Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Blogging Digital Media And Society Series Essay Example for Free

Blogging Digital Media And Society Series Essay Jill Walker Rettberg new edition â€Å"Blogging: digital media and society series† can be described as a key book in an emerging field. Blogging has come to be associated as a landmark in the current social cyber studies and even more. Blogging is all about the way today’s popular culture has become an important element in large magnitude changes in how culture is produced. With her book, Jill digs into the deep and broad of blogging to give the reader the real meaning of what is involved in blogging as the evidence and driver of a shift in epochal culture (Rettberg, 2014). Jill’s capability in ensuring that she reaches out to the right audience and puts the points on blogging across is enhanced by experience. Being a prolific blogger herself, Jill uses her experience as a blogger in pointing out the various issues to her audience. Jill also utilizes examination which is enhanced by use of an expert’s eye of a communications researcher with experience to reveal the historical, psychological, social and political meaning of the blogging initiative. Borrowing from various disciplines, it is evident of her good understanding on the blogging issue and its impact. The other strong point in her writing is the fact that she brings and uses various disciplines such as media studies, marketing, ethnology, literary studies, sociology and journalism into an excellent exploratory framework (Rettberg, 2014). Jill’s book expands blogging into a wider context of the decline in print culture to the emerging trends. The updated and revised edition provides a good study of the now each and every day phenomenon placing it in a theoretical, contemporary and historical context. The use of the most recent of the researches and developments in the blogging world is taken care of with an analysis of the new tools for visual blogging and micro blogging (Rettberg, 2014). In the book, Jill discusses the changing trends where in the current times blogs are being integrated into the mainstream social media ecology. This helps to show the reader the direction the blogging element is taking in the formation and continuation of popular culture. Jill notes that the comments and the links from social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook have become more important than networks between blogs which was important five years ago. Jill also questions the new trend where there is a shift towards increased corporate control and commercialization of blogs (Rettberg, 2014). The cultural shift has also seen its share of influence from blogging as Jill illustrates using examples. Jill delves into the analysis of how the current smart phones equipped with cameras together with the social media has led to the shift towards more emphasis on the visual aspects in the blogs with the use of graphics and photographs being in the foreground. Jill puts in a convincing analysis of how blogging together with related genres have come to change the world of communication and media (Rettberg, 2014). The design of the book is in such a way that each of the chapters is a self-sufficient review of areas in blogging which makes the structure repetitive across the work. The book is more suitable for beginners or anyone with an interest in blogging as Jill puts the chapters in a loose connection to blogging. Though Jill has borrowed from many disciplines to help the reader in understanding the different aspects of blogging, there is some diversion, however when the discussion shifts from blogging as a phenomenon into the related and convergent forms like the social networking sites. There are lengthy discussions of the various sites such as MySpace and Facebook which though put with the right intention in mind, they do not achieve this as there is no clear elaboration to the reader how this relates to the overall topics (Rettberg, 2014). Walker’s work begins by tackling the question of what a blog is. She starts with an introduction to the history of online text based communication. She then moves on to the development of blogging tools such as Blogger. Walker develops a shred understanding of material aspects in blogging. An interesting section also discusses blogs as genre and medium which is a distinction that is not addressed directly most of the time. In â€Å"From Bards to Blogs†, Walter takes the discussion on the blogging place within media culture and the shift from one-to- many towards many-to- many. Walter positions the internet as a counterpoint to Plato’s complaint of a written text being unresponsive. Walker shares the view that there is potential for interactivity between authors of blog posts, the blog post itself and the reader in blog comments (Rettberg, 2014). Also of particular interest is the chapter â€Å"Citizen Journalist?’ where Walker puts her focus on the three ways in which blogging intersects with traditional journalism. There are bloggers acting as journalists, the bloggers who report on mainstream media and the bloggers giving first-hand reports on ongoing events. Walker goes ahead to discuss bloggers as the chance to witness big historical events. Her example of Kaye D. Trammell account on Hurricane Katrina is meant to show how blogs can be used as sources of information by both the public and mass media however understudied. This is an avenue that can be used for future works in blogging (Rettberg, 2014). Walker also discusses how blogs have expanded to various forms of narratives in â€Å"Blogs as narratives† She gives an account of the three forms of narratives namely the goal-oriented narrative, ongoing narration and fragmented narratives. In the same chapter she evaluates the ways in which blogs can be used as a means of self exploration with one discovering their strengths and what they can do best to contribute to the society (Rettberg, 2014). Walker finishes the book off with a review of the future of blogs and the future of social media. In the chapter, Walker also touches on the use of language, privacy government access and control each of which one gets the feeling that they could be well covered in a different book each on its own. An addition of some scholarly works using quantitative methods would have added some balance to the various discussions such as the one on protypical blog and blogger. Another limitation in Walker’s book is that there is a small number of scholarly works cited on bloggers and blogging (Rettberg, 2014). In general Walker provides a popular view on blogging culture and blogs and steers away from in-depth analysis and critical discussion. The text however is a good introductory resource for both non-academic and academic audiences (Rettberg, 2014). Reference Rettberg, J. W. (2014).  Blogging. Source document

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Women in the Workforce Essay example -- Gender Studies

As the times change, so do the standards. Women previously have been looked at as homemakers, housewives, subordinates. In this new century, this has changed dramatically. Not only have women sought extensive amounts of education, they have sought means to expand and solidify their skills. Although women continue to face discrimination, the qualifications of the playing field have leveled out. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2012), in 2011, women accounted for 47 percent of the workforce (ages 16 and over). Their occupations varied, as well as their marital status and their status as a mother. Also, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration (2011), 14 percent of households are headed by single women, whereas only 6 percent of households are headed by single men. There are more households headed by women, which means more women are the sole earners of income in their household. The workplace plays a critical role in the lives of women. In addition, more women than men aged 24-35 earned college degrees based on 2007-2008 data (U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration, 2011). This is a more educated workforce with the possibility to make a significant impact in the areas of advancement (e.g. innovation), knowledge transfer (e.g. mentoring), and leadership (e.g. management). Consequently, the policies of companies that employ women can have a positive or negative effect on their households, career advancement and earning potential, as well as the lives of those that depend on them. Mary Van der Boon (2003) in her article titled, â€Å"Women in international management: An international perspective on women’s ways of leadership†, descri... ...sidered as a matter of respect. Secondarily, when having to travel to areas women have never traveled before; their safety is of highest concern. So surely, gender should be aggressively considered in terms of safety and cultural respect. Works Cited Bloch, S. (2011). Expat women: Job & careers abroad. Retrieved from http://www.expatwomen. com/expat-women-jobs-careers-abroad/8-steps-to-dissolving-the-glass-ceiling-susan- bloch.php Drury, M. (2011). Women technology leaders: Gender issues in higher education information technology. NASPA Journal about Women in Higher Education, 4(1), 96-123. Ihlwain, M. (April, 2008). Cracks in a particular glass ceiling. Business Week, 58. Van der Boon, M. (2003). Women in international management: An international perspective on women’s ways of leadership. Gender in Management, 18(3/4), 132-146.

Monday, January 13, 2020

A good leader Essay

INTRODUCTION There has been always considerable discussion about connection between great leaders and good followers. It is said that in order to be a good leader person should be a good follower. In my point of, a good leader is the person who also has been a good follower, person who has proven oneself ability to follow the instructions, who can subjugate one’s will to the will of others who has undertaken the responsibility of leadership, able to make constructive comments and debate issues when necessary and able to stand up for the principles in which one believes. The person who can manage to perform about mentioned missions can be called a good follower. However, it does not mean all good followers become always good leaders. There are some people who are astounding as choir singers but awful as choir directors. There are many great followers who are not good leaders. Nevertheless, it should be noted that good leaders and good followers usually posses the same characteristics and responsibilities which may be the main reason for considering an opinion that a good leaders also obliged to be a good follower. Leaders the ones who have brought our life many changes, make differences and make our life more interesting and interactive. But, if there were not followers there would not be a good leader, as, followers the most essential assets of a good leader. 1. Some people understand a leader simply as somebody whom people can follow or as someone who guides or directs others, while others define leader as a person who affects a group of people towards the achievement of a goal. With regard to follower, follower is a person who follows another`s teachings and  belief, one who admits the command, guidance and leadership of another one (www.vtaide.com). Some held conception that to be a good leader you ought to be a good follower. In order to be a leader, a person at first should learn how to be a good follower. Initially, majority of great leaders followed in the footsteps of other good leaders and utilized training to achieve their leadership goals. In order to have followers, a good leader must have ability to comprehend his or her followers and what the followers desire from the leader. And, the best way to implement it, the leader should be a good follower. As, rich people usually cannot understand poor people`s condition, if only the rich did not experience the poverty in their own life. The poor people can comprehend each other better because they have similar problems. Moreover, we are all followers in some spheres of our lives. And in this case, we can obtain some essential qualities and skills which help us to become a good leader. The reason for this is training which considered as a powerful tool in order to attract one’s vision to higher sights, increasing their performance to a higher standard, and forming a personality beyond its usual limitations to its full potential. For instance, in the history, the Apostle Peter had made a lot of mistakes before he followed Jesus. After following Jesus for three years Apostle Peter and his fellow-disciples â€Å"turned the world upside down†( John C.Maxwell,1998) Besides, leaders and followers divide some characteristics. 2. These are the following qualities: Awareness Ð ¡urrently, leÐ °ders have to know about different audiences including board members, customers, coworkers, colleagues, and the audience on the whole. You oblige to know what it tÐ °kes to bring them Ð °long, if you desire to be good a leader. In order to be a follower you should educate yourself how to be conscious of the requirements of public as well as their potential to â€Å"make one`s life hell from one second to the next† (Barbarra Kellerman) .Good followers study to read public and comprehend what distresses and stimulates them. Diplomacy When good followers meet a co-worker with frantic political beliefs or an offensive manager, they are maybe not going to struggle every fight. To take  part in a position of the follower is less risky, easier, and often simpler. Good followers observe how to handle with those who possess dissimilarities while not disregarding those differences. That is an essential leadership feature, for the reason that a manager or leader cannot afford to be unconscious to the relations of those people who surrounds him or her (www.success.bz). Courage Being a good follower indicates owning the bravery to disagree if you believe your manager, superior or leader is acting something incorrectly. That is always complicated, but it demands the strength of belief which is very essential to good leadership. Being a good leader is complex in methods that are rather alike to being a good follower. It means paying attention, being engaged, having the bravery to cry out when something is not proper way. Also, it means possessing the power and activity to encourage a leader or manager who is implementing things wisely and well. Collaboration In many cases, the leader influences if and how the goals are accomplished while followers are able to implement or break. Even though the leader may receive most of the credit, in many business sectors, followers are the people who are acting much of the creative work. Leaders who have been good followers comprehend how to work with people who can help to bring out the well enough in them. One of great leader said that â€Å"Was it the imaginative collective of team members at Apple, or did Steve Jobs really invent the iPod and iPhone? Currently, leaders may be reckoned up not only by how much is accomplished or produced, but by the quality of its members and the team or organization† (Ronald E. Riggio). Critical Thinking You need to be able to believe for yourself, in order to be a good follower. The best followers encourage and help the leader when he or she is acting the correct thing, and stand up to the leader when he or she is directed in the wrong direction. Many of the same qualities that we are enraptured with leaders competence, motivation, intelligence-are similar characteristics that we desire in the very best followers (www.lifehack.org). Besides, leaders, in spite of their degree, they also must follow. 3. Even though, leaders and followers share the same qualities, also, there is still much dissimilarity between them. Leader has to be isolated and independent in order to rely on himself. A bright example of this can be seen in the book called â€Å"Ender`s game†Ender had been isolated in order to make him struggle. That was the only way he would ever have been otherwise. Moreover, it made him untrusting, angry, strong and lonely. But, maybe these qualities made him a better soldier† (michaelhyatt.com). . Leader is usually the person who is being relied on his followers. Followers only must be efficient during the struggle. They have to be capable to implement the commands by their leader, with own skills. In other cases, it is not so essential to be that competent. They could ask aid from their leader or friends. But, leaders, cannot ask for aid from his followers because, otherwise his followers may consider him incompetent. Being a leader is not as easy as being a follower. Leaders illustrate inventiveness; when they have a general clutch for a project they can strategically lay out the most appropriate way to reach the final goal while followers require step by step instruction and expect direction to follow by the leader. They need regular approval and guarantee, in case, something goes wrong. Leaders are not content with simply expecting for the next step because they are very active. They disdain inactivity and when there is lack of progress. They are motivated by subjugating any obstacles in their way and accept responsibility. With regard to followers, they escape from amenability and would prefer when somebody else is â€Å"amenable† instead of them. Also, they agree with inaction as long as a leader does not motivate them to carry out the objectives. When followers usually experience obstacles in certain kind of work, they are not capable to manage with them alone. Leader is the one who can help to a follower how to handle with difficulties. Leaders are not afraid of a strong sense of anxiety or fear; on the contrary they prosper on it. They show that they have ability to manage with everything and very quick in making decisions. They attack fear and tackle it head on and show it who the boss is. With reference to followers, when they have to make a decision, they usually feel fear which causes to escape from a challenge without any real exculpation. Because they try rarely to make something new and they are not capable to risk (Dale Carnegie, 2010). Followers disdain any alterations and attempt to avoid them. Leaders are innovators and  intuitive so they accept changes. Moreover, they are aware that sometimes it is possible that some changes can be very beneficial and may help people to achieve their objectives as well as improving and flourishing their experiences too. 4. Like many traits of the prominent people, being a good leader is an elusive characteristic and very complicated to describe. Many people have different conception of a great leader. But, in my view, a good leader is the person who, first of all, has ability to make impossible things possible in order to be distinguished from other people and his followers. Also, a leader needs to comprehend what objectives and purposes are to be accomplished and needs to stick to those objectives and purposes and by never compromising with the truth. Even though, there are times when leader may have to yield a little, bend a little, but he should always have a clear vision of the final objective that he and his followers have wish to achieve. He must focus completely and totally to attaining the aim, by not permitting himself to be diverted, inactive, complaisant and negligent (www.fastcompany.com).In order to be a good leader, I would try to be quicker to evaluate and criticize myself in order th at I may benefit from my personal self-analysis and amend myself constantly and try to not to be hurry to adjudicate others. A good leader has to listen to constructive remark and must hear frank complaints and reckon up them with good criticism in order to appeal that which is affirmative and positive to the achievement of the objectives to which I am dedicated. If, I were a leader the first thing I would do is analyzing the aim which is needed to achieve and arranging everything in proper way. Analyzing includes not only finding out the goals, but, it also comprises followers or people who will work with you and what is the best appropriate method to attain the goal with the help of your team. When you analyze your followers, you will be aware what they desire and which qualities and abilities they have and how to help them to overcome and turn their weaknesses into the strength in order to achieve common goals. Moreover, it is vitally essential to work out and develop a strategy in order to attain objectives with a help of your team and find out your concur rents and enemies and how to overcome them so as to become more powerful and successful. A bright example of a great leader that I would like to take is Alan Mulally who is CEO of Ford Motor Corporation and also has taken the third place in the list of Great leaders in the world (Fortune  Magazine, 2014). He says that â€Å"One of the most essential tasks of the leader’s work is intensifying the process we are utilizing to attain our objectives. Furthermore, it is not only the way of simply asking, â€Å"How are we doing?† It is requiring, â€Å"How are we performing against the project? What are the spheres that demands particular attention? At the end of the year, what strategies have we worked out to ameliorate our fulfillment in next year?†(Rirk Kinkland, McKinsey Publishing 2013). 5. Some key qualities that I would like to possess and implement, if I were a leader are the following: Honesty and Responsibility An essential and basis element of a great leader is honesty. Your business and followers are a reflection of yourself, and if you are honest and behave yourself ethically it will be a key value for your followers to follow suit. Moreover, if you are not honest, responsible and reliable person you will not have people who will follow you. So, if your co-workers and followers do not trust you, it is impossible to be a leader. It is very important for the people who will follow you to be sure that they can rely on you and that you keep your promises. Also, the good leader should be dedicated towards his or her job because it shows that you feel responsibility. However, a good leader also must differentiate the people and followers whom he can trust in order not to be sure that his followers will always support him during attaining the goals. Communication Good communication skills aid the leader to communicate easily and to share ideas or exchange with opinions with his followers. Also, it is important to elude misunderstanding in an organization because knowing what you desire to be implemented might seem transparent in your head, but if you try to clarify it to somebody else and it may be comprehended in a different way which may cause to a problem. So, being capable to succinctly and clearly describe what you want to be accomplished is vitally essential. Besides, a leader should possess this trait to communicate with his client with various backgrounds. Vision Being a great leader also includes possessing and developing vision. It means having â€Å"vision† to forecast the future as if it were already here. A bright  example can be Steve Job, who often performed this. He created a transparent picture in minds of people how a new output would alter the world — before even it was launched. He had ability to make humans excited about the future which he imagined in his mind. Good leaders must develop the talent of vision in them as well as in followers to encourage them to be better in those skills which they possess. It helps to commit innovations and attain common goals. Positive Attitude A good leader should have a positive thinking and attitude in order to stimulate confidence and acquire inner strength. It is essential to remember, that confident and calm leader is a good example for his followers to feel the same. Besides, a great leader must motivate his followers and people around. If your followers feel happiness and are motivated, there are more chances to reach the best achievements and moving ahead. Also, a good leader must be capable to solve problem and find the solution to every problem which he encounters in life and not avoid it. And, it is usually easier to find solution to the problem when you are calm, confident and have positive mind-set. Conclusion By way of conclusion, it can be marked that being a leader is more complicated than many people expect it. Being leader requires many efforts, hard work and a plenty of affirmative traits which hare complex to attain. With regard to followers, it is easier to be a follower rather than being a leader. Even though, followers and leaders share similar qualities, not every good follower can become a good leader because there are many differences as well. One of the main differences between them is responsibility. Leaders oblige to be responsible not only for their actions, but, as well as they must be responsible for deeds of their followers. Furthermore, leaders are braver, creative and more inclined to risk. People who try to avoid challenges are better to be followers than being a leader of a group of people. I think every leader must always learn in order to be very smart and try to obtain more knowledge and experience in different kind of spheres. But, the main task of leaders to help people to achieve common goals and direct his followers. Also, leaders have to always try to  be a great person who can change the world to the positive side and make it better. References 1. Barbara Kellerman [2009] â€Å"How Followers are Creating Change and Changing Leaders† Available [online]: http://www.fastcompany.com/3029840/bottom-line/5-ways-being-a-good-follower-makes-you-a-better-leader [March 17, 2009] 2. Carol Giannantonio[2011] â€Å"A Great Leader Is A Great Follower† Available [online]:http://www.success.bz/articles/1833/a_great_leader_is_a_great_follower [July,2011] 3. Dale Carnegie [2010] â€Å"How to Win Friends and Influence People† Available [online]: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/15-best-leadership-books-every-young-leader-needs-read.html [February, 2008] 4. Fortune Magazine[2014] â€Å"Fortune ranks the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders† Available [online]: http://fortune.com/2014/03/20/fortune-ranks-the-worlds-50-greatest-leaders/ [March, 2014] 5. Gwen Moran[2007] â€Å"A person who influences a group of people towards the achievement of a goal† Available [online]:http://www.vtaide.com/gleaning s/leader.htm[September 26, 2007] 6. James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner[2010] â€Å"The Truth about leadership† Available [online]: http://www.fastcompany.com/3029840/bottom-line/5-ways-being-a-good-follower-makes-you-a-better-leader[September, 2010] 7. John C. Maxwell [1998] â€Å"The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership † Available from:http://michaelhyatt.com/why-the-best-leaders-are-great-followers.html [September, 2008] 8. Rik Kirkland[2006] â€Å"Leading in the 21st century† Available [online]: http://www.mckinsey.com/insights/strategy/leading_in_the_21st_century_an_interview_with_fords_alan_mulally [ November, 2013] 9. Ronald E. Riggio[2013] â€Å"Leaders lead. Followers followâ€Å"Available[online]: http://www.fastcompany.com/3029840/bottom-line/5-ways-being-a-good-follower-makes-you-a-better-leader[April, 2014]

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Confucian Tenets Establish The Structure - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 899 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Philosophy Essay Level High school Tags: Confucianism Essay Did you like this example? Within the realm of Eastern ethical philosophy, the various schools that emerged later from the overarching traditions sought to answer the question who I ought to be? through expanding upon the ancient texts and key figures. In this paper, we seek to examine the question stated above through the lenses of Confucianism and Hinduism, notably the philosophical school of Vedanta. These two ancient powerhouses of intellectual thoughts diverge into extensive branches, but in this paper, we restrict our bounds to the core principles and branches that are prominent within their respective origin. Confucian tenets establish the structure of a virtuous self through the hierarchy of thoughts, feelings, and actions all guided by the extent of knowledge. The answer to the question posed above centralizes around the ultimate purpose of self-realization that delineates the essential concept of self-cultivation. A person with the highest of virtue, or a superior person (Junzi), exhibits the noble traits in all facets of life such that through the constant reflection of oneself, one attains sources of knowledge to cultivate the triad of propriety, virtue, and righteousness. From the classic words of Confucius, the self evolves through appropriating societal rituals, thus, is self-formed. The sense of self-cultivation through propriety (li) tends to the prescribed moral conducts that safeguard the structured hierarchical relationships to yield the highest goods for the society. In order to refine ones propriety, a constant re-evaluation and conquering of ones impulses should reverberat e societys notion of proper conduct. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Confucian Tenets Establish The Structure" essay for you Create order This manifestation of a subdued self nurtures external forces that ground moral laws on social wellbeing. In that aspect, the Confucian structure of ethics that emphasizes propriety as an active guiding principle can be regarded as a part of deontological ethics. Therefore, self-cultivation in Confucianism relies heavily on the awareness of the relation of oneself to others that underlines the representation of identity. The vastness and depth of Hinduism certainly makes the answer to our question who I ought to be? less straightforward due to its nature of being a pluralistic theory. Thus, to restrict such extensiveness, we mainly concern ourselves with the classical school of Vedanta, notably the Advaita Vedanta. In the quest of self-realization, Advaita Vedanta upholds the nonduality between an individual soul (atman) and Brahman, the highest level for the achievement of self-consciousness. Therefore, the phrase atman is Brahman predisposes a notion for one to be inward looking and practice asceticism so that self-knowledge and unification with Brahman are attained. The concept of self reflects the monism that lies within Brahman which distinguish atman from the inherent misconception of personal identity that pervades humanity through ignorance and illusion (maya). The ultimate goal of self-realization in attaining atman, even though its nature remains incomprehensible and beyond words, advocates the surrendering of ones individual self to the absolute Brahman. The deconstruction of this disillusioned perception of self focuses on the process of self-inquiry through the practice of Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga to reach the unchanging manifestation of atman and the unification with Brahman. The Confucians structure of ethics, centers around the hierarchical system of human relationships that establishes moral obligations through conducts, champions the notion of Junzi as a master of self-cultivation. In contrast to the focus on the anthropogenic regulations of a self in Confucianism, Advaita Vedanta grounds its fundamental belief in the non-dualistic nature between the true self and the all-encompassing reality, Brahman. The reliance on moral conducts to subdue oneself reflects the ideal Confucian structured society that yields the highest wellbeing and establishes harmony. While the doctrines of Advaita Vedanta emphasizes the harmonious union with the true self through the deconstruction of maya-like consciousness, the obligation towards societal norms is deemed as insignificant in the attainment of liberation. Though presenting different fundamental teleological arguments, the process of inward looking and self-examination pose as common constructions in achieving the highest goal within Confucianism and the school of Advaita Vedanta. The practice of inward looking for these two systems, however, differs in the mechanisms. A superior man, according to Confucius, by reflecting upon the right virtues, subdues his impulses and contributes towards a harmonious society through acquiring knowledge, that in turn, leads to the right thoughts, feelings, and actions. The state of transcending through the distinctions, put forth by the illusive appearances of Brahman in the Advaita teaching, reaches the state of consciousness in the true self that is truly beyond words. Thus, the source in which one should look inward for the highest self diverges significantly between Confucianism and Advaita Vedanta, one involves the integration into a structured society, and the other seeks a higher state that transcends the imperial world. The complexity of the pluralistic nature in Hinduism relies less on the interpretation of the goodness of oneself, but instead suggests the mystical notion of a self with a system of higher truth or being. In the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, this higher self lies in the attainment of atman which unifies with the all-embracing Brahman. For Confucianism, the emphasis of being a superior man lies on the structure of virtue exhibited in self and others. Among these two schools of philosophy, the narrow perception of personal identity arises as a consequence of attaining a higher state of self. The rigid social structure that champions propriety in Confucianism and the surrendering of a personal identity to Brahman in Advaita Vedanta yield little for the conceptions of individuality and personal needs.