Thursday, December 26, 2019

John Updikes AP Essay - 1355 Words

Winners Sometimes Quit Try and remember what it was like to be a teenager. The short story â€Å"Aamp;P† tells the coming of age story of a nineteen year old boy named Sammy. Sammy has unknowingly placed himself into a situation that many small town adolescents often fall victim to. Sammy has a dead end job, and he feels as though he will be stuck working at the local â€Å"Aamp;P† while life passes him by. This is until a chance encounter with three young female customers changes his course from mini vans and diapers to a welcomed new and uncertain future. After a close examination of the text, Sammy doesn’t quit his job because of the girls, he quits knowing that a dead end job is not what he is meant for. Sammy is a normal teenage boy in many†¦show more content†¦I mean, it was more than pretty† (16). Sammy is obviously intelligent and is able to describe his thoughts so eloquently; it’s as if the reader is looking through a peephole in his mind. The first time Queenie speaks, he offers up an inner thought, â€Å"Her voice kind of startled me, the way voices do when you see the people first, coming out so flat and dumb yet kind of tony, too, the way it ticked over â€Å"pick up† and â€Å"snacks.† All of a sudden I slid right down her voice into her living room†. (18) This brilliant passage is not a random thought of a normal grocery store clerk with no education or ambition. It is the voice of a scholar who hasn’t yet found his true calling. While the three girls are making their way though the store, a less analyzed character is introduced to the reader. Stokesie is a young man that works in the check-out stand next to Sammy. Even though he is often over looked, Stokesie is one if not the most important character in the story besides Sammy. Sammy even says himself â€Å"Stokesie’s married, with two babies chalked up on his fuselage already, but as far as I can tell that’s the only difference.........He thinks he’s going to be manager some sunny day, maybe in 1990 when it’s called the GreatShow MoreRelatedJohn Updike’s AP1429 Words   |  6 Pageseven in usage of language. The new generations try to express themselves as something different from the old, embracing new slang, trying to form a separation between themselves and the previous generation. In John Updike’s â€Å"A P†, a teenage boy named Sammy works at a local store called AP. Sammy is a young casher, that stands up to his boss and he stands up for three girls who are dressed in bathing suits. Sammy lives in a small town, where nothing really happens. There is a struggle within everyRead MoreSymbolism in John Updikes A P1440 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Updikes short story A P recounts how an adolescent supermarket cashier named Sammy has his life changed forever when three girls in bathing suits shop in the store where he works. He is the first person narrator who shapes the tale with his descriptions, attitudes and opinions. He is the protagonist who grows up quickly in a single day and the only round, fully developed character in the tale. As you proceed through the story and become acquainted with Sammys opinions and ideas, it becomesRead More John Updikes A P Essay1471 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Updikes A P At first read, John Updikes A P contrasts old and new; the old manager in his settled life conflicting with the new age of girls wearing bathing suits in buildings. All the while, the narrator stuck in the middle, finally deciding to join the side of new, or youth. Instead of old vs. new, an observation closer to the heart of the story is conflict between the worlds of the rich and the middle class. ?A P? is the setting for one man to decide in which way he will seekRead MoreJohn Updikes AP Essay767 Words   |  4 PagesIn John Updike’s short story, AP the writer takes you on a youths memory that involves the choices and consequences that life can deal to anyone who has not had time to test a rash decision. The narrator is an immature nineteen-year-old cashier who is about to make a giant leap from adolescence to manhood. Sammy narrates with opinions of not only his life, but also the people in the town. Sammy opposes with the way these people live their lives, and is dete rmined to set a different course for hisRead MoreEssay on John Updikes AP865 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Updikes AP Many of the events that take place in John Updikes AP would not have happened had the town lived under a Marxist society. Marxism is a socio-economic ideal where all people work for the good of the community and is characterized by not having any social class distinctions. The division of Classes in AP is very apparent, especially between Sammy, the protagonist and first person narrator, and the three girls, one of the three antagonists, who walk into the storeRead MoreEssay on Personality in John Updikes AP1275 Words   |  6 Pagescharacter to make them stand out in a story.nbsp; In A amp; P by John Updike, Sammy starts off as a young man discontent with his ordinary adult surroundings and moves to his need to change it. Throughout the story, Sammy describes and interprets the scenes around him, consequently revealing his own character, by which can be related through the use of Thomas Chous Ennegram, to distinguish his personality type. nbsp; John Updike gives the reader an inside look into the adolescent mindRead MoreAnalysis Of John Updikes AP Essay1544 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Updikes story AP talks about a 19-year old lad, Sammy, who has a job at the local grocery store, the AP. Sammy works at the register in the store and is always observing the people who walk in and out each day. On this particular day that the story takes place, Sammy is caught off guard when a cluster of girls walk into the store wearing just their bathing suits. This caught Sammys attention because the nearest beach is five miles away and he could not figure out why they would still beRead MoreChanges (John Updikes AP) Essay914 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 1302.2E1 Changes Breaking away from the traditional is a struggle that contains several sacrifices and consequences. In John Updike’s â€Å"AP,† Sammy is a young teenager who transforms his wishes into reality. At first glance, he seems like a normal teenage boy, but instead he is an observational character who is trying to find a way to stand up for himself. Throughout the story, he undergoes changes toRead MoreJohn Updikes aP : Sammys Growth1545 Words   |  7 PagesJohn Updikes AP : Sammys Growth John Updikes story AP is about a nineteen year old boy, Sammy, who has a job at the local grocery store, the AP. Sammy works at the register in the store and is always observing the people who walk in and out each day. On this particular day that the story takes place, Sammy is caught off guard when a cluster of girls walk into the store wearing just their bathing suits. This caught Sammys attention because the nearest beach is five miles away and he couldRead MoreRebellion And Symbolism In John Updikes A P1842 Words   |  8 PagesThe short story â€Å"A P,† tells the story of a nineteen-year-old boy named Sammy who works in the local town grocery store. Sammy is the narrator of the story; one day while he was working at the cash register, three girls wearing nothing but bathing suits walk in. He instantaneously notices the girls, one in particular. He named her Queenie and she is seen as the leader or ‘queen bee’ of the three girls. As these girls walk th rough the grocery store they start to create a scene and get the attention

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Media Use of Stereotypes Essay - 1273 Words

Media Use of Stereotypes We live in a world of technological innovation where mass media is a major part of us today. People make assumptions on what they hear. They do not try to analyze the situation to see who is right and who is wrong, and mass media is the main source of manipulating ones mind. The concept of propaganda has changed over time. Propagandists create ideas stereotypically through the use of propaganda and use media to promote it and target peoples minds to have influence on their views towards a certain group of people. These ideas create negative or positive images in the intended audiences minds. However, it is notable that the information is only the one that is exemplified through media and therefore, can be†¦show more content†¦These generalizations create negative or positive attitudes towards these stereotype groups. Stereotyping is defined as the making of generalizations about groups of people on the basis of limited information (Straubhaar and LaRose: 379, 2004). Stereoty pe is not the way people behave in certain environments but in fact, the way one has views about them either negative or positive through the way media portrays them. However, living in a democratic society there is freedom of choice, independence and social equality is a right and in the age of technological innovation. This is where we get hands on information on any particular subject matter we intend to choose through any form of media. However, what we do not know is how much of the knowledge we consume through mass media is accurately representation of the reality. Stereotypes work well in political campaigns where government takes certain steps as a propagandist to exhibit information to a group of targeted audience in order for them to have a certain view or opinions towards others, which is profitable in any manner for the government itself. However, governments take these steps for various reasons including creating opinions towards other governments, religious affiliated groups, other national citizens, etc and the only reason is for its profitable means whether it is for elections, power or control. For example, 9/11 attacks supports t he fact that media demonstrates aShow MoreRelated Propaganda and Stereotyping Essay1382 Words   |  6 Pagespropaganda lightly. One such disaster is the stereotype – a felicity confused with the truth. In this research paper, a closer attention will be given to the propaganda generation of stereotypes about a specific age group; how easily and believable stereotypes are carried by propaganda tactics on youth will be presented. Throughout this paper, a demonstration of the negative stereotypes on public opinion will be presented along with important methods in which stereotypes work in propaganda. The conclusionRead MoreSatire In Family Guy1384 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is a stereotype? The Free Dictionary defines a stereotype as â€Å"a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group† (Stereotype). Although many people may not realize it, stereotypes influence how they interact with others each day. People judge others because of their race, ethnicity, religion, and heritage before they even know the person. These judgements come from stereotypes they encounter in their lives. There areRead MoreEssay about Gender Based Stereotype in the Media1723 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The media plays an extremely important and arguably the most powerful role in shaping the perception individuals and members of the public holds towards themselves and their surroundings. This therefore makes it extremely difficult for one to maintain his/her unique self identity or perception of others without the influence of the media. People will define themselves and others based on the messages insinuated by the media. The problem hence emerges when the media insinuate the wrongRead MoreThe Media And Its Impact On The Entertainment Industry Essay1282 Words   |  6 Pagesmass media has developed into a highly influential platform that relays information to audiences all around the world, but are the images seen in advertisements and television, devaluing individuals by labeling them under stereotypes? In order to truly understand the core of such a question, it is important to first define and solidify some key terms. To begin with, what mediums of mass media will be considere d in the analysis of this issue? Specifically, I will attempt to highlight the use of genderRead MoreThe Topic Of Representation And Stereotypes 983 Words   |  4 PagesFor this essay I have chosen to write about the topic of ‘Representation and stereotypes’. Using a media example I will be exploring the concept of why stereotypes are used so commonly and do they really matter. Through my research, I hope to provide substantial evidence, which backup my points throughout and give the reader a clear understanding of how stereotypes are used in my chosen piece of media text. Stereotypes have always been around it’s not a new concept people are only discovering recentlyRead MoreStereotypical Images Of Mexican Americans And Black Americans909 Words   |  4 Pagescontemporary media? Angel Garcia Bakersfield College In today’s society judging races and ethnic groups have left stereotypical images on them. Stereotypical images are seen all over, even in contemporary media. Hispanic Americans and Black Americans are two ethnic groups that I’ve recognized on having that stereotypical image in the contemporary media. Hispanic Americans and Black Americans are left with harm because of these stereotypes that have been shown in the contemporary media, for exampleRead MoreMedia And Its Effects On Society976 Words   |  4 Pagesaddicted to media. Used as a powerful source of knowledge and entertainment, media plays an enormous role in the development of human life and gender distinction. Through the use of media, guidelines consisting of generated ideas and ways of living, affect both men and women. This then creates an altered thinking process that leads to an environment susceptible of stereotyping and ridicule. For both sexes, this negative portrayal of media causes a constant downfal l of self-image and media persuadedRead MoreComparison of Turkeys in the Kitchen and You Just Walk on By Essays1640 Words   |  7 Pagesgender, and racial stereotypes that have been present in our world from the very beginning. Barry suggests through a sarcastic and humors tone that gender stereotypes have been present since before the start of time; he uses a highly conversational style to prove this, as well as narrates to give the reader a better understanding of exactly what he’s talking about. Staples, on the other hand, uses a more authoritative tone to support his theme of racial stereotyping; he also uses the mode of rhetoricRead MoreRace in the Media739 Words   |  3 PagesRace in the media is a very sensitive issue now a days. When it comes to minorities we can still see that the media portrays us in a bad light. The image of blacks in the American media has changed over the past two decades with the civil rights movement, changes in attitudes towards minority g roups, and increased sensitivity on the part of those who and project these images. An examination of the image of Blacks in the articles and advertisements to show attitudes subtly represented, and these attitudesRead MoreMedia s Influence On Society1293 Words   |  6 PagesMedia is a major contributor of how social groups are perceived in today’s society. Mediais around us every day almost all day, and it constantly sends messages about the world’s environment. There are many indicators shown pertaining to how media really affects society. One of the most prominent explanations of those questions is the way media influences stereotypes. There has been previous research linking media sources and biased attitudes. This research paper explores articles supporting media

Monday, December 9, 2019

Explain Why Market Prices are Useful to a Financial Manager free essay sample

Explain why market prices are useful to a financial manager. A market price is the current price at which an asset or service can be bought or sold. (investopedia. com). Market prices are very useful to a financial manager. It helps with financial planning and it reflects the value of the assets based on GAAP (which refers to the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). GAAP is just a set of guidelines that must be followed when it comes to any type of financial practice. Market price is also a crucial component of the balance sheet and can impact the financial statements. Market values reflect the amount someone is willing to pay today for an asset. Market values also reflect its historical costs. A financial manager has potential to maximize the company’s profits while utilizing this. Market value is equal to present value plus net cash flow. Discuss how the Valuation Principle helps a financial manager make decisions. We will write a custom essay sample on Explain Why Market Prices are Useful to a Financial Manager or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The valuation principle is an analysis between the value of the benefits and the value of its costs. It is the foundation of financial decision making and it provides a basis for making decisions within a company. Understanding the valuation principle is very useful in assisting a financial manager in the company’s overall well being. The valuation principle also utilizes the market prices as well. â€Å"The value of a commodity or an asset to the firm or its investors is determined by its competitive market price. The benefits and costs of a decision should be evaluated using those market prices. When the value of the benefits exceeds the value of the costs, the decision will increase the market value of the firm. † (SU3finance) Describe how the Net Present Value is related to cost-benefit analysis. Net present value is the sum of discounted net cash flows over the period. It is also defined as the difference between the present value of a project or investment’s benefits and the present value of its costs. (SU3finance) When properly calculated, the NPV is a relatively objective method of determining the improvement in national wealth resulting from a proposal. Cost-benefit analysis is the wider process of proposal selection. NPV analysis is just one tool which may be applied in Cost Benefit Analysis. Slack states, â€Å"Cost-benefit analysis (CBA or COBA) is a major tool employed to evaluate projects. It provides the researcher or the planner with a set of values that are useful to determine the feasibility of a project from an economic standpoint. † (Cost/Benefit Analysis) It produces easy results which are easy to comprehend. The end product is a â€Å"benefit-cost ratio that compares the total expected benefits to the total predicted costs. † (Slack) NPV is usually obtained from the cost-benefit analysis. It is obtained by subtracting the discounted costs and negative effects from the discounted benefits. A negative NPV should be rejected because society would be worse off. Explain how an interest rate is just a price. An interest rate is a rate which is charged or paid for using money. Price is the amount of money that is expected or required for something. That is basically what an interest rate is. Whenever you take out a loan, you are charged an interest rate. They expect you pay this certain amount in order to borrow their money. Also, the price of investment quality bonds is usually linked to interest rates. When interest rates rise, the price of a bond will decline. When interest rates fall, the price of a bond will rise. The interest rate is referred to the coupon rate of a bond. The coupon rate is the price that will be paid for the bond. Also, the fixed rate of interest will be the amount that will be paid when a bond is first issued, until the interest rate matures. Describe how a bond is like a loan. A bond is basically a debt security that is sold by a corporation or the government. Whenever the public wishes to borrow from the bank (including corporations), the bank issues out loans. You pay interest regularly on a bond and then on the principal amount sometime in the future like you would a loan.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Kasura Levy Essays - Health, Psychiatry, Personal Life,

Kasura Levy Dr. Shilts Writing 1010.06 November 10. 2017 Educational attainment and health Thesis Statement: Because of the ir income deficit and general susceptibil ity to depression , students who drop out of high school before graduation maintain a higher risk for physical and mental health problems later in life. I. A. Current Problem: Educational attainment rates are decreasing in the United States while healthcare costs are increasing. B. Population/Area of Focus: Unskilled or low-skilled adult workers C. Key Terms: healthy, well-educated II. A. Historical Employment Overview: Unskilled laborers in the past were frequently unionized and adequately compensat ed for their work . B. Historical Healthcare Overview: Unskilled laborers in the past were often provided adequate health care and benefits . C. Current Link between Education and Employment Type: Increasingly, uneducated workers work i n unskilled or low-skilled jobs. D. Gaps in the Research: Little information exists exploring the health implications of the current conditions in low-skilled jobs. III.: Conditions of employment affect workers' physical health. A: Unskilled work environments are correlated highly with worker injury. B : Unskilled work environments rarely provide healthcare o r adequate injury recovery time. IV. Conditions of employment affect workers' mental health A: Employment in a low-skilled position is highly correlated w ith dangerous levels of stress . B: Stress is highly corre lated with mental health issues. V. Physicalhealth and mental health correlate directly with one another. A: Mental health problems and physical health problems are highly correlated . B: Stress ma nifests itself in physical form. VI. People with more financial worries have more stress and worse physical health. A: Many high-school d ropouts face financial problems. B: Financial problems are often correlated with unhealthy lifestyle choices such unhealthy food choices, overconsumption/abuse of alcohol, chain smoking, abusive relationships, etc. VII. Conclusion A: Students who drop out of high school are at a higher risk for both mental and physical health problems throughout their lives. B: Society needs educational advocates; educators need to be aware of this situation and strive for student retention in order to promote healthy lifestyles and warn students of the risks associated with dropping out of school.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

English Atonement essays

English Atonement essays Atonement is a fund concept in the Jewish and Christian religions. 'Yom Kippur', the day of atonement is the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. The need for atonement arises when an individual has committed a crime about which he feels guilty and for which he wishes to make amends, to the wronged party. Christmas too are required to atone for their sins if they want them to be forgiven by the confessor. She needed to atone for the crime she committed at the age of thirteen. Within the half hour Briony would commit her crime. When Briony appears in the fountain and library scene, she misinterprets what she sees. Though she was very young, she genuinely believed in Robbie's guilt even if that belief was based upon a mixture of childish ignorance and indignation. However, Briony was not helped to reexamine her story but felt only encouragement to stick with it, since she was desperate for adult attention and convinced that she knew better than her sister Cecilia, and she could protect her. Thus, she will later be tortured by remorse. It is the night of the attack and early morning that followed that will trouble her more than the legal processes. Her own vile excitement. Briony center stage. She takes the letter from Cecilia's bedroom and give it to the inspector. Also she shows them where she had seen Robbie attacking Cecilia ; that could earn her praise. The inspector tells her just as you see me, You saw him with your own eyes. Briony tells him Yes, I saw him. Yes she was a child. But not every child sends a man to prison with a lie. Briony's atonement starts when she abandons her ambition to go to Girton College, Cambridge , choosing to the humble job of nursing instead. Cecilia says I get the impression she's taken on nursing as an act of penance. Briony's novel has been My fifthy-nine year assignment.&qu...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Make Yogurt With Chemistry

How to Make Yogurt With Chemistry Yogurt is made by fermenting milk. Its high in protein, calcium, and probiotics (good bacteria). Heres how to make yogurt and a look at the chemistry of yogurt. Chemistry Yogurt forms when bacteria ferment the sugar lactose (C12H22O11) into lactic acid (C3H6O3). The lactic acid makes the milk more acidic (lower the pH), causing the proteins in milk to coagulate. The main protein in dairy milk is casein. The acidity gives yogurt its tangy flavor, while the coagulated proteins result in a thickened, creamy texture. There is no simple chemical equation for yogurt production since multiple reactions occur. Several types of bacteria can ferment lactose. Yogurt cultures may contain Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, other Lactobacillus strains, Streptococcus thermophilus, and bifidobacteria. Recipe You can make yogurt from any type of milk. Although most yogurt is made from bovine milk (e.g., cow, sheep, goat), the fermentation process works on other types of milk, as long as they contain a sugar for the bacteria to ferment and protein that can be coagulated. Yogurt can be made from soy milk, coconut milk, and almond milk. The first time you make yogurt, you need a starter culture as a source of the bacteria. You can use ordinary store-bought yogurt with active culture or you can use freeze-dried yogurt starter. If you use a commercial yogurt starter, follow the packaging directions, since activating the culture varies depending on the product. Once you make your first batch of yogurt, you can use a couple of tablespoons of it to start future batches. While it may seem like you would want to add more active culture to a recipe, adding too much bacteria produces a sour yogurt rather than a pleasantly tangy yogurt. Ingredients   1 quart milk (any kind)1/4 to 1/2 cup non-fat dry milk (optional)2 tablespoons plain yogurt with live cultures (or you can use freeze-dried bacteria instead) Recipe Set the starter yogurt out at room temperature while you prepare the milk. This warms the yogurt so that it wont chill your recipe too much when you add it later.Heat the milk to 185 °F (85 °C). The purpose of this step is to re-pasteurize the yogurt, preventing any unwanted bacteria from growing, and to denature the proteins so that they will be able to coalesce and thicken the yogurt. The easiest way to do this is to use a double boiler or set your container of milk inside a pan of water. Heat the water to near-boiling. Dont worry- the ​​milk cant boil using this technique. If you have to heat the milk directly, stir it constantly and watch the temperature to make sure it doesnt boil or burn. If you do not have a thermometer, the milk will start to froth at 185 °F (85 °C).Once the milk reaches the temperature or starts to froth, remove it from heat and allow the milk to cool 110 °F (43 °C). One way to do this is to place the container of milk in a cold wat er bath. Otherwise, you can leave the milk on the counter and allow it to cool. Either way, stir the milk occasionally so that the temperature is uniform. Dont proceed to the next step until the temperature of the milk is below 120 °F(49 °C), but dont let the milk cool below 90 °F (32 °C). 110 °F (43 °C) is the optimal temperature. At this point, you can add nonfat dry milk. This is an optional step that helps the yogurt thicken more readily, plus it adds nutritional content to the yogurt. Its purely a matter of preference, whether you add the dry milk or not.Stir in the starter yogurt.Put the yogurt into clean, sterile containers. Containers can be sterilized by boiling them. The reason for sterilizing the containers is to prevent unwanted mold or bacteria from growing in your yogurt. Cover each container with plastic wrap or a lid.Keep the yogurt as close to 100 °F (38 °C) as possible and undisturbed, to bacterial growth. Some ovens have a proof setting that you can use. Other ideas include setting the yogurt on a heating mat (being sure to check the temperature) or placing the containers in a warm water bath. Youll have a custard-like yogurt after about 7 hours. It wont resemble store-bought yogurt because that has thickeners and additional ingredients. Your yogurt should have a yellowish or greenish liq uid on top, a creamy custard texture, and may have a cheesy odor. The thin yellowish liquid is whey. You can pour it off or mix it in, whichever you prefer. Its completely edible, though you may add fruit, flavorings, or herbs, according to your taste. If you leave the yogurt at this temperature longer than 7 hours, it will thicken and become tangier. When the yogurt is the thickness and flavor you want, refrigerate it. Homemade yogurt will keep for 1-2 weeks. You can use yogurt from this batch as a starter for the next batch. If you are going to use yogurt as a starter, use unflavored yogurt, within 5-7 days.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Religious Concepts in a Kantian Philosophy Essay

Religious Concepts in a Kantian Philosophy - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that Immanuel Kant was an immensely popular and influential philosopher in 18th century Germany, who produced a wide array of works on metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, and, most relevantly, religion. Probably the most amazing aspect of Kantian philosophy is the completeness of his theoretical and practical philosophies—a distinction he himself used wonderfully in creating his set of works. The difference between pure and practical reason forms the need for his two most seminal works, Critique of Pure Reason and Critique of Practical Reason, the latter of which is more relevant to his consideration of religion. In that work and others, he fleshes out the difference between a constitutive picture of religious concepts and a regulative picture of religious concepts. Accepting the latter as a legitimate answer to one troubling antimony, Kant derives a critical philosophy which evaluates the notion of â€Å"religious knowledge†. Sc eptical of such a possibility, Kant endeavors to move religion into the realm of the non-cognitive such that claims to know what is beyond experience—the phenomenon—are immediately cast aside. The regulative approach to religious concepts Kant adopts the view that human beings should use the belief in God merely as a system of reward and punishment in morality. God, despite existing outside the realm of natural cause-and-effect, has the power to reward goodness and punish evil, thereby making human beings committed to being moral.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Modern Risk Analysis Based on PRA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Modern Risk Analysis Based on PRA - Essay Example This risk assessment leads to an output of ranging risks prior to the experiences of the receptors. Proper probabilistic risk assessments require adequate description of the input parameters. For this to happen, it requires that distributional data be available and further be adequate in describing the already identified input parameters. PRA purely employs probability and probability distributions in the characteristic analysis. Probability denotes the chances of occurrence of an uncertain phenomenon. The uncertainty constitutes occurrence of risk. Through PRA, risk assessments can be carried out and the levels of risk therein identified. Use of probability in the assessments of risk can be used in the understanding, quantifying and management of risk. Such a process can further be analysed in relation to the limitations of quantifying risk using probability. Reasons why probability is chosen as opposed to other measures of uncertainty Probability quantifies the description of level s of risk, characterized by the aspect of uncertainty or variability associated with risk estimates. Risk therefore becomes comprehensively characterized by using probability, which would not be the case when point estimate measure of risk is used (UKOOA, 2006, pg. 134). This feature therefore makes probability a better measure of risk than the point estimate method. Quantitative analysis of risk allows for diverse treatment of uncertainty variables used in the determination of underlying risks prior to the probability of occurrence of the identified risks. Risk management requires the use of flexible tools of analysis as well as availability of vast information in regard to what is being accounted for. In this regard, probability becomes the best measure of uncertainty. Uncertainty constitutes risks, and it is the risks that risk managers ought to address. Probability allows for flexibility in the analysis and treatment of variables in the probability equation (U.S. Environmental P rotection Agency, 2005, pg. 78-79). Following this, a large volume of information can be derived, thereby allowing risk managers to make choices among alternatives. Other measures of uncertainty do not provide for flexibility and variant information, making risk managers fixed to the choices they make or to the scope that they can manage risks using such measures as a baseline. Managers need to assess and evaluate high-end risks, and the best gateway to succeeding in that is using probability in measuring levels of risk. Limitations of quantitative approach to risk The quantitative approach to risk is time consuming. It is procedural and treatment and analysis of variables require adequate time. Step by step consideration of variables is necessary in order to ensure that each and every aspect that constitutes risks is identified and accounted for (Stern and Fineberg, 1996, pg. 157). This process is characterized by huge requirement of resources. Adequate resources need to be pulled into place. Finances are required at every step of the quantification process. Gathering data and information is expensive. The management should be aware of these requirements before such an approach to risk is adopted. In order to come to a critical and fundamental understanding of the risks through the quantification approach all required information should first be in place. Data collection, cleaning, editing, analysis and reporting require that enough resources be allocated for the purposes.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Faction of a society Essay Example for Free

Faction of a society Essay A particular faction of a society endures a great deal of pressure of the working population; that is, those who are making a living for themselves and their families. Indeed, wellness in the workplace has become a critical concern for organizations. Paid employment is a major determinant of good physical and mental health for men and women. In the United States and other societies where people are socialized into a strong work ethic, satisfying work enhances health, life satisfaction, and well-being. The impact of work is seen in Sigmund Freud’s answer to the question of what normal people should do well. For Freud, it is â€Å"to love and to work. † In other words, good psychological functioning emphasizes both one’s work and one’s family. The ideal is to create an environment where work and family are not opposed to one another, this is the same premise Nick Whitten’s article â€Å"Workplace Truly Family-friendly† encapsulates (Whitten, 2006). Whitten tackles how mothers in Forest Hall Day Nursery are allowed to bring their children with them to work. Indeed, rather than giving them. Indeed, many social scientists are no longer asking whether it is good or bad that mothers work. Instead, they are finding that a more important issue is whether the mother, regardless of employment, is satisfied in their situation (Burns and Scott, 1994). Certainly, serious concern is frequently voiced about the future of the nation’s children as more and more mothers enter the work force. With the entry of women into the labor force, arrangements for childcare are shifting from care in the home to care outside the home. As such, employers shall indeed consider rethinking flexible working schedule as a major scheduling change in today’s clocks. Society has to begin to consent that mothers, like fathers, are capable of taking over the task of being the breadwinner as well as being a parent. Many people may fear that the working mother represents a loss to children in terms of supervision, love, and cognitive enrichment. But like what Forest Hall Day Nursery practices, why not give this arrangement for childcare that is shifting from care in the home to care outside the home a try? References Burns, Ailsa. and Cath Scott. (1994). Mother-Headed Families and Why They Have Increased. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Whitten, Nick. â€Å"Workplace Truly Family-friendly. † Available online: http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2006_August_10/ai_n28366056/? tag=content;col1. Accessed 5 May 2009.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Plagiarism :: Plagiarism Essays

I know plagiarism is something that isn't respected, condoned, or excepted in any part of the education process. Either is it tolerated in any type of assignment. Not only does it steal someone elses work, it robes yourself of the learning experience you can gain on the assignment. Plagiarism by definition is immoral and unethical. Plagiarism is: The submission of material authored by another person but represented as the students own work, whether that material is paraphrased or copied in verbatim or near-verbatim form. The submission of material subjected to editorial revision by another person that results in substantive changes in content or major alteration of writing style and improper acknowledgment of sources in essays, papers, or presentations(Sandra Rhoten). Basically passing someone elses work as your own, and trying to get away with it. I understand first hand how easy it is to plagiarism someone elses work. If something is said or written in a way that would put your work to shame your instincts tell you must make that work your own somehow. I assume plagiarism has been around since first words were written, so I would imagine students who have writing assignments, and find good information would plagiarize to get the best possible. grade. Students must understand you must quote the writer and embellish on the subject. Once your assignment is completed, your instructor would accept the work and note your excellent research skills. You would also be praised by your peers and received the grade you deserve, not what someone else has already earned. The point of documenting sources in academic papers is not just to avoid unpleasant visits to the Dean's office, but to demonstrate that you know what is going on in your field of study. It's also a courtesy to your readers because it helps them consult the material you've found. So mentioning what others have said doesn't lessen the credit you get for your own thinkingin fact, it adds to your credibility(Margaret Proctor-how not to plagiarize). Plagiarism is the lazy students dream, and the hard workers nightmare. I am confident that plagiarism occurs more often than it should because we do not feel confident in our own work, we are constantly being reminded in our society that we must do our best and receive the highest achievements. Plagiarism also occurs because of poor teaching and learning skills, if you do not have complete confidence and knowledge on a particular topic than your only other option is to find the work elsewhere.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Epidemics in Colonial America

John Duffy, a true historian, contributed immensely to the history of medicine by publishing his research in the form of his first book ‘Epidemics in Colonial America. ’ Duffy continued to write other books as well but this particular one stood as a landmark in his career, facilitating all those interested in the field of medicine. In writing this book, Duffy’s primary goal was to clarify epidemic diseases in order of importance and show their direct and indirect effects on colonial development.He showed how the health environment is important for economic outcomes and that there is a direct effect of health conditions on income and an indirect effect on institutions. There is clearly no ‘hidden’ goal or aim of the author and whatever he has intended to show is pretty apparent and understandable. His book is more on the lines of medical history/ economic impact and is more descriptive and explanatory than theoretical.‘Epidemics in Colonial Ameri ca’ provides, in detail, the history of disease epidemics in America and guides the reader through the years of epidemics to show how the outbreak of various diseases effected the development of colonial America. The book explains how epidemic diseases have been affected, and vice verse, have affected the isolation of rural societies, changing economic conditions, varied work conditions and the factors determining poverty and wealth. BodyThe seventeenth century is identified as the period when epidemics were fairly limited in their impact as the interaction between the people of different colonies was minimum and communities were more isolated than they would be in the future. As a result any disease would remain localized to the people of a particular community and not become an epidemic. However, the situation progressively changed by the end of the eighteenth century when there was more commercialized activity/economy. The increased mobility and urbanization led to a great er threat of epidemics spreading from the rural areas.The situation obviously worsened by the end of the nineteenth century as mobility was further improved and there was increased urbanization. The poor urban centers began experiencing high death rates from diseases like cholera, tuberculosis etc that were endemic in cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia and New Orleans. Yellow Fever, Smallpox, malaria, hookworm infection, beri-beri, Typhoid and Dysentry, and Idiocy are amongst the epidemic diseases in colonial America. The detail of each, along with its effects has been given in the book.The impact of the mosquito borne diseases, Yellow fever and malaria, was greater on the colonists of Jamestown as compared to that in New England. Yellow Fever came from Barbados and spread in Philadelphia and New York, and later on in Boston. Thousands of people fell victim to the disease and several left afflicted areas. As is the case with other epidemics, business activity came to a stand still, unemployment rose along with the death rate. People who chose to stay in the afflicted areas had to take severe precautionary measures, but to little effect.They would shut themselves in their homes and keep the sick isolated from the rest in mosquito nets. The period of the disease is almost one week, by the end of which the person either dies or recovers and becomes immune to it. However, the instances of recovery were little and as history tells us, several hours of work had to be put in just to bury the dead. The Yellow Fever epidemic in 1793 killed around 5,000 people in Philadelphia, which is approximately 10% of its population.Moving on, Small Pox was introduced in America by the European colonists and effected the native Americans the most as they had little immunity to the disease because of having very little or no exposure to it. The entire native American population was swept off by the disease and as Duffy quotes a letter by a South Carolina resident in his book which says that Small Pox swept away a whole neighboring [Indian] nation, all to 5 or 6 which ran away and left their dead unburied. In the book, Duffy also describes it by saying that the epidemic in 1738 killed one half of the Cherokee Indians near Charleston.The effect of such an epidemic was reduced resistance to western expansion in the U. S. In another reported incident, some U. S Army men distributed blankets that had been used by smallpox and measles victims, to Indian tribes that also immediately fell prey to the diseases. The small pox epidemic was this disastrous because of its highly contagious nature and the fact that it spreads through even minimum human contact. It can choke the nostrils and also cause blindness. Prevention efforts were made by colonists who tried using isolation and inoculation, a controversial procedure introduced in Boston in 1721.The patient was injected with a mild form of the disease for a short while to create immunity and antibodies to counter the virus. As a result, a person would get the disease for a shorter while as compared to if they had gotten the disease naturally. A more crude form of this procedure was practiced by the African Americans and was called ‘variolation. ’ The practice consisted of transferring the pus or the scabs from the wounds of the already-affected people and injecting them in the open wounds of unaffected people in order to create immunity.Malaria was also one of the epidemics in the U. S. It became one of the significant diseases of the colonial times as it spread from Maryland to Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Mexico. The mosquito parasite began spreading faster a s virgin soil was introduced in Carolina and the Blacks were available as victims for the mosquitoes. The parasite then gradually spread to the whites and eventually became an epidemic. The Hookworm infection was another one of the diseases, starting from Florida and Louisiana.The Hookworm parasite spread through the m oist soils from Virginia and just like Malaria, the Native American slaves were its carriers. The Beri-Beri disease, a simple deficiency of vitamin B, on the other hand was curable to a great extent. One of the most widely spread diseases, Tuberculosis, remained a highlight of the nineteenth century as it became very common amongst the people of rural areas and also the poor people of urban areas. Its airborne nature accounted for the high number of people who were affected by the disease and it took several decades for doctors to come up with a counter to this disease.Duffy’s book mentions other diseases and their effects on America as well but the ones mentioned above were the most significant ones. They hold great importance in maki9ng the present what it is today as they left a lot for the human race to learn from in terms of medical advances. Conclusion The outbreaks of epidemics not only affected the western expansion but also halted the functioning of many cities in Am erica. People were unwilling to work at the risk of their health and lives and therefore businesses and industries collapsed as unemployment rose.The economy fell and people preferred staying indoors to protect themselves. Education, industry, economy, agriculture and every other structure fell prey to the epidemics that hit the U. S. Local outbreaks became epidemics of a national nature as the transport systems developed and coastal trade began. The nineteenth century saw water and airborne diseases spreading throughout the U. S as poor sewage systems, dirty drinking water and poor food quality etc added to the spread. Eventually, the life expectancy of an average American greatly fell.On a more positive note, these epidemics had a great lesson to teach as far as the knowledge of medicine is concerned. It helped modern medicine develop into what it is today and facilitated doctors dealing with patients suffering from similar diseases to a great extent. Even though these disease wer e thought as a punishment for the sins that had been committed by the people, its positive aspect should not be ignored. ‘Epidemics in Colonial America’ is a significant addition to the literature of medicine and the efforts of John Duffy should be recognized for the immense help that they are.Duffy has remained successful in his attempts of creating awareness regarding the diseases that have struck colonial America in the past and has effectively shown their effects on the people, their incomes, the environment and the development of the United States. The details in the book help paint a fairly adequate picture of the colonial years and make it easy for one to imagine the magnitude of the diseases that occurred. Therefore, it is safe to say that Duffy succeeded in his efforts and should be remembered for them. Reference Duffy, John. Epidemics in Colonial America. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1953.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Response – Life of Pi

Response The novel, â€Å"Life of Pi† by Yann Martel is about a boy who lives in Pondicherry, India with his family. It is about how he and his family decide to move to Canada with the animals they own and the tragedy on sea. The book explains how Pi survives life and it is narrated by the first character, Pi, who is older now and is looking back on his life and younger years. Pi and his family embarked on the voyage to Canada along with the animals when Pi was around 16 years old. In the midst of the journey, a storm lashed the ship and Pi’s parents, brother and most of the animals did not survive.Pi managed to escape in a life boat and initially did not realize that he had company – and who was it? Well, it was the animals and who were they? Well definitely not those Pi would have dreamt of- an orangutan, a hyena, a zebra and last, but not the least, a tiger- yes a real tiger named Richard Parker. The book tells us about Pi’s battle with survival and the dangers he faced, both with the animals and life at sea. At his age, it was almost impossible, but he survived. The character, Pi has great determination and made the best of the limited resources he had.Every day during his expedition, he was faced with a new challenge. He witnessed the killing of the animals and was helpless. Finally being left alone with the tiger and being gripped with fear- he had 2 choices – to become the tiger’s prey or friend. This was in addition to the challenges at sea, with different weather conditions and with a small supply of food and a survival kit. I admire the bravery of the character Pi towards everything and his positive attitude- He never gave up even though he was forced to live in a boat with a tiger. The principle of â€Å"survival† is applicable.Pi shows us that we must not give up when we do anything, no matter how hard it is. The theme of bravery and courage is very relevant to our world today because, we usually find ourselves not wanting to do things when we find them hard. We are always asking ourselves whether we should just take the easy way out and quit. Pi’s bravery and courage is evident in the story where it is quoted, â€Å"You might think I lost all hope at that point. I did. And as a result I perked up and felt much better. † Also another quote that shows this is, â€Å"I was giving up. I would have given up – if a voice hadn't made itself heard in my heart.The voice said â€Å"I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes, so long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen. † The things that stands out to me in his quote is that he knew that God was with him and that God would keep him safe. Even when things are hard and you feel that t here is no point in continuing, you should still persevere.Only when you persevere, you will be able to achieve and will be rewarded. This will make you feel satisfied and better than before. You don’t know what life is going to be like, we cannot see the future, but it is our job as humans to take what comes at us and make the best of it. This is determination. The famous saying â€Å"When the going gets tough, the tough get going. † While adrift, Pi and Richard Parker discover an island of carnivorous algae inhabited by a bountiful population of meerkats. Pi’s sees the meerkats pulling out dead fish from the ponds.Pi and Richard Parker were delighted to find that they have found food to eat and a place to live – but no! Pi later discovers a fruit on the tree that he was sleeping on. While peeling the last few leaves around the fruit off, Pi finds that all the fruit make a perfect set of teeth. At night, Pi looks around and sees that the water colour cha nges and becomes acidic somehow and he knows this because he can see that fish are dying under the acidic water and floating to the top. He realizes that during the night the island somehow becomes carnivorous.This is a message to him that the island is inhabitable and he and Richard Parker must get out of the island. So they left the next morning filling their boats with supplies of water, and seaweed and meerkats for Richard Parker. I admired Pi’s ability and patience to make the tiger, Richard Parker his friend. We must learn to be more like Pi in the way we act by being sensitive to the needs of others. When leaving the island he made sure to take food for Parker for the journey and not only for himself. We must be willing to do anything.Pi was willing to train the tiger and he did succeed over time. This is evident in the story as in the beginning when Pi was younger, he wanted to feed the tiger not realising the dangers he was putting himself into. He only realised the danger in encountering a wild animal when his father saved him by pulling him away and bringing a goat and showing him how the tiger snatched the goat even though the tiger was in a cage. Pi wanted to feed the tiger not only because he thought Richard Parker was his friend but because he felt that all animals have souls, which is shown through their eyes.Pi himself acknowledges the tiger as his companion in the book when he says: â€Å"Without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story. † Pi had a tremendous amount of patience with the tiger. Richard Parker is very cunning and so Pi had to be more careful in the way he acted with the tiger. The patience was shown when Pi was motivated to catch food for the tiger to satisfy the tiger’s hunger. By doing this the tiger would not turn to Pi as his prey. Richard Parker was a blessing for Pi as fishing for food kept Pi busy.Even though Pi was mortified by Richard Parker he developed a soft spot for him. He was willing to do anything to keep him alive. The author makes readers feel the love that Pi had for Richard Parker. In those times in the boat Pi gives the impression that to him Richard Parker is equivalent to a human. This is shown in the story when Pi said â€Å"Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams. They are nightmares mostly, but nightmares tinged with love. I still cannot understand how he could abandon me so unceremoniously, without any sort of goodbye, without looking back even once.That pain is like an axe that chops at my heart. †Ã‚   This quote is telling us that when they reach Mexico, Richard Parker just walks away. Pi feels hurt. He feels as if the tiger doesn’t care about anything that has happened in the last 227 days. This really hurts Pi because he feels betrayed and saddened that Richard Parker left him. He never imagined this to happen. This proves that earlier when his father said, â€Å"you think tiger is your friend, he is an animal, not a playmate! †, he was right because no matter what even if you think the tiger is going to be your friend he/she will not.Even though they are not together anymore the author is giving the impression that no matter, Pi will always love Richard Parker. I admire Pi’s openness. The most important reason I admire Pi is because he prayed to God. He was universal in his thinking of religion as he followed three different religions. He was Hindu by birth but chose to practice and follow Islam and Christianity as well. Even though others like Pi’s parents and religious leaders criticize him for following more than one religion Pi still continued to do so anyway not at all effected by what others had to say.Pi says that he meets Jesus Christ through Father Martin and Islam through Mr Kumar. Through living out these three religions Pi was able make connections between the religions. Conclusion: Therefore, I can apply this to our own socie ty and in the way I act. The following qualities of Pi are worth noting; his determination, bravery, courage, perseverance, patience, sensitivity, willingness to do anything, love and openness. Pi’s determination has taught me to always be confident when making decisions about anything because confidence allows you and others to know that you are sure of what you are doing.Pi’s bravery has taught me to always have a positive attitude. It has taught me when you have bravery you can convince others and that when you are brave you are determined to do what you want. Pi’s courage has taught me that when you are brave and determined you have courage to do something. I can have courage when doing extra-curricular activities. There may be no one that I know of but by doing them anyway this shows that I have courage. Pi’s perseverance has taught me to always continue what I am doing to the end. He has taught me to never leave any task undone.Pi’s patience has taught me to always be calm with others. He has taught me not to get angry when I see something annoying me or to start grumbling. In the future I must learn to be calm with everyone and not only to my friends. Pi’s sensitivity has taught me to always be sensitive and caring to the needs of others and those around me. He has taught me to care for others by helping people carry their things or just by simply brightening a person’s day. Pi’s willingness to do anything had taught me to always be ready to help others no matter what.He has taught me to always be ready to lend a helping hand at anything. I can do this by helping my school out at school working bees. Pi’s love has taught me that I must not boast about how we love people, but simply show love through our everyday actions. I can show love by praying for the needy and others who have asked for prayers or by sitting with people at lunch time that may not have a friend to sit with. Lastly, Piâ₠¬â„¢s openness has taught me to keep my mind and soul open for everyone and everything.He has taught me to start things with an open mind instead of in a bad way which may affect how I may do things. We can learn to be more like Pi we can be more loving, brave and open to those around us. From this story, I have learnt that I can do anything that I persevere. We must all be like Pi in the way we lead our lives. Pi never judged anyone. He always saw the best in everyone and everything. I have also learnt that being patient can get me somewhere in life. Patience is the ability to endure waiting, delay, or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Making Electricity essays

Making Electricity essays About eleven years ago I was employed by Georgia Power Company. I thought that it would be just another job. I have come to the realization that a job is just a job, if that is what it is allowed to be. My job is more than just a place of employment, it has turned out to be an educational experience. I have learned a lot of things that the average citizen takes for granted. We all wake up in the morning and turn on lights, start the air conditioner, or just simply use a blow dryer. We never consider what goes into the making of that small amount of electricity that it takes to power all those luxuries. I am one of the people that never really gave it much thought. When I found out how it was made it really amazed me. The making of electricity simply involves turning water into megawatts. The whole electricity process starts with water. The water is pumped into the plant from a near-by water supply. This supply may be from a lake, pond, or river, or maybe from a combination of these. The volume of water must be in great supply, because a power plant uses a large quantity of water. I always wondered why most power plants were built near water. Most of the water that I know of is really polluted; therefore, the water must be chemically cleaned before it can be used. This has to happen so that when it passes through the turbine it does not damage the fragile components that make up the turbine. Chemicals are added to the water while it is held in a storage tank. From the storage tank the water is pumped through tubes inside the boiler. Fire is an essential part of the electricity making process. Coal is Georgias primary fuel for making electricity. Coal burning plants are called fossil fuel plants, because coal is considered a fossil fuel. The term fossil merely means that the coal is derived from dinosaurs. The coal arrives at the plants primarily by train. When the coal i ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Famous Quotes About Dance

Famous Quotes About Dance Dancing is an expression of your soul. You dont need to know complicated steps to dance. You dont have to sashay across the  room  or spin your partner with finesse. If you enjoy dancing, you will be able to find your feet. Dance to the rhythm of your heart, and you will feel happy, guaranteed. It doesnt matter whether you like jazz or waltz, jive or salsa. What matters is that your (literally) heart loves to dance. Dancing is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise. But dancing also helps the release of endorphins, the so-called happiness hormone. As  Dave Barry  said, Nobody cares if you cant dance well. Just get up and dance.   Even if the only time you can dance is when no ones watching (possibly the best time of all), these quotes can inspire you to let yourself feel the freedom of dance whether in your living room or on the dance floor.   Alice Abrams In life as in dance: grace glides on blistered feet. Albert Einstein Dancers are athletes of God. Voltaire Let us read and let us dance, two amusements that will never do any harm to the world. Jerome Robbins Dance is like life, it exists as youre flitting through it, and when its over, its done. Martha Graham Dance is the hidden language of the soul. Maya Angelou Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances. George Carlin Those who dance are considered insane by those who cant hear the music. Friedrich Nietzsche He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying. Vince Lombardi The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. Its your mind you have to convince. Ginger Rogers I do everything the man does, only backward and in high heels! Edward Lear And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, they danced by the light of the moon. Oprah Winfrey Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes and dance. Merce Cunningham You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive. Agnes de Mille To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on Earth, and it is yours for the taking. Martha Graham Nobody cares if you cant dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Criminal Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminal Theories - Essay Example The difficulty in committing the crime also counts, as well as whether the rewards are worth the effort and even the best place to commit the crime, within his neighborhood or elsewhere. If the risks perceived are small, the rewards and excitement high, the criminal gains the likelihood of committing the crime again. On the other hand, if the risks outweigh the rewards, the offender foregoes the crime: if they have a good chance of apprehension, the fear of punishment or consequences, damage to their reputation and feelings of guilt or shame (Cole, Smith and DeJong 64). Other evaluations include familiarity with the target and how easy it is to commit the crime. In this theory, the criminal uses opportunistic everyday routines that involve the family such as shopping, work, leisure, and schooling. These, together with factors such as lack of a guardian, the presence of a target and the motivated criminal are the context for criminal opportunities (Siegel 71). The guardian’s presence would deter potential offenders from committing the crime for instance door staff, security guards, police patrols, neighbors, and friends. The target should be accessible and may include an expensive car, goods that can be easily moved or expensive jewelry, while the offender may be an addict, teenage boys or unemployed people. These three elements must be present within a routine activity for crime to take place (Schmalleger 182). For instance, many homes are left unguarded during the day, making them targets of crime. The possibility of a crime being committed by the motivated offender increases when there are an accessible target and the absence of a c apable guardian.

Friday, November 1, 2019

Electronic Industry Code of Conduct (EICC) Corporate Social Research Paper

Electronic Industry Code of Conduct (EICC) Corporate Social Responsibility Effectiveness of Implementation Ability and Sustainability - Research Paper Example Review of the theoretical literature.  Various research works have been done in the area of corporate social responsibility with each paper addressing a vital issue in the various industries. A number of these works have been selected for review in order to further inform the research study problem and the reasons for the study. Sutantoputra (2009) discusses the social disclosure rating system for evaluating the CSR reports of firms, the theories, and models found in stakeholder dialogue in the CSR within the pharmaceutical industry is outlined by Linda and Jenny(2008),and the incorporation of stakeholders approach in CSR in multinational corporations is discussed by Cheng and Jamila (2010). Based on a study by Seitanidi et al (2009) understanding the way CSR partnerships are implemented is vital in practice especially to organizations that implement CSR via partnerships. The case that evaluates and addresses the social environmental responsibility of Hp Company’s supply cha in outlines the risks of CSR. The current status of CSR in the supply management realm forms the basis of the study by Lee and Kim (2009) while the importance of communicating CSR in an organization is discussed by Gregory ET all. FIAS (2007) observes that the EICC Codes of Conduct in regards to the sector of Corporate Social Responsibility operates along parameters like employment conditions of the people pertaining to compensation schemes and other employment policies relating to discrimination and employment of children.

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Evaluate at least three quality improvement processes Research Paper

Evaluate at least three quality improvement processes - Research Paper Example The report therefore compares and contrasts three forms of quality improvement processes and among the discussed process, one favorable for the company is recommended to improve the performance of the company. Introduction The Baldrige criteria for performance excellence, ISO 9000 and the Six Sigma are three quality improvement processes that provide a completely new way of helping organizations improve in their performances. The first process focuses on the estimation of performance excellence of the organization as a whole starting from the management tracking all the results as exhibited by the organization. ISO 9000 on the other hand is a model that gives much weight on the product or the service and how it performs in the market. The inefficiencies of the products or the service are then fixed for better performance (Harrington, 2001). In this category, we have the six sigma; this constantly measures the quality of the product while improving the engineering process to result in to an improvement of the process and saves the costs of the organization. In an effort to know which will be applicable to improving the performance of this company in terms of saving cots and realizing profitability, we have to analyze the three intensively (Dew & Nearing, 2004). a. Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence The Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence as a measure that has helped many organizations achieve their goals is today not only acceptable in the US but also worldwide. This is due to its ability to steer organizations through stiff competitive environment through the improvement of their performances. The criterion cuts across all organizations right from healthcare to education of profit and nonprofit organizations by responding swiftly to current challenges (Brown, 2001). They do this by being open and transparent in the governance of the organizations as well as the ethics involved. The criterion is aimed at creating value for the customers of the business. Irrespective of the form of organization the criteria gives a valuable framework that is able to help in the planning and achieving under any environment. This is because it is able to assess organizational performance on a wide range of key business indicators, align the resources available, and improve communication, productivity and effectiveness for the achievement of the organizational goals (Edosomwan & Edosomwan, 2008). The criterion has evolved over time with its characteristics, goals and purposes remaining the same. The criteria lay its focus on all the results of the performances of the organization for balancing all the strategies of the firm. It does not prescribe and is adaptable hence allowing for creativity and flexibility in the organization to enable achievement of the goals. Supports the systems in place and at the same time supporting goals based diagnosis for future improvements (Brown, 2001). The goals of the criteria are delivery, improvement, organi zational and personal learning. The purpose of the criteria is to allow for its use by organizations of all categories for the sake of self assessment and training so as to develop performance of the businesses. The system is able to realize an achievement of its purpose by stressing on leadership, strategic planning, measurement, and analysis and knowledge management. Others are, focus on the workforce, management of the process and results (Edosomwan & Edo

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Financial Reporting on Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Financial Reporting on Goodwill and Intangible Assets Question 1 Under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), goodwill and intangible assets must be treated separately during a business combination in accordance with IFRS3. Prior to IFRS 3, companies, during a business combination situation, intangible assets and goodwill could be accounted for as goodwill[1]. Under IFRS 3, acquired intangible assets are treated separately to goodwill. With recognised intangible assets, the value of the intangible asset can be amortised over the useful life of the asset. Goodwill is the value difference between the price paid for a business on acquisition and the value of the assets. Unlike intangible assets, goodwill cannot be amortised but needs to be re-measured for impairment, on an annual basis. This impairment value can be included in the income statement as an expense, on an annual basis. This is the critical difference between intangible assets and goodwill[2]. Upon acquiring a business, the acquiring company must assess the fair value of the relevant assets and liabilities including some identifiable intangible assets. This is the only time that these assets can be recognised on the balance sheet. Internally created intangible assets cannot be amortised in a straight line and reduced in this way on the balance sheet unless they are identifiable in terms of a useful life expectancy. Intangible assets that have an indefinite life span cannot be amortised on a straight line basis and must be re-measured for impairment, instead. All internally created intangible assets are re-measured for impairment, regardless of whether or not they are able to ascertain the useful life expectancy of the asset[3]. Goodwill is generally considered as a type of intangible asset; however, for the purposes of IFRS 3, it must be accounted for separately, during a business acquisition, with goodwill never being amortised and intangible assets that can be recognised to have a specific life expectancy can be amortised on a straight line basis. This is not the same for internally created intangible assets which will never be amortised. Question 2 (a) Gearing is calculated by considering the ratio of debt to equity, which is considered as debt divided by capital employed (or debt divided by debt plus shareholder funds). Intangible assets are often added back on to the shareholders’ funds as intangible assets such as goodwill and are a measure of the history of the company and not its current financial strength[4]. Calculation Gearing Numbers reported in company’s balance sheet (733 + 8585) which is total borrowings divided by shareholder equity / (9318 + 4013) total debt plus shareholder equity 69.90% Adjusted to make goodwill valueless (733+8585) / (4013 + 9318 – 4514) goodwill is taken off the shareholder equity 105.68% Adjusted to treat both goodwill and intangible assets as valueless (733+8585) / (4013 + 9318 – 9974) goodwill and intangible assets are added back on 277.57% The higher the ratio or gearing percentage, the greater the company favours debt over equity. A ratio of 100% would indicate that the company has an equal preference for both the use of equity and debt[5]. Therefore, the higher the percentage the greater the dependence and the greater the perceived financial risk. Shareholders will only obtain a return on their equity once all interest payments have been made. Therefore, the higher the reliance on debt, the more volatile the shareholder earnings are going to be. However, the debt repayment is set and, therefore, the higher the gearing ratio, the greater the risk but also the greater the potential return for the existing shareholders[6]. The figure for Allied Boots, for the purposes of this analysis is 105.68%. Any figure over 100% is considered high, which means that there may be volatility for the shareholders, but the profit growth will also be higher. In this case, the figure with goodwill ignored, has been used as this takes into account the fact that goodwill is largely a measure of historic value. The reason for this is that goodwill is entirely a reference to historic value generated in the business and should not, therefore, be taken into account as part of the shareholder equity. Intangible assets are continued value generating assets and should, therefore, remain in the calculation. For example, the intangible assets could include intellectual property which continues to add value to the business, whereas goodwill at the point of business acquisition is simply a reflection of the value of the business name at that point; no further value will be generated by virtue of this figure[7]. Question 3 In an entirely efficient market, all analysts will have all relevant information available to them, allowing them to makes suitable adjustments to give them the best possible information in relation to the value of the business. Truly efficient figures imply that all figures within the accounts reflect all known information[8]. However, in reality, markets are not entirely efficient as there is information that is not reflected in the financial data. Financial data, by its very nature, is historic and simply reflects what has happened in the past. Values for intangible assets such as intellectual property and goodwill can vary very quickly and are extremely subjective in nature. Goodwill and intangible assets are often based on information that is not publicly available such as internal know-how and, therefore, cannot be suitably analysed to see how realistic they are; this potentially offers considerable discretion for managers in terms of how these figures are reflected in the acco unts[9]. Due to the potential discretion in this area, regulators need to lay down certain treatment rules to ensure that the information being provided by the financial accounts is as close to full, true and fair as is possible. This then allows the analysts to make the most suitable decisions for their chosen position. Bibliography Blake, John, Lunt, Henry, Accounting Standards, Pearson Education, 2001 Dunse, Neil A., Hutchison, Norman E., Goodacre, Alan, Trade-related valuations and the treatment of goodwill, Journal of Property Investment Finance, 22, 3, 2004 Elliott, Barry, Elliott, Jamie, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Pearson Education, 2006 Mard, Michael J., Hitchner, James R., Hyden, Steven D., Zyla, Mark L., Valuation for Financial Reporting: Intangible Assets, Goodwill, and Impairment Analysis, SFAS 141 and 142, John Wiley and Sons, 2002 Reilly, Robert F., Schweihs, Robert P., Valuing Intangible Assets, McGraw-Hill Professional, 1999 Seetharaman, A., Sreenivasan, Jayashree, Sudha, Raju, Yee, Tey Ya, Managing impairment of goodwill, Journal of Intellectual Capital, 7, 3, 2006 Seetharaman, A., Balachandran, M., Saravanan, A.S., Accounting treatment of goodwill: yesterday, today and tomorrow: Problems and prospects in the international perspective, Journal of Intellectual Capital, 5, 1, 2004 Weetman, Pauline, Financial Accounting: An Introduction, Pearson Education, 2006 Wines, Graeme, Dagwell, Ron, Windsor, Carolyn, Implications of the IFRS goodwill accounting treatment, Managerial Auditing Journal, 22, 9, 2007 Footnotes [1] Weetman, Pauline, Financial Accounting: An Introduction, Pearson Education, 2006 [2] Mard, Michael J., Hitchner, James R., Hyden, Steven D., Zyla, Mark L., Valuation for Financial Reporting: Intangible Assets, Goodwill, and Impairment Analysis, SFAS 141 and 142, John Wiley and Sons, 2002 [3] Blake, John, Lunt, Henry, Accounting Standards, Pearson Education, 2001 [4] Seetharaman, A., Sreenivasan, Jayashree, Sudha, Raju, Yee, Tey Ya, Managing impairment of goodwill, Journal of Intellectual Capital, 7, 3, 2006 [5] Elliott, Barry, Elliott, Jamie, Financial Accounting and Reporting, Pearson Education, 2006 [6] Dunse, Neil A., Hutchison, Norman E., Goodacre, Alan, Trade-related valuations and the treatment of goodwill, Journal of Property Investment Finance, 22, 3, 2004 [7] Seetharaman, A., Balachandran, M., Saravanan, A.S., Accounting treatment of goodwill: yesterday, today and tomorrow: Problems and prospects in the international perspective, Journal of Intellectual Capital, 5, 1, 2004 [8] Reilly, Robert F., Schweihs, Robert P., Valuing Intangible Assets, McGraw-Hill Professional, 1999 [9] Wines, Graeme, Dagwell, Ron, Windsor, Carolyn, Implications of the IFRS goodwill accounting treatment, Managerial Auditing Journal, 22, 9, 2007

Friday, October 25, 2019

World Hunger Essay -- Essays Papers

World Hunger This web page's goal is to introduce the visitor to the problem of world hunger and provide ways to access more information through books and other web sites. The page was created as a final project for an Environmental History class held at the University of Vermont spring semester 2000. Overview World hunger is one of the many dire problems facing the human race. Although the common person probably won't have a big impact on ending world hunger, but by being aware of the issues you become empowered. It is first necessary discuss some other the myths about the reasons for world hunger. World hunger is not caused by population increase, but it is one of the factors. The global grain production is high enough to feed the population, which means that supply is not a cause of world hunger. The lack agricultural land is also not a cause of hunger; many of the third world nations have the arable land needed to produce enough food to feed their people. The real cause of hunger is the inequality in the control of food production. The arable land cannot be used to grow food to feed people of third world nations because big corporations buy the land to produce cash crops for exporting. The inequality among nations was formed during colonization. The European powers sought to find land that could produce marketable crops. Small plots of land farmed by families did not produce the volume of marketable goods that would bring profit to the Europeans. Some colo...

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Crowd Management in Sport Facilities Essay

When conditions or circumstances warrant substantial levels of wariness, crowd management as a consequence becomes prudent. The key in getting a safe and comfortable environment for large packs of people is in planning for their management. There is considerable prominence on crowd management planning and implementation since it is important to provide a safe environment for everyone. Crowd management must take into account all the rudiments of an event especially the type of event, for example a circus, sporting, concert, or carnival event. It must also view characteristics of the facility, dimension and demeanor of the crowd, methods of entry, communications, crowd control, plus queuing (Herb, 1998). As in all management, it must also include planning, arranging, staffing, directing in addition to evaluating. Crowd management is best defined as every element of the game or event from the design of the stadium to the game itself as well as the protection of the customers from unforeseeable risk of danger from other persons or from the actual facility itself. The main criteria for gouging if crowd control procedures are sufficient and suitable depend on the kind of event, threats of aggression, existence and sufficiency of the emergency arrangement, expectation of crowd size in addition to seating arrangement, known rivalries among teams along with schools, and the use of security personnel (Herb, 1997). Crowd management is therefore paramount in sports facilities and venues because of the large masses that throng such places. Some facilities involve more sport management than others, thus would require more crowd management during functions. Venues should be primarily assessed for safety and its ability to hold large crowds. From the evaluation, the results should be processed, conclusions drawn, proposals made and a report written to all parties involved. The team that carries out such a task should be well trained in this area and used to dealing with all sorts of events, particularly sports. Reference Herb, A. (1998) Risk Management in Sport: Issues and Strategies. London, Carolina Academic Press Miller, L. (1997) Sport Business Management. New York, Jones & Barlett Publishers.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Hamlet vs Agamemnon Tragedy Essay

Hamlet and Agamemnon are two extraordinary and timeless plays. Both plays deal with the big themes of love, loss, pride, the abuse of power and the fraught relationships between men and gods. Hamlet and Agamemnon, the protagonist of the plays that were named after them, are two tragic heroes that commit some terrible crime without realizing how foolish and arrogant they have been. Both protagonist are of higher status, and have power. However, Hamlet is more tragic than Agamemnon, for several reasons. Hamlet is a good, kind men. He is the Prince of Denmark and loved by the Danish people. Unfortunately for him, his beloved father, King Hamlet, dies. Hamlet loves his father very much, and he is deeply hurt when his dad passed away. He is even more shocked and hurt by the fact that his mother, Queen Gertrude, marries his uncle, Claudius, shortly after her husband died. Prince Hamlet sees and has a conversation with his father’s ghost. He learns that the King of Denmark was murdered by his brother, Claudius. Hamlet swears to avenge his father, and he starts to play mad so he can gather evidence and put his plan in motion. At first, he is not completely sure that the ghost was his father, and he tries to get confirmation by inviting King Claudius and Queen Gertrude to a play based on what the ghost had told him. After he is convinced that his father was murdered, he plans to kill Claudius. Hamlet is not very eager to kill his uncle, he is not happy about the situation, and he does not act fast. Agamemnon is completely different than Hamlet. He rapes Clytemnestra and murders her husband. King Agamemnon did not stop there. After he marries Clytemnestra, he sacrifices their youngest daughter, Iphigenia, to gain favourable winds to take the Greek fleet to Troy. King Agamemnon seems to be more like King Claudius. Both of them killed the rightful King, took his wife, and killed or planned to kill the Queen’s child. Agamemnon kills his daughter, Claudius plots to kill Hamlet at least twice. Agamemnon is popular, and appreciated for his battles skills and victories. He doesn’t seem to care much about other persons and values, other than his power, battles victories, and the public’s adoration. Hamlet killes Polonius when he was talking with his mother after the play. Polonius was hiding, and ears dropping for the King. When Gertrude thought that Hamlet wants to attack her, she yelled for help, and Polonius  responded, calling for help from behind the arras. In an unusual moment of spontaneous action, Hamlet stabs the concealed figure, believing it to be Claudius. The death of Polonius cased great suffering to Ophelia, his daughter. She gets a little bit mad, singing nonsense about death and sex, and ends up drowning herself. Laertes, Polonius’s son, wants justice for his father, and becomes another potential revenge hero, but unlike Hamlet, he is more determined. He doesn’t care about the spiritual part of death like Hamlet. King Claudius adds fuel to the fire, and convinced Laertes to kill Hamlet in a duel. Laertes tells Claudius that he will poisoned the tip of the blade, to kill Hamlet. Claudius promised to poison the wine in case Laertes fails to scratch Hamlet with his sword. Hamlet is not aware of this plot, and accepts Claudius’s offer to fight Laertes. During the fight, there is a switch of rapiers, resulting in both Hamlet and Laertes being stabbed with the poisoned blade. Gertrude, meanwhile, mistakenly drinks the poisoned wine. She dies and Hamlet demands that they seek out the treachery that killed her. Laertes, realizing that he and Hamlet are both dying, explains everything and blames Claudius. Hamlet kills Claudius with the poisoned sword, finally fulfilling his quest for revenge. Laertes begs Hamlet to exchange forgiveness with him and dies. Hamlet forgives Laertes. Horatio wants to drink from the poisoned wine, so he can die with Hamlet, but he is stopped by the Prince. Hamlet tells Horatio that he must live in this horrible world so he can tell Hamlet’s story. Lord Hamlet announces that Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, will be the next king of Denmark and dies. Despite the fact that in the end, Prince Hamlet, Laertes, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, and Ophilia died, the order in the kingdom is restored. Clytemnestra is the one seeking revenge in Agamemnon. During Agamemnon’s ten year absence, Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegistheus, planned to murder Agamemnon on his return. Clytemnestra wants revenge for her daughter, Iphegenia. When Agamemnon comes back, he brings with him, as concubine and slave, the ravished Trojan Princess, Cassandra. Cassandra has the gift of prophecy, but nobody believes her, thanks to Apollo’s curse. She sees the Clytemnestra plans to kill both Agamemnon and Cassandra, but the Chorus do not believe her . Princess Cassandra prays for a quick death, a wish that would be granted. Agamemnon commits hubris. He agrees to walk on the ‘red carpet’ that has been rolled out for him by his wife, even though he  mentions it is treatment meant only for the gods. Clytemnestra preparing her husband for a bath, put on him a bath-robe she had cunningly sewn to be a strait jacket. Wearing this, Agamemnon was completely helpless. His wife butchered and buried him without honours. She does the same to Cassandra. In Hamlet, King Claudius dies, King Hamlet finds peace, and Denmark gets rid of a bad king. Hamlet is buried like a soldier, having a military funeral. In a way, in Hamlet, Laertes commits hubris as well. He dares damnation and he mentions he would kill his father’s murderer in a church. Since both Laertes and Agamemnon commit hubris, both of them die shortly after, which is the element of nemesis in tragedy. Hamartia element, a tragic error, can be seen in Agamemnon when Agamemnon enters the house with Cassandra, trusting that Clytemnestra (his wife) is in fact happy to see him. Similarly in Hamlet, Hamlet agrees to duel with Laertes, not knowing that he is going to die by Laertes hand. Hamlet was a kind and honorable person. While he wanted revenge for his father, in a way he was right to do so. He did not wanted and enjoyed the idea of killing Claudius, but he pulled himself together at the last minute, right before he died. King Claudius was guilty of murdering a King, stealing a Kingdom, a Queen, and planning the murder of Prince Hamlet. Hamlet played for his revenge with his life. Since he was buried as a soldier, and the order was restored in Denmark, the Danish people did not hate him for his sins. Also, in Hamlet, we have more death on stage. Innocent people died, like Ophelia and Polonius. Agamemnon is completely different. He raped, he killed in cold blood, he sacrificed his own daughter to win a war, and he committed hubris, and took hostage the Princess of Troy. His wife, while she might be right in a way to avenge her daughter, she was looking forward to the task of killing Agamemnon and she also killed Cassandra, even thou she was innocent. Clytemnestra and he lover, wanted to be in power and had no remorse. Hamlet is more tragic than Agamemnon, because of the innocence and remorse the major characters showed.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

My Ambitions as a Structural Engineer

My Ambitions as a Structural Engineer Free Online Research Papers Structural engineering plays a pivotal role towards the growth, development and progress of countries as the mass structures like multi-story buildings, bridges, thermal and nuclear power plants all involving structural engineering results in a strong economy of an advancing country. In some other engineering technologies, sometimes it is possible to use hit and trial methods as in geotechnical and hydraulics engineering where the as built conditions are not of such importance to effect the whole design, but in structural design one must abide by all codes of standard requirements, as huge expenditure and high degree of risk is involved at each and every step of execution. The duties of structural engineer became more critical in nature as he always has to fulfill the obligation of related codes, standards, specification and to follow all the stipulations of the same in a short and predefined frame of time with a high degree of accuracy. A structural engineer is most commonly involved in the design of building and non building structures but also plays an essential role in designing machinery where structural integrity of the design item impacts safety and reliability. Structural engineering is vast field and has its application in almost all the important engineering design, that’s why a structural engineer has to be very competent, decisive, efficient and quick decision maker. He has to make all the decision keeping in mind the fact that how his working is going to affect the economy and safety of the resulting structure. My ambition as a structural engineer is to get competency in the field of bridge engineering right from design phase till to the execution of the design; the reason is that bridges are a direct and true reflection of economy and recourses of a country. I always wanted to contribute in the growing economy of my country using my skills, knowledge and capabilities .This is one profession where an advance degree is more a necessity than an option. That’s why I would love to avail any opportunity provided by Nespak (my organization) to enhance my professional capabilities. Along with technical know how, I also need a host of my skills to interact with professional and non-professional co-workers. Sales ability, public speaking and time management are very important. Problem resolution is a skill that is not typically taught in engineering institutions that’s why I would like to work on this too. I know that bridge engineer holds the lives of others in their hands, so it is not just the professional responsibility but the personal liability. Nespak (my organization) is providing me a chance to materialize my dreams and to excel in my specialized field. I will try my level best to come up to the expectation of my organization. Research Papers on My Ambitions as a Structural EngineerOpen Architechture a white paperGenetic EngineeringIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Project Managment Office SystemThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesPETSTEL analysis of IndiaAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Importance about The Battle of San Jacinto essays

The Importance about The Battle of San Jacinto essays In today's American scociety, students are slacking off in class. Statistics have shown decresing numbers over the years in scores pertaining to areas of studies, including history. The majority of students are growing a lack of concern for any depth of knowledge for the historical roots of America. Becoming more aware about the battles that took place in America and the reasons for these battles can enable students to gain respect of where they are from. The Battle of San Jacinto is a prime example of the necessity to learn about the values that Texas has to offer. When I sat in my history class in 1995, I did not understand about the Battle of San Jacinto because I had only been in America for two years. My History teacher was always enthusiastic when she talked about the Battle of Jacinto because her family had been living in Texas since 1834. Because I did not know about the Battle of San Jacinto, I wanted to learn about it. I believed that the Battle of San Jacinto is important to the people in Texas because the battle shows what brave men are capable of when fighting for independence, and it is important for people to know their history. However, the Battle of San Jacinto might not be important to other people living outside of Texas. Nevertheless, I think people should know the history of the land in which they live and be proud of their homeland. The Battle of San Jacinto depicts what brave men are capable of when fighting for independence. According to Kemp", Though the numbers engaged in the Battle of San Jacinto were not very large, yet the victory of the Texans was so great, that it brought the war to a close, and soon led to independence of Texas" (Par.1). After the tragedy of the Alamo and the Goliad, Sam Houston and army could have surrendered. However, they were strong in their beliefs that Many Texans died at the Battle of the Alamo and the G...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

René Descartes Proofs of Gods Existence

Renà © Descartes Proofs of Gods Existence Renà © Descartes (1596-1650) Proofs of Gods Existence is a series of arguments that he posits in his 1641 treatise (formal philosophical observation) Meditations on First Philosophy, first appearing in Meditation III. of God: that He exists. and discussed in more depth in Meditation V: Of the essence of material things, and, again, of God, that He exists. Descartes  is known for these original arguments that hope to prove Gods existence, but later philosophers have often critiqued his proofs as being too narrow and relying on a very suspect premise (Hobbes) that an image of God exists within mankind. In any case, understanding them is essential to understanding Descartes later work Principles of Philosophy (1644) and his Theory of Ideas. The structure of Meditations on First Philosophy - whos translated subtitle reads in which the existence of God and the immortality of the soul are demonstrated - is fairly straightforward. It begins with a letter of dedication to The Sacred Faculty of Theology in Paris, where he submitted it originally in 1641, a preface to the reader, and finally a synopsis of the six meditations that would follow. The rest of the treatise is meant to be read as if each Meditation takes place a day after the one prior. Dedication and Preface In the dedication, Descartes  implores the University of Paris (Sacred Faculty of Theology) to protect and keep his treatise and posit the method he hopes to ascribe to assert the claim of Gods existence philosophically rather than theologically. In order to do this, Descartes  posits he must make an argument that avoids critics accusations that the proof relies on circular reasoning. In proving the existence of God from a philosophical level, he would be able to appeal to non-believers as well. The other half of the method relies on his ability to demonstrate that man is sufficient to discover God on his own, which is indicated in the Bible and other such religious scriptures as well. Fundaments of the Argument In preparation of the main claim, Descartes discerns thoughts could be divided into three kinds of operations of thought: will, passions and judgment. The first two cannot be said to be true or false, as they do not pretend to represent the way things are. Only among judgments, then, can we find those sorts of thoughts representing something as existing outside of us. Descartes examines his thoughts again to discover which are components of judgment, narrowing his ideas into three types: innate, adventitious (coming from the outside) and fictional (produced internally). Now, adventitious ideas could have been created by Descartes himself. Although they do not depend on his will, he might have a faculty producing them, like the faculty that produces dreams. That is, of those ideas that are adventitious, it might be that we produce them even if we do not do so willingly, as it happens when we are dreaming. Fictional ideas, too, could have clearly been created by Descartes himself. For Descartes, all ideas had a formal and objective reality and consisted of three  metaphysical principles. The first, nothing comes  from nothing, holds that in order for something to exist, something else must have created it. The second holds very much the same concept around formal versus objective reality, stating that more cannot come from less. However, the third principle states that more objective reality cannot come from less formal reality, limiting the objectivity of the self  from affecting the formal reality of others Finally, he posits that there is a hierarchy of beings that can be divided into four categories: material bodies, humans, angels, and God. The only perfect being, in this hierarchy, is God with angels being of pure spirit yet imperfect, humans being a mix of material bodies and spirit, which are imperfect, and material bodies, which are simply called imperfect. Proof of Gods Existence With those preliminary theses at hand, Descartes dives into examining the philosophical possibility of Gods existence in his Third Meditation. He breaks this evidence down into two umbrella categories, called proofs, whose logic is relatively easy to follow. In the first proof, Descartes argues that, by evidence,  he is an imperfect being who has an objective reality including the notion that perfection exists and therefore has a distinct idea of a perfect being (God, for example). Further, Descartes realizes that he is less formally real than the objective reality of perfection and therefore there has to be a perfect being existing formally from whom his innate idea of a perfect being derives wherein he could have created the ideas of all substances, but not the one of God. The second proof then goes on to question who it is then that keeps him - having an idea of a perfect being - in existence, eliminating the possibility that he himself would be able to do. He proves this by saying that he would owe it to himself, if he were his own existence maker, to have given himself all sorts of perfections. The very fact that he is not perfect means he would not bear his own existence. Similarly, his parents, who are also imperfect beings, could not be the cause of his existence since they could not have created the idea of perfection within him. That leaves only a perfect being, God, that would have had to exist to create and be constantly recreating him.   Essentially, Descartes proofs  rely on the belief that by existing, and being born an imperfect being (but with a soul or spirit), one must, therefore, accept that something of more formal reality than ourselves must have created us. Basically, because we exist and are able to think ideas, something must have created us.