: Themes  Ã‚        Ã‚   How many themes course through the Shakespearean tragedy Othello? Let us in this essay analyze the variety and depth of the themes in this play.    Lily B. Campbell in Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes indicates that hate is the theme on which this play opens:    It is then on a theme of hate that the play opens. It is a hate of inveterate anger. It is a hate that is bound up with envy. Othello has preferred to be his lieutenant a military theorist, one MichaelRead More The Numerous Themes in Othello Essay1715 Words   |  7 PagesThe Numerous Themes in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚   The Shakespearean tragedy Othello contains a number of themes; their relative importance and priority is debated by literary critics. In this essay let us examine the various themes and determine which are dominant and which subordinate.    A. C. Bradley, in his book of literary criticism, Shakespearean Tragedy, describes the theme of sexual jealousy in Othello:    But jealousy, and especially sexual jealousy, brings with it a sense of shameRead MoreThemes in Othello Essays994 Words   |  4 PagesThemes in Shakespeares Othello Throughout Shakespeares play, Othello, there are many themes interwoven to describe the authors perspective of the true nature of a mans soul. Three themes critical to the play are doubt versus trust, monstrous imagery and the fallible love of man. One central theme of the play is the major contrast of doubt versus trust. For whatever reason, Othellos trust of Desdemona is too weak to resist Iagos accusations. As happens in many of Shakespeares works, miscommunicationRead MoreEssay on The Variety of Themes in Othello2340 Words   |  10 PagesThe Variety of Themes in Othello  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Shakespearean tragedy Othello the number and description of themes is open to discussion. With the help of literary critics, we can analyze this subject in detail.    In the essay â€Å"Wit and Witchcraft: an Approach to Othello† Robert B. Heilman discusses the ancient’s instinctive reaction to the love-theme of the play:    Before coming directly to the forming of the love-theme that differentiates Othello from other Shakespeare playsRead MoreThemes in Shakespeares Othello Essay1155 Words   |  5 PagesOthello was written by Jacobean playwright William Shakespeare in 1603. 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Shakespeare is showing usRead More The Theme of Control in Shakespeares Othello Essay996 Words   |  4 Pages The Theme of Control in Othellonbsp;nbsp; nbsp; Throughout history, powerful empires with boundless control have had a tendency to fall victim to corruption. It is common knowledge, among political scientists and historians, that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. William Shakespeares Othello, the Moor of Venice (reprinted in Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. Arp, Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense, 6th ed. [Fort Worth: Harcourt, 1993] 1060-1147) contains severalRead MoreEssay on The Theme of Self Esteem in Othello1475 Words   |  6 PagesThe Theme of Self Esteem in Othello For the theater-going people of the Elizabethan age, there were many hardships. Many of them experienced poor living conditions and treatment. All of them faced the dangers of a comparatively underdeveloped medical knowledge which often left the young and elderly to die of common diseases. The magic of Shakespeare is not only that historians can learn of otherwise undocumented details of the 1500s, but also that all readers can discover the many similaritiesRead MoreOthello and the Theme of Revenge Essay example941 Words   |  4 PagesOthello and the Theme of Revenge â€Å"Killing myself, to die upon a kiss†. These are Othello’s last words, as he commits suicide and dies next to his wife. After ironically killing her himself at the end of Act 5. Othello was led to do this by the manipulative Iago. He was just another victim of his revengeful scheme. The play was written in 1608 a time when the Ottoman Empire was at war with the Venetians. Othello is a tragedy because of the deception and betrayal of IagoRead More The Theme of Jealousy in Othello by William Shakespeare Essay1990 Words   |  8 PagesThe Theme of Jealousy in Othello by William Shakespeare Othello is a unique tragedy in that it focuses on the destruction of love through sexual jealousy. Jealousy is not inherited in a person, but developed from the fatal factors of their character. Othello is plagued with his ego and pride which contributes to his demise. Othello is, however, a truly romantic character because he is very passionate and full of deep feelings. It keeps a person wondering what could have possibly