Alice 's Adventures, The Bfg, And The Invention Of Hugo Cabret Essay

What is morality? Where does our sense of morality come from and why is it important for us to know? The cognitive scientist, psychologist, linguist, and scholar, Steven Pinker discusses this in his essay, “The Moral Instinct”. In this essay, Pinker claims that our morality sense is innate, it constantly changes, and it is universal among each culture. Pinker also explains that moral sense shapes our judgement as it is something that we value and seek in other people. The science of the moral sense is important since it shows how morality impacts our actions and it explains why we act in certain ways.

As stages in psychological development have been defined by Freud, stages in moral development have been outlined by early educators Jean Piaget and Kohlberg, who put forth differing views on the moral development of children. Piaget theorized that children process morals in stages, first one then the next, with a transition in between. The first stage (from ages 4 to about 7) is referred to as “heteronymous morality”, where children think of rules as constants, that is to say, rules are part of the world’s makeup with no input or possibility of change by people. As children progress from seven to ten years of age, they move from one stage to the next, maintaining some of the traits of the

Children ask countless questions as they mature. Children often turn to their parents for guidance. If a parent is unable or unwilling to answer these questions, a child, left to their own devices, will look for answers from their friends, the internet, and other authority figures. In his article “I Listen to My Parents and I Wonder What They Believe,” Robert Cole explains that children have an inborn desire to build their own morals by questioning authority figures around them, especially their parents. Therefore, A parent’s guidance influences a child’s morals as he/she develops.

In 1862, floating upon the river Isis, Charles Dodgson narrated for Alice Liddell and a few others in company his original tale of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Gliding along underneath the blue sky, Dodgson wove his words into one of the most classic children stories of all time. Thesis: Although Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland may have only begun as a children’s story, many adults have sought to discover the “true meaning” of the novel. Curiosity has led to years of searching and interpretation of the origins of Carroll’s novels, and the symbols inside, developing into theories ranging from practical to nearly impossible, eventually evolving into their own stories in the film industry.

When thinking about morality, it is necessary to consider how aspects from both nature and nurture, along with free will, may form ones moral beliefs and dictate ones moral actions. To understand how moral beliefs as well as actions formulate and operate within individuals and societies, it is imperative that a general definition of morality is laid out. Morality, then, can be defined as ones principles regarding what is right and wrong, good or bad. Although an individual may hold moral beliefs, it is not always the case that moral actions follow. Therefore, in this essay I aim to provide an explanation that clarifies the two and in doing so I also hope to further the notion that one’s moral framework is a product of all three factors; nature, nurture, and free will. The first part of this essay will flush out what exactly morality it and how it manifests similarly across individuals and differently across individuals. Contrariwise, I will then explain how morality manifests similarly across societies and differently across societies. Alongside presenting the information in this order, I will trace morality back to primordial times to showcase how morality has evolved and developed since then, not only from a nature-based standpoint, but also from a

This paper reflects on the question of if a child of 10 years or less can act morally wrong or commit morally virtuous acts. Children in today's society are nearly forced to be older than their actual age and thus must increase in maturity and morally comparatively to children of as little as three decades ago. The argument of agreement will be proved by examples of needing a two person income family with a comparative of a child in a single parent versus both parent environment. Although it is a "grievous moral wrong to harm" (Waller, 2008, p. 32) children under the age of ten, the evil in society today will be proved with examples to show children who are harmed are able to commit not only morally virtuous acts but can and

Many themes are explored when reading Lewis Carrol’s, Alice in Wonderland. Themes of childhood innocence, child abuse, dream, and others. Reading the story, it was quite clear to see one particular theme portrayed through out the book: child to adult progression. Alice in Wonderland is full of experiences that lead Alice to becoming more of herself and that help her grow up. It’s a story of trial, confusion, understanding, and success. And more confusion. Though others might argue that the story was distinctly made for children just to get joy out of funny words, and odd circumstances, the tale has obvious dynamics that confirm the fact of it being a coming of age story.

Throughout the book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, many aspects of Victorian society are criticized through Alice’s experiences in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll indirectly incorporates his views of society into his book. The three main aspects that are criticized are Victorian Education, Victorian Government, and Victorian Classes.

The concept of morality plays an important role in human society. Through the discovery of what, exactly, determines that which is “good” and that which is “bad”, humans develop mechanisms that determine how they respond to or judge any given situation. What remains a mystery, however, is what, exactly, is the basis of morals. It is commonly believed that morals are learned through lived experiences, as well as, from those who act as each person’s individual caretaker(s). Even though these factors do play a significant role in determining morality, these factors alone neither create nor determine a person’s moral compass. In Paul Bloom’s work, Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil, we are introduced to the idea that morality, while partly learned, is something that is ingrained in humans from birth. Through multiple studies, performed both by Bloom as well as other psychologists, it is revealed that not only are babies able to perceive what is right and what is wrong, but also, from birth, babies are instilled with the innate knowledge of empathizing, valuing fairness and status, and valuing those who look similar versus those who look different. In spite of previous ideas, Bloom proves that babies are smarter than previously thought, while simultaneously recognizing the shortcomings of this “elementary” form of morality. Bloom’s finding prove to be revolutionary, in that they allow for the examination of different social structures, their shortcomings, and what

In the 1800s a great author created a great book and inspired a different way of writing. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is known as one of best children’s story book. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of the most famous and enduring children's classics. The novel is full of whimsical charm, and a feeling for the absurd that is unsurpassed. The book begins with a young girl Alice, bored under a tree in the meadow by a river, reading a book with her sister. Everything seems perfectly normal and peaceful; there could be nothing more in keeping with the middle class Victorian world in which Carroll lived. The tale plays with logic giving the story lasting image with adults as well as with children. Its narrative course and structure, characters and imagery have been hugely influenced in both popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy part. It is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre.

From the moment a person is born, they are flooded with impressions about the world surrounding them. Even though their undeveloped brains can hardly understand what is going on, they are subject to influence from other people and things. As they grow up, their parents discipline them in order to teach them how to act in public around other people. Children are scolded when they lie, steal, talk back, and misbehave. All these actions help to form a child’s morality. They begin to learn what is right and wrong. They test the limits of the society around them to see what they can get away with and what they cannot. One could argue that if there were a society that encouraged these behaviors, people would grow up much differently. Some philosophers like Kant say people are naturally good with a strong moral compass. Other philosophers like Hume argue that humans are taught their morals. Kant says that all moral judgments come from a priori knowledge, but Hume follows a different path by saying morality is derived from experiences that spark virtuous passions within the person, and it is these passions that provide us with moral guidance for future action. Although Kant provides a good argument for the origin of morality, this paper will argue that Hume provides a more plausible account for the sources of morality.

The second chapter of this first book talks about how even though the Moral Law is something that is realized by most humans, it is not instinctual. The Moral Law directs a person’s instincts. As C.S. Lewis says, “The Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys.” (p. 10) This is why the Moral Law is also not an invention made by humans and for humans. However, there can still be education and teaching about the Moral Law, due to how important it is for kids to know about the Law for humans to hold up to and hold each other accountable for.

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll endures as one of the most iconic children 's books of all time. It remains one of the most ambiguous texts to decipher as Alice 's adventures in Wonderland have created endless critical debate as to whether we can deduce any true literary meaning, or moral implication from her journey down the rabbit hole. Alice 's station as a seven year old Victorian child creates an interesting construct within the novel as she attempts to navigate this magical parallel plain, yet retain her Victorian sensibilities and learn from experience as she encounters new creatures and life lessons. Therefore, this essay will focus on the debate as to whether Alice is the imaginatively playful child envisaged by the Romantics, or a Victorian child whose imagination has been stunted by her education and upbringing.

When we are young our morality is shaped as we learn from our family and the environment. “Psychologists say a child must develop a sense of values by the age of seven to become an adult with a conscience” (Rosenstand 4). Children experience a plethora of information and subsequently build their personalities based on what they learn from growing up in their given culture. We are a product of our environment in the sense that we

Children develop their ability to think and act morally through several stages. If they fail to reach the conventional stage, in which adolescents realize that their parents and society have rules that should be followed because they are morally right to follow, they might well engage in harmful behavior. Whereas boys tend to use formal rules to decide what is right or wrong, girls tend to take personal relationships into account.