The Things They Carried Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

The Things They Carried - Essay Example The Vietnam War sparked off or gave birth to a burst of literary talent that ranged from fiction to non- fiction and which was mostly written by the very people who had served the country with their lives on the wars frontline. The stories that were written were cathartic in nature as it was more personal and contained pain and emotional outrage. One such touching story was penned by Tim O’Brien and was titled – â€Å"The Things They carried. The book mirrors a series of short stories gleaned from the lives of the soldiers, who were at the epicenter of this whirlpool of pain, disillusionment and war. O’Brien deftly moves in and out from the past to the present giving a vivid description of the misery of the people and the destruction that this war had caused. â€Å"The Things They carried† is a graphic representation of an emotionally charged scenario of the senseless and heartless war that took place in Vietnam of O’Brien was a part of and hence had first hand knowledge of the painful happenings. In the author’s own words - â€Å"I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why the story truth is truer sometimes than happening truth† (203). The main idea differently presented throughout the book, is that the real truth is sometimes vague to be represented literary. As an author the events are sometimes recreated, but that does not make them less true. In that matter, the truth of war is especially applied in this context. Though various excerpts from the text can be interpreted in a way that can contribute to that truth, a specific event repeatedly mentioned through the book is taken into consideration, which is the death of Kiowa whose story is related many times to emphasize the fact of truth.

Developed nations Essay Example for Free

Developed nations Essay Developed nations such as Canada, Japan, Australia and America are emitting the most air pollutants in the world and contribute in much emission of green house gases in the atmosphere. Developed nations use much of the natural resources until a near depletion occurs. Hover there are exceptions in that Germany, Sweden and Norway governments have worked with environment and they have benefited economically due to their environment sustainability (Pickering Owen, 213). Environmental degradation in the third world is exacerbated by international dumping of hazardous wastes and environmental imperialism. Third world countries do not have many choices to choose from and their environment is partly degraded by developed countries. These acts of the developed nations of cleaning their backyard and then transporting their hazardous wastes to the third world countries as well as forbidding the developed countries to develop violates the principles of sustainable environment. First world countries degrade the environment because they consume more of the natural resources (Pickering Owen, 213). Environmental issues of china and Latin America In china there is a growing concern of the ever increasing desertification on the northern and western side of the country. Desertification is being exacerbated by climate change in china and result from excessive industrialization on the fragile ecosystems and poor land management (Rajan, 321). The unrestrained industrialization and development that is taking place throughout the country is making china to be vulnerable to the growing changes of climate due to the increased levels of green house gas emissions in the atmosphere. For example extreme ecological events melting of glaciers and rising temperatures are now common in china besides desertification. These phenomena have detrimental effects on human health and the fragile ecosystems (Rajan, 328). Desertification engulfs the ecosystems with sand and reduces the available arable land thus creates eco- refugees. Shrinking glaciers on the other hand temporary raises the level of after in lakes and river and eventually disappears leaving an acute shortage of water. The economy of china is based mainly on coal for cheap energy and heavy industry that emits high levels of green house gases and thus accelerates global warming and climate change (Rajan, 321). However Chinese government is now using experimental means and artificial precipitation to alleviate the short term effects of the climate change. The government is also adopting stricter energy conservation legislation and increasing international cooperation to help fight the problem of climate change (Rajan, 3330). On the other hand the municipalities of china generate more than a hundred million tones of trash wastes per annum and currently the amount is rapidly rising. The existing land fills in china are reaching their capacity and therefore china will be required to build more land fills to satisfy the ever increasing amount of garbage accumulated. China will also be required to make up the poorly managed land fills (Rajan, 330). The problem of solid waste leakages from poorly managed land fills has rendered many hectares of land around the cities to be useless and therefore it is posing a great land constrains since china supports a big percentage of the world population and has a small percentage of the arable land. China is also facing human health and ecological threats from the Brownfield sites that are stemming from poorly managed landfills and from older landfills that do not have proper lining. There are problems of illegal dumping of industrial and municipal wastes that are exacerbating the situation. The incineration of waste in china is also emitting chemicals such as mercury, furans and dioxins which are harmful to the health of people globally (Rajan, 431). It is difficult to understate the environmental pollution of china on the pacific region of Asia and beyond. The prevailing wind often carries pollutants such as mercury particulate matters and ozone from one continent to another continent and in this case the pollutants are carried from Asia to North America. The overall trend of air pollution in china indicates a growing health and economic threats both within and outside china. The regional impact of air pollution in china has encouraged cooperation and new data on environmental, economic and human health implications of pollution of china on the north eastern side of Asia and western side of United States and Canada calls for global efforts to engage china in these issues (Rajan, 441). The majority of the regional trans-boundary air pollution in china originates from its heavy reliance on coal which constitutes about 70 percent of its global energy mix. Despite efforts to diversify the energy sources in china the country has continued to rely on coal and it seem it will continue to rely on the same for the fore seeable future. The dependence on coal and the lack of scrubbers and coal washing infrastructures at power plants and industrial facilities and its plan to build new coal powered stations translates to wide spread of environmental and health issues in pacific region of Asia and beyond. Car emission in china has replaced coal as the major source of air pollution in urban centers. Currently sixteen out of twenty most polluted sites are in china and therefore the emission will worsens the air quality in china. The current data shows that china has 22 cars per 1000 people compared to United States which has 764 cars per 1000 people however china is on its way of becoming the dominant market for automobiles. Due to WTO reduction the number of vehicle in china are expected to rise from the current 24 million to 100 million by the year 2020. In china there is a car culture that is developing similar to that was witnessed in 1940s in the United States. a prime example is the car driving clubs. There are many obstacles which face the policies for cleaner cars (Rajan, 450). On the other hand current industrial pollution in Latin America is a growing problem. Latin America is predominantly becoming an urban society and its environmental pollution issues are becoming important issues on the political agenda (Diaz West, 73). Mexico, Brazil and Argentina account for about four-fifth of manufacturing production in the region and hence constitute the bulk of industrial pollution in Latin America. Data for air pollution which have been obtained shows that concentrations of pollutant in the major cities are above World health organizations (WHO) guide lines for the air quality standards (Diaz West, 74). However it is only Sao Paulo whose data on air pollution falls within the quality standards provided by world health organization. Another element that is contributing to air pollution in Latin America is emissions from vehicles. There are also problems of water quality both to the regional rivers and coastal waters. For instance most watersheds in Mexico are strongly polluted (Diaz West, 76). The stretches of Paribas do Sul river of Rio de Janeiro and most of its tributaries are badly polluted as it is in Guanabara Bay. Due to lack of monitoring of pollution in Latin America it is difficult to obtain estimates of industrial effluents and emissions. Population growth in urban centers in Latin America has also caused slides deforestation and soil loss for agriculture in the peripheries of the urban centers (Hillstrom Hillstrom, 89).

Education & Public Morality In Australia :: essays research papers

The Influence of Education & Public Morality in Australia during 1788-1900 While Christianity played a crucial part in all aspects of Australian society throughout the pre-federation years 1788 to 1900, it had a significant impact on education and public morality. Th influence of Christianity in education was evident through the establishment of a separate education system and, in public morality the formation of the temperance movement as well as other actions. Education was greatly influenced by Christianity during 1788 through to 1900. Settlers concerned to leave religious divisions in Britain believed that ties between church and state should be eradicated and that churches be supported by their own followers. Subsequently, with numerous denominations supporting this idea, concerns were partly met by the granting of financial aid to the major religious groups, including the Church of England. Individuals churches used this aid to maximise its religious and educational influence. Governor Bourke later extended the state financial aid and attempted to introduce government schools based on the national system in his native Ireland. However, non-Anglican Protestants, who had formed in 1835 a society for promoting schools where the Bible would be a basis for general education, insisted on its wider use in the proposed national schools than was permitted in the Irish system. Catholics supported the Governor's proposal which further angered the Protestants. The successive alliance between the Anglicans and the Protestant denominations favourably brought about an anti-Catholic move to condemn concessions to a religious minority at the expense of national school systems based on the religious teachings of the Bible. In 1839, when Bishop Broughton's agenda was completely revealed, it was brought public that he intended to include the teachings of Anglican evangelists. This was revealed when Governor Gipps attempted to enforce a Bible-based national system and separate Catholic schools. Broughton successfully organised a commotion against this plan in favour of the continuation of state support for Anglican schools. Using this success, Protestants called for government aid for their own educational programs. When an elite committee of the New south Wales Legislative Council proposed the Irish system in1846, Catholics, concerned that the schools could become completely empowered by Protestants, joined Anglicans and other denominations, especially Wesleys, in opposing it. A compromise in 1848 agreed to separate denominational and Irish-type national schools. Although this view was strongly supported, some influential colonists wanted the financial aid to end in order to eliminate duplication and ensure that public instruction was controlled and financed by each colonial government.

Race and Ethnicity in Childhood Obesity Essay

Many early life risk factors for childhood obesity are more prevalent among blacks and Hispanics than among whites and may explain the higher prevalence of obesity among racial/ethnic minority children. Eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care is a national priority, and obesity is a prime target. During the last 30 years in the United States, the prevalence of obesity among children has dramatically increased, sparing no age group. Obesity in childhood is associated with adverse cardio-metabolic outcomes such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and type II diabetes and with other long-term adverse outcomes, including both physical and psychosocial consequences. By the preschool years, racial/ethnic disparities in obesity prevalence are already present, suggesting that disparities in childhood obesity prevalence have their origins in the earliest stages of life. Several risk factors during pregnancy are associated with increased risk of offspring obesity, including excessive maternal gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and smoking during pregnancy, antenatal depression, and biological stress. During infancy and early childhood, rapid infant weight gain, infant feeding practices, sleep duration, child’s diet, physical activity, and sedentary practices are associated with the development of obesity. Studies have found substantial racial/ethnic differences in many of these early life risk factors for childhood obesity. It is possible that racial/ethnic differences in early life risk factors for obesity might contribute to the high prevalence of obesity among minority preschool-age children and beyond. Understanding these differences may help inform the design of clinical and public health interventions and policies to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and eliminate disparities among racial/ethnic minority children. Race and Ethnicity in Childhood Obesity Race is a group whose inherited physical characteristics distinguish it from other groups. Races refer to broad division of people based on their biological characteristics such as color of skin, color of hair and their facial features. These differences developed among humans in prehistoric times due to different groups of people developing in different parts of the world isolated from each other. Originally all humans in the world belonged to one of the other of these pure races. However in today’s world it is difficult to find people of that time. Most of the people living now have mixed racial ancestry. Ethnicity refers to the common characteristics of a group of people that distinguish them from most other people of the same society. Ethnicity is based on commonality of ancestry, culture, language, nationality, or religion, or a combination of these things. Biological characteristics that play a part in racial differences may be visible in an ethnic group, but these characteristic do not form a criteria for defining an ethnic group. Although childhood obesity is increasing in all ethnic and racial groups, its prevalence is higher in nonwhite populations. The reasons for the differences in prevalence of obesity among groups are complex, likely involving genetics, physiology, culture, socioeconomic status, environment and interactions among these variables as well as others not fully recognized. The relationship between race and ethnicity in childhood obesity is that obesity disproportionately affects certain minority youth populations. NHANES found that African American and Mexican American adolescents ages 12-19 were more likely to be overweight, at 21 percent and 23 percent respectively, than non-Hispanic White adolescents (14 percent). In children 6-11 years old, 22 percent of Mexican American children were overweight, whereas 20 percent of African American children and 14 percent of non-Hispanic White children were overweight. In addition to the children and teens that were overweight in 1999-2002, another 15 percent were at risk of becoming overweight. In a national survey of American Indian children 5-18 years old, 39 percent were found to be overweight or at risk for overweight. In most of the states examined, blacks had the highest prevalence (number of existing cases in a defined group of people during a specific time period) of obesity, followed by Hispanics, and then whites. Greater prevalence’s of obesity for non-Hispanic blacks and whites were found in the Midwest and South. Among Hispanics lower prevalence was observed in the Northeast compared to other regions. At least three reasons may account for the racial and ethnic differences in obesity. First, racial and ethnic groups differ in behaviors that contribute to weight gain; second explanation may be differences in individual attitudes and cultural norms related to body weight. A third explanation may be differences in access to affordable, healthful foods and safe locations to be physically active; this limited access may negatively impact diet and physical activity levels. An ethnic group as subpopulations is that low -income and some racial and ethnic subpopulations are more likely to suffer from obesity. Inequities in the physical and social environment may contribute to disparities in pediatric obesity, but there is little empirical evidence to date. This study explored whether neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors attenuate racial and ethnic disparities in obesity among youth in the USA and whether individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) interacts with neighborhood deprivation. In addition, although some of the risk factors for obesity are relatively ubiquitous in settings where American children and youth spend their time in the mall or at home, epidemiologic evidence shows that African-American, Hispanic/ Latino, American Indian/Alaska. Native, and Pacific Islander populations and children experiencing poverty are more likely to live in environments with inadequate support for health-promoting behaviors. Assessing the impact of these different environments presents an enormous challenge for tracking progress against obesity in diverse populations. Racial/ethnic minority children bear a disproportionate share of the burden of obesity and its related comorbidities. The degree of obesity also differs among racial/ethnic minority children. Compared to non-Hispanic white children, non-Hispanic black girls and Hispanic boys had almost 2-fold greater odds of being severely obese. The urban populations of the United States are at a higher risk for obesity than their suburban and rural counterparts. The ethnicity of the urban residents plays a factor in their obesity. In the USA the prevalence of overweight among children aged 4–12 years rose twice as fast in Hispanic and African–American groups compared with white groups over the period 1986–1998. The socioeconomic aspect of the urban area neighborhoods is also a larger factor in the obesity of American urban youth. Culture can influence the utilization of health services; affecting the likelihood that childhood obesity can be prevented or effectively treated in specific ethnic groups. Although physical activity is obviously important in energy balance, intensive physical activity interventions in obese children have produced only small changes in body weight, with somewhat greater changes in metabolic and cardiovascular indexes. Obesity is disproportionately prevalent among racial/ethnic minority children and recent trends suggest these disparities are widening. Our findings suggest that modifiable risk factors throughout the life course, including factors during infancy and early childhood, as well as social conditions in childhood and trans-generational obesity, are critical to understanding how disparities in childhood obesity arise. They also imply that efforts to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in childhood obesity should focus on preventing these early life risk factors within the socio-environmental context in which they occur. Studies of race and health frequently invoke racism, prejudice, and discrimination as possible reasons for high levels of morbidity and mortality among black and among other racial and ethnic minorities. Obesity is highly stigmatized in our society. Overweight and obese individuals are vulnerable to negative bias, prejudice and discrimination in many different settings, including the workplace, educational institutions, and health care facilities and even within interpersonal relationships. Despite the increasing prevalence of obesity, it appears that incidences of weight discrimination are only becoming worse. Obesity now affects one in five children in the United States. Discrimination against overweight children begins early in childhood and becomes progressively institutionalized. Because obese children tend to be taller than their no overweight peers, they are apt to be viewed as more mature. The inappropriate expectations that result may have an adverse effect on their socialization. References Reilly JJ, Armstrong J, Dorosty AR, et al. Early life risk factors for obesity in childhood: cohort study. BMJ. 2005; 330(7504): 1357 http://pediatrics. aappublications. org/content/125/4/686. full Kimbro RT, Brooks-Gunn J, McLanahan S. Racial and ethnic differentials in overweight and obesity among 3-year-old children. Am J Public Health. 2007; 97(2): 298–305 Wang YC, Gortmaker SL, Taveras EM. Trends and racial/ethnic disparities in severe obesity among US children and adolescents, 1976-2006. International journal of pediatric obesity : IJPO : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2010 Mar 17; http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC3835398/ http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/books/NBK24680/ Puhl, R. M. , Andreyeva, T. , & Brownell, K. D (2008). Perceptions of weight discrimination: prevalence and comparison to race and gender discrimination in America. International Journal of Obesity. doi: 10. 1038/ijo. 2008. 22 http://www. obesityaction. org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-bias/weight- discrimination-a-socially-acceptable-injustice.

Children relationship with adults

By considering children age groups and cultural differences, I shall explore the various approaches taken to building relationships with adults at different stages and discuss the influences and effects it has on a child's development. I will also demonstrate the ways in which understanding children's development contributes to building positive and successful relationships. Children have emotional needs and are able to express and communicate them from birth. As research has shown â€Å"In order to have a secure base from which to explore the world, be resilient to stress, and form meaningful relationships with adults, babies need a primary adult who cares for them in sensitive ways and who perceives, make sense of the responds to their needs†. This attentiveness approach of interaction in a child's early stages of development forms a bond of trust, promoting confidence and self-esteem within the child, which would contribute in building meaningful relationships with adults around him/her. (from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/parenting_bonding_reactive_attachment_disorder.m) However, different circumstances and experiences do not always allow adults to respond to the child's needs accordingly, which can have a huge influence on a relationship. For example, Charlotte had a traumatic start in life as a consequence of her parent's separation shortly after her birth. She was frequently moved between the two parents and lacked the appropriate care and attention she needed in order to form a secure bond. Her parent's â€Å"were too busy fighting and arguing†¦..to worry about the children,† Charlotte's mother, Emma, recalls. Emma also assumed and hoped that Charlotte â€Å"won't remember that far back†¦.because she was too young†, which indicates Emma's limited knowledge and understanding of child development. As the relationship between Emma and Charlotte was unpredictable, inconsistent and unstable, it resulted in Charlotte feeling very insecure and uncertain of her mother's love. As we learn from ‘The Strange Situation Test' (Understanding Children (2007) DVD Band 2) and by the age of two, Emma describes their relationship as â€Å"a constant battle of wills†. Young children are subject to constant and inevitable changes, which would influence their development. For instance, the transaction of children into the reception class in school is a major change, where the expectations and values they gained at home are challenged (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.86). This can have a negative affect on a relationship between a child and his carer, where the child is struggling to adjust to its new surroundings and his/hers behaviour becoming challenging, since many children become unsettled when starting school. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.63). As young children at this stage of development have limited experiences, talking about their feelings, their fears and concerns can come out in ways that can be misunderstood and misinterpreted by the adult as misbehaving. For example, Ryan's reluctance to keep to a specific bedtime caused problems in the relationship with his parents. During the parent strategies exploration of responses to deal with the child's difficulty, Jodie and Eamon's approaches to the ‘problem' were different. Initially they inflicted power over Ryan by threatening to smack him, shouting and punishing him, which resulted in a conflict in their relationship. On seeking advice, they discovered a more collaborative approach, such as spending special time with Ryan before bedtime. By doing so, it promoted his confidence and encouraged him to express his feelings, which enabled Jodie to have a better understanding of Ryan's thinking process. This account demonstrates the significance of experiences that occur in a child's life, which should not be underestimated by the adult. It also shows, that in order to resolve family conflict it is best to have a direct and open communication where young children are concerned, which helps in achieving a successful relationship. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.84-85) As with the parents, schools also have a responsibility to deal with children's emotional welfare, as well as their physical health and are encouraged to do so by using activities, which enable children to understand their own feelings and by building their confidence to learn, such as ‘circle time'. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.105 {DfEE, 1999, p.16}) This approach focuses on the children themselves, contributing to their self-esteem through development of their listening, speaking and co-operation skills. By using this activity the children's relationship with their teacher is built on trust and respect. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.106) As children grow and become young people, they are expected to take on more responsibilities at home as well as spend more time on schoolwork. Involving children with different chores around the household would help them gain independency by developing a range of skills. Activities' such as, cooking, cleaning, shopping and even looking after other members of the family, helps children develop their communication, intellectual, self-help and practical skills. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.144) In considering cultural differences, South Asian children are also expected to contribute to the family economy, which helps to develop their business skills. For instance, Sammy is expected to help out in the family take-away business and accepts this as part of her cultural up bringing. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.137). Furthermore, in societies where the main concern of the family is survival due to poverty, children work alongside adults by necessity (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.65) as we can learn from Bilkis's and Tinco's daily lives. (Understanding Children {2007} DVD band 6) However, with these great expectations of expanding children's responsibilities, parents are still reluctant to involve children with matters that affect their lives due to their limited life experiences. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.116-117) Nevertheless, studies have shown that by this age, children understand and accept the complexities of family life and want to be part of this, by being consulted and want to participate in decisions making. (Rai and Flynn 2004, p.133). Therefore, in order to maintain a successful relationship, it is crucial for adults to understand children's needs as well as their responsibilities by maintaining an open communication and not taking children's contributions to family life for granted. Conclusion Building successful relationships with children is a complex process. It requires patience and attentive care by adults from infancy through to adulthood. By understanding normal child development, it enables the adult to respond to the child's need positively and establish a secure attachment. Furthermore, as children are subjected to constant changes, their adjustment to these changes is determined by understanding, the expectation and approaches of the adult, in order for the child to deal and respond positively. To achieve this, adults must maintain open and consistent communication, which will contribute to the child's confidence and self-esteem where they will feel valued and important members of society. Therefore, to achieve successful relationships with children, it is crucial for caretakers to have an understanding of child development. Word count: 1,144 Task 2 Since I started this course, I feel that my organisational and efficiency skills have improved through learning to work under pressure and to a deadline in producing and submitting an assignment. I must say that during this course, the concept and understanding of academic studies, such as writing and structure of an essay, was a real eye opener for me, as in my past studies where children are concerned, my written evidence findings were based on own practice and personal experiences. The strengths of my study skills are in understanding the written materials. Being a single mother, I not only relate to the course subject ,but I have also gained positive and negative feedback from my own experiences in raising two young boys from the given information, as I am essentially living and practising it. With the help of my tutor's written and telephone feedback, my academic writing skills have improved considerably from the first to the second essay. However, I feel I have only touched the surface and still find it difficult to gather and select relevant evidence to back up my work, which I consider to be my weakness. In order to make further improvements, I would like to continue to undertake further relevant academic courses and develop my confidence with writing skills, as it is said, ‘practice makes perfect!'.

Dental Fillings and Mercury Poison essays

Dental Fillings and Mercury Poison essays When you go to the dentist to get a cavity filled, the dentist will usually use an amalgam filling. The reason most dentists use this and do not give you an option is because they are very much cheaper than your other choices. Theses amalgam fillings may be cheaper but they can really cause you some health problems. In most, but not all cases the mercury in the fillings will leach into your body and cause major problems. In my case, they were causing me to have seizures. After the mercury was removed from my body, my seizures ended, and my overall health was better. I was not tired or moody as I was before. I feel like a whole new person. Many of people have come to me and said that they could tell on my face and the way I talk that I have changed. Many studies are being done to see what all health problems the amalgam fillings are causing. A study done in Canada states that "the dental mercury released by amalgam dental fillings did, in fact, present a health risk, and a tolerable daily intake (TDI) was recommended to be .014 micrograms of mercury per kilogram of body weight per day." The report also recommended limits to the number of fillings a person should have; 1 filling in toddlers, one filling in children, three fillings in teens and four fillings in adults and seniors. The mercury that is swallowed with saliva can be as much as hundreds of micrograms per day for individuals with a large number of amalgam fillings. A study was done on sheep, pregnant ewes, and their unborn babies, by the University Of Calgary School Of Medicine. They placed amalgam fillings in the chewing surface of molar teeth and traced into body tissue. They found within two days that mercury was found in the maternal blood, amniotic fluid, and fetal blood. Mercury was also found in the tissues of the mothers and babies. The levels of mercury in the tissue continued to rise throughout the study. A study done on pregnant monkeys found to have the ea...

Benjamin Franklin The Autobiography essays

Benjamin Franklin The Autobiography essays "It will be remarked that, tho` my Scheme was not wholly without Religion there was in it no Mark of any of the distinguishing Tenets of any particular Sect. I had purposely avoided them; for being fully persuaded of the Utility and Excellency of my method, and that it might be serviceable to People in all Religions, and intending some time or other to publish it, I would not have anything in it that should prejudice anyone of any Sect against it. I purposed writing a little Comment on each Virtue, in which I would have shown the Advantages of possessing it, and the Mischiefs attending its opposite Vice; and I should have called my Book the ART of Virtue, because it would have shown the Means and Manner of obtaining Virtue; which would have distinguish`d it from the mere Exhortation to be good, that does not instruct and indicate the Means; but is like the Apostles Man of verbal Charity, who only , without showing to the Naked and the Hungry how or where they might get Clothes o r Victuals, exhorted them to be fed and clothed. James II, 15, 16." Benjamin Franklins beliefs are greatly indebted to the European Enlightenment whose basic assumption was a constant faith in the power of human reason. The impressing discoveries associated to this epoch prompted people to assume that through the use of reason a progress of humanity could be possible-progress in knowledge, in technical achievement, and even in moral values. Influenced by the philosophy of John Locke, the writers adherents of this trend came to believe that knowledge is not innate, but is derived only from experience and observation guided by reason. Moreover, humanity itself could be altered and its nature improved. Great emphasis was put on the discovery of truth through the observation of nature, rather than through the study of authoritative sources, such as the Bible. They also thought that human aspirations should not be centered on the afterlife, but on...