Descartes Overall Objective In The Meditations Is To Question Knowledg

Descartes overall objective in the Meditations is to question knowledge. To explore such issues as the existence of God and the separation of mind and body, it was important for him to distinguish what we can know as truth. He believed that reason as opposed to experience was the source for discovering what is of absolute certainty. The first meditation acts as a foundation for all those that follow. Here Descartes discerns between mere opinion and strict absolute certainty. To make this consideration he establishes that he must first attack those principles which supported everything I once believed. He first examines those beliefs that require our senses. He questions, whether our senses are true indicators of what they represent. By inspecting our sometimes firm belief in the reality of dreams, he comes to the conclusion that our senses are prone to error and thereby cannot reliably distinguish between certainty and falsity. To examine those ideas that have objective reality, Descartes makes the improbable hypothesis of an evil genius, as clever and deceitful as he is powerful, who has directed his entire effort to misleading me. By proposing this solution he is able to suspend his judgment and maintain that all his former beliefs are false. By using doubt as his tool, Descartes is now ready to build his foll owing proofs with certainty. In Meditation two, Descartes embarks on his journey of truth. Attempting to affirm the idea that God must exist as a fabricator for his ideas, he stumbles on his first validity: the notion that he exists. He ascertains that if he can both persuade himself of something, and likewise be deceived of something, then surely he must exist. This self validating statement is known as the Cogito Argument. Simply put it implies whatever thinks exists. Having established this, Descartes asks himself: What is this I which necessarily exists? Descartes now begins to explore his inner consciousness to find the essence of his being. He disputes that he is a rational animal for this idea is difficult to understand. He scrutinizes whether perhaps he is a body infused with a soul but this idea is dismissed since he cannot be certain of concepts that are of the material world. Eventually he focuses on the act of thinking and from this he posits: I am a thing that thinks A thing that doubts, understands , affirms, denies, wills, refuses, and that also imagines and senses. To prove that perception on the part of the mind is more real than that of the senses Descartes asks us to consider a piece of wax. Fresh from the comb the qualities we attribute to the wax are those derived from the senses. Melted, the qualities that we attribute to the wax are altered and can only be known to the intellect. Descartes demonstrates how the information from the senses gives us only the observable, it is the mind that allows us to understand. The results of the second meditation are considerable, doubt has both proven the certainty of Descartes existence and that his essence is the mind. Descartes having proven that God exists must now make some clarifications concerning why God is no deceiver. The main question that needs clarification is this: If God is no deceiver then why do we err? Descartes answers that we are prone to make mistakes because our wills are infinite but our intellect is not. The will gives us the faculties of assertion, denial and suspension of judgment. The intellect allows us to perceive things clearly and distinctly. Like God we have an infinite will, but we are imperfect because are understanding is finite. Descartes concludes that because we are free we are responsible for our errors. It is possible however, that if we use our faculties properly we will not assent false judgments. Confident that God has created us such that if we perceive things clearly and distinctly our reasoning will not be wrong; Descartes is now free to explore the possibilities of material things and the mind body relationship. In the fifth meditation the essence of material things is considered. Before he begins with material considerations however, Descartes feels it necessary to offer another proof for the existence of God. Since

Free Essays on IQ And Race

Race has always been a factor in discussing the results of standardized tests. Research proves that cultural and environmental factors, rather than genetic make-up, account for African American’s lower scores on intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. To better understand how race and IQ cause controversy in the United States, it is beneficial to trace the history of the influence of the IQ test in America. General intelligence and IQ tests have often been presented as having a racist element. Since slavery, it is assumed that African Americans were only capable of being slaves. This is illustrated in the terms that slaves were not permitted to receive formal education. They did not have educational resources or the opportunity to learn on the same level as other races. This racist act in history is a perfect example of the belief . 2 that intelligence, and the availability to become intelligent, were only for a certain group of people. Obviously, African Americans and minorities are not one of those groups. In the late 1800s, Sir Francis Galton, the cousin of Charles Darwin, came up with many conclusions, summaries, and racially based ideas. Galton states that the white race is the one and only superior race when it comes to intelligence. He also states that " intelligence was the most valuable human attribute, and that people who had a lot of it could be identified and put into leadership positions" (Lemann 115). Galton's thought’s have had an effect on the decisions of other voices in society, including the creators of IQ test. (Heredity 1). In 1905, a French psychologist by the name of Alfred Binet, created the first test of standardized human intelligence. Binet's intended to properly identify students who needed special educational assistance. He was not trying to correlate IQ scores with theories of intelligence or sort out the mentally gifted. (Green and Green 2). Little did he know that in the yea... Free Essays on IQ And Race Free Essays on IQ And Race Race has always been a factor in discussing the results of standardized tests. Research proves that cultural and environmental factors, rather than genetic make-up, account for African American’s lower scores on intelligence quotient (IQ) tests. To better understand how race and IQ cause controversy in the United States, it is beneficial to trace the history of the influence of the IQ test in America. General intelligence and IQ tests have often been presented as having a racist element. Since slavery, it is assumed that African Americans were only capable of being slaves. This is illustrated in the terms that slaves were not permitted to receive formal education. They did not have educational resources or the opportunity to learn on the same level as other races. This racist act in history is a perfect example of the belief . 2 that intelligence, and the availability to become intelligent, were only for a certain group of people. Obviously, African Americans and minorities are not one of those groups. In the late 1800s, Sir Francis Galton, the cousin of Charles Darwin, came up with many conclusions, summaries, and racially based ideas. Galton states that the white race is the one and only superior race when it comes to intelligence. He also states that " intelligence was the most valuable human attribute, and that people who had a lot of it could be identified and put into leadership positions" (Lemann 115). Galton's thought’s have had an effect on the decisions of other voices in society, including the creators of IQ test. (Heredity 1). In 1905, a French psychologist by the name of Alfred Binet, created the first test of standardized human intelligence. Binet's intended to properly identify students who needed special educational assistance. He was not trying to correlate IQ scores with theories of intelligence or sort out the mentally gifted. (Green and Green 2). Little did he know that in the yea...

Anthropology En Route Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Anthropology En Route - Essay Example Spaces like the university are therefore designed to accommodate the needs of the local population accordingly. The university appears to be a conglomerate of literally thousands of students from different cultures, religions and countries. I see students discussing things while they are walking through the corridors of the university. The expressions include a multitude of media through which communication takes effect. From the use of hand gestures and body language to the application of modern technologies like cell phones and internet – communication is an ongoing process during any interaction between students and their teachers. The university spaces are of special interest to me. It appears that the floor plan of the university is based on the concept of specialization and specialized areas dedicated to the expected activities that go on in institutions like this are indicative of the fact that much foreseeing has been going on when it was designed. Dedicated areas for teaching, meetings, presentations, dining, libraries, media library, play grounds and examination halls are all reflective of the diverse needs of humans to achieve the objective of education. A very important part of the university is its students. Keeping in view the federal nature of our university it is apparent why it attracts so many foreign students. For me the most interesting phenomenon is the mode of communication that exists between these foreign students. Whenever I see them talking, there is a lot that their body language and gestures express; as compared to their words. Though English is the medium to connect them; yet their level of expertise of the language alters the way they react and reciprocate to each other's messages. Details Of all the objects observed, two objects that appeal to me include; The communication between students who speak different languages; and University as a space of education and its operation Communication is a vital part of our day-to-day interactions. Generally considered to be divided into the verbal and non-verbal forms; there are a number of other attributes which do not follow the normal communicative patterns. Of my interest is the communication between students of different cultures and how they perceive each other's thoughts. It is quite often evident that whenever two student with different languages start to interact, the start often includes gestures which are indicative of greetings. Japanese students on our campus would bend forward during the start of communication, Chinese would shake their head a little while bending a bit, Asians would either shake hand like the Westerners or avoid shaking hands if those who are meeting are of opposite sexes etc. If they happen to be from different countries, the most prominent observation is that linguistic clues are replaced by hand gestures or body movements. The choice of words becomes a challenge to express the concept in its simplest form. It is very common tha t under such circumstances, both the parties start to speak simultaneously, expecting the other to listen or at least understand what is being explained by hand movements. The concept of directions is often expressed by

Ethical issues in Financier by Theodore Dreiser Essay

Ethical issues in Financier by Theodore Dreiser - Essay Example He went to friends of his at the Century Company and proposed they commission Dreiser to write for the Century Magazine three articles on Europe which might eventually be expanded into book length, and at the same time he directed Dreiser to ask Harper's for an advance on The Financier. The result was that on November 18 Century sent Dreiser a check for a thousand dollars for three articles and the option on any book he might write about his trip, and Harper's, upon his depositing with them the first part of his manuscript, agreed to advance him two thousand dollars on The Financier and five hundred dollars against the earnings of Jennie Gerhardt. In addition Harper's prepared to reissue Sister Carrie. When Richards suggested to Dreiser that even the Nobel Prize was now within his grasp, Dreiser re gained his confidence and on November 22 sailed with Richards on the Mauretania, explaining to an interviewer before embarking that in his new novel "I'm doing the man as I see him. . . . And when I get through with him he'll stand there, unidealized and uncursed, for you . . . to take and judge according to your own lights and blindnesses and attitudes toward life." In this spirit he was seeking to observe the "color of life." (Markle 10) Yet, baseless as Dreiser's worries mig... He remembered all the writing that he wished to do, wrote Mencken asking whether he would read the manuscript of The Financier, and although Richards tried to persuade him to visit the Hardy country, decided early in April that he must take the first available ship back to America. This ship happened to be the Titanic, but since it was on its maiden voyage, Richards thought it might be uncomfortable and preferred to secure Dreiser passage on the Kroonland, which arrived in New York at the end of the month, when Dreiser began at once completing The Financier. Dreiser wanted to call his whole trilogy The Financier, and the first volume simply "Volume One," but Harper's insisted that was commercially inadvisable. Dreiser wanted to shorten his novel so that it would not run to 800 pages, but Harper's was giving him no time to make adequate cuts. Mencken, however, was abroad when Dreiser returned from Europe, and it was not until May 7 that Dreiser could write to him from New York: "Lord[,] I'm glad to know you[']r[e] back. . . . I wish I could talk to you. I have a whole raft of things to discuss not the least of which is the present plan of publishing this book in 3 volumes -- 1 volume every 6 months. . . . For heaven sake keep in touch with me by mail for I'm rather lonely & I have to work like the devil." Mencken did keep in touch, and while during the summer Jug returned in what was the final attempt to solve the problem of loneliness, Mencken encouraged him in his work, read galleys, suggested the excision of irrelevant details and the expansion of certain incidents, and assured him: "You have described and accounted for and interpreted Cowperwood almost perfectly.

Evaluating a Website for Credibility Guidelines with Scoring Rubric Assignment

Evaluating a Website for Credibility Guidelines with Scoring Rubric - Assignment Example The website is quite simple to access because it only requires individuals to type the name of the government website in order to access (GOV.UK, 2014). In order to gain full entry right to access the website, the websites only require that an individual only type gov.UK as the search engine when accessing the website. The website being owned by the government, it provides reliable information of health that the citizens can apply in the daily activities whenever they develop symptoms that persist for quite some time. In this regard, the website endow with information to its citizens regarding the public health, social care, National Health Service, and public and emergency. The government web address is provided as: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health. In the same context, the link provides an easy path when an individual’s access the website. This website is under the UK government, and this plays the role of ensuring that information regarding health matters is well-handled (GOV.UK, 2014). In addition, the website offers information relating to the public health; giving tips on staying healthy and shielding them against threats to their health. In the same context, the website offers information regarding social care; a few individuals require extra care and support which the government provides the tips on how to handle such issues. It is made quite easy to get the information of national service; this is because it is the command requirement to deliver to the people better results. The government owes the citizens the duty to offer quality public safety and emergency, funding and support for the local emergency service such as the police, fire, and ambulance service information is offered in the government website (GOV.UK, 2014). Content on the internet is unfettered, and anyone is allowed to

Leadership Styles and Management in Mental Health Care

Leadership Styles and Management in Mental Health Care Leadership Styles and Management Discuss the impact of transformational and transactional leadership styles on the management of violence and aggression within UK regional maximum security forensic mental health hospital. Incorporating organisation structure, change management, multidisciplinary working, staff motivation and retention, legal and ethical implications for nursing practice. Executive Summary: In this essay we discuss the transformational and transactional leadership styles in the management of violence and crisis situations within the clinical setting and in mental health units. We begin our discussion with studies on the need for disaster management teams and structured command system within hospitals to help ensure that patients receive proper care when needed. We then briefly discuss the differences of transformational and transactional leadership styles and suggest that both personality patterns and attitudes towards these styles determine care and change management within the hospitals. Struggling with your nursing essay(s)? Did you know that we can help you with your leadership styles and management and any other nursing essays? We can help you! Place an order with us and youll get: An exact, 100% original answer to your essay question From a graduate writer, qualified in your subject area Delivered confidentially by email, in 3 hours 10 days (you choose) Stop struggling and get the help you need from the UK’s favourite student support company, right now. Introduction: Leadership styles within the nursing practice can be evaluated by understanding the relationship between management and planning, change operations and organisation structure. As Zane and Prestipino (2004) point out, hospital disaster manuals and response plans lack formal command structure in most cases and the hospital authorities rely on the presence of certain individuals who are familiar with hospital operations or hold leadership positions and abilities during the routine operations and management of the hospital. Management of emergency situations, especially in case of mental health patients who are prone to violence requires the expertise of a disaster management team. However such leadership patterns in which the hospital does not have a formal command structure may be unreliable and during critical conditions, the relying on a few individuals may be inadequate as the concerned persons may not be available at all times and even for prolonged events of crisis, this is not a feasible option or proper management. The Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS) is a command structure and a method suggested that provides a structured pattern of leadership which does not have to rely on specific individuals for crisis management (such as inpatient violence, or serious injury) and is more flexible and can be applied in all kinds of services such as fire services, emergency medical services, military, police agencies and improves ease of communication among professionals during crisis periods. The study by Zane and Prestipino give a descriptive report of the implementation of the HEICS in a healthcare network and recommends that since this tool pro vides a complete command structure for hospitals and by being a common tool for management can enable validity, reliability of the system as well as consistency and commonality with other hospitals ad disaster response teams. Considering the necessities of a disaster response team and the need for effective leadership styles of management of crises situations, in this essay we would discuss the various styles of leadership and how this relates to change management, nursing practice, and the quality of care during emergency and normal conditions . Several issues are considered here along with examples from evidential studies and clinical research. Leadership Styles in Clinical Management Our discussion will revolve around two forms of leadership patterns mainly the transactional and the transformational styles of leadership. The differences between transactional and transformational leadership styles were first given by Weber (1947, in Turner, 1998) who suggested that transactional leadership is based on control on the basis of knowledge and hierarchical power and transactional leaders aim to negotiate and bargain to achieve higher efficiency. In case of transformational leadership, the leader is a charismatic personality who seeks to change or transform ordinary people with his qualities and seeks to change ways of thinking by using novel ideas within the organisation. Hendel et al(2005)examined the relationship between leadership styles and the choice of strategy in conflict management among nurse managers. The study identified conflict mode choices of head nurses in general hospitals as nurses deal with conflicts on a daily basis and have to implement effective choice of conflict management mode to deal with the complicated situations. The authors point out that the choice of conflict management mode is largely associated with managerial effectiveness of the nurses. It is largely understood that the ability to manage conflict situations creatively to result in constructive and effective outcomes is a standard requirement in nursing practice. For the purposes of the study, the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, the Multi-factor Leadership Questionnaire, Form 5X-Short (MLQ 5X) and demographic data were used. 60 head nurses were selected for the study and the results indicated that most head nurses perceived themselves as transformational lead ers in the clinical setting rather than transactional leaders. The most common conflict management strategy was an emphasis on compromise and more than half of the nurses studied admitted to using only one mode of conflict management. Transformational leadership was found to be more popular and widely used than transactional style of leadership and the style of leadership also affected the conflict strategy selected. In case of mental health and psychiatric patients, conflict management and management of violent behaviours in patients are the major challenges. Thus the study mainly argued that conflict handling mode in head nurses is largely associated with the style of leadership and the overall conflict management approach that was based on compromise. Katz and Kirkland (1990) point out that violent behaviour in mental hospital wards is widespread although there may be differences in incidence and distribution. Their study suggested that are varying patterns to show the relation between staff behaviour, management styles, social organisation of the unit and the levels of violence. The study suggests conclusively that, violence is a symptom of disorder not only in the biological and psychological field but also in the socio-cultural field'(p.262). Violent behaviours in patients were found to be more frequent in wards where staff functions were unclear, where there were no predictable staff-meeting interaction or which had slackened or unstructured leadership or management approach. The role of personality in transactional and transformational leadership has been examined by Bono and Judge (2004). Their study was based on meta-analysis of the relationship between personality and ratings on transformational and transactional leadership behaviours. The five factor model was used in the study and personality traits were related to 3 dimensions of transformational leadership namely idealized influence-inspirational motivation or charisma, intellectual stimulation, and individualised consideration and also to the 3 dimensions of transactional leadership namely contingent reward, management by exception-active and passive leadership. Extraversion as a major personality trait has been found to be the most consistent correlate of transformational leadership and even charisma was closely related to this style of leadership. There is a growing need to understand the subtle personality traits and how these relate to the unobvious characteristics and determinants of transfo rmational and transactional styles of leadership. In an earlier study, Judge and Bono (2000) have linked the personality traits from five factor model with that of transformational leadership patterns and behaviours. The personality traits of Extraversion, Agreeableness and Openness to Experience have been found to predict transformational leadership and are traits that are closely related to this particular leadership style. Neuroticism and Conscientiousness were found to be unrelated to transformational leadership behaviours. Judge and Bono further stated that transformational leadership behavior predicted a number of outcomes reflecting leader effectiveness, controlling for the effect of transactional leadership (2000,p.751). Leadership styles also affect performance and not just personality patterns and behaviours. The overall performance of a unit has been critically examined by Bass et al (2003) assessing both transformational and transactional leadership styles. The authors ask how leadership styles and ratings from operating units can predict the subsequent performance of these units that operate under high stress and even considerable uncertainty. In this study, the predictive relationships for transformational and transactional leadership styles for ratings of unit potency, cohesion and performance levels were calculated. The results indicated that both the leadership styles positively predicted unit performance suggesting that transactional and transformational styles of leadership may be both effective for improving performance of an entire nursing or clinical unit. Some studies have suggested that staff retention and job satisfaction are closely associated with transformational leadership styles (Kleinman, 2004). Prenkert and Ehnfors (1997) measured organisational effectiveness in relation to transactional and transformational leadership in nursing management. The relative influences of transactional (TA) and transformational (TF) styles of leadership on organisational effectiveness (OE) was measured as the degree of goal attainment and reflected on the quality of nursing care (NQ) provided. The study used interviews of head nurses and the Leadership Nursing-Effectiveness Questionnaire (LNEQ) was also used. The result indicated that TA and TF leadership styles had low or significant connection with the organisational effectiveness at a hospital and the study did not support the perceived understanding that organisations and clinical settings exposed to higher levels of transformational or transaction leadership behaviours show better organisational effectiveness. Conclusion: In this study we discussed various approaches to transformational and transactional leadership styles and behaviours and in the course of the discussion we showed the different views and perceptions on leadership styles. In general most of the studies discussed here suggest that transformational leadership is preferred and is the more positive form of leadership as it emphasises on individual power and charisma to change the surroundings and the situation. Transactional leadership on the other hand is comparatively easier form of leadership as it is not dependent on any unique personality pattern but is largely dependent on how an individual uses the situations to bring out efficient and positive consequences. However as Bonos studies suggest both the leadership styles may be equally related to personality patterns with openness and agreeableness being important traits of a transformational leader. Most studies discussed here seems to point out that leadership styles are closely rela ted to change management, quality of care, work relations, job satisfaction and overall nursing practice. This is also true in all other areas and services, including mental health wards where violence management of patients is a major challenge for head nurses. There are however few exceptional studies examined here that seem to argue that organisational effectiveness have little, no or uncertain relationship with leadership styles. Recommendations: Following the discussions and evidential studies above, we suggest several moves for better services and improvement of leadership behaviours in the clinical settings keeping in mind the ethical implications. These can be given as follows: 1. Conducting interviews, using surveys and questionnaires to understand nurse attitudes and perceptions towards leadership styles 2. Performing personality tests to identify traits correlating with the different leadership styles to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the workforce 3. Having transformational and transactional leadership style training, education and analysis to make nursing staff suitable for handling crisis situations especially in mental health units 4. Increasing awareness on leadership styles among and showing the importance or use of each leadership behaviour during crisis in hospitals and psychiatric wards 5. Forming a disaster management team or emergency team that will be well informed of leadership styles and relative characteristics or advantages of each Bibliography Zane RD, Prestipino AL.   Implementing the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System: an integrated delivery systems experience. Prehospital Disaster Med. 2004 Oct-Dec;19(4):311-7. Dutton JE, Frost PJ, Worline MC, Lilius JM, Kanov JM Leading in times of trauma. Harv Bus Rev. 2002 Jan;80(1):54-61, 125. Arnetz BB Psychosocial challenges facing physicians of today. Soc Sci Med. 2001 Jan;52(2):203-13. Review. Gilbert T. Nursing: empowerment and the problem of power. J Adv Nurs. 1995 May;21(5):865-71. Review. Kootte AF Psychosocial response to disaster: the attacks on the Stark and the Cole. Med Confl Surviv. 2002 Jan-Mar;18(1):44-58. Franco H, Galanter M, Castaneda R, Patterson J. Combining behavioral and self-help approaches in the inpatient management of dually diagnosed patients. J Subst Abuse Treat. 1995 May-Jun;12(3):227-32. Katz P, Kirkland FR. Violence and social structure on mental hospital wards. Psychiatry. 1990 Aug;53(3):262-77. Hendel T, Fish M, Galon V. Leadership style and choice of strategy in conflict management among Israeli nurse managers in general hospitals. J Nurs Manag. 2005 Mar;13(2):137-46. Judge TA, Piccolo RF Transformational and transactional leadership: a meta-analytic test of their relative validity. J Appl Psychol. 2004 Oct;89(5):755-68. Bono JE, Judge TA Personality and transformational and transactional leadership: a meta-analysis. J Appl Psychol. 2004 Oct;89(5):901-10. Bass BM, Avolio BJ, JungDI, Berson Y Predicting unit performance by assessing transformational and transactional leadership. J Appl Psychol. 2003 Apr;88(2):207-18. Stordeur S, DHoore W, Vanderberghe C. Leadership, organizational stress, and emotional exhaustion among hospital nursing staff. J Adv Nurs. 2001 Aug;35(4):533-42. Laurent CL A nursing theory for nursing leadership. J Nurs Manag. 2000 Mar;8(2):83-7. Judge TA, Bono JE Five-factor model of personality and transformational leadership. J Appl Psychol. 2000 Oct;85(5):751-65. Kleinman C The relationship between managerial leadership behaviors and staff nurse retention. Hosp Top. 2004 Fall;82(4):2-9. Dunham J, Klafehn KA. Transformational leadership and the nurse executive. J Nurs Adm. 1990 Apr;20(4):28-34. The Cambridge Companion to Weber ~Stephen Turner (Editor) Cambridge University Press Paperback June 3, 1998

Mental Illness :: essays research papers

The name The name of my book is Mental Illness by Gilda Berger. Mental illness is a disorder characterized by disturbances in a person’s thoughts, emotions, or behavior. The term mental illness can refer to a wide variety of disorders, ranging from those that cause mild distress to those that severely impair a person’s ability to function. Today, mental illness is considered to range from such ideas as eating disorders to personality disorders.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mental illnesses have been reported as far back as to 4000-5000 years ago. The reason scientists believe that mental illness has existed this long is due to anthropologists finding skulls with holes gashed in them. These skulls look very similar to skulls that have had the process of trepanning performed on them. The process of trepanning is simply the surgical procedure of creating a hole in the skull. Scientists believe that this procedure was done in order to let out the evil spirits which doctors thought possessed the mentally ill of this time. The literature of ancient Greece also contains evidence of the belief that evil spirits or demons controlled the mentally ill. Not only the Greeks believed in the evil spirit theory, writings from the early Babylonian, Egyptian, and Chinese civilizations have also shown evidence that mental illness was believed to be a possession by demons-using beatings, restraint, and starvation to try to drive out the evil spirits.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These beliefs somewhat cooled down as time continued to move on, but once again popped up as America was starting to be formed. In 1692 and 1693 the Salem witchcraft trials began. At this point in time mental illness was suggested to be associated with the devil, so those with mental illnesses were thought to be witches. Those who were thought to be witches were given unfair trials and quick death penalties. Many innocent people who simply had a mental disorder were burned at the stake because of the lack of knowledge about this natural disorder. As time moved on, people saw that the mentally ill were not possessed, but that they were simply sick. Rather than kill all of the mentally ill, society decided it would be better to lock them away in a place that would be safe for them which was away from other people. One of the first and most notorious institutions was Bethlehem Hospital. Although Bedlam was founded on high principles it was soon noted as being wild, crowded, noisy, and filthy.