How did the nation-state emerge Essay Example

How did the nation-state emerge Essay The historic state was formed of feudal societies, where the Kingdom had to be governed to its best potential. Control over the land was a crucial task as there were threats of warfare from other Kingdoms. The form of control of feudal societies were that of warfare and economic. The other method of control was for instance Theatre of Atrocity a concept used by Foucault. This control sends out the message that the Kings power is overwhelming and who dares displease the King will forfeit. This was practised by the barons and nights. Subsequently absolutist monarchs started to manage their populaces including the serfs intensively. The state started considering making use of its populaces as a use value. [1] They used what Foucault called new technologies of power, which works by dressage. Foucault defines dressage as an exercise to demonstrate control with no productive end. A society engages in this action for the purpose of demonstrating control and discipline in spectacle performance. There are rewards and penalties to this application of dressage. The application of these concepts by the Kingdom leads to the state that was managing itself by competition and improved methods of doing things. It was Taylorism even before Taylor. But why was the state pushed to use these methods? Perhaps it was the pressure of warfare and accumulation of revenues. Managing a population gradually becomes a matter of dressage instead of staging a Theatre of Atrocity: a transition to an absolutist state. In some place and time people had become emotionally attached to their own sates. Andersons study on the Creole classes demonstrates this best. Anderson is concerned with determining why it was Creole that developed early conceptions of their belongingness, nation-ness well before most of Europe. We will write a custom essay sample on How did the nation-state emerge specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How did the nation-state emerge specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How did the nation-state emerge specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Creoles started to have the sense of belongingness between each others. The contrast to the metropolis contributed greatly to the emergence of this sense. [3] Thus a sense of distancing people who were not part of this community emerged. However the belongingness itself is left unexplained by Anderson. Andersons study showed that between 1808 and 1828 those of upper Creole classes were financially ruined. The interesting facts are that people were willing to give up their lives for the cause. This represents some form of emotional attachment. In the long run the sates regarded this as an advantage as people were wiling to sacrifice their lives for their community a community that is imagined. Anderson in fact defines nation as an imagined political community imagined as both inherently limited and sovereign. Communities are to be distinguished by the style in which they are imagined[4]. For Anderson, the notion of imagined is very important. National identity is not inherent in the individual, but is formed and transformed within and in relation to representation. We only know what it is to be English because of the way Englishness has come to be represented, as a set of meanings, by English national culture. a nation is not only a political entity but something which produces meanings a system of cultural representation. People participate in the idea of the nation as represented by its national culture[5]. Anderson notes that the nation is imagined because the members of even the smallest nation will never know each of their fellow-members, meet them, or even hear of them, yet in the minds of each lives the image of their communion[6]. Finally, it is a community in that the nation is always conceived as a deep, horizontal comradeship even though there may be inequalities within it[7]. Andersons study of official nationalism identified that these national emotional attachments were threatening absolutist states (e. g. , Russia, England, and Japan) and so these regimes were required to permit the empire to appear attractive in national drag[8]. This could mean that this national drag disguised the features as imperialising mission and suppression of other nations, by figuring themselves as nations and not empires. So the absolutist state used nationalism as a tool to manage the population. We saw the state manages the population through many ways and one of the best sociological understandings of state management comes from Giddens work. Modifying Foucaults view of power he argues that through surveillance the state manages the population and economy. He believes this is a key attribute of modern states. The populace in return resists this surveillance. Table 1. 1 elaborates each category of rights that correspond to a particular dimension of surveillance including some examples. These surveillance techniques were not free from weakness. People were still to belong to something: judgments were made on biological, cultural, territorial or religious difference. These are being practiced even today. For example in order to qualify for citizenship rights people have to be a member of that particular territory. In the case of America immigrants need to pass a citizenship exam[9], which is also what the British government is looking into at the moment. Those who do not fit particular categories do not qualify for citizenship rights. However there is another concern here. What is it to be American for example? As seen in Andersons study, there is no doubt that imagined culture exists. I was born between an American father and a Japanese mother. I only hold American passport. Is being American to be half Japanese and half American? Imagined belongingness prevails also within the context of qualifying for citizenship rights. In sum the state has the power to include and exclude people from its territory and through this they can practise nationalist ideology. Category Type of surveillance Locale of resistance Example Civil Rights Surveillance as policing Judicial and punitive organisations controlling deviant conduct Law court the locale for resistance, but extends to all situations in which this type of surveillance carried out If I was wrongfully arrested then I have the opportunity to claim that I am not guilty as charged! Political Rights Surveillance as reflexive monitoring of state administrative power Parliaments the locale for resistance but extends to all situations in which this type of surveillance carried out In 1834 six farm workers from Tolpuddle, Dorset were found guilty on trumped-up charges related to their membership in a clandestine trade union. Soon, petitions pleading for mercy were pouring into Parliament. Free pardons had been granted to all six men. Economic Rights Surveillance as management of production (This surveillance is that of, for example, fordism or taylorism: a scientific management of production) Workplace the locale. Main settings for resistance are found in the mechanics of collective bargaining trade unions and employers. (The state stays out of this locale of resistance) If I am fed up with how my manager treats me I will bring this up with my trade union representative. Unison is a public worker trade union. Each organization has several representatives to give advise and pressure the right people as appropriate.

Business Email Salutations to a Group [Updated 2018]

Business Email Salutations to a Group [Updated 2018] I wrote about correct salutations for business letters and business email, prompting a few clients to ask about which salutations work well for a business email to a group. Small Group Salutations If the group is small enough – five or less – the very best salutation is to use recipients’ names. This also indicates the message is relevant for all of them. Dear Carmen, Anita, Sean, James, and Roland: Note: using Dear [title, last name] or [first name] followed by a colon is the preferred salutation for all business salutations in email for formal communication when communicating outside your company on first contact. If your subject is a more personal business issue, such as group congratulations, condolences or thanks, use Dear [title, last name] or [first name] followed by a comma. If you know your recipients very well, you are all in the same company, the subject is light, and your company culture informal, you can also use Hello or Hi [first name], followed by a comma. When in doubt about formality, opt for Dear [title, last name] or [first name] and a colon. Group Salutations to a Team If all your recipients belong to the same group, use the group name: Dear Sales Team: Dear Profile Committee: AcknowledgementGroup Salutations Sometimes, endearing or encouraging group salutations work well, but use discretion with this approach: Dear Marketing Mavens: (To a marketing group, in a message announcing a new contract, which compliments their ability and skills that earned the contract.) Dear Road Warriors: (To a sales group that had been traveling non-stop for the past month, with a message announcing the sales results. This salutation works because it sincerely acknowledges their hard work.) Dear Sales Dudes: (Be judicious using personalized group salutations. A sales rep shared this salutation with me recently, which his sales manager uses for all group messages to the sales team. He told me he â€Å"cringes† every time he sees this, which proves the importance of a good salutation. We really can lose a reader at hello.) Group Salutations for Positions If your recipients are in various positions or groups: Dear Colleagues: Dear Coworkers: Ladies: (if all the recipients are women) Gentlemen: (if all the recipients are men) Neutral, Classic Group Salutations Always Work â€Å"Greetings† as a group salutation is neutral, succinct and not too casual, so always a good choice: Greetings: Greetings All: Summer Greetings: (Suitable for a seasonal group announcement message.) For more informal business writing, these salutations are warm and engaging: Hello, everyone: Hi Team, Dear Friends:

What to Expect on College Graduation Day

What to Expect on College Graduation Day Graduation day is everything youve worked so hard for, all rolled up into one super-charged day. So how can you make sure youre able to relax and enjoy your celebration instead of just running from one chaotic situation to another? Knowing what to expect on graduation day can make sure that the memory of you have of this important milestone is one of great joy and calm instead of chaos and frustration. Expect to be challenged as you try to balance everything All of a sudden, all of your worlds are going to collide. Youll have friends you want to see and say goodbye to, youll have family in town, and youll have all kinds of logistics to work out. You will likely feel pulled in a bunch of different directions, all at once, by the people who mean the most to you. Realize that this will likely feel a little overwhelming at times and that youll just have to roll with it. Expect the administration to be busy If you think you can take care of some last-minute to-dos like talking with the financial aid office, you might be surprised to learn that graduation day is one of the worst days to try to get things done. Many offices are super busy with student and family requests at a time when theyre also expected to be involved with graduation itself. If you have things you need to get done before you graduate, plan to do so before graduation day arrives. Expect to serve as a guide for your family You may have no problem knowing where to park, where to get food, where the bathrooms are, and where all the buildings are located on campus...but your family doesnt. Expect to serve as their guide and plan accordingly, either by being available physically to show them around or by being available via cell phone. Expect not to have much time with your friends You and your friends might plan on all seeing each other, eating together, and overall hanging out, but- just like you- everyone will be pulled in a million different directions. Do your best to cram in as much time with your friends as possible before graduation day arrives. Expect a challenge when youre trying to find people Even with cell phones, campus maps, and text messages, it can be a serious challenge to find your family, especially in a large crowd. Plan in advance to meet at certain places (e.g., next to the large tree by the church) instead of out front after the graduation ceremony is over. Expect large crowds around town Even if youre graduation in a major city, the restaurants and hotels nearby will likely be crowded before, during, and after graduation. If youre hoping to go out to eat afterward, make sure you have reservations in advance. Expect to see people for only a short amount of time Aha! You finally found your sorority sister after graduation. You say hello, introduce her to your family, and then...shes disappeared among the crowd. With so much activity and so many people on campus, its likely that youll only have a few moments to cherish with those who mean the most to you. Consequently, keep your camera handy (and fully charged) so that you can capture some amazing graduation pictures before they fade away. Expect to be on your cell phone- a lot The night before graduation is not the time to forget to charge your cell phone. Your friends will be calling and texting you; youll be calling and texting your friends; your parents and/or family will also be in touch; and even your grandmother, whos 1,000 miles away, will want to call and congratulate you. Consequently, make sure your cell phone is charged and ready. Expect a lot of conflicting emotions After all youve worked for and as ready as you thought you were to graduate, graduation day can be an emotional experience. You might very well find yourself not wanting to leave while also excited, and nervous, about what the future holds. Instead of trying to ignore your emotions, just let yourself feel and process whatever the day brings. It is, after all, one of the biggest days of your life, so why shouldnt it be an emotional one, too? Expect things to run late No matter how well you, your friends, your family, and the campus administration plan, things will inevitably run late. Taking it all in stride can help make sure you still enjoy yourself, no matter how far behind schedule things seem to run. Expect the day to be one of the most memorable days of your life Think of all the hard work you put into earning your degree; think of all your family has contributed and sacrificed; think of all the ​benefits of being a college graduate, both professionally and personally. When youre old and gray and looking back on your life, your college graduation will probably be one of the memories you are most proud of. Consequently, do your best to take a few moments throughout the day to absorb everything thats going on. It can be challenging, but after all youve done to make your graduation possible, youre definitely worth the few extra moments it might take to relax and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Staffing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Staffing - Assignment Example In general, staffing can be said to include several processes such as work force forecasting, work force planning, and appropriate strategizing. Staffing is also concern with placing of existing work force; relocating and relocating people based on the company’s needs, tasks of an individual, the projects related to the activities of the company and the appropriate professional skills of a worker. The actual staffing process starts by the staffing companies taking efforts in studying the job requirements and specifications of their client. It is the role of the business to understand the organization’s culture before attempting in invitations of those candidates seeking the job, interviewing the candidates, and making follow up concerning their references and other appropriate details. The final process is presenting the job seekers who qualify the interviews and found by the staffing company to possess appropriate qualities for the job. Staffing can be permanent or temporary, with temporary staffing the group in the company involved in the process forms a co-employment relationship in combination with clients this is normally achieved through taking responsibilities for the agreed company’s issues. The permanent staffing, on the other hand, undertakes other roles, in addition to recruitment permission related, to permanent fulfillments for the positions, which are open to individuals wishing to go for the job. Providing companies with candidates are usually achieved by the staffing companies, the aspects in which the companies as provided with include direct hire basis, contract and contract to high. The thorough process of interview usually enables the appropriate solutions and processes effective. Resources for learning and understanding the business, its environment, staffing needs, products and services are usually availed by the staffing company. By working out the basic

Who came to the front Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Who came to the front - Research Paper Example And Craig strongly criticized the world of men in excluding the important role played by women during war time. Perhaps, this leads Bonney to â€Å"go forth alone† since women are perceived as weak and fragile to face the war. As a consequence, Bonney, Luce, and Craig fought the battle in two fronts: war and men. On the other side of the scale, the three women greatly differ in their approach of combating the struggle in finding the truth. For example, Bonney employed her camera to capture the images of war. Although Luce and Craig utilized pen and paper, still, they both differ in their specialty in or perception about writing. Luce sees the war-correspondent writing style merely as a â€Å"time off† in contrast to her playwright vocation. Craig, however, views the correspondent type of writing as a vocation in itself. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that Luce attempted to convince her fellow literary writers to avoid isolationism. Furthermore, the three women largely differ in their location as they struggle to get the truth. Europe is for Luce and Washington is for Craig as their participatory place of war. And Bonney’s target location is the countryside full of danger and conflict. Nevertheless, these three brave women did what they could to expose the evils of war and

Left-side Ureteric Colic Case Study

Left-side Ureteric Colic Case Study Case Study – Group B Introduction A 46 year old secretary was admitted to emergency with left-side ureteric colic. She had a similar case 3 years ago and she passed a small calculus spontaneously. She has been taking cimetidine (for the last 6 months), for dyspepsia treatment. Physical examination revealed a tenderness in the left loin. Symptoms Left-side ureteric colic. Small calculus passed spontaneously (3 years ago). Tenderness in the left loin. Medication Taken Cimetidine (last 6 months) for dyspepsia treatment. Serum Results (compared to ‘normal’) Creatinine 150 umol/L (50-110) Na+ 141mM (135-145) K+ 4.2mM (3.5-5.1) Total CO2 20nM (23-29) Urea 8.1Mm (4.0-8.2) Albumin 40g/L (35-50) Calcium 3.49mM (2.1-2.5) Phosphate 0.60mM (1.0-1.5) ALP Activity 160U/L (20-140) Results that differ from ‘normal’ levels are underlined. Suspected/Differential Diagnosis This patient has been admitted to emergency with 3 major symptoms, all of which occurred within the last 3 years (symptoms are stated above). Along with this the patient has been subscribed cimetidine for the last 6 months which is advised to not be taken when the patient is known to have kidney problems, this could potentially be increasing the problematic symptoms. The most recent symptom, to which the patient was initially admitted, is left-side ureteric colic. This is caused by movement of the calculus that produces unpleasant sensations of abdominal pain often in waves (colicky) or sometimes a constant pain, both of which will typically move until it reaches the hypochondrium (or groin area). This supports the results from the physical examination which state that there was a tenderness in the patients left loin, due to the movement of the calculus and pain from there-forth. These symptoms are most commonly developed after passing of a kidney stone, such as the small calculus that this patient passed 3 years ago. These stones can be static or moving, the latter of which can be more painful and cause more symptoms as it travels. Renal calculi are generally formed when the urine is overly saturated with minerals and salts such as calcium and others. This is supported by the patient’s blood-serum results which indicate a high amount of calcium (3.49mM) where the ideal level is around 2.1-2.5mM. Kidney stones are primarily made out of 60-80% calcium, so the excess amount found in the patient’s blood can easily result in a build-up of a calculus. In addition to the excess of calcium, there is also an excess of other substrates in the blood. One of which is creatinine which is ideally found between 50-110 umol/L but the patient contains excess of 150 umol/L. High amounts of creatinine is known to effect the ability for the kidneys to filter fluid within the body. This will lead to a build-up of certain substrates in the blood such as the calcium mentioned previously. Therefore, high amounts of creatinine can cause a ‘domino effect’ where high amounts of creatinine = high amounts of other substrates, this could cause major problems in the body if not treated immediately. Also within the results of the patient’s blood-serum test is the abnormality of low amounts of CO2 (20nM) known as hypocapnia, this is can be used to indicate that the patient may be beginning to show signs of kidney failure. Similarly, low amounts of phosphate are shown (0.60mM), this is also an indication of kidney failure due to inadequate filtration of substrates by the kidney to be excreted as urine. The parathyroid hormone (PTH) regulates the amount of phosphate and calcium in the blood, typically the substrates react oppositely: as phosphate increases, calcium will decrease. Due to there being a great excess in calcium the PTH hormone reacts to decrease the amount of phosphate in the blood serum. Finally, as phosphate is used to repair bones, help the function of nerves and muscle contraction, low amounts of it can cause a severe problem in the patient. This links into the high amounts of ALP activity that are found in this patient’s blood-serum at 160U/L which can be caused by stones such as the small calculus being obstructive. This can lead to problems with bones, which being linked to low amounts of phosphate also, could cause severe problems in the patient and even bone cancer. However, high amounts of ALP have been found in women in the third trimester of pregnancy, which could be the case with this patient, but this is currently unknown. Further Tests to confirm the diagnosis Urine examination can be used to find if there is any blood in the patient’s urine (haematuria) which often occurs after passing a stone. Also the pH of the urine can be examined to indicate either the urine is ‘normal’, acidic (8.0) indicating that an infection could be present from organisms such as Proteus or Pseudomonas. As well as this, the urinalysis can show substrate crystals such as calcium oxalate- quite likely due to excess calcium in the patient. Imaging (X-ray, Ultrasound etc.) Firstly, KUB x-rays can be used to show abnormalities in the kidneys, ureters or bladders, these are indicated by dark shadows in the renal-tract but can be mistaken for phleboliths which is venous and not a form of calculus. Ultrasounds are easy and quick and does not use any form of radiation, this method will indicate stones that are of 0.5cm in diameter or larger. Next, Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) provides a clear outline of the urinary tract system and shows-up many indicators of kidney problems such as mild hydronephrosis, however this test can cause unwanted reactions in the patient that are best avoided. Finally, a test for the PTH hormone can be undertaken with the calcium, phosphate and ALP blood tests. This will help to identify hyperparathyroidism, which is a hyperactivity of the hormone, as well as finding the cause for the high amounts of calcium in this patient. Treatments and Prognosis The patient that is suffering from left-side ureteric colic, small calculi and tenderness in the left loin should drink plenty of liquids, primarily water. This will encourage any further renal stones to be passed and it will also begin to reduce any possible damage to the functionality of urinary/renal tracts. If there are further stones found in the patient (possible due to high calcium amongst other substrate fluctuations) then with liquids they should pass spontaneously, unless they are large in-which they will need specific removal that could involve surgery. Spontaneous movement and passing of stones may take as long as 40 day so the patient is likely to be under a lot of pain that is often compared to being worse than child birth, therefore pain killers such as paracetamol at a standard dosage of 1 or 2 tablets up to 4 times a day for an adult such as this patient, may be required to alleviate the pain. If by taking further tests, such as the urinary examination, it is found that the patient is suffering from an infection (pyonephrosis) then treatment is required such as percutaneous nephrostomy. This is usually an emergency procedure that is used to relieve an obstructed and infected renal collecting system by percutaneous puncture with ultrasound guidance. Also, Medical Expulsive Therapies can be used such as calcium antagonists. These work by blocking the calcium ion channels to supress the fast component for contracting the ureter, this in turn will help relax the smooth muscles and help stones to pass more easily. Overall, the patient is likely to be in a lot of pain for some time, therefore, strong painkillers will be required and if in the case of infections then antibiotics could also be necessary to overcome the patient’s symptoms and to finally be cured. References Clinical chemistry-Marshall, William J.,Bangert, S. K.,Lapsley, Marta2012. Referenced 05.01.14 Clinical biochemistry: an Illustrated Colour Text-Gaw, Allan, eauthor2013. Referenced 05.01.14 Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Normal Values. Referenced 05.01.14 [royalcollege.ca] Salman S, Castilla C, Vela N R. Action of calcium antagonists on ureteral dynamics.Actas Urol Esp1989. [PubMed] Referenced 05.01.14 Freeman SJ, Sells H, Investigation of loin pain, Imaging (2005) 17, 19-33, British Journal of Radiology. Referenced 05.01.14 Miller OF, Kane CJ; Time to stone passage for observed ureteral calculi: a guide for patient education. J Urol. 1999. Referenced 05.01.14 Amiel J, Choong S; Renal stone disease: the urological perspective. Nephron Clin Pract. 2004. Referenced 05.01.14

Love and Loneliness using Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami Essay

Humans are probably the greediest animals that have walked on the face of earth. There is always a want to achieve something greater than what one has. This might be a positive force on one hand, but on the other it can leave someone completely unsatisfied and unhappy with their life. One of the things out of the many which humans strive to look for in their life is love. Love, a recurring theme in novels, movies, music, poetry, drama and what not, is hard to escape from. Whether it is motherly, friendly or romantic love, we all have experienced it at some point in our lives. But does love actually exist? If we look at this question from Haruki Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart’s point of view, the answer would be no. Even though love is a major part of the book, there is not a single moment where two people are in love with each other. All the characters of the book have had some experience with love, but in the end all of them are managing their own lives all by themselves. The book strongly hints the nonexistence of love and the loneliness caused by it. The best way to know as to what exactly love is, is to look inside our own self. If we claim to â€Å"feel† it, something must be going on inside our bodies to give us that sense of falling or being in love. Firstly, â€Å"it’s your brain, not your heart, that falls in love† (Myers’, 51). It is evident from many scientific and psychological experiments that â€Å"human romantic love is associated with dopaminergic pathways in the brain† (Fisher, Aron, Brown, 2175). So when Sumire, a lesbian in the book Sputnik Sweetheart, â€Å"fell in love, as if she was crossing a field when bang! a bolt of lightning zapped her right in the head,† the real culprits were something known as neurotransmitters and hormones which are, in simple words, chemicals in our body that control us (Murakami, 9). Sumire was in the â€Å"lust phase† and most probably under the influence of the hormones called testosterone and oestrogen. â€Å"These hormones  as Helen Fisher says ‘get you out looking for anything’† (â€Å"The Science of Love†). The second phase or the â€Å"truly love struck phase† is seen in the book when Sumire cannot escape from the thoughts of Miu (â€Å"The science of love†). â€Å"That’s the ballpoint pen she uses; the mug she drinks coffee from† (Murakami, 50). One cannot blame Sumire for being so sappy as she has no control over the dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels in her body. These chemicals are responsible for the â€Å"cloud-nine feeling†, and the loss of appetite, sleep and concentration when one is in love. This is seen in Sumire’s case too when every single time she sat down to start writing something â€Å"no matter how much she stared at the screen, not a single sentence came to her† (Murakami, 36). Heart racing, flushed cheeks, butterflies in the stomach, these all the signs of being in â€Å"love†, but it is not love, it is just chemicals in our bodies making us feel that way. Very closely tied to the brain is our mental psych and genetic makeup and it can help explain the complex topic of love well. The main objective of animals and plants on this earth is to make more of their kind so that their genes are passed on, have a better chance of surviving in the future, and can compete against others genes. Like any other animal, humans are predisposed to this kind of behaviour too. In Sputnik Sweetheart K, the narrator and Sumire’s best friend, is in love with Sumire who is a lesbian and hence cannot reciprocate his love. Even though K knows Sumire is the one he has true feelings for, his body seeks sex. This makes him â€Å"sleep around† with other women on a daily basis. Though â€Å"these little flings never aroused much passion in [him]; they were, at most a kind of comfort† for his body (Murakami, 64). According to the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, sex is considered as important as air, sleep, food and shelter (Myers’, 331). It is one of the basic needs in life regardless of any emotional connection to the other person. Also, all the women who K had physical relationships with were â€Å"older and either were married or had fiancà ©s or steady boyfriends†. Psychology can explain even this as â€Å"men are most attracted to women who were at ages associated with peak fertility and thus teen boys are most excited by a woman several years older than themselves.† (Myers’, 106). When it comes to attraction every small factor like skin, smell and body shape play a huge role in deciding whether a woman is good to mate with or not (Myers’, 106). All these behaviours are a result of a phenomenon known as  natural selection where â€Å"nature selects behaviours that increase the likelihood of sending one’s gene into the future† (Myers’, 106). So in the end, it is not us who get to decide who we will pair up with and have children with, but it is our genes that get to choose. How can love exist when we do not even get to choose the person we get attracted to? After looking at the scientific explanations of love, it is important to know how philosophy describes it to get an overall idea of what love is. Kierkegaard, an existentialist philosopher believes only â€Å"Christian love† is true and â€Å"all other love, whether humanly speaking it withers early and is altered or lovingly preserves itself for a round of time—such love is still transient; it merely blossoms. This is precisely its weakness and tragedy, whether it blossoms for an hour or for seventy years—it merely blossoms.† (25). There is no sense of any kind of God in the book Sputnik Sweetheart, so there is no possibility of â€Å"Christian love† which Kierkegaard seems to support. The only kind of love seen in the book is either friendly or erotic love. But what he said about other kind of love, like Eros, seems to be very true since there is not a single moment where two people truly love each other and show it; the love people have for each other never really â€Å"blossoms†. Kierkegaard in his â€Å"Work of love† clearly states that there is no love if it bears no fruit and in the book, there is no â€Å"fruit†, only loneliness which can be considered as the opposite of something fruitful (28). When Miu rejects Sumires love, Sumire disappears from everyone’s lives, which was very painful for K as well as Miu. And when she comes back to K she admits how she feels and says â€Å"I think I cut something’s throat†. One cannot say if she meant it literally or not, but even if she said it metaphorically, she must feel extremely dreadful to say something like that. Secondly, love makes one completely dependent on someone else. When Sumire leaves everyone without any proper explanation K admits, â€Å"She [Sumire] helped me forget the undertone of loneliness in my life†. His love for Sumire is making him completely dependent when throughout the book it is shown how much she who is dependent on him. Love has turned the tables for him and now he is the one who is weak and vulnerable. And anyway, there is no point of loving someone if it keeps making one feel more and more alone. It is impossible to see the good part love plays as there is none. And as Kierkegaard said, love does not exist if it does not bear any fruits. If one was asked to  summarise the story line of Sputnik Sweetheart it would be something like this; K, the narrator, loves Sumire, but Sumire realises she is lesbian when she falls for Miu, a married woman 17 years elder to Sumire, and hence she cannot love K back. But due to an extraordinary incident, Miu has lost all sexual desires and so cannot reciprocate Sumire’s love. So after disappearing â€Å"like smoke† for a few days, Sumire comes back to K to give their love a try even though she knows she is a lesbian (Murakami, 103). It is easy to pick out that there is a constant search for love in Sumire’s life. â€Å"In the spring of her twenty-second year, Sumire fell in love for the first time in her life.† (Murakami, 5). Even though â€Å"in high school she had a few boyfriends, guys she’d go to the cinema with, go swimming with†, she took 22 years long to find the â€Å"right person† to fall in love with, and when she finally did, it was someone she could not get (Murakami, 11). If it was something other than love, one would have long given up on it. It is called learned helplessness in psychology. But, Sumire did not stop from trying to find love all over again and she came back to K. Love clearly seems to be a purpose in life for some people. But what is the purpose of life? There is a point in the book where K realises and says, â€Å"I’d have to survive on my own.† (Murakami, 187) However much we, as humans, feel that we are living for a purpose and there are people who care and love, the truth is that we are all by ourselves. K realises it, even though it is quite far into the book, but he does in, and in a rather painful way. Sputnik Sweetheart, the name of the book itself, suggests loneliness as it refers to Sputnik II, the Soviet satellite which was launched into space with the dog Laika, the first living being to go into space which died barking of hunger. It gives a picture of â€Å"the dark, lustrous eyes of the dog gazing out of the tiny window† into the empty space all alone (Murakami, 10). What is it about love that makes humans so desperate for it? Biology and psychology clearly explain that it is just how our bodies are made and how the animal kingdom functions. Also, according to Kierkegaard, erotic, romantic, friendly or philia love is just temporary and never develops fully. It is also seen that being in love never has a positive outcome and from what Kierkegaard said love does not exist if it does not produce something useful. So why is it that we keep seeking love? Are we just lonely  and anxious to find something more than life itself? Is it that we are lonely and by ourselves in this world, and hence cannot love, or is it that we cannot love that is why we are lonely? Either way, there is no love, but only loneliness. Work Cited â€Å"The Science of Love.† BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 14 May 2013. Myers, David G. Myers’ Psychology for AP. New York, NY: Worth, 2011. Print. Helen E. Fisher, Arthur Aron and Lucy L. Brown Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences , Vol. 361, No. 1476, The Neurobiology of Social Recognition, Attraction and Bonding (Dec. 29, 2006), pp. 2173-2186