The Practices and Beliefs of Islam Essay -- Islam Religion Islamic Ess

The Practices and Beliefs of Islam Islam is a religion that has existed for many years. The devotees accepted that there is one God and Muhammad is his detachment. Muhammad was profoundly upset by the symbols love of Arabs and the ethical ills of society. At the point when he was around 40, he was contemplating and heard a voice. As indicated by Muslim the conviction the voice was that of the holy messenger Gabriel it stated, 'Announce.' When Muhammad asked what should I broadcast the voice reacted with declare for the sake of God. Muhammad was a youngster conceived in Mecca about the year 570. Stranded at an early age, Muhammad was thought about by his uncle. In his childhood he functioned as a shepherd among the Bedouins. Later he drove troops over the desert for shippers. At the point when he was 25, Muhammad wedded Khadija. It was ...

Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - Unhappy Consciousness Essay - 1

Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit - Unhappy Consciousness - Essay Example so as to give out an away from of his plot since he connected this human stage with the early Christian period where individuals used to go away from the changes of the world’s normal life and focused on parsimonious and religious lives combined with petitions. As indicated by Hegel, individuals heading a parsimonious life sustained troubled awareness until they achieved the desire of truth. In any case, troubled awareness is a case of reluctance since, it emerges out of people when it is battling or attempting to accomplish acknowledgment from others so as to acknowledge singular hesitance as a subject (Wilhelm and Hegel 110). Despondent awareness lead to fears and inconveniences that cause individuals to feel awkward. It additionally upsets their perspective that makes people befuddled. Accordingly, casualties of miserable awareness wind up looking for shelter in strict focuses and inside philosophical frameworks in order to avoid the battles and battles in this phase of psyche. Also, miserable awareness ends up being an occurrence of reluctance since it settle in making its subjects go to look for anything soothing. Dread and externalization brought about by miserable awareness make people look for shelter and solace in creatures that don't live obviously (118). They don't endeavor or battle to achieve acknowledgment among individuals however detach themselves and keep-off the battles (121). This demonstration of turning towards the otherworldly being comes in view of the underlying battle of awareness attempting to get hold of nature. As those people who live devout life endeavor to get a handle on a feeling of sureness, they experience the widespread ideas of nature. At the since quite a while ago run, these people don't change. Rather, they stay to be the equivalent and keep up their cognizance notwithstanding the battle for looking for asylum. Thusly, miserable cognizance is an occasion of hesitance. Despondent cognizance is a case of hesitance

Shaping the Development of Business in Canada Essay

Forming the Development of Business in Canada - Essay Example Moreover, Canada appreciates a superior market condition that exudes from political solidness and lovely government approaches on business. Every one of these components advance the improvement of business in Canada. Thus, notwithstanding the developing business sector rivalry, business in Canada is lively and assumes a basic job in the economy. Remote venture is likewise a critical angle in Canadian business. Numerous Canadian organizations have embraced a corporate system to wander universal speculation with a point of expanding their contending advantage in the worldwide economy (Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada 1). As a matter of fact, the all out an incentive on Canadian outside venture override that of remote direct interest in Canada since 1997 (Lennox and Bow 150).Foreign interests in Canada elevate access to abroad markets, access to more assets, diminish input costs, new advancements, and offer better help to remote clients (Frigon 1). To be sure, outside inte rest in Canada is both direct and portfolio with the two sorts carrying noteworthy commitment to the Canadian economy. As a matter of fact, outsiders who appreciate the yearly intrigue, pay, and profit installments generally control Canadian economy. This attracts the hugeness of outside speculation forming business in Canada. What's more, resultant mechanical headways, new administration thoughts, and execution of universal exchange strategies will profit and shape business in Canada. This ensures higher efficiency, expanded fares and work, prevalent seriousness, and wild development of the Canadian economy. Nonetheless, these ventures are in danger of political precariousness, seizure, unsure guidelines, and feeble... This exposition favors that the legislature has embraced and arranged worldwide understandings that administer universal exchange and remote ventures. For instance, the administration of Canada embraces an approach of arranging and receiving the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement that oversees reciprocal exchange exercises. All things considered, Canada its FIPA model in 2003 with a goal of upgrading clearness in the meaningful commitments, training and improving effectiveness in the question settlement methodology and advancing assurance and straightforwardness in its business condition. The support in outside venture ensures access to different markets, new innovations, decrease in input expenses, and accessibility of business assets. These variables lead to business benefit and further business advancement. This report makes a determination that there are various highlights that would altogether shape the advancement of business in Canada, for example, Canada’s â€Å"storehouse of resources,† remote speculation, government approaches, the job of business people and family firms, enormous business, and banking and money. Be that as it may, however every one of these highlights are applicable and noteworthy in this specific circumstance, government approaches stand apart as the most huge component. Also, there are different government strategies identifying with business guidelines, money related help, universal understandings, enlistment, permitting, and enactments that take significant jobs in molding improvement in business. These approaches are liable to changes and apply specifically. All administration approaches target creating residential and worldwide web based business in Canada.

Greece: Economic and Public Financial Situation

Greece: Economic and Public Financial Situation Greece: The Economic and Public Financial Situation S. Henry †J. Girigori †L. Davelaar ICUC MBA XI Outline Greece is experiencing an extremely tense season identified with their economy for some time now. They are confronting ultimatums to address their money related circumstance, taking estimations on the off chance that they need to keep being a piece of the European Union. Greece’s economy depend significantly on administration conveyance zones, under which Tourism is one of the greatest salary producing post (about 73% of the GDP). In 1980, Greece joined the European Union and in 2002 they authoritatively embraced the Euro as a conventional fiscal understanding between the EuroZone. Greece, had various advantages since there converging with the EU. Their info every year represent about 2.35% of the GDP of Greece. Also, Greece got on an auxiliary premise an EU subsidizing of 20 billion from 1994 to 1999 and of 24 billion from 2000 to 2013. These assets has been utilized to bring down the country’s shortfall and to facilitate improvement the nation. Greece is right now advancing gradually in vanquishing the gigantic issues they were going up against with this agonizing downturn. Despite the fact that this downturn was and still is a troublesome period for Greece, we should authorize for the way that they figured out how to accomplish some quantifiable outcomes with the difficulties they stood up to with the modifications. As Greece and the other indebted person nations, for example, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Portugal are going towards default, the entire landmass of Europe is in harm's way. Despite the fact that the economy of these nations are moderately little in examination with a few different individuals from the euro zone, they structure an enormous danger because of the tremendous interconnection of the European money related framework in light of the euro. As referenced previously, Euro is the normal money for the whole European Union, and this gathering known as the Eurozone is influenced because of wide scope of cash changes and the Drastic fall in the estimation of Euro. The nations, framing some portion of the Eurozone, who consent to help Greece of keeping them from getting the chance to default, were straightforwardly and prompt affected by the budgetary emergency in Greece. According to most articles depict that the most practical alternative right currently is to not leave the Eurozone and go to an arrangement so as to come out of the spending shortfall they are in. Without a concentrated financial association nations will keep on running shortfalls, amass profundities, corrupt the estimation of euro and compromise security of Europe. List of chapters (Jump to) Rundown Presentation Part 1 Greece and Economy Before Crisis 1.1 Public Finances the Crisis 1.1.1 European Union benefits Part 2 Greece Their Current Situation 2.1 Private utilization and joblessness 2.2 Investments 2.3 Uncertainty a liquidity 2.4 Current Public fund versus the worldwide economy Part 3 Impact Greece on EURONET and Rest of The World 3.1 What is Grexit and the Impact End References Figures Presentation Greece is experiencing an exceptionally tense season identified with their economy for some time now. They are confronting ultimatums to address their budgetary circumstance, taking estimations in the event that they need to keep being a piece of the European Union. Greece is a piece of the European Union which comprise of certain nations joined by the euro in the euro zone. Furthermore, this gathering is going to monetarily fall, because of budgetary issues from Greece and individual nations as Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Italy. This circumstance is taking steps to cut down the total European landmass and the remainder of the World. In this paper, we will expand on the Economic improvements around Greece earlier turning out to be a piece of the European Union and when they received the Euro as their fiscal character. We will give an inside on Greece’s monetary status before 2000 †2002, during the appropriation of the Euro (after 2002) and all the related ramifications for themselves just as the entire European Union and EuroZone nations. We will talk about, their Public Finances, International Economic angles, some Domestic Economical perspectives and their relationship and confinements with different nations around the globe. Part 1: Greece and Economy Before Crisis Greece’s economy depend significantly on administration conveyance zones, under which Tourism is one of the greatest pay creating post (about 73% of the GDP). In 1980, Greece joined the European Union and in 2002 they formally embraced the Euro as a nonexclusive money related understanding between the EuroZone. This selection of the Euro, gave the nation an expansion in consumer’s spending which on its turn gave the nation a lift in the financial development. During this period Greece experienced incredible paces of development. Figure 1, gives a diagram of the GDP rate from 1996 until a plunge (+ - 0.2) in 2001 and an a lot more prominent plunge (+ - 0.7) in 2005. Notwithstanding, because of universal money related emergency in 2008, additionally Greece began encountering shortages inside their efficient financial plan, which had as an outcome the beginning of a monetary emergency. 1.1 Public Finances the Crisis Open accounts began going definitely the negative way, and same was the situation for distorted insights, which therefore affected FICO assessment organizations, who constrained the chance of Greece to demand extra credits. This confinement pushed Greece in increasingly money related shakiness with an obligation emergency accordingly. 1.1.1 European Union benefits Greece, had various advantages since there converging with the EU. Their info every year represent about 2.35% of the GDP of Greece. Furthermore, Greece got on an auxiliary premise an EU financing of 20 billion from 1994 to 1999 and of 24 billion from 2000 to 2013. These assets has been utilized to bring down the country’s shortfall and to encourage advancement the nation. To have the option to keep getting backing and help of other EU nations and worldwide moneylenders, the Government of Greece began a 3-year program, in the endeavor to begin pushing back on the obligations. This program comprised of: Restricting government spending Resizing the open part Changing medicinal services Changing expense system The thought was for this new way to deal with assistance Greece to lessen the deficiency by 4% of the GDP according to 2010 and by 3% of the GDP by 2012. The significant shortage creating presents came about on be the travel industry the transportation business. Another angle that added to the emergency of Greece is an exchange shortfall which in 2009, the import was around 64 billion while the fare arrived at only 21 billion. Part 2: Greece Their Current Situation Greece is at present advancing gradually in vanquishing the immense issues they were standing up to with this agonizing downturn. Despite the fact that this downturn was and still is a troublesome period for Greece, we should authorize for the way that they figured out how to accomplish some quantifiable outcomes with the difficulties they stood up to with the modifications. This announcement was set after the fruition of the audit crucial Greece which was directed by the staff group of the European Commission (EC), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). This audit depended on strategies that they figured out how to make with the staff level expert so as to screen compliancy with the terms and conditions that were set for the Program. The staff group and the specialists are very much aware and furthermore concur that Greece is at a start of a financial soundness and an equalization for a progressive restart or reboot of development which is nearly in accordance with their past projections. Costs are modifying and expansion is beneath the euro zone normal. The conditions to continue this development are accessible however the dangers, vulnerability and limited financing conditions are postponing the way toward recouping and estimating the open account. The genuine GDP expanded with 0.8% in 2014 just because since 2007. The private utilization and the net fares caused monetary exercises that brought about a 0.8% development of the genuine GDP. 2.1 Private utilization and joblessness Because of decrease on the costs and alteration on the work showcase, private utilization encountered an expansion just because following 5 years of a progressing withdrawal. The drop in oil costs and return of â€Å"under-the-mattress† stores can profit the Private utilization. Increment of net fare was the aftereffect of progress of administration send out brought about by the travel industry, delivering divisions and products trade. The devalution of the euro can prompt more fare development in 2015 for the travel industry and transportation. Simultaneously the solid local interest is expanding import. In 2014, 100.000 new openings were made which decreased the joblessness rate 26.5% . During the current year the rate is anticipated to drop marginally to 25.6%. When the normal development in 2016 gets the joblessness rate is relied upon to diminish further to 23.2%. 2.2 Investments Same as the genuine GDP and net fare the ventures encountered a minor increment just because since 2008 and is mostly brought about by gear speculation. The vulnerability of speculators not putting resources into Greece is as yet constraining the credit flexibly from the budgetary sector.The genuine GDP is anticipated to increment to 2.9% this year, as venture recuparate with the assistance of structutal changes. 2.3 Uncertainty a liquidity Vulnerability and absence of away from on the strategy position of the new government that was chosen last December 2014, is harming the postive energy for Greece. The financial conclusion marker (ESI) exacerbate last March as a result of the lessening trust in the business segments. This huge political vulnerability is a consequence of having late political decision for another legislature in January when the nation has a booked expiry date of the Program set for February 28th. The recently chosen government arranged an augmentation of 4 months of the Program. The expansion permits Greek specialists to plan an

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells free essay sample

In lifes chain of command, cells make up the most reduced degree of association. Cells can perform exercises required to continue life. A cells capacity to gap to shape new cells is the reason for development and fix in living beings. Cells likewise assume a key job in the reusing of carbon, a substance component basic to life, and furthermore take an interest in cell procedures, for example, photosynthesis. In light of these focuses, it ought to be noticed that cells come in one of two structures: prokaryotic and eukaryotic. By examining the auxiliary and unctional likenesses and contrasts of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and by investigating the procedure of endosymbiosos, one can increase further knowledge into the assorted variety of cells. One unmistakable contrast between these cells is prokaryotic cells can be named either microscopic organisms or archaea while eukaryotic cells make up every single other type of life including plants and creatures. This differentiation emerges from the way that prokaryotic cells are straightforward, little, and for the most part unicellular though eukaryotic cells are progressively intricate, huge, and by and large multi-cell. We will compose a custom paper test on Prokaryotic versus Eukaryotic Cells or on the other hand any comparable subject explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Eukaryotic cells have an embrane encased core and numerous little organelles in its cytoplasm while prokaryotic cells need film encased organelles of specific structure and work and a core. Moreover in a prokaryotic cell, DNA isn't isolated by a film bound core; rather the DNA is amassed in a district called the nucleoid. Another distinction includes the manner by which both the cells repeat. Prokaryotic cells recreate through a procedure of cell division known as parallel splitting. In paired splitting one duplicate of the starting point moves quickly towards the opposite end f the cell. When the inceptions meet on one side of the cell, the plasma film becomes internal and another cell divider is kept. The outcome is two little girl cells. Eukaryotic cells replicate through an advanced type of parallel splitting known as mitosis, where shafts from outside the core and separate into two separate cells, and meosis. Regardless of these significant contrasts, both Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells have numerous basic and practical similitudes. All cells are encased by a plasma layer, loaded up with cytoplasm, that capacities as a particular hindrance. This obstruction takes into consideration the section of oxygen, supplements, and squanders between the cell and its environmental factors. Another likeness is that the two kinds of cells have chromosomes, ribosomes ( minor organelles that make proteins by means of guidance from the qualities) and protein lipids in their films. Both additionally have DNA strands which hold their hereditary data. The developmental connection between the two cells sets up how eukaryotic cells advanced from prokaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells were made through a procedure of hereditary trades between prokaryotes. This procedure is known as endosymbiosis. Two organelles which have coordinated this hypothesis are the mitochondria and the plastids. Both of these organelles are found in eukaryotic cells anyway inquire about has indicated that these structures are decedents of free prokaryotic cells. Since Eukaryotic cells can inundate different cells, it very well may be reasoned that the prokaryotic predecessors of the mitochondria and plastids picked up section into the eukaryotic cells which thusly framed into bundles of vesicles. Consequently, Eukaryotic cells were

Net Neutrality In Contemporary World - Free Essay Example

In the contemporary world of technological advancement, net neutrality has been a primary topic of debate for the United States Senate for an extended period. Net neutrality is the non-discriminatory internet transmission, where internet service providers treat all internet data as the same to allow individuals to run applications, services, and access content on their devices without any limitations. In essence, it is the non-preferential treatment of web traffic regardless of the source. In net neutrality, ISP acts as passive transmitters of data as opposed to being content managers. In this case, consumers receive equal internet speed access to content across websites regardless of their sizes. Due to the fact that ISPs have the freedom to adjust their Internet services following the repeal of Net Neutrality restrictions, Americans are paying more internet fees, which could injure its innovativeness in the small and medium enterprising sector. Federal Communications Commission The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is a United States international and local communication regulatory agency. The agency regulates television, radio, wire, cable, and satellite transmissions in the country and its annexes (FCC, 2017). Five commissioners who are selected by the president and vetted by the US Senate run the FCC under the Congress oversight. Additionally, POTUS also appoints one of the commissioners to assume the chairperson position. Noticeably, one party can only have three members represented in the organization at any time (FCC, 2017). Moreover, the commissioners have a five-year term unless stated otherwise. The appointed individuals should not have any competing monetary interests in the broadband industry to eliminate conflicts of interest. On the other hand, the FCC has various functions, which aim at smoothening the nations communication sector. Firstly, it promotes investments, competition, and innovation in the internet sector. Secondly, it facilitates the countrys economic growth through the creation of an ideal competitive framework to foresee communication development. Thirdly, it promotes the use of quality spectrum in locally and internationally. Fourthly, it sets and amends media regulations to allow the development of innovative technologies in line with localism and diversity (FCC, 2017). Fifthly, the organizations serve as the nations leader in strengthening the communications infrastructure. Furthermore, the FCC is interested in addressing challenges and economic benefits related to the rapidly changing global communications dynamics to ensure the American consumers are not exploited by ISPs. Internet Service Providers Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are agencies that provide broadband services to allow participation, access, and use of the Internet. They control the amount and speed of data transmitted through their channels to consumers (Kruzel, 2017; Meinrath, 2008). The ISPs aimed at scrapping off the Net Neutrality regulations to regain their power to control and throttle internet connectedness for their economic benefits. The Net Neutrality provision mandated them to treat all data as the same regardless of the source or size. According to Akbarzadehs (2014) film Killswitch, the internet has become the worlds new gold in such a way that those who control it have the ability to manage a nations wealth and power. Therefore, the elimination of the regulations would benefit the broadband companies in several ways. Firstly, they would have the ability to offer the delivery of a websites content faster and reliably at an additional cost towards the users. Secondly, ISPs would be able to increase their internet transmission speeds more than their competitors to enhance their market competitiveness (Kruzel, 2017; Meinrath, 2008). Thirdly, they would have the authority to block any objectionable site sites, which would expose them to public and political lynching. Fourthly, broadband companies would gain the freedom to introduce internet packages (Kruzel, 2017). In this case, they would offer a mix of internet speed options with their corresponding prices. Notably, ISPs are trying to control the market dynamics in the internet sector, where they can manage the speed and access of specific sites and information and capitalize on the same. Recent Repeal of Net Neutrality The recent repeal of the Net Neutrality restrictions under President Trumps regime aims at serving the interests of minority ISPs in the expense of the American citizens. The average internet users will be the losers if the US Senate votes against the restrictions (Kruzel, 2018). Firstly, the consumers would incur increased prices for their internet feeds for websites that rely on high internet speed connectivity. Notably, the sites would pass down the costs to the consumers. Moreover, it would deny the American citizens the right to information, where they can choose their websites and applications of choice. If the repeal is successful, the ISPs will gain ultimate control over the open internet market to enhance their economic and ideological gains. Three of the largest ISPs in the United States have pressured the FCC to scrap off the regulations for a decade. They include Comcast, Verizon, ATT, and the National Cable Telecommunications Association (NCTA). According to a 2017 MapLight survey (Bass 2017), the companies had spent $572 million trying to lobby the federal government and the FCC to eliminate the restrictions. Interestingly, the organizations claim that they respect net neutrality but not the regulations used by the FCC to enforce the idea. Importance of Net Neutrality According to Wu (2005), net neutrality is essential since it ensures that short-term interests of ISPs do not prevent consumers from accessing quality applications and products over the Internet. Additionally, it provides that consumers get equal access to all websites and applications without any throttling by the broadband providers. It also plays a vital role in leveling the marketing field for online applications and growth of SMEs. Currently, several changes can happen towards the internet. Firstly, as Wu (2005) notes, the Internet can be transformed into open access such as is the case in the telephone industry. In this case, the Internet would utilize a n end-to-end design, which does not impose any restrictions, applications, feature, or services to the user. On the other hand, it can be transformed into a centralized infrastructure that allows ISPs to check and shape network traffic. Noticeably, ISPs will be able to limit the internet by blocking content, introducing internet caps, slowing rivals internet speeds and offering fast-lane speed to specifically preferred partners (Kruzel, 2017; Meinrath, 2008). The introduction of internet caps will ensure that consumers pay overage fees when they exceed their data packages. Moreover, the ISPs will have the freedom to offer internet packages at a cost like that of cable television programs. The cost of the Internet in the United States is expected to double with the repeal of Net Neutrality due to the creation of a competitive broadband market. Net Neutrality and American Entrepreneurialism Net neutrality has been a vital facilitator of business growth and entrepreneurship in the country; however, the situation may change due to the scrapping of the restrictions. High internet speeds would li mit business growth by providing an obstacle towards web innovativeness since most SMEs do have adequate capital to adopt fast-lane internet services (Kruzel, 2017). Furthermore, online startup websites may lose their customers, if ISPs impose data packages that exempt consumers from streaming or accessing the sites. Notably, high internet prices increase the cost of equipment for SMEs in the market as they struggle to acquire infrastructure to support online business-consumer interactions. Significantly, according to Kruzel (2017), throttled internet speeds reduce work efficiency by making accessing to web content slow or inaccessible. Video streaming sites such as Netflix require high-speed connectivity; therefore, they are affected by throttling and capping. Meinrath Pickard (2008) note that ISPs may direct traffic and offer high Internet speeds to preferred vendors, which would injure the competitiveness of independent business owners. The situation creates a monopolistic market that is dangerous for both American consumers and web investors. How Net Neutrality Could Affect Our Childrens Ability to Learn Net Neutrality improved the education system in the country by providing children with necessary study and research resources via the internet. However, the situation is bound to change as the ISPs gain the freedom to block or limit the informational websites (Kruzel, 2017). Secondly, since the ISPs will have the right to decide which contents will appear in fast or slow pipes, they may slow down educational sites making them unavailable for the children. The phenomenon will leave children from families with limited connectivity with fewer study resources, which adversely affects their academic performance. Moreover, the end of net neutrality may result in an increased educational gap between children from affluent and low-income earning families. Furthermore, the above phenomena may reduce innovativeness among the lower and middle class due to limited internet access, which will foresee their decline in political and business leadership participation. Conclusion Overall, the issue of net neutrality has been a controversial topic in the country. Net neutrality has numerous advantages such as increased innovativeness in the educational and entrepreneurial sector; therefore, the FCC should reinstate the rules. The provisions allow equal internet access to all Americans despite the size and source of information. However, throttled internet reduces students academic performance, innovativeness, and business growth. Therefore, it is incumbent on the average American citizens to fight for their right to information access to safeguard their future and those of subsequent generations.

Choice in Dostoevskys Dream of a Ridiculous Man - Literature Essay Samples

When Albert Camus wrote The Myth of Sisyphus [1], he demonstrated the absurdity of human existence in the indifferent universe with the ridiculous task of pushing a rock up a hill an infinite number of times. Every time Sisyphus pushed the rock to the top of the hill, it only rolled back down for him to do it again. This is the very fundamental idea underlying Existentialism. Much like Sisyphus of the ancient myth, humans live a meaningless existence; nothing means anything when all that is certain is death. It is therefore ridiculous to live without such a realization, or otherwise with an illusion of meaning and purpose. Yet humans continue to live and assign importance to their daily activities, even against the fact that death is inevitable. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short story The Dream of a Ridiculous Man accounts for the absurdity of human existence portrayed by Albert Camus and demonstrates what it is to be really ridiculous, yet also suggests a solution. We humans must un derstand that we both have the ability to choose the life we live, and that end results may not matter as much as we assume. Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote The Dream of a Ridiculous Man from a politically, socially, and spiritually troubled 19th century Russia. Life under the Russian regime is key in Dostoevsky writings, and The Dream of the Ridiculous Man is no exception. The story reflects the suffering and alienation of the Russian society and explores the psychology of the character shaped by the society. Dostoevsky however, provides consolation and hope at the end of the story as he believes there is purity and goodness at the end of suffering and despair (Bourgeois). The story also includes elements of Dostoevsky’s philosophical school of thought, Existentialism. Meaning in life, absurdity, suicide, as well as confronting mortality and the anxiety of choice are fundamental basis in The Dream of a Ridiculous Man. The story is also richly influenced with Orthodox Christianity. Dostoevsky references the bible, creating alternate interpretations of Genesis, portrays the narrator as Adam, later as the Ser pent, and then as Jesus, and explores religious concepts such as the Problem of Evil and Fall of Man (Cassedy). These influences play in to the story and at least in part explain or provide the context for the character’s ridiculous existence, suicidal intentions, and eventually the revelation to live and do good by choice. The narrator of The Dream of a Ridiculous Man admits he is living an absurd existence and finds no evidence of the contrary. He explains that â€Å"he has always been ridiculous, and he has known it† (Dostoevsky, pg. 3), not only distinguishing himself from other humans, but also distinguishing humanity from other species. Humans are the only living creatures aware of their ultimate fate, and that knowledge is what makes their existence far more absurd than any other. The narrator’s acknowledgment of this is essential in the Existentialist thought. The narrator also reveals that earlier in his life when he was attending the university, â€Å"the more he learned, the more he understood he was ridiculousin the end, the sciences he studied existed only to prove he was ridiculous† (pg. 3). The narrator does not know exactly when he became ridiculous, but he comes to understand that he has always been ridiculous and it does not matter when he realized it first. As the story continues, he grows ever more indifferent to life, and finds only more evidence of the absurdity of human existence with his friends, neighbors, and strangers. The conversation between the narrator’s friends that follows only reinforces the narrator’s beliefs. They are arguing for the sake of argument, and are completely detached from the topic they speak of. Their conversation is meaningless and their enthusiasm a pretense as they do not understand the emotions and opinions they profess. When the narrator tells his friends that they do not really care for their argument, they only find his remark amusing. This conversation demonstrates the idea that nothing matters in life, and thus the only passion for doing anything that exists is fake. The narrator realizes that, but he speaks with indifference when he attempts to reproach his friends. The narrator also shows indifference in his apartment building. He says there is shouting and fighting in one of his neighbor’s apartment just behind the wall, but he shows no annoyance or concern. The narrator simply â€Å"does not care how much they shout on the other side of the p artition or how many of them there are in there: he sits up all night and forgets them so completely that he does not hear the noise anymore† (pg. 6). An encounter with a little girl reveals that the narrator maintains his beliefs. When the little girl asks the narrator for his help, he reasons that the stranger he is asked to help will die nonetheless. Turning his back on humanity, the narrator demonstrates his further indifference and ambivalence to life, his or other. If everything in life is ridiculous then there is no reason he should help the stranger. The narrator essentially finds his existence ridiculous and there is no evidence of the contrary anywhere in his life. There is only absurdity and indifference, and so the narrator decides to commit suicide, but he falls asleep. The narrator’s dream is a fundamental change in The Dream of a Ridiculous Man. It is a vision or a revelation that teaches the narrator of the true absurdity of human existence, and creates a dramatic change in the narrator’s life. He goes from committing suicide to preaching what he believes is the truth. The dream itself not only puts the paradise that the narrator visits and his world in juxtaposition, but also parallels ultimate good with knowledge of good and evil. The paradise, or the earth before the Fall of Man, is free from all that is evil and shameless; it is a utopia where every resident is innocent and happy. With the narrator’s presence however, the paradise is cursed with the same fate as Eden was on Earth. The narrator corrupts the paradise with knowledge by introducing lies, sexual debauchery, jealousy, murder, factions, nationalism, war, etc. (pg. 19). He brings an end to the perfect happiness and ultimate good of people of the paradise, but at the same time he gives them humanity, knowledge, and choice. The people of the paradise lack the ability to choose their life, and that is no life at all. What the narrator essentially gives them is the most human thing of all, the ability to choose. The narrator learns that knowledge and the ability to choose is far more meaningful then life itself. The people of the paradise are merely instinctual creatures, doing good, but having no ability to reason or choose to do good. There is no evidence that living a good life is any better than living a bad life or an indifferent life, yet the people of the paradise are exclusive to only that one option, one option among three. There is nothing that can be more ridiculous then to live a good, moral life above any other when in the end the good and the bad will both meet the same fate, and both will be exactly equal. Living a good, moral life is not a necessary element of human existence. The knowledge that there is a choice, and the understanding that all choices are equal is the key to any happiness. The narrator explains that the people of the paradise â€Å"would not want to return to the paradise† (pg. 20), and then the narrator himself admits â€Å"he loves the earth they h ave polluted more then the paradise† (pg. 21). Indeed, the knowledge and the ability to choose are higher than any life in paradise. The narrator and the people of the paradise learn that if men do good it should be because they can do good all by themselves, because they can choose to do good by their own conscious understanding. The narrator summarizes this truth when he wakes up; â€Å"the chief thing is to love others like yourself, that is the chief thing† (pg. 22). The narrator is a changed man now, not only does he cherish life, but he goes from attempting suicide to a life where he preaches the truth and atones his past mistakes. He finds meaning and purpose, and there is no mention of a God or an afterlife. The narrator learns that â€Å"he can be beautiful and happy without losing the power of living on earth† (pg. 22), that is, he is motivated to do good purely by his own choosing, not by the promise of eternal life or a paradise. Dostoevsky’s The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is a short story that confirms the absurdity of human existence and gives some thought to suicide as a viable response, but at the same time demonstrates that happiness and meaning can be attained in this world if one understands that one should do good by his own conscious choosing. Dostoevsky’s implications however go beyond this. The story is also a comment on Christianity, and in particular Eden or the paradise. The Dream of the Ridiculous Man seems to suggest that a â€Å"paradise or an afterlife will never come to be† (pg. 22), because an eternity of unconsciously doing only good is inhuman. Consciousness of life is higher than life, and the paradise is an automatic, robotic life deprived of consciousness. The ability to choose indeed gives life consciousness and perhaps the short life on earth is worth more than an eternity in paradise, as Dostoevsky implies. In the story, Dostoevsky also comments on the evolution of civilization. The paradise in the narrator’s vision seems to take on the same history as that of humanity on earth. First there is a paradise, next is corruption, and then mankind spends the next thousands of years learning how to be happy again. The difference is that when mankind learns the truth, in that they will do good and be happy, they will have arrived at it consciously. This evolution of civilization perhaps only attempts to recapture the goodness and happiness of the paradise, but it also more importantly gains consciousness in the process. Dostoevsky stresses that it is this consciousness, the knowledge, the ability to choose that gives any sense to life. In Dostoevskys conception, humanity has not regressed from paradise, but progressed. God has given us the ability to do good, we have given ourselves the ability to choose to do good. We have come from being unconscious, instinctive and mechanical automatons, to conscious human begins with the capacity not only to be genuinely happy, but also the knowledge of the laws of happiness. We should do good not because it may or may not be rewarded by God who may or may not exist, but because we can do good regardless of God and an afterlife. We are merely human beings on this earth who can only conquer the absurdity of our own existence when we understand that our conscious mind transcends everything. REFERENCES Bourgeois, Patrick, Lyall. â€Å"Dostoevsky and Existentialism.â€Å" Journal of Thought (1980): 29-38. Philosophers Index. EBSCO. Web. 5 May 2010. Cassedy, Steven. â€Å"Dostoevskys Religion.† Studies in East European Thought (2007): 163-165. Philosophers Index. EBSCO. Web. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. The Dream of a Ridiculous Man. Feedbooks. Published: 1877. PDF File.