Edwards V. Aguillard Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Edwards V. Aguillard - Research Paper Example From these experiments and results, it was found logically to say that man evolved from apes. Theories were created that proved these points. Then another science came into view: the creation science. With the creation science, it was argued that man was created by a supreme being, and that was the origin that proved somewhat true. Over the years, scholars have argued about the existence and origin of man. Some have supported the evolution theory while others have supported the creation science. In this particular essay, attention will be focused on a case that was ruled by the supreme court in 1987. It was between Edwards and Aguillard. Edwards supported the evolution theory while Aguillard supported the creation science theory. By the end of it all, the court had ruled that both creation science and evolution be taught in public schools. A law was created for this purpose, which received much opposition from schools that were affected by this law. The argument was that if creationi sm was taught in public schools, it would be unconstitutional since it would attempt to make a particular religion more advanced than the other. (Scott 199). With both theories about creation at hand, the main cause of concern was that one cannot be taught while the other is not. This would mean that if, say, creationism was taught and evolution was not, then students would dwell more about the knowledge on how people came to exist based on the creation theory (Jacobs, 33). They would not have come to know of a theory that taught the origin of man through evolution. In such a case, only one particular religion would be promoted and instilled in the young minds of students. A major question that people should ask themselves is: If one religion is taught in a public school science class, why cannot other theories about the development and origins of life also be taught in the same school? It was a biased move – one which would enable the existence and knowledge of one particula r discipline while extinguishing the other (Scott 212). The major conflict was between the Creationism Act and its agreement with the Establishment Clause (Brownstein 15). The Creationism Act was such that it forbade the teaching of the evolution theory in public schools unless the teaching of creation science was also involved. At the time, there was no need for any of the theories to be taught in schools, but the Act stated that should one be present, the other should be present too. This meant that the only way evolution would be taught was by the inclusion of instructions from creation science. This, from any other view, indicated that one was nonsexist if the other was not in existence either. From this argument, it was viewed that this promoted creation science more than it did evolution (Young and Strode 232). It was more of promoting a religious doctrine that taught about the existence of life from a Christian point of view. So as to show that the Creationism Act catered for the best interests of students in schools, it was argued that both were the evidence proven scientifically, which dealt with creation and evolution, and there were also inferences from that scientific evidence (Haynes 40). Beyond doubt, both were to go side by side in science classes, and as it seemed, academic freedom was present. Academic freedom is the choice to

Reader Response to Bartleby the Scrivener Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reader Response to Bartleby the Scrivener - Essay Example It could be argued that the lawyer gets a scrivener after his heart to help him know himself better. In a significant piece of self-analysis, the narrator says, "though I belong to a profession proverbially energetic and nervous, even to turbulence, at times, yet nothing of that sort have I ever suffered to invade my peace." He is "one of those unambitious lawyers who never addresses a jury, or in any way draws down public applause; but in the cool tranquillity of a snug retreat, do a snug business among rich men's bonds and mortgages and title-deeds. All who know me consider me an eminently safe man"(par.3). The position of the subordinates in his office is also preeminently safe. His permanent staff of scriveners consists of a uniquely eccentric trio called Turkey, Nippers and Ginger Nut. Their idiosyncrasies may have led a less phlegmatic employer to dismiss them, but the narrator merely consoles himself with the thought that " I never had to do with their eccentricities at one time. Their fits relieved each other like guards. When Nippers' was on, Turkey's was off; and vice versa. This was a good natural arrangement under the circumstances" (par. 13). As for Ginger Nut, "to this quick-witted youth the whole noble science of the law was contained in a nut-shell" (par. 14), says the narrator with an almost paternal indulgent irony. The point is that this was the state of affairs in the narrator's office before Bartleby joined them to fill a temporary position. What of Bartleby at this time At least, he shows sufficient initiative to apply for the position and seems to have possessed enough enterprise to impress his employer. As the narrator remarks, "I engaged him, glad to have among my corps of copyists a man of so singularly sedate an aspect, which I thought might operate beneficially upon the flighty temper of Turkey, and the fiery one of Nippers" (par.16). And what of his first days at work The narrator describes it thus: As if long famishing for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day and night line, copying by sun-light and by candle-light. I should have been quite delighted with his application, had be been cheerfully industrious. But he wrote on silently, palely, mechanically. (par. 18) Although, or perhaps, because, he had done an extraordinary quantity of work, Bartleby politely refuses to have anything to do with the checking of the documents for mistakes-he 'prefers' not to. No explanation is given by Bartleby, or by the narrator. Was it a supreme confidence in the infallibility of his written work No, because he also refuses all other kind of work such as reviewing the writing of others, running simple errands, or anything of the sort. Later, he declares that he has "decided upon doing no more writing"(par. 126) and he finally informs his employer "he had permanently given up copying" (par. 133). What is the cause of this change in Bartleby Is Bartleby perhaps the narrator's alter ego, providentially chosen to reveal to him his own essential inner self When he realizes that Bartleby had nowhere to go after office hours, "a feeling of overpowering stinging melancholy" overwhelms the narrator: "The bond of a common humanity now drew me irresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy! For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam" (par.89). After