Can Substance Dualism Be Defended Essay - 1919 Words

Can Substance Dualism Be Defended? Substance dualism is a never ending argument in the Philosophy world as it’s been going on for decades. It is the view that the universe contains two important types of entity which is mental and material. The structure of this paper is that four main argument leads to one conclusion. Firstly, I’ll argue about Descartes’s ‘separability argument’ which stands as the definition of Substance Dualism. Secondly, I’ll argue that mental and physical have different and perhaps irreconcilable properties. An argument is not complete without a counter argument which in this case the â€Å"pairing† problem that exists in Descartes theory is highlighted and where is the interaction of material and immaterial takes†¦show more content†¦Leading to conclusion that substance dualism is not a useful or applicable theory of mind (Kim, 2005). The argument above is valid argument from Jaegwon Kim. But first there is a problem with Kim’s argument. Kim concludes that it is not possible for souls to interact casually with material substance â€Å"but if the modality governing is either metaphysical or logical then it would be possible to demonstrate the ontological impossibility of soul-body causal interaction† (Jehle, 2006, p. 569). With that we can wave some of his argument as false premises, but that couldn’t be counted for as a reply for his critic therefore the counter argument for Kim’s critics needs a brief account of causations. Assume that causality is grounded in properties possessed by objects. At a envisage properties are dispositions that can confer ‘causal powers’ on an object. Therefore, the mutual manifestations of reciprocal dispositional partners are the casual relation. Take salt crystal as an example, which dissolves in a drop of water. The dissolving of the salt c rystal is a mutual manifestation of the power that water has to dissolve salt. This will account for Kim’s critics, when Kim’s two souls, Z and Y, both act at time T and only a brings about a change in X, Z brings about this change because X possess the specific property that allows it to be the dispositional partner of Z. Y, on the other hand, basicallyShow MoreRelatedDualism And Its Effects On Society998 Words   |  4 PagesThe concept of Dualism has been around for ages, basically, dualism is the idea that mental phenomena are, in some respects, non-physical, or that the mind and body are not identical. By default, it is all too common that someone has a broad sense of the opposite of dualism. That is, the average Joe would most likely think that sensations and other mental states are entirely physical. To speak and discuss about dualism, one must first break down a few key aspects of it, and explain the necessaryRead MoreDualism And Belief That The Mind And Brain Essay1201 Words   |  5 PagesMoreland in his argument for dualism, he states that humans are composed of both an immaterial substance and a physical substance. Moreland notes that there are contrasting differences between the minds and the brains and that they are ultimately separate entities. By defending dualism, Moreland seeks to make nonbelievers believe in immaterial souls, while discrediting materialism. We can look at the arguments in which Moreland uses to support the argument of dualism and belief that the mind andRead MoreThe Argument For Substance Dualism Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesArguments for Substance Dualism In this essay, I will discuss and formally analyze the opinions in approval of substance dualism and conclude that substance dualism is without a doubt an accurate way of thinking. Firstly, it is important to describe what exactly what I mean by substance dualism. Basically, it asks a very menial question such as: what kind of thing is our mind? According to substance dualists aka Descartes, the mind and the body are composed of different substances and that the mindRead MoreThe Philosophy Of Mind And The Body1646 Words   |  7 Pagesused to treat individuals as the bearers of unobservable psychological states and processes, and in order to anticipate and explain the individual’s behavior in terms of states. Dualism, a philosophy most defended by Rene Descartes, Believed that there are two concepts to philosophy, regarding the mind and the body. Dualism, is possibly the oldest and the most intuitive of the philosophies of mind, however within the modern psychology, this philosophy is a minority view among psychologists. This theoryRead MoreDescartes on the Distinction Between Body and Mind1181 Words   |  5 Pagesthe mind is different from the body. However, he does not present a premise for the existence of bodies until the sixth meditation when he supports substance dualism. In the fifth Meditation, he claims that he knows that clear and separate ideas are true, and in the sixth meditation, he says, â€Å"I know that all things I conceive clearly and distinctly can be produced by God exactly as I conceive them† (Descartes 156). In addition, he claims that our ideas of body and mind are clear and separate. MoreoverRead MoreNotes On Sherlock Holmes And The Scientific Community17 91 Words   |  8 Pagessee religious faith as a form of mental illness, which is limited to a certain population (religious people only) (p. 72).2 When reasoning logically one most understand that not all things can be proven wrong or right. Sometimes things do not lend themselves to a right or a wrong answer. However a person can see where a line of thought leads too, which delivers a person to a certain conclusion even though it may not be a right or wrong. Every mystery and caper that Sherlock Holmes solved he creditedRead MoreHume s Theory Of Free Will2486 Words   |  10 Pagesreconcile between both concepts to find a solid basis for morality. In my opinion, Hume’s emphasis of the freedom of action rather than will is the most intelligible position that one can take in this issue. Thirdly, I will argue that Hume’s deterministic view of the world and the narrow definition of the free will can be reconciled with my theologian view about the first cause. I believe that God exist as the sole creator of the universe and caused everything to happen but I cannot know anything aboutRead MoreWhat is functionalism? Critically assess its main advantages and disadvantages.3994 Words   |  16 Pages what makes a mental state mental? Or more specifically, What do thoughts have in common in virtue of which they are thoughts? That is, what makes a thought a thought? What makes a pain a pain? Cartesian Dualism said the ultimate natur e of the mental was to be found in a special mental substance. Behaviorism identified mental states with behavioral dispositions. Functionalism holds most simply, that mental states are brain states: that mental states are constituted by their causal relations to oneRead MoreMeditation on First Philosophy Essay2565 Words   |  11 PagesQuestion: Meditation on First Philosophy It can be seen that Descartes Meditations on first philosophy raised a lot of questions regarding the existence and nature of the self, the existence of God, the nature of truth and the possibility of error, and finally also the essence and existence of bodies along other things. Descartes did all this through the medium of his six meditations. Descartes from his very first Meditation, that of concerning things that can be called in to doubt, gives reasons onRead MoreRichard Taylor And His Belief Of The Anatta Doctrine Essay2052 Words   |  9 Pagesits own. This shows the close connection between Anatta and the doctrine itself of dependent origination. Since the things that make up the human personality are described as dependently arisen, it follows that within it there is no self-enduring substance or a self-entity existing by its own power per Taylor in his reading. Taylor goes on to talk about the notion of the meaning of life that all creatures live. It is certainly a correct description of all non-human life. The lives of all the creatures

The Emperor Of The King - 848 Words

After Otto had received the imperial crown at Rome (2 February, 962) Liutprand was often entrusted with important commissions, in 963 when he was sent as ambassador to John XII at the beginning of the quarrel between the pope and the emperor, owing to the former s alliance with Bà ©renger s son Adelbert. Liutprand also took part in the assembly of bishops at Rome, 6 November, 963, which deposed John XII. Liutprand describes from his point of view these events of 960-64, and sides entirely with the emperor, condemning the Romans very harshly. After the death of the pope, Leo VIII, Liutprand again went to Rome with Bishop Otgar of Speyer, as the emperor s envoy, to conduct the election of a new pope, on which occasion John XIII was chosen. The Bishop of Cremona undertook another mission to Constantinople by order of the emperor in the summer of 968 to ask the Byzantine Emperor to bestow his daughter in marriage on Otto s son, later Otto II. In regards to the Capitulary of the Missi, i nhabitants of the district they administered had to provide for their subsistence, and at times they led the host to battle. The missi were protected by a triple wergeld and resistance to them was punishable by death. They were to execute justice, to ensure respect for the king, to control the government of the military dukes and administrative counts (then still royal officials), to receive their oath of allegiance, to let the king s will be known, at times by distributingShow MoreRelatedThe Last Emperor Of Germany And King Of Prussia1821 Words   |  8 PagesMeray Aslan 2/16/2017 The last emperor of Germany and king of Prussia still stirs up many different opinions is Kaiser II. He was a strong and effective leader through his discipline, self-assurance and nationalism, whose sole passion is to make their country the best it could be. Kaiser Wilhelm II was born on January 27, 1859 to Prince Frederick of Prussia and princess Victoria of the United Kingdom. Prince Fredrick then fell ill and died after just 99 days of his reign and Wilhelm IIRead MoreThe Rise Of The Century King Cyrus And Emperor Constantine1302 Words   |  6 PagesWhen you compare the rise of arguably two of the greatest rulers in history King Cyrus and Emperor Constantine you will discover that these to historical leaders dramatically influenced the change of direction for Judaism and Christianity. There are some scholars who would argue that these to ruler’s conversion to god was not sincere and they were just political masterminds. 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Symbolism in The Storm Essay - 624 Words

Symbolism in â€Å"The Storm† â€Å"The Storm†, written by Kate Chopin in 1898, examines the uncontrollable desires of a young wife, lured into the arms of her past lover as her husband and son are caught in a storm. Bobinà ´t and four-year-old Bibi are running errands when the storm suddenly hit. Bobinà ´t’s wife, Calixta was at home sewing when she noticed the severe storm happening outside. When Calixta went outside to gather some clothing, her old lover Alcà ©e asked for shelter during the storm. Through her use of symbolism, Chopin gives the reader her feelings on the love affair between Calixta and Alcà ©e. Chopin’s uses symbolism in her use of different colors throughout the story. The color white is mentioned multiple times in the story. White†¦show more content†¦But, in the midst of the mayhem there is a sense of peace and harmony within the walls of her home. When Alcà ©e first arrives at Calixta’s home, the rain has just started getting bad. The sexual tensio n between the two of them heightens when lightning strikes a tree and scares Calixta. This causes her to throw herself into Alcà ©e’s arms for protection. While they are in the throes of passion, the rain reaches its full force. By the time Alcà ©e and Calixta have finished their affair, the rain has stopped and the storm has moved on. It seems as though the rain has washed away their sin of adultery, because when they walk outside the world is shiny and bright. All this time, Bobinà ´t and Bibi have been waiting at the store. When the storm finally passes, they are able to go home. On their way, Bobinà ´t is afraid that his wife will be angry with him for taking so long at the store and for not being presentable. To his surprise, when they come in the backdoor, Calixta is fixing dinner and is in a wonderful mood. She checks them over to make sure they are dry and unharmed. She seems genuinely happy to see her husband and son. However, when Bobinà ´t gives her the treat he picked up for her; she only kisses him on the cheek to show her gratitude. This reinforces the suspicion that they are in a loveless or passionlessShow MoreRelatedEssay about Symbolism of â€Å"The Storm1512 Words   |  7 PagesKate Chopin wrote the short story â€Å"The Storm† one of her most bold stories and did not even intention to publish it (Cutter 191). The two main characters in the story are Calixta and Alcee. They both used to be attracted to one another in previous years, but now they are both married to someone else. After Alcee arrives to Calixta’s house looking for shelter they are driven into a passionate moment. In the story â€Å"The Storm† the storm has a significant meaning; without it the affair of Calixta andRead MoreThe Storm By Kate Chopin869 Words   |  4 PagesKate Chopin’s short story, â€Å"The Storm.† Calixta went outside of her marriage for a sexual affair with Alcà ©e when he unexpectedly showed up and a storm came through. The three most prominent literary elements that were addressed in â€Å"The Storm† were foreshadowing, symbolism, and setting. First, there is foreshadowing in the story. Bae and Young agree that foreshadowing is when a story implies that something will happen in the future without saying it (1). In â€Å"The Storm,† an example of this is on theRead MoreEssay on A Storm of Emotion in Kate Chopins The Storm817 Words   |  4 PagesThe Storm of Emotion Usually a storm creeps upon us, hits a luminous climax, and then fades away into nothingness.   In The Storm, Kate Chopin develops a parallel between a rainstorm and an emotional storm in a woman’s life.   Chopin uses symbolism to depict the feelings of relationships that are as unpredictable as that of a raging storm.   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the time frame that this story is set, many major life decisions things are made taking into account one’s duty to family - including theRead More The Storm Essay1004 Words   |  5 PagesThe Storm The purpose of this paper is to analyze The Storm by Kate Chopin. In this paper we will look at the setting, atmosphere, plot, character, foreshadowing, symbolism and theme of this story. Setting and Atmosphere This story is set on a sultry afternoon in south Louisiana near Biloxi. The body of the story takes place in Calixtas home during a fierce summer storm. The atmosphere is charged with electricity and sexual tension caused by the storm and the unexpected arrival of Alcà ©eRead MoreIrony And Symbolism In The Interlopers By Saki760 Words   |  4 PagesUlrich and Georg were neighbors that fought so hard that they determined that the death of the other would be better than talking it out. â€Å"The Interlopers† by Saki tells the story through Irony and symbolism to express the idea that petty feuds will get you nowhere because we all die eventually. Symbolism was shown throughout the whole story using the wolves, flask and the friendship they gained. â€Å"I would never fire a shot on your land,... I will be your friend. They put aside their ugly and meanRead More`` Blown Away `` By Josh Kear And Chris Tompkins Use Symbolism And Imagery1046 Words   |  5 Pagesgood. He failed the young girl by tearing her down and making her life miserable. In â€Å"Blown Away†, the authors Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins use symbolism and imagery to show the difficulties the girl face as a child and how she finds hope for a better future. One device the authors use to portray hope is symbolism. The first way the song exhibits symbolism is through the tornado and the destruction is causes. Carrie Underwood sings, â€Å"The weather man called for a twister / she pray it blow down† (linesRead More Analysis of The Sick Rose Written by William Blake Essay661 Words   |  3 Pagesthou art sick! The invisible worm That flies in the night, In the howling storm, Has found out thy bed Of crimson joy, And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy. In this essay, I chose to write a bout â€Å"The Sick Rose†, which is a short poem written by William Blake, focusing on the metaphorical language and the symbolism used in it. Though this poem is difficult, I like its deeper meaning and the symbolism. I think that Blake succeeds in giving us a very brilliant work in a few linesRead MoreThe Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin886 Words   |  4 PagesIn Kate Chopin â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, the reader is presented with the theme of prohibited independence. In Kate Chopin â€Å"The Storm†, the scenery in this story builds the perfect atmosphere for an adulterous affair. The importance of these stories is to understand the era they occurred. Kate Chopin wrote stories with exceptional openness about sexual desires. In â€Å"The Storm†, a short story written by Kate Chopin in a time when women were expected to act a certain way and sexual cravings was consideredRead MoreThe Storm by Kate Chopin1332 Words   |  6 Pagesnoticed about Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Storm,† is that it is utterly dripping with sexual imagery and symbolism. Our heroine, if you will, seems to be a woman with normally restrained passions and a well-defined sense of propriety, who finds herself in a situation that tears down her restraint and reveals the vixen within. I wonder if it was intentional that the name Calixta makes me think of Calypso – the nymph from Greek mythology. If half of the sexual symbolism I found in this story was intentionalRead More Images, Imagery, Symbols, and Symbolism in Macbeth Essay610 Words   |  3 PagesImagery and Symbolism in Macbeth   Ã‚  Ã‚   In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses extensive imagery and symbolism throughout the course of his play.   Shakespeare uses this imagery and symbolism so that the reader may gain a deeper understanding and feeling for the happenings of this tragedy.   This is further demonstrated by Shakespeares use of darkness in Macbeth.   As one of the more noticeable and important symbols, darkness represents many different elements in the play.   First and foremost

Florence Nightingale Had A Big Impact On The Math World

Florence Nightingale had a big impact on the math world. We still use what she contributed today in the medical field and in the classroom. She not only made an impact in the math world but also for women’s rights and in the medical field during the Crimean War. Florence had an interesting early life, from begging her parents to study math to choosing to become a nurse. She is an example of how you should never give up on your dreams and how you should not let other people tell you what you can and cannot do. Florence was born on May 12th, 1820 in Florence Italy, which is where she got her name. Her parents were William Edward Nightingale and Frances Nightingale Nee Smith. She had a sister named Frances Parthenope, also named after the place in which she was born. They were an upper class British family at the Vita Colombaia. They had three homes one called Embley, Hampshire, and Lea Hurst. In 1838 Florence met Mary Clarky, Clarkey was a stimulating hostess who did not care ab out what she looked like. Clarkey had no respect for upper British women. She mostly spent her time around male intellectuals as opposed to the company of women. Clarkey demonstrated that women could be equal to men. This is an idea that Florence’s mother and sister did not support. Clarkey and Florence became close friends. In 1840 Florence begged her parents to let her study mathematics. Her mother did not support her wishes and instead wanted her to marry and for her to perform home duties. HerShow MoreRelatedNursing : An Essay About Nursing1467 Words   |  6 Pages Amber Langworthy Mrs. Galaviz English 12 March 5, Nursing When you think of nursing, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? You may think of the most famous nurses like Florence Nightingale, Agnes Hunt or Agnes Elizabeth Jones. Or maybe even some popular TV shows that have nurses in them like M.A.S.H or modern day Grey’s Anatomy. Yes, they are all very important to remember, but nurses today should be recognized for all their hard work they do . It seems like everyone knows somebodyRead MoreSAT Top 30 Essay Evidence18536 Words   |  75 Pages............................ 4 Adventurers and Explorers: Amelia Earhart (Female Aviation Pioneer) ................................................................................................ 5 Christopher Columbus (â€Å"Discoverer† of the New World?)........................................................................ 7 Sacajawea (Mysterious Native American Guide) ....................................................................................... 9 Artists, Authors, and Musicians: BobRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 PagesFeigenbaum−Feigenbaum: The Power of Management Capitol 1. New Management for Business Growth in a Demanding Economy Text  © The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2004 3 the strong business growth of pacesetter companies in the United States and throughout the world? How can companies renew and sustain those factors in the face of the business slowdowns and major fluctuations that challenge the longterm continuation of profitable earnings? As we continue to experience the twenty-first century’s economic, social

Succubus Revealed Chapter 17 Free Essays

string(50) " was due for the last person to fill a team spot\." In spite of my sorrow over Seth, I was still ready for a storm. It hadn’t really registered at the time, but when I woke up on New Year’s Day with a wine-induced headache, I accepted the startling truth: I was challenging Hell. Who did that? No one, that’s who. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Revealed Chapter 17 or any similar topic only for you Order Now My friends had hinted as much, and I certainly had plenty of myths and pop culture to enlighten me about the futile human dream of thwarting Hell’s will. I had my own experience to go on too. I’d signed away my soul for all eternity. There wasn’t much wiggle room with that. And yet, in spite of all the things I’d seen and all the people Hell had crushed, here I was, daring to say Hell had no claim on either my soul or Seth’s. I expected to hear about it immediately. I expected a huge uproar, perhaps in the form of Jerome showing up in my condo in all his brimstone glory, threatening me for my impertinence. At the very least, I expected a letter of acknowledgment from Hell, something along the lines of, Thank you very much for your inquiry. We will respond to you within 4?C6 weeks. Nothing. New Year’s Day passed quietly. So did the next. I continued my pattern of packing and making Las Vegas preparations, all the while holding my breath for The Next Big Thing. I thought something would surely happen a week later, when the long-awaited bowling tournament came around. Jerome and Nanette had flipped for it, and he’d won, meaning we got to hold the match here in Seattle. It saved us from making a trip to Portland, but for the sake of fairness, Nanette got to pick the bowling alley. Rather than our dive at Burt’s, she chose a more upscale place, not far from the mall I’d worked at. I hadn’t seen Jerome since I’d filed the petition and was ready now to face his wrath. I didn’t know if Nanette’s lesser immortals would know about the request, but I felt certain she would by now. She and Jerome might be rivals of sorts, but at the end of the day, they were both committed to Hell winning. I was trying to thwart that and wouldn’t have been surprised to find her sharing in Jerome’s outrage. â€Å"Good luck,† Roman told me, as I prepared to leave the condo. â€Å"Remember to watch your footing.† I sighed. â€Å"I wish you were coming with me.† He offered me a small smile. â€Å"Me too. All that work, and I won’t even get to see my students’ final exam.† Roman could hide his nephilim signature from greater immortals, but considering the way his kind were hunted, we’d decided it would be best if he steered clear of Nanette while she was in town. Jerome’s agreement to let Roman stay was both highly unusual and dangerous. If another archdemon discovered the truth, both Roman and Jerome would be in a lot of trouble. â€Å"I’m afraid of what I’ll face from Jerome,† I said. â€Å"Don’t be.† Roman came forward and rested his hand on my shoulder. â€Å"You’re not doing anything wrong. They did. You’re strong, Georgina. Stronger than them, stronger than Hell.† I leaned my head against him. â€Å"Why are you so nice to me?† â€Å"Because Carter’s not your only fan.† When I looked back up, I saw Roman’s green eyes were deadly serious. â€Å"You’re a remarkable woman, just by your own nature. Smart. Funny. Compassionate. But what’s really great is that you’re so easy to underestimate. I did when we first met, you know. And Hell is now. No matter what their reaction to your appeal is, I guarantee most of them doubt you have a chance. You’re going to prove them wrong. You’re going to break the unbreakable. And I’ll be there helping you, as much as I can.† â€Å"You’ve done enough,† I told him. â€Å"More than enough. More than I could have ever asked. Now you get to sit back and let me do . . . well, whatever I have to do now.† â€Å"Georgina, there’s something you need to know. . . .† His face grew troubled. â€Å"What?† I asked. â€Å"Oh God. You haven’t heard something from Jerome that I haven’t, have you?† â€Å"I – † He bit his lip as he paused, then shook his head. His features smoothed out. â€Å"Forget it. I’m just going to worry you over nothing. You focus on bowling tonight, okay? Show those Portlandians that . . . fuck, I don’t know. That you’re a force to be reckoned with in the bowling alley.† I laughed and gave him a quick hug. â€Å"I’ll see what I can do. How about we talk when I get back, okay? We’ll grab a drink.† I knew there was something big here he wasn’t telling me, no matter how easily he’d tried to brush it off. â€Å"I’d like that. Good luck.† When I arrived at the bowling alley, Peter nearly sank in relief when he saw me. I think he’d been afraid I’d show up without my Unholy Rollers shirt. Through whatever means Hell possessed, all the other patrons in the alley were playing on one side. The other half was empty, save for two lanes occupied by my colleagues. I was the last to arrive and approached with trepidation, unsure of my welcome. Jerome was sprawled comfortably in a chair, and while it was in better shape than the ones at Burt’s, I’m not really sure it deserved the thronelike airs he was putting on. Nanette sat across from him, looking equally regal. Her pale blond hair was rolled into an elegant coif, giving her kind of a Grace Kelly look. Her dress was a pale blue shift with a fuzzy gray cardigan over it, the innocence of the look clashing with the unnecessary vampish sunglasses she was wearing. â€Å"Ah, Georgie,† said Jerome. â€Å"Right on time and in team colors.† He favored Nanette with a lazy smile. â€Å"Ready for some humility?† â€Å"Yours?† she asked him. â€Å"Always.† Neither gave me much more attention than was due for the last person to fill a team spot. You read "Succubus Revealed Chapter 17" in category "Essay examples" No mention of the contract, no mention of my petition. Glancing around and taking in the full roster here, I saw that Mei had also come to watch the spectacle. The demoness was dressed in corporate black, matching her bluntly cut black hair and heavy eyeliner. Only her red lips provided color to the palette. She most certainly knew about my situation, but like her superiors, she barely glanced my way. Carter was there, which I had not expected. Nanette and her cronies were clearly uneasy about this. Although all greater immortals, be they angels or demons, shared a certain world weariness with immortality and the Great Game, few were able to bond over it so well as Carter and Jerome. Their relationship was unique, and Nanette clearly felt no camaraderie with the angel. Whereas I received little of her attention simply because I was an underling, Carter she ignored as though he didn’t even exist. He gave me a small smile as I sat down, his gray eyes full of amusement. He was sitting with my friends, perfectly at ease, while Nanette’s bowling team regarded him warily. I hoped maybe his presence would throw off their game. There were four of them, just like us, though they’d actually drafted Nanette’s lieutenant demon, Malachi, to play for them. Rounding them out were a succubus named Tiara, an imp named Roger, and a vampire named V. â€Å"What’s the V stand for?† I asked. He just stared at me, face blank. They were an impressive-looking bunch, with deep red bowling shirts and sparkling black embroidery that read DEVIL MAY CARE on the back. â€Å"That’s not even a real team name,† Peter whispered to me disapprovingly. â€Å"And those sparkles are just tacky.† Like ours, their shirts were standard button-ups with their names on the front. Only Malachi’s was different, with a small designation declaring him Captain. I guess he needed to make sure his status was asserted over that of the lesser immortals. There was something lean and sinister about them, and in our baby blues, I felt downright cute and cuddly. A waitress came by with drinks, and once Jerome had a glass of scotch in hand, he deemed proceedings fit to start. There was a part of me that wouldn’t have minded a gimlet or two, but I didn’t think alcohol was the best call just now. It had nothing to do with team solidarity or messing up my game. When surrounded by unknown and possibly untrustworthy immortals, it was always a good idea to keep your wits about you. And when you were possibly on Hell’s radar for dissension, it was an excellent idea. In my usual lucky way, I ended up having to go first. With all my worries about Seth and the contracts, my mind wasn’t exactly focused on all of Roman’s good instructions, but I nonetheless did my best to recall his training. I ended up hitting seven and then two pins. Not the greatest, but certainly not the worst. My teammates cheered me voraciously, both because Peter had sent us all a lengthy e-mail earlier in the day about â€Å"pep† and because with our track record, nine wasn’t that bad. Tiara went after me, and as she retrieved her ball, Cody whispered to me how she’d gotten in a fight with management earlier because she’d wanted to wear stilettos on the lanes. She’d apparently conceded to wear proper bowling shoes in the end, but unless there’d been a significant trend change in the industry, she’d ended up using her shape-shifting powers to make the shoes more to her liking. They were gold and encrusted with jewels. Yet those weren’t the worst part of her attire. That came in the form of her Devil May Care shirt, which I was pretty sure had shrunk about three sizes since I arrived. The buttons that were still actually fastened looked like they were about to burst. I winced as all that cleavage walked past me, and I wanted to cover my eyes when she reached the lane and bent over unnecessarily far, in order to give everyone a solid view of her ass. Her jeans were nearly as tight as the shirt. â€Å"That is not a regulation stance,† declared Peter. He studied her critically for a few moments. â€Å"I believe she’s trying to distract us.† I scoffed. â€Å"Oh, you think?† â€Å"Hey!† Peter elbowed Cody and Hugh who – judging by their gaping mouths – were not catching on to Tiara’s ruse as easily as the rest of us. â€Å"Focus. Remember what you’re playing for: Jerome’s good will.† â€Å"Nothing wrong with looking,† said Hugh. â€Å"Besides, there’s no way she can hit anything with that – â€Å" His words cut off as Tiara threw. Her ball blasted into the pins and knocked all ten over. With a little smirk and a lot of hip swaying, she strutted back proudly to her seat. â€Å"Shit,† said Hugh. â€Å"Ready to focus yet?† asked Peter. The imp shook his head, still in awe. â€Å"I don’t think it’s going to matter, not if they all bowl like that.† â€Å"They can’t all bowl like that,† countered Cody. But he didn’t sound so sure. Noticing our consternation, Tiara favored us all with a glossy-lipped smile. â€Å"We can call it quits right now if you want. We can go back to my hotel and have a party.† She tossed her highlighted curls over one shoulder, and her gaze rested on me. â€Å"I can also give you some styling advice if you want.† â€Å"Oh my God,† I muttered. â€Å"This is why I hate other succubi.† I could almost give Hell credit for finding me the only appealing one in Vegas, even if it had been part of a more elaborate scheme. Tiara soon became the least of our worries as her teammates took their turns. Strikes and spares all around, quickly surpassing our mix of erratic spares and . . . whatever it was Peter threw. As we moved further into the game, I glanced over at Jerome and saw that his smile had vanished, as had his cocky good mood. At least I could feel confident it had nothing to do with my contract. V proved to be the most startling of the bowlers. Whenever his turn came, he walked up unhesitatingly, didn’t even pause or aim, and threw strikes every time. Every time. He also never spoke a single world. â€Å"How is he doing that?† exclaimed Cody. He glanced at Carter, who was watching everything with quiet amusement. â€Å"Is he using some kind of power?† â€Å"No illicit ones,† said Carter. â€Å"Just his own God-given . . . er, Hell-given abilities.† I hadn’t really been worried about the other team cheating or Nanette helping them. I knew Jerome would keep her in check, and Carter’s angelic presence was kind of a safeguard against dishonest activity. But his words struck something within me. â€Å"Of course,† I murmured. â€Å"He’s just using what he’s got: enhanced reflexes and senses. He’s a vampire. He’s physically better at everything.† No wonder it didn’t seem like he needed to aim. He probably was; he was just doing it really, really fast. I turned to Cody and Peter. â€Å"How come you guys can’t do that?† Silence met me. â€Å"Cody’s our best player,† pointed out Hugh. â€Å"True,† I admitted. Cody had learned very quickly, and I supposed the difference in his and V’s abilities made sense simply because V had been playing a lot longer. â€Å"But how do you explain Peter?† Nobody had an answer for that, least of all Peter. Cody actually seemed to draw inspiration from V and the realization that being a vampire should provide some natural ability. Cody’s already solid performance soon improved, and I wished Roman could see him. Still, it wasn’t enough to save us in that first game. We lost pretty terribly. Since Jerome and Nanette had agreed to â€Å"best of three,† this meant we had two more chances for redemption. I had mixed feelings about this. Jerome’s face was growing stormier, so there was some comfort in thinking we might be able to head off his wrath. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have minded ending this as quickly as possible. Maybe the Devil didn’t care, but I was growing increasingly sick of the other team. I was pretty sure Tiara’s outfit was getting increasingly tighter and more revealing. Although he never spoke, V’s smug expressions conveyed condescension levels that words never could. And yet, neither of them was as bad as Roger the imp. Every time he got a strike or a spare, he trumpeted his victory with some sort of money-related expression, such as â€Å"Jackpot !† or â€Å"A penny saved is a penny earned!† Sometimes they didn’t even make any sense in the situation, like when he shouted, â€Å"It’s like throwing pearls before swine!† When he started inexplicably quoting lyrics to â€Å"Can’t Buy Me Love† at the start of the second game, I really thought I was going to lose it. Cody nudged me. â€Å"He’s getting tired. So is Tiara.† I glanced up at the scoreboard. It was a slight change, but those two were showing fewer strikes than spares and sometimes not even getting spares. Malachi remained consistently good, and V remained unstoppable. Over on our team, Peter and I hadn’t changed, but Cody had continued – and was succeeding – in trying to prove his vampire skills. Hugh was also improving slightly, a phenomenon we’d seen with Roman sometimes. It was as though the imp needed to warm up in order to remember how to avoid his arm’s tendency to throw curves. I exchanged glances with Cody. â€Å"I don’t know that it’s enough.† â€Å"You’ve done better than this in practice,† he told me gently. â€Å"I know you’ve got a bunch of stuff going on, but try to think if Roman was here. What he’d say. Then look at Jerome’s face and tell me you don’t want us to come out on top.† I didn’t really care about Jerome keeping his pride around Nanette, but my friends’ well-being did concern me. I knew their happiness would be directly influenced by Jerome’s unhappiness. Sighing, I answered Cody with a resolute nod and tried to step up my game, racking my brains for all the words of wisdom that Roman had given me over the last couple of weeks. I admit, I hadn’t always been paying as much attention as I could have. Nonetheless, something started clicking for me. I was a long way from being a pro anytime soon, but between me, Cody, and Hugh, we slowly began to keep up with Nanette’s team. It was so subtle and so gradual that when we won by two points, everyone – including my teammates and me – could hardly believe it had happened. We all stared at the scoreboard in stunned silence. Only Carter was able to get anything out. â€Å"That,† he told Roger exuberantly, â€Å"is how a bird in the hand gets up before the early worm.† â€Å"That doesn’t make any sense,† said Roger. Carter pointed at the scoreboard. â€Å"Neither does that, but there you have it.† Nanette’s cool composure had vanished. I don’t know if beating Jerome meant that much to her or if people in Portland just took bowling really seriously, but she immediately demanded a five-minute break. We watched as she pulled her team to the far side of the alley and gave them a talk. Judging from her wild hand motions and occasional expletives, it didn’t sound like a very heartening talk. I glanced over at Jerome, who still kind of seemed to be in disbelief. â€Å"Any words of wisdom for us, boss?† I asked. He considered. â€Å"Yes. Don’t lose.† Cody was already clinging to Peter’s arm. â€Å"You have to come through for us here. We barely beat them just now, and you know she’s putting the fear of God in them. That alone is going to give them some improvement. If you can just . . . I don’t know. Get fewer splits. Do something. We can win this, but we need you.† Peter threw up his hands. â€Å"Don’t you think I would if I could?† When Nanette and friends returned, they showed us that they were adding a new strategy to their repertoire: catcalling. Every time one of the Unholy Rollers went up to play, we were serenaded with insults about everything from our appearance to our abilities to our bowling shirts. That last one really set Peter on edge, and Tiara picked up on it quickly. â€Å"Did you pick that up at a thrift store? Oh, wait, they screen their items first. They’d never take a piece of shit like that.† â€Å"What’s with that color? It’s like a reject from a boy’s baby shower.† â€Å"If your crappy shirts are going to say ‘Unholy Rollers,’ shouldn’t you at least be rolling the ball? That was more of a caber toss.† Peter took it all in silence, but I could see him becoming increasingly agitated. Hugh grimaced and leaned toward me. â€Å"She’s really not that funny. I’d expect better from a succubus.† â€Å"At least Peter isn’t doing any worse,† I said. â€Å"He’s just getting splits in new and interesting ways.† â€Å"Which aren’t going to save us, though,† said Cody grimly. It was true. We were staying even with them, but just barely. And when we were halfway through the game, it became clear we were slipping. Jerome was looking pissed off again, and Nanette’s confidence had returned. â€Å"Come on, you guys,† said Carter, whom I hadn’t expected to become a cheerleader. â€Å"You can do this. You’re better than them.† It wasn’t the angel’s enthusiasm that changed the course of the game, however. It was when V finally spoke. Peter had just thrown his ball and amazingly knocked down four pins, which left behind a kind of three-way split I’d never even known was possible. We were all taken back. â€Å"You are the worst vampire I’ve ever seen,† said V, staring at the pins wide-eyed. I don’t know what it was about those words that succeeded where our encouragement and Tiara’s bad fashion taunts had failed. But suddenly, Peter became a vampire. And not just any vampire. A vampire who could bowl. From that point forward, everything he threw was a strike. And much like V, Peter didn’t even deliberate it. He just walked up and threw, letting his vampire reflexes do the work. He quickly surpassed everyone on our team in skill, even Cody. Really, the only person who could match him was V. But it was enough, and somehow, against all odds, we won the third game. Hugh, Cody, and I erupted into cheers and traded high fives with Carter. Peter remained much more stoic, however, and regarded the other team coolly. â€Å"Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched,† he told Roger. To Tiara, Peter said, â€Å"That shade of red makes you look like you have jaundice.† He paused. â€Å"And like a whore.† To V, Peter said nothing. Nanette and Jerome promptly got in an argument, most of which involved her making outlandish claims about how unfair it was to have two vampires on one team and how best of five would be the real determining factor. Jerome bantered back with her cheerfully. He was so smug about our victory, you would have thought he had thrown every ball himself. Seeing her consternation was just icing on the cake for him. â€Å"Well,† he said at one point, â€Å"we could do two more games, but your team seems terribly worn out. Perhaps once they have some time to recover mentally and physically, we can – â€Å" Jerome stopped and cocked his head, like he was hearing music the rest of us couldn’t. A strange look came over his face. â€Å"Shit,† he said. â€Å"What?† asked Nanette. She seemed to realize something other than bowling had caught his attention. Near me, Carter had gone perfectly still. â€Å"I have to go,† said Jerome. And he went. Just like that, the demon vanished. I glanced around quickly, but no humans seemed to have noticed, thanks largely to our part of the bowling alley being deserted. Still, teleporting out like that in a public place was pretty irregular behavior for a greater immortal. Even irreverent demons generally knew enough to be discreet among humans. â€Å"Well,† said Nanette. â€Å"I guess there’s no such thing as good winners. Sportsmanship is a lost art.† I thought that was a stretch coming from her, particularly after her team’s verbal tirade. In fact, they soon all degenerated into arguing amongst themselves, each one making a plea to Nanette about how the loss had been someone else’s fault. â€Å"Georgina,† said Carter, drawing my attention back. The smile he’d worn at our victory was gone. â€Å"I think it’s a good idea if you go home.† â€Å"Why?† I asked. â€Å"We should celebrate.† For the first time since the fallout with Seth, I actually felt like having fun with my friends. â€Å"We need to call Roman too.† â€Å"Let’s go to my place,† said Peter. â€Å"I can make up a meze platter in no time.† â€Å"Fine, fine,† said Carter, casting a glance over at Mei. She was still in her seat, trying to observe all conversations at once. â€Å"Let’s just leave now. I’ll teleport you when we’re in the parking lot.† I tried to protest that, but Carter was too insistent on simply getting us all out of there. Minutes later, my teammates and I were headed out to the parking lot, still crowing over our victory and how Peter was the undisputed hero of the night. â€Å"Georgina?† I came to a halt. There, standing near my car, was Seth. Even in the harsh light of the parking lamps, everything about him seemed soft and inviting. The messy hair. The way he stood with his hands in his pockets. The Flock of Seagulls shirt that I could just make out underneath his flannel coat. â€Å"What are you doing here?† I asked, taking a few steps forward. My friends had come to an uncertain stop behind me. They all knew about my rocky state of affairs with Seth and watched me nervously. Seth glanced at my backup and then at me. â€Å"I . . . I wanted to talk to you.† â€Å"That’s not what you said the last time we talked,† I said. The harsh words were out before I could stop them. I knew I should jump on the chance to talk, on Seth’s willingness to talk at last . . . but some hurt place in me responded first. â€Å"I know,† said Seth. â€Å"I probably don’t deserve it. But . . . I’ve been thinking about a lot of things, and then there’s all this weirdness going on I don’t quite understand . . . like, my mom moving in with you? And do you know why all these toy ponies keep showing up on Terry’s doorstep?† â€Å"Why don’t you come over to our place and have your heart-to-heart there,† said Peter. â€Å"It’ll go better with hummus and wine.† Staring at Seth, I felt my heart ache. This could be it, just like Carter had said at New Year’s, about how Seth and I still managed to come back to each other. I swallowed, both scared and anxious. â€Å"Maybe I should meet you guys later,† I said. â€Å"Seth and I can go somewhere and talk first.† â€Å"Georgina,† said Carter anxiously, â€Å"you really need to – â€Å" The car seemed to come out of nowhere, and, considering the way things worked in my world, it might literally have done so. All I knew is that one moment we were all standing around in the dark parking lot, and the next, a car was speeding toward us. Or rather, toward me. I couldn’t discern any make or model and certainly not the driver. I probably wouldn’t have known him or her anyway. All I saw were rapidly approaching headlights, heading toward where I stood alone, out in the open between my friends and Seth. When the car hit me, there was an intense moment of pain that radiated through my whole body. Then I felt nothing. My sight shifted, and I had the surreal sense of looking down on my sprawled body while my friends hurried to me and the car sped away. Some were trying to talk to me, some were calling 911. Some were talking to each other. The scene began to dissolve in my vision, fading to black. And not just the scene. Me. I was dissolving. I was losing all substance. I was becoming nothing. But as I faded away, as the world faded away, I heard a few last words from my friends before their voices also faded. â€Å"Georgina! Georgina!† That was Seth, saying my name like a prayer. â€Å"She’s not breathing,† said Cody. â€Å"And she doesn’t have a pulse. Hugh! Do something. You’re a doctor.† â€Å"I can’t,† Hugh said softly. â€Å"This is beyond me. Her soul . . . her soul’s not here.† â€Å"Of course it is!† said Cody. â€Å"Souls stay with their immortals.† â€Å"Not in this situation,† said Hugh. â€Å"What are you talking about?† exclaimed Seth, voice cracking. â€Å"Carter! You can fix this. You can fix anything. You have to save her.† â€Å"This is beyond me too,† said Carter. â€Å"I’m sorry.† â€Å"There’s still one thing you can do,† said Hugh. â€Å"One thing you have to do.† â€Å"Yes,† agreed Carter, voice full of sorrow. â€Å"I’ll go get Roman. . . .† And then they were all gone. I was gone. How to cite Succubus Revealed Chapter 17, Essay examples

Nuclear Weapons (356 words) Essay Example For Students

Nuclear Weapons (356 words) Essay Nuclear WeaponsThe topic of nuclear weapons is one that will be around forever. One of myfavorite lines from the reading we had was that we cannot uninvent nuclearweapons and this is completely right. If asked outright if I am for or againstnuclear weapons I would have to say that I am very much for them and I thinkthey are and absolute necessity for our country. We one of the riches countriesin the world but I think that also makes us the biggest target in the world. Ithink for us to have nuclear weapons is an absolute necessity, I do at the sametime believe we should never fire them. If we were to totally rid ourselves ofnuclear weapons we might as well put a big sign on the front lawn of the WhiteHouse saying the country was for sale to the highest bidder or whoever had thebiggest bomb. The nuclear weapons we do have ended the cold war, stopped Sadamin Iraq, and probably have stopped many other attacks on our country and ourcitizens. People have seen what nuclear weapons can do from the bombings inJapan that ended World War 2. These are powerful images in peoples mind andnot something they can deal with if they decide to attack the US. The case forthe removal of nuclear weapons is a very good one. These are indeed in thefullest extent of the words, weapons of mass destruction. These weapons posemany fears as well as morality questions that are all brought up by theanti-nuclear people. The fact that the weapons are not capable of only wipingout military targets is one that really gets to me. Weapons should never be usedagainst civilians and there is nothing to stop a nuclear weapon from affectingonly military targets. Another fear of mine related to these weapons has to dowith it takes very little effort to do a large amount of damage. Nuclear weaponsare neither an offensive nor a defensive weapon. They are more of a scaretactic. We as a world leader must always be on the cutting edge with our weaponsand weapons systems or else, we will no longer be that world leader.