The Middle East Geography, History, Politics

The Middle East as a term can be as contentious as the region it identifies. Its not a precise geographical area like Europe or Africa. Its not a political or economic alliance like the European Union. Its not even an agreed-upon term by the countries that constitute it. So what is the Middle East? A Controversial Term The Middle East is not a term Middle Easterners gave themselves, but a British term borne of a colonial, European perspective. The terms origins are seeped in controversy for having originally been a European imposition of geographic perspective according to European spheres of influence. East from where? From London. Why Middle? Because it was half-way between the United Kingdom and India, the Far East. By most accounts, the earliest reference to the Middle East occurs in a 1902 edition of the British journal National Review, in an article by Alfred Thayer Mahan entitled The Persian Gulf and International Relations. The term gained common usage after it was popularized by Valentine Chirol, a turn-of-the-century correspondent for the London times in Tehran. Arabs themselves never referred to their region as the Middle East until the colonial usage of the term became current and stuck. For a time, the Near East was the term used for the Levant--Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Jordan--while Middle East applied to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Iran. The American perspective lumped the region into one basket, giving more credence to the general term Middle East. Defining The Middle East Today, even Arabs and other people in the Middle East accept the term as a geographical point of reference. Disagreements persist, however, about the exact geographical definition of the region. The most conservative definition limits the Middle East to the countries bound by Egypt to the West, the Arab Peninsula to the South, and at most Iran to the East. A more expansive view of the Middle East, or the Greater Middle East, would stretch the region to Mauritania in West Africa and all the countries of North Africa that are members of the Arab League; eastward, it would go as far as Pakistan. The Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East includes the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Cyprus in its definition of the Middle East. Politically, a country as far east as Pakistan is increasingly included in the Middle East because of Pakistans close ties and involvements in Afghanistan. Similarly, the former south and southwestern republics of the Soviet Union--Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan--can also be included in a more expansive view of the Middle East because of the republics cultural, historical, ethnic and especially religious cross-overs with countries at the core of the Middle East.

Plato s Allegory Of The Cave - 1716 Words

In Plato’s, Allegory of the cave, a key theory I found was the importance of education. Plato uses an â€Å"allegory to illustrate the dilemma facing the psyche in the ascent to knowledge of the imperishable and unchanging forms† (104) Based on my research of the republic, the allegory can reveal multiple hidden messages. Plato describes, ordinary mortals are chained within an underground chamber, which according to Fiero, represents the psyche imprisoned within the human body. These mortals can’t look sideways only straight ahead. They also can’t leave the cave and are facing a cave wall that they can see shadows from a fire of what they imagine are men. These mortals have been in this cave since childhood, which makes them believe the shadows themselves are the men, not a reflection of an actual man. Again, according to Fiero, the light, represents true knowledge, and the shadows on the walls of the cave represent the imperfect and perishable imitations of the forms that occupy the world of the senses. Plato introduces the Theory of Knowledge, which asserts the existence of two level reality, the first constantly changing particulars available to our senses, the other existing of unchanging eternal truths understood by way of the intellect. According to Bettrand Russel, â€Å"when we have asked ourselves seriously whether we really know anything at all, we are naturally led into an examination of knowing, in the hope of being able to distinguish trustworthy beliefs from such as areShow MoreRelatedPlato s Allegory Of Cave1979 Words   |  8 PagesJaneva Walters December 6, 2016 Dr. T. Brady ENG 391 Plato’s Allegory of Cave The allegory of the cave is regarded as one of the most reputed and acclaimed works by the Greek philosopher Plato in modern literature as well as philosophy. First published and presented in his work known as a Republic (514a–520a), the dialogues that have been used as conversation can be regarded as fictitious as the main conversation takes place between Plato’s brother Glaucon and Socrates. First and foremost, allegoricalRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave1814 Words   |  8 PagesIn Plato’s, â€Å"Allegory of the Cave†, a key theory I found was the importance of gaining knowledge. Plato uses an â€Å"allegory to illustrate the dilemma facing the psyche in the ascent to knowledge of the imperishable and unchanging forms† (Fiero, 104). Based on my research of the Republic, the allegory can reveal multiple hidden messages. Plato describes in the Allegory, ordinary mortals who are chained within an underground chamber, which according to Fiero, r epresents the psyche imprisoned within theRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave1379 Words   |  6 Pagesbeen in a cave? Caves are dark, cold, and often times dangerous. People who lose their source of light in a cave often face death from physical injury or hypothermia, unless otherwise rescued. The Greek philosopher Plato illustrated the difference between reality and illusion through a story about prisoners who lived their entire existence in a cave. Plato tells the â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† as a conversation between Socrates, his mentor, and Glaucon, one of Socrates’ students. Plato’s allegory of theRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave Essay1630 Words   |  7 Pagescondition impressed by an image can sometimes like as a flame, spreading throughout other discourses for long after its initial kindling. Such is the case with Plato s allegory of the cave, which has for over 2,500 years inspired significant contributions to theorizations of truth. Despite t he age of Plato s work, the truth in the allegory is demonstrated by its own universality; as a formative piece of literature, the story acts as a gateway into Western discourses of truth. Truth remains an elusiveRead MorePlato s The Allegory Of The Cave1965 Words   |  8 PagesIn this paper I shall argue for Socrates’ notion in the Allegory of the Cave, saying that the purpose of education is not to place knowledge to the mind where there was none, but instead to recognise the already underlying existence of such insight inside the mind, and to help divert the ones in need of teaching onto the correct path to find and retrieve such knowledge. Plato in his time was a dedicated student of Socrates, so most of Socrates â€Å"logos† and concepts heavily influenced Plato’s futureRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave910 Words   |  4 Pagesnature within them to reach their potential. Allegory is to reveal a hidden meaning, normally a moral, based on fictional stories. Plato Allegory of the Cave reminds us that the theory of Forms is real and suggests that the one with the empirical science would share his mind with the commoner in society. We must grasp the complex different types of Forms – opinion, knowledge and beauty really meant for Plato. In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, Plato talks about dualism, mind (soul) and body. InRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave Essay1370 Words   |  6 Pagesflesh to satisfy the god (Ahmed 2010). All of these civilizations were interactive with their environment, but imagine if one knew only of the reality they believed inside of a cave not experiencing e vents within the real world. In Plato’s, Allegory of the Cave, he describes the scenario of prisoners kept isolated in a cave left to come up with a reality that they comprehended with the images that they saw in front of them. This applies especially to politics, because people are left to decipherRead MoreAnalyzing Plato s Allegory Of The Cave874 Words   |  4 PagesI’ll be analyzing Plato’s Allegory of the Cave through my own interpretation. An allegory is defined as â€Å"a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.† In Plato’s Republic the short excerpt The Allegory of the Cave can be viewed through multiple perspectives. Plato’s image of the cave is known as the â€Å"theory of forms†¦ The theory assumes the existence of a level of reality inhabited by ideal â€Å"forms† of all things and concepts (Revelations:Read MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave Ess ay1842 Words   |  8 Pagesto find pieces about importance of our ego as well. Plato is one of the most important philosophers in western history. That brings us a question, why ego is such significant for both western and eastern philosophers and religious works? Sigmund Freud, who carried on Plato’s thinking on humanity and our society, pointed out what Plato has vaguely discussed about that the significance and impact the ego has on us. In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, what the prisoners are actually experiencing the fightRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave1217 Words   |  5 Pagesthe other persons and sometimes that can get a little out of hand, depending on who you are dealing with. I guess the major point in all this is to never judge a book by its cover, always learn yourself. In Plato’s â€Å"Allegory of the Cave†, there are these prisoners that live in a cave and have never seen any natural sunlight. They can only see shadows of things displayed on the wall by the light coming from the fire. The prisoners get happy and interested by the shadows they see. The shadows could

Shakespeare, Richard II analysis of Richard as a king Essay Example For Students

Shakespeare, Richard II: analysis of Richard as a king Essay In Shakespeare’s Richard II, the king Richard’s identity can be characterized by several major subjects. Firstly, at the very beginning of the play, he gives a good image of him and seems sure of himself. But our esteem of him will quickly decline, and even during the first scene of the play. Indeed, Bullingbrook clearly states that Richard planned Gloucester’s death : â€Å"Further I say, and further will maintain That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester’s death†, which informs us of a family betrayal right from the beginning. So we can say that conflicts in this play aren’t just political, they’re family matters as well. Then, still in the first scene, when Richard says â€Å"Forget, forgive, conclude and be agreed. Our doctors say this is no month to bleed.† he is clearly inappropriate and takes things too lightly ; another example to prove he’s a bad king and can’t cope with a situation when he needs to. Furthermore, later on but still in act I scene 1 Mowbray shows us Richard’s limits –and twice- during their ‘confrontation’ : Mowbray tells him â€Å"Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot. My life thou shalt command, but not my shame †, and to this Richard –still assuming superiority- answers that â€Å"Lions make leopards tame†, to what Mowbray will state â€Å"Yea, but not change his spots.†, and beat Richard at his own game. And after this, Richard will be incapable of being obeyed by Bullingbrook. Afterwards, Richard –by saying â€Å"We were not born to sue, but to command†- suggests â€Å"I’m supposed to be in charge†, which shows he isn’t and so that he hasn’t any strategy. Here we recognize the logic of the king who says he gets what he wants because he is the king, but who also is disorganized, non-autonomous and non-domineering. Secondly, he’s strongly convinced that he has been chosen by God to be king and that he can do whatever he wants, since he doesn’t have to answer to anyone but to God. This political theory of believing God has specifically chosen him to be king of England is sometimes called the â€Å"divine right of kings†. Besides, considering and trusting this belief will be one of the reasons of his downfall, because since he thinks he’s God’s representative on earth, he assumes that no man can replace him on the throne and therefore that he doesn’t have to bother defending himself and his status. Thirdly, as he thinks he has been chosen by God, it gets easy for him to act like the best and the most powerful man of England. Moreover, Richard has surrounded himself by advisors who only tell him what he wants to hear -such as Bagot, Bushy or Green- what doesn’t help. And subsequently, he loses the confidence of his people. Moreover, obstinate as he is, Richard will refuse to listen to the solid advice of Gaunt and continues to make bad decisions which will lead to his downfall. Some of these decisions are that, at the beginning of the play, he banishes Bullingbrook and Mowbray to cover up the murder of his uncle (that he committed), and also that he mismanaged his kingdom’s money and was too broke to fund his war in Ireland -but, as he sees himself chosen by God, he doesn’t think his people have a right to get rid of him, and so doesn’t make any effort to prevent this. Finally, in the last scene of act I, Richard’s callous remarks about Gaunt’s illness indicate his lack of respect for anyone besides himself, including the elders of his own family. This self-centeredness will as well help and lead to his downfall. Besides, the fact that Richard chooses to ignore the advice of his dying uncle in act II scene 1 is a sign of his foolishness. And by the time this scene closes, we have learned of the imminent invasion of England by Bullingbrook’s forces ; a piece of information which, with what we already know about his popularity and Richard’s merited unpopularity with the English commoners, implies already the inevitable outcome : Richard’s deposition and defeat at the hands of Bullingbrook. .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f , .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .postImageUrl , .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f , .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:hover , .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:visited , .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:active { border:0!important; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:active , .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua6174596d7428f253883d6412140b15f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein Essay ThesisTo conclude, Richard in act I and act II scene 1 shows right from the first scene how improper and wrong he is, through all of his inappropriate words, speeches, manners, decisions and choices.