The Invisible Attributes of the Trial essays

The Invisible Attributes of the Trial essays The Invisible Attributes of the Trial Over the past two-thousand years a great number of philosophers have contributed their time and efforts to fully understand the views and teachings of the Socratic Method. Platos Apology generates a feeling of these views by elaborating the very essence of how Socrates conducted himself in the public discourse of his life. Perhaps many of us have wondered if the accusations that Meletus presented were truly the reasons for reproving such a man in front of the people of Athens. But it may be that many of us have overlooked some of the factors that could have contributed to Socrates eventual downfall. Socrates, after all, may have been somebody that was generated into someone we wanted him to be. These are some of the viewpoints that we must examine to truly comprehend if Socrates, as written by many of his students, was truly a man of glorified virtue. As many of his contemporaries noted, Socrates was on trial for many accusations. Among these indictments was the charge of corrupting the youth, and making the weaker argument the stronger. At least one of the colleagues his accusers had in mind was a young student and associate of Socrates' named Alcibiades. Alcibiades was a general in the Athenian army during the Second Peloponnesian War. When in Sicily on a military expedition, Alcibiades destroyed some idols in a local temple and when called back to Athens to face charges of sacrilege, he fled. On another occasion, as part of a military strategy, Alcibiades orchestrated the dissolution of Athens' democracy of twenty years. Although this was a short-term military success, Athenians resented this maneuver. In the eyes of the Athenians, Socrates was blamed for misguiding Alcibiades. Many have said that Socrates was merely attempting to guide Alcibiades through his teachings. But it may have been Plato, along with other followers, w ho neglected to mention if Soc...

Insect Courtship Rituals and Mating Habits

Insect Courtship Rituals and Mating Habits Ah, romance. Because insects are so numerous, a good deal of work goes into finding a suitable mate. Females can be fickle, with such a wealth of insect bachelors from which to choose. If a male stands a chance at passing on his genes, hes got to do something to stand out in the crowd. Courtship rituals in insect mating include serenades, dances, nuptial gifts, physical touch, and even aphrodisiacs. Serenades Courtship songs differ from calling songs, which are broadcast from a distance to help females find the males. Crickets use distinct calling and courtship songs, for example. Once the female cricket is nearby, the male suitor sings his best courtship song to sweep her off her six feet. Fruit flies have no calling song but they do sing when a mate is in close range. The fruit fly male vibrates his wings in a pulsing, rhythmic pattern. His song lets the female know he is of the same species, and available to mate. Mosquitoes sing harmonic duets with each other, adjusting the frequencies of their songs simultaneously as they near the moment of copulation. Dances and Foreplay Any woman is a sucker for a man that can dance. Some male insects and spiders cha cha cha their way to love, performing elaborate dances for their chosen mates. Jumping spiders are famous for their ballroom skills. They can perform a linear dance, a zigzag dance, and even a sort of can-can with their forelegs. Certain male flies perform aerial dances around a female to attract her attention and win the right to mate with her. Some female insects like to be cuddled and caressed to get in the mood. This is especially true of the more primitive, wingless insects. Springtails, for instance, will touch each other with their antennae. Sperm transfer in apterygotes takes place externally, with the male depositing his sperm on a surface and then gently coaxing his partner to take it. Some dung beetles engage in a different kind of foreplay. Together, the pair rolls a ball of dung to serve as a nursery for their offspring. Nuptial Gifts Gift giving is another clever strategy employed by some male insects in their pursuit of a mate. Before seeking a partner, hangingfly males hunt and capture arthropod prey. They then lure a female closer using a chemical signal and offer her the food gift. She examines the prey, and if she finds the meal to her liking, they mate. If the gift is insufficient, she refuses his advance. Balloon flies take gift giving a step further by wrapping the prey in pretty, silken balloons. Females fly into a mating swarm of males and choose a partner, who presents her with his silk package. Dont give the males too much credit, though. Theyve actually learned to trick the females by offering them empty balloons. Some male insects, like Mormon crickets, produce a spermatophylax, a protein-rich wad which they attach to the females genitalia. The female eats the sperm-free offering, which may have cost the male a full 30% of his body weight. Thats a pretty substantial gift. Aphrodisiacs When all else fails, insects may try an aphrodisiac to make a partner willing to copulate. Male queen butterflies dust prospective mates with an aphrodisiac produced by hairpencils, brush-like appendages on the tip of the abdomen. If his magic dust works, she will fly to a nearby plant. He dusts her once more to be sure shes ready, and if she is, they consummate the marriage. On the other hand, insects sometimes employ anti-aphrodisiacs to turn away suitors. Certain ground beetle females produce methacrylic acid, a potent anti-aphrodisiac that not only repels males, which can knock them out for several hours. Male mealworm beetles apply anti-aphrodisiac pheromones to their female partners after mating, to make them less attractive to other males.