Is There A Plausible Form Of Libertarianism - 2144 Words

Is there a plausible form of Libertarianism? Libertarianism, in its most general sense, is a political philosophy in which the upholding of individual liberty is the principle objective. More than that, however, Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and freedom of choice; believing that each individual has the right to make their own choices about how to live their lives – as long as they respect the rights of others to do the same. This paper will deviate from this general perception; instead discussing Libertarianism in a narrower sense with a focus on the view of full self-ownership and moral acquisition of property rights. This specific approach is based largely on the work of John Locke and further elaborated by Robert Nozick, regarded as articulating a more right-wing’ interpretation of the libertarian doctrine. This essay will address the central questions that Libertarianism aims to answer and critique the various views surrounding those responses laying the foundation for the essay’s conclusion that right-wing Libertarianism is in fact an impractical and deficient political theory. In a nutshell, the questions at the core of Libertarianism are why and what. The ‘why’ surrounds why any government is desirable or necessary in the first place. The ‘what’ is concerned with the type of government that is to be chosen, given one is desirable at all. In answering these two questions, Libertarianism’s primary concern surrounds ownership and the minimal state.Show MoreRelatedWhy Gary Johnson Is A Leader2099 Words   |  9 Pagespublic. However, there is a third political party which is on the rise, that combines the ideas of both mainstream parties but in the process reshapes and defines them. Gary Johnson of the libertarian party, is the candidate to do such a task. Libertarianism takes the fundamental â€Å"small government† idea from republicans and combines it with the more liberal stances from the democrats, such as abortion, women’s rights, freedom of choice, and individual judgement. Nonetheless, all of the politica l stances

British Empire Free Essays

The British Empire Structure introduction British Empire Introduction to British imperialism Timeline explanations from Empire to Commonwealth Questions to class Sources 1. The British Empire The phrase, â€Å"the Empire on which the sun never sets†, has been used with variations to describe certain global empires that were so extensive that there was always at least one part of their territory in daylight. The British Empire was the largest colonial empire in history. We will write a custom essay sample on British Empire or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Britain were two empires, one of them was called â€Å"First Empire† (1607-1776) and the other was called the â€Å"Victorian Empire†. It’s ending was in 1931,when it turned into the â€Å"British Commonwealth of Nations†. The making of the EmpireIn the 16th century a fight between Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, France and England began. They all wanted the commercial and navel supremacy around the American continent. And after the ending of this struggle, England became the most important country. England had some important advantages, e. g. it has a very good position as an island. Moreover it had along tradition as a seafaring nation and had a very modern war fleet. The reason why England wanted to get colonies was very simple: England thought the colonies would give its raw materials and it could sell its manufactured products, e. g. cotton, wheat, tea, oil or beef. But before England was able to start that it had a lot to do. First the colonies had to be discovered, there were two important explorers, John Cabot: Newfoundland (1497) and Captain James Cook: Australia and New Zealand (1770). After the discovery of the colonies, England established trading posts. The most important companies were the â€Å"East India Company†, which had been found in 1600 and the â€Å"Virginia Company† founded in 1606. England was able to establish more colonies in the following 150 years. Later many people immigrated to North America, e. g. Puritans, Catholics and various sects. They thought they wouldn’t be persecuted for their faith. The First Empire (1607-1776) The First British Empire consisted of conquered colonies in wars with France (Canada ; e. g. Newfoundland and the Hudson Bay territory) and with Spain (West India; e. . Jamaica, the Bahamas, the Bermudas and Gibraltar in Europe). The people who lived in the colonies, lived in three kinds of territories that were politically disunited. – The New England Colonies: Territory around Boston; mostly strict Protestants from England – The Middle Colonies : centred around New York, there lived all kinds of European immigrants – The Southern Colonies : mainly settle d by merchants. England’s rise to world power happened during the 7 year war (1758-1763). France lost all its possessions to England. But the end of the First British Empire came 20 years later. After the War of American Independence (1775-1783) England lost the American colonies. Though England wanted to establish a new Empire and therefore it expanded the colonies in Canada and West India. Consequently it could enlarge its trading with this and other colonies. The Seven Years’ War was a world war that took place between 1754 and 1763. It involved most of the great powers of the time and affected Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines. The war was driven by the antagonism between Great Britain and the Bourbons , resulting from overlapping interests in their colonial and trade empires, and by the antagonism between the Hohenzollerns (in Prussia) and Habsburgs (Holy Roman Emperors and archdukes in Austria), resulting from territorial and hegemonial conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire. Overall, about 900,000 to 1,400,000 people died. The Victorian Empire But in order to get a new empire, England had to expand the colonies in West India, India and Canada. It needs the raw materials to dominate the world market. And in order to do that, England exploit and murdered the conquered olonies. England protected the sea way to get important islands, like Gibraltar and Malta. This sea way via protected St. Helena, the Cape Colony and the Cape of Good Hope. In the 19th century England enlarged its Empire within a century to such a big Empire, that more than a third of Africa, the whole Indian subcontinent and the 5th continent be long to it. And here are some important colonies of the B. E. : Cape Colony(1795), Malta(1800), Australia(1813), Singapore(1819), New Zealand(1839), Hong Kong(1841), Nigeria(1873), Suez Canal(1875), Rhodesia(1890) 2. Introduction to British imperialism: The time of the Victorian Empire trongest industrial power in the world largest colonial power owned about one-fifth of the Earth had colonies in every continent strongest naval power 3. Explanations John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer whose 1497 discovery of parts of North America under the commission of Henry VII of England is commonly held to have been the first European encounter with the mainland of North America. The official position of the Canadian and United Kingdom governments is that he landed on the island of Newfoundland. Sir Francis Drake,Vice Admiral was an English sea captain, privateer, navigator, slaver and politician of the Elizabethan era. Elizabeth I of England awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581. He was second-in-command of the English fleet against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He also carried out the second circumnavigation of the world, from 1577 to 1580. The Thirteen Colonies were the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America founded between 1607 (Virginia) and 1733 (Georgia). The thirteen colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Each colony developed its own system of self-government. Residents of these colonies were mostly independent farmers, who owned their own land and voted for their local and provincial government. 4. From Empire to Commonwealth The people who lived in the colonies wanted to get independent. They demanded for self- government and they disagreed with British rules and reforms in India. After many rebellions the former crown colonies, which were internal and external dependent from the mother country developed into self- governing colonies. They had the internal sovereignty. And at least they were dominions. That means they are completely independent. But they accept the Queen as head of the state. The first dominion colonies were Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland. After the 2nd World War all colonies, which had belonged to the B. E. have become Independent. In 1931 the Statue of Westminster became the charter of the Dominions. Now the B. E. was replaced by the British Commonwealth of Nations. And in 1951 the word â€Å"British† was dropped in â€Å"C. o. N. † 5. Questions to class Why do you think Britain want to create such a big empire? What reasons are acceptable for wanting an empire? British rules Egypt British forces occupied Egypt in 1882. Although the British government intended the military occupation to be brief, Britain became ever more involved in Egyptian affairs. Between 1883 and 1885 British troops attempted to crush a rebellion in Sudan that threatened Egypt’s control of the upper Nile and the Red Sea coast. The British exerted increasing control over Egypt’s government. Their consul general, Sir Evelyn Baring (known after 1892 as Lord Cromer), undertook to reform the country’s finances and to restore public order. His success in reforming finances restored European confidence in Egypt’s economy How to cite British Empire, Papers

Dickens notion of what it means to be a true gentleman in Great Expectations Essay Example For Students

Dickens notion of what it means to be a true gentleman in Great Expectations Essay Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens which tells the story of Pip, a blacksmiths apprentice in his journey to fulfil his ambition to become a true gentleman. The characters that Pip encounters along the way demonstrate different aspects of what it means to be a gentleman or the reverse of one. It is in the bildungs roman genre and analyses the Victorian concept of social class and gentlemanly behaviour. In those times to be a gentleman meant to be wealthy and esteemed but Dickens views are very different from the normal stereotype. Very early on Pip displays his gentlemanly qualities, even at such a young age. For instance Pip meets a convict in the starting chapters, and agrees to provide food and a file to remove the leg iron from his leg. But when he gets home he is fighting a battle within himself between stealing from his sister and keeping his promise with the convict. However on the other hand he could be thought to have portrayed to have ungentle manlike qualities in this section because he does not actually do it to help Magwitch but does it because he is so terrified of Magwitch since he threatened to cut out your and your liver. The reader can tell this because the phrase mortal terror is used by Pip three times in one paragraph. This use of repetition exemplifies the dread and foreboding that Pip is feeling. In the next chapter we meet Joe, Pips adopted father who as Pip says is a mild, good-natured, sweet-tempered, easy-going, foolish, dear fellow. This statement shows the reader Joes qualities. He has strong morals as seen when he scolds Pip for lying and is very protective over Pip. It also proves that Pip is able to see the good in people and not just focus on what people need to do to improve themselves. It is a change as he usually compares people to himself and how they should improve and change to comply with the gentleman stereotype. However the use of the phrase Hercules in strength, and also in weakness shows that Pip has not completely changed and is still looking at what is on the outside and not what people are like in the inside. Charles Dickens utilizes the word Hercules to show Joe to be an incredibly strong man in many things, not just in the physical aspect, but he also adds and also in weakness. This displays the fact that Pip likes to see unlikeable things about people because it make him feel better about himself. This could be seen as an ungentlemanly thing to do, and he might do it because he does not feel confident about who he is as a person. Further on Pip is taken to see Miss Havisham for the first time, and more importantly to Pip, Estella. This is a key chapter because it is the first time that Pip questions himself and his upbringing given to him by Joe. He is ashamed of his upbringing in contrast to Estellas house and superior way of living. This is the start of Pips journey because it is the first ever time that Pip has not been happy with his life and this is when he resolves to amend that. Miss Havisham orders Pip and Estella to play cards, but when asked what games he knows he says only beggar my neighbour, miss. Already Pip has shown himself to be common with his lack of knowledge on different games. A few lines before when Estella asks Pip, What do you play boy? When she asks him, she uses the words to put across the meaning that she does not expect him to know more than one game with the words what do you play? if someone wanted to know what different games someone else played they would ask what games can you play? and the use of the plural in games would ask if you knew more than one game. The reader can tell that Estella obviously feels that she is superior to him in every way, even though she is about the same age as him, because she refers to him as boy, but Pip always puts miss at the end of his sentences when speaking to her. When Pip talks to her its like when a child would talk to an adult, the reader can see that Estella takes a lot of pleasure out of making him feel inferior to her. In this section Pip is fed by Estella and is described to give him the food and drink without looking at him as insolently as a dog in disgrace this treatment by Estella make the reader think back to when Pip brought out the food to Magwitch on the marsh and Magwitch is portrayed to eat it like a dog. This makes Pip feel like a criminal because of how he is treated by Estella and is brought down to Magwitchs level. Towards the end of the chapter Pip is being let out by Estella but she notices that he has been crying, She asks him why dont you cry? and he answers because I dont want to she then says to him you do, you have been crying until you are half blind, and you are near crying again. She is incredibly condescending towards Pip and is making Pip feel terrible. Pip now feels that it is not appropriate to show emotions like that in front of someone but when on his own he lets all his emotions rush out. This shows that he feels that by letting out his feelings and showing his emotion it reveals a chink in his armour that he likes to keep hidden because otherwise he feels vulnerable and exposed. In the last paragraph Pip is feeling very miserable since his visit to Miss Havisham and is thinking about what happened there. He has now come to the conclusion that he is a common labouring boy; that my hands were coarse; that my boots were thick; that I had fallen into a despicable habit of calling knaves jacks; that I was much more ignorant than I had considered myself last night; and generally that I was in a low-lived bad way. The reader can tell that by the way he says it that he is unhappy and sees so many things wrong with himself. It shows an element of Pip that is very self-conscious and awkward, for a normal person would not worry about what they call it knaves or jacks. You can see the change in Pip from before he was at Miss Havisham in how he describes himself; he thinks about all the things that are wrong with him according to Estella. In his mind Pip is not comfortable within himself any more and lists it using semi-colons like someone would list a shopping list. It is quite casual but it hurts him so much that it makes him want to completely change who he is just to conform with what Estella thinks a true gentleman is. It shows how ever much she upsets him it just makes Pip want to justify himself more to her and impress her. In the novel Pip meets Compeyson in the pub talking to Joe. He can tell that the convict knows Magwitch because he is carrying the file that Pip stole from Joe. This stirs up memories that Pip had tried to keep buried within himself because he is terrified that if he lets them out Magwitch and his convict friend will come back, but now his nightmares have come back into his life and the convict is here talking to Joe with Joes file in his hand: the one Pip stole from Joe. Autobiographical Note EssayHe says I was writing out a petition to the home secretary, setting forth my knowledge of him, and how it was that he had come back for my sake. Also if Pip was discovered to have helped Magwitch to escape he would have been in great danger for the reason that the law could see him to be aiding and abetting a known convict. But it is a sign that Pips aspirations have changed that he is willing to take that risk just to help out someone who is in trouble when previously he did not even want to be seen with Joe. The novel indicates that Pip is becoming ever closer to a true gentleman. Towards the end of the chapter Magwitch dies and the way that Dickens describes his death inspires the sentiment of pathos in the reader. With a last faint effort, which would have been powerless but for my yielding to it, and assisting it, he raised my hands to his lips. Then he gently let it sink upon his breast again, with his own hands lying on it. The words faint and powerless give the feeling of so little strength and make the reader can see him lying there, propped up by Pip, eyes closed as if he was in a deep, deep sleep. Finally the punctuation, many full stops and commas, gives the impression of a feeble and fragile old man who needs to stop constantly to get his breath and shows that he is very close to the end of his life. At the end of the chapter there is a line from Pip that sums up the whole of Pips attempt to become a true gentleman and is probably the moment that he actually achieves this aim. He says, I was one day enlightened by the reflection, that perhaps the inaptitude had never been in him at all, but in me. This is key because he is finally admitting that it is him that has been wrong and it seems that he has finally got over his self-importance. The word reflection seems to suggest that he has at long last just looked at himself in a mirror and has seen what he has become. It has been staring him in the face and screaming at him just to notice what he is like to other people. Pip seemed determined to shut it out, but the death of Magwitch has shocked him into opening his eyes and to see what he has grown into. It is Joe who displays gentlemanly merits from very early on, particularly in his treatment of Pip. He is a very honest, modest and kind man. At the point in the novel when Orlick and Mrs Joe are having a heated argument and Mrs Joe is becoming more upset by the minute, Joe steps in to defend her and forcibly tells Orlick, I tell you, let her alone! The use of the exclamation mark tells you that Joe is not going to let Orlick stand there and hurt someone elses feelings. A little further on In the chapter Joe is to be found sharing a pot of beer in a peaceable manner with Orlick as if nothing has happened. This shows his ability to forgive and forget. He has put all that behind him now and does not hold a grudge because it is not in his peaceable nature and would damage their working relationship. This is an admirable and gentlemanly trait for some one to have. When Pip is leaving for London Joe demonstrates to Pip that he will never abandon him and will always be there for him. He says that no compensation will make up for losing Pip, because he is my friend and companion. This gives you an idea what Pips friendship means to him. It also shows us that Joe is extremely steadfast and not at all fickle, which Pip sometimes is. Another quality that this episode brings to life is that Joe is not going to be moved by any amount of money. When Joe is visiting Pip in London he tries to behave like a gentleman by wearing a hat, but only manages to look ridiculous. Pip tries to take it away from him, saying, Give me your hat. But Joe, wouldnt hear of parting with that piece of property for he doesnt like to part with it. Joes gentlemanly traits are internal and moral rather than external and conventional. Herbert Pocket and his father Mathew are upheld in the novel as true gentlemen, who make their own way in life and do not rely on others. When Pip asks Herbert for advice in the proper and courteous way to behave when you are someones guest, Herbert replies, With pleasure, though I venture to prophesy that you will need very few hints. This is very gentlemanly of Herbert because he is complimenting Pip on his manners without being condescending. He also does it in such a way that their hosts do not notice and according to Pip he offered these suggestions in such a friendly way that we both laughed and I scarcely blushed. The word suggestions tells us that he is not commanding Pip to do it, which would make it even more embarrassing but quietly advise what to do. The way in which Herbert teaches Pip to be a gentle man is very different from the way in which Pip attempted to teach Joe. While Pip was often quite condescending towards Joe when he taught him and only did it in the first place for his own benefit, so was actually quite manipulative. Later on in the novel Pip has told Herbert about Magwitch but Herbert does not rush out to the nearest police station but accepts Pip and received me with open arms, and I had never before felt so blessedly, what it is to have a friend. Hebert has this incredible talent to make everyone around him feel good and happy to be friends with him. The phrase open arms signifies that Herbert doesnt have any qualms about helping Pip in whatever he needs to do, even though he is helping a known offender. This demonstrates Herberts bravery, which for Dickens is an important quality of a gentleman. Matthew Pocket says, No man who was not a true gentleman at heart, ever was, since the world began, a true gentle man in manner. He goes on to say that no varnish can hide the grain of wood; and that the more varnish you put on, the more the grain will express itself. Thus Dickens puts his idea across that was so controversial in the Victorian times, that a true gentleman is what is on the inside and what his actions are, not how wealthy he is or what his family heritage is. The egotistical and self-centred Drummle is exactly like the man in the metaphor described by Matthew Pocket. For instance he talks about Estella as a peerless beauty, but he does not think about anything apart from what is on the exterior. In the same chapter Pip describes him to have a blockhead confidence in his money and family greatness. This means that he is so confident in his affluence and family prominence that he assumes that he is untouchable and that he can get away with anything he wants to. He is the complete opposite of Dickens idea of what makes a true gentleman. Dickenss view is that to find a true gentleman you have look at what is on the inside, not what is on the outside or obvious to the eye. This is the main lesson Pip has learnt in the course of the novel Great Expectations.