Critically assess Renaissance understandings of humankind Essay - 1

Critically assess Renaissance understandings of humankind - Essay Example The aspects of sharp senses, power of reason, and high level of intelligence, as presented under the Oration On the Dignity of Man also seen as the manifesto to the Renaissance, as the aspects that put mankind in a unique category from the rest of the creatures, owing the fact that these characteristics of mankind serves as the bridge between the lower cadre of life which consists of God’s creatures, and the higher cadre consisting of God and all that is in heaven (Mirandola, 1965 p3). Therefore, the concept of hierarchy existed before the middle Ages, according to Plotinus idea of The One the Demiurge, and the Material World, and thus the middle ages just created a more organized theory. However, the most important of all the factors that completely put mankind in a unique position, is the freedom of judgment that mankind was granted by the creator, so that he could be able to differentiate the good and the bad, and based on this judgment, he could then get an opportunity to ascend upwards, from the middle category where he was created to fit, to join the upper cadre of life (Mirandola, 1965 p5). Therefore, Renaissance of humankind is pitched on the concept of happiness, which is derived from freedom, where mankind was given that; â€Å"Liberty of God the father! O great and wonderful happiness of man! It is given to him to have that which he chooses and to be that which he wills† (Mirandola, 1965 p5). Nevertheless, while the concept of freedom and happiness informs Pico’s philosophy of the Renaissance understandings of humankind, there seems to be some form of contradiction in this philosophy. His philosophy points to the fact that man was created with absolute freedom to choose, so that he could become all that he wished to become and have everything that he chose to have. However, the philosophy is later contradicted by upholding the principle that God spoke to man after creation, and told him

Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Research Paper Example Twenty years ago synthesis of biopolymers cost more than synthesis of polymers from petroleum. However, rising prices made this sphere more attaractive. Besides, biopolymers may not only substitute traditional polymers but also possess new characteristics (biodegradability, extreme strength, possibility to obtain thin and firm films) (Sample). There are three way of to synthesize biopolymers. The first way is an extraction and modification of natural polymers from plants. The examples of such materials are thermoplastic starch, derivatives of cellulose and rubber. Rubber obtained from the rubber tree Hevea braziliensis is the first known polymer. The second pathway is a polymerization of bio-monomers. Polylactic acid (PLA), polyamides, polyurethanes and polyesters can be obtained using this approach. The third pathway is an extraction of polymers produced by microorganisms. Polyhydroxyalcanoates (so-called PHA family) can be obtained using this approach (Rudin and Choi 528). Microorganisms can also produce monomers or raw materials that can be extracted and polymerized. For example, bioethanol can be produced from the sugarcane starch, wheat or corn through microbial strain and biological fermentation process. Afterward, ethanol is dehydrated over a solid catalyst to ethylene, which is polymerized to polyethylene (Babu, O Connor, and Seeram 6). The production of biopolymers uses the well-known polymerization techniques. For example, polyamides or polyurethanes can be produced using free radical, cationic, olefin metathesis and condensation polymerization. Polylactic acid is obtained from lactic acid by the combination of condensation polymerization and ring opening polymerization or by one of the mentioned techniques separately. Polymers like PHA are synthesized by microorganisms (sometimes genetically modified) and extracted using centrifugation and press