Eureka

2011-11-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

The World's 1st Biodegradable Car!!!!

Apparently green evolution has already been initiated. States have already exerted efforts to mitigate the effects of Global Climate Change. Apart from this, not only states but responsible citizens have shown their environmental concern; individuals not excluding Filipino Designers such as Kenneth Cobonpue.

The incredible work of Mr. Cobonpue shows the world that Filipinos believe that they can help mother nature..

Disclaimer note: Pictures embedded were taken from other sites. The author of this blog respect and acknowledge the copyright of the photographer and of the patent, if there is any, of Mr. Cobonpue.

For more about this topic: these are the recommended sites:
http://www.gizmag.com/biodegradable-car-made-from-rattan-and-bamboo/18466/
http://goodnewspilipinas.com/2011/04/18/filipino-designer-creates-worlds-1st-biodegradable-car/

Quotable Quotes XD

2011-10-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

If the sun shines in your soul, does it matter if it rains outside?
Happiness within overlooks the sadness that any event may bring...
--------Stay Happy Always ^_^

Forgiving opens your heart,
so you can let out the hurt

and let Love shine in....

New Philippine Peso Bills

2011-05-22T02:23:00.000-07:00

I wonder if the Bangko Sentral ng Philippinas have produced enough of these bills to circulate nationwide....

End of the World?

2011-05-22T01:53:00.000-07:00

Upon hearing the news spread by a certain group in the US, I was dumbfounded for a moment.Then, I calmed myself, thinking that it was a mere religious propaganda.

At this moment, the predicted time had passed. I don't know exactly what to think... Last night I have read the book of revelation written by the apostle John. It was full of symbols and messages. Then, I thought that the word of God should not be merely literally or mathematically interpreted.I believe that it should be read with faith and prayer. Hence, we Christians should be careful. There is nothing wrong in preparing our souls ahead of time. It is rather better to do that. Who knows? We cannot predict the future...We will never know what will happen to us. As the saying goes: "Preparation is the cure to anxiety"....

Venus Occultation

2010-05-17T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Venus occultation taken last night, May 16, 2010

Have you all noticed the amazing sky last night, May 16, 2010? If you did, then you should have also noticed the alignment of the moon and a star. This natural phenomenon is called the Venus occultation.

An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer. The word is used in astronomy (see below) and can also be used in a general (non-astronomical) sense to describe when an object in the foreground occults (covers up) objects in the background. In the general sense, occultation applies to the visual scene from low-flying aircraft and in Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) technology, where foreground objects obscure distant ones in a dynamic way as the scene changes.

Astronomical events which cause occultation include transits and eclipses. The word transit refers to cases where the nearer object appears smaller in apparent size than the more distant object, such as transit of Mercury or Venus across the Sun's disk. The word eclipse generally refers to those instances in which one object moves into the shadow of another. Each of these three events is the visible effect of a syzygy.

;|)

2010-05-08T22:55:00.001-07:00

Happy Mothers' Day!!!!

Topic: There is no hope of doing a perfect research (Griffiths, 1998, p97). Do you agree?

2010-04-03T18:32:00.001-07:00

As we have been marching onwards, research has become undeniably indispensable and essential for advancement in myriad fields. It has produced a lot of useful innovations in science and technology, and in all other fields such as in psychology, political science, and in economics. Hence, since it has become a great deal for humankind to produce knowledge, it has been a constant aspiration for us to enhance methods or processes of research. Although research results may appear promising, nevertheless, their reliability or validity has always been threatened with the presence of errors and biases in the study. Thus, it has been argued that there is no hope of doing a perfect research.

Research, as defined by the Research Council of Nipissing University, “is any original and systematic investigation undertaken in order to increase knowledge and understanding and to establish facts and principles”[1]. In addition, it also means “studious inquiry; usually, critical and exhaustive investigation or experimentation having for its aim the reversion of accepted conclusions, in the light of newly discovered facts”[2]. Research has several types—generally; it can either be qualitative or quantitative. Moreover, it can either be historical, experimental, quasi-experimental, causal-comparative, case study, or developmental. Among these types, there is definitely no assurance of perfection of neither the research process nor the results. In fact, there are two types of errors which have been associated with common forms of research—random and systematic. Random errors occur “in essentially all quantitative studies and can be minimized but cannot be avoided”[3]. Such errors can occur due to sampling variability or measurement precision. Hence, apparently, quantitative researches are not devoid of flaws. Systematic errors, on the other hand, are “reproducible inaccuracies that produce consistently fake patterns of differences between observed and true values”[4]. Furthermore, aside from those errors which threaten the reliability or validity of the results, biases also affect the results of the research study. Selection, measurement and intervention are different categories of bias. Having such errors and biases ever present in research, there is no hope of doing a perfect research.

In our undergraduate research study, entitled “The Effect of the (NFA) National Food Authority Rice Subsidy Program ‘Tindahan Natin’ on the Political Attitudes of the Rural Poor Household Beneficiaries in Barangay Caraudan, Janiuay, Iloilo”, we have realized that it was not a perfect research even if we tried so hard to made it such. As our study described the food security situation in a rural village where NFA is in operation, it was necessary for us to compare different respondent groups. The study employed the Quasi-Experimental Method, specifically, non-equivalent control group (NCGP). Later, it was found out during the research process that our respondents or subjects have been receiving benefits from other food subsidy programs of the Philippine government. Given the extreme particularity of the topic of our study, other government programs such as Gulayan na Masa, livestock, crop and irrigation productivity, and food-for-school program (FSP), threatened the validity of the results of the research. Since the study analyzes whether or not the Tindahan Natin Program (independent variable) affects the political attitudes (dependent variable) of its rural poor beneficiaries, the presence of other interventions have affected the validity of the results.

Furthermore, another instance of bias, now it would be researcher’s bias—is the selection of topic for research papers. Being environmentalists, me and my partner chose the topic “The Effects of Global Climate Change on the Status of Sinking States”. As our paper was definitely a qualitative research, we were then preoccupied of gathering facts or arguments in favor of our position. We have overlooked the scope of our research because of our personal biases.

Hence, with such foregoing experiences in my past research studies, I agree with the submission that there is no hope of doing a perfect research. As Scheurich (1994) puts it, “one’s historical position, one’s class (which may or may not include changes over the course of a lifetime), one’s race, one’s gender, one’s religion, and so on, interact and influence, limit and constrain production of knowledge”[5]. With the constant threat of errors and biases, there is no hope of doing a perfect research.

Bibliography

Guyette, Susan (1983). Community-Based Research: A Handbook for Native Americans,

Retrieved [30 Mar 2010], from

Mehra, B. (2002, March). Bias in qualitative research: Voices from an online classroom.

The Qualitative Report, 7(1). Retrieved [30 Mar 2010], from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR7-1/mehra.html

Nipissing University (2008, Jan). Definition of Research used by the University Research

Council. Retrieved [30 Mar 2010],

[1] Nipissing University (2008, Jan). Definition of Research used by the University Research Council. Retrieved [30 Mar 2010],

[2] Guyette, Susan (1983). Community-Based Research: A Handbook for Native Americans , Retrieved [30 Mar 2010]

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Mehra, B. (2002, March). Bias in qualitative research: Voices from an online classroom. The Qualitative Report, 7(1). Retrieved [30 Mar 2010], from http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR7-1/mehra.html

Philippine 2010 National Elections

2010-03-31T08:55:00.000-07:00

Who am I going to vote this coming national elections? As of this moment, I am still undecided...why?

Ironically, as a political science (bachelor) graduate, I have found it so difficult to choose among the candidates. Almost all of them have their respective controversies and propaganda against their rivals. For instance, one of the presidential candidates have issues on the C5 road project and also on his ballooning electoral expenses. On the other hand, another candidate who appears to be on lead in the surveys, also has an issue on their real estate property and the tenants occupying it. There are some propaganda against such candidate such as his past actions in the senate--for example not voting infavor of the hearing of the hello garci tape......Furthermore, another presidential candidate, the cousin of the previously mentioned candidate, is currently attached to the Arroyo Administration. Notwithstanding his intelligence and fame, for me, his attachment to the present administration has stained his reputation.

Nevertheless, I would still exercise my right to suffrage. But the question is am i going to choose the lesser evil? definitely yes! Having learned some aspects of Philippine politics, no politician is good enough to be an ideal public servant....Most of them have promised and, likewise, broken such promises...Some of them have criticized several administrations for issues on graft and corruption; yet, when they were elected in position, they also have committed the same crimes! how pathetic!

Defeating the Purpose of Waste Segregation in the Philippines

2010-03-31T07:46:00.000-07:00

Separating plastics from biodegradable wastes; labeling trash cans--:"non-biodegradable" and "non-biodegradable"-a common practice in the Philippines. Formally cloak as solid-waste management programs, waste segregation projects of the government or of civil society are essentially futile for several reasons.

Well, we have been too preoccupied of segregating solid wastes through the use of separate garbage bins in the Philippines. I myself have been fooled of such idea, thinking that it would solve some environmental problems. However, such action is merely touching the surface.

After disposing and segregating solid wastes using distinct garbage bins, most of us forget that that there is still something we need to do. Did you know that when garbage collectors gather all the wastes from the bins, they just lump them together in one dump truck! Thereafter, the wastes will be dumped in one dump site. So, what happened to waste segregation? nothing....useless...

Can we blame the garbage collectors? No....Why?

To start with, we do not have programs for recycling non-biodegradable wastes. The Philippines is too poor for the government to construct plastic recycling plants nationwide. or even support junk shops or the like. Furthermore, citizens are not fully educated even informed about waste segregation. There were no seminars on such things in the barangays... Have the government initiated such projects? They may...but only to the extent of providing garbage bins!

Nevertheless, even if all people would cooperate in waste segregation programs by using those classified garbage bins, it is futile if we dumped such wastes on the same dump site...

FALLACIES

2009-08-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

I. Rhetorical Fallacies
   a.) incorrect obversion
   b.) incorrect conversion
   c.) The fallacy of accent
   d.) The fallacy of amphibology

II. Logical Fallacies
   a.) Formal Fallacies
   1.) formal fallacies in categorical syllogisms
   2.) formal fallacies in disjunctive syllogisms
   3.) formal fallacies in hypothetical syllogisms

   b.) Material Fallacies
   1.) The fallacy of equivocation
   1.1) The fallacy of quantity
   1.1.1.) fallacy of composition
   1.1.2.) fallacy of division

   1.2) The fallacy of quality
   1.2.1.) fallacy of simple accident
   1.2.2.) fallacy of converse accident
   1.2.3.) fallacy of specific accident

   2.) The fallacy of presumption
   2.1) Begging the question
   2.1.1) Assumptio non probata
   2.1.2) Circulus in probando

   2.2) Ignorantio elenchi
   2.2.1) Argumentum ad hominem
   2.2.2) Argumentum ad populum
   2.2.3) Argumentum ad ignorantiam
   2.2.4) Argumentum ad verecundiam
   2.2.5) Argumentum ad judicium
   2.2.6) Argumentum ad baculum
   2.2.7) Argumentum ex concessio
   2.3) Complex Question

   2.4) Non Sequitur
   2.4.1) Simple non sequitur
   2.4.2) False cause-post hoc. ergo propter hoc

VERB TENSES

2009-08-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

A. Simple Tenses

1.) Present Tense - describes what is happening, what is true at the
moment, and what is consistently true

a.) describing what is happening now, in the present

b.) describing a habitual or regularly occurring action

c.) expressing a general truth or widely help opinion

d.) describing a fixed- time future event

e.) discussing "timeless" events and activities

2.) Past Tense - tells of an action completed or a condition created

3.) Future Tense - indicates action yet to be taken or a condition not
yet experienced

B.) Perfect Tenses

-uses the past participle together with auxiliary verbs

-generally describes actions or occurences that have

already been completed or that will be completed before

a more recent point in time

1.) Present Perfect Tense - allows that action begun and completed in

the past also continues-or its effects continue into the

present

have + past participle

2.) Past Perfect Tense - indicates that an action was completed before

another one took place. When two actions both started and

stopped in the past, the earlier action uses had as a helper.

had + past participle

3.) Future Perfect Tense - indicates that an action will be complete

before some specified or predictable time

will have/shall have + past participle

2009-05-15T00:44:00.000-07:00

H1N1 Virus or "swine flu"...

(..got this from a close friend=D sorry if there's no acknowledgment of the source...)

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by influenza type A which infects pigs. There are many types, and the infection is constantly changing. Until now it has not normally infected humans, but the latest form clearly does, and can be spread from person to person - probably through coughing and sneezing.

What is new about this type of swine flu?

The World Health Organization has confirmed that at least some of the human cases are a never-before-seen version of the H1N1 strain of influenza type A.

H1N1 is the same strain which causes seasonal outbreaks of flu in humans on a regular basis. But this latest version of H1N1 is different: it contains genetic material that is typically found in strains of the virus that affect humans, birds and swine.

Flu viruses have the ability to swap genetic components with each other, and it seems likely that the new version of H1N1 resulted from a mixing of different versions of the virus, which may usually affect different species, in the same animal host. Pigs provide an excellent 'melting pot' for these viruses to mix and match with each other.

How dangerous is it?

Symptoms of swine flu in humans appear to be similar to those produced by standard, seasonal flu. These include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Most cases so far reported around the world appear to be mild, but in Mexico lives have been lost.

How worried should people be?

When any new strain of flu emerges that acquires the ability to pass from person to person, it is monitored very closely in case it has the potential to spark a global epidemic, or pandemic. The World Health Organization has warned that taken together the Mexican and US cases could potentially trigger a global pandemic, and stress that the situation is serious. However, experts say it is still too early to accurately assess the situation fully. Currently, they say the world is closer to a flu pandemic than at any point since 1968 - upgrading the threat from three to four on a six-point scale following an emergency meeting on Monday. Nobody knows the full potential impact of a pandemic, but experts have warned that it could cost millions of lives worldwide. The Spanish flu pandemic, which began in 1918, and was also caused by an H1N1 strain, killed millions of people. The fact that all the cases in the US and elsewhere have so far produced mild symptoms is encouraging. It suggests that the severity of the Mexican outbreak may be due to an unusual geographically-specific factor - possibly a second unrelated virus circulating in the community - which would be unlikely to come into play in the rest of the world. Alternatively, people infected in Mexico may have sought treatment at a much later stage than those in other countries. It may also be the case that the form of the virus circulating in Mexico is subtly different to that elsewhere - although that will only be confirmed by laboratory analysis. There is also hope that, as humans are often exposed to forms of H1N1 through seasonal flu, our immune systems may have something of a head start in fighting infection. However, the fact that many of the victims are young does point to something unusual. Normal, seasonal flu tends to affect the elderly disproportionately.

Can the virus be contained?

The virus appears already to have started to spread around the world, and most experts believe that containment of the virus in the era of readily available air travel will be extremely difficult.

Can it be treated?

The US authorities say that two drugs commonly used to treat flu, Tamiflu and Relenza, seem to be effective at treating cases that have occurred there so far. However, the drugs must be administered at an early stage to be effective. Use of these drugs may also make it less likely that infected people will pass the virus on to others. The UK Government already has a stockpile of Tamiflu, ordered as a precaution against a pandemic. It is unclear how effective currently available flu vaccines would be at offering protection against the new strain, as it is genetically distinct from other flu strains. US scientists are already developing a bespoke new vaccine, but it may take some time to perfect it, and manufacture enough supplies to meet what could be huge demand. A vaccine was used to protect humans from a version of swine flu in the US in 1976. However, it caused serious side effects, including an estimated 500 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome. There were more deaths from the vaccine than the outbreak.

What should I do to stay safe?

Anyone with flu-like symptoms who might have been in contact with the swine virus - such as those living or travelling in the areas of Mexico that have been affected - should seek medical advice. But patients are being asked not to go into GP surgeries in order to minimise the risk of spreading the disease to others. Instead, they should stay at home and call their healthcare provider for advice. After the WHO raised its alert level over swine flu, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office began advising against all but essential travel to Mexico.

What measures can I take to prevent infection?

Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough. General infection control practices and good hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza. This includes covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible and disposing of it promptly. It is also important to wash your hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people and cleaning hard surfaces like door handles frequently using a normal cleaning product. If caring for someone with a flu-like illness, a mask can be worn to cover the nose and mouth to reduce the risk of transmission. The UK is looking at increasing its stockpile of masks for healthcare workers for this reason. But experts say there is no scientific evidence to support more general wearing of masks to guard against infections.

Is it safe to eat pig meat?

Yes. There is no evidence that swine flu can be transmitted through eating meat from infected animals. However, it is essential to cook meat properly. A temperature of 70C (158F) would be sure to kill the virus.

What about bird flu?

The strain of bird flu which has caused scores of human deaths in South East Asia in recent years is a different strain to that responsible for the current outbreak of swine flu. The latest form of swine flu is a new type of the H1N1 strain, while bird, or avian flu, is H5N1. Experts fear H5N1 hold the potential to trigger a pandemic because of its ability to mutate rapidly. However, up until now it has remained very much a disease of birds. Those humans who have been infected have, without exception, worked closely with birds, and cases of human-to-human transmission are extremely rare - there is no suggestion that H5N1 has gained the ability to pass easily from person to person.

Where can I get further advice?

Further information and advice on swine flu can be found at websites of leading health and research organisations around the world. The World Health Organisation gives background information on the virus. The UK's Health Protection Agency advises the public about what to do if returning from an affected area. NHS Choices outlines how swine flu is different from other flu. The US government's Centre for Disease Control is counting the number of cases in the US. You can also track the spread of swine flu reports using unofficial sources. Healthmaps maps viruses using news reports. Social media guide Mashable lists some ways to track the virus . Links to useful websites are being shared on Twitter , the micro-blogging service.
PASS THIS TO EVERYONE.. SPREAD THE AWARENESS..

2009-02-13T06:35:00.001-08:00

Does Machiavelli support Liberal Interventionism?

After its inception in the 1980’s, the principle of liberal intervention has now become widely accepted and practiced by dominant (democratic) states and international organizations—such as the United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The deployment of peacekeeping forces, armed forces or any foreign policy geared towards intervening in the domestic affairs of state in conflict have become frequently practiced by dominant democratic states such as the United States of America, France, United Kingdom or even UN. Although intervention as it is explicitly manifested by crossing borders is already understood as a violation of state sovereignty, states have become no longer reluctant to engage in such act for the sake of promoting human rights.

As the principle of ‘liberal intervention’ has already been established in the 1980’s by Paris-based intellectuals—Mario Bettati, an international law professor and physician-activist Bernard Kouchner, its adoption happened during the Bosnian conflict Kouchner, as a believer of such principle, explicitly expressed it by saying, “…the day will come…when we are able to say…‘Mr. Dictator, we are going to stop you preventively from oppressing, torturing and exterminating your ethnic minorities” (MacArthur 2003). On the other hand, Bettati, as one its proponents, defined it as “the ‘right to intervene’ to stop mass murder and prosecution” (MacArthur 2003).

Although liberal interventionism has become popular with democratic countries, it is not devoid of criticisms and doubts. As for the promotion of human rights, the intervening states, with or without permission—which is no longer necessary, enter the territory of the state in conflict. Doing so, they have violated the state’s sovereignty and hence, under international law. Furthermore, although the intervening parties already have the knowledge of it, they justify it as something of their obligation to promote “universal freedom, and as a revolutionary project for universal liberation by bringing about political revolutions in remote corners of the world” (Sauer-Thompson 2006). However, having these interventions resulted to greater casualties—as what happened to the NATO bombing where it led to the “death of more Albanians than would have died from nonintervention—–by sowing panic and granting the Serbs a pretext for settling scores with the KLA” (MacArthur 2003). With this, intervention has greater risk of killing bystanders, those who are not armed-than not intervening at all. But contrary to this, the interventionists—for instance in person of Koucher that such unforeseeable circumstances really happen but the situation is still much better off because they were still able to save lives—as what he have said pertaining to the Bosnian conflict when France came to rescue in 1992, “the Bosnians were surely better off with the airlift than they would have been without it” (Traub 2008).

Furthermore, the core principles of liberal interventionism as criticized by Howard (2006) in his book are delusional because liberal interventionists are not only “apt wholly misjudge a foreign mindset, but they are also inadvertently responsible for fuelling mistrust with rival states - at the very time when this ought to be avoided”.

Hence, those are the reflections of past events in the twentieth century; but how about if, we are going to ask Machiavelli? Does he support the so-called “liberal interventionism”?

Analyzing it based on his works—The Prince and the Discourses…, Machiavelli—for several points—do not support the principle of “liberal intervention”. First, let us consider—what does liberal interventionism promotes? According to liberal interventionists or those who believe in it—for instance, Tony Blair said that, their war is “a struggle about justice and tolerance as well as security and prosperity” (Sauer-Thompson 2003). Moreover, since it promotes human rights—it values individual even to the point of violating state sovereignty. With this, it is apparent that it serves contrary to Machiavelli’s view that the state must be prioritized, as he stated that “when the safety of our country is absolutely at stake—there need be no question of what is just or unjust, merciful or cruel, praiseworthy or disgraceful that course alone is to be taken which may save our country and maintain its liberty” (Allen 1928, p. 474). With this, he believes in struggle for liberty, however, for his country to attain it against the foreigners, it has to procure its native armies. This procurement of native armies, according to Allen (1928), is a manifestation of Machiavelli’s belief that the stability of the state depends on the patriotism of its people; and that the patriotic republic is the strongest of all possible states. Hence, Machiavelli believes on that the patriotism of the people is the strongest foundation of the state. Furthermore, although Machiavelli believes that tyranny is worst form of government, in the same way as that of liberals, he did not raised the question about who is going to oust such tyrant—is it the people themselves or foreigners? Moreover, Machiavelli also purported—as he stated in the Discourses under Chapter 1of the Third Book—that in restoring the kingdom, it should be done by the people rather than “to have an extrinsic force do it”.

Furthermore, Machiavelli believes that people has the capacity to fight for their liberty, as he stated in The Prince, “the people are more concerned about, and more willing to defend, liberty than either princes or nobles (Machiavelli 1965, 204-205 as cited in Nederman 2005). With this, there is no need for foreign or external forces to intervene in the domestic affairs of the state or to help oust the tyrant or the oppressor because the people can do it for themselves. And besides this will only foster their patriotism, hence, intervention will just spoil the development of such in the state. Moreover, another point is that, liberal interventionism involves purely foreign efforts which will stand contrary to Machiavelli’s views and sentiments against foreigners—whom he believed to be hindrance to the unity of Italy . Another point, why Machiavelli does not support liberal interventionism is that the fact that he does not support individual human rights especially in the realm of international relations in which, for him there is only amorality. As based on the explanation of Erb (2005) in his paper, Machiavelli as an archetypical realist reflects the theory in international relations—realism. As a realist, he views human nature the same way as Hobbes. Moreover, as he believes that the conduct of human relations should be amoral, one should only think about power and national interest, rather than on other things such as individual human rights. Furthermore, when going to war, the realist only thinks about power and self-interest—hence, he only thinks about winning the war, gaining dominance against its rivals and maintaining order or status quo, shunning anarchy (Erb 2005). According to Erb (2005), realists are not concerned about people—as we pertain to international relations—and he does not the consider the fact that politics affect people In contrast to liberals, they believe that international relations should not be separated from morality. However, this does not mean that Machiavelli ignored morality. It is just that, in The Prince, morality is set aside whenever there are more important things that would secure you in power or would be for the benefit of the state.

Therefore, all those arguments only lead into one conclusion: Machiavelli does not support liberal interventionism. He will go to war if it promotes national interest. Other than that—like capitalism or human rights, he will not participate in war. Hence, this stands in contrast to liberal interventionism, for which the state goes to war for the promotion of individual human rights. Moreover, Machiavelli also believed that those unfortunate consequences in war or even not winning the serve as “dismal failure” as Erb puts it.

Bibliography

Allen, J.W.A .History of Political Thought in the Sixteenth Century.

Methuen & Co Ltd.: Great Britain , 1928.

Erb, Scott. "Machiavelli and Power Politics." Paper presented at the University of

Maine at Farmington , (2005).

<http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/Machiavelli.html>.

accessed on 5 Dec 2008.

Howard, Roger. (2006).What's Wrong with Liberal Interventionism: The Dangers and

Delusions of the Interventionist Doctrine.

< http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/pub/001013.php>

accessed on 28 Dec 2008.

MacArthur, John R.(2003) Against Liberal Intervention.<http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/humanint/2003/0728

liberal.htm> accessed on 3 Dec 2008.

Nederman, Cary.(2005).Niccolò Machiavelli. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/machiavelli/#7> accessed on 2 Dec 08.

Sauer-Thompson, Gary . (2006). Liberal interventionism & Carl Schmitt.

<http://www.sauer-thompson.com/archives/philosophy/2006/03/

liberal_interve.html> accessed on 28 Nov 2008.

Traub, James (2008). Letters: A Statesman without Borders.

< http://iht.com/articles/2008/02/03/news/03kouchnert.php?page=6>

accessed on 28 Nov 2008.

“Justice and the Harmonious Society: Platonic and Contemporary Ideas”

2009-02-13T06:32:00.000-08:00

As one of his profound works, The Republic manifest Plato’s proposal of an ideal society. Notwithstanding the emphasis on man, it presented justice as a “‘universal principle’ laid down at the foundation of the commonwealth” (Ebenstein 2000, p. 50). Hence, the focal discussion of The Republic revolves around questions on justice—‘what is it and why one should be just’. However, going beyond Plato’s ideas, there are also contemporary ideas on justice—for which some stand in contrast with the kind of justice purported in The Republic, such as Rawls’ Theory on Justice and Michael Walzer, Spheres of Justice.

As to substantiate his own theory, Plato presented the conventional theories of justice for which he all rejected. These were represented on the views espoused by Cephalus—that “justice means honesty and rendering what is due to gods and men”, Polemarchus—that “it is helping one’s friends and harming one’s enemies”, Thrasymarchus—that it serves the interest of the stronger, and Glaucon—that it is ‘unnatural’ and serve for the interest of the weaker (Ebenstein 2000, p. 29). All were debunked, indeed, as they are not satisfactory for Socrates and as the definition, specifically, Polemarchus’ view, satisfy that of a despot’s moral standards. Moreover as explained in Bhandari’s (1998) article, all of their views treat justice as something external and unnatural. In contrary, Plato argued that “justice is internal as it resides in the human soul”; and it is natural as it is “the right condition of the human soul by the very nature of man when seen in the fullness of his environment” (Bhandari 1998). This is further supported in the latter part of the discussion in the Republic—“justice is not a matter of external behavior, but of the inward self and of attending to all that is, in the fullest sense, a man’s proper concern” (Ebenstein 2000, p.56). Hence, with this, Plato proceeded to discuss the real nature of justice and injustice. To aid the inquiry, justice is examined relative to the state before the individual.

To further explain Plato’s ideas on justice and the harmonious society, it is necessary to discuss how the commonwealth is established. Since, the commonwealth is formed due to the fact that no man is self-sufficing; then, the provision of the various needs of man—primary of which are food, shelter and clothing—prompted a larger population. Thus, it was first proposed that there is the need for producers—farmers, builders and weavers. As luxuries expand the need for more producers and craftsmen who are only keeping one trade for themselves—markets are necessary to keep the enlarging population. Thus, along with the complete formation of the commonwealth, in which the composition brought first the producers, war becomes inevitable; hence there is the need for an army to fight for them. With this, all they need is someone or few people to govern them, who are basically free from doing things other than ruling—the Guardians. With this, the established commonwealth consists of three classes—the guardians, the auxiliaries and the producers (farmers, artisans and traders). For the rulers, they have to possess the virtue wisdom in order to rule. Auxiliaries, on the other hand, possess courage, while the producers are only left with instinctual desires or appetites. Thus, there will be four virtues in the state—wisdom and courage to be both possessed only by the few; temperance and justice. Furthermore, according to Plato, temperance reside in both governed and the governors (Ebenstein 2000, p.50). Temperance is defined as “the kind of orderliness—the control of certain pleasures and appetites” (Ebenstein 2000, p.49). As being temperate means being the master of oneself, according to Plato, then the control of certain pleasures will prevent conflict.

Furthermore, justice, as being explicitly characterized by Plato, is a “universal principle that everyone is ought to perform the one function in the community for which his nature best suited him.” This means that for those who possess wisdom, they should rule the commonwealth, but for those who do not possess such virtue, should contain himself with what is according to his nature. Moreover, justice also means “minding one’s business—concerning oneself with what properly belongs to him, and not meddling with other men’s concern” (Ebenstein 2000, p. 50). Hence, these statements, it is apparent that producers, for maintenance of justice, should not question the decision of the guardians. Moreover, aside from that, to make a just society—the three classes should do its own work.

Therefore, this implies that justice leads to a harmonious society. If each class would fulfill its own obligations and minds its own business, then the dynamics within the relationships among the classes will be smooth and devoid of conflicts. Furthermore, since the one given the right to rule are wise—and since being just, the two classes were subordinated and ruled by the guardians—then it also becomes a harmonious society.

Similar with Plato, John Rawls—a contemporary moral and political philosopher of the second half of the 20th century—sees justice as the “first virtue of all institutions”. However, their theories stand in contrast to each other, as Rawls’ principles of social justice are liberal-egalitarian in nature, Plato’s justice is tied to an internal state of the person rather than to social norms (Slote 2002). As discussed and argued by Slote (2002) in his article, Rawls’ conception of justice is a non-virtual ethical approach while Plato’s Republic is a virtue ethical approach because it treats justice as an “overarching virtue of individuals”. Furthermore, Rawls conception of society is “defined by fairness: social institutions are to be fair to all cooperating members of society, regardless of their race, gender, religion, class of origin, reasonable conceptions of the good life” (Garett 2005). With this, he treated justice as fairness. Moreover, his conception of justice has been developed based on the perspective that individuals are free and equal (Garett 2005). According to Rawls, as discussed in Garett’s (2002) article, there are two general principles of justice to structure society in the real world: ‘the principle of equal liberty’ and the ‘difference principle’. The principle of equal liberty, states that “each person has an equal right to a fully adequate scheme of equal basic liberties which is compatible with a similar scheme of liberties for all,” (Garett 2005). These ‘equal basic liberties’, as provided by Rawls in Garett (2005), include: freedom of thought, liberty of conscience, political liberties, freedom of association, freedoms specified by the liberty and integrity of the person, and the rights and liberties covered by the rule of law. On the other hand, the difference principle, states that “(1) social and economic inequalities should be arranged so that they are both, to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged persons and (2) attached to the offices and positions open to all under conditions of equality of opportunity” (Garett 2002). The first part means that through society’s projects, the lives of the least advantaged will be better-off—as the community’s living standards will be raised, and they will be empowered as consistent to their well-being. And the second part means that no irrelevant criteria shall discriminate access to privileged positions.

Aside from Rawls, another contemporary political theorist is the American Michael Walzer, who proposed a pluralistic theory of justice in 1983 which is the Sphere of Justice. In this theory, the focus is on distributive justice—the determination whether who will receive benefits and particular burdens within society. As briefly discussed by Van Til (2005), Walzer argued that “burdens and benefits are distributed differently according to the sphere of justice to which they pertain”. According to Walzer, goods are “culturally produced and socially defined products that gain both their meaning and their value within a particular cultural setting” (Van Til 2005).

As contrast to Rawls, Walzer argued that there is no one norm of justice because it cannot sufficiently address the plurality of institutions and relationships in various societies (Van Til 2005). Furthermore, according to Van Til (2005), that a single standard of distributive justice does not work, especially across cultures. Hence, it is argued that for Walzer, justice should become a ‘local affair’.

Furthermore, justice, according to Walzer, occurs “when goods are distributed according to these locally appropriate criteria of distribution” while injustice, on the other hand, occurs “when the criterion for distribution is not appropriate to the sort of good being distributed, or when one type of goods can be garnered with resources that cross the borders of its sphere” (Van Til 2005).

Thus, with all those ideas of Walzer, of Rawls and of Plato, one can observe that they have different basis of conceptions of justice. Plato based it on the composition of the soul—as presented in his analogy state’s justice and of the individual—justice occurs when all the classes or the elements set itself in accordance with its own nature and when it fulfills its duties in the state, which also imply a harmonious society. Moreover, Rawls, on the other hand, based his conception of justice on the perspective that all are free and equal. Hence, all should be given the opportunity, benefits—especially for the least advantaged, and particular burdens in the society. Furthermore, Walzer in his pluralistic theory considers culture as a factor and that there should be no one norm of justice.

Bibliography

Bhandari, D.R. (1998). Plato's Concept of Justice: An Analysis.

accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

Brown, Eric. (2003).
accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

Ebenstein William and Ebenstein, Alan. Great Political Thinkers. Plato to the Present
Sixth Edition Thompson Wadsworth , 2000.

Faiz, Pan Mohamad. (2007).JOHN RAWLS’ LIBERAL-EGALITARIAN PRINCIPLES
OF SOCIAL JUSTICE. accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

Garrett, Jan. (2002). John Rawls on Justice. accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

Garrett, Jan. (2005). Rawls' Mature Theory of Social Justice: An Introduction for
Students. . accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

Norman, Richard. Free and Equal: A Philosphical Examination of Political Values
Oxford University Press: United States of America , 1987.

Slote, Michael. (2002). Justice as a Virtue. accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

Van Til , Kent A.(2005). Abraham Kuyper and Michael Walzer: The Justice of the
Spheres. accessed on 03 Dec 2008.

Wenar, Leif. (2008). John Rawls. accessed on 01 Dec 2008.

2008-09-06T20:52:00.001-07:00

The Other Side of your Heart

Behind the portrait of your eyes,
A placid soul lies,
Serene as the blue sea,
Yet perturbed by its perplexity.

For beyond your soul’s silence,
Hides a heart torned by turbulence,
A dilemma of chance & choice,
That mixed emotions would never rejoice.

Rapid melancholic beats,
Reverberating as it hits,
The highest mellow tone,
Of a music forbidden by its own,

For within that empty space,
Lies a memory of a woman’s face,
The lady you have loved so dear,
Amidst the moment unclear,

Pouring all your love unto her heart,
Here I am unnoticed since the start,
Joys and excitements you had with her,
Woes & bitterness alone I suffer.

Why hast thou caused me this enigma?
Is this love influenced by some dogma?
Or a simply perennial feeling of longingness,
Caught by a bait of powerlessness,

Who am I to move you?
Forcefully tell you what to do,
For you I am just an ordinary someone,
Who could never be that special One.

For deep within your heart,
I could never replace that woman’s part,
In your life as it never departs,
Frozen by memories of fate’s art,
Could I just be at the other side of your heart?

September 15, 2006
By Diana Mae R. Bebelone

2008-09-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Why You?

My mind ponders as I reminisce,
The memories woven by our existence,
And the bizarre fate that hones,
Life and its melancholic tones,

Yes, you were there,
Standing beside me unaware,
Of the future that binds us two,
Unevitably leaving us no clue,

Why then does it have to be you?
With the vastness of the ocean so blue,
The intricacy of creatures & foes,
And the passing epochs of joys and woes,

Timidity of my heartbeat unexplainable,
Feelings for you seems unbearable,
For you I have just been a shadow,
Unnoticed as a tiny flower among the willows,

Who am I to tell you anyway?
You’re near and yet so far away,
Your stares and glances reserved enough,
For someone who struck you with love so tough,

Then why does my heart speak of you?
You’re not even my ideal man of cue,
I just can’t understand the reason why,
Even of catching the thrill of a sly,

Everything between us just seems feeble,
That I’d rather think it’s impossible,
Than to hope for something unreachable,

I’ll stay just as inconspicuous,
A loving friend less momentous,
Partaking with your laughter & Fears,
Always willing to shed a tear…

February 21, 2006-by Diana Mae R. Bebelone

2008-07-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

PREJUDICE

A thousand times it bit me--
poker face, melancholy,
such a coward bravery,
is the funny irony.

Do I lack self expression?
Is it mere discrimination?
Strangers, even friends or foe,
possess such kind-monstrous rogue.

-by Charity T. Fernandez