Kants Theory of Enlightenment - 5012 Words

Notes on Kant’s What is Enlightenment? Posted on March 16, 2012 ‘Enlightenment is the human being’s emergence from his self-incurred minority. Kant means emergence from a form of slavery, in which one is not free to think for oneself, but instead is told what to think. In a sense, I think it relates to religious and state imposed rules. This is reinforced when Kant suggests to ‘have the courage to make use of your own understanding’, making that the motto of the Enlightenment. He, perhaps ironically, writes about the comfort of being a minor, or a slave to these rules. To have someone think for them, to have someone to understand instead of the self. There is no trouble then. The step towards the enlightenment is dangerous. It is†¦show more content†¦Kant concludes that he (and at present we also) did not live in an enlightened age. Rather, he says that it is the Age of Enlightenment, that is, that enlightenment is constantly occurring. Kant: Self-Determination in the Age of Reason The 18th century is often called the Age of Reason or the Age of Enlightenment. In the Western world the 18th century was decisively shaped by the systematic efforts of the Enlightenment, a philosophical, cultural, and political movement that tried to institute the rule of Reason in all areas of life. Reason was to replace blind faith and superstition in religion, autocratic and arbitrary rule in administration and government, brute force and devious cunning in politics, the dead weight of tradition in social institutions and culture, and primitive instincts or uncontrolled feelings in personal relations and ethics. The Enlightenment aimed at a future for humanity that is characterized by scientific rationality, self-critical awareness, ever improving technology, democracy, religious tolerance (including the freedom to not believe in any gods at all), universal peace, and the continuing improvement of people’s lives both in terms of physical comfort and intellectual sophistication. Gone in particular would be the fanatical wars fought in the name of religion, the self-righteous insistence on unexamined dogmas and inherited opinions, theShow MoreRelatedImmanuel Kants Theory Of Public Reasoning And Enlightenment1010 Words   |  5 PagesKant’s ideas and theories have been a topic of discussion for thousands of years, still remaining an important subject today. In Immanuel Kant’s 1784 essay, What Is Enlightenment? He touches upon topics of public vs. private reasoning and enlightenment. Kant’s goal was to acknowledge the limitations of free speech. Kant’s beliefs on enlightenment were different than any that existed during his time. Kant claimed true enlightenment can only be reached when a man steps out of his immature thinkingRead MoreImmanuel Kants Age Of Enlightenment746 Words   |  3 PagesImmanuel Kant remains to this day as one of the most influential philosophes in the history of Western philosophy. In his essay writing â€Å"What is Enlightenment?† he defines enlightenment as â€Å"man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage†[1]. In order to understand Kant’s line of thinking we must understand what he meant by â€Å"tutelage†. He describes tutelage or immaturity or incompetence - â€Å"the inability to use one’s understanding without direction from another†[1]. According to Kant, immaturity isRead MoreThe Nature of Existence and the Existence of Nature Essay examples1643 Words   |  7 PagesNature The modern idea of reason helps man understand why and not just what? This concept stemmed mainly from philosophers during the Enlightenment. Learning something for the first time that is accepted to be true, for example mathematics and various proofs, usually ends with us adding that to our plethora of knowledge to ace the next test. However, before the Enlightenment many people believed that through learning, or experience, something comes to exist. Immanuel Kant ended up to be the most influentialRead MoreEssay about Kants Views on Enlightenment505 Words   |  3 PagesKants Views on Enlightenment The best summary of Kants view of Enlightenment lies in the first paragraph of his essay An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?: Sapere Aude. Translated dare to know, the phrase is the motto of enlightenment. For Kant, enlightenment means rising from the self-imposed stupor which substitutes obedience for reason and which atrophies mans ability to think for himself and develop his natural capacities. Laziness and cowardice prevent man fromRead MoreWhat Is Enlightenment1120 Words   |  5 PagesIn his essay titled What is Enlightenment? Immanuel Kant defines enlightenment as mans leaving his self-caused immaturity. (145) In order to fully comprehend his definition, one must first clearly understand Kants use of the term immaturity. He explains that immaturity is not thinking for oneself because of a lack of determination and courage to use ones intelligence without being guided by another. (145) To Kant, immaturity is the individuals fault. He explains that a pattern of immaturityRead MoreEnlightenment Essay example532 Words   |  3 PagesEnlightenment Do we at present live in enlightened age? What is enlightenment? Immanuel Kant attempts to clarify the meaning of enlightenment while composing the essay, What is Enlightenment?. The goal of Kants essay was to discuss what the nature of enlightenment was. It also taught one how enlightenment can be brought about in the general public. Kant explains that, enlightenment is mans release from his self-incurred immaturity. Immaturity is mans incompetence to have directionRead MoreKantian Enlightenment through Kafkas Colony1461 Words   |  6 Pagesintellectuals who have offered answers to questions of morality, freewill, and enlightenment, Immanuel Kant is one of the most challenging and intriguing. His writings have been used as the basis for analysis of contemporary writings of every age since first they were conceived and published. Benjamins views on law, the ethics of J. K. Rowling, race studies, and basic modern morality have all been discussed through the use of Kants philosophical framework. (Gray, Mack, Newton, Wolosky) Through Franz KafkasRead MoreKantian Ethics And The Categorical Imperative Essay1581 Words   |  7 Pagesprominent late Enlightenment Era German philosopher discusses his most famous ethical theory, the â€Å"Categorical Imperative.† The â€Å"Categorical Imperative† is a proposed universal law in stating all humans are forbidden from certain actions regardless of consequences. Although this is the general definition of this ethical theory, the Categorical Imperative† exists in two above formulations, A strict interpretation of Categorical Imperative and a more liberal interpretation. This Kantian moral theory shapesRead MoreKant s Theory On Personal Enlightenment1196 Words   |  5 PagesTariq Al-Bakri Dahlia Guzman PHI1103.006 12/04/2015 Kant’s theory on personal enlightenment Immanuel Kant is definitely one of the most pivotal thinkers in the history of philosophy. His enlightenment theory has become well-known throughout the world and at the same time it immortalized the name of this great German philosopher. Kant defined enlightenment as ability of man to use his own understanding without guidance from another and hence to escape from his self-imposed immaturity. According toRead MoreFrench Revolution Vs. Immanuel Kant1265 Words   |  6 Pagesmembers made up 98 percent of the Third Estate, but even so, could still be outvoted by the Nobels and Aristocrats. After being silenced for so long by the higher classes on matters of state, the lower class began to read and foster ideas about the Enlightenment. Armed with such knowledge, members of the lower class began question why they were forced to live without say in their government. At this point, the Third Estate began to mobilize support for equal representation and rally for the abolishment

How Cyber Security Is Compromised - 1431 Words

Today cyber security causes huge problems for Society: personally, financially and even in matters of national security. Just in the last two years, hundreds of millions of credit card numbers have been stolen. Tens of millions of Social Security numbers and health care records were compromised and even nuclear energy centers have been hacked. Also unmanned drones have been hijacked. This is all done by exploiting vulnerabilities in hardware and software, or more often by taking an advantage of unintentional decisions made by the people using the software. The people committing these cybercrimes don’t fit a single profile or motivation, it could be anyone from an international terrorist to a teenager competing for bragging rights. Today the largest countries not only have a regular army but also have a well-armed Cyber Army, in fact the next World War may not be fought with traditional weapons but with computer used to shut down a nation’s water supplies, energy grid an d transportation systems. This essay will discuss how cyber security is compromised, what systems are in place to defend cyber-attacks and also how to remain safe when using the internet. In biology and life, a virus is an organism that is spread through coughing, wheezing or physical contact. Viruses work by infecting cells and injecting their genetic material and using the cells to replicate themselves. They can make people really sick and spread it to other people. A computer virus works a bit similarly. AShow MoreRelatedHow Online Business And Communication Is An Indispensable Part Of Today s Merging Era Essay1650 Words   |  7 Pagesan indispensable part of today’s merging era. Unlike traditional wars of using military, weapons and air campaigns; cyber war is more fearful to civilians as it threatens their peace without even been seen. It is quite challenging to identify the ghost in wires, it can be a person, a group of people or it can be a nation behind this intrusion. Former director of the National Security Agency, Mike McConnell, wrote â€Å"We need to develop an early-warning system to monitor cyberspace, identify intrusionsRead MoreThe Methods Of Social Engineering Attacks745 Words   |  3 Pagesto my audience because of the rise of cyber attacks at individual to national level. Ignorance of social engineering attack methods makes on a weak link where social engineering attacks can compromise individual, company, state and federal records Presentation Plan 1. Introduction: a. Audience Hook: According to the FBI News on National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October 3 2016 paragraph 1, (https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/national-cyber-security-awareness-month-2016), personally identifiableRead MoreThe Annual Cost Of Cyber Crime Essay1279 Words   |  6 Pagesthe annual cost of cyber crime in the United States. Due to high cyber attacks and the daily high usage of the internet it is crucial for business to have a secure network to prevent and protect customers and the business itself from having sensitive information compromised and leaked. Causing the current debate between the technology market and the U.S Government Officials. The government is requesting access to all encrypted data which will allow law enforcement to track cyber crime with hopes toRead MoreThe Vulnerabilities Of Passwords And Security Essay1473 Words   |  6 Pagesthat requires us to protect what and how we share this information. To access the guarded data or information we want to protect requires either a password or a pin. A password is a string or group of combined characters precise in length. Passwords and pins are suppositional, and more consideration is seriously required. They are the primary defense against intrusion. However, they can be easily captured and deciphered by cyber criminals. The security in this area is challenging due to theRead MoreEssay about CyberCrime and Terrorism1088 Words   |  5 Pagessteady increase in the amount of cyber crime committed. Technology is a constantly changing entity, constantly evolving, always progressing. Naturally this can make it hard to stay on top of things. In turn, law enforcement runs into various issues regarding cyber crime and cyber terrorism. Cyber crime and terrorism is so complex of a crime that it can be hard to break down the barriers that can lead to justifying the action. Major issues that are prominent in cyber crime and terrorism are that lawsRead MoreEssay on The Main Functi on of Cyber Security1068 Words   |  5 Pagestechnology, which produce more vulnerability to cyber-attacks such as security breaches. Cyber security, also known as information technology security, is information security as applied to computers and computer networks. It is designed to protect networks, programs, computers and data from attacks. These attacks can lead to damages or unauthorized access to data. Computer security also includes protection from unplanned events and natural disasters. Cyber security main function is to guard computers, networksRead MoreAnalysis Of Cybersecurity Metrics As Well A Governmental Policy Framework Essay1677 Words   |  7 Pagesthat could affect them should always be free from coercion, especially when it could affect their well-being. Just imagine how an individual could be compromised if someone was to leverage their medical information in way they are forced to divulge other types of sensitive information that could be used to gain access or compromise information systems that protect national security. For the fore mentioned reasons, that increases the propensity for compliance for an individual working in the healthcareRead MoreWhy Should Payment Card Security Be An Important Issue For Tom?902 Words   |  4 PagesMark Maciasz Case Study Three 6 March 2016 Case Study Three Why should payment card security be an important issue for Tom? Restaurants have a tendency to be targets for cyber criminals. These criminals steal and reconfigure the payment card data for their own purposes. At the Heartland Cafe, Tom has a chance to be a target for a cyber attack by being in a high-traffic area. If the customer is compromised, Heartland Cafe will quickly lose public trust and perhaps Tom will lose the business altogetherRead MoreWhen Cybersecurity Policy Is Discussed The Topics Often1145 Words   |  5 Pagescybersecurity policy is discussed the topics often focus on technology, corporate culture, and security awareness. The success of an organization in defending its most valuable asset, data, depends on the proper implementation of several security practices. Ensuring that the â€Å"human aspect† of cyber security is addressed is vital, for the culture of an organization can greatly impact both the security posture and defense of information networks. This paper addresses the human aspects responsibleRead MoreThe Commonwealth Approach For Developing National Cybersecurity Strategies877 Words   |  4 Pagesthe European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) in order to identify the commonalities and differences between these cybersecurity strategies. The purpose of having a national cybersecurity strategy is to safeguard the nation/peoples interests from being compromised or destroyed. For example, every nation’s government stores a great deal of information on its citizens, if there is not a standard set of rules to govern how this information is protected its likely to be exploited

What You Must Know About Economic Development Essay Topics

What You Must Know About Economic Development Essay Topics Economic development incorporates economic growth among the principal criteria. Economic growth is vital but isn't a sufficient condition of financial development Economic development refers to social and technological progress. It does not take into account the external costs of an economy such as the depletion of natural resources which leads to pollution, diseases and congestion. It has its advantages and disadvantages. As per this view, the topic topic implies higher degree of output in addition to achievements in developments of gain in the volume of financial variables. Extent of the topic is also thought to be an important determinant of financial improvement. Advantages and pitfalls of e-banking 11. How to Choose Economic Development Essay Topics Economic development could be considered our short-term goal to the achievement of a perfect life in the very long run, and financial growth is just one of the significant aspects necessary for bringing about economic improvement. Get clear on what you need your wish to look like so you are able to create solid steps towards it. Whatever your aim is, while it's losing 20lbs or learning a new language, there'll stay a fixed sum of steps that you should take so as to achieve it. Self-managing your goals is an essential step in the practice. An early work program and organization is likely to make your writing process much simpler. When it has to do with setting your own personal objectives, honing in on its specifics is important for success. Always keep in mind that the success of your research is dependent on it. Normally, the training course is centred around a comparatively limited number of themes that are explored in good depth. Whether you're a professional economist searching for a math and statistics-rich blog, or someone who only wishes to learn more about economics and its impacts on the world around you, you will discover the ideal blog to fulfill your wants. Economists appear pleased, but a lot of your friends are still on the lookout for work. As soon as you have built relationships with them, they have the ability to keep you updated on what is going on. For starters, as it can boost business. Economic Development Essay Topics Explained You will research and locate an article that covers the to pic you've chosen. You may also get a topic from this area of economics. When it is argumentative or informative essays, one must develop a topic that could grab the interest of the reader very quickly and this isn't such an easy job. If you're looking to think of the very good essay on microeconomics topics all on your own, the very first place you should search is the internet. For this reason, you should begin brainstorming for ideas after you're given the assignment. Making a list of the benefits and disadvantages is the ideal beginning to writing an advantages and disadvantages essay about inflation. Choosing wisely will mean that you will select a topic you like and know well which will make the writing process much easier. Among the costliest expense in business is the management of resources because of the high price of work. Learn why it ought to be important to your company and the way you're able to go about calculating it. Gas prices are an exemplary instance of supply and demand. In the same style, there's also a minimum price that the item would be sold for to cover the expenses of creating the item. The Little-Known Secrets to Economic Development Essay Topics The rules and conditions can be seen below. Learn how GINA applies to your small business and what you should do to be in compliance. Economic Growth also doesn't also spend the size of the informal economy into consideration. Environment and economics share a distinctive and close relationship. History of internet banking 6. Economic advantages caused by changes in climate.

The Age Of Reason Or Known As The Enlightenment - 1189 Words

Before the Romantic Movement it was the Age of Reason or commonly known as the Enlightenment period. The Enlightenment was a period of scientific rationalization and scientific methods, it was an advanced way of observing the world. This time period rejected the idea’s of the church and celebrated the rational mind. Many of the enlightenment thinkers, â€Å" believed in rationalism and trusted human reason to solve the many problems of life and society, and emphasized reason, science, and respect for humanity (69 Apush ).† Enlightenment thinkers adopted the ideas of John Locke, who, emphasized on natural rights. However, in the early nineteenth century Romantic Movement began in art and literature. This movement focused on intuition and individualism. Romantics of this era did not believe in organized institution, such as, church. governmental bodies, and more importantly they rejected the idea science methods and rational approach to understanding life. Instead,  " Romanticism emphasized the individual, the subjective, the irrational, the imaginative, the personal... (sparknote).† However, one theme was most common, individualism. Individualism is, â€Å" †¦ political and social philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual (Lukes).† Along with this, the Romantic movement came with a wave of romantic writers, such as, John Stuart Mill. Mill in particular identified with self-consciousness or individualism. His concept of individualism presented itself in his writings,Show MoreRelated Age of Reason Essay example1161 Words   |  5 Pages An Age of Reason â€Å"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.† This brief quotation was spoken by the famous writer and philosopher Voltaire; I believe it vaguely points out that some people are full of absurd ideas, and for others to follow such nonsense is foolish. The quote is just a taste of Voltaire’s wisdom and knowledge of the world, during the Age of Reason. The Age of Reason or The Enlightenment is defined as a change in not just a way of thinkingRead MoreKant : The Father Of Enlightenment1071 Words   |  5 PagesEssay 2 Kant: The Father of Enlightenment The 18th Century is referred to as the Age of Reason or Enlightenment as it was during this period that reason and individualism was advocated as a means of power. Science and reason were revolutionizing society by challenging the facts deeply rooted in tradition. This new rational way of thinking used logic to arrive at conclusions. Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher, was one of the primary figures of this era that cultivated reason and whose works have revolutionizedRead MoreThe And Candide Essays : Practical Reason Triumphs Logic1382 Words   |  6 Pages1451518 Practical Reason triumphs Logic Throughout history Literature has always played a unique part in shaping society and symbolizing the beliefs of its people. King Louis XIV served after a time in which there was great conflict amongst Catholics and Huguenots. This conflict brought many uncharacteristic thoughts in to society. This religious conflict would lead to a new view of the world in the eyes of those who believed in the enlightenment. Moliere and Voltaire were both influential writersRead MoreKant s Views On The Enlightenment And Modernity923 Words   |  4 Pagesquestion are J.J. Rousseau and I. Kant. Both thinkers agreed that the Enlightenment would change society as they knew it, that it would allow the human being to develop, both individually and socially. I will consider both thinker’s attitudes as regards to the Enlightenment and Modernity, the individual, and finally to the individual’s responsibility in helping humanity progress towards a peaceful international community. The Enlightenment is the social and cultural period that brought about European ModernityRead MoreThe Enlightenment By Thomas Paine And John Locke1709 Words   |  7 PagesFinal Paper: The Enlightenment The eighteenth century embraced the beginning of an opinionated movement for new thinking about once unquestioned truths and actions. This movement, known as the enlightenment was more than a period of advanced ideas, as this unfamiliar way of thinking also lead to a change in the way that people began to operate within society. The ambition was lead by the attempt to break free from the past, overturning old ideas and moving forward. Enlightenment thinkers helpedRead MoreThe Age Of Enlightenment : The Interesting Life Of Olaudah Equiano1456 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the 18th century, many things were happening and the Europeans also were known as â€Å"Enlightenment thinkers and philosophers† thought by creating a movement called Age of Enlightenment, it would inflict rational change upon humanity. The Age of Enlightenment is described to be â€Å"set out by means of reason and direct observation to discover the fundamental laws governing nature, humanity, and society. Th e philosophes believed that such discoveries would free the world from tyranny, violence, andRead MoreThe Enlightenment1278 Words   |  6 PagesWorld The Enlightenment, Age of Reason, began in the late 17th and 18th century. This was a period in Europe and America when mankind was emerging from centuries of ignorance into a new age enlightened by reason, science, and respect for humanity. This period promoted scientific thought, skeptics, and intellectual interchange: dismissing superstition, intolerance, and for some, religion. Western Europe, Germany, France, and Great Britain, and the American Colonies generally influenced the age of reasonRead MoreOverview of The Enlightenment Essay949 Words   |  4 PagesThe Enlightenment was a period of history throughout the mid-decades of the seventeenth century and during the course of the eighteenth century, in which intense revolutions in science, philosophy, society and politics occurred. This part of history was important because it was an enormous departure from the Middle Ages. Seldom before and after this time, did the Church have as much power as it did during the Enlightenme nt. There were three main eras of the Enlightenment: The Early EnlightenmentRead MoreThe And Philosophical Movement Of Voltaire s Candide1641 Words   |  7 PagesSpreading rapidly in the 17th century, the Age of Reason changed the way people understood and interpreted their thoughts. The Enlightenment advocated for truth, to free the human mind from superstition and religious authoritarianism. People began to reflect on themselves rather than relying on the church. Voltaire was a writer and philosopher, who played an important role by incorporating themes of The Enlightenment into one of his famous novels, â€Å"Candide† to spread ideas. Themes including religionRead MoreThe Political, Economic and Social Aspects of the Enlightenment1109 Words   |  5 PagesEconomic and Social Aspects the Enlightenment The Enlightenment, also known as Age of Reason, was a cultural movement that spread through England, France, Germany, and other parts of Europe. The Enlightenment mainly focused on mathematics, science, art, philosophy, politics and literature in the 1700s. This movement took away the fear of the world and the medieval views that were placed upon the people for so many years, and it also opened their eyes to new ideas and reason. Old beliefs such as French

In My Shoes Free Essays

In my shoes I’ve had my black and white converses for about 7 years, and I still wear them today. They use to have Green laces on both shoes, but the left side got so worn out that I couldn’t lace up it up anymore. That is why one side now has black lace, because my boyfriend gave me his shoe lace so I could fix my shoe. We will write a custom essay sample on In My Shoes or any similar topic only for you Order Now I got these shoes myself when I was entering 7th grade from K hols. It was supposedly the cool style to wear converse at the time, and I wanted to have my own pair. I wore them almost every day, partially because they were the only shoes I had at the time, and partially because I loved them that much. I don’t want to throw them away even though they are so ratty now because I’ve had them for so long, and they held up better than the 3 pairs of flip flops I’ve worn out. They are meaningful to me because the shoes were the first ones that I bought myself, and something that I got to be trendier. I’m not usually one to keep up with the fashion world, but buying them made it feel like I was a part of some unspoken group of cool people. Yes I do plan to keep them, but they are now kept outside on the back porch to be used as mowing shoes. They would be impractical to wear around anymore because there is a rip down the side of the right shoe, and a giant gaping hole on the bottom of the other one. The rain puddles use to leak through the hole and soak my sock, making it soggy. I’ve already gotten a new pair of converse shoes from my older sister, Jennifer. They are light grey with pink laces. They are nice shoes, but I do prefer the black ones more, considering black can match with anything! How to cite In My Shoes, Papers

Taking It Easy in Newton free essay sample

Ive lived in Newton all my life. Three of my grandparents lived here, as did six of my great- grandparents. I fear I will be stuck in this place for the rest of my life, as if there is some force insisting I belong here. Here in Newton we dont call ourselves Townies, we call ourselves Newtonites. Newton is a city of eccentric people. There is a therapist on every corner, and for good reason. Newtonites keep the therapists very busy. The only criteria for being a Newtonite is one has to be a certifiable nutcase. Let me give you some examples of a typical day. You walk into Dunkin Donuts at 8 a.m. You are tired. Newtonites are just waking up, but the screaming and bickering has started. A woman is irate because her donut has not been evenly glazed. She is insisting on speaking to the manager. We will write a custom essay sample on Taking It Easy in Newton or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She demands a dozen free donuts to smooth things over. The clerks rush around madly trying to appease her before all hell breaks loose. A little unnerved, you go next door to pick up a shirt at the dry cleaners. A mans face is quickly changing colors with rage he goes from hot red to choking blue in a matter of seconds. Apparently, the dry cleaners left a speck of a spot on his Ralph Lauren sweater. I cant see it, the manager timidly says. Just take a look with this magnifying glass, the angry man insists. The manager apologizes profusely. He fires his staff and offers the enraged man a year of free dry cleaning for him, his family and all of his neighbors. Then you begin to walk to school. You are almost run off the sidewalk by the pushy mother of one of your classmates. She is excitedly screaming at you. Something must be incredibly important. She wants to know how your spelling test score compared to her daughters. You are in kindergarten. You misspelled fit, but her daughter misspelled ill and nut. She will never make it to the Ivys, the mother laments, dramatically throwing her hands in the air. Oh, this poor woman. Im sure no one elses life could compare to her misery. As you cross the street in the crosswalk, you are almost struck by a racing car. There is a No U-Turn sign. The driver makes a U-turn in front of the sign. The police look the other way. Rules are for 99 percent of the world not for those in Newton. You walk into school. One frantic group of mothers is in a heated argument with another intense group. What is this all about, you wonder. Then you overhear what is at the root of the trauma: The frantic group wants the bulletin boards to be pink, the intense group wants them to be purple. You are only six-years-old but, being a Newtonite, you get the picture. Life is not supposed to be fun. Life is to be taken seriously very seriously. Life is an emergency. When our out-of-town friends come over for dinner, the adults all laugh and make sure their children dont drink our water. Could it be that the stories of our neighbors have scared them? Are our neighbors affected by our environment, or do nuts just find each another? One of my neighbors, for example, is a true screwball. She hates people (especially children), cats, dogs and rabbits, but nothing compares to her hatred of squirrels. One spring was really creepy. It was raining dead squirrels for weeks. Id be riding my bike, minding my own business, when suddenly a squirrel would plummet from Crazy Ladys tree, narrowly missing my head but causing me to swerve. Id be raking my lawn, and dead squirrels would fall off the roof onto my rake. We finally had the police come and look at all the white powder she was sprinkling on the branches of her trees. They didnt want to get involved, but their presence did stop the War on Squirrels for awhile. In any event, squirrels dont dare live on our street; even dumb animals like that have learned their lesson. Im just thankful that shes too freaked out by us to come to our homes because God knows shed get the rest of us if she could. Well, you asked that this be fiction, not nonfiction. My fictitious twist to Taking It Easy in Newton is that a group of world-renowned psycho-pharmacologists took out a globe and questioned which community would have the most to gain and the least to lose by their biochemical experiment. Needless to say, they chose Newton. Their plan was to seep mood stabilizers throughout the community for a period of time, and study the changes. They flooded Newtons water supply with mood stabilizers and sat back to watch the results. Lo and behold, within a month, the tone of Newton had begun to change. Newtonites were smiling! Many looked less worried. Perfection was no longer the goal. People were courteous. People seemed at peace. Getting to work remained important, but running a child over in the process began to feel excessive. Gasp! Squirrels again frolicked in the trees. Cheers! People even began to notice the flowers growing in their own gardens, planted and cared for by a steady stream of paid gardeners. Hoorah! Even the homeless dared return to sleep on the park benches with no fear! Some might question whether Newton lost its colorful character during this experiment. To anyone sane, the answer would be a resounding No! What is so attractive about enraged, busy perfectionists? The goal for all of us should be a peaceful existence and living in harmony. We sometimes need to remind ourselves that we actually know people who didnt get into the Ivys, and not only are they happy but they even have jobs. Big wow. We need to remember that others are not looking at us through a magnifying glass, so we need to stop looking at ourselves through one. We need to remember that life is really nothing but a game, and if you burn yourself out, you lose. The winners are those who dont let all the stages and steps of the game we call life kill their spirit. We all get one shot at this game. We are the directors of our existence. Only we can live the life we have imagined for ourselves. So, stop and smell the roses and the clean air and the green grass. Enjoy the beautiful sights surrounding us, listen to the laughter and the stimulating conversation of others as well as the introspective voice from within and as you work on keeping yourself centered, feel the self-acceptance, the self-confidence and the peace that eventually will come to you on your journey of self-discovery because of, and not in spite of, being a member of a community such as Newton. A successful college essay! Ashleigh now attends Albertus Magnus College.