A Universal History essays

A Universal History essays There were many philosophers throughout time who sought constantly to identify a Universal History. These philosophers believed in continuity. History to them was a progressive revelation of the way the universe was structured and through this belief, they felt better able to explain mans origin and purpose in life as a whole. Not all philosophers followed or studied Universal Histories as can be seen in the times of Greek antiquity. The philosophers and writers of antiquity never ventured in the writings of Universal Histories, even though the philosophical and historical traditions of the Western world began in Greece. They only acknowledged a cyclical view of History, not one of continuity. Through the politics of the well known philosopher Aristotle, we see that he firmly believed that no regime could ever satisfy man completely, but that man, through being dissatisfied would constantly replace one regime with another, hence his belief that history was a never ending cycle. Plato also spoke in the Republic of regimes having certain natural cycles. The Greek view of that time therefore showed history was not secular but cyclical (Fukuyama 1992, p55 thought. The first Universal Histories we see came from Christianity in the Middle Ages. Christians were the first in presenting the idea that through the eyes of God, man was equal to one another and that people all over the world shared in the same destiny. Christianity introduced the concept of a history that was finite in time, beginning with Gods creation of man and ending with his final salvation (Fukuyama 1992, p56). For Christians there was a definite belief of there being a day of judgement sometime in the future, where all earthly history would cease to exist and the universe would be no more. These beliefs describe a ...

e-strategy essays

e-strategy essays Successful firms will integrate the e-Business into their Company strategy. Cisco, Dell, Amazon, Charles Schwab-the names that consistently appear on any list of leading e-businesses-are not successful because they use cool technology. Rather, they are successful because they use technology to achieve business objectives and they have integrated e-business with their businesses-so much so that it probably makes more sense to call them "e-businesses" rather than "businesses." Used properly e-Business will be one of the forte for company to increase income and profits. While business plan to venture into e-Business, their goal should be to develop a sustainable competitive advantage. e-Business can compliment the company in achieving its goal. Generally there are two forms of competition Operating effectiveness (production) and Competitive position (marketing). When businesses plan to move into e-Business, they need to identify the following Identify cost-cutting opportunities to streamline traditional and existing business processes Ensure costly mistakes - often experienced as a result of insufficient planning - are avoided Manpower with necessary skills are available to provide you with advice regarding cutting-edge technologies, to ensure you can make the most informed decisions for your eBusiness Produce a cost-effective strategy that utilizes multiple technologies for a variety of purposes. For example, eBusiness graphics can be used in traditional print media; and computer animation and electronic music borders on multi-media or TV commercial quality. Identify content management requirements, to further extend the ability to manage your eBusiness. Ensure accurate branding is used to strengthen your organizations traditional/offline image. Ensure the eBusiness accurately reflects your organisational structure. Ensure that all m...

What is Gnosticism What current expressions do you see today Essay

What is Gnosticism What current expressions do you see today - Essay Example "The demiurge may be depicted as an embodiment of evil, or in other instances as merely imperfect and benevolent as its inadequacy permits". Along with the demiurge exists a good supreme being, however remote and distant. In order to free oneself from the material world, one must find gnosis or "spiritual knowledge available to all through direct experience or knowledge". Some sects of Gnostics believe Jesus of Nazareth was sent to earth to bring gnosis, some believe he was sent to teach gnosis, and still others believe that he was just a man. In the first centuries before Christ, Gnosticism was popular in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean areas. It was, however, suppressed in the fourth century by the Roman Empire. In the middle ages, many converted to Islam. "Gnostic ideas became influential in the philosophies of various esoteric mystical movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries in Europe and North America, including some that explicitly identify themselves as revivals or even continuations of earlier gnostic groups". Unlike Judaism, Christianity, and a lot of Pagan systems, the soul is not held by a Supreme Power. Gnosticism places, "the salvation of the soul merely in the possession of a quasi-intuitive knowledge of the mysteries of the universe and of magic formulae indicative of that knowledge. Gnostics were "people who knew", and their knowledge at once constituted them a superior class of beings, whose present and future status was essentially different from that of those who, for whatever reason, did not know (Arendzen, 2007)." The Catholic Encyclopedia offers that "A more complete and historical definition of Gnosticism would be": A collective name for a large number of greatly-varying and pantheistic-idealistic sects, which flourished from some time before the Christian Era down to the fifth century, and which, while borrowing the phraseology and some of the tenets of the chief religions of the day, and especially of Christianity, held matter to be a deterioration of spirit, and the whole universe a depravation of the Deity, and taught the ultimate end of all being to be the overcoming of the grossness of matter and the return to the Parent-Spirit, which return they held to be inaugurated and facilitated by the appearance of some God-sent Saviour. (Arendzen, 2007) There are essentially two great components that comprise the basis of Gnostic thought. The first is astrology. Astrology involved the power and influence of certain planetary bodies or symbols. "The greatness of the Seven -- the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, the Sun, Jupiter, and Saturn -- the sacred Hebdomad, symbolized for millenniums by the staged towers of Babylonia, remained undiminished. They ceased, indeed, to be worshipped as deities, but they remained archontes and dynameis, rules and powers whose almost irresistible force was dreaded by man. Practically, they were changed from gods to devas, or evil spirits" (Arendzen, 2007). The second major component is magic, or "the power ex opere operato of weird names, sounds, gestures, and actions, as also the mixture of elements to produce effects totally disproportionate to the cause" (Arendzen, 2007). Various doctrines to Gnostic theories exist. These included Cosmogony, Sophia-Myth, Soteriology, Eschatology, Doctrine of the Primeval Man, and the Barbelo. Various rites also exist, including Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, the