Descartes Argument For The Discovery Of Scientific Truth...

I will attempt to clearly explain an argument offered by Renà © Descartes in Rules for the Discovery of Scientific Truth. In order to accomplish this task, I will discern and explain Descartes’ argument, offer what I consider to be the most significant objection to the argument, and contemplate how Descartes would reply to my objection. For the purposes of explanation, I will temporarily put aside the first sentence of the paragraph in which Descartes’ argument can be found. The second sentence of the paragraph begins with Descartes discussing how in his college days, he â€Å"discovered that nothing can be imagined which is too strange or incredible to have been said by some philosopher† (195). This phrase is telling because it shows that the study of thought itself is one of the first fields to offer the thoughts which seem the craziest to a common person. How can the study of thought itself offer up such flawed thoughts? The simple answer is that it doesnâ₠¬â„¢t. Descartes continues that sentence by recognizing that â€Å"those with views quite contrary to ours are not on that account barbarians or savages, but that many of them make use of reason as much or more than we do† (195). In other words, just because someone holds a view in opposition to mine, does not mean they are uncivilized or uneducated. On the contrary, many of those who hold opinions that may seem stupid have used reason to the same degree as (or even more than) I have. Just as the arguments of so called uncivilizedShow MoreRelatedEnlightenment And Scientific Discovery Of The 17th Century1620 Words   |  7 Pagesperiod of enlightenment and scientific discovery of the 17th century, differing concepts of the scientific method emerged. Amongst these, Renà © Descartes and Sir Isaac Newton had some of the more prominent ideologies. Through The Discourse On Method Descartes describes his rules for â€Å"discovering the truth†(Sherman. P.74) based on his mat hematical background. Many of these are based on logical deductions and examining individual sections of a hypothesis to determine their truths. A few decades later, SirRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy807 Words   |  4 PagesConner Ruhl Professor Copley Philosophy 1000C 4 May 2015 Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy Rene Descartes was the first great philosopher of the modern era, He had a new approach which was focused on scientific and mathematical truths. Descartes came to reject the scholastic tradition, one of which he was educated, due to his pursuit of mathematical and scientific truth. Much of Descartes work was done to secure advancement of human knowledge through the use of the natural sciencesRead MoreDescartes Meditations On First Philosophy1264 Words   |  6 PagesDescartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy is a first-person record of Descartes’ descent into the bowels of disbelief, in order to eradicate all flawed belief from his life. In his first meditation, Descartes explains his argument for universal doubt, which leads him to doubt every truth he has ever established. Even the veracity of his sense perception is doubtful, as he renders those perceptions useless by arguing that in dreams, sense perceptions create the wildest of fantasies that cannot beRead MoreAnalysis Of Descartes s The Heart, And Then Second By F. Descartes Essay1779 Words   |  8 Pagesgeneral concept that illustrates how systematic reasoning can be used to acquire scientific or medical knowledge. Descartes goes on to recognize that many problems and questions are not simple enough to solve just by thinking rationally about observable truths. In these cases, he recommends reducing problems into smaller, more manageable sub-problems that, individually, can be solved in the manner outlined above (Descartes, Discourse Part 6, Sections 71- 72). He shows this by describing the purpose ofRead MoreThe Cartesian Cogito By Rene ÃÅ'  Descartes1513 Words   |  7 PagesMeditations, Objections, and Replies, ReneÃŒ  Descartes argues that we cannot doubt our own existence. Descartes’s Cogito argument is actually stimulated by the â€Å"numerous† â€Å"false opinions† (9) in â€Å"Meditation One†, which he believed true in his youth but now doubts and attempts to attack through his own writing. Descartes’s doubts involve three stages. The first doubt concerns sense illusion. In other words, Descartes formerly maintained that we obtained truth â€Å"either from the senses or through the senses†Read MoreThe Philosophical Beliefs Of Substance Dualism And Modern Materialism953 Words   |  4 PagesSubstance Dualism and modern Materialism The tradition of Substance Dualism was formulated by Rene Descartes to define the differing modes of the soul that function in the human mind. The dualistic aspect of this philosophy is based on the presence of a higher power, such as God, that provides the essence of the mind through the soul, yet the human body is separated from this process. Therefore, Descartes sought to divide the mind from the material body as a method of defining the limitations of theRead MoreThe Mind-Body Problem Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesmaterialists mean by the ‘brain’, ‘mind’, ‘body’ and ‘soul’, an argument on behalf of Cartesians dualists will be reached, that responds to evidence concerning brain injuries with the claims that the brain is only ‘an instrument of the soul’. This will lead to the conclusion that there is stronger contemporary support for materialism due to neuroscience and that the Cartesian dualism argument as it is, may be wrong. However future neuroscience discoveries could continue to claim significant parts of both theoriesRead MoreThe Question Of Human Existence1776 Words   |  8 Pagesbody. Renà © Descartes, often referred to as the father of modern philosophy, first questioned this idea. The 17th century French philosopher stood out for being an intense rationalist. Rationalism is the belief in knowledge by thinking reasonably, rather than emotionally. In a time when many philosophers backed up their arguments with religion, Descartes trusted in nothing more than logic. Due to rapid new discoveries in science, that were proving many old theories to be wrong, Descartes believed philosophyRead MoreRene Descartes: French Mathematician and Philosopher Essay1855 Words   |  8 PagesRene Descartes: An Author Study Rene Descartes was a 17th Century mathematician and French Philosopher whose lifes work focused on providing a new prospective on the human perception of reality. The definition of this reality is seen as Descartes greatest life goal. Coined as the Father of Modern Philosophy, (Cunningham Reich, 2010, p. 385), Descartes laid the groundwork the philosophy and reality as we perceive it today. Descartes autobiography, Discourse on the Method of Rightly ConductingRead MoreEpistemology Is The Study Of Knowledge, Or How We Know1781 Words   |  8 Pagesknow anything. It is where one can explain how our mind is linked to reality and if these relationships are valid or invalid. In this paper, I will first present the views of Descartes on epistemology. Next, I will clarify his view of God, the body, and the mind. I will also discuss how well Descartes presents the arguments and how well they work for each topic. Lastly, I will discuss my overall agreement with his project for knowledge in general, however, I further discuss a few key components that

The Bible Is The Best Gift God Essay - 1225 Words

The Bible, although written by man is God s word to the world. The unity showed in the bible over such a long period of time, and over multiple continents is proof that it was written by something more than just a mere human, and that it was instead written by someone with divine power. The bible’s timeline spans centuries, but the impact that the bible has will continue indefinitely. Although there are millions of believers there is also almost an equal amount of skeptics. Because no physical evidence of heaven or hell exists, or no evidence that God is real people don’t believe in Christianity. Although, there is more evidence that Jesus was real than Plato nor Socrates even existed. Throughout history the brightest minds and the most powerful leaders have accepted the New Testament to be true. For example, Abraham Lincoln said I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book . But for it we could not know right from wrong.† The bible being the most read, the most translated, and the most printed book of all time must mean that it is more than just a plain old book. The bible is fact and not fiction because of prophetic consistency, manuscript evidence, and eyewitness accounts. The bible has accurately depicted about 2000 correct prophecies. Sometimes thousands of years before the event. The chance that all these proven prophecies happened by chance is less than 10 to the 2000Show MoreRelatedReflection Paper1562 Words   |  7 Pageschose are spiritual gifts and love. When you start to think about it, these two things go together. If a person uses their spiritual gifts for the right reasons they will be doing it out of love for God. A lot of people these days do not use their spiritual gifts to edify God or to show the love of God to others. They are only looking for the praise of others to build their own self-worth. II. Part One: Spiritual Gifts a. Theological Definition A spiritual gift is a divine gift bestowed upon aRead MoreThe Bible And The Middle Ground Is Nonexistent904 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Sin is mentioned throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. In fact, there are six different Greek words within the New Testament alone that talk about sin. (Etzel Gutierrez, 2014). However, although the Bible is clear that mankind is born with a sinful nature, there are different types of sin. Furthermore, the authenticity of the sinner dictates the way in which these sins are not only repented, but whether forgiven. My goal is to not only identify these sins types,Read MoreThe Holy Spirit Of Acts1321 Words   |  6 Pages---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------2 THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-------------------------------------------------------------6 THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT---------------------------------------------------------------------9 THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTS----------------------------------------------------------------------------11 CONCLUSION--------------------------------------------Read MoreEssay on Christianity And Infertility640 Words   |  3 PagesBut because there is nothing in the Bible specifically about these treatments, I will have to do some research about it and try to get different Christian views on this subject. However there some teachings in the Bible that can help us to understand Christian views on these treatments. I will try to get two different views on these treatments. The Bible teaches Christians that all life is sacred, because its a gift from God. It also teaches the Christians that lifeRead MoreComparision of Greek Myth of Prometheus and Judaeo-Christian Adam and Eve1623 Words   |  7 Pageswith the Gods. Maybe they sprang from Gaea herself, it is not certain. Other sources for the creation of man, point to Zeus giving the task of creating men and animals to the sons of Iapetus, Prometheus (before thought) and Epimetheus (after thought). Zeus had told both of the brothers to give them gifts, but while Prometheus was working hard creating the men, Epimetheus had already finished making the animals and gave them all gifts. When Prometheus asked his brother about the gifts, he foolishlyRead MoreEternal Reward And Consequences Beyond Residency Essay1498 Words   |  6 Pagestruth is a sobering fact of Scripture. If Millennials were to internalize these values, it would create a sense of careful calculations in all matters of life. After determining that God owns all things and that Christians are accountable to God, it is important to clarify how the word steward is used in the Bible. In biblical times a steward was a trusted person given responsibility for someone else’s possessions which may include care for livestock, immediate family members, or servants. , ARead MoreWorldview As A Person s Perception Of Life And Perspective Of The World1615 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluenced by the Bible and God’s truth. Words (146) Part II The first two chapters of Genesis clearly state that God created all things, life included [Genesis 1:1, 11-13, 20-22, 24-31] (Holy Bible, 2011). God is the beginning and end, and He is the creator. Life did not just appear or suddenly come into being from nothing by some unknown source or reason. Romans 1:19-20 reminds man that God is the creator and that none can deny His hand in creation (Holy Bible, 2011). Life was created by God. All thingsRead More King Solomon Essay1329 Words   |  6 PagesKing Solomon King Solomon one of the most influential kings in the entire bible Solomon was a wise king and was gifted as well as punished for his transgressions on his people and God. This paper will show how Solomon was thought to be one of the greatest kings of the bible, his contributions on the lively hood of the Israelite people and how he was sent to bring the people into a new type of living for the people of Israel. This paper will give a personal account on my reason for thinking thatRead MoreChristian College Freshmen Should Make Time For A Daily Bible908 Words   |  4 Pagessafety. That can be found within a daily study of the bible. Christian college freshmen should make time for a daily bible study so that they may grow closer with the Lord, get help and guidance for life, and reach a deeper understanding of what the bible says so they can defend against attacks. A daily bible study plays a major part for college freshman to grow closer to Christ. God set the bible as the main source for revealing Himself. The bible is His love letter to all humans, and by reading andRead MoreEssay King Solomon1342 Words   |  6 PagesKing Solomon one of the most influential kings in the entire bible Solomon was a wise king and was gifted as well as punished for his transgressions on his people and God. This paper will show how Solomon was thought to be one of the greatest kings of the bible, his contributions on the lively hood of the Israelite people and how he was sent to bring the people into a new type of living for the people of Israel. This paper will give a personal account on my reason for thinking that Solomon is a great

GRI The Sustainability Reporting standards †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the GRI The Sustainability Reporting standards. Answer: Introduction: The sustainability-reporting standard designed by GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) is used by the organizations who intend to prepare sustainability report for evaluating the impact of their operations on environment, economy and society. This particular assignment deals with the preparation of sustainability assessment report of a privatized land development company named Timbermberwell Construction by referring to the consolidated set of GRI reporting standards 2016. Timbermberwell Construction is residential development company that is entitled to construct apartment complexes in Stanwell Complex district. Economic sustainability of organization has been addressed by providing a specific disclosure concerning corruption, climate change and anti competitive behavior. Environmental sustainability is explained in relation to disclosure of bio diversity, energy consumptions and non-compliance with regulations and laws (Aguilera et al. 2015). Furthermore, assessment of social sustaina bility is done in relation to discrimination, attrition and community engagement. Economic sustainability Disclosures under the assessment of economic sustainability are used by organization for reporting the impact of their operations in relation to economy. GRO 201 sets out the reporting requirement in relation to the economic performance for organization of any size, location and operating sector. As per the disclosure of 201-2, reporting organization is required to report the information relating to the opportunities and risk due to climatic changes and leads to substantive change in revenue, operations and expenditures. It incorporates description of opportunities and risks along with their classification and its associated impact (Buhr et al. 2014). Moreover, financial implications of such opportunity and risk and methods used to manage such risks. From the case study, it can be seen that a case was filed by one of the former employee of Timbermberwell concerning their incompliance with environmental standard. Operations of company have hampered flora and fauna attributes and have critically endangered coastal grassland of ecological community. It is required by Construction Company to report and prepare the timeline for developing necessary system to calculate financial implications of risks of climatic change resulting from their activities. Moreover, there should be a classification of opportunities and risks attributable from climatic change. In order to address the challenges arising from climatic conditions, Timbermberwell should make use of method such as venting, flaring and fugitive reduction of emission, carbon capture and storage and renewable energy certificates (McCahery et al. 2016). Disclosure 205-3 deals with confirming of involvement of organization in corruption and taking actions accordingly. Organization complying with the standard is required to disclose the information about total number of confirmed corruption incidents (Junior et al. 2014). Incidents regarding the dismissal of employees for corruption should also be disclosed. Any legal cases filed against the company regarding corruption during the reporting period should be disclosed. It is in the interest of stakeholders to have acquaintance with the number of incidence and response of organization towards such incidences. Analysis of case study depicts that employees of Timbermberwell were involved in corruption scandal of bribing council project officers for pushing the applications through the approval process of council for promoting development of company. All such external consultants and employees involved in the corruption were suspended. The company also terminated the partnership contracts with the external consultants (McAlister et al. 2016). As per this particular disclosure, Timbermberwell is also required to make disclosure of terminated contracts. Disclosure 206-1 sets out reporting requirement for organizations relating to anti competitive behavior, monopoly practices and antitrust. Reporting entities are required to make disclosure of the information concerning total number of legal actions that are pending or have been completed during the reporting period relating to the violation of antitrust, identification of monopoly legislation and anti competitive behavior (Fernandez et al. 2014). As depicted in the case study, Timbermberwell was alleged by ACCC (Australian competition and consumer commission) for engaging in the activities of preventing new entrant in Stanwell district in the development market with the intention of reducing the competition in market. The case has been filed in the court and Timbermberwell construction will be called for hearing after four months. In this particular regard, it is required by the company to report the legal actions that are pending regarding the monopoly legislation. Outcome of such legal actions are also required to be disclosed in the sustainability assessment report. Environmental sustainability Disclosure 3012-1 relates to consumption of energy within organization. Information that reporting organization is required to disclose on their sustainability report involves to the consumption of fuel from renewable and non-renewable sources in relation to types of fuels used and in joules or multiples (Lewellyn et al. 2016). Moreover, information relating to total consumption of energy and sources of conversion factors should also be used. The calculation tools, methodologies, assumptions and standards are also to be reported by the organization. Double counting of fuel consumption should be avoided while compiling of information. Consumption of fuel from both renewable as well as non-renewable sources should be presented separately. Disclosure of data should be consistently deal done in line with the conversion factors application (Du Plessis et al. 2018). Approach of organization when using any particular methodology should also be depicted. Media release by Timbermberwell construction demonstrating it as energy efficient organization attached the energy consumption table. There was a clear depiction of usage of calculation tools that is prescribed by Australian department of Science and Industry. Furthermore, it was also explained that a program has been raised by organization for increasing use of fuel consumption from non-renewable sources of energy (Tricker and Tricker 2015). Therefore, it can be inferred from this discussion that Construction Company is complying with this particular disclosure requirement. Disclosure 304-2 deals with the considerable impact of products, activities and services of organization on biodiversity. The significant impact of activities such as construction, transport, infrastructure and mine and its impact on biodiversity should be reported. Direct and indirect positive and negative impact with reference to extent of areas affected, species affected, reversibility and irreversibility of impacts and duration of impacts should be disclosed. Supply chain of company might be impacted by indirect impacts of biodiversity. Organizations complying with this disclosure will have an understanding of strategy for mitigating direct and indirect impact on biodiversity. The operations of Timbermberwell construction has adverse impact on endangered ecological community. For the construction of complexes, organization has cleared area that contained an important attributes of flora and fauna. However, they received an order for the implementation of rehabilitation plan as said in the audit programs for contractors. Disclosure 307-1 deals with non-compliance of organization with the environmental regulations and laws. This particular disclosure requires entities to report the information relating to non-compliance of organization with rules and regulations pertaining to environment and sanction of any non-monetary and significant fines for not complying with the environmental regulations and rules. This disclosure should be done in terms of total number on non-monetary transactions, significant fines monetary value and cases that are brought against the mechanisms of dispute resolution. Organizations are required to make brief statement in case there has not been any identification of non-compliance with the rules and regulation of environment. When organizations fail to comply with the rules and regulations of environment, reporting entity should incorporate judicial and administrative sanctions when the specific information is to be complied. This would incorporate national, regional, local and sub national regulations, conventions, international declarations and treaty. Any voluntary agreements of environments that are developed as substitute of new regulations implementation with regulating authorities should also be considered. Other cases against the organization through national and international dispute mechanisms supervised by authorities of government should also be complied within the disclosed information (Bilbao et al. 218). From the evaluation of the case study, it has been ascertained that Timberwell construction has not complied with the environmental regulations. Their activities of clearing the acre of land for constructing the complexes have led to endangering of ecological community. When an organization does not comply with the environmental rules and regulations, it is indicative of the fact thatmanagement ability ensures the confirmation of operations to parameters of certain parameters (Cuomo et al. 2016). However, in certain circumstances and situations, not complying with such regulations can lead to clean up of environmental liabilities that are costly. Social sustainability: Disclosure 401-1 is about the disclosure of information relating to employee turnover and new employee hire. Information that are required to be reported by organization in relation to this disclosure is total rate and number of employee turnover and total rate and number of newly hired employees by gender, religion and age during the reporting period. For the computation of rate of employee turnover and new employee hires, organization should take into account total number of employees at the end of reporting year. It is depicted in the case study that seventeen employees of Timberwell construction have left either for the establishment of their own business or for working for rival company. It can be regarded as higher employee turnover resulting from dissatisfaction and uncertainty among employees. Higher employee turnover can have considerable impact on the productivity of organization. In relation to hiring of new employees, organization should make the implementation of disclosure of recruitment practices (Kiron and Kruschwitz 2015). Disclosure 406-1 deals with the discrimination incidents and corrective actions that should be taken by organization. Organization is required to disclose the information relating to total number of discriminated incidents along with incidents status and actions taken relating to remediation of plans, reviewed incidents and incidents that are not accountable for actions. One of the employees of Timberwell construction was discriminated by co-workers and he was the target of humiliation. Employee filed a workplace harassment claim in the fair Work commission organization received an order updating anti discrimination policy and accordingly providing training to employees. Therefore, in accordance with this disclosure, Timberwell is required to disclose the reviewing of complain that has been lodged in the fair Work commission. Moreover, the actions taken such as updating of anti discrimination policy, which is remediation plan in the process of internal reviewmanagement should also be disclosed in the reporting standard (Grushina 2017). Disclosure 413-1 deals with the operation of organization by engaging local communities, developing programs and assessing the impacts. Organization adhering to this particular disclosure requirement need to report the assessment of social and environmental impact and ongoing monitoring. Development programs of local community based on needs of local communities along with the grievance process of formal local community should also be disclosed (Grushina 2017). According to this disclosure, Timberwell is required to consider the differentiated nature of local communities and taking specific actions for the identification of vulnerable groups. For ensuring effective participation of vulnerable groups, organization is required to make the implementation of differentiated measures (Schneider and Scherer 2015). An organization can use number of tools for engaging communities including the assessment of human and social rights. A diverse set of approaches for properly identifying community characteristics and stakeholders should be undertaken. Timberwell should take measures for reducing the adverse impact of their operations environment and accordingly managing the impacts and compensating local communities. This incorporates several issues such as socio economic status, gender, age and specific vulnerabilities concerning human health (Crane and Matten 2016). Therefore, Timberwell is required to assess the impact of its activities on communitie s and development and implementation of program. Conclusion: From the analysis of case study, it is ascertained that Timberwell construction has not adhered to the reporting standard that has led to declining its performance and increase attrition rate. In order to prepare the sustainability report of organization, it is required comply with several disclosures of the reporting standards of Global reporting initiative. The ongoing cases against the company concerning corruptions, anti discrimination laws and violation of environmental regulations and the actions that are taken against them should form a part of their sustainability report. This particular assessment has focus on material topics that is affecting the organization. The current scenario of Timberwell Construction requires it to adhere to the several economic, environmental and social disclosure requirements that lead to an overall improvement in sustainability position. References: Aguilera, R.V., Desender, K., Bednar, M.K. and Lee, J.H., 2015. Connecting the dots: Bringing external corporate governance into the corporate governance puzzle. The Academy ofManagement Annals, 9(1), pp.483-573. ArAs, G., 2016. A handbook of corporate governance and social responsibility. CRC Press. Bilbao-Terol, A., Arenas-Parra, M., Caal-Fernndez, V. and Obam-Eyang, P.N., 2018. Multi-criteria analysis of the GRI sustainability reports: an application to Socially Responsible Investment. Journal of the Operational Research Society, pp.1-23. Buhr, N., Gray, R. and Milne, M.J., 2014. Histories, rationales, voluntary standards and future prospects for sustainability reporting. J. Bebbington, J. Unerman and B. ODwyer, eds, pp.51-71. Crane, A. and Matten, D., 2016. Business ethics: Managing corporate citizenship and sustainability in the age of globalization. Oxford University Press. Cuomo, F., Mallin, C. and Zattoni, A., 2016. Corporate governance codes: A review and research agenda. Corporate governance: an international review, 24(3), pp.222-241 Du Plessis, J.J., Hargovan, A. and Harris, J., 2018. Principles of contemporary corporate governance. Cambridge University Pr Fernandez-Feijoo, B., Romero, S. and Ruiz, S., 2014. Effect of stakeholders pressure on transparency of sustainability reports within the GRI framework. Journal of business ethics, 122(1), pp.53-63. Grushina, S.V., 2017. Collaboration by design: Stakeholder engagement in GRI sustainability reporting guidelines. Organization Environment, 30(4), pp.366-385. Junior, R.M., Best, P.J. and Cotter, J., 2014. Sustainability reporting and assurance: A historical analysis on a world-wide phenomenon.Journal of Business Ethics,120(1), pp.1-11. Kiron, D. and Kruschwitz, N., 2015. Sustainability reporting as a tool for better risk management. MIT Sloan Management Review, 56(4). Lewellyn, P.G. and Logsdon, J.M., 2016, July. How Sustainability Reporting Is Maturing: A Preliminary Assessment of the Impact of GRIs G4 Guidelines. In Proceedings of the International Association for Business and Society (Vol. 27, pp. 122-132). McAlister, D.T., Marcos, S. and Ferrell, O.C., 2016. Corporate governance and ethical leadership. Business Ethics: New Challenges for Business Schools and Corporate Leaders: New Challenges for Business Schools and Corporate Leaders, p.56. McCahery, J.A., Sautner, Z. and Starks, L.T., 2016. Behind the scenes: The corporate governance preferences of institutional investors. The Journal of Finance, 71(6), pp.2905-2932. Schneider, A. and Scherer, A.G., 2015. Corporate governance in a risk society. Journal of Business Ethics, 126(2), pp.309-323. Tricker, R.B. and Tricker, R.I., 2015. Corporate governance: Principles, policies, and practices. Oxford University Press, USA.

Review of Kim by Rudyard Kipling

Introduction The novel Kim tells the story of a young orphaned Irish boy, Kim, living in the streets of Lahore in India during the British occupation of the country. Kim’s life entails performing odd tasks and receiving alms. Kimball â€Å"Kim† O’Hara is the agonist of the story from which the novel draws its title.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review of Kim by Rudyard Kipling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kim’s father was a soldier for the British army, and both his parents died while the father was stationed in India, leaving Kim to survive in the streets. However, Kim is exceptionally friendly and manages to get along with nearly all persons of all ages, cultures, and tribes in the streets (Kipling 51). His guardian, Mahbub Ali, sells horses for a living and usually sends Kim on small errands and rewards him with some cash or other beneficial rewards. Kim then encounters an ag ed Buddhist monk (Teshoo Lama) who is on a quest of finding the sacred â€Å"River of The Arrow† – the ultimate symbol of enlightenment (Kipling 53). Kim easily makes the monk’s acquaintance, and guides him to the local museum where the Lama hopes to find directions to the sacred river and thus gain enlightenment. However, the museum’s curator does not know where the mysterious river is located, and Lama has to make the arduous journey of discovery with little information for direction. Kim learns that the Lama’s disciple, or chela, had died in the previous town where the monk had passed. In his usual eagerness to help, Kim decides to become the Lama’s new chela in order to ease the stress of travel for the Lama (Kipling 60). Thus, begins the long journey towards enlightenment for both the Lama and Kim. Kim’s journey is, however, cut short when he sneaks into a British army base. Because he knew his father used to be a soldier, the sy mbolic flag raised by the army piques his interest, and it turns out that the army chaplain recognizes Kim through some documents he always carries. Coincidentally, Kim’s own father, Kimball O’Hara the elder, used to be stationed at the same base. Out of a sense of duty, the chaplain decides that Kim should attend formal school (Kipling 88). When Lama hears this news, he offers to pay for Kim’s education, and they are separated for almost three years when Kim pursues his education. In the course of his schooling, Kim is recruited as a spy and mapmaker for the British army (Kipling 187), which is involved in extensive spying, espionage activities and actual conflict with Russia, all in an effort to gain territories in Asia and India. This conflict between the two countries is known as â€Å"The Great Game† in the novel.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the main reasons why Kim is recruited as a spy is because of his unique ability of blending in with natives from different cultures and tribes. However, in the end, after working as a spy and mapmaker, and undertaking dangerous missions for the British army that also put the life of the Lama in jeopardy, he decides to forgo all that and rejoins the Lama in his quest for enlightenment (Kipling 280), finally achieving this when they discover the â€Å"River of the Arrow†. Levels of Meaning in Kim The Basic/Literal Level At the literal level, Kim is a picaresque novel that underscores the adventures of a young orphaned Irish boy, Kim. The story begins in the streets of Lahore where poverty is rife, underscores Kim’s interactions with his peers and his elders, before exploring Kim’s subsequent quest for enlightenment, personal growth, and self-discovery together with Lama. This adventurous journey sees Kim discover more about his father and his service in the army, and enables him to attend formal schooling and subsequently secure employment as a spy and mapmaker for the British army. Therefore, at the literal level, Kim details the adventurous journey of a boy who experiences personal growth and development in the process. The sequence of life changing encounters that Kim experiences, beginning with his meeting with Lama, all lead him to places and people that influence his life either positively or negatively. Ultimately, these encounters force Kim to choose his own path and direction in life – that of spiritual growth and virtuous living. This is the lifestyle espoused by the natives of India and in the teachings of the Lama, as opposed to the deceitful lifestyle encouraged by the British government in his role as a spy. The Allegorical level Kim is set in the historical period during the British occupation of India. Many characters and instances in the novel allude to actual historical events that occurred during the perio d when the novel is set. The British occupation of the Indian subcontinent is a recurring feature in the novel. Kim himself is born of a solider that was stationed in India to advance the interests of the British Empire. The novel is thus set between the years 1885-1898, since it is set after the end of the second Afghan war with Britain, which war ended in 1881. Similarly, the novel is set against the economic and geo-political conflicts between Britain and Russia. Indeed, many of the characters in the novel are connected with the conflict. Kim himself eventually becomes a spy and mapmaker for the British army as it engages the Russians in massive espionage endeavors (Kipling 250). Kim’s guardian, Mahbub Ali, is also a spy for the British army, and he initially sends Kim with documents gathered in his spying activities to be delivered to an Englishman in Umballa when Kim sets out on his journey with Lama (Kipling 58).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Re view of Kim by Rudyard Kipling specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Kim’s father, as a soldier, was also tasked with furthering the interests of the British army during the great conflict. Therefore, the historical setting of Kim during the â€Å"Great Conflict† in India during the late 19th Century plays a critical role in the unfolding plot, and many characters are involved directly or indirectly in the conflict. The Topological or Moral level The topological or moral level of the novel Kim especially concerns the overall virtuous actions, character traits, and actions of Kim. As the novel’s main character, the moral path that he undertakes underscores the author’s moral inclinations and preferences. Kim is raised in the dirt-poor streets of Lahore, and in a sense, he acquires the virtues espoused by the natives around him. Although he is poor, Kim maintains a generous and helpful disposition. The natives are portrayed as highly hospitable, and are accommodative of strangers as evidenced in the ease of finding board at night that Kim and the Lama experienced during their journey in search of the River of the Arrow (enlightenment) (Kipling 70). Despite the high levels of poverty in Lahore, the natives are humorous, helpful and spiritual. Kim acquires all these qualities. On the other hand, life as espoused by the British through the activities of its army is primarily concerned with material wealth. As opposed to the natives, the British value material wealth as evidenced by their quest for geo-political control of the Asian subcontinent through colonization and â€Å"the Great Conflict†. Kim, therefore, experiences both sets of lives and values: those of the natives as well as the British (western lifestyle vs. eastern lifestyle). When, in the end, Kim chooses to follow the Lama even after becoming a spy and mapmaker for the British army, he vouches for the native (eastern) lifes tyle over the western. He chooses the values that he was raised with by the natives: values of spirituality, humility, hospitality, and friendliness. The Requirements of Becoming a Spy/ Character Traits of a Spy During his schooling, Kim is recruited by colonel Creighton to become a spy. The colonel notices Kim’s ability to blend easily with different people from different native tribes, as well as persons of all ages (Kipling 188). Therefore, one of the ultimate requirements of becoming a spy involves the ability to earn the trust of another with little effort. Kim is also extremely friendly and has a sense of humor and sharp wit. All these attributes are cultured in the streets of Lahore, which enable to him, become a successful spy and mapmaker for the British army.Advertising Looking for essay on british literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Author’s Attitude towards the government of the British Raj The British occupation of India was the ultimate expression of the imperialist aims of the British Empire. As was custom with British occupation, the cultural values, institutions and even beliefs of the native communities as portrayed in the novel are ignored or unconditionally disregarded. As depicted in the novel, the British government policies in India did not support the local cultures. For instance, Kim is forcibly taken away from Lama and put in a formal school once the chaplain of the army discovers that Kim was, in fact, Irish and not Indian (Kipling 180). The values that he would gain from Lama are disregarded. Since the author has the main character choosing the native practices and virtues of those of the British, the author is against the policies of the British Raj that unnecessarily negate the fundamental values of native cultural practices and institutions. The Author’s View of Human Natur e Accordingly, the author’s support for the values of the native tribes as evidenced in his main character choosing these cultures over western cultures indicates that the author views human nature as a product of values espoused and not necessarily by the material possessions of an individual. When Kim ultimately chooses to follow the Lama, he expresses the author’s view that human nature is enriched by acquiring positive values, as opposed to wealth. Conclusion In conclusion, Kim is ultimately a journey of philosophical and cultural self-discovery for the protagonist as well as the reader. Rudyard Kipling traces the life of Kim, and simultaneously leads the reader on a similar journey that exposes the futility of colonization insofar as influencing human values and practices is concerned. Kim expresses the point that no single cultural philosophy is superior to another and that there is much good, value, and virtue even in the poorest of all communities and cultures. Work Cited Kipling, Rudyard. Kim. London: Penguin Books, 1987. This essay on Review of Kim by Rudyard Kipling was written and submitted by user EmmaFrost to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.