John F Kennedy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

John F Kennedy - Essay Example ved to have shown evolution of his liberal ideas by adopting a collegial decision-making model which sought resolution of conflicts through consensus and thorough cross-fertilization to filter out a more refined and trustworthy output of argument, serving the best interest of the majority in the process. Moreover, his own essence of liberalism was made evident with the innovative approach on expressing his passion for revolutionary progress and reform. As such, he preferred to take bureaucratic issues out of the traditional system and gave them appropriate treatment according to his personal decision-making style which appeared to take effect with greater degree of flexibility and number of feasible options. JFK’s temperament may be claimed to have deeply affected critical perception when a portion of his acceptance speech on ‘A Liberal Definition’ was caught in devotion to include his proposing â€Å"for liberalism is not much a party creed or set of fixed platform promises as it is an attitude of mind and heart, a faith in man’s ability through the experiences of his reason and judgment to increase for himself and his fellow men the amount of justice and freedom and brotherhood which all human life deserves (JFK – A Liberal).† In particular, this area could be felt to involve his genuine disposition on the significances of dignity, liberty, heart, and mind which the president believed to be the chief sources of collective national strength from which to execute current plan of action and build refreshing hopes of the future for the liberal

Watsons Theory of Human Caring Essay Example for Free

Watsons Theory of Human Caring Essay Caring and nursing are deeply interwoven. Caring in the nursing profession can be expressed in many forms such as when a nurse performs a careful assessment, provides education to patients and their families, answers their questions or is just simply provides a therapeutic presence. Jean Watson is a well-known nursing scholar who has developed her own theory on caring and its definition and role in the nursing profession. The Human Caring Theory puts the profession of nursing in a different light and views it as a nontraditional science because it includes human compassion. Watson states when human caring becomes involved in the nursing process, it starts to possess its own phenomena; requiring an explanation of its concepts, meaning and relationships (Watson, 2012). In order to understand how the Theory of Human Caring can be applied to everyday nursing practice; one must study the major concepts behind the theory, what can be learned through applying the theory to practice as well as the how the nursing metaparadigm relates to the theory. Major Concepts of the Theory of Human Caring Watson defines the ideal outcome of nursing care as protection, development and preservation of human dignity. Nurses are able to achieve this goal when the major concepts behind the Theory of Human Caring are utilized and put into practice by nurses. The major concepts of Watson’s Theory are the caring moment, carative factors and the transpersonal relationship (McCance, McKenna, Boore, 1999). A caring moment is stated by Watson to be a heart-centered encounter with another person. A heart-centered encounter is defined as two people with their own phenomenal fields coming together for a human-to-human interaction that is meaningful, genuine, deliberate and honoring to one another. This interaction should expand each other’s world view and spirit and lead to a new self-discovery (Wagner, 2013). Carative  factors are the essential aspects of caring in the nursing profession. Watson has chosen to use the word carative versus curative in order to differentiate nursing f rom medicine. The goal of curative medicine is to cure the patient of illness whereas the objective of the carative aspects of the nursing profession is to help a person achieve and/or maintain their health or die a peaceful and dignified death (Watson, 2007). There are ten carative factors; formation of a humanistic-altruistic value system, instillation of faith-hope, sensitivity to one’s self and to others, development of a helping-trusting, human caring relationship, encouragement and acceptance of the expression of positive and negative feelings, use of a creative problem-solving process, transpersonal teaching-learning, assistance with gratification of human needs, allowance for existential-phenomenological-spiritual forces and protective and/or corrective mental, physical, societal and spiritual involvement (Watson, 2007). Transpersonal Caring is an important component of Watson’s theory. This type of caring occurs when the nurse senses the patient’s personal view of what is happening in their situation and the world around them. This experience allows for the blending of the nurses background and the patient’s experience and frees them both from isolation. Transpersonal Caring is meant to be a spiritual u nification of both patient and nurse that allows them to transcend time, self and the life history of one another (Cohen, 1991). Caring Patient-Nurse Interaction A significant caring moment in my nursing career happened while I was a student working on my Associate’s Degree. I was assigned to a blind elderly male patient named Mr. B, who had just had hernia surgery. The nurse I was working with was very busy and did not have the best bedside manner in my opinion. I went into Mr. B’s room to introduce myself, and I could tell he was very nervous and in a great deal of pain. I obtained all of his vital signs and asked him if he would like me to see if he was due for his pain medication. He said, Yes. I also need my nicotine patch too. I looked in his MAR and found he was able to receive morphine every hour as needed and had his last dose an hour and a half before, and there was not an order for a nicotine patch. I proceeded to get my nurse and ask if I could administer the morphine with her and she said, I just gave him a dose. Look at the  MAR. I pointed out to her that he was able to receive it every hour, and she said, Thats ridiculous. Im not going to be giving him morphine every hour. What was that doctor thinking? I looked at her in disbelief. I felt as if she was saying that taking care of this mans pain was putting a cramp in her day. Next I asked her about ordering a nicotine patch. Her response was, â€Å"I don’t feel that I should bother a doctor for a nicotine patch. If I talk to his doctor, I will mention it.† I informed my teacher, who was apparently aware of this nurses reputation, and was able to get my patient his pain medication and call the doctor to order his nicotine patch. Once he was relaxed enough I started to ask him questions as to how I could make his stay more comfortable. He was blind, so I took his hand and traced his fingers around the buttons on the bed and the TV remote control to get him familiar with their position and function. Then I had him operate them on his own in front of me until he felt he was proficient. His call light was clipped to his shirt, and I taught him how to splint his abdomen if he had to move to prevent pain. Everything he needed such as a urinal, icepack and telephone were all put within his reach. When I asked if there was anything else I could do for him, I noticed he was tearing up. I immediately assumed he was in pain. When I asked what was wrong, he said, â€Å"Oh nothing, sweetheart. I’m just grateful for what you’ve done for me. No one has ever taken that much time to help this old broken man out.† What One Can Learn About Themselves Through Caring Interactions The incident described above became a defining caring moment for me because although my patient probably didn’t know it, just as I had helped him, he had helped me. I learned that my actions, no matter how small I thought they were, can transform someone’s experience. I must admit when I left that room; my eyes weren’t dry either. This was a meaningful, genuine human-to-human interaction where we honored one another. I treated him with the dignity and respect any fellow human being deserved, and he let me be a student. He took the time to answer the questions I had about his condition and made me feel like I was a real nurse making a difference. Enhancing the Caring Moment During my encounter with Mr. B, I felt that I did everything within my power and limited student skillset directly to make him more comfortable and at ease in the hospital setting. However, I could have talked with the nurse in  charge of his care regarding her attitude. I didnt at the time because I felt like I was just a student that no one would listen to, but that was the wrong attitude to take. After I had left I couldnt stop thinking about how he was at the mercy of his nurses mood swings and callous attitude. This is another lesson that I learned. No one benefits if no one speaks out about insensitive patient care. In the future, I will not hesitate to speak up if I feel that a negative attitude is affecting a patient’s experience. Nursing Metaparadigm as it Relates to the Patient Interaction The metaparadigm of nursing establishes nursing as a profession. The major concepts related to the nursing metaparadigm are; person, health, environment and nursing. All four of these concepts are directly related to my encounter with Mr. B. The interaction that we had was person-to-person. One human being trying to understand another human being’s circumstance. We both contributed to a positive, meaningful, learning experience for one another. Making my patient’s health and environment a priority was important to me as well. My ultimate goal was to get him out of the state of pain he was in so he was able to tell me what he needed to make his environment comfortable for his stay at the hospital. It was important for him to tell me what he needed because his sight was impaired and I didn’t want to assume his needs. Another learning opportunity occurred at this point. I had never had the opportunity to work with a patient that was blind before. I took this opportunity to learn what a person with sight impairment needs from those involved with their healthcare. My patient was able to enlighten me on the challenges that a person without sight faces every day. Being put in an unfamiliar environment is most often a stressful and scary experience. Nurses need to take the time to help these patients acclimate to an unfamiliar environment. Watson’s ideal nursing outcome, the preservation of human dignity, was met at the end of the experience through maintaining patient self-determination. Carative Factors Applied to Caring Moment Four of Watson’s carative factors played a role in the caring moment I shared with Mr. B. They are the assistance with gratification of human needs, cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and others, promotion of interpersonal teaching and development of a helping-trusting-caring relationship. The carative factor of the gratification of human needs is met when the nurse can help meet the patients individual needs (Watson, 2008). Mr. B’s needs were very specific due to the loss of his vision. I was able to make him as comfortable as possible level of worry down by making sure that he knew where everything he needed was and showing him how the bed, call light and remote control function. Mr. B was also very worried because the doctor had not ordered his nicotine patch. Assuring him that I was going to do everything possible to make sure he was prescribed one made him less anxious. The cultivation of sensitivity to one’s self and others occurs through becoming responsive to a patient’s needs and feelings (Watson, 2008). Just as I was genuinely interested in attending to all of Mr. B’s needs, he was genuinely interested in helping me learn as a student. The way we interacted with one another was authentic and fostered a trusting-caring-helping relationship. The genuineness of our encounter also demonstrates the promotion of interpersonal teaching. Our relationship was co-created, and promoted knowledge and growth (Watson, 2008). Conclusion Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring provides a solid foundation for any nurse to provide excellent care to their patients. By combining the Watson’s carative factors with the science of medicine, a nurse can attain a more well-rounded perspective of what their patient is experiencing. In turn, the nurse is able to learn from their patient as well as learn more about themselves and what they can achieve through compassionate care. References Cohen, J. (1991). Two portraits of caring. A comparison of the artists, Leninger and Watson. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 16(8), 899-909. McCance, T., McKenna, H., Boore, J. (1999). Caring: Theoretical perspectives of relevance to nursing. Jornal of Advanced Nursing, 30(6), 1388-1395. Wagner, A. (2013). Core concepts of Jean Watson’s theory of human caring/ caring science. Retrieved from http://watsoncaringscience.org/files/Cohort%206/watsons-theory-of-human-caring-core-concepts-and-evolution-to-caritas-processes-handout.pdf Watson, Jean. (2007). Watsons theory of human caring and subjective living experiences: carative factors/caritas processes as a disciplinary guide to the professional nursing practice. Texto Contexto Enfermagem, Janeiro/marà §o, 129-135. Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (rev. ed.), Boulder: University Press of Colorado Watson, J. (2012). Human caring science: A theory of nursing (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones Bartlett, LLC.

Biology of Cloning :: essays research papers

Cloning: the process of copying one’s DNA to create an identical organism through nonsexual means. To Clone a human there are 5 Steps. 1. First you need to get an adult human female and Isolate the nucleus from a somatic (non-reproductive) cell. The complete genetic material of the organism is in the nucleus. To get the cell nuclei this step is repeated many times. A very small needle and syringe (suction device) is used to poke through the cell membrane to capture the nucleus and remove it from the cell. 2. From a female, retrieve unfertilized egg cells (reproductive). Since not all of them will survive the various steps of cloning many eggs are needed. 3. Remove the egg cell's nucleus, one-half of the human genetic material. To poke through the cell membrane to capture the nucleus and remove it from the cell a very small needle and syringe (suction device) is used. 4. Into the egg cell that has no nuclear material, insert the nucleus, with its complete genetic material, isolated from the donor mammal in Step 1. Now contains all traits from the donor adult is the egg's genetic material. This egg is now genetically identical to the original donor adult. 5. Into a female's womb the egg is placed. The eggs that mature in a woman’s stomach are of a very small percentage. Soon the eggs that survived will develop into embryos. The egg matures in the womb. Then, when the baby is born, it is genetically identical (a clone) to the donor human. For or against there has been a lot of dispute whether we should clone people or not, in my personal I think we should. We could rid the society of mentally, physically retarded people, rid it of disables for future generations, we can get more intelligent DNA and create a generation of superior humans, thus increasing our knowledge and making the race smarter.

Experience Economy

Lecture 1. EXPERIENCE ECONOMY – when the person buys experience, he pays to spend time enjoying a series of memorable events that a company stages -> as in theatrical – businesses must orchestrate play memorable events for their customers [pic] – EE is applied- new experience concept, experience included ins services and products, experience venues, additional offerings supporting memory of the experience – The anatomy of an Experience 1. The First part/ BEFORE : The expectation 2. The Second part/ DURING: Breakaway from the everyday life 3. The Third part/ AFTER : The memorable experience EXPERIENCE HYBRID – combination of 2 different sectors/products; creating a unique experience to the customer ( for example cafe with a travel store and a book store) Lecture 2 The 4 Realms of Experience ENTERTAIMENT †¢ Something that entertain the customer, and something that is relaxing and enjoyable without being to thorough. †¢ An active professional communication to a passive receiver/customer †¢ is a passive aspect of an experience †¢ when the customers are entertained, they are not really doing except to responding to the experience ( enjoying, laughing, etc. †¢ customers passively absorbed through the senses †¢ EXAMPLE: cinema, concert, sport event †¢ What entertainment would help your guests to enjoy the experience better? How can you make the time more fun and more enjoyable? EDUCATIONAL †¢ Learning takes place during everyones life and in all situations. †¢ It can be the learning based on experiences, called †learning by doing† and it can also be the learning that takes place in an interaction between the person and its surroundings †¢ is essentially active aspect †¢ the guests absorb the events unfolding before them the educational events must actively engage the mind †¢ What do you want your guests to learn from experience? What interaction or activities wil l help engage them in the exploration of certain knowledge and skills? ESTHETIC †¢ Is the sensuous realisation. †¢ Is subjective and determined by culture and is often about art, nature, music and food. †¢ passive aspect of an experience †¢ to create an atmosphere where the guests will feel free † to be â€Å" †¢ the guests immerse themselves in an event or environment; when the event has only little or no effect on it, they leave the environment untouched What can be done to enhance the esthetic value of the experience? What would make your guests want to come in, sit down, and just hang out? How you can do to make the environment more inviting and comfortable ESCAPIST †¢ Is the escape from the reality †¢ It can be an intentional or unconsious escape from the reality †¢ In both cases there is a huge degree of empathy †¢ is an active aspect †¢ the guest of this experience is completely immersed in it †¢ the guest becomes an actor able to affect the actual performance †¢ EXAMPLE : cyberspace is a great place for escapism What you should encourage guests to do if they are to become active participants in the experience -experiences can be built around one or more of elements. -where the strongest experiences consist of more than one of these elements. The more elements included in a experience, the stronger and more memorable the experience gets. THE EXPERIENCE ROOM – is a place where we alive our experience-> the stage, the staff, other customers and waiting time – these factors are affected whole experience for the customers ? THE STAGE – Where, How long, visual picture, differentiation, attracts customers, affect feelings and behavior the visual place where the people alive the experience; decoration, details are very important-> memorable experience ? THE STAFF Meeting new customer Create an experience Disney World ( Mickey Mouse figureoutfit) ? OTHER CUSTOMERS- positive or negative sites of many other customers ? WAITING TIME – often like a negative aspect EXPERIENCE OVER TIME The Pre-experience †¢ Planning the trip or experience †¢ Expectations The experience ( during ) †¢ The four realms The After-experience †¢ Memory (pictures) †¢ Expectations ( are they met) †¢ Narrative of the experience The involvement of sensesSmell, Taste, Sound, Feel, View [pic] Lecture 3 Variety -means producing and distributing product choices to outlets in the hope that some customer will come along and buy them Customization – customizing a service can be a sure route to staging a positive experience – customizing a good automatically turns it into a service Mass customization ? is supported by several conditions: increased demands for individualized products, information- and production techniques allow mass customization COLLABORATING Cust. – The Exploring Experience – the consumers are helped to take t he choice and actively NIKE,Ikea ADAPTIVE Cust. – The Experimenting Experience – helps customer to find the right configuration – does not change the product – the selection of TV-channels COSMETIC Cust. – The Gratifying Experience – the packing is adapted to the consumer, not the exact product- personalized – delivered as the consumers want – Interflora TRANSPARENT Cust. -The Discovering Experience -the product is adapted to the consumer and the consumer do not have to do anything Lecture 4 EVENTS – an event is a single or periodic returning event defined by time and space are planned in preparation for observation and participation Types of events ? as a product – World Cup, The Olympics , The local city party, Eurovision Song Contest ? in marketing and sales – diesel, penthouse, product samples The model for an events DNA -unique, historical, unpredictable, predictable, star quality, audience interaction , history narrative, media friendly, forging identity 5 CATHEGORIES OF THE AUTHENTICITY †¢ Natural authenticity (the original) †¢ Original authenticity (original in design, first on market) †¢ Exceptional authenticity (implemented with ideal empathy and compassion) Referential authenticity (the product has a context which is linked to the history/culture) †¢ Influential authenticity (the product which to take the customer to a higher level) 4 PRINCIPLES OF THE ACTING †¢ PLAY †¢ MAKE THEIR DAY †¢ BE THERE †¢ CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE Lecture 5 IT- Information technology – this is one of the central aspects in the experience economy since more and more types of experiences become IT-based – is an important tool used to make experiences efficient The purpose of experience economy The transformation economy [pic][pic]

Producing a modern version of the play Essay

What difficulties have you experienced in producing a modern version of the play and how have you gone about solving these? A Midsummer Night’s dream looks at many themes and issues surrounding love and magic. The play looks into love, relationships, magic and how men and women treat each other. The play starts off with two minor characters in the play that appear at the beginning and at the end, Duke Theseus of Athens and Hippolyta the Queen of the Amazon’s discussing their forthcoming wedding. This part of the play creates images of weddings and romances. Recurrent images throughout the play appear here the moon, heaven and fate. There is a romantic tone and the language is also romantic as the Duke says ‘she lingers my desires’. The theme is love. Egeus, Hermia’s father enters angry with his daughter, and Lysander whom she is in love with. Egeus tries to threaten Hermia into marrying Demetrius. This is whom Egeus would like his daughter to be with, as he believes Demetrius can do no wrong and would care for Hermia unconditionally. Hermia is then given an ultimatum; she either marries Demetrius or dies. The language is full of hatred and ‘full of vexation come I’. This gives imagery of fantasies. The theme is of stolen love and fantasy. The tone of the actors is harsh and changes toward the end when Egeus says ‘†¦ stubborn harshness. And, my gracious Duke†¦ ‘. Hermia loves Lysander with all her heart. She doesn’t want to marry Demetrius and she certainly does not want to die, so the love-struck couple decide to escape and run away to the woods to be wed. Hermia sticks up for Lysander and says he is a worthy gentleman. The topic is that Hermia would die for Lysander; she doesn’t desire Demetrius. The language is full of anti-Demetrius, and the tone is occupied with sadness. Once again there are recurrent images of the moon, suggesting fate will deal its own hand this occurs when ‘†¦ on Diana’s altar†¦ ‘ is mentioned. Goddess of chasity and moon means this. Just as the two young lovers head towards the wood they meet Helena. Helena is a good friend of Hermia. She loves Demetrius, and is very jealous of Hermia’s beauty, for she is whom Demetrius loves. They tell Helena of their plans to elope. She then tells Demetrius to get on the good side of him (because he loves Hermia). The language in this area of the play is full of jealousy, and has a bitter tone. Hermia greets Helena with ‘God speed, fair Helena! Whither away? ‘ and she replies in a very cold and resentful tone saying ‘Call me fair? †¦ Demetrius loves your fair’. We then meet the actors, also known as the mechanicals that are going to perform an act at Duke Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding. We find out they are not the cleverest of people. One actor who is called Nick Bottom is introduced to us and his occupation is a weaver. We discover he is greedy and wants to take over everyone’s parts in the play. Bottom uses rhyme and rhythm when he speaks reciting poem. A Midsummer Night’s dream is about two worlds, earth and the fairy world. In the fairy world we meet a fairy, servant to Titania and Puck (Robin Goodfellow), Oberon’s lieutenant. We learn of Puck’s mischievous behaviour. The fairy introduces us to Puck with such rhyme and rhythm creating calmness, ironic to Puck’s character. Oberon and Titania are king and queen of the fairy world. Together they are parents to an Indian child servant. However, the two argue about whom the child is to stay with. We gain knowledge of who loves whom in the real world. Titania blames Oberon for the natural disasters in the real world. Titania suggests that the result of the quarrel causes strong gusts of wind, stormy sea, fog, loss of crop, floods, frosts etc. She also says that they have caused ‘murrion’, murrain is a fatal disease in sheep caused by wetness. In today’s society we can relate to this as we have experienced the terrible foot and mouth disease spread around the whole countryside. However, we cannot relate to the natural disasters as a result of quarrelling as these are occurrences which no one human being has force and control over. Due to the argument between the king and the queen of the fairy world Oberon decides to take revenge over Titania. He remembers of a flower, which contains a potion. The potion will make a living being fall in love with the first living thing they see. You can convey the magic of the flower with an anti-drugs to appeal to today’s society. Helena and Demetrius enter the wood. Helena tells Demetrius how she feels, but he doesn’t feel the same way. She is determined to win over his heart, and whatever Demetrius says and does, despite the nature of it, Helena falls more deeply in love with him. Helena keeps on following Demetrius, she throws herself at him at every opportunity she has and she doesn’t like to not see him. Demetrius’ tone of voice is hostile and his language is full of hatred. Images created are of hate. Demetrius says ‘ Tempt not too much the hatred of my spirit; for I am sick when I do look at thee’. Images of hell are also present. Oberon listens into the conversation between the pair, and he decides to side with Helena. He decides to help Helena out, as he feels she deserves someone to treat her fairly, and someone that will make her very happy. He tells Puck to drop some of the potion from the magical flower into Demetrius’ eyes. Whilst Titania is sleeping Oberon put the magical drops into her eyes. Mean while Lysander and Hermia enter the woods and fall asleep. Puck saw Lysander in the woods, confused, he put the drops into his eyes. Helena then goes deeper into the woods after losing track of Demetrius. She sees Lysander on the floor. He is still and very pale, and Helena thinks he is dead. She begins to shake him and he awakes. Lysander looks into Helena’s eyes and he falls instantly in love with her; he does not love Hermia any more, thanks to the magical flower. Lysander follows Helena leaving Hermia alone; he tries to convince her of his undying love. As Hermia is left alone asleep she has a terrible nightmare. She has a nightmare of a serpent eating her heart. The images create a vision of hell. Hermia wakes to find Lysander is not there, she is scared and very worried. The actors try to find a ‘convenient place’ for their rehearsal. They discover the wood is the perfect position to practice. The actors continuously seek to find fault with the play. They suggest that the killing of Pyramus could not be shown because it would scare the women watching. They also recommended that they could not have the part of a lion roaring as the audience would be afraid. After the trouble getting the play started, they began. Puck enters on scene; he is unseen and unheard. He thinks to himself what do we have here? Puck’s character is portrayed as a mischievous character; this shows when he plants an ass’s head on Bottom’s head. The mechanicals create humour with word play, and also there are many misunderstandings. The actors do not know what impact they are having on the audience, as they are not supposed to be comedic. However they are and don’t know which adds humour to the language and imagery. Bottom is puzzled as the actors surrounding him run away from him calling him names whilst being afraid. This is very ironic. He wonders around singing and whistling to himself. Titania awakes and when she notices Bottom she instantly falls in love with him. She instructs her fairies to tend to his every need. Imagery and themes of slavery are presented here. Puck explains to Oberon about his incident with Bottom and he agrees it was better than he could have devised. The duo watch Hermia and Demetrius in an argumentative conversation. Hermia believes Demetrius has hidden Lysander from her, so he can have her for himself; this is far from the truth. Demetrius tried to justify himself, but Hermia would have none of it. He eventually gave in, lied on the floor and fell asleep. Oberon realises Puck has made a mistake with the magical flower. We are then with Lysander and Helena, and Lysander is still trying to convince Helena of his love for her. Demetrius wakes to find Helena, and once again the magic begins, he loves Helena. Helena thinks the two men are lying to her, trying to mock her. She thinks everyone is in on the supposed plot, including Hermia whom now enters dazed and confused. This suggests the theme and idea of love is confusing.

liberal arts - definition and examples

liberal arts - definition and examples Definitions (1) In medieval education, the liberal arts were the standard way of depicting the realms of higher learning. The liberal arts were divided into the trivium (the three roads of grammar, rhetoric, and logic) and the quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy). (2) More broadly, the liberal arts are academic studies intended to develop general intellectual abilities as opposed to occupational skills. In times past, said Dr. Alan Simpson, the liberal education set off a free man from a slave, or a gentleman from laborers or artisans. It now distinguishes whatever nourishes the mind and spirit from the training which is merely practical or professional or from the trivialities which are no training at all (The Marks of an Educated Man, May 31, 1964).   See the observations below. Also see: The Art of Persuasion, by John Quincy AdamsBelles-LettresA Definition of a Gentleman, by John Henry NewmanHumanitiesLady RhetoricMedieval RhetoricSister Miriam Josephs Brief Guide to Composition A Successful Failure, by Glenn Frank EtymologyFrom the Latin (artes liberales) for the education proper to a free man   Observations The Liberal Arts TodaySurprisingly, it is the trivium that is the core curriculum managers must learn to do their jobs. What management programs teach, without realizing it and with no sense of their historical mission as moral tools, is the old liberal arts practice of rhetoric, grammar, and logic that along with the quadrivium made up liberal arts and sciences education.(James Maroosis, The Practice of the Liberal Arts. Leadership and the Liberal Arts: Achieving the Promise of a Liberal Education, ed. by J. Thomas Wren et al. Palgrave Macmillan, 2009)In its most recent employer surveys (2007, 2008, and 2010), the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) found that the vast majority of employers say they are less interested in specialized job proficiencies. Instead, they favor analytical thinking, teamwork, and communication skillsthe broad intellectual and social competencies available through a liberal arts education. . . .It is time to liberate the liberal arts f rom being portrayed as disconnected from the real world. This historical perception is largely inaccurate today, as more and more institutions of higher learning are seeking ways to bring relevance and application to the liberal arts.(Elsa Nà ºÃƒ ±ez, Liberate Liberal Arts From the Myth of Irrelevance. The Christian Science Monitor, July 25, 2011) Cardinal Newman on the Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education[The purpose of a liberal arts education is to] open the mind, to correct it, to refine it, to enable it to know, and to digest, master, rule, and use its knowledge, to give it power over its own faculties, application, flexibility, method, critical exactness, sagacity, resource, address, [and] eloquent expression.(John Henry Newman, The Idea of a University, 1854) Qualities of an Educated PersonMore than anything else, being an educated person means being able to see connections that allow one to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways. Every one of the qualities I have described herelistening, reading, talking, writing, puzzle solving, truth seeking, seeing through other peoples eyes, leading, working in a communityis finally about connecting. A liberal education is about gaining the power and the wisdom, the generosity and the freedom to connect.(William Cronon, Only Connect: The Goals of a Liberal Educa tion. The American Scholar, Autumn 1998) An Endangered Species[L]iberal education at the undergraduate level is an endangered species and likely to face extinction in another generation or so, at all but the wealthiest and most protective institutions. If recent trends continue, the liberal arts will be replaced by some form of vocationalism, in disguise perhaps, or migrate into other environments.(W. R. Connor, Liberal Arts Education in the 21st Century, meeting of the American Academy for Liberal Education, May 1998) The Classical Tradition of the Liberal ArtsThe medieval program of seven liberal arts can be traced back to the enkyklios paideia, or comprehensive education of classical Greece, that was included in the broad cultural studies of some Romans like Cicero. In antiquity, however, the seven arts were an ideal in the minds of philosophers or a program of reading and study for leisured (liberi) adults, not a series of graded levels of study in school, as they became in the later Middle Ages. Grammar and rhetoric w ere the two stages of an ancient education, both supported during the Roman Empire from public funds in towns of any size; but dialectic, the third art of the trivium (as the verbal studies came to be called), was an introduction to philosophy, which was undertaken by only a few. To learn the quantitative arts that became the medieval quadriviumarithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music theorywould have required independent study.(George Kennedy, Classical Rhetoric and Its Christian and Secular Tradition From Ancient to Modern Times, 2nd ed. Univ. of North Carolina Press, 1999)

dinosaurs extinction essays

dinosaurs extinction essays The first question that must be posed when trying to crack the mystery of the mass extinction is to ask, throughout history were there any other occurences of this magnitude? The answer is a resounding yes. Altogether over time there has been about eight mass extinctions to large land dwelling vertebrates. The most recent was about ten thousand years ago, killing most of the giant mammals like mammoths, mastodons, super-large camels, saber-toothed tigers, and others (Bakker 428). The second question, is whether or not these mass extinctions follow a pattern? Once again the answer is yes. Every time a mass extinction occurs on the land ecosystem, the oceanic system is hurt. When the dinosaurs died, many sea animals also died out (Bakker 428-430). The final question to be asked, is when these mass extinctions occur, are both land and water animals affected, and if so, are they affected at the same point in time? All saltwater animals suffered, however, freshwater creatures were left unaffected. Plants on land did suffer, but not nearly as much as the dinosaurs and other creatures that depended on them as a food source.(Bakker 431). Since the time that the first dinosaur was discovered, paleontologists have been pondering the demise of the dinosaurs. Over a hundred theories have been produced to explain this mass extinction (Psihoyos 255). The dinosaurs may have died because, "the weather got too hot," ; "the weather got too cold," ; "the weather got too dry," ; "the weather got too wet," ; "the weather became too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter," ; "the land became too hilly," ; "new kinds of plants evolved which poisoned all the dinosaurs," ; "new kinds of insects evolved which spread deadly diseases," ; "new kinds of mammals evolved which competed for food," ; "new kinds of animals evolved which ate all of the dinosaurs' eggs," ; "a giant meteor hit the earth," ; "a supernova exploded near the earth," ; "cosmic rays bom...

Taking the Train in France Master Typical French Train Announcements

Taking the Train in France Master Typical French Train Announcements Youve studied the train related French vocabulary, read my 7 tips you should know before taking the train to France, read my 20 questions and answers to know when traveling by train, so now, lets practice with some typical train announcements in French. â€Å"Le TGV 8330 en provenance de Paris Montparnasse et destination de Tours va rentrer en gare voie 6.   Il dessert les gares de ..., et Tours, son terminus. Les rà ©servations sont obligatoires dans ce train. Nous vous rappelons que dà ©sormais, l’à ©tiquetage des bagages est obligatoire. Pour votre sà ©curità ©, à ©loignez-vous de la bordure du quai†. The TGV coming from Paris Montparnasse and going to Tours is going to enter the station track 6. It stops at the stations of... and Tours, it’s final stop. Bookings are needed for this train. We would like to remind you that from now on, writing your name on your luggage is compulsory. For your security, please stay away from the edge of the platform†. â€Å"Bienvenue dans le TER 5506 destination de Guingamp. Ce train desservira les gares de Paimpol, ...† Welcome in the TER 5506 going to Guingamp. This train will stop at the following stations: Paimpol, ...† â€Å"Gare de Pontrieux. Une minute d’arrà ªt. Correspondance pour Paris voie A. Pour votre sà ©curità © attention l’espace entre le train et la bordure du quai†. Pontrieux station. One minute stop. Connection to Paris on track A. For your security, mind the gap between the train and the platform†. â€Å" cause de travaux sur la route, nous vous informons que notre TGV va rester en gare pendant 10 minutes. Nous nous excusons pour le retard occasionnà ©Ã¢â‚¬ . Because of roadworks, (we are telling you that) our TFV is going to stay in the station for 10 minutes. Please accept our apologies for the delay†. â€Å" cause des grà ¨ves, le TGV en provenance de Lyon sera retardà © de 30 minutes. Merci de prendre contact avec un agent de la SNCF pour plus d’informations†. Because of the strikes, the TGV coming from Lyon will be 30 minutes late. Please contact an SNCF agent for more information. â€Å"Mesdames, messieurs, dans quelques instants notre TGV desservira la gare de Pontrieux. Une minute d’arrà ªt. Assurez-vous de ne rien avoir oublià ©.† Ladies and gentlemen, in a few minutes our TGV will enter Pontrieux station. One minute stop. Make sure you don’t forget anything. â€Å"Toute l’à ©quipe de la SNCF vous remercie pour votre confiance et espà ¨re vous revoir trà ¨s bientà ´t sur le rà ©seau†. The SNCF team thanks you for your trust and hopes to see you again very soon on our network. â€Å"Au nom de la SNCF et de l’à ©quipe TGV, je vous souhaite une bonne journà ©e.† On behalf of SNCF and the TGV team, I wish you good day. I post exclusive mini lessons, tips, pictures and more daily on my Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest  pages - so join me there! https://www.facebook.com/frenchtoday https://twitter.com/frenchtoday https://www.pinterest.com/frenchtoday/ Follow these links for more of my taking the train in France related articles: - ​French Train Vocabulary,- 7 Need-to-Know Facts Before You Take the Train in France- 20 Typical QA Youll Use When Taking the Train in France- Master Train Announcements in French- Lets Take the Train Together - Bilingual French English Story​

Trategic Marketing Plan of amung Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Trategic Marketing Plan of amung - Essay Example In other wordÃ'•, when marketing their productÃ'•, whether locally or globally, firmÃ'• need to create a Ã'•ucceÃ'•Ã'•ful mix of:* the right product* Ã'•old at the right price* in the right place* uÃ'•ing the moÃ'•t Ã'•uitable promotion.Product DeciÃ'•ionÃ'•A product iÃ'• defined aÃ'•: "Anything that iÃ'• capable of Ã'•atiÃ'•fying cuÃ'•tomer needÃ'•". Then the product iÃ'• the central point on which marketing energy muÃ'•t focuÃ'•. Finding out how to make the product, Ã'•etting up the production line, providing the finance and manufacturing the product are not the reÃ'•ponÃ'•ibility of the only marketing function. It iÃ'• alÃ'•o concerned with what the product meanÃ'• to the cuÃ'•tomer. Marketing, therefore, playÃ'• a key role in determining Ã'•uch aÃ'•pectÃ'• aÃ'•:* The appearance of the product - in line with the requirementÃ'• of the market* the function of the product - productÃ'• muÃ'•t addreÃ'•Ã'• the needÃ'• of cuÃ'•tomerÃ'• aÃ'• identified through market reÃ'•earch.BuÃ'•ineÃ'•Ã'•eÃ'• needs to regularly develop new productÃ'• and marketÃ'• for future growth. A uÃ'•eful way of looking at growth opportunitieÃ'• iÃ'• theAnÃ'•off Growth Matrix which Ã'•uggeÃ'•tÃ'• that there is four main wayÃ'• in which growth can be achieved through a product Ã'•trategy:(1) Market penetration - IncreaÃ'•e Ã'•aleÃ'• of an exiÃ'•ting product in an exiÃ'•ting market(2) Product development - Improve preÃ'•ent productÃ'• and/or develop new productÃ'• for the current market(3) Market development  

Thematic critical analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Thematic critical analysis - Essay Example The novel takes place in a seventeenth century Puritan community, when it is discovered that Hester has been unfaithful to her long gone husband. As punishment she is forced to wear the letter "A" on her forever. Wearing the letter "A", symbolizing for adultery, was the real punishment in the Puritan community; however even in history there is never any mention of the letter being of red color. The main focus of the story is how Hester is forced to wear the scarlet colored letter on her all the time. Hawthorn specifically made sure that the letter was of the color red. He chose the color red purposely, his inspiration with British History had a hand in this as well. "In Northumberland's lament appears a reference to the day of judgment as an occasion when a person's sins are exposed and judged-the record described as a type of list, or bead-rolUXmt 116)^ and as a "black booke" to be "vnclaspt" at that time (118). This reference to a book of judgment and damnation presents nothing less than a source for the imagistic link in The Scarlet Letter between the embroidered letter worn by Hester-as well as the transgression which brought her such punishment-and the book of the "Black Man," in which the letters of the sinner's name would be inscribed in the scarlet hue of their own blood (Canadas 45). It is explained here by Canadas that the color red was chosen due to its association with blood and the severity of the crime. In the "Black Man" the names of the sinners will be written in their own blood. Sinners have committed unforgivable offenses for which it must be shown to the world, through their own blood, that harshness of their offence. In this same manner Hawthorn shows that Hester must wear the letter in the color red. It is a symbol of her offence against her marriage, her husband and most of all the pureness and innocence of the community. Which brings us to the next point, the social standards of this community are very narrow. This shows the influence of the environment in which Hester resided. If adultery had been committed in the twenty-first century, no one could have even though about physically punishing Hester. It still would have been looked down upon, but it would be her private life. Lets take a closer look at time frame and setting of this novel. It is mid-seventeenth century, Boston, Massachusetts. When Hawthorn this novel it was 1840 in Salem, his story takes place only two hundred years prior to the actual time. Let us also keep in mind that Hawthorn himself was from the Puritan descendants and therefore his literary flair was limited. "According to Nathaniel Hawthorne's biographer, Henry James, Jr. Hawthorne's heritage as a descendant of the "clearest Puritan strain" served to restrict his literary talent to the exploration of one theme: the "consciousness of sin""(Taylor 135). The main focus of the Pur itans was the sin and how to erase it. Obviously this kind of breeding led to Hawthorne only being able to write about this subject. The conscious sin refers to the sin that is committed even after obtaining the knowledge that this behavior is forbidden and will be condemned. However even after having this knowledge and understanding the consequences when one still commits a sin, it is referred to as

Calmodulin Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Calmodulin - Article Example Calmodulin possesses a very important function of stimulating the functioning of different enzymes as well as the mediation of ion channels. The activity of calmodulin is only brought about by the attachment of four calcium ions. This attachment brings about a change in the structure of calmodulin and makes it capable of performing its functions. The withdrawal of calcium ions from calmodulin restores it to its inactive state. The different enzymes that work after being activated by calmodulin include adenylyl cyclase, calcium magnesium ATPase, nitric oxide synthase, phosphorylase kinase, calcium dependent protein kinases and calcium phospholipid dependent protein kinase. It also possesses the function of acting on certain receptors like NMDA-type glutamate receptor as well as on ion movement pathways which include L-type calcium channels. Calmodulin also has an effect on other cellular mechanisms. The contractility of smooth muscle is one such function. In cells that are non-contrac ting, calmodulin has an effect on the motile activity of the cells and other processes like mitosis. The wide ranges of functions that can be performed by calmodulin clearly explain the importance of this protein in the living organisms. Its malfunctioning can result in hampering the activity of many enzymes, ion pathways and affect other regulatory processes (Champe et al 2005; Murray et al

Human Society and Environmental Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Society and Environmental Issues - Essay Example Environmental issues come up because different societies tend to live for themselves and no longer consider the welfare of other issues. One example of this is the ocean. The ocean is a universal property wherein different sea creatures reside. No matter how hard Australia protects migratory whales during seasons that such creatures are in their waters, it becomes useless if these mammals are not protected in the same scale once they go to the waters of South East Asia during summer time. In this sense, environmental issues could be minimized if the nations where migratory whales visit will enter into an agreement to equally protect these species. The physical resources of the world are somewhat made available for everybody. Thus the care and protection of which must be done on universal level. The ozone layer, the ocean, these are all not bound by territory, thus demands cooperation in terms of its protection. However, there are environmental issues that strictly demand the action of local governments. It is a universally accepted rule that resources found to one country belong to that same country. And if such country will create laws that will support logging without any clause on inter generational duty, then the international society cannot do much about it. This also goes with multi national corporations that pollute the air, but continuously operates because of the protection given by their host country. All environment issues are political issues because politics govern the relationship between the government and its people.

Summaries and critical thoughs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summaries and critical thoughs - Essay Example They insist on the fact that homosexuality and its identity is in between the sexes of both men and women. The pedigree of male homosexuality is comprised of five categories, sodomy, friendship, effeminacy, inversion, and homosexuality. However, according to the study, male homosexuals act as prostitutes, in their roles as women. Studies suggest that many males who practice prostitution refer to themselves as heterosexual and they develop complex policies to neutralize their significant behaviors. The text has been described as taboo breaking that describes homosexuality in the 14th century in London. The author focuses on same-sex intercourse and male transvestism in medieval England. Rykener’s interrogation in the text raises concern on the public understanding of sexuality in a medieval culture. This entails of lack of specific sexualities, and the deployment of the concept of sodomy and homosexuality. The questions are difficult for John Eleanor Rykener to answer although the text explains the argument. Rykener is a transvestite and a prostitute. This is because he had sex with both men and women, although he committed homosexuality for money. The author states that all women who had sex with multiple partners and the commercial partners are described as meretrix in the medieval society. This means that prostitution is linked to feminist. However, in cases that involved men, they were referred as oxymoron. This is a reason that describes the reason why Rykener is not accused of prostitution in the London court. Men who indulge in commercial sex are not described as prostitutes but instead they are termed as sodomists. However, the text explains that if Rykener was not considered a prostitute based on medieval understanding of the concept, he would not be convicted as a sodomite. However, it is important to note that from the arguments of the text, a legal crime of sodomy did note mean that those involved were homosexual. The author states

Smartphone and the Lives of Americans Today Essay

Smartphone and the Lives of Americans Today - Essay Example Sarwar and Soomro identified the fields of business, education, healthcare, human psychology, and social life as some of the greatest beneficiaries of the Smartphone ‘craze†. However, the workplace, homes, schools, and healthcare providers are the chief users of mobile phones. This study takes a closer look at the phenomenon impact that Smartphones have had in the workplace, healthcare, socialization, and entertainment. Healthcare has greatly benefited from the introduction of Smartphones. Through the use of Smartphones, the face of healthcare has immensely changed not only in the actual provision but the participation as well (Sarasohn-Kahn 8). Information access has been the main hallmark of the internet. According to Sarwar and Soomro (220), 275 of Smartphone owners use it for online information search with 10 million of the Smartphone users in the U.S using the device to seek health facilities and information. The health information sought by the Smartphone users includes healthcare facilities, symptoms of diseases, and prescriptions. This proves that the Smartphones have significantly contributed to the emancipation of the American public of different aspects of their health. Smartphones have, therefore, helped work towards a healthier nation. With the ObamaCare going online, the Smartphone users who seek health services using their devices is yet to grow. According to Sarasohn-Kahn (7), in February 2010, the Apple Store had about 4000 applications that were intended for patient users. Application provider, Gartner, said that health applications were within the top ten applications in 2012. This trend is a testimony of the increasing acceptance of the Smartphones as an integrated healthcare platform.  

Summaries and critical thoughs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Summaries and critical thoughs - Essay Example They insist on the fact that homosexuality and its identity is in between the sexes of both men and women. The pedigree of male homosexuality is comprised of five categories, sodomy, friendship, effeminacy, inversion, and homosexuality. However, according to the study, male homosexuals act as prostitutes, in their roles as women. Studies suggest that many males who practice prostitution refer to themselves as heterosexual and they develop complex policies to neutralize their significant behaviors. The text has been described as taboo breaking that describes homosexuality in the 14th century in London. The author focuses on same-sex intercourse and male transvestism in medieval England. Rykener’s interrogation in the text raises concern on the public understanding of sexuality in a medieval culture. This entails of lack of specific sexualities, and the deployment of the concept of sodomy and homosexuality. The questions are difficult for John Eleanor Rykener to answer although the text explains the argument. Rykener is a transvestite and a prostitute. This is because he had sex with both men and women, although he committed homosexuality for money. The author states that all women who had sex with multiple partners and the commercial partners are described as meretrix in the medieval society. This means that prostitution is linked to feminist. However, in cases that involved men, they were referred as oxymoron. This is a reason that describes the reason why Rykener is not accused of prostitution in the London court. Men who indulge in commercial sex are not described as prostitutes but instead they are termed as sodomists. However, the text explains that if Rykener was not considered a prostitute based on medieval understanding of the concept, he would not be convicted as a sodomite. However, it is important to note that from the arguments of the text, a legal crime of sodomy did note mean that those involved were homosexual. The author states

The written buyout research report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The written buyout research report - Essay Example Besides resorting to increase the operational efficiency and cost cutting measures as a way to enhance the profitability, one another way to attain corporate growth is through acquisition. In 2005, Proctor & Gamble made a major acquisition when it bought out The Gillette Company Inc., so as to expand its reach in the consumer products' industry. The recent big successful mergers are Blizzard, which is acquired by Vivendi, eBay acquisition of PayPal, Disney’s acquisition of Pixar, yahoo’s acquisition of Overture, which turned to be Yahoo’s ad system now.( Goodman 2008:67). As regards to the recent acquisition , PayPal can be regarded as the most successful buy-out in the consumer Internet space , as it had the deep effect on the trajectory of the acquiring company namely eBay. PayPal acquisition whose service facilitates the exchange of money between individuals over the Internet fetches further transaction –based fee revenue to eBay. (Laudon 2008:458). Goo gle has acquired Android, YouTube, Keyhole, Where2, DoubleClick and Urchin and this has added more value to its business. In the year 2003, Google acquired Applied Semantic for $102m. Google AdSense is being powered by Applied Semantics technology. (Books LLC 2010:79). How a business can grow? It may indulge in an acquisition of another business, it may cut costs, or it may increase its revenue, which is known as top-line growth. (Sherrington 2003:2). In this research essay, an attempt is made how an acquisition will enhance the overall growth of an acquirer. In this research essay, an open advice is being given to acquirer to acquire Tesco Plc, UK a leading supermarket in UK and the world’s largest online supermarket. This research essay will analyse in detail the background of Tesco Plc, the financials, its business, and a recommendation why Tesco Plc is to be made as a target company to be acquired by the proposed acquirer. TESCO PLC, UK -Business Overview TESCO is the gia nt supermarket retailer in the U.K and has been ranked the globe’s biggest on-line grocery retailer and is the 4th biggest supermarket in the globe trailing after Home Depot, Carrefour, and Wal-Mart. TESCO is continuously earning profits from the year 1999 onwards. Initially, Tesco started to specialise in food products and then shifted into provinces like consumer electronics, clothing, Internet services, financial services, fuel services, banking services and customer _ telecom. In the year 2003, Tesco established a UK telecom division by associating with other telecoms in UK. For instance, with O2, it launched a joint venture for Tesco mobile. In the year 2004, as a joint venture, it established a broadband service. Tesco announced in the year 2006 that more than one and a half million customers had signed up for its telecom account, which provides services like fixed-telephone line , mobile phone services and broadband accounts. In association with Royal Bank of Scotland, Tesco also provides customers with financial services named Tesco Personal Finance and thus during 2006, Tesco was able to register more than 5 million customer accounts. (McLoughlin & Aaker 2010:128). As of date, Tesco Plc, UK is having about 2463 retail stores and there are 472, 04 employees working for Tesco. Source: Tesco’s Annual Report 2010:85 Tesco Plc has markets symbolising about 53% of the global

Kant on Intuition Essay Example for Free

Kant on Intuition Essay Introduction Kant seems to have adapted the Spinozan trichotomy of spiritual activity. (Rocca, 77) In addition to sensible (empirical) intuition and understanding, Kant introduces pure intuition. The principles of this a priori, supra-empirical sensibility are dealt with by the transcendental aesthetic, a discipline which establishes that there are two pure forms of sensible intuition, serving as principles of a priori knowledge, namely, space and time. (Hayward, 1) Space is a necessary a priori representation, which underlies all outer intuitions (Hayward, 1); in particular, in order to perceive a thing, we must be in the possession of the a priori notion of space. Nor is time an empirical concept: it is the form of the inner sense, and is a necessary representation that underlies all intuitions. (Ewing 24) Pure intuition, unaided by the senses and, moreover, constituting the very possibility of sense experience, is for Kant the source of all synthetic a priori judgments. These include the synthetic judgments of geometry, which is for Kant the a priori science of physical space, and arithmetic, which he regards as based on counting, a process that takes time. Moreover, if for Aristotle, Descartes and Spinoza intuition was a mode of knowing first truths, it is for Kant no less than the possibility of outer experience. The faculty by means of which man creates geometries and theories is reason certainly sustained in some cases by sensible intuition, though not by any mysterious pure intuition. However, the products of reason are not all of them self-evident and definitive. Kantian time had a similar fate. We now consider that the characterization of time as the a priori form of the inner sense is psychologistic, and we reject the radical separation between time and physical space. The theories of relativity have taught us that the concepts of physical space and time are neither a priori nor independent from one another and from the concepts of matter and field. Infallibilism is, of course, one of the sources of Kantian intuitionism. Further sources are psychologism and the correct acknowledgment that sensible experience is insufficient for building categories (e. g. , the category of space). Instead of supposing that man builds concepts which enable him to understand the raw experience he like other animals has, Kant holds dogmatically and, as we now know, in opposition to contemporary animal and child psychology, that outer experience is possible only by the representation that has been thought. (Hahn, 89) Of all the influential contributions of Kant, his idea of pure intuition has proved to be the least valuable, but not, unfortunately, the least influential. Contemporary Intuitionism If Cartesian and Spinozan intuitions are forms of reason, Kantian intuition transcends reason, and this is why it constitutes the germ of contemporary intuitionism, in turn a gateway to irrationalism. There are, to be sure, important differences. While Kant admitted the value of sensible experience and of reason, which he regarded as insufficient but not as impotent, contemporary intuitionists tend to revile both. Whereas Kant fell into intuitionism because he realized the limitation of sensibility and the exaggerations of traditional rationalism, and because he misunderstood the nature of mathematics, intuitionists nowadays do not attempt to solve a single serious problem with the help of either intuition or its concepts; rather, they are anxious to eliminate intellectual problems, to cut down reason and planned experience, and to fight rationalism, empiricism, and materialism. This anti-intellectualist brand of intuitionism grew during the Romantic period (roughly, the first half of the nineteenth century) directly from the Kantian seed, but it did not exert a substantial influence until the end of the century, when it ceased being a sickness of isolated professors and became a disease of culture. Sensible intuition and geometrical intuition, or the capacity for spatial representation or visual imagination, have very few defenders in mathematics nowadays, because it has been shown once and for all that they are as deceptive logically as they are fertile heuristically and didactically. Therefore, what is usually called mathematical intuitionism does not rely on sensible intuition. It is now well understood that mathematical entities, relations, and operations, do not all originate in sensible intuition; it is realized that they are conceptual constructions that may altogether lack empirical correlates, even though some of them may serve as auxiliaries in theories about the world, such as physics. It is also recognized that self-evidence does not work as a criterion of truth, and that proofs cannot be shown by figures alone, because arguments are invisible. In particular, it is no longer required that axioms be self-evident; on the contrary, because they are almost always richer than the theorems they are designed to explain, axioms are often less evident than the theorems they give rise to, and are therefore apt to appear later than the theorems in the historical development of theories. Thus it is easier to obtain theorems on equilateral triangles than to establish general propositions about triangles. Mathematical intuitionism is best understood if it is regarded as a current that originated among mathematicians (a) as a reaction against the exaggerations of logicism and formalism; (b) as an attempt to rescue mathematics from the shipwreck that, at the beginning of our century, the discovery of the paradoxes in set theory seemed to forecast; (c) as a minor product of Kantian philosophy of pure intuition. It is only indebted to Kant, who was as much a rationalist and an empiricist as he was an intuitionist; and even what mathematical intuitionism owes to Kant may be left aside without fear of seriously misunderstanding the theory as has been recognized by Heyting, (Heyting 13) although Brouwer might not agree. The debt of mathematical intuitionism to Kant boils down to two ideas: (a) time though not space according to neointuitionists is an a priori form of intuition and is essentially involved in the number concept, which is generated by the operation of counting; (b) mathematical concepts are essentially constructible: they are neither mere marks (formalism) nor are they apprehensible by their being ready-made (Platonic realism of ideas); they are the work of human minds. The first assertion is unmistakably Kantian, but the second will be granted by many non-Kantian thinkers. Those mathematicians who are sympathetic with mathematical intuitionism tend to accept the second thesis while ignoring the first. Since a large part of mathematics may be built on the arithmetic of natural numbers, which would be generated by the intuition of time, it follows that the apriority of time does not only qualify the properties of arithmetic as synthetic a priori judgments, but it does the same for those of geometry, though certainly along an extended conceptual chain. The sole basal intuition would, then, suffice to engender step by step and in a constructive or recursive form not merely by means of creative definitions or by resorting to indirect proof the whole of mathematics or, rather, the mathematics allowed by mathematical intuitionism, which is only a portion of classical (pre-intuitionist) mathematics. It is true that Kant maintained that mathematics is the rational knowledge obtained from the construction of concepts. But what Kant meant by construction was not, for instance, the formation of an algorithm for the effective computation or construction of an expression like 100 100100, but rather the exhibition of the pure intuition corresponding to the concept in question. (Black 190) For Kant, to build a concept means to give its corresponding a priori intuition which, if possible, would be a psychological operation whereas, for mathematical intuitionism, the construction may be entirely logical, to the point that it may consist in the deduction of a contradiction. The ultimate foundation of all mathematical concepts, which for Kant and Brouwer alike must be intuitive, is quite another matter. Unlike Kant, the mathematical intuitionist will require that only the basic ideas be intuitive. With regard to the assertion that the basic intuition is prelinguistic, it seems definitely inconsistent with the findings of contemporary psychology, according to which every thought is symbolical, i. e. , accompanied by visual or verbal signs. Finally, the existence of Brouwers basic intuition (Stigt, 45) is at least as problematic as the existence of mathematical objects. (Curry 6) Mathematical intuitionism has both positive and negative elements. The former, the realistic elements, concern logic and the psychology of mathematics; the negative constituents are aprioristic and limiting, concern the foundations and methods of mathematics. Conclusion The debt of mathematical intuitionism to philosophical intuitionism is not large and, at any rate, what is involved is Kant’s intuitionism and not the anti-intellectualist intuitionism of many Romantics and post-Romantics. Besides, the contacts between mathematical and philosophical intuitionism are precisely those which the majority of mathematicians would not accept. The working mathematician, if he is concerned with the philosophy of mathematics at all, does not sympathize with intuitionism, because it looks for an a priori foundation or justification, or because it praises an obscure basic intuition as the source of mathematical creation, or because it claims that such an intuitive foundation is the sole warrant of certainty. Mathematical and logical intuitionisms are prized to some extent despite their peculiar dogmas, because they have contributed to the disintegration of alternative dogmas, particularly the formalist and the logicist ones. Works Cited Black Max. The Nature of Mathematics: London: Routledge Kegan Paul, 1933. 191 Curry Haskell B. Outlines of a Formalist Philosophy of Mathematics. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1951. Ewing A. C. Reason and Intuition, Proceedings of the British Academy, XXVII (1941) Hahn Hans. The Crisis of Intuition in The World of Mathematics. Edited by J R Newman New York: Simon Schuster, 1956 Hayward, Malcolm: The Geopolitics of Colonial Space: Kant and Mapmaking. Article accessed on 12/04/2007 from http://www. english. iup. edu/mhayward/Recent/Kant. htm Heyting A. â€Å"Heyting, Intuitionism in Mathematics, ( 1958), 13. Kant Immanuel. Kritik der reinen Vernunft (1781, 1787). Edited by R. Schmidt. Hamburg: Meiner, 1952. Translated by N. Kemp Smith . Immanuel Kants Critique of Pure Reason. London: Macmillan, 1929. Rocca, Della Michael. 1996. Representation and the Mind-Body Problem in Spinoza. Oxford University Press. Stigt, W. P. van 1990, Brouwers Intuitionism, Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1990.

Never Giving Up in Steinbecks The Moon is Down Essay -- Moon is Down

Never Giving Up in Steinbeck's The Moon is Down Machine Gun fire blasts over your head while your hiding in your home, the only protection available. A slight whistle begins in the distance but it soon becomes closer and closer, its sound becomes louder and more intense with every inch of ground that it covers. Then as soon as it started the whistle becomes an explosion-killing half of your friends and destroying any-thing in its path. The end is near as your town is conquered and you think there is nobody left to fight. But is there? This is a short description of what the townspeople of a small European town may have heard the day their town was seized by the German army in John Steinbeck's novel The Moon is Down (1942). Steinbeck's novel begins with a description of how easily the town was occupied by a far superior army that was well planned and was prepared for every possible outcome. The novel continues telling the story about a town that refuses to give up its freedom because it is out numbered and over powered. I believe that the story does not have a main character, but if in fact it does, the two would have to be the German high command Colonel Lanser and the town's Mayor Orden. These two are hard to define as main characters because of their simplicity. Lanser is a German man that has been in the army since the First World War and is only doing his duty as a commanding officer. The mayor is a calm man who only wants the best for the people of his town. The main theme that the novel is based on is simply overcoming adversity and never giving up. The theme of a novel can change the complete meaning of the story for each individual reader. If one person reads a book and he/she thinks that the book's main them... ...ry. If I tell them to fight they will be glad, and I who am not a brave man will have made them a little braver." The Mayor says this only because he knows that he will be killed no matter what he does but he knows that he must do anything he can to overcome adversity and help his people. The novel concludes with Mayor Orden being executed after telling the people of the town not to give up and to keep fighting till the end as he did. The story's ending plays perfectly into its theme because the mayor knew that he mustn't give up because weakness is contagious. If the mayor were to have given up then it's likely the town would have fell shortly. Overall the story of a small town trying to overcome its problems and never giving up is a true story of David and Goliath. Works Cited Stienbeck, John. The Moon is Down (1946).The Penguin Group. New York, New York

Florida Adoption Laws and Increased Involvement for Birthfathers Essay

Florida Adoption Laws and Increased Involvement for Birthfathers Since 1972, the issues surrounding the rights of unwed birthfathers have provided America with a highly controversial and morally challenging topic for debate. Prior to 1972, these unwed fathers were given little or no involvement in their child’s adoption proceedings, but because of highly publicized adoption cases in which birthfathers have retained custody of their child many years after their adoption took place, state legislatures have been forced to review their adoption laws regarding birthfathers and create more concrete ones. The laws in Florida regarding birthfathers have changed dramatically over the past several years, with complicating, senseless laws being replaced with more rational and reliable ones. The newest laws, passed in 2003 regarding a Putative father registry provide the most stable and fair support for legal adoption proceedings. According to ABC News, in August of 2002, a law passed concerning Florida birthfather’s rights regarding notification of their child’s placement for adoption. ...

Inquiry-Based Essay Reflection Essay

Before walking in this course, I had it stuck in my head that intervening in a research paper was bad. I learned that it was ok to insert myself into the essay. I could intervene and put a couple of my own perspectives into the essay. In high school, it was prohibited to use your own perspectives and words into the essay. The only major thing I had to consider is having the content and my perspective balanced so that my paper could sound credible. Of course, there were advantages and disadvantages to writing inquiry-based research essays. I noticed several advantages when I was working on my inquiry-based research essay. First, I was given the opportunity to pick a topic. Though this made me think a lot, gathering hand-selected topics and choosing one to write about was beneficial. It made me rethink about what interested me and what bored me. For instance, in essay 3, I originally started with a topic about black holes in space. Initially, it seemed like an interesting thing to talk about. However, as I kept researching this paper, there were large amounts of physics formulas and concepts being mentioned and repeated. It kept scaring me and making me doubt writing about it. I was going nowhere with the essay. After much consideration, I disposed of the subject and started a new one. The new one was about music and its stimulation, thus giving the reader and I a common ground. Second, the grading after turning in would be fair. If everyone had to write about one topic, the grading would be based upon who wrote the better. But, with the option of choosing a topic, the grading would be more upon individuality and the concept’s presentation, making it fair for everyone. Like advantages, there are also disadvantages that I noticed when doing this type of work. First, when starting essay 3, I was uncertain about using â€Å"I†. In high school, I was taught to not use â€Å"I† at all in a paper. It was a struggle for me to use â€Å"I† because I did not know what to say. I felt as if the quotes would make my own opinions matter at all.

Ethical and psychological Egoism Essay

Egoism is the theory suggesting that the motivation and goal of a particular action is the self. Egoism in a general context has two variants, normative and descriptive. The concept of the descriptive variant suggests that egoism as a factual description of human affairs and cannot be described any other way (Moseley, 2006). The normative side gives a conception that individuals should be motivated, without consideration to their current state of motivation (Moseley, 2006). The two variants conflict in principle alone which insinuates a debate on the rightness or wrongness of particular human acts throughout history. Ethical Egoism Ethical Egoism is a normative ethical standpoint which implies moral people should act in accordance to their self-interest. Ethical egoism has three formulations; personal, individual and universal (Waller, 2005). Individual ethical egoism stresses that a person should do what is most beneficial to them (Waller, 2005). Personal ethical egoism suggests that actions should be grounded on a person’s own self-interest without concern to what others around him should do, while the concept of universal ethical egoism holds that everyone should act in the basis of their own interests (Waller, 2005). All in all, virtues that suffice an individual’s self-interest is egoistic, otherwise it is non-egoistic (Waller, 2005). The strong version of Ethical egoism suggests that the promotion of an individual’s own good is moral, not promoting one’s own good is deemed as immoral (Moseley, 2006). The weak version still holds that morality is the promotion of one’s own good, however, it does not necessarily mean that it is immoral (Moseley, 2006). There are just implications of conditions that the evasion of personal interest has a possibility to be moral (Moseley, 2006). Psychological Egoism Psychological Egoism, on-the-other-hand, posits that every human action has an underlying selfishness, and even altruistic acts have inner selfish motivations (Hazlitt & Cook, 1991). Psychological Egoism is a form of egoism under the descriptive variant, suggesting how people should go about themselves. The principles of psychological egoism and its assumtive nature are acquainted to several criticisms that are very crucial (Moseley, 2006). The fallacy of Psychological Egoism  The detractors of Psychological Egoism ground its fallacy on the rejection of the notion that the theory is flawless, that it is structured in such a way that it cannot be approved or disapproved (Hazlitt & Cook, 1991). It is evident on the Psychological egoists’ advocacy that altruism is a mere act of acquiring a good feeling for doing altruistic actions. In a broader scenario, the person doing an act, either selfish or unselfish, is doing what interests him or her which makes the act ultimately selfish (Moseley, 2006). In another note, the fallacy of psychological egoism lies in the suggestion that people only do what makes them feel good. In this context, the description of a Psychological Egoist may project an unselfish person (Moseley, 2006). Furthermore, there is confusion in the concept of psychological egoism found in the object of desire and the subsequent results of the fulfillment of that desire (Moseley, 2006). The Difference between Psychological and Ethical Egoism It is of vital importance to distinguish the two from one another since the two forms of egoism conflict in advocacy, motivation and goal. Ethical Egoism per se, postulates that the promotion of an individual’s own good conforms to the standards of morality (Waller, 2005). In contrast to the Psychological Egoist claim that focuses on how people act, not on how they ought to act. The doctrine of motivation for Ethical Egoism lies within self-interest, while Psychological Egoists are motivated by the rational self-interest, even in an act that tends to be altruistic in nature. Self-Interest and Selfishness Self-interest is defined as an agent that stimulates an individual’s concern over a particular issue or matter. Self-interest is the element that governs human action. Selfishness, meanwhile is the devotion to satisfy one’s own end and interest. It is simply an individual’s concern for personal welfare. Philosophically, the two terms may be synonimous to each other as the two terms may refer to the placement of personal needs above others, however, self-interest and selfishness can be deemed independently as self-interest is a subjective element in a person’s perspective which can be directed to the self or for others.

Death is my best theme Essay

â€Å"Death is my best theme, don’t you think? † (Williams). Explore the varied uses Tennesse Williams makes of death and dieing in â€Å"A Streetcar Names Desire† Referring to â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire†, I completely agree that death is Williams’ best theme, closely followed by sex. There are many references to death as well as imagery and symbolism. He also uses many varied points on death. The first major speech about death is when Blanche is talking about her losing Belle Reve – â€Å"Blanche: All of those deaths! The long parade to the graveyard! Father, mother! Margaret, that dreadful way! So big with it, it couldn’t be put in a coffin! † This is the first thing that Blanche says that has any power and real feeling behind it and the topic is death. This is showing that death is going to play a large part in the feeling in and behind the story. â€Å"Blanche: You just came home in time for the funerals, Stella. And funerals are pretty compared to deaths. Funerals are quiet, but deaths-not always. † Stella is being associated with the funerals and Blanche with the deaths. This is showing Stella being quiet and Blanche being louder and more highly strung as that is how she has described the difference in her speech. Although on the outside this speech made by Blanche may sound like she is just talking about the deaths of all her family members but it is also relating to the death of Belle Reve and how the two are connected – â€Å"Blanche: How in hell do you think all that sickness and dying was paid for? Death is expensive, Miss Stella! † She describes death in quite a lot of detail in this speech; it is showing that death is going to become an important topic in this play. A lot of the deaths seem to be because of the men and their gambling and this could be a view of Williams’. – â€Å"Blanche: Honey-that’s how it slipped through my fingers! Which of them left us a fortune? † In â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire† a lot of the times when death is being discussed, sex seems to come into the conversation to. There is a strange relation between sex and death here. – â€Å"I let the place go? Where were you. In bed with your-Polak! † This is not the strongest reference to death and sex combined although it is a slight one. A much stronger one is Blanche’s speech about her late husband- â€Å"Blanche: Then I found out in the worst of all possible ways. By coming suddenly into a room that I though was empty-which wasn’t empty, but had two people in it†¦. † â€Å"Blanche: He’d stuck the revolver into his mouth, and fired-so that the back of his head had been-blown away! † Seeing her husband have sex with another man and then blow his head off within the time span of two hours causes a strange equation and connection between sex and death. The way he killed himself could also be perceived as a homosexual reference – sticking the gun in his mouth. â€Å"A vendor comes around the corner. She is a blind MEXICAN WOMAN in a dark shawl, carrying bunches of those gaudy tin flowers that lower class Mexicans display at funerals and other festive occasions. † Here, the woman carrying the funeral flowers is symbolising two things – Death and Blanche. It is ambiguous whether or not any of the other characters can see or are aware of the presence of the Mexican woman except from Blanche. Blanche’s thoughts seem to be provoked by the Mexican woman and it almost seems as if the Mexican woman is a representation of Blanche herself, and the Mexican woman is walking around celebrating death which shows the death within Blanche’s past and presence. â€Å"Mexican Woman: Corones para los muertos. Corones†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Blanche: Legacies! Huh†¦. And other things such as blood-stained pillow-slips† You can really see Blanche going mad in this scene as she is almost talking to herself rather than to Mitch and this symbolises the dying of Blanche’s mind. She also has fragmented speech patterns here and if talking about incoherent memories that only she can really understand. – â€Å"Blanche: -and on the way back they would all stagger on to my lawn and call-â€Å"Blanche! Blanche! † – The deaf old lady remaining suspected nothing. But sometimes I slipped outside to answer their calls†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Later the paddy-wagon would gather them up like daisies†¦. the long way home†¦. † Another view on death Tennesse Williams uses is the death of Belle Reve. Shown using Blanche and Stanley, there is a clash between two worlds and the Belle Reve world is dying communicated by Stanley taking power of Blanche and bringing her into their world and getting rid of her airs and graces. He breaks her and makes her realise that her old way of living is dead and that she has to enter the real world. â€Å"In A Streetcar Named Desire the conflict between two ways of life is concentrated within the battle between Blanche and Stanley. The old civilisation vested in Blanche is demonstrably decadent; her only means of survival in the modern world is to batten onto someone else and live off their emotional, physical and material resources, like a decorative fungus. † (Commentary). â€Å"Blanche: I will die – with my hand in the hand of some nice-looking ship’s doctor, a very young one with a small blond moustache and a big silver watch. † â€Å"Blanche: And I’ll be buried at sea sewn up in a clean white sack and dropped overboard-at noon-in the blaze of summer-and into an ocean as blue as (chimes again) my first lover’s eyes. † Blanche brings the equation of sex and death together again here as she is planning of dieing with a man by her side. This speech made by Blanche nearing the end of the play also has a slight reference to Othelia in Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet†. Othelia died in water and that is what Blanche is dreaming about doing. – â€Å"Queen: One woe doth tread upon another’s heel, So fast they follow. Your sister’s drown’d, Laertes. Laer: Drown’d? O, where? † (Hamlet). In conclusion Tennesse Williams uses a lot of different views on death, the connection between sex, the death of other things except people like the death of Belle Reve and Blanche’s mind, and the death of people who happen to all be someone in Blanche’s Past. Williams uses different angles to express the theme of death, symbolism of the death of Belle Reve, the Mexican woman symbolising the death of Blanche’s mind, and the outward talking of real death of people. This makes it an important topic as it depicted in so many ways. Death is defiantly in the running for Tennesse Williams’ best theme in â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire†.

Managing Employee Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Managing Employee Relations - Essay Example With regards to maintaining a working and mobile corporate structure, EIP has been playing an active influential role for the companies. In other words, the above discussed idea tends to maintain the working balance within different corporate organisations (Apostolou, 2000, pp. 21-23). Observably, EIP is held accountable for stabilising corporate order by providing effective guidelines and developing individuals’ behaviours. This particular approach has often been advantageous for organisations to attain their respective goals along with objectives by strengthening decision-making procedures and utilising the available resources effectively. The efforts of individual employees and inputs are highly regarded as important elements that help in attaining the fundamental objectives of the firms and enabling them to grow in an efficient manner. Additionally, EIP is not only an important part as per the industrial context, but also contributes in the development of the overall economy (Holden, n.d., pp. 560-563). With this concern in mind, the prime intent of this essay is to argue about the fact that EIP fundamentally intends to weaken the collective will of the workers by individualising their respective actions and also aligning them with the goals of the employers. Moreover, the essay also discusses the disadvantageous factors involved with the notion of EIP that might impose negative impacts over the working process of the employees as well as the performance of the organisations in order to argue the aforesaid fact (West Virginia Department of Health and Human Sources, 2014, pp. 1-2). It is strongly believed that with the rise in globalisation and internationalisation, the value of employment has raised gradually. Justifiably, the companies have started valuing the involvement of employees in their operational procedures, mostly related to decision-making.

Final Assignment in Special POP Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Final in Special POP - Assignment Example As a result, they are now in a better position to teach children and emphasize on their roles as educators. Educators acknowledge the role to public education, and how it helps children. Hence, as educators they work on employing strategies that help in guiding and facilitating the support of children towards their desired outcomes for learning. In addition, by recognizing that children have a right to free and appropriate education, the educators are in a better position to know how and why they have to teach (Banta & Palomba, 2014). They also have an easier time when identifying how children’s content for learning is child-initiated. There are main challenges that campus leaders face. Even when the students most campuses as are adults their views always differ. For campus leaders who are new in the faculty, they address any problems that they have without hesitation. Nonetheless, those members who are not new have a problem. For example, in cases where there are cheating scandals such as the one in an El Paso school, the problems outlined might have posed a lot of challenges for those who were in charge. Problems addressed earlier by a faculty member or campus leaders enables them to gain the confidence determined to run schools. Schools with limited availability of resources also tend to differ a lot. For campus leaders, they have to determine whether the teaching styles of teachers get budgeted under the available school funds. Educators who are aware of the budgeted resources in a school are in a better position to detect when there are problems with the education system, such as having students who disappear from classrooms such as the â€Å"Los Desaparecidos† (Fernandez, 2012). In such cases, campus leaders provide the teaching support which is usually in form of grants or equipment. Campus leaders also have the task of empowering the faculty leadership to take a step forward such as when encouraging low performing students. Instead

Article analysis Negotiation Without a Net Essay

Article analysis Negotiation Without a Net - Essay Example 4) as well as special communication skill such as empathic listening and active listening (p. 5). The strategic considerations of the negotiation process described in the article bear much similarity to business negotiations. For instance, police negotiations are goal-directed (p. 4). The negotiator has to remember the goal in order to modify tactics and strategies. Secondly, as suggested in the case of suicide negotiations (p. 7), it is essential that both sides feel that not negotiating is the worst option. This reflects the importance of a win-win approach to negotiation. An interesting insight provided into the structure of the negotiation process is that negotiation can be conducted as â€Å"a series of small agreements (p. 4).† This helps to set milestones to what might be a tedious process. It also helps to build trust and commitment to build the relationship. Another important strategic insight into the techniques of negotiation is that by engaging with one another, the negotiators can extract useful information about one another and use it to their strategic adva ntage. This has been referred to as mirroring (p. 5). Finally, the importance of teamwork is highlighted in the article as a vital means of ensuring the success of the negotiation. Negotiating can be a tiring and stressful process; hence, the presence of a team with specialized roles can help to make the process efficient (p. 6). Personal characteristics and behaviours of the negotiators are also analyzed in this article. For instance, it is suggested that the negotiator should have maximum control over emotions while not ignoring their existence (p. 6). This holds similarity with the theory of emotional intelligence where self-awareness and control are emphasized for successful communication. Secondly, it is important for the negotiators to detach their personal self from the situation. This helps them to avoid taking

Socrates' Concepts in Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Socrates' Concepts in Philosophy - Essay Example If, for example, one talks about justice, then it has to be defined according to its own nature and not according to the nature of the person who upholds it, for justice is the ruler of the person. Similarly, in Gorgias, Socrates asks Polus â€Å"if anyone, whether he be a tyrant or a rhetorician, kills another†¦he may be said to do what seems best to him?† and to which the latter answers affirmatively (Plato, Gorgias). The dialectic then develops into the part where Socrates places himself in the position of a criminal but this time Polus refuses and claims that it is not good because there will be punishment. Moreover, when asked by Socrates what principle upon which his definitions of evil and good lie, Polus simply answers, â€Å"I would rather, Socrates, that you should answer as well as ask that question (Plato, Gorgias). Thus, Socrates finally exposes the weakness of the arguments of the Sophists, both moral realism, and relativism. In Phaedo, Socrates successfully emphasized that the psyche is â€Å"the essence of happiness† and a â€Å"combination of what we think of as mind and soul,† which means that the psyche is the seat of both intellectual and moral personhood (â€Å"Socrates†). In Phaedo, Socrates tells Simmias that the philosopher â€Å"would like, as far as he can, to be quit of the body and turn to the soul† and that â€Å"death† is the â€Å"very separation and release of the soul from the body† (Plato, Phaedo). The way Socrates defended the soul and its immortality to Cebes and Simmias in Phaedo somehow convinced them of the validity of the existence.

Extra Credit Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Extra Credit Assignment - Essay Example Instead of relying on these three surefire ways to get elected into office, Smith relied on a grassroots-based campaign, largely relying on a multitude of youths and many others who shared his political ideals and fervor for honest-to-goodness civil service. Due to his lack of resources, especially on the financial aspect, Smith relied heavily on campaign contributions in order to try and keep his campaign going. Unlike his opponent, he barely had deep-pocketed colleagues who could do him a favor in exchange for a future favor that he would be returning to them. Instead, Smith literally walked the extra mile as he conducted his door-to-door campaign on foot. Smith further battled his disadvantage of lack of name-recall by packaging himself as an extreme underdog. It was through this packaging that people started to notice him and took him seriously. This same tactic allowed him to gain more followers even if he barely had any initial political

Interconnection Billing System of Grameenphone Ltd. Essay Example for Free

Interconnection Billing System of Grameenphone Ltd. Essay 1.0 Introduction In early 2008, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) announced that reorganization of the country’s telecom interconnection architecture as per International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007 has to be completed by the mid of August, 2008 (BTRC, 2008a). This announcement by the telecom regulator obligated relevant telecom operators (e.g. mobile and fixed networks) to take necessary measures to complete the re-organization task within the deadline while ensuring there is no or minimum subscriber inconvenience and revenue leakage due to this reorganization. Grameenphone Ltd., the largest cell phone operator of the country having a subscriber base of about 17 Million at that period (BTRC, 2008b), had to approach this regulatory directive with great importance as interconnection termination charge is the source of 2nd largest revenue stream for the company (Grameenphone Annual Reports, 2008 – 2011). It launched a cross-functional project to complete the interconnection restructure task smoothly. This Project Team identified prevailing interconnection billing processes and systems of the organization as one of the key improvement areas. It was felt that existing in-house developed tools lacked the flexibility to accommodate the change in network architecture. Management wanted replacement of manual billing related tasks through fully automated systems to ensure faster transactions and generation of customized reports. After through assessment of other alternatives within the allocated budget by experts from relevant cross-functional teams, Intec Interconnection Billing System (IIBS) was procured from one of the leading vendors of the world, Intec Systems Ltd. (CSGI, 2012). This paper focuses on the evaluation of IIBS, a hi-tech information system and its contribution to Grameenphone Ltd., a technology-based organization. Major sources of information are my experiences as a member of this billing system implementation project team and later use it for about 03 years; and interviews and email exchange with core technical persons and other stakeholders of IIBS. In some areas, training materials provided by the billing system vendor and web entries have been consulted as well. 2.0 Overview of Intec Interconnection Billing System 2.1 Telecom Interconnect and Related Facts: Bangladesh Context â€Å"The term Interconnect in the telecommunication world means a business model where different competing telephony providers coexist and interconnect to each other† (4gbilling Inc., 2012). As per Bangladesh Telecommunication Act-2001, any telecom operator must ensure ‘any-to-any’ connectivity so that its subscriber(s) can conveniently communicate with the subscriber(s) of other telecom operator(s) (BTRC, 2001c); as a result, telecom operators interconnect each other directly or through interconnection exchanges (it is the case in Bangladesh after reorganization of national interconnection architecture in 2008) and also establish connectivity with foreign operators through international gateways. Figure 1: Block diagram of Interconnectivity (adapted from ILDTS Policy’07, BTRC 2008a) After establishment of inter-connectivity, telecom operators pay each other interconnection access charges for the traffic (i.e. voice call, SMS, MMS) generated by its subscriber(s) to the other at a rate mutually negotiated or enforced by the regulator. This interconnection payment and associated tasks, e.g. calculation of interconnect traffic volume originated and received, generation of invoices, and validation of other operators’ invoices are dictated by their mutual interconnection agreements and/or relevant directives from the telecom regulators (Interconnection Regulations, 2004). 2.2 Interconnect Billing Systems With the worldwide trend of telecom de-regulation, interconnectivity gets crowded and telecom operators are in need of interconnection billing system offering detailed analysis of interconnection. The objective, of course, is to make â€Å"smart and well informed business decisions to enhance revenue streams† (4gbilling Inc., 2012). The major tasks accomplished by using Interconnect Billing system are: -Inter-operator settlement for traffic exchanged with other operators, -Resolution of interconnection billing disputes, -Generation of various reports; -Detection of various telecom frauds and assist in management of those. 2.3 Technological Features of Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) IIBS lies at the downstream of Mediation Server in the telecom network architecture. It works under client-server model. The servers are powered by HP-UX (Hewlett-Packard, 2011). It has dual server: one houses Database other runs Application (Intec Training Material, 2008). Figure 2: Network Diagram of IIBS (adapted from 4Gbilling Inc., 2012) In the client side computers, there are different modules for invoice generation, reporting, and reconciliation of CDRs from other operator, etc. These clients are connected with the IBS application server using LAN (Local Area Network). Client computers may run Microsoft Windows operating systems. The clients can access IIBS’s application through Graphical User Interface (GUI) or through web-based Oracle Discoverer (a customized tool) says Mr. Raiyan Karim, System Engineer, IBS of Grameenphone Ltd. (Karim, 2012). A team within the Information Technology department are assigned the task to configure and operate IIBS while the users are spread all over the organization ranging from Finance to Regulatory Affairs functions. 2.4 Categorisation of IIBS as Information System As an information system, Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) can be categorised in several perspectives. From hardware perspective (Bocij et al, 2008: Chapter 3), IIBS has the primary capture/ input technology in use is the LAN connectivity with an upstream application server, very powerful CPU as processor, 25 Terabyte online magnetic disk storage and output can be taken through either monitor display, e-document or printed papers. From software perspective (Bocij et al, 2008: Chapter 4), IIBS is an application software, to be specific, application to process large databases containing CDRs. From management-level perspectives (Laudon and Laudon, 2012), IIBS can be categorised mainly as a transaction processing system as it deals with instances of interconnection traffic exchanged (i.e. call/ SMS/ MMS made to received from other operators). This system serves requirements of operational management and but, the outputs from this system has a wider circulation to different management levels even up to top executives mainly due to importance of associated business activity (interconnectivity) for telecommunication industry. From organisational function (Laudon and laudon, 2006) perspectives, IIBS is an Information Technology business area specific information system. It handles digital customer call records for generation of interconnection billing details. From the perspectives of reach (Boddy et al, 2005: 37-38), IIBS is identified as an intra-organisational IS. Though its core use lies within the IT department of Grameenphone, this system is very frequently accessed from other parts of the organizations e.g. Finance, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, etc. Moreover, as IIBS contributes to achieve overall organisational goals e.g. reliable settlement of interconnection revenue, help in developing market offerings, it can easily be termed as an intra-organisational IS. 3.0 Supported Organisational Processes The organizational processes supported by IIBS can be analysed by using two approaches: a) CIPSODAR model of information system (Heeks, 2011a) and b) usage and applications of computer based IS by organisational level (Bocij et al, 2008: P 45). 3.1 CIPSODAR on IIBS IIBS captures processed CDR (Call Detail Records) from Mediation server (â€Å"a system used to convert data of certain datatypes to other datatypes, usually for billing purposes†, Wikipedia, 2012). These mediated CDRs are feed into IIBS as inputs. Figure 3: IIBS on CIPSODAR model (adapted from Heeks, 2011a) The captured CDRs have to contain at least 06 information fields which are in numeric form (Intec Systems, 2008): i.Unique CDR identification no. associated with each call made to received from other operators, ii.phone no. of call originating subscriber, iii.phone no. of call recipient subscriber, iv.call start time, v.call duration, vi.Intelligent network marking used to identify post-paid or pre-paid subscriber. These mediated CDRs are further processed by IIBS, i.e. classifying based on various pre-set criteria e.g. pre-paid, post-paid, originating operator, terminating operator; sorting thereof based on each criteria, and finally compiling. IIBS has remarkable processing capacity as it handles about 70 Million CDRs in every 6 hours (Karim, 2012). IIBS uses two types of storage: one is online which has huge storage capacity to store CDRS for consecutive 04 months and another is older CDRs which are moved to magnetic tapes for archiving. Output from IIBS is billing details categorized based on interconnect operator, incoming call flow, outgoing call flow, or duration e.g. day-wise or month-wise. Recipients can generate invoice to be issued to other operators or customized reports using the client side invoicing or reporting modules of IIBS. The outputs generated from IIBS data help the organization to decide on its interconnection business strategy e.g. integrate additional interconnect capacity with some operator or formulate business plan e.g. promote calls to other operators by lowering customer charge. Actions include implementation of internal business strategy or contractual obligations of interconnection agreement. The results derived from such actions are inter-operator settlement and dispute resolution for interconnection traffic, gain competitive edge or retain stronghold over market. The outputs from IIBS billing details helps to detect and take action against telecom frauds, to meet regulatory compliance by generating reports for telecom regulator on regularly and ad-hoc basis. It is useful in revenue projection through trend analysis of interconnection traffic. 3.2 Organisational Levels and IIBS As mentioned in earlier section, IIBS mainly functions as transaction processing system and hierarchically destined to serve the operational management. The operations managers ensure processing activities of IIBS. In this level, IIBS serves as a solution to generate reliable invoices, validation of other party invoices, resolution of inter-operator invoiced /data related disputes, and generation of various reports. Figure 4: IIBS different Organisation level (adapted from Bocij et al, 2008) In upper level of the organisational hierarchy, IIBS generated reports serve as tactical tool. Based on interconnection traffic trends and invoices, they generate interconnection revenue forecast, interconnection capacity requirement etc. IIBS reports are consulted by Top Management level also. Settlement of interconnection revenue is a key issue as it counts for the 2nd largest revenue stream of Grameenphone (Grameenphone: 2011). Interconnection traffic volume is a key indicator of customer attractiveness of competitors’ market offerings. Based on the trend of interconnect traffic, business directions are made to product development team. 4.0 Evaluation of Information System Intec Interconnect Billing system (IIBS) may be evaluated from two perspectives: a) IS Cost / benefits model and b) DeLone/ McLean model. 4.1 Benefits and Costs of IIBS Benefits As IIBS is mainly a transaction processing system, its benefits can be better evaluated using Process Benefits Model (Heeks, 2011b). Based on user experiences and discussion with IIBS technical teams (2012), several benefits are being generated from IIBS, along both efficiency and effectiveness categorises. The below table summaries these benefits: Sl.Process BenefitExamples Cited by Stakeholders (Discussion, 2012) 1CheaperIntroduction of IIBS has reduced no. of manpower required to do the task than it was required previously by one-third employees. 2MoreIn comparison to previous ad-hoc system, IIBS processes more CDRS while keeping the resources requirement about the same (except storage). 3QuickerIIBS processed about 70 Million CDRs in 6 hours whereas prior system could process only about 50 Million CDRs at the same time. Invoice generation and processing of other party CDRs for the purpose of interconnect dispute resolution has become faster. 4BetterPreviously CDRs were processed through manual systems. That system lacked consistency in interconnect billing reporting due to its business logic. 5NewIIBS has introduced Graphical user Interface for the clients which help them to generate customized reports on interconnectivity round the clock. Previously, the reporting was made ad-hoc basis as per requirement from Project Team Table 1: Benefits of Information Systems (Heeks, 2011b) Costs of IIBS Costs of an information system can be measured in 03 criteria: i) implementation costs: measured in financial terms; ii) operational costs : both financial and unexpected outcomes, and iii) loss of previous operational benefits (Heeks, 2011b). Costs of IIBS in this view: Sl.CostExamples Cited by Stakeholders (discussion, 2012) 1.Implementation CostsImplementation of IIBS has cost the organization about 1.2 Million USD as payment to vendor, Intec Systems (IIBS Business Case, 2008). 2.Operational Costs (inc. Problems)IIBS requires about slightly higher (1~3%) storage for processing of CDRs in comparison to previous system. 3.Previous operational benefits lostIn case of prior billing solutions, modification could be done by internal experts, now change request needs to be made with the vendor which is expensive after free service period. Table 2: Costs of Information Systems (Heeks, 2011b) 4.2 DeLone McLean Multi-Perspective Evaluation DeLone McLean (1992) have described one of the most popular models of evaluating success of information systems (Heeks, 2011b). Figure 5: Multiple perspectives on IS success/failure– DeLone McLean (1992) DeLone McLean model can be measured suggested by Boddy et al (2005). 4.2.1 System Quality These are the required features and characteristics of the information system (Heeks, 2011b). In the case of IIBS, as per IT experts and users from other business functions (Discussion, 2012), it is reliable, includes enhanced features both in terms of system operation and output generation and the response time is also considerably faster . 4.2.2 Information Quality â€Å"Information quality concerns the characteristics of the information produced by the system† (Heeks, 2011b). In the case of IIBS, outputs generated are (invoices and various reports) are clear to interpret, quite high on completeness to serve intended purposes, and useful and accurate, except a few rare cases. Grameenphone RAFM (Revenue Assurance Fraud Management) team validates output of IIBS to be highly satisfactory. 4.2.3 Use and user satisfaction â€Å"Use and user satisfaction are concerned with the interaction between the information produced by the system and the recipients† (Heeks, 2011b) IIBS, being an integral part of Grameenphone’s interconnection system, it is used in daily basis for the whole period required to process interconnect CDRs for the concerned day and to serve report requests from cross-functional teams. Information necessary to make a revenue projection or serve regulatory report requests on monthly or ad-hoc basis are served timely basis from the system. Users are overall satisfied with IIBS but they would prefer if the system had flexibility of producing further customized reports. Except very few cases, the information required vs. delivered from IIBS had no significant deviation. The Graphical user interface, easy maintenance, easily scalable, and web-based access are few contributing factors to user satisfaction. Software satisfaction is quite high amongst regular users while occasional users found the interface a difficult to use. 4.2.4Individual impact It â€Å"relates to the extent to which the information produced by the system influences or affects decisions† (Heeks, 2011b). Reports generated from IIBS system are quite helpful to identify any problem in the area of interconnectivity and normally decisions made are correct. These decisions are quite effective also. Usually key points are placed to top management weekly basis. Productivity improvement in interconnected areas is remarkable. It allows observing trend of interconnection traffic generated and received ant to decide on optimal interconnection capacity, etc. By these measures for other decision issues e.g. market attractiveness of other operators customer charge are not in that brighter side as there are many relevant factors therein. 4.2.5 Organisational impact It â€Å"measures the effect of the information produced by the system on organisational performance† (Heeks, 2011b). Interconnection is a regulatory compliance issue and it also generates revenue of about 100 Mn. USD for Grameenphone (Grameenphone, 2011). Considering this importance of interconnectivity for Grameenphone, it may be concluded that the organizational impact of IIBS is significant. The investments made vs. benefits enjoyed from IBS (e.g. lower processing time, timely invoicing to ensure timely revenue settlement) are in quite positive side. In overall evaluation, IIBS is a successful information system meeting the requirements of stakeholders and also exceeding the costs by benefits in great margin. 5.0 Factors for Success of IIBS A large number of information systems fail to achieve the desired objectives, especially in the developing countries. In this context, success of Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) in Grameenphone Ltd. is quite remarkable. We can analyse the causes behind the success using 1) IS Implementation Outcome Model (Laudon and Laudon, 2006) and 2) Design-Reality Gap analysis using ITPOSMO (Heeks, 2011c). 5.1 Information System Implementation Outcome Model In the ninth edition of their book, summary model of information systems success and failure factors were presented by Laudon and Laudon (2006). Figure 6: IS Implementation Outcome Model (Laudon and Laudon, 2006) Applying the model on IIBS, we can come up with following: †¢User involvement and influence: In the requirement finalization stage during procurement of interconnection billing system in Grameenphone, actual users were member of the cross functional team and their views were taken with great importance. Later, these requirements were used as reference to select the vendor and customization negotiated with them. †¢Management support: Required management support was available during implementation of IIBS in Grameenphone. The project team was highly empowered having Chief Information Officer as Project Sponsor and other senior managers in the Project Steering Committee. †¢Level of complexity/risk: Though IIBS is a high-tech information system, it is highly structured, and the project team had required technical capacities on-board. †¢Management of the implementation process: IIBS was endowed with required financial and human resources and proper training sessions was arranged also. 5.2 Design-Reality Gap Analysis of IIBS Though IIBS is considered to be a successful information system, the system can be improved in some areas, observations by internal stakeholders (Discussions, 2012). These areas include re-shape the GUI to be more user friendly in perspectives of non-IT users. Reducing the storage requirement a bit can directly benefit in terms of saving expensive storage capacity. These can be attributed to the gap between information system design and reality i.e. actual implementation of the system (Heeks, 2011c). The Dimensions of design—reality gaps for IIBS can be analysed using ITPOSMO model (Heeks, 2011c: Figure 7: Design—reality gap model to analyse IS Success/Failure (Heeks, 2011) 5.2.1 Information Dimension: Gap Rating 2.0 The system design assumed that the inputs to IIBS (processed CDRs from Mediation server) will always be in right format. But, very occasionally, there were CDRs from mediation in wrong format or missing one or more key fields. These unprocessed CDRs were stored in the error bucket and required special processing by System Engineers later on. 5.2.2 Technology Dimension: Gap Rating 3.0 The technological design contributed to gain buy-in of overall user satisfaction for IIBS. The processing of CDR files was quicker than previous system. It also contributed in reducing man-hour required to configure and operate the system. But, in the areas of storage requirement and design of graphical user interface (GUI), there are gaps between expectation and reality. 5.2.3 Process Dimension: Gap Rating 3.0 The business processes were supportive to desired functioning of IIBS. The system produced invoices and customized reports as desired. Though, there are some requirements to be able to further customize the reporting modules. Sometimes, there are hiccups in generations of output also. 5.2.4 The objectives and values dimension: Gap Rating 4.0 Decision to procure IIBS was made by a cross-functional team having relevant experiences and expertise. It was decided to further enrich the system by adding additional features to it so that it can handle settlement for mobile contents/ value added services with the respective content or value added service providers. But, even after 03 years of successful operation of IIBS, these additional features have not been included yet (Karim, 2012). It is assumed that potential personal interest may contribute to this non-inclusion of mobile content/ VAS related features to IIBS. Notably, currently these settlements are handled by an IT manager having a team of 05 employees whereas if the features included to IIBS, the whole processing would require no or utmost 01 employee from this team. 5.2.5 Staffing and skills: Gap Rating 2.0 The organization had competent staff experienced with configuration, operation, maintenance of interconnect billing systems. Moreover, to get them acknowledged with the new system, required training was provided by the vendor. 5.2.6 Management systems and structures Gap Rating 2.0 Introduction of IIBS helped in reducing manpower required to run similar systems previously and following that management hierarchy in IT department was simplified. 5.2.7 Other resources: Gap Rating 2.0 In other dimensions, IIBS helped in saving processing time comparison to previous system. With increased efficiency, it contributed in monetary terms as well. 5.2.8 Overall: Total gap score is 18 for IIBS. There is an insignificant design-reality gap for the system with none being a possible cause of failure. 6.0 Conclusion Grameenphone Ltd. implemented Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) for about 4 years (since August, 2008 to till now). The major objectives of the system were to ensure accurate and quicker settlement for interconnection traffic with interconnected operators in a complicated network architecture and resolution of related disputes in timely fashion. It also aimed to generate required customized reports for users from different business functions of the organization and for managers of different organisational levels. In consideration of stakeholder views towards IIBS and its analyses through various theoretical models, the system is an example of successful information systems. The major contributing factors behind the success are insignificant gap between design and reality. And creation of this favourable scenario is attributed to good practices of information system implementation e.g. empowered involvement of users, management commitment, and availability of key resources, etc. 7.0 References 4GBILLING INC., Interconnect Billing – Overview [Online]. Available: http://4gbilling.com/interconnect.html [Accessed 21 April, 2012] Bocij, Paul, Andrew Greasley and Simon Hickie (2008) Business Information Systems: Technology, Development and Management, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River Boddy, D., Boonstra, A. Kennedy, G. (2005) Managing Information Systems: An Organisational Perspective, 2nd edn, Pearson Education Limited, London BTRC, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (2008) ILDTS Policy-2007 [Online].Available:http://www.btrc.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=153Itemid=259 [Accessed 10 April, 2012] BTRC, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (2008) Mobile Phone Subscribers in Bangladesh [Online]. Available: