Saturday, January 25, 2020

Phaedo and the Qualities of Being Dead and Being Alive

Phaedo and the Qualities of Being Dead and Being Alive Dru Espinosa   In the dialogue, The Phaedo, Plato gives an account of the final moments of Socrates. Several arguments are presented and discussed. These arguments regard the immortality of the soul and reincarnation. In this essay I will present a brief summary of the dialogue, explain one of the arguments presented in it, and finally show why the argument fails to prove the notion of reincarnation. The Phaedo is a Socratic dialogue written by the philosopher Plato. The dialogue gives an account of the final hours of Socrates and his conversations from the viewpoint of a bystander. Several arguments are presented and discussed in The Phaedo, in addition to these a myth concerning the afterlife is presented by Socrates. The main arguments from The Phaedo are the argument from opposites, the argument from recollection, the argument from affinities, and a fourth argument concerning the difference between corporeal and incorporeal things. These arguments aim at proving the immortality of the soul, and also attempt to prove the Pythagorean conception of reincarnation. The myth presented near the closing of the dialogue concerns the terminus of the soul, which depends on how pure or corrupt it is at death. The dramatic death of Socrates concludes the dialogue. The argument from opposites claims that the soul is reincarnated. It lies on the principle that things transition from two opposites in a cycle. Before something becomes small, it was large, for it could not have been small before it became small. Moreover, if things only became smaller, and not larger, eventually everything would be miniscule. And if it was the other way around, where everything only became larger, and not smaller, everything would eventually be one thing, because everything would have joined together. If this were the case then we would notice that things only become smaller, shorter, or uglier, and never their opposites, or vice versa. Socrates shows that things do transition from two opposites, by referencing to observable examples. He contrasts this to death, and claims that there has to be a cycle of becoming alive and becoming dead, or else everything would become dead, or vice versa. The analogies that Socrates uses are applicable to every corporeal thing in the universe. Everything is either large or small, tall or short, etcetera. He claims that there is a process of becoming from its opposite (e.g. something becoming larger from being small), and that this process is cyclical. For if everything only became larger, but not smaller, then eventually everything would be conjoined together into one large thing. Consequently, if everything only became smaller, then eventually everything would be miniscule. Life and death, however, are not qualities in which everything is either one or the other. For to be dead it is necessary that the thing was once alive. Not everything in the universe was once alive, nor is currently alive. Thus, not everything is either dead or alive. This is how the qualities of being dead and being alive differ than the qualities of small and large. It follows then, since the process of becoming dead or alive is not applicable to everything, th at it cannot be said that all things would become one if all living things were to only die. Moreover, Socrates cannot point to any examples in which a soul comes back to life from death, as he can show something becoming short from its opposite. In this essay I have given a summary of the dialogue, explained the argument from opposites, and showed why it fails to prove the reincarnation of the soul. I have done this by showing that the qualities of living and being dead are different from other universal qualities in that they are only applicable to a small portion of the universe, and the consequent of this is that the universe would not become one, if things which were once alive never become alive again. I also showed that Socrates cannot reference an example of a soul switching between the opposites of life and death as he can other qualities. Therefore, the argument from opposites fails to prove the notion of reincarnation.

Friday, January 17, 2020

“No damn cat, and no damn cradle”: Truth and Meaning in Cat’s Cradle Essay

In Kurt Vonnegut’s apocalyptic novel, Cat’s Cradle, the end of the world has been realized. Plant life crunches underfoot, as though it has undergone a deep freeze. The tropical seas surrounding the fictional island of San Lorenzo have solidified, assuming a dull, frosted appearance. Grand waterfalls flowing from the majestic peak of Mount McCabe become lifeless. The once-scenic island horizon is transformed into a pale, sickly yellow. The introduction of ice-nine into the environment leads to radical weather patterns and global chaos. Ice-nine is a crystal form of water, much like standard ice, but with a melting point of 114.4 degrees Fahrenheit. When the compound makes contact with water, the liquid instantly freezes solid, turning a frosted blue. The novel begins with a brief but telling preface: â€Å"Live by the foma* that make you brave and kind and happy and healthy† (Vonnegut VII). â€Å"Foma† are defined as â€Å"harmless untruths† (Vonneg ut VII). While this brisk preface may merely seem to be a comical play on the standard disclaimer found within most fictional novels and therefore hold little significance, it sheds considerable light on the murky relationships between truth and meaning, as well as science and religion. Each train of thought has its own way of understanding and explaining the jumbled universe humans inhabit, and each claims to possess a high degree of truth. It is in this vivid and terrifying landscape that Vonnegut conveys to the reader through humor and symbolism that pursuing truth, whether through religion, science, or other pathways, is not an inherently positive or beneficial and does not aid one in the search for meaning in life. For hundreds of years, science and religion have been at odds. From the execution of the Greek philosopher Socrates to the Renaissance in Europe to modern times, the two opposing forces have always had an abrasive relationship. The beginning of the Enlightenment movement in Europe in the early 17th century marked a turn toward science, knowledge, and reasoning. It is from this era that modern society derives the notion that truth, along with the quest for it, is intrinsically constructive for humanity, along with the belief that lies are detrimental to the cause. In Cat’s Cradle, this is shown not to be the case. At the General Forge and Foundry, scientists and researchers work tirelessly â€Å"‘†¦to increase knowledge, to  work toward no end but that’† (Vonnegut 41). It is here that Felix Hoenikker, the father of the atom bomb and of ice-nine and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (a prime example of Vonnegut’s trademark humor), spends the final twenty-eight years of his life toiling away in the confines of his lab. Felix is a very childlike character, incapable of caring for himself and struggling with interpersonal interactions. Following the death of his wife Emily while in labor with Newt, his daughter Angela assumes the maternal position of the disjointed household due to Felix’s childlike nature. She forgoes any social interaction with peers in order to hold the family together. Frank Hoenikker, the middle child, follows suit, becoming an antisocial figure in the book. He becomes known as â€Å"secret agent X-9† on account of his perpetual business-like demeanor. Felix neglects his parental duties, opting instead to spend time on research and scientific pursuits. John Tomedi views the scientist symbolically: â€Å"Hoenikker serves as a symbol of scientific irresponsibility, a man so withdrawn from humanity and so focused on childish play with nature that he has no perspective on the effects of his crea tions and a total apathy for theirs uses† (Tomedi 41). As a direct result of Felix’s actions, his children suffer from the lack of true parental figures. The Hoenikker children can be considered casualties of science and truth. It is at the General Forge and Foundry that two major scientific advancements are made: the nuclear bomb and ice-nine. While both represent cutting-edge scientific knowledge, the culmination of countless hours of research and development, neither invention represents the progression of humanity. As Vonnegut himself says, â€Å"It’s a law of life that if you turn up something that can be used violently, it will be used violently† (Allen 97). The atom bomb leads to the death of tens of thousands in the events at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while ice-nine leads to the destruction of the entire world. The destructive nature of ice-nine and the atom bomb, inventions that were fostered by science, is in direct contradiction to the concept that science and knowledge benefit humankind due purely to their foundation in truth. Following the ice-nine catastrophe, John, the narrator and protagonist, finds himself in an underground fallout shelter with another resident of the island. John offers to share with her â€Å"‘One of the secrets of life man was a  long time understanding: Animals breathe in what animals breathe out, and vice versa’† (Vonnegut 268). One with basic knowledge of science would immediately notice an error in the writing. The text should read something to the effect of â€Å"animals breathe in what plants breathe out.† This inconsequential error proves Vonnegut’s point: the truth is irrelevant. The misinformation changes nothing. This â€Å"factoid† proves useless, not due to its false nature, but rather to its real world application, or lack thereof. One Another parallel experience occurs at the bar in the town of Ilium. While John is enjoying a drink, he poses a question: â€Å"‘What is the secret of life?’ I asked. ‘I forge t,’ said Sandra. ‘Protein,’ the bartender declared. ‘They found out something about protein’† (Vonnegut 25). Again, this piece of information has little relevance in the real world. It is not going to improve humanity or save one’s life. It is merely a fact to satisfy one’s curiosity. Vonnegut also uses humor to prove his point: â€Å"How can anybody in his right mind be against science?’ asked Crosby. ‘I’d be dead right now if it wasn’t for penicillin,’ said Hazel. ‘And so would my mother.’ ‘How old is your mother?’ I inquired. ‘A hundred and six. Isn’t that wonderful?’ (Vonnegut 234). The use of the word â€Å"wonderful† is questionable. A long life does not equate to a quality one. Science, being founded on truth and knowledge, does not benefit humanity. On the tropical island of San Lorenzo, the denizens of the country would be faced with t he depressing truth if it were not for the deliberate lies of Bokononism. In 1922, two friends, Lionel Boyd Johnson and Earl McCabe, shipwreck on the island shortly after setting sail. The state of the nation is so poor, no one attempts to prevent the foreigners from taking power. Initially, the duo resorts to a form of communism. They amass the entire wealth of the nation and divide it equally among its many residents. Each islander’s share amounts to approximately six dollars. Realizing the futility of their efforts to advance the island economically, they turn to another solution: religion. Johnson devises his own religion, which becomes known as Bokononism. To add some zest to the monotonous life on the island, the partners develop roles to fulfill in a sort of play. Johnson becomes known as Bokonon, while McCabe becomes a violent dictator whose sole mission is to capture and kill Bokonon. This drama contributes greatly to the popularity of the religion, thus benefitting the island population. The islanders are subject to substandard  living conditions: poverty, pestilence, and famine are prevalent. The island lacks the necessary resources to develop. They face a bleak and hopeless future. Rather than facing the reality of day-to-day life, they adopt the fabricated religion of Bokononism: †¦when it became evident that no government or economic reform was going to make the people much less miserable, the religion became the one real instrument of hope. Truth was the enemy of the people, because the truth was so terrible, so Bokonon made it his business to provide the people with better and better lies. (Vonnegut 172) Following a similar form to the beginning of the actual novel, the Books of Bokonon, the religion’s equivalence to the Bible, warns the reader: â€Å"‘Don’t be a fool! Close this book at once! It is nothing but foma!’† (Vonnegut 265). This line establishes the illegitimate nature of the Books of Bokonon, and, subsequently, the religion of Bokononism in its entirety. The lack of truth is beneficial because â€Å"When people believe that they have the ‘Truth,’ they seek to impose their beliefs on others, and religious wars are the inevitable result. The highest truth in Bokonon’s religion is that all spiritual truths are actually useful fictions, creations of the imagination that do not exist outside of the human mind. The meaning of life is not something we can discover in the outside world. We must create it for ourselves† (Marvin 89). The religion is openly founded on falsehoods. In spite of this, the residents of San Lore nzo experience a real, tangible benefit. The stark reality of life on the barren island is too much to bear; therefore, Bokonon feeds the residents compounding lies. Bokononism proves more beneficial to the residents of San Lorenzo than the alternative: science. Though at its foundation Bokononism is series of untruths, that fact does not limit the religion in its ability to aid those in need. Vonnegut portrays all religions as unreliable texts despite claims to the contrary. The island’s dictatorial president, Papa Monzano, is dying a miserable death from cancer. As his death nears, Papa undergoes his last rites with the aid of a †¦Christian minister, who was ready to take care of â€Å"Papa’s† spiritual needs as they arose. He had a brass dinner bell and a hatbox with holes drilled in it, and a Bible, and a butcher knife- all laid out on the bench beside him. He told me there was a live chicken in the hatbox. The chicken was quiet, he said, because he had fed it  tranquilizers†¦ He turned out to be an intelligent man. His doctorate, which he invited me to examine, was awarded by the Western Hemisphere University of the Bible of Little Rock, Arkansas†¦ He had said that he had had to feel his way along with Christianity, since Catholicism and Protestantism had been outlawed along with Bokononism. â€Å"So, if I am to be a Christian un der those conditions, I have to make up a lot of new stuff.† (Vonnegut 214) Much like Bokonon, the Christian minister fabricates new aspects of the religion to suit his needs.   Daniel Minguez offers a thorough inspection: â€Å"This examination implies that one may rely upon an iteration of Christianity with the same confidence of its truth as one may rely upon their own guesswork at the workings of the universe†¦ It shows that Christianity is just as effective without the accepted dogma of the Catholic or Protestant church and renders the text as inconsequential to the enactment of Christianity itself†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Minguez 9) The Christian minister offers a distorted and absurd version of the religion. He makes additions to the religion with little regard for its supposed sanctity despite having been well educated. By doing so, he strips Christianity, in addition to all religion, of its credibility. Religion and science are used as vehicles to pursue a deeper question regarding humanity: what is the purpose of life? The world inhabited by humans is mysterious, unpredictable, and ultimately meaningless. The characters in Cat’s Cradle are in search of purpose and meaning. In an attempt to find such, they supplement religion and science for true understanding. Bokononism and science strive to create meaning and purpose for the lives their followers. Bokononists believe â€Å"†¦that humanity is organized into teams, teams that do God’s Will without ever discovering what they are doing. Such a team is called a karass†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Vonnegut 2). This is the stated purpose of Bokononism: to carry out God’s will. Though Bokononism does not explicitly condemn the attempt to understand God, it merely states that â€Å"such investigations are bound to be incomplete† (Vonnegut 4). One cannot understand or comprehend God: I once knew an Episcopalian lady in Newport, Rhode Island, who asked me to design and build a doghouse for her Great Dane. The lady claimed to understand God and His Ways of Working perfectly. She could not understand why anyone should be puzzled about what had been or about what was going to be. And yet, when I showed her a blueprint of the doghouse I proposed to build, she said to me,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"I’m sorry, but I never could read one of those things.† â€Å"Give it to your husband or your minister to pass it on to God,† I said, â€Å"and, when God finds a minute, I’m sure he’ll explain this doghouse of mine in a way that even you could understand.† She fired me. I shall never forget her. She believed that God liked people in sailboats much better than He liked people in motorboats. She could not bear to look at a worm. When she saw a worm, she screamed. She was a fool, and so am I, and so is anyone who thinks he sees what God is Doing. (Vonnegut 4) This does little to satisfy m an’s natural desire to know and understand his environment because â€Å"†¦any invented sense-making system is continually disproved by man’s immediate experience of the world, and the arbitrariness of events perpetually defeats any system of alleged causalities† (Bloom 91). Man must learn to accept such a situation: Tiger got to hunt, Bird got to fly; Man got to sit and wonder, â€Å"Why, why, why?† Tiger got to sleep, Bird got to land; Man got to tell himself he understand. (Vonnegut 182) In man’s attempt to create meaning, he may weave fiction to appease his desire for purpose, though such systems are deemed invalid. It is man’s responsibility to forge purpose and meaning for one’s existence. Vonnegut’s writings in Cat’s Cradle show that truth is not innately positive, and that lies are the opposite. Science, sharing an intimate relation to truth and knowledge, is the source of significant regression and damage to humanity in the form of the nuclear bomb and ice-nine. The atom bomb produces suffering, death, and environmental damage on an unprecedented scale, while ice-nine utterly annihilates all life on the planet. On the other hand, the fabricated religion of Bokononism, while founded on falsehoods, brings hope to the otherwise hopeless. It creates a veil to mask the otherwise unavoidable reality of life on the barren island of San Lorenzo. Bokononism and science are used by their followers to create meaning and purpose in their lives. This leads to the final conclusion that it is ultimately up to man to create meaning for an otherwise meaningless existence. Works Cited Allen, William R., ed. Conversations with Kurt Vonnegut. Jackson: University of Mississippi, 2001. Print. Bloom, Harold, ed. Modern Critical Interpretations: Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. Broomall: Haights Cross Communications, 2002. Print. Marvin, Thomas F. Kurt Vonnegut: A Critical Companion. Westport: Greenwood, 2002. Print. Minguez, Daniel. â€Å"Cat’s Cradle: The Apocalypse of Human Thought.† OxyScholar. Occidental College, 1 Apr. 2009. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Tomedi, John. Great Writers: Kurt Vonnegut. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2004. Print.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

The Twin Towers - 1535 Words

Donald E. Crawford U.S History June 10, 2009 The Attacks of the World Trade Centers Over 200,000 tons of steel, 425,000 cubic yards of concrete, a total of 10,000 workers and 7 years, 2 buildings were created known as the World Trade Centers. It s more than its signature twin towers: it was a complex of seven buildings on 16-acres with its own zip code (10048). The construction of the buildings began in 1966 and was completed in April 1973, with the North tower opening 2 years prior of the South. They both consist of 110 floors, and were ranked as the tallest buildings in the world until the Sears Towers was built in 1974. The towers were built downtown-lower Manhattan Development Association by Chase Manhattan Bank chairman David†¦show more content†¦Although the 106th floor wasn’t hit, everyone above that floor was also killed, due to the fact that their escape routes were cut off by fire. Most people jumped out the windows because there was nothing else to do nor was there anywhere to go. After witnessing th e plane hit the first tower, people in the second tower began to fear for their lives and try to escape, but they were told to stay at their desks thinking that their building wouldn’t be Williams 4 attacked, but little did they know moments later they were hit. Although the North Tower was hit first, the South Tower had collapsed less than in hour later, due to the fact that it was hit lower. All firefighters, soldiers, police officers and everyone else who was trying to escape were crushed. Exactly 29 minutes later, the North Tower joined its twin as it crashed onto the ground killing hundreds and thousands of people that was in and around both towers. People on the ground were running for their lives as clouds of debris and smoke covered the streets of lower Manhattan. Due to the fact that the Twin Towers was big, no one really knows exactly how many people were dead, but they were able to estimate that about 2,985 people were dead or missing, including the 19 hijackers. The North Tower has been estimated to have killed almost 1,402 people, and the South 614 people. There were mostly people between the ages of 35 and 39 thatShow MoreRelatedThe Twin Towers908 Words   |  4 PagesThe twin towers was a beautiful building that for people to live in. Until September 2011 when terrorists came and blew it up and then thousands of people died and families lost their loved ones in that blow up and now they know they will not get them back again. This is a day that no-one and the world will never forget because what happened there was terrible and horrific. On that day there were a lot of heroes that some people did not know that helped them. Tis attack shocked a lot of people becauseRead MoreThe Construction Of The Twin Towers1407 Words   |  6 PagesThe Construction of the Twin Towers     Foundation system        In the beginning of the project, the surveying team discovered a steep limestone cliff beneath the surface of the original site for the Petronas Twin Towers.This would cause failure to the foundation resulting on a higher cost and the need for exceptional experts to build the foundation as planned. It alarmed the whole construction team to come up with a whole new strategy to overcome the problem which ended up with the movement ofRead MoreThe On The Twin Towers1634 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the most photographed, videoed and telecast events in human history(QUOTE), the attacks of September 11 (9/11/2001) on the Twin Towers, provide a case study for the power of an image, in this case, an image of disaster. Images are defined as a â€Å"visual impression† (QUOTE) something that captures the essence of a moment. 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SULAIMAN BIN MAHBOB KPB3263 PROJECT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SYAHRUL NIZZAM BIN NORDIN KLC1080107 OCTOBER 1, 2012 INTRODUCTION In many developing countries including Malaysia, project planning has been criticized by the World Bank and other organizations for the lack of executing projects, such as delays, corruption, etc. However, project planning is becoming an â€Å"increasingly important role in the public administrationRead MoreMy Experience At The Twin Towers Essay1098 Words   |  5 Pagesmoment when the twin towers fell on September 11th 2001? (ask them to share their experience) b. Introduce Topic: I will then share my experience: I remember this memory like it was yesterday. I was 3 years old at the time and I just got back from a walk with my mom. When all of a sudden her friend came banging on the door. When my mom opened the door her friend just kept repeating â€Å"turn on the TV! The twin towers are falling.† Us 3 sat there in devastation and just watched the towers fall. c. IntroduceRead MoreThe Terrorist Attack On The Twin Towers1661 Words   |  7 PagesThis is very similar at how other American citizens were willing to help after the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers. Christopher Peterson and Nansook Park, writers of A Positive Psychology Perspective On Post-9/11 Security, says, â€Å"Our ongoing study of character strengths has found that post-9/11, people reported that they were more likely to display the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity†(Peterson). Which is a clear reminder of how people acted during and after 9/11. As a small example

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

The Salem Witch Trials Essay - 911 Words

The Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch trials help chaos throughout colonial Massachusetts affecting many others along the east coast. Due to the Salem Witch trials being such a famous event many believe that this was the first Witch hunt, however this not the case it was the first in America. Approximately 141 innocent people were imprisoned with a total of 19 deaths (insert aftermath citation). Salem witch hunt started in 1692 as accusations by the small Puritan community of nearly 500 arose (cite form youtube?). It all started by one line in the bible â€Å"thal shalt not suffer a witch to live.† The discrepancy between whether the Salem Witch trials were used to take out enemies or the acquisitionists actually believed these were witches is unknown. Contrary to popular belief none of the accused were surrounded by pitch forks and chased to the middle of town to be burned at the stake. There was a form of due process after a male or female was accused. The description on how to seek out a witc h is described on the book Maleficavm released in 1496. The characteristics of a witch varied from a witch’s teat to dangerous tests, none the less there had to be concrete evidence. Once a witches teat is discovered it is poked with a needle to test is they would bleed. In addition risky tests such as a floating test were held. If the colonist was to float they were deemed as a witch however if they sunk they were not. Torture was also a common way to get the accused to admit toShow MoreRelated salem witch trial Essay1180 Words   |  5 Pagessalem witch trial This is about witchcraft and is started like this: In the winter of 1691-92, several people in Salem Village, most of them young women, but eventually including a few men and boys, began behaving in a strange unusual manner†, with an affect which was interpreted as illness. The towns minister, Samuel Parris, whose daughter and niece were among those with this odd affect, sought to cure the perceived problem with prayer; others, including a doctor of physic who was calledRead MoreSalem Witch Trial Hysteria Essay818 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty people were put to death for witchcraft in Salem during the 1692 Salem Witch Trial Hysteria. In The Crucible, a woman, Elizabeth Proctor, gets accused of witchcraft by a young girl by the name Abigail Williams, who just so happens to be having an affair with Elizabeth’s husband, John. Once John finds out Abigail accused his wife, he starts trying to find proof that all of these young girls are pretending that they are being hurt by these older women, just so that they will be hanged. The officialsRead MoreEssay about Salem witch trials1931 Words   |  8 Pages Salem Witch Trials: Casting a spell on the people Today, the idea of seeing a witch is almost inconsequential. Our Halloween holiday marks a celebration in which many will adorn themselves with pointy black hats and long stringy hair, and most will embrace them as comical and festive. Even the contemporary witchcraft religious groups forming are being accepted with less criticism. More recently, the Blair Witch movie craze has brought more fascination than fear to these dark and magical figuresRead MoreEssay on The Theories of the Salem Witch Trials1135 Words   |  5 PagesThe Theories of the Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch trials and what caused them is very debatable. Some theories lead to Rye poisoning from bread to even people faking it. The most believable claim is that people were faking it. Everyone had a motive and they all just wanted to save themselves. It was a time when people were selfish and only cared for themselves. This time in Salem was a troubling time, making it seem likely that satan was active (Linder). The townsfolk are believed to haveRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1369 Words   |  6 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials The witch trials of the late 1600s were full of controversy and uncertainty. The Puritan town of Salem was home to most of these trials, and became the center of much attention in 1692. More than a hundred innocent people were found guilty of practicing witchcraft during these times, and our American government forced over a dozen to pay with their lives. The main reasons why the witch trials occurred were conflicts dealing with politics, religion, family, economicsRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1333 Words   |  6 PagesThe Salem Witch Trials, taking place between February 1692 and May 1693, arose from a period of mass hysteria regarding witchcraft. The puritanical society of New England emphasized a need for a Bible-based society, which caused a fear of the supernatural and gave rise to the false accusations of â€Å"witches.† With testimonies of witches rooted in the Old Testament, the idea of witchcraft eventually made its way into the superstitious and everyday Puritan life, and was fueled by the rejection of theRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay2008 Words   |  9 Pageswomen and men. The madness continued for over four months. The notorious witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts occurred from June through September. It is a brief, but turbulent period in history and the causes of the trials have long been a source of discussion among historians. Many try to explain or rationalize the bizarre happenings of the witch hunts and the causes that contributed to them. To understand the trials and how they came to be, we must first examine the ideals and views of the peopleRead MoreSalem Witch Trials Essay1478 Words   |  6 Pages1692 marked a major event in history in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Witchcraft Trials still leaves this country with so many questions as to what happened in that small town. With all the documentation and accounts of the story, people are still wondering why 19 people died as a result of these trials. This paper will discuss the events leading up to the Salem Witch Trials and the events that took place during and after the trials, and the men and women who were killed or spent theRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials Essay1349 Words   |  6 PagesBefore 1692, the supernatural was a part of people’s everyday normal life. This is so as people strongly believed that Satan was present and active on earth. Men and women in Salem Village believed that all the misfortunes that befell them were the work of the devil. For example, when things like infant death, crop failures or friction among the congregation occurred, people were quick to blame the supernatural. This concept first emerged in Europe around the fifteenth century and then spread toRead More Salem Witch Trials Essay876 Words   |  4 PagesSalem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials was probably considered the darkest time for the New England Colony. This was a mass murder of women and a few men that were supposed witches. All of this started from two little girls and a bacteria in the bread that affected the brain. This all started on January 20,1692 when nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris and eleven-year-old Abigail Williams started to exhibit strange behavior. Blasphemous screaming, Seizures, Trance-like states and Mysterious