Q1
a)
Metaphor of the mountain in The Trees of the Niu Mountain suggest that people are not naturally bad, but this may change with time just as the mountain may be bald at one time and later regenerate to bear sprouts and buds the mountain may also change with environment to a destructive state same to the human conduct.
b)
c)
Some of the factors that may end up destroying good character are certain natural desires that humans possess and are also shared with animals, this include desires for material and physical wants and needs, this culminate from the pursuit of satisfaction without proper regulation.
d)
Given the date and source, we can conclude that different societies share similar values; these values indicate that the nature of human beings is good and in order to maintain this there should be constant monitoring to prevent moral decay. Similar factors also will lead to immortality if not well regulated, character variations such as greed exhibited in every society lead to destruction. Human beings have the various core values hardwired in them and arise because of desire for satisfaction.
Q2
Greenspan in his speech is realistic and it is possible to live in a world that one does not have to infringe on the others for the purpose of success. Through hard work it is possible to achieve all one intends to. It is also more satisfying to note that nobody suffered in order for you to reach the helm of your success. Taking advantage of those around you is easy but eventually takes away your peace of mind.
Patience, the ability to wait for some time before making a hasty decision is of essence in enhancing self-control.
Learning to listen, once you take your time to listen what is being communicated is also another good exercise. This ensures that the decision you will make is better and wiser.
Restraining from material things and fancy objects that otherwise may lead to wrong doing and acts of coveting go a long way in enhancing self-control.
Q5
Lincoln found a way of turning his suffering to success we can say he learnt to learn from his depressed nature. From his depression, he also defined a goal that propelled him to higher heights where few feared to trend. A third aspect of Lincolns depression was that he natured a love for learning and people who knew him referred to him as a stubborn reader. Lincoln through depression learnt how to maintain humility in times of mystery.
Q6
Glass strengths gain him great admiration from fellow workers he writes articles they wished they were writing it themselves. Caitlin Avey and Amy Brand feel protected towards him and hold the perception that he does not know his powers in instances where he fails to take credit which sum up as weaknesses, he also has a way of evading lanes grasp with brilliant improvises.
Glass believes he is smarter than his editors and colleagues since he plots to deceive them coming up with falsified content all made up. Before his downfall on his own assessment Glass must have thought he was very intelligent given he had treaded a path many would have failed on the first try.
Strategies which glass used for deception lie in his ability to act modest not craving openly for credit from his stories. He is also willing to do anything possible to cover his tracks which can be termed as circumstantial deceit, he has no photographs to back up his stories and cites that the cameraman was not near. He also lies in a way nobody would have guessed since he fabricates a whole story and not bits of it making it difficult to trace.
Glass left a trail of casualties for those who had faith in him were left hurt, he destroyed the papers integrity in the process and as for his career as well was deemed to fail hurting himself in the process.
Though it may be difficult to avoid such a character, editors should watch out how desperate writers would be willing to go to create a story, they should also try and get sources or backing for every piece of work.
Q7
Plagiarism is not a victimless crime, it encompasses taking an original work as your own and failing to acknowledge it to the person who spent a lot of time in doing it. Judges and attorneys have the responsibility of caring since in so doing they recognize when a person gets a lot of merit at the expense of the original composer who may have toiled but could not get the required platform to gain from their work.
The punishment which attorney Peter received was deserved but may have been lenient since he did not offer compensation for the charges he had received from his clients to the people he had stolen the work from. The public reprimand was quite severe, as it would cost his career dearly.
The court made a distinction since a public reprimand served in a personal appearance carry more weight and may end careers as well since it ends up in one’s file as a disciplinary measure.
Public reprimand is shaming and humiliating but it is necessary to prevent attorneys from the shameful act of plagiarizing.
Q8
Terrence Des Pres thinks that the human moral sense is an evolutionary survival strat.gy he demonstrates it in the study of survivor behavior. The moral sense is indeed a deliberate and rational reaction to stay alive, basing on his predecessors such as Bettelheim and Lifton he shows how human beings when reduced will tend a little else on their dependence on material needs. It is also evident in that the behavior of the inmates in the camps tends to a state of childhood when the suffering intensifies.
Q9
The gamesman finds himself in a predicament for having failed to invest in something that would mean something to him at the end of his life, firstly building up on social relations especially with family and friends is of great importance since you will need the companionship at a certain point in life. Materials and fame are just vanity since no one is an island. Unlike the gamesman, it is essential to work on interpersonal skill to enhance ties when we need to feel loved. The gamesman should have invested in another part time field where he could have switched to once his athlete career begun to dwindle this educates us to know what is permanent and what we can enjoy not forgetting the grace period.
Works cited
Kenneth D,A review of the survivor: An Anatomy of Life in the death camps by Terrence Des Pres viewed on 7th Jan 2014. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/41203755?uid=3738336&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid=21103312121963
Turning depression into wisdom: what Lincoln can teach contemporary college students viewed on 7th Jan 2014. Retrieved from
http://collegepubs.com/turning_depression_into_wisdom
Mang-tzu, The Tress of Niu Mountain
