Free Essays on Daniel Quinns Ishmael

In his novel, Ishmael, author Daniel Quinn (1992), uses the application sociological theories, developed by Emile Durkheim and numerous other sociologists, to illustrate the misconceptions in modern human society in a fictionalized setting. The main character of the novel, Ishmael, is a highly educated gorilla who is able to project an objective view into the societies of the world to his pupil living inside this world. The situation in the society discussed in Ishmael involves the societies of the â€Å"Takers† and the â€Å"Leavers† and the way â€Å"Mother Culture† influences their existence. The Takers indulge in a society where questions as to the origins of culture are never addressed; whereas, the Leavers are those peoples who choose not to see themselves as the center of the universe. Ishmael states that according to the culture in Taker society, â€Å"‘The Leavers were chapter one of human history- a long and uneventful chapter. Their chapter of human history ended about ten thousand years ago with the birth of agriculture in the New East. This event marked the beginning of chapter two, the chapter of the Takers’† (Quinn 1992:42). Yet, he directly contradicts this statement and issues that each of these societies are living out two different stories that are in direct opposition of one another. According to Ishmael, the Industrial Revolution c ause one society to diverge into two separate entities- the hunter-gatherers and the new industrialized society. The idea that culture is an ever-present, collective unconsciousness is stressed throughout Quinn’s (1992) novel. â€Å"‘This explanation of how things came to be this way is ambient in your culture. Everyone knows it and everyone accepts it without question’ (Ishmael)† (Quinn 1992:40). Every man, woman, and child know the story of creation in the Taker culture and automatically assume that God created man to rule the Earth. No one in the Taker society see... Free Essays on Daniel Quinn's Ishmael Free Essays on Daniel Quinn's Ishmael In his novel, Ishmael, author Daniel Quinn (1992), uses the application sociological theories, developed by Emile Durkheim and numerous other sociologists, to illustrate the misconceptions in modern human society in a fictionalized setting. The main character of the novel, Ishmael, is a highly educated gorilla who is able to project an objective view into the societies of the world to his pupil living inside this world. The situation in the society discussed in Ishmael involves the societies of the â€Å"Takers† and the â€Å"Leavers† and the way â€Å"Mother Culture† influences their existence. The Takers indulge in a society where questions as to the origins of culture are never addressed; whereas, the Leavers are those peoples who choose not to see themselves as the center of the universe. Ishmael states that according to the culture in Taker society, â€Å"‘The Leavers were chapter one of human history- a long and uneventful chapter. Their chapter of human history ended about ten thousand years ago with the birth of agriculture in the New East. This event marked the beginning of chapter two, the chapter of the Takers’† (Quinn 1992:42). Yet, he directly contradicts this statement and issues that each of these societies are living out two different stories that are in direct opposition of one another. According to Ishmael, the Industrial Revolution c ause one society to diverge into two separate entities- the hunter-gatherers and the new industrialized society. The idea that culture is an ever-present, collective unconsciousness is stressed throughout Quinn’s (1992) novel. â€Å"‘This explanation of how things came to be this way is ambient in your culture. Everyone knows it and everyone accepts it without question’ (Ishmael)† (Quinn 1992:40). Every man, woman, and child know the story of creation in the Taker culture and automatically assume that God created man to rule the Earth. No one in the Taker society see...

How Laughing Gas or Nitrous Oxide Works

How Laughing Gas or Nitrous Oxide Works Laughing gas or nitrous oxide is used in the dentists office to reduce patient anxiety and relieve pain. Its also a common recreational drug. Have you ever wondered how laughing gas works? Heres a look at how laughing gas reacts in the body and whether its safe or not. What Is Laughing Gas? Laughing gas is the common name for nitrous oxide or N2O. It is also known as nitrous, nitro, or NOS. Its a nonflammable, colorless gas that has a slightly sweet flavor and odor. In addition to its use in rockets and to boost engine performance for motor racing, laughing gas has several medical applications. It has been used in dentistry and surgery as an analgesic and anesthetic since 1844 when dentist  Dr. Horace Wells used it on himself during a tooth extraction. Since that time, its use has become commonplace in medicine, plus the euphoric effect of inhaling the gas has led to use as a recreation drug. How Laughing Gas Works Although the gas has been used for a long time, the exact mechanism of its action in the body is incompletely understood, in part because the various effects depend upon different reactions. In general, nitrous oxide moderates several ligand-gated ion channels. Specifically, the mechanisms for the effects are: Anxiolytic or Anti-Anxiety EffectStudies indicate the anti-anxiety effect from inhalation of laughing gas derives from increased  activity of GABAA  receptors.  The GABAA receptor acts as the central nervous systems principal inhibitory neurotransmitter.Painkiller or Analgesic EffectLaughing gas reduces the perception of pain by facilitating an interaction between the descending noradrenergic system and the endogenous opioid system. Nitrous oxide causes the release of  endogenous opioids, but how this happens is unknown.Euphoria EffectNitrous produces euphoria by causing dopamine to be released, which stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway in the brain. This contributes to the analgesic effect, too. Is Nitrous Oxide Safe? When you get laughing gas at the dentists or doctors office, its very safe. A mask is used to first administer pure oxygen and then a mixture of oxygen and laughing gas. The effects on vision, hearing, manual dexterity and mental performance are temporary. Nitrous oxide has both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects, but limited exposure to the chemical tends not to cause a permanent effect, one way or the other. The primary risks from laughing gas are from inhaling a compressed gas directly from its canister, which could cause severe lung damage or death. Without supplemental oxygen, inhaling nitrous oxide can cause hypoxia or oxygen deprivation effects, including lightheadedness, fainting, low blood pressure, and potentially a heart attack. These risks are comparable to those of inhaling helium gas. Prolonged or repeated exposure to laughing gas can lead to a vitamin B deficiency, reproductive problems in pregnant women, and numbness. Because very little nitrous oxide is absorbed by the body, a person inhaling laughing gas breathes out most of it. This can lead to risks to medical personnel who routinely use the gas in their practice.