Sunday, January 19, 2020
3.03 Managing Stress
Stress is a part of everyday life, but there is good stress and bad stress. The bad stress can be very detrimental to your health. Being able to manage the stress in your life is a very good skill to have. There are many ways that you can manage stress in your life but I am just going to talk about three. Yoga, reading, and jogging are just a few of the techniques that you can use in order to help relieve stress in your life.Yoga is a relaxation technique that is very helpful in diminishing the effects of stress on your life. The word yoga means ââ¬Å"to join or yoke together,â⬠and yoga brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience. Yoga incorporates exercise, breathing, and meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, thereby increasing its efficiency and total health. Breathing techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body.These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation, and the student finds an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress. Reading is a technique that I find to be extremely helpful in reducing stress. Psychologists believe this is because the human mind has to concentrate on reading and the distraction of being taken into a literary world eases the tensions in muscles and the heart.Even reading for just 7 minutes has been shown to relieve stress by 68 percent. Going into another world in the form of reading is extremely relaxing and, I think, the most effective way to reduce stress. Jogging can be the perfect distraction when you're dealing with a difficult situation. And the endorphins your body releases during running can give your mood a natural boost. By allowing you the time to think about life's problems or time to escape them for a while, tension easily flies out the door.Distance jogs are great for solving problems that are nagging at you. What better than a 3 hour jog all by yourself to clear your mind and allow you to pin down an answer? Even though there are many other ways that you can relieve stress these are the ones that I have chosen to relieve my stress. in trying all of these out I have found that reading was the best stress reliever that I had tried. Reading helped me to travel to another world and forget about all the stressors in my life even if it was only for an hour or two.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
A Belief Essay
ââ¬Å"I believe in God, the Father Almightyâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ starts the famous Catholic prayer, the Apostleââ¬â¢s Creed. And this is how I will also start this paper. I am not a very religious person but I do believe in a Supreme Being, in God, in an invisible an invincible hand that has created everything there is in on earth. This belief of mine is probably one of the most difficult things to prove since no one has ever actually seen this God I am pertaining to. However, a lot of people share my belief and a proof of this is the many religions and religious sects all over the world.The world kneels down and prays. Most of us pray for ourselves, our families, our relatives, our neighbors, even for people we do not know, and even for our enemies. We say our graces before and after meals; we close our eyes and talk to God before we rest for the night; and we blurt out Godââ¬â¢s name when we are caught up in extremely tough situations. Why do we do these things? Itââ¬â¢s as if p rayers are our e-mails, text messages, or phone calls to the God we cannot see but can only feel.We believe that somebody out or up there actually will read through our messages and reply or someone will answer our calls to listen to our pleas and eventually grant our wishes and fulfill our dreams. Even for not-so-religious or not-so-spiritual people, a simple ââ¬Å"Thank God! â⬠or ââ¬Å"Oh my God! â⬠is already an indirect or subtle acknowledgment that indeed there is a God. But where is God? Is he a male? Is she a female? Who knows? What I know is that when I was a kid, my Mom would always warn me to be good because someone up there in heaven is watching over my actions.So I came to believe that God lives in the heavens, smiling every time I am obedient but frowning in times I am naughty. As I grew older, I knew about the church, the sacred place for worship. It is here where people honor and praise God. A united community gathers and celebrates Godââ¬â¢s goodness. Prayers and songs of praise fill the air in glorifying Godââ¬â¢s name. But still, no physical being comes down from heaven to join in the holy celebration. Now that I am much wiser, I am told that I can find God in my fellowmen ââ¬â in my so-called brothers and sisters.God can actually be anyone from my Dad, to the cab driver, to my teacher, to a beggar, to a waiter, to whomever who does good deeds. God can be in disguise, in nameless faces, in unfamiliar places, in unexpected circumstances. Wherever happiness and goodness exist, God definitely exists. The Bible, which has existed since time immemorial, is a living proof of Godââ¬â¢s divine existence. Just like us today, the earliest people have felt Godââ¬â¢s presence in their lives. However, just like us as well, they only knew God as the creator, the Supreme Being, the higher one.Nobody knew Godââ¬â¢s ways ââ¬â how he/she looks, how he/she speaks, his/her mannerisms or hobbies, what have you. Except probably for films and TV shows that portray God either as an old man in a white shining robe or just plain white light, speaking in a mellow commanding voice, we know nothing of his/her true nature. What we know are the marvelous wondrous things God has done for us. I believe God knows what is best for each one of us thatââ¬â¢s why we call him/her the great provider who gives us only the things ââ¬â material or non-material, which we truly need.God is the hand that showers us with blessings. God is the light that guides every step or endeavor we take. God is the teacher who teaches us valuable lessons to learn in life. God is the kind heart that forgives all our shortcomings. God is the perfect epitome of how we should all live our lives. In my life, I always adhere to ââ¬Å"To see is to believe. â⬠But in the case of believing in God, not everything I do not see is unbelievable. I believe in God and will continue to do so. Why? Just simply call it faith.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Culturally Diverse Workplace Diversity Essay - 1808 Words
Culturally Diverse Workplace This paper describes the various aspects of a culturally diverse workplace including the benefits, detriments, and acceptance strategies. The University of Massachusetts, Boston and IBM are examples of organizations understanding the benefits of multicultural groups and taking the initiative to develop innovative strategies to recruit and retain diverse members. Besides noticeable differences, leaders must contend with unobservable differences. Hofstede identified cultural differences after researching components of IBM and as a result, developed the Dimensions of Cultural Distances. Leaders who understand the social differences will have a better opportunity to communicate with their employees without offending personnel. Regrettably, countries and regions such as Latin America and Saudi Arabia underutilize women in the workforce, which weakens the diversity in the working environment. Fighting to change political policies is one opportunity leader s can take to make a positive difference in global diversity while respecting their personal values. Leader Knowledge Diversity is no longer exclusive to recognizable differences such as race, gender, and culture; diversity now includes the viewpoints and methods of observable and unobservable variances a group offers to the workplace (Hewins-Maroney Williams, 2013). Multicultural work environments add to the complexity of a diverse workforce because the units consist of three or moreShow MoreRelatedThe Building Blocks Of Society Essay1708 Words à |à 7 Pagesgroup or category of people from another. Taken one step further, multiculturalism is the view that cultural differences should be respected and even encouraged. Sociologists use this concept when approaching cultural diversity within a society. Multiculturalism or cultural diversity has been around in societies, both modern and ancient for a very long time. Small regions with various kinds of costumes, traditions, language show up as early as Ancient Greece. Contemporary political theorists labelRead MoreDiversity in the Workplace1452 Words à |à 6 Pagesstatement diversity refers to the prevention of discrimination in conjunction with the improvement of equality. Itââ¬â¢s about valuing differences and inclusion; this is the act of spanning such areas as ethnicity, age, race, culture, sexual orientation, physical disability and religious beliefs. In a global marketplace diversity is theorised as a corporation that employs a diverse workforce in that includes both genders, people of many generations and those from ethnically and racially diverse backgroundsRead MoreThe Importance Of Creating And Managing A Culturally Diverse Working Environment?1665 Words à |à 7 Pagesshould know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their colour,â⬠(Angelou Johnson, 2014). This quote shows how cultural diversity is widely believed to be a benefit to society, but how do these benefits stretch to the con text of a business? This review will be looking into literature surrounding the question, what are the key outcomes of creating and managing a culturally diverse working environmentRead MoreHow Cultural Diversity Is Changing The Workforce. In Todayââ¬â¢S1196 Words à |à 5 PagesHow Cultural Diversity Is Changing the Workforce In todayââ¬â¢s society there are many culturally diverse people in the workforce. Most organizations can no longer make the assumption that every employee has similar beliefs or expectations. When entering into the global marketplace, people are considered one of the most valuable resources to an organizationââ¬â¢s success. A well-managed culturally diverse workforce has the potential to thrive if managed correctly; or if mismanaged, there can be devastatingRead MoreDiversity in the Workplace Essay1071 Words à |à 5 Pages Diversity in a Workplace Discrimination are more common in workplaces, because some people only think of discrimination as making a distinction and judgment of a person based on color of skin. Discrimination goes far beyond color of skin. A person can be disseminated agonist for their age, disability, gender, religion, or even for being pregnant. In a workplace there are standards and policies in place to decrease the chances of a person being discriminated against. When the staff is diverseRead MoreDiversity Training And Its Effectiveness1240 Words à |à 5 PagesDiversity may be defined as recognizing and respecting the similarities, differences and unique characteristics an individual employee contributes to the workplace. Diversity training and its effectiveness in the workplace has been met with differing conclusions as to the positive or negative impact this type of training may have on an organization. Today, change in the workplace is inevitable and diversity training in the workplace has becom e common across the globe. Companies now realize thatRead MoreRole Of The Cultural Perspective When Dealing With Conflict1029 Words à |à 5 Pagesand German managers may be uneasy with conflict resolution preferences that differ from their own.â⬠(Adams, p.110.) The understanding that organizational and global cultures vary results in the connected research supported in several businesses in diverse fields. This research did not only use the preferences of superiors employed in multicultural environments, when analyzing, but explored the role of each individualââ¬â¢s culture in defining a possible resolution. ââ¬Å"If managers insist on their culturalRead MoreDiversity Within The Workplace, Many People And Companies Encourage It1164 Words à |à 5 PagesWhen looking at diversity in the workplace, many people and companies encourage it. ââ¬Å"Cultural diversity has become a defining characteristic of an increasing number of societiesâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Consequences of Cultural diversityâ⬠this should be the author and the date). They feel that it is a great thing to have diversity in the workplace, however, what some companies do not think about is the negative effects of having too much diversity in the workplace. ââ¬Å"A workforce that has significant differences in ethnicityRead MoreDiversity For Success Of The Company1036 Words à |à 5 Pagesis inclusiveness in the workplac e. The author reveals that management has to ensure it successfully handles diversity in the workforce. The author argues that in the current workforce, which is diverse, the challenge is exclusion. The book has compiled extensive current information on social policy trends, legislative and demographic, as well as the analysis of causes and effects of workforce exclusion, and reveals that learning about how to manage the issue of diversity is critical. Therefore, basedRead MoreThe Issues Of Diversity For Success Of The Company1037 Words à |à 5 Pagesthere is inclusiveness in the workplace. The author reveals that management has to ensure it successfully handles diversity in the workforce. The author argues that in the current workforce, which is diverse, the challenge is exclusion. The book compiles extensive current information on social policy trends, legislative and demographic, as well as the analysis of causes and effects of workforce exclusion, and reveals that learning abo ut how to manage the issue of diversity is critical. Therefore, based
Thursday, December 26, 2019
A Lost City Found Among The Coral Reefs Of The Pacific
A lost city found among the coral reefs of the Pacific, Nan Mandol is now ruins adjacent to the eastern shore of the island of Pohnpei that once was the capital of the Saudeleur Dynasty until 1628 (Ayres et al. 1992). Recently, a research group from the Southern Methodist University led by Mark D. McCoy found the earliest direct evidence of monument building at Nan Madol (McCoy et al. 2016). This is a significant discovery that pushes back the initial age of dynasty in the Pacific over 100 years, and provides anthropologist a new way to study the evolution of society. Before this discovery, scientists had set the date for the first dynasty in the Pacific to around 1300 CE. McCoy et al. (2016) stated, ââ¬Å"The earliest evidence of hierarchicalâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The age they established was 1180 CE, over 100 years earlier than was previously assumed. The reason for its enhanced effectiveness is based around measuring the basalt samples carbon 14 content, and comparing it with the carbon 14 activity in modern and background samples. ââ¬Å"We report the earliest secure dates on the construction of monumental architecture in the remote islands of the Pacific located at the site of Nan Madol on Pohnpei Island in Eastern Micronesia. High-precision uranium series dating of coral from the tomb of the Saudeleur Dynasty indicate political control over the entire island was established by AD 1180ââ¬â1200 (770ââ¬â750 yr)â⬠(McCoy et al. 2016). This evidence is a strong indicator that Nan Mandol has had significant influence on other communities within Eastern Micronesia due to its early establishment. According to Clark et al. (2007), evidence drawn from monumental architecture is one of the greatest indicators for prehistoric socio-political organization. Nan Mandol is therefore opening a door to study the establishment of kingdoms in the Pacific. The island of Pohnpei is important for two reasons: First its archaeology, second its geology. Fir st, the date of settlement for Pohnpei has been estimated at AD 1 (1950 cal yr BP) (Athens et al.1990). According to Hanlon et al. (1988),Show MoreRelatedEnvironmental Issue in the Philippines2021 Words à |à 9 Pagestyphoon belt, in the active volcanic region known as the Pacific Ring of Fire, and in the geologically unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradation aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands,deforestation,soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishingRead MoreEssay on Global Warming3370 Words à |à 14 Pagescan aggravate allergies and respiratory illnesses. Rising temperatures across eastern U.S. will increase smog, illnesses, average ambient concentrations and the frequency of episodes of ozone pollution. Products of nature such as ice cores, coral reefs, ocean and lake sediments, and trees can offer valuable clues about changing climates in the ancient past. Modern instruments like satellites can provide knowledge about current activities affecting the earthââ¬â¢s land, oceans, and atmosphere. ScientistsRead MoreEssay on Climate Change and The Rise in Sea Level 2044 Words à |à 9 Pagesyears. This change in temperature largely caused, according to the IPCC, by the release of GHGs through human activities. There are several effects associated to the change in global temperature, mainly affecting ecosystems and populations worldwide. Among these effects or consequences are sea-level rise, drought, floods, loss of mangroves, and the intensification of storms and climate processes such as El Nino and La Nina. Recent studies have focused on sea-level rise and the global effects. Over theRead MoreThe Battle of Midway2841 Words à |à 12 Pagesbattle of World War II in the Pacific. Midway is nothing specialââ¬âjust a small string of islands six miles across built up to form coralââ¬âhowever its location and resources are important. If the United States of America had not been in possession of Midway, the Empire of Japan could have easily attacked Pearl Harbor, or possibly even the west coast of the United States. I believe the possession of the Island of Midway was a key ingredient to winning the war in the Pacific. Japan, which has almost noRead MoreThe Banyan Tree: Branding the Intangible5078 Words à |à 21 Pagesretail galleries promoting traditional craft, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts (BTHR) received its ï ¬ rst guest in 1994 in Phuket, Thailand. Since then, it had grown into a leading manager and developer of niche and premium resorts, hotels and spas in Asia Paciï ¬ c. Despite having minimal advertising, Banyan Tree achieved global exposure and a high level of brand awareness through the companyââ¬â¢s public relations and global ma rketing programs. Much interest was also generated by the companyââ¬â¢s socially responsibleRead MoreTaking a Look at Papua New Guinea3227 Words à |à 13 PagesApproximately 100 miles (160km) north of Australia, situates the second largest island in the south pacific called Papua New Guinea; occupying the eastern half of the rugged tropical island of New Guinea and some 700 offshore islands. With its comparative area size slightly larger than California, Papua New Guinea is about 287,595 miles in total area, of which 281,394 miles is land and 6,201 miles is water and accumulative of 3,201 miles of coastline. The central part of the island is composed ofRead MoreSience23554 Words à |à 95 Pagesconclusion that global warming has stopped, or doesnââ¬â¢t exist, see Alden Griffithââ¬â¢sà has global warming stopped? (As an aside, those crying foul of global warming claims when going through extremely cold weather in Europe for example in 2010, later found their summers to be full of heat waves. The point here is that a specific short period such as a cold winter ââ¬â or even a hot summer ââ¬â is not proof alone that global warming has stopped (or increased); short term variability can mask longer term trendsRead MoreEnvironmental Degradation9511 Words à |à 39 PagesIncreased population simply means increased water requirements on agricultural,industrial and domestic grounds.Agriculture will be the major demand for water resources because everybody need food to survive.In a survey in the united states it has been found out that lot of people have moved into urban areas from rural areas in the past twenty years,which brought demands of water to certain areas.In developing countries like India,China,Brazil people shifting to urban areas all of a sudden may cause overcrowdingRead MoreEssa y on A Better Earth4696 Words à |à 19 PagesThe patients condition is serious. Symptoms are multiple. His health is noxious. He has a fever, higher than ever before. Efforts to bring it down are not working. Poison has been found in body fluids. When symptoms are treated in one area, more pop up in other areas. If this were a usual patient, doctors would be inclined to declare the multiple sicknesses as chronic and terminal. Not knowing what else to do, they would just take steps to make the patient as comfortable as possible until the endRead MoreThe Philippine Architecture: Spanish Colonial Period18287 Words à |à 74 Pagesbuilding of the churches for the Christianity purposes; Domestic Architecture which caused the evolution from bahay kubo to bahay na bato into the idea of Arquitecture Mestiza; and lastly, Civil Architecture which involves structures needed in running the city. Spanish Colonial Intent in Relation to Historical Events in Europe As most of the people know, the Spaniardsââ¬â¢ goal was to conquer places or islands with rich in natural resources to add up to their territory and wealth. Expansion of territory can
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The 20th centurys 3 greatest composers Essay - 2358 Words
The 20th centurys 3 Greatest Composers The 20th century has watched many musicians break through their generations bounds of normalcy to creat a completely new music. Musicians who initiated revolutions so grandiose that the impactââ¬âlike an earthquakeââ¬â¢s aftershocksââ¬âwould reverberate for decades and influence scores of musicians to come. Such influences can be traced back to three specific composers. Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, and Nadia Boulanger: the triumvirate of 20th century music. Igor Stravinsky, remains the centuryââ¬â¢s most shocking and versatile composer. Born in Russia in 1882, Stravinsky enjoyed a musically wealthy childhood. He was the son of a famous opera singer and well-educated in piano performance andâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The opening of Dance of the Adolescent Girls is a prime example of Stravinskyââ¬â¢s dizzying rhythmic trickery. Lower strings play an ostinato E major triad, while upper strings play a first inversion 7th chord on Eb. All instruments play 4 quarter notes per measure. However, Stravinskyââ¬â¢s placement of accents causes listeners to hear the notes in groups of 9, 2, 6, 3, 4, 5, and 3 (Hanning 483-4). Such rhythmic manipulations were a very radical theory in Stravinskys day. Add to that the fact that this music was intended as dance accompaniment, and one can clearly see how Stravinsky broke the mold as a composer. Unfortunately, audiences were not always receptive to his efforts. During Riteââ¬â¢s May 28, 1913 evening premiere at Theatre des Champs-Elysees, the preludeââ¬â¢s opening measures ââ¬Å"evoked derisive laughterâ⬠from the audience (Harrington). Composer, Camille Saint-Saens stormed out immediately, appalled by Stravinskyââ¬â¢s audacious writing for bassoon. Fights erupted between audience members. Stravinsky fled to the wings where choreographer, Nijinsky, frantically shouted counts to the dancers. The choreographer was so enraged, Stravinsky literally had to hold his shirt to prevent Nijinskys attacking of the irreverent crowd (Glass). Members of that evenings audience could hardly fathom the ballet would later be hailed as one of the centurys greatest works. Above image shows Stravinsky (left) posing with Nijinsky (right).Show MoreRelatedMaster Filmaker Akira Kurosawa1250 Words à |à 5 Pagesinfluence that very few directors can challenge. What seemed to most invigorate him were his plans for the next film. He also expected the same level of dedication and energy from his cast and crew. Kurosawa was a director to be compared to the greatest writers of any century, a true master of storytelling. Throughout Akiras career he pursued filmmaking in an exploratory manor. Using film techniques that were equally controlled and experimental. His use of slow motion photography during battleRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words à |à 656 Pages(electronic) 1. History, Modernââ¬â20th century. 2. Twentieth century. 3. Social historyââ¬â20th century. 4. World politicsââ¬â20th century. I. Adas, Michael, 1943ââ¬â II. American Historical Association. D421.E77 2010 909.82ââ¬âdc22 2009052961 The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciencesââ¬âPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992 Printed in the United States of America 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 C ONTENTS Introduction
Monday, December 9, 2019
eBay User free essay sample
The UPS guy is messing with me. He has driven by my house three times today and only five families live on my street. I am awaiting the arrival of a used Conn alto saxophone, my latest purchase made through eBay. The online, set-time auction site has been synonymous with online shopping since the ââ¬Å"dot-com boomâ⬠of the mid-1990ââ¬â¢s; but in recent years as the monsterously large site has been nudged out of the public spotlight by the emergence of copious competitors, I have still remained faithful to eBay. If you have ever used eBay, you know that you can buy just about anything. In a small town like mine, there are certain pleasures that cannot be bought nearby (like authentic Japanese Tron posters) or are difficult to find in stores (like stylophones or melodicas). In the way that the internet has made information exchange available despite geographic separation, eBay has made the purchase of items practical, collectable, or whimsical, possible to anybody with a PayPal account. We will write a custom essay sample on eBay User or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page eBay is my favorite site, and as a user since childhood, I can trace my life in an otherwise unseen way by tracing my bids, won or lost, on my account. I can justify any bid I have made, reliving my former interests as I review each item. As is true with any business, frequent users are encouraged to learn the tricks of the trade if they want to master the site, but in the process of proficiently learning the art of online auctioning, I have been able to pick up more than a few lessons that translate well to the real world. I have learned that there is a time and a place for everything, and while you might be ahead, it is important to stop and evaluate what it really means to you. If you are fighting over an impulse that is bringing you nothing but stress, remember there will always be another auction and while it might not be today, your moment will come. While it is always important to believe in yourself, there are times when it is important to know your limits as well as your strengths. If you know you can stay up until the last minute of an auction, more power to you, but if you are asking yourself if you could buy the same item hassel-free for the same price at a store, then you are probably in the wrong auction. Just as I have learned the importance of self-awareness, I have learned to know what to expect and to be prepared to live with the cards that I am dealt. My first purchase of Arrested Development DVDââ¬â¢s taught me that some people have different definitions of ââ¬Å"very good condition.â⬠My sega Genesis taught me that parts arenââ¬â¢t always included (specifically a controller or power supply). My Homer Simpson phone taught me that a package can only protect itself so much when it goes through eight UPS offices. Even now as I am awaiting a saxophone that was described as ââ¬Å"slightly used,â⬠I am prepared to take life as it unfolds and appreciate what I get, rather than resent what I do not. The truck is long gone and it looks like I am going another night sax-less, but you learn to be patient when you rely on a brown truck to deliver everything you buy. Besides, what do you expect when shipping and handling from Japan is only $15.60?
Monday, December 2, 2019
The Influence Of Writers On Charles Darwin Essays - Charles Darwin
The Influence Of Writers On Charles Darwin The theory of Evolution as presented by Charles Darwin has had a great impact on the world today. It has caused many debates between religious authorities and those from the scientific community. This theory had prompted individuals to think about themselves, their origins and it has changed the way in which they view themselves in the environment. However, Darwin was not the first person to write on evolution. There were many others before him such as Lamarck, Buffon, and Darwin's grandfather Erasmus Darwin. However, what distinguishes Charles Darwin from the others is the fact that he collected and provided substantial proofs and he related various branches of science such as geology, botany and biology which helped validate his theories. His theory of natural selection as stated by Nelson and Jurmain (1991, p.606) in the modern form is that "the evolutionary factor causes changes in allele frequencies in populations due to differential net reproductive success of individuals." His grasp of the evolutionary process and the clarity of his work makes Charles Darwin the most popular figure in the scientific field of Evolution (Francoeur, 1965, p.34). Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was the fourth child of Dr. Robert Darwin and grandson of Erasmus Darwin. Much of Charles' childhood was spent collecting insects, coins and reading various literature on natural history, travel and poetry. Charles Darwin was not a scholarly student during his years at Edinburgh Medical College. He disliked what was taught and found most of the lectures boring, yet he developed a natural interest in studying rocks and fossils. He convinced his father that he could not be a doctor as his father had wished, so instead Charles Darwin studied Theology at the University of Cambridge. After his studies he was given the opportunity to travel on the H.M.S. Beagle as a naturalist. Darwin took this opportunity and it is this voyage that propelled him to begin his work on evolution. During his research, Darwin read several references which greatly influenced his own writings. Although there were many factors which affected Darwin's theories this paper will discuss how Darwin was influenced by the beliefs of William Paley, Erasmus Darwin, Thomas Malthus and Charles Lyell. Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) was a well renowned doctor, poet and philosopher who wrote many books concerning nature. Among his works Zoonomia, a medical textbook, has received the most attention. In this work Erasmus Darwin expressed such ideas as "evolution by natural and sexual selection, protective adaptation, inheritance of acquired characteristics, and even the evolution of mankind" almost fifty years before Charles Darwin (Nelson Erasmus Darwin had said that all different living things were produced over millions of years by one original ancient parent, such that each offspring had a natural tendency to improve itself (Karp, 1968, p.14). However, fossil records show that this theory of one original parent was not probable (Karp, 1968, p.14). His opposition toward any form of organized religion and his rejection of Christianity was considered to be superficial and eccentric (Chancellor, 1973, p.21). His tendency to theorize and create wild speculations without testing his theories caused his reputation as a scientist to suffer. By the end of the 18th century all discussions of evolution were suppressed because of the rigid creationist views held by the Church who persecuted anyone who challenged their beliefs (Chancellor, 1973, p.41). It was not until the publication of Charles Darwin's The Origin of Species that the discussion of evolution was revived. Being well renowned, Erasmus' work was discussed in his family circle thus exposing Charles to the work of his grandfather early on in his life. Moreover, Charles Darwin having interest in poetry and philosophy was naturally inclined to study the work of his grandfather. Although Erasmus did not solve the problem of the process of evolution, the reading and exposure of his work made it easier for Charles Darwin to approach the topic and see it in a different perspective from Erasmus (Karp, 1968, p.17). In his early days at Cambridge University, Darwin was heavily interested in the works of William Paley (1743-1805) a famous theologist in his time. Paley's works which include Evidences of Christianity and Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy were required reading at the university. However, Darwin was most impressed by Natural Theology at the time. In this paper Paley examined the mechanism of the earth, its creatures, the complexity of their adaptations, their effective use of natural resources and their successful defence against nature. Paley also argued the inevitability of a Creator: "Design must have a designer. That designer must
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