Thomas Spencer

In the article The language of persuasion, one of the tenets the author eluded to was that one must use their persuasive power effectively and to clearly understand which choice, personalized or socialized power is the chosen path of influence (Martin). In other words, what is the desired outcome? To become an effective leader or to become a leader who is driven by rewards associated with personalized power. Before we delve any further, we should understand that power is the root of influencing…

The American colonies, which became the United States, have had prosperity since their inception. However, with time, tensions between sides grew, which eventually culminated in the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Both wars were the product of the very prosperity experienced, tensions between, respectively, the colonies and Great Britain as well as the free North and the slave South, with the latter regarding the future of slavery. The significance of the American Revolutionary War stems…

A United Nation Eboo Patel once stated in ”Making a Future Better Together” that “In this new nation, the new president was saying, people would have their identities respected.” They will not be judged or discriminated due to the color of their skin or culture. As a young adult, I appreciated this quote since I want my identity respected when I grow up. Reading Patel’s blog has allowed me to truly understand this idea of finding common ground and social equality. Essentially, finding common…

days of my theology class, my fellow students, Brother Theodore, and I, discussed the existence of God. We talked and philosophized on this topic for a few days and during this time we read, and researched, two philosophers, Alasdair MacIntyre and Thomas Aquinas. MacIntyre and Aquinas both talked about God’s existence and nonexistence, or theists and atheists. Neither of them, however considered the possibility that an advanced extraterrestrial species may have intervened. What if…

Napoleon's need and hunger for power as well as his flawed policies, the resistance to his rule, and over-extension of his military reach were dangerous weaknesses of his Empire. Napoleon created The Continental System in hopes to cripple England's economy by preventing importation of British goods into continental Europe. He implemented his plan by ordering a continent-wide blockade against British ships, confiscating all British goods, and set French privateers upon British merchant ships.…

Throughout the French Revolution, new ideas arose from the resentment and discontent with the French Monarchy and exploitation of French peasantry. The National Assembly was formed to give the third estate a voice, and with the heavy influence by Jeffersonian Liberalism and the Enlightenment, the representatives of the third estate created the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.” This document addressed many of the issues concerning the equality amongst the estates and the need to…

Superiority Theme Development in Crime and Punishment Everyone has their own ideas about what makes one person better than another, despite the fact that in the end, we are all human and therefore we should probably learn to treat each other equally. In Crime and Punishment, the main character, Raskolnikov, has his own ideas about superiority. He believes that some men are so much better than others that it is a necessity for them to break laws, and consequently, become great men. "He…

Responsible for the radio, x-ray machine, and many other innovations, Nikola Tesla receives almost no credit for his master mind. Even though he was not recognized for his works, he still kept pursuing his dream primarily to create a better world for man-kind to inhabit. Nikola Tesla, known only as a footnote in the history of engineering, has shaped our modern day interactions by his dedication to doing the “impossible.” How a man is raised will not only impact him, but those who are prominent…

Happiness or Conformity? Our own rights were not published in black and white until many people who scorned the British government for compromising our rights, pushed the need for a declaration of independence. From it, we have gained this document of sovereignty and it contains the important line stating our “unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” But do we really pursue our happiness? In today’s society, we are constantly criticized for the…

Here Paine suggests that laws passed in one generation which continue to be upheld by future generations imply tacit consent by those who chose not to repeal it. Tacit consent is another significant factor for Paine. By allowing things to continue as they are man is essentially consenting to them. If men are truly not bound by the political decision made by their ancestors, he ought to be able to repeal laws which no longer apply to the circumstance of the living generation. If the the opinions…