Can Democracy And Islam Go Together - 2560 Words

Abigail Adler Professor Luders Fundamentals of Political Science Final Research Essay Can Democracy and Islam Go Together? The implication that the principles of Islam clash with the principles of democracy is very apparent in the Western world, especially after the Jihadist terrorist attacks that took place on September 1st, 2001. Americans tend to view Islam as a violent, savage religion that cannot go along with democratic values. Because Islam is related to terrorism and much of the Arab world is non-democratic, it seems like Islam is the reason. Is this view of Islam accurate, or is it distorted? Some argue that Islam places political power in the hands of God, so when it comes down to it, Islam must be represented in a totalitarian regime. Others argue that in reality, the Islam is not antidemocratic; rather, historical and economic factors are the reason behind the lack of democratic regimes in the Arab world. Accordingly, proponents of this view suggest that it really depends on how the Islamic text is interpreted. By contrast, I suggest t hat the text is not the important factor; what really matters are Muslims opinions of democracy. Through the analysis of secondary sources and public opinion surveys, I argue that Islam is not the main obstacle that hinders the Arab world from democratization. Contrary to popular belief among Americans, a large percentage of Muslims around the world actually support democracy. Pew Research CenterShow MoreRelatedDemocracy And The Struggles Of The West903 Words   |  4 Pagesever thought about the list of components that go into a good essay? In fact a good essay addresses the main point and tells the reader what he or she will discuss and where they are going with it. An essay will also state the main ideas clearly. As writers we tend to sometimes use or leave out these important factors. Two authors by the names of Julius Nyerere and Benazir Bhutto; wrote two essays based on the topic of democracy and the struggles that go along with it. Nyerere’s essay titled One-PartyRe ad MoreEssay about Religious Conflicts with the Iranian Government1545 Words   |  7 Pages The middle-east has always been a hot zone for religious and political conflict but more specifically, Iran. Iran is an Islamic state where Islam is practiced within politics. The Constitution of 1979 runs off of the basis of Islamic Law. The population of Iran varies upon resources but they are all around the number of seventy million people. The country is 90 percent Shia Muslim and eight-percent Sunni Muslim.1 The rest of the country is made up of very small minority religions. The minorityRead MoreEssay Understanding Islamic Religion and Culture1221 Words   |  5 Pagesimperative that we understand and respect their traditions. The paper examines exactly what Islam is, the relation between the Islam faith and Christian faith, and uncovering some aspects to their religion. Also, I will be hitting on the topic of the turmoil the Islam face in their surroundings of the Middle East and their Islamic faith. First, it would be wise to understand what Islam is. The term, Islam, actually means â€Å"Submission to God.† Their principles of their religion might seem abnormalRead MoreThe Battle Of Civilizations By Samuel P. Huntington1302 Words   |  6 Pagesimposed on Africa and European colonization led to Sudan and South Sudan to be linked together. Also, their Eastern neighbor Somalia is having difficulty in forging a national identity after gaining its independence from Britain and Italy in 1960. Edward W. Said, very critical of Huntington’s article, argues that Islam and the West are not two separate entities in global politics. â€Å"No, the West is the West, and Islam Islam. â€Å"(2), â€Å"The Clash of Ignorance,† contests the grouping and simplicity of the twoRead MoreIsis Existence Of The Middle East1378 Words   |  6 Pagesinterpretation of Islam and promotes religious violence. ISIS has been on a running climb to power and control in the Middle East. The rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamist militant group that has took over huge parts of land stretching from northern Syria to central Iraq, and it has struck fear into the hearts of leaders around the world. The main reason ISIS is so terrifying and trending the world right now is because that the group ISIS aims to bring back the early days of Islam, rejectingRead MoreCauses of Unrest in the Middle East Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Causes of Unrest in the Middle East The causes of unrest in the Middle East are historical, religious, economic and geo-political. Ancient history and ancient civilizations can serve as a framework for understanding some of the existing enmity. For example, the Persians (Iranians) and the Babylonians (Iraqis) have been fighting for more than 3,000 years. However, the current unrest in the Middle East is the result of Western ethno-centrism and colonialism (covert and overt), combined withRead MoreIslam : The Faces Of An Islamic State Essay3358 Words   |  14 PagesIntent â€Å"Islam: The Faces of an Islamic State† The objective of this research paper is to examine literature to gain an enlightened perspective into the idea of the â€Å"Islamic State† in regards to the Middle East and other traditionally Islamic territories. To gain this insight the theories and ideas of noted Islamic scholars like Maududi, Tahtawi will be probed and analyzed. Tahtawi in particular is a scholar of importance in regard to the idea of the nationalism and the â€Å"nation state† in Islam. The ideasRead MoreIslam and Democracy: Can They Coincide?1954 Words   |  8 PagesThis leads one to ask the question Can Islam and a democracy coinside together? Democracy gives power to the people and in that power the people can elect and choose a politician to represent the people and not just Islam. Before one answers that question there are several factors into why it has been an uphill battle for Muslim countries to build a successful democratic government. History shows Muslim countries have lived in non de mocratic states, so democracy is completely unfilmilrue and the peopleRead MoreThe Speech Of The Inaugural Address980 Words   |  4 PagesEast. The actions taken by the Bush administration were justified in order â€Å"to change the Middle East so as to deny support for militant Islam by pressuring or transforming the nations and transnational systems that support it†(qtd. in Burnett). This is in contrast to Kennedy’s point of view, who believed we should focus on the world and try and change so we can better with it.â€Å"We observe today not a victory of a party but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end as well as a beginning—signifyingRead MoreA Girl Stands At The Gate Of The Happiest Place1601 Words   |  7 Pagesits history, knowing she cannot go in, she is standing on the border of Iran. Fearing for their lives, her family left Iran during the Islamic Revolution. They will never be able to return, for fear that the government will impriso n and execute them for treason. The place this girl grew up in, the home she loved, no longer exists – what stands there now is a war-torn facade of what used to be. She can stand on the mountaintop and gaze at its beauty, but she cannot go inside. As in this example, after

Analysis Of The Book Tony Castanha - 880 Words

Throughout the entirety of the Caribbean history there have been many myths. One of the greater ones has been that the indigenous people that Christopher Columbus encountered are extinct. The book’s author, Tony Castanha, debunks that myth with stories of resistance to Columbus retold by people with Boriken descent, uncovering census data, and the retelling of the old Jibaro culture. With all this evidence, it is apparent that the Jibaro people are in fact not extinct. The first chapter mainly discusses the reasoning for the common beliefs of the indigenous Caribbean. The common beliefs that the indigenous are cannibals and are considered â€Å"noble savages† are all due to the early Spanish colonizers. They were the ones who perpetuated these stereotypes when they returned to Europe and it was the Spanish chroniclers who wrote the history books purposely erasing the indigenous people’s true nature from their writings. In fact, due to the suppression of information of the indigenous people, â€Å"Many native people here don’t know that they’re native. They don’t know their real history because modernization overtook them.† People forget their own roots because they grew up thinking they were of some other descent, but many of them survived. Many inhabitants of Boriken have been living in the mountains of the interior regions of the islands for thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. In fact, the term Jibaro is in reference to La Gente de la Montana which means the

Ethical Theories in Business Environment Free Essays

string(84) " chart of moral reasoning then his actions must be in the best interests of others\." The Energy Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing to the community. Our organization is made of 400,000 members as I am a part of the board of directors. One of the directors has asked to address himself as a director of the Energy Corporation to personal potential clients. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethical Theories in Business Environment or any similar topic only for you Order Now I have been asked to review this matter. Before giving the rest of the board a review I shall look into the perspectives of philosopher’s theories on ethics. The first philosopher I will bring up is Emmanuel Kant. Kant was one of the most influential philosophers of western philosophy. In Cant’s perspective, the sole feature that gives an action moral value is not the outcome that is attained by the act, but the cause that is behind the action. So in this case if the director is trying to make himself seem important or his actions benefit him more then the company then Kant wouldn’t agree with this decision. His actions should be pure and for the best interest of everyone. When thinking about this situation we can discuss Practical Imperative. â€Å"Act to treat humanity, whether yourself or another, as an end-in-itself and never as a means. (Kant). Individuals or groups of people are not to be used unjustifiably in demand to acquire your goals or pursue an edge or unfair benefits. People have rights that shouldn’t be violated. In other words Kant would ask, â€Å"Do my actions respect the goals of human beings rather than Just using them for my own purposes? † If not then it’s not prohibited. Simply that using others for ones benefit is wrong. If the action is what is seems to be, then Kant would identify it as Hypothetical Imperative. The goal is not based on pure reason but based on desire. For example if someone wants to confident in a class hen they have to study hard. If this director wants to address himself as a director he has to earn that privilege. I believe that Kant would approve this action only if the action was not for the director’s benefit in any way which seems difficult. A person with a different view will give his perspective on the situation and his view on ethics, this man is John Stuart Mill. John Stuart Mill was the most well-known and influential British moral philosopher of the nineteenth century. Mill concentrates on consequences of actions and not on rights or ethical opinions. Mill is known for his ethical theory of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is explained by examining the outcomes of actions and comparing those decisions with what would have occurred if some other action had been performed. Mill believes that the measures of an action can evaluate agents not the act that is committed. Mill focuses on the Principle of Utility. Principle of Utility is defined as an action that can be allowable if and only if the consequences of that act are at least as moral as those of any other action existing to that agent. So relating this to the situation the director hasn’t done any wrong because he may have the same goals as us. According to Mill if no other actions or decisions can be made then there is nothing wrong with the director’s request. Mill states that everyone’s happiness is taken into account, and given equal weight (SIS). Mill’s theory describes that happiness is to be spread amongst many people. It seems that Mill is describing that when someone is making a decision that the decision should bring happiness and if it does then it is right. He believes there is no limitation on consequences. All of the happiness and unhappiness must be taken account in an action no matter how timely it can be. After listening and eating about Mill I believe that he would let the director have his way. For that reason I believe he wouldn’t mind because he would think that his decision wouldn’t cause unhappiness to others. After all, the director is helping the organization in the long run. We all have the same goals and are trying to achieve the same things. Thought we can’t predict the consequences of everything this seems to have minor unhappiness. A decision in this situation needs some moral reasoning. The perfect person for that is Lawrence Goldberg. Lawrence Goldberg born in the state of New York was known for his contribution to the stages of moral reasoning. The stages of moral reasoning consist of 3 levels which are Pre-conventional, Conventional, and Post-conventional. His studies suggest that overtime everyone progresses with their moral reasoning. Though people cannot Jump stages overtime they make their way to the later stages. So according to the studies from Goldberg adults should have a better grasp on moral reasoning. The theories show that adults have gone though some stages and should be able to make better decisions. The level Goldberg believes that society is in is second conventional stages. The first level is an attitude seeking to be approved by others. The second stage is one focused on abiding by the law and responding to the obligations of duty. So thinking about all of this in the current situation makes us think critically. If according to Goldberg we abide to our duties then requesting permission address oneself as the director of the organization is connecting to the duties. Goldberg would use his moral reasoning to understand the perspective of everything and find the good in the situation at hand. â€Å"At this level, the individual perceives the maintenance of the expectations of his family, group, or nation as valuable in its own right, regardless of immediate and obvious consequences† (Goldberg). Goldberg would believe that the decisions of each individual member of the board are for the best interest of the organization. Goldberg would allow the director to continue with his request because if the director is in a part of the chart of moral reasoning then his actions must be in the best interests of others. You read "Ethical Theories in Business Environment" in category "Papers" â€Å"Right action tends to be defined in terms of general individual rights and standards that have been critically examined and agreed upon by the whole society’ (Goldberg). When we make decisions we want to make sure there is a Justice behind them. Maybe applying the Justice theory can help understand the situation. John Rails theory of Justice revolves around two fundamental principles. The first principle promises the right of each person to have the most general basic right agreed with the liberty of others. The second principle states that social and economic positions are to be to everyone’s advantage and open to all. The Justice Theory focuses on what it sounds which is not to treat others unfair, the individual rights of others come before cooperate needs. Rails would say that we are in the Original Position. In this Original Position we are self-interested cantonal people that are motivated to select in a knowledgeable and progressive way for whatever seems beneficial for ourselves. Leading to the Difference Principle which is described as â€Å"Social and economic inequalities should be arranged so that they are both, to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged persons, and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of equality of opportunity'(Rails). The Difference Principle means that society may start projects that require giving curtain people more power. Though this can only happen if two conditions are met. The first Ewing that the project has to improve the lives for the people who are now worst off. For example raising the standards to live so the less advantaged are better off. Second, access to the advantaged positions is not blocked by discrimination according to immaterial standards. So after discussing the Justice Theory it seems that in certain situations giving power to others is appropriate. In doing this everyone else’s rights are not being taken away. In the long run the decision to let the director to continue with his request will indeed benefit the organization in the end. It is in this certain situation that all of the conditions are met. Justice is happiness according to virtue† (Rails). Justice will bring happiness to others and everyone around it. As human beings we all have rights. Rights to life, a right to choose, a right to vote, to work, to be free. Rights are entitlements in which we can perform certain actions. Talking about this is all leading to the Rights Theory. We are all people and we have rights. If others affect our rights then things are unethical and can be illegal. â€Å"Rights structure the form of governments, the content of laws, and the shape of morality as it is currently perceived† (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2014). In accepting our rights we accept our freedoms. Having a right is the ability to determine what others may and or may not do and to exercise authority over certain aspects of situations. The use of authority can be exercised as long as no rights are being violated. Maybe the director is using his authority in his request in speaking with the personal potential client? The director has a right to make his request from his position. No one can take away that right from him. If his request does impact the rights of another person then the request is not allowed and is unethical. Everyone has rights and so does the organization. A person who says to another ‘l have a right to do it’ is not saying that it is not wrong to do it. He is claiming that the other has a duty not to interfere† (Razz, 1994). I feel this quote can open doors to the situation. It says that you may have the right to do something which is k but can confuse if the act is wrongful to others. The director does have a right to say he is a director of the organization because he is a human being and its part of his natural rights as a person of the company. Yes it is his right but is it ethically right? It only takes one person to make something ethically or morally wrong. If none of the other directors in the organization have a problem with the situation then it can be considered ethically acceptable. All of these theories have a lot of ideas and beliefs. I believe after reading about all of the theories about ethics and moral reasoning it gives insight and enlightenment on many situations in the business community. It is easy to make a quick decision and settle with it. As fast as the decision may be it could be making a mistake even faster. All of these theories force different perspectives. Kant would approve this action only if the action was not for the director’s benefit in any ay which could seem difficult. It’s one thing if it was a regular business but the fact that the organization is non-profit changes things. It changes people’s perspective about the business. Non-profit does what’s best for the community. I believe Kant would approve of the request. I believe Mill wouldn’t mind this request because he would think that his decision wouldn’t cause unhappiness to others. If it did cause any it isn’t enough to outweigh the good from it. The directors’ request will help the organization in the long run. Goldberg would believe in moral reasoning to guide the road of directors to make the right decisions for the organization. The Justice Theory would allow the request because sometimes it allows an individual power for the greater good. Finally though the Rights Theory everything would be allowed as long as no rights are violated. So after all of the theories I hope that all of you can follow my ideas. I find that the request is for the best of the organization. Ethically the cause behind the request outweighs the bad. We are a non-profit organization and we are made of many people and that is hard to miss. We all have the same goals and ideas or bettering the community. This response describes to everyone why the request should be allowed. How to cite Ethical Theories in Business Environment, Papers

Cloning Animals Essay Research Paper free essay sample

Cloning Animals Essay, Research Paper # 65279 ; The cloning of animate beings will be good to human existences inthe near future. Experiments in cloning animate beings started in theearly nine-teen-fifties. Over the following 40 old ages, scientistswere merely able to clone animate beings from really immature embryologic cells. When these scientists tried to utilize older cells for cloning, theydid non acquire normal consequences. This led many scientists to believethat animate beings could non be cloned from grownup cells. ( Pennisi, 1997 ) However, this all changed in the Summer of 1995 with the birth oftwo lambs, Megan and Morag, at the Roslin Institute in Scotland. The birth of these two lambs led to one of the most astoundingbreakthroughs in scientific history, the birth of a lamb namedDolly. Megan and Morag were two lambs carried to term by a surrogatemother. However, Megan and Morag were non produced by normalbiological methods. Their familial codification came from the cells of anine-day-year old embryo. We will write a custom essay sample on Cloning Animals Essay Research Paper or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Thus, Megan and Morag were geneticcopies, or ringers of this embryo. The key to this cloning was aprocess called atomic transportation. This procedure requires the usage oftwo cells, the giver cell and the receiver cell. The recipientcell is normally an unfertilised egg. Research workers at the RoslinInstitute used microscopic instruments, like a micro pipette, toextract all of the chromosomes from the receiver cell. Therecipient cell was so fused to the giver cell and placed into thesurrogate female parent. The birth of Megan and Morag was a tremendousbreakthrough because these scientists proved that older cells couldbe genetically reprogrammed to move like cells in an early embryonicstage. ( Wilmut, 1998 ) The research that went into the development of Megan and Morageventually led to the birth of the first mammal cloned from anadult mammal. To carry through this, the research squad at the Roslininstitute used cells removed from a six-year-old Ewe s bag. These cells were so depriv ed of any nutrition, which forced thegenes to go inactive. The research workers did this because theywanted the cell-cycle phase of the receiver to be the same as thedonor s cell-cycle phase. The research workers so performed thenuclear transportation and tried to excite the inactivated cistrons tostart to develop into a new lamb. Merely one out of two-hundred and 77 eggs produced a healthy lamb, which was named Dolly. The difference between the cloning of Megan and Morag and thecloning of Dolly is that Megan and Morag were cloned from a youngcell, while Dolly was cloned from an adult cell. This was thefirst time that an animal had ever been cloned from and adult cell. Thus, proving the theory, that an animal could not be cloned froman adult cell, was wrong. (Pennisi, 1997) The birth of Dolly, which was in February of 1997, has led toincreased research and development into the cloning of animals. OnWednesday, the eighth, the Washington Post printed an article whichstated that Japanese researchers had cloned eight calves from oneadult cow. This achievement is a big improvement over Dollybecause eight calves were born from ten attempts, while Dolly wasthe only successful birth out of two-hundred and seventy-seveneggs. These calves were cloned from cells taken form a cow sovaries and fallopian tubes. The cells that were taken from thefallopian tub es were a kind of cell that had never been used forcloning before. The cloning of these calves is big news becausecows are one of the most commercially important animals. Thecloning of cows will allow for an easier way of expanding the herdsand developing cows to produce more and better milk. (Weiss, 1998) The cloning of animals will be a very important part of ourfuture, especially the animals that we rely on. One way thatcloning animals will be important to us is that only the best ofeach type of animal that we rely on, like cows that produce qualitybeef and milk, would be cloned. Thus reducing the possibility ofdisease carried in these animals, like mad cow disease. A secondway that cloning would be beneficial to us, is that once scientistsfigure out how to add other beneficial characteristics to a donorcell, then animals could be genetically engineered to be resistantto all forms of disease. These animals could also be engineered tobe able to donate organs to humans. In the case of cows, theycould be developed to produce medicines in their milk that would bebeneficial to humans. Researchers at the Roslin institute arealready working on cloning sheep with a gene that would allow thesheep to produce milk that contains a beneficial protein thathemophiliacs use to aid in allowing their blood to clot. (Pennisi,1997)