What Are the Beliefs and Values of Buddhism

What are the convictions and estimations of Buddhism? Buddhists follow the lessons of Siddhartha Gautama who is known as the Buddha, which means the illuminated one. Buddhism started in northern India and is the fourth biggest religion of the world. Be that as it may, Buddhism is increasingly a way of thinking or lifestyle other than a religion on the grounds that dissimilar to such a significant number of different strict customs, Buddhism is established on the instructing of an individual and not a divine being. Reasoning methods love of intelligence and the Buddhist’s put stock in having an ethical existence, being careful and mindful of contemplations and activities and creating knowledge and understanding.Buddha Siddhartha Gautama was a warrior sovereign who established Buddhism and lived from 566 to 483 BC [1]. He was conceived in Lumbini, in the Himalayas and lived in Northern India. Siddhartha Gautama was a sovereign of a well off, imperial family, he knew about his ri ch life as a ruler and was burnt out on it. He needed to find reality with regards to life and spent numerous years in reflection, sitting underneath a Bodhi tree so as to find an approach to end languishing over everybody and to discharge himself from the material estimations of life.After numerous years under the Bodhi tree he went to a revelation and become the â€Å"Buddha†. The night he became edified was partitioned into four periods in which he discovered some new information each time. Right off the bat, he increased comprehension of all the past, and of what had driven him to the point of looking for illumination. He at that point comprehended the manner by which every living thing came into this world and pass away. After this, he saw how all the pessimistic sentiments and desires that make individuals stick to life, bring additionally enduring and that he had defeated these cravings.Then, at day break he increased full edification and encountered the tranquility of Nirvana, which is where the three toxins, insatiability, scorn and numbness vanish and a feeling of bliss and quiet is accomplished. [2]After he was edification at 35 years of age, he went around India instructing the astute information he had accomplished. Siddhartha Gautama went through the vast majority of his time on earth educating in the urban communities of the Ganges plain and was the main individual of his opportunity to find the genuine reason for enduring on the planet and show individuals genuine empathy. Buddha is an itle, which implies â€Å"the one who is enlightened† or â€Å"one who has woken up to the truth†. What makes an individual a Buddha is that a Buddha finds and shows the way to edification. As indicated by Buddhist convention, there have been and will be different Buddha’s. Siddhartha Gautama propelled individuals by what he did and what he instructed, so they tailed him and attempted to incorporate his lessons. Convictions and Values of Buddhism Buddhists accept that everybody can possibly get edified and that, by rehearsing their religion, they will create shrewdness and happiness.Four Noble Truths In Siddhartha Gautama’s first lesson in the Deer Park in Varanasi, the holiest city of old India, he talked about the Four Noble realities and the Eightfold Path. The four respectable facts are the most fundamental articulation of the Buddha's instructing. In the Four Noble Truths Buddha sets out the issue of life, the reason for that issue, that the issue can be survived and the best approach to accomplish it. The First Truth is that all life includes languishing. The principal truth is Dukkha, which is the pali word for torment. 3] Dukkha is more profound than physical torment, it alludes to the enduring that happens on various levels. There is the enduring that accompanies feeling debilitated, mature age, demise and wounds, which are unavoidable as we are delicate individuals. [4] Then there is the dissatis faction and the sentiment of being discontent with life, that our life isn't what we need or anticipate that it should be and nothing is ever sufficient. The subsequent truth is that the beginning of enduring is longing for and attachment.The Buddha found that the immediate reasons for enduring are want, desiring, and obliviousness and this is the reason for torment. The conviction that enduring is brought about by longing for isn't the common requirement for food or pleasure from encounters in our lives however the endeavor to clutch the things we appreciate and never need to release them and attempt to prevent them from evolving. In the subsequent truth, it is said that the inception of enduring is connection to want and needing, voracity makes an individual never be cheerful or content. The third respectable truth is Nirodha, which is the finish of suffering.The Buddha instructed that the best way to end enduring was to quit getting a handle on at life and needing, albeit an indi vidual who is despondent will need to attempt to clutch the things which bring satisfaction and bliss. Along these lines, the best way to end longing for is to find internal bliss and fulfillment and figure out how to acknowledge life simply the manner in which it is. In the event that Buddhists can lessen longing for. Tanha, it is on the grounds that they appreciate life right now and they don't have to hunger for. When all hankering is decreased, an individual arrives at Nirvana, which is the point at which an individual is liberated from craving.This third truth discloses how to beat enduring and accomplish joy. It clarifies that life would be upbeat and ecstatic on the off chance that each figures out how to live every day in turn, never choosing not to move on or pondering what's to come. The fourth truth, is the last truth. As per the fourth truth, to end enduring and arrive at nirvana, an individual must follow the Eight-crease Path. The Eightfold Path centers around the brai n and monitoring considerations and activities. By being merciful and kind to other people and creating shrewdness, one would have a superior comprehension of the Four Noble Truths.The fourth truth is â€Å"The Middle Way†, Magga and is set out in eight stages. These means are eight highlights of a Buddhists life. By following the Eightfold Path, an individual lessens the measure of enduring they have by carrying on with an existence of ethicalness. Individuals who follow the Eightfold Path generally have an uplifting point of view toward others, creatures and the world. [5] The Eightfold Path The Eightfold Path expects to improve astuteness by rehearsing right view and goal, moral lead, by rehearsing right discourse, activity and job and mental abilities, by rehearsing right exertion, care and concentration.There are three perspectives to the Buddhist lifestyle. Shrewdness (prajna), Morality (sila) and Mental preparing (Samadhi). The Noble Eightfold Path is the method of shr ewdness. Number 1 is Right View, this is the point at which a Buddhist looks to follow the lessons of Buddha and extend their comprehension on life. Number 2 is Right Intention; it is the choice to follow the Buddhist way. Each activity an individual makes originates from an idea and this correct aim is the constructive idea an individual needs to gain so as to ground. All that we are is the consequence of what we have thought. The brain is everything. What we think we become. † Buddha. Number 3 is Right Speech. Right Speech is simply the standard of continually communicating such that improves the nature of different people groups lives and does no damage. It intends to not lie, cease from untruths and trickery, vindictive language, irate or hostile language and tattle. One ought to consistently come clean, talk with warm delicacy and abstain from talking when they don't have anything imperative to say.Number 4 is Right Action and it is to follow the fine broad rules forever which are, 1, not to demolish life, 2, not to take, 3, not to abuse sex or enjoy the faculties, 4, not to lie, 5, not to drink liquor or ingest medications which can prevent one from intuition plainly. Right Livelihood implies that an individual after the Buddhist way should avoid business that conflicts with Buddhist standards. Right Effort is to put forth a cognizant attempt to remove all negative, fiendish contemplations and supplant them with great, positive ones.This advance perceives that a Buddhist ought to know about this and put forth an attempt to shape the manner by which the individual in question thinks. Right Mindfulness is a condition of elevated awareness which an individual has the psychological capacity to see their general surroundings unmistakably and with no fancy. Some portion of the psychological preparing that Buddhists do targets helping them become progressively mindful of themselves and their general surroundings. Individuals can't control or create themse lves on the off chance that they are uninformed of how they feel or why they react to life the manner in which they do or they can't help other people in the event that they are lost in a universe of their own.Buddhists practice contemplation to assist them with monitoring this. Right focus is the conviction that through reflection the brain is empower to get quiet, clear, create adoring graciousness and increase knowledge into the certainties of life. The objective of this is to arrive at nirvana however customary reflection is a significant piece of the life of each rehearsing Buddhist. The Buddha instructed that all that we do, think and state has an outcome or result. Kind activities have positive outcomes while cruelty brings about despondency. Buddhists have confidence in karma, which is the possibility that activities have consequences.It is accepted that karma is the outcome or result from a past activity, this is the manner in which Buddhists accept that we impact the proce dure of progress and we shape the future by out activities of today. Buddhists trust in resurrection, which is the possibility that animals are continually being conceived, developing old, passing on and being conceived once more. This is known as samsara and for Buddhists; resurrection is a steady procedure of progress. What an individual will be in another life creates out of what the individual was previously. Buddhists esteem sympathy for other people and causing them no damage above everything else.The Buddha instructed that to arrive at edification, one must create two characteristics, insight and empathy. Being thoughtful, adoring and empathetic to people and creatures are significant qualities in Buddhism. Buddhists expect to live generous and shrewdly and follow the lessons of the incredible profound pioneer Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha. Buddhists convictions depend on the possibility that all life includes enduring yet by following the Fo

Exploring Alzheimers Disease Essay -- Alzheimers Disease Essays

Investigating Alzheimer's Disease Conclusion of Alzheimer's Disease Demonstrative and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders requires a few standards for the conclusion of Alzheimer's dementia. These remember weakness for memory, aggravations in psychological and official working, and impedance in word related or social capacities. Psychological aggravations may incorporate at least one of the accompanying: aphasia, apraxia, and agnosia. Psychological shortages must exhibit decrease from past degrees of working and are portrayed by progressive beginning. Moreover, psychological unsettling influences must not be because of other focal sensory system as well as fundamental issue that are known to cause dementia or are represented by another mental issue. Note that a clear conclusion of Alzheimer's must be made after death. Realities about Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's sickness is the fourth driving reason for death in the United States and is turning into a bigger issue as the future increments. It is the most predominant of intellectual hindrances in more seasoned individuals. Alzheimer's abbreviates future considerably: the normal term is 8 to 10 years. Passings are owing to mediating sicknesses irrelevant or in a roundabout way identified with the malady and terminal complexities. A considerably additionally wrecking highlight of Alzheimer's is the effect it has on the patient's family. Parental figures report feeling vulnerable, disappointed and crabby. Families regularly become devastated before the patient is qualified to get budgetary help. Besides, practically 50% of the family parental figures become clinically discouraged. Over the most recent couple of years, investigate has made incredible walks in understanding this Alzheimer's. In particular, in the regions of ne... ...acetylcholine is discharged into a neural connection and afterward associates with a receptor. Works Cited Connor, B.; Young, D.; Yan, Q.; Faull, R.L.M.; Synek, B.; Dragunow, M. (1997). Cerebrum inferred neurotrophic factor is diminished in Alzheimer's illness. Sub-atomic Brain Research. 49:1-2 (Oct 3); 71-81. Gonzalez-Salvador, M. T.; Arango, C.; Lyketsos, C. G.; Barba, A. C. (1999). The pressure and mental grimness of the Alzheimer persistent parental figure. Global Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 14, 701-710. Reiman, E. M.; and Caselli, R. J. (1999). Alzheimer's ailment. Maturitas: the European menopause diary. 31, 185-200. Richard, F.; and Amouyel, P. (2001). Hereditary vulnerability factors for Alzheimer's illness. European Journal of Pharmacology. 412:1 (Jan 19); 1-12 For more data with respect to Alzheimer's Disease: http://webmd.lycos.com/condition_center?doi=alz

Electrical Conductivity of the Heart essays

Electrical Conductivity of the Heart articles Have you at any point pondered exactly how significant your heart is? Do you ever consider it to keep it beating? All things considered, the appropriate response is most likely no. Your heart is an astounding organ. It can work all alone. The heart is about the size of you clench hand lying in you chest. It is made out of various filaments and tissues, which permits it to work and siphon blood however out your body. The filaments permit power to be transmitted over the heart. The principle zones that manage the electrical motivations are the SA hub, the AV hub, the Bundle of His, and the purkinje filaments. Together, every one of these segments contract the heart and siphon blood through the body. The sinoatrial (SA) hub, or the normal pacemaker of the heart, is the place the electrical driving forces are produced. It is situated in the upper mass of the correct chamber close to the opening from the unrivaled vena cava. The SA hub sets the withdrawal rate by producing nerve driving forces which travel through the heart divider and afterward the two atria contract. It needn't bother with an outside improvements for the creation of the electrical driving forces, it does this all alone. The ordinary rate for the motivations to be produced is somewhere in the range of sixty and eighty beats for each moment. This rate can increment when one is stimulated, working out, furious, or alarmed and this rate can diminish when one is dozing or resting. From the SA hub to the following receptor in the heart, it just takes fifty milliseconds for the sign to travel. The following arrangement of particular tissue is the atrioventricular (AV) hub. It is situated in the base of the correct chamber in the interatrial septum. At the point when the electrical signs arrive at the AV hub from the SA hub, the sign is postponed for one-tenth of one moment to permit the atria to purge their substance of blood. The AV hub is somewhat littler in size than the SA hub and the AV hub makes the two ventricles contract. The ordinary pace of the AV hub is among forty and... <!

Shakespeares Comedy Vs. Tragedy Essays - Fiction, Literature

Shakespeare's Comedy versus Disaster Certain equals can be drawn between William Shakespeare's plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. These matches concern topics and prototypical Shakespearian character types. The two plays have an unmistakable pair of ?sweethearts', Hermia and Lysander, and Romeo and Juliet, separately. The two plays could have likewise effortlessly been disaster or parody with a couple of basic changes. An awful play is a play wherein at least one characters is has an ethical blemish that prompts his/her destruction. A comedic play has at any rate one funny character, and an effective or upbeat completion. Contrasting these two plays is helpful to discover how Shakespeare utilizes comparable character types in an assortment of plays, and the flexibility of the topics which he employments. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is youthful, not yet fourteen, also, she is wonderful, and Romeo's response after he sees her is, O, she doth show the lights to consume splendid! It appears she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich gem in an Ethiop's ear Magnificence to rich for use, for the earth excessively dear! Juliet is additionally reasonable, Despite the fact that I happiness in thee, I have no delight in this contract today. It is excessively careless, excessively unadvised, excessively unexpected. She feels that since they have quite recently met, they ought to keep away from sexual intercourse. Hermia is likewise youthful, and judicious. At the point when Lysander proposes that One turf will fill in as a cushion for the two of us, One heart, one bed, two chests, and one troth, Hermia answers Nay, great Lysander. For my purpose, my dear, Lie further off yet; don't lie so approach. Although this couple has known each other for some time (Romeo and Juliet knew each other for one night when the above statement was spoken), Hermia too keeps away from resting close to Lysander despite the fact that she accepts he doesn't have sullied goals. Romeo's and Juliet's families are quarreling. Due to these quarrels, their own folks won't permit the darlings to see one another. In the a differnet way Hermia isn't permitted to wed Lysander. Hermia's dad Egeus says to Theseus, Duke of Athens, Brimming with vexation come I, with grumbling Against my youngster, my little girl Hermia. Stand fourth, Demetrius. My honorable master, This man hath my agree to wed her. Stand forward, Lysander. Furthermore, my thoughtful Duke, This man hath charmed the chest of my kid. Egeus tells the Duke that his girl can wed Demetrius, not Lysander. Hermia answers . . . On the off chance that I will not marry Demetrius, Egeus answers Either beyond words passing, or to recant for ever the general public of men. If Hermia goes against her dad's desires, and marries Lysander, she will either be killed, or be compelled to turn into a sister. The two sets of sweethearts additionally look for help from another. Juliet and Romeo look for Friar Lawrence, and Lysander and Hermia look for Lysander's auntie, who lives in the forested areas close to Athens. The two arrangements of adolescents have a similar character type. They are youthful, their affection is denied, the two ladies are judicious, and both look for the assistance of a grown-up. However they have their unobtrusive contrasts. For model, Lysander, never referenced an affection Hermia. Romeo cherished Rosaline, before he cherished Juliet. Hermia's family and Lysander's family were not fighting, though the Montagues' and Capulets' feude was fundamental to the plot of the play. The narratives of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream are altogether different be that as it may. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a satire. Oberon, lord of the pixies, sends a naughty devil named, Puck, to pull a prank on the sovereign of the pixies, Titania, and on a pair of Athenian youth. Puck transforms Nick Bottom's head into that of an ass (Nick Bottom is the man in the play creation inside A Midsummer Night's Dream; he attempted to have each influence), and places a herb on Titania that makes her become hopelessly enamored with him. This is very diverting. Be that as it may, toward the finish of the play all the couples are back together, with the ones they love. Along these lines Lysander and Hermia do get hitched. On the off chance that Egeus had appeared at the wedding, he could have murdered

How to Prepare a Presentation the Right Way

While providing information in a clear and concise fashion, the speaker should know how to prepare a presentation. A presentation requires a lot of efforts and deliberations. To make a presentation that would be understandable, as well as follow the requirements of the matter discussed, it is essential to follow particular rules. One can say that the pivotal part of preparing a presentation relates is related to the speakers awareness of such factors as the target audience, time, place, subject, object, and the length of the presentation. Following those steps is crucial for making a presentation that would leave the audience with the positive impressions. Therefore, the presenter should take into consideration the aspects mentioned in order to know how to prepare a presentation. The Objective While preparing a presentation the initial moment is about exploring the purpose of the presentation, as well as what outcomes a presenter or the audience expects. The first moment that could be useful while preparing a presentation on this stage is writing down the overall reason for a presentation. One can use the notes later to remind oneself of the purpose of the presentation. Moreover, because there are many reasons for doing a presentation, one should always remember about the particular objective. That would help a presenter to deliver a presentation directly related to the certain academic of a scientific realm. The Subject Additionally, it is important to make an emphasis on the subject of the presentation. The subject often derives from the objective of the presentation, but not is the same as objective. One can say that the subject is the specification regarding the particular topic of the presentation. Moreover, a presenter should know either if the subject is fixed or can be chosen by the speaker. The Audience In the process of preparing a presentation, it is worth considering the target audience. It is crucial to take into consideration such factors as age, size, and gender of the audience. Moreover, it would be reasonable to say that while preparing a presentation, presenters should consider whether the audience is informed in the subject, as well as will it be appropriate to use different literary techniques along with humor. The Place One can say that one of the keys to success for preparing a good presentation is about having as much information as possible about the place where a person will make a presentation. One should consider choosing familiar surroundings, in order to feel more relaxed. Moreover, while having an information about the place of the presentation, a person could try out one’s voice there, as well as take into consideration the way of how seats are arranged. Therefore, choosing the right place for the presentation will give a presenter the pivotal information about the many factors that one should take into consideration. The Time and Length of Talk It worth saying that while preparing a presentation, a person should consider choosing a particular time of the day to give a presentation. Specialists suggest morning to be the best time for giving a presentation because at that period of a day an audience will be concentrated. Furthermore, it is important to consider the length of the speech while doing a presentation. One of the best choices is spending 45 minutes for a single-session presentation.

Drug Epidemic In United States - Free Essay Example

In the history of the United Stated the drug epidemic has been increasing at an alarming rate. The United States imported opium legally for hundreds of years. During the Civil War the most common used drug was Morphine. In the nineteenth century Heroin was manufactured. Cocaine was very popular and was marketed as a cure for drug addiction. The United States main focus was on alcohol addiction, while there was very little concern for narcotic usage. In the early years, people could purchase drugs without a prescription from drugstores or grocery stores. Mail orders allowed for a widespread of narcotic distributions. The United States created different laws that were directed to narcotics. The Harrison Narcotic Act, Volstead Act, The Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act, The Narcotic Farm Act, The Marihuana Act, The Opium Poppy Control Act, The Boggs Act, Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act, Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, Controlled Substance Act, and Drug abuse Office and Treatment Act were all laws created to combat and control narcotics and focused on treatment for drug users. The Harrison Narcotic Act On December 17, 1914 The Harrison Narcotic Act became a law and was signed by President Woodrow Wilson. This was a tax law that was left for the Treasury Department to enforce. It was up to the U.S. Coast Guard and the Bureau of Internal Revenue were the first two agencies in charge of smuggling at the United States Border. Most of the items which were smuggled included: oleomargarine, flour, cheese, cotton, playing cars, and narcotics. This act created the first federal narcotic agent on March 1, 1915. There quickly became 162 agents within this specialized unit. This specialized unit designed their own uniforms and badges. Some uniforms and badges looked like the wild west while others designed off the current military uniform. (XXX) In the early stages of the unit, the unit began to arrest physicians and those who were supplying narcotics to addicts. World War I (WWI)was approaching and opium was the new big thing. With the WWI new products, Morphine and Heroin, were used by many soldiers. These drugs were used to aid in pain relief and allowed the men fighting to stay awake for days without sleep. (XXX) The Volstead Act In October 1919 the Volstead Act was passed by President Woodrow Wilsons veto, which meant the legislation set forth by the 18th Amendment would be enforced. The 18th Amendment states, Section 1: After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, ot the exportation thereof from the United states and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. Section 2: The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. (XXX) There were still more debates about alcohol which meant there was little talk about narcotics. The only conversations in relation to narcotics was the thought of usage being a vice or an illness. After the passing of the Volstead Act there was more of a push to pursue liquor violations. This left the Bureau of Revenue no choice but to create a specific unit to combat liquor violations. The Prohibition Unit was created to find those violating the 18th Amendment. During the roaring twenties, the Prohibition Unit was called the Dry Agents. The Dry Agents was mostly made up from ranks of disenchanted war veterans who part of the political patronage. From the beginning they were faced with the task set by the 18th Amendment, which they received no thanks for doing. While the Prohibition Unit was enforcing the law, a 170-man Narcotic Division was created by a former Pharmacist. This Narcotic unit was great at what they with their convictions. In 1921 this division had 1,583 convictions, with 119 acquittals. The Narcotic Division seized 1,417 pounds of Opium, 373 pounds of morphine, 32 pounds of heroin, and 286 pounds of cocaine. Though there were great results in locating the narco tics trade they was still a problem. They were unsure on what to do with addicts. (XXX) The Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act By May 1922 The Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act was passed by Congress. The Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act is also known as the Jones-Miller Act, which was the start of the monitoring of international commerce of opiates. The Narcotic Drugs Import and Export Act created the Federal Narcotics Control Board which was made up of Secretaries of State, Treasury, and Commerce who all monitored opiate imports for uses other than medical. They also were to limit the exports to nations with adequate licensing systems, and to outlaw the manufacture of heroin. On February 19, 1925 the Second Geneva Convention was signed, but it was three years later that it adopted an international licensing system, record keeping, export regulations, statistical reporting, and a supervision department who was maned by a Permanent Central Board designed by the League of Nations. The Narcotic Farm Act of 1929 The Marihuana Act of 1937 The Opium Poppy Control Act of 1942 The Boggs Act 1951 Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 1965 Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act 1966 Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act October 27, 1970 Controlled Substance Act 1970 President Richard Nixon realized the number of drug users were increasing rapidly. President Nixon needed to find a solution to combat drug sales and usage. President Nixon realized there needed to be increased penalties, stronger enforcement, and incarceration for drug offenders. Some considerations were made classify each drug offender. President Richard Nixon declared a ?War on Drug in June 1971. President Nixon declared drug offenders to be public enemy number one. Nixon also granted an increase in funding for drug-control agencies and drug-treatment efforts. There were several different agencies which were created to combat the war on drugs. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was created in 1973. The DEA is a federal law enforcement agency who specializes in drug manufacturing, drug trafficking, and drug growing. The DEAs main mission has been to enforce the controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States. The DEA also wants to bring the people who violate these co ntrolled substance laws to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States.

Biography of Sociologist George Herbert Mead

When fields such as psychology and sociology were still new, George Herbert Mead became a leading pragmatist and pioneer of symbolic interactionism, a theory that explores the relationships between people in societies. More than a century after his death, Mead is widely considered to be one of the founders of social psychology, the study of how social environments influence individuals. Having taught at the University of Chicago for much of his career, he is also associated with what is now known as the Chicago school of sociology. Early Years and Education George Herbert Mead was born on  Feb. 27, 1863, in South Hadley, Massachusetts. His father Hiram Mead was a pastor of a local church but moved the family to Oberlin, Ohio to become a professor at Oberlin Theological Seminary in 1870. His mother Elizabeth Storrs Billings Mead also worked as an academic; she taught at Oberlin College and would go on to serve as president of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. In 1879, George Herbert Mead enrolled in Oberlin College, where he pursued a bachelors degree focusing on history and literature, which he completed four years later. After a brief stint as a school teacher,  Mead worked as a surveyor for the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company for a few years. Following that, he enrolled in Harvard University, where he studied psychology and philosophy, but he left in 1888 without a graduate degree. After Harvard, Mead joined his close friend Henry Castle and his sister Helen Kingsbury Castle in Leipzig, Germany, where he enrolled in a Ph.D. program for philosophy and physiological psychology at the University of Leipzig. In 1889, Mead transferred to the University of Berlin, where he began to study economic theory. The University of Michigan offered Mead a teaching position in philosophy and psychology two years later and he stopped his doctoral studies to accept this post, never actually completing his Ph.D. Prior to taking on his new role, Mead married Helen Castle in Berlin. Career At the University of Michigan, Mead met sociologist  Charles Horton Cooley, philosopher  John Dewey, and psychologist Alfred Lloyd, all of whom influenced the development of his thought and written work. Dewey accepted an appointment as the chair of philosophy at the University of Chicago in 1894  and arranged for Mead to be appointed assistant professor in the department of philosophy. Together with James Hayden Tufts, the three formed the nexus of American pragmatism, referred to as the Chicago Pragmatists. Meads Theory of the Self Among sociologists, Mead is most well known for his theory of the self, which he presented in his well-regarded and much-taught book Mind, Self and Society (published in 1934 after his death and edited by Charles W. Morris). Meads theory of the self maintains that the idea people have of themselves stems from social interaction with others. This theory opposes biological determinism  because it holds that  the self does not exist at  birth and may not be present at the beginning of a social interaction, but it is constructed and reconstructed in the process of social experience and activity.​ The self, according to Mead, is made up of two components: the â€Å"I† and the â€Å"me.† The â€Å"me† represents the expectations and attitudes of others (the generalized other) organized into a social self. Individuals define their behavior in reference to the generalized attitude of the social group(s) they occupy. When people can view themselves from the standpoint of the generalized other, self-consciousness in the full sense of the term is attained.  From this standpoint, the generalized other (internalized in the â€Å"me†) is the major instrument of social control, for it is the mechanism by which the community exercises control over the conduct of its individual members. The â€Å"I† is the response to the â€Å"me,† or the person’s individuality. It is the essence of agency in human action. So, in effect, the me is the self as object, while the I is the self as subject. According to Meads theory, the self is developed through three activities: language, play, and game. Language allows people to take on the â€Å"role of the other† and respond to their own behaviors through the symbolized attitudes of others. During play, individuals take on the roles of different people and pretend to be them to express their expectations. This process of role-playing is key to the generation of self-consciousness and to the general development of the self. People must comprehend the rules of the game and internalize the roles of everyone else involved. Meads work in this area spurred the development of symbolic interaction theory, now a major framework within sociology. In addition to Mind, Self, and Society, his major works include 1932s The Philosophy of the Present and 1938s The Philosophy of the Act. He taught at the  University of Chicago until his death on  April 26, 1931. Updated  by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.