Interpretations of American History Essay

History is successful when it tells you how things where, the only thing that could take you there was the imagination, but now, with all the technology that we have, we even can make a picture or a sketch of how the things were. asing on the things that had been found also. One of the things that the historians did, they constantly criticize, correct and supplement other historian point of view, they get closer to the truth arguing with one another. Historiography reminds you that history is not a closed book, is a reminder that there is always something to argue in history, it make us think or see what was before everything, the changes that have been in the growth of America, politics changes, racial justice, sex, differences in the society, education, labor. There has been a notorious change or evolution on how America has change. There are four stages in which the writing of American history has passed: the providential, the rationalist, the nationalist and the professional. The providential history in the United States from the seventeenth and eighteenth, ministers and magistrates and wrote a made of form of providential history. The puritans who settled in the United States believed that they were chosen by god that led to the form of their history to a holy chronicle one. Puritans used this form of writing for all men anybody that believed in god. The rationalism, they were very different with the providential because they didn’t believed that they were only chosen by god, they believed that opinions or actions should act on reason and knowledge not on their religious belief. They were ruled by the natural law was the idea of Newton, Locke, and the French philosophers (p. 75). The rationalist Jimenez 3 historians were the educated class in the colonies, the new story they told was of progress and reason. most of the historians of the eighteenth century were layer-politicians, planter-aristocrats, merchants or professionals. Tomas Jefferson was influenced by this movement and later on write a book named Notes on the State of Virginia in 1785. This book allow to men to discover and pursue their destiny and believed that they were free. After that, no one was free from slavery. This proves that the history during the rationalism the politicians only tells you what you want to hear, like right now it happens the same, everything was and is only about wealth, power, rights. In nationalist history changed the fact that in this stage the women contributed and argue in theirs perspectives or points of view. istorians of women rewrote the story of America from the beginning to the recent past. They did not give women a place in the existing narratives, they just reconceived whole fields of history. Their high opinion on distinguish scientifically and prove the truth from a romantic notion. In this time we can see through what has passed American History and learned about the different changes that our history has had, and also this has help to have America Jimenez 4 how is it now. Right now we see the thing different, for example, women can vote, women can do a lot more things that they couldn’t in the past, there is no slavery, everyone is free and follow their dreams and conquer their goals and that’s a big change.

The Depletion Of Global Oil Reserves Environmental Sciences Essay

The literature reappraisal summarized the research done on the job that planetary oil militias are consuming twenty-four hours by twenty-four hours and there is a desperate demand to happen out and utilised surrogate energy options particularly for a underdeveloped state. The depletion of planetary oil militias has led to struggles between the states and surging of monetary values. Oil is the chief beginning of energy and developing states are confronting batch of jobs due to shortage of oil in supplying their populations better life criterions. The literature besides covered state of affairs of deficit of oil militias and energy crises consequent to it. It identifies chief consumers of oil in a state and jump energy resources that could perchance be worked on to run into the energy demand through beginnings other than oil.Depletion OF GLOBAL OIL RESERVESThe API estimated in 1999 the universe ‘s oil supply would be depleted between 2062 and 2094, presuming entire universe oil militias between 1.4 and 2 trillion barrels and ingestion at 80 million barrels per twenty-four hours. In 2004, entire universe militias were estimated to be 1.25 trillion barrels and day-to-day ingestion was about 85 million barrels, switching the estimated oil depletion twelvemonth to 2057. The US EIA predicted that universe ingestion of oil will increase to 98.3 million barrels per twenty-four hours in 2015 and 118 in 2030. With 2009 universe oil ingestion at 84.4, making the jutting 2015 degree of ingestion would stand for an mean one-year addition between 2009 and 2015 of 2.7 % per twelvemonth while EIA ‘s ain figures show worsening ingestion and worsening supplies during the 2005-2010 period. The universe ‘s oil supply is fixed because crude oil is of course formed far excessively easy to be replaced at the rate at which it is being extracted. Over many 1000000s of old ages, plankton, bacteriums, and other works and carnal affair become buried in deposits on the ocean floor. When conditions are right – a deficiency of O for decomposition, and sufficient deepness and temperature of burial – these organic remains are converted into crude oil compounds, while the deposit attach toing them is converted into sandstone, siltstone, and other porous sedimentary stone. When capped by impermeable stones such as shale, salt, or pyrogenic invasions, they form the crude oil reservoirs which are exploited today.3.2 ENERGY SECTOR IN PAKISTANEnergy is considered as one of the most of import inputs to economic growing and development. Its ingestion is besides one of the important indexs of the degree of development of any state. It is now good recognized that energy se rvices play a important function in heightening societal and economic development. Energy has become an engine of economic growing at local and planetary degree. It is needed worldwide for furthering and prolonging development procedure position of developing or developed provinces of the economic system. Keeping in position the planetary economic growing coupled with an addition in population, the demand for energy is bound to increase and run intoing this demand poses serious challenges at the planetary degree. In coming decennaries, the demand for energy is expected to turn more quickly in developing states. Since independency, the cardinal push of Pakistan ‘s energy policy has been on augmenting the state ‘s energy system. As a consequence of important planning and public investing, there has been significant enlargement of energy sector. Despite the important development in the energy sector, Pakistan yet suffers from energy deficit. This state of affairs has been progressively viewed as a constriction to industrial and agricultural sectors that in bend are seen critical in exciting the economic and societal development. Bing a developing state, Pakistan has faced the challenge of fueling industry and agribusiness sectors adequately for run intoing growing marks and supplying energy at low-cost monetary values to hapless particularly those populating in the rural countries. The handiness of energy at low-cost monetary values can be a major factor that determines a whole array of other productive activities taking to economic growing.NATIONAL ENERGY MIXEnergy sector in Pakis tan comprises electricity, gas, crude oil, coal and atomic power. The portion of natural gas in primary energy supplies during 2010 reached 45 per centum followed by oil ( 28 per centum ) , hydro electricity ( 15 per centum ) , coal ( 10 per centum ) and atomic electricity ( 2 per centum ) . As can be seen Pakistan is dependent on oil and Gas, which together contribute about 73 % of the entire primary energy supplied.3.4 POWER GENERATION, SECTORAL DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTIONThe sum installed capacity coevals during 2006-07, was 19,440 MW. WAPDA generated 11,363 MW of which, hydle histories for 56.9 per centum or 6,463 MW, thermic histories for 43.1 per centum or 4,900 MW. IPPs coevals was 5858 ( MW ) which constituted 30 % of entire installed capacity. KESC with 1756 ( MW ) contributed 9.1 % portion and atomic added 2.4 % .Number of WAPDA consumers stood at 17 million out of which family accounted for 84 % , commercial 13 % and industrial and agricultural1.4 % each. As on 30th June, 2007 industrial sector consumed 26 % , agriculture 12 % and households 43 % besides commercial and others. The one-year per capita electricity ingestion in Pakistan is about 320kwh, and this lone caters for 60 per centum of the population. Forty per centum of Pakistanis st ill have no entree to electricity. There is presently load sloughing of up to 700 MW a twenty-four hours because of deficit & A ; hapless transmittal capablenesss. Electricity demand is expected to turn by eight per cent a twelvemonth during the period 2005 – 2015, necessitating an one-year installing capacity of about 2000 MW for the following 10 old ages. Presently about 45 % of Pakistan ‘s power supply is based on natural gas, 28 % on oil, 15 % on hydro and staying on coal, atomic and renewable electricity. Keeping in position the current power mix, it is indispensable to concentrate on autochthonal and cost effectual beginnings for power coevals.3.5 CURRENT ENERGY GAP IN PAKISTANPakistan is presently confronting electricity deficit of around 4000-9000 MW. Everyone agrees that an indispensable stipulation for industrial development is an uninterrupted supply of power.The installed capacity for coevals of electricity in the state is 11,500 MW of which 82.7 per cent was thermic ; 15.3 per centum was hydroelectric and 2 per centum was atomic. Pakistan needs to prolong an one-year economic growing rate of at least 6 to 7 per centum to relieve poorness and recognize desirable socio-economic and human development. To accomplish the growing mark of GDP, it is perfectly indispensable that the minimal electricity growing rate is maintained. The proviso of adequate and dependable supply of electricity at a sensible cost is a requirement to achieve this end. Power is the premier mover. Any large push of the economic system would necessitate accelerated power development. But there is a likeliness that Pakistan ‘s current economic growing might non prolong in the absence of consistent and uninterrupted devolution of new power undertakings.3.6 REVIEW OF PAKISTAN ‘S ENERGY PORTFOLIOLooking at the power portfolio of Pakistan it looks as if we are populating in an oil rich state. Soon, Pakistan has batch of oil fired power workss. Continuous hiking in furnace oil monetary values can do them unviable in close hereafter. But even if fortunes are non utmost, even if there are no turbulences in bring forthing states, no terrorist onslaughts and supply breaks, the monetary values will maintain traveling up. Why? Because there is a cardinal instability for oil in the universe economic system. Production is merely plenty to run into demand. There is no trim capacity to take attention of unanticipated closures, supply break or a farther rise in demand. Such an unbalance power profile carries serious reverberations. An evenhanded power portfolio would necessitate a just balance among assorted beginnings of power with no inordinate trust on any. One of the few affairs which must be considered in set uping the power portfolio is that inordinate trust on any individual beginning particularly foreign beginning on which we have no control over supply and monetary value can do things suffering any clip. Oil import measure of more than $ 7 billion or about 50 % of foreign exchange militias of a developing economic system with no hopes of making exportable excess in the close hereafter is doubtless really dismaying. As 28 % of the power coevals is based on oil therefore any hinderance in the transit of oil can do terrible harm to the economic system. In short, clip has proved that the best solution for all such jobs is encouragement and development of autochthonal resource. Many states, including the developed and emerging economic systems, have adopted extended plans for increasing hydle and coal based power into their energy portfolios. It would non be incorrect if we say that uninterrupted carelessness of autochthonal resource has made Pakistan ‘s power policy directionless. This carelessness, absence of precedences and concentrating on expensive foreign fuel has made inexpensive electricity and ego trust a twenty-four hours dream. Pakistan is fortunate plenty to hold two inexpensive autochthonal resources for power coevals i.e. H2O and coal. But it is absolute bad fortune that we have non been able to utilize both of these resources efficaciously. Estimated coal militias of Pakistan are around 185,175 million dozenss which is one of the largest coal militias of the universe whereas their use for electricity coevals is hardly 10 per centum. Basically autochthonal coal-based power will convey assorted benefits for Pakistan ; foremost and first benefit would be huge nest eggs in foreign exchange on import of expensive oil. Coal based power workss are labour intensive and will make 1000s of new occupations and assorted other new concern chances at works site in peculiar and in Pakistan in general.ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PAKISTANLike any other state, energy is critical for the economic development of Pakistan. Energy should non merely be available but it must be ensured that it is available at a s ensible and low-cost monetary value and with out any break. For a underdeveloped state, like Pakistan where the chief emphasis is on the poorness relief, energy dramas a positive function. It is imperative that energy production should be environment friendly. More over a mix of energy beginnings will be helpful in variegation of the sector and would guarantee the proviso of this critical resource where it is required. The phase of economic development and the criterion of life of persons in a given part strongly act upon the nexus between economic growing and energy demand. An increased usage of energy, either through natural gas or electricity, impacts favorably on the life criterions of the hapless as they so spend less clip looking for alternate signifiers of fuel such as firewood. Similarly, the proviso of electricity to the rural countries can assist in raising productiveness degrees of small-scale industry thereby indirectly raising income degrees and in the longer term bettering the quality of life for the rural hapless. Rural electrification is of import because it brings to the rural countries the benefits that urban consumers take for granted -an betterment in the criterion of life with the associated socio-economic benefits. Provision of electric power besides has a strictly economic result that of increasing the productive capacity of the rural countries with additions in agricultural end product.3.7 PAKISTAN ENERGY SECURITY PLAN AND ENERGY MIXPakistan historically has been subjected to energy demand suppression due to limited supplies and deficiency of substructure development for proviso of energy to the industrial sector. The non handiness of sustained and low-cost energy to industry has suppressed economic growing and created worsening inclination for industrial investing in the state. It is now more of import so of all time that an equal supply be made available to industry to drive economic growing, and make employment chances. Energy has besides to be made available to the domestic sector and the life line sections of society to supply economic support and the convenience of clean fuel for cookery and warming and forestall the go oning environmental debasement and deforestation by monolithic usage of wood for domestic fuel. The commercial handiness to assorted sector of the economic system will assist in increasing occupation chances, heightening agribusiness productiveness, bettering criterion of life and preserving environment through cut downing deforestation. A long term integrated National Energy Security Plan, covering the period up to 2030 has late been approved by the Government vide Mid Term Development Framework ( MTDF ) . The energy sector development is aimed at ( I ) sweetening in the development of hydropower, and geographic expedition and production activities of oil, gas and coal resources, and to increase the portion of coal and alternate energy in the overall energy mix, ( two ) optimal use of the state ‘s resources base to cut down dependance on imported oil through an institutionalised scheme, ( three ) making an environment conducive to the engagement of the private sector, and ( four ) developing the local energy scenario in the context of regional position. The current energy mix includes 28 per centum oil, 45 per centum natural gas, 10 per centum coal, 15 per centum hydro and 2 per centum atomic. By 2015, the portion of oil and gas is targeted to be reduced to 25 per centum and 42 per centum severally with matchi ng additions in the portion of coal to 12 per centum, hydro to 17.6 per centum, renewable to 1 per centum and atomic to 3 per centum. Over the long term, the addition in other beginnings of energy, has been targeted with significant decrease in the portion of oil.EXISTING ENERGY RESOURCES IN PAKISTAN THE CONVENTIONAL RESOURCES3.8 HYDROPOWERThe identified hydro power potency of Pakistan is 46,000 MW, out of which merely 14 per cent ( 6,500 MW ) has been exploited so far. Despite this large potency, no hydro power undertaking has been established by WAPDA since Tarbela Dam. The most executable and economical undertaking Kala Bagh Dam has become so controversial that it could non take off though consecutive authoritiess wished so. There are programs to develop the hydro resources on a big graduated table through storage and run -of-the-river undertakings. Feasibility surveies of several undertakings have already been prepared, while surveies of several extra undertakings are in advance ment or planned. Hydro is one of the major economic energy supply options in Pakistan for increasing the energy security of the state. The experts caution that for the clip skylines of around 100 old ages, hydro storage undertakings are ‘non -renewable ‘ due to the silting of these reservoirs. For illustration, over the last 30 old ages, the storage capacity of Tarbela dike has been reduced by 27 per cent due to silting. Similarly, there is a universe broad concern over the disruption of population and the environmental jeopardies associated with big dikes. Another issue related to the hydro power is that a big figure of extra sites with major possible exist in the cragged North, but the trouble of entree and the high cost of transmittal to the thickly settled South make the thought into a completed undertaking a distant chance. Not merely, it means extra cost to construct the transmittal substructure but at the same clip a immense loss occurs during the transmittal ( it is estimated to be between 28 to 30 per centum ) . Another job is the seasonal fluctuation, where in winter the coevals is reduced due to shortage of H2O in the storages. However, hydro is still the most economical energy resource in Pakistan.3.9 OIL AND GASThere are considerable oil and gas militias in Pakistan. The rough oil militias are estimated at 27 billion barrels including 300 million barrels proved militias. The degree of production is soon 22.6 million barrels compared with the degree of ingestion of 100 million barrels. The natural gas militias are 8 trillion three-dimensional metres including the proved militias of 0.8 trillion three-dimensional metres. The degree of production is soon 93 million three-dimensional metres per twenty-four hours compared with the degree of ingestion of 82 million three-dimensional metres per twenty-four hours. The oil sector has all along been to a great extent dependent on imports of approximately 85 per centum of the national demand. Ann ually about 7.8 million metric tons of petroleum oil, 5.2 million metric tons of oil merchandises and 2.8 million metric tons of coal are being imported. The local production of oil and gas would get down worsening due to depletion of resources. There would besides be a shortage of gas unless considerable part is made from new finds. In instance the spread is non met through autochthonal supply, there will be need to import gas, and the needed substructure would hold to be placed in a timely mode.3.10 CoalPakistan ‘s coal resources are estimated at 185 billion metric tons ( 82,700 MTOE, or 2 per cent of the universe coal resources ) , out of which 95 per cent are in the Thar coal field in Sindh. This coal is of lignite rank holding high wet content and low warming value. So far merely 3.3 billion metric tons of coal resources are in the ‘measured ‘ class, and sing a recovery factor of 60 per cent, these correspond to some 2.0 billion metric tons of recoverable coal militias. However, this coal is tantamount to the combined oil militias of Saudi Arabia and Iran. As portion of the scheme of increasing local energy content, a major accent is being placed on working coal resources for large-scale usage in power coevals, and perchance for the production of coal bed methane.3.11 NUCLEAR ENERGYPakistan has two atomic power workss, Chashma-1 and Kanupp, with 300 MW and 125 MW severally, of installed capacity. The PAEC operates both atomic workss. Pakistan is presently working on a 3rd atomic power works ( Chashma-2 ) , with the aid of China National Nuclear Corporation. The works will hold 325 MW of installed capacity expected to be completed by 2012.INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE ENERGYEnergy is one of the most of import issues for all authoritiess universe over. Developed provinces need energy to prolong their advanced manner of life and to provide to the every-changing demands of life dictated by engineering. Developing states need ener gy for it is the sine qua non for development. Alternative energy has been the most recent add-on to the academic and practical facets of the energy universe. The construct is relevant but its importance is absolute. Developed provinces have begun to pull off their energy sector in an progressively alternate energy based position and, this has a great lessons for a state like Pakistan which is draw a bead oning to develop into a healthy economic system with an improved quality of life for its citizens. The theory and usage of alternate energy is at the most introductory phase in Pakistan. However, in footings of resources and usage of surrogate energy, Pakistan stands good placed to use this fresh construct in the national policy model Alternate or renewable energy, beginnings show important promise in assisting to cut down the sum of toxins that are byproducts of energy usage. Not merely do they protect against harmful byproducts, but utilizing alternate energy helps to continue many of the natural resources that we presently use as beginnings of energy. The Alternate Energy Development Board ( AEDB ) has been established to ease development of renewable energy undertakings. At least 5 per cent of the entire electricity bring forthing capacity of the state is targeted to be based on these beginnings by the twelvemonth 2030. To understand how alternate energy usage can assist continue the delicate ecological balance of the planet, and assist us conserve the non-renewable energy beginnings like fossil fuels, it is of import to cognize what types of alternate energy can be brought into world in Pakistan. Renewable beginnings of energy like air current power, solar, geothermic energy, moving ridge and tidal power, biomass energy, H and fuel cells, every bit good as hydropower are options to fossil fuel and regarded as alternate beginnings of energy.3.12 WIND POWERWind power is one of the earliest signifiers of energy used by world. Windmills were used on farms in the early portion of the 20th century to pump H2O and generate electricity. Now considered an alternate energy beginning, air current power is being harnessed by modern windmills with lighter, stronger blades. In US provinces such as California, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Montana, up to several hundred windmills may run together in unfastened count ries with steady air currents. Single elephantine windmills capable of supplying electricity to several thousand places are besides runing in the United States. With new engineerings being developed to better windmill public presentation and efficiency, air current power is a promising, clean, inexpensive, and abundant beginning of energy for the hereafter. The air current power captured by turbines at is a beginning of energy that does non harm the environment. Wind energy harnesses the power of the air current to impel the blades of air current turbines. The rotary motion of turbine blades is converted into electrical current by agencies of an electrical generator. In the older windmills, wind energy was used to turn mechanical machinery to make physical work, like oppressing grain or pumping H2O. Wind towers are normally built together on air current farms. Now, electrical currents are harnessed by big graduated table air current farms that are used by national electrical grids every bit good as little single turbines used for supplying electricity to stray locations or single places. Wind power produces no pollution that can pollute the environment. Since no chemical procedures take topographic point, like in the combustion of fossil fuels, in air current power coevals, there are no harmful byproducts left over. Since air current coevals is a renewable beginning of energy, Pakistan will ne'er run out of it. Farming and graze can still take topographic point on land occupied by air current turbines which can assist in the production of bio-fuels. Wind farms can be built off-shore. Since 2001, planetary air current capacity has about doubled to 47,760 megawatts and is cheaper than natural gas even without subsidies ; on good sites, air current is even shuting in on coal. Pakistan has potencies of air current energy runing from 10000MW, yet power coevals through air current is in intiaial phases in Pakistnan and presently 06 MW has been installed in first stage in Jhampir through a Turkish company and 50 MW will be installed shortly. More wind power workss will be built in Jhampir, Gharo, Keti Bandar and Bin Qasim Karachi.3.13 SOLAR POWEREnergy from the Sun is a free, abundant, and nonpolluting beginning of energy. Solar power involves utilizing solar cells to change over sunshine into electricity, utilizing sunlight hitting solar thermic panels to change over sunshine to heat H2O or air. Pakistan has potency of more than 100,000 MW from solar energy. Buildinn of solar power workss is afoot in Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. However, private sellers are importing panels/solar H2O warmers for ingestion in the market. Alternative Energy Development Board ( AEDB ) is working for 20,000 solar H2O warmers in Gilgit Baltistan. Mobile companies have been asked by theh authorities to switch supply of energy to their transmittal towers from crude oil to solar energy panels.3.14 GEOTHERMAL ENERGYGeothermal energy harnesses the heat energy present underneath the Earth. Hot stones under the land heat H2O to bring forth steam. When holes are drilled in the part, the steam that shoots up is purified and is used to drive turbines, which power electric generators. If done right, geothermic energy produces no harmful byproducts. Once a geothermic works is build, it is by and large self-sufficing energy wise. Geothermal power workss are by and large little and have small consequence on the natural landscape. Geothermal energy is the natural heat generated in the inside of Earth and released from vents and hot springs or from geysers that shoot out het H2O and steam. Reservoirs of hot H2O and steam under Earth ‘s surface can be accessed by boring through the stone bed. The of course het H2O can be used to heat edifices, while the steam can be used to bring forth electricity. Steam can besides be produced by pumping cold H2O into stone that is heated by geothermic energy ; such steam is so used to bring forth electric power. Geothermal energy is an of import alternate energy beginning in countries of geothermic activity, including parts of the United States, Iceland, and Italy. Homes in Boise, Idaho, are heated utilizing geothermic energy, as are most edifices in Iceland. The Geysers in California is the largest steam field in the universe and has been used to bring forth electricity since 1960. Unlike solar energy and air current power, nevertheless, the usage of geothermic energy has an environmental impact. Chemicals in the steam contribute to air pollution, and H2O assorted with the steam contains dissolved salts that can eat pipes and injury aquatic ecosystems.3.15 TIDAL AND OCEAN ENERGYThe rise and autumn of ocean tides contain tremendous sums of energy that can be captured to bring forth electricity. Tidal power cab be extracted from Moon-gravity-powered tides by turn uping a H2O turbine in a tidal current. The turbine can turn an electrical generator, or a gas compressor, that can so hive away en ergy until needed. Coastal tides are a beginning of clean, free, renewable, and sustainable energy. Plans are underway in Pakistan to tackle tidal energy, nevertheless, no execution has been made so far.3.16 AGRICULTURE BIOMASS/BIODIESELBiomass production involves utilizing refuse or other renewable resources such as sugar cane, maize or other flora to bring forth electricity. When refuse decomposes, methane is produced and captured in pipes and subsequently burned to bring forth electricity. Vegetation and wood can be burned straight to bring forth energy, like fossil fuels, or processed to organize intoxicants. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy plans from biomass/biodiesel in the universe, followed by USA. Alternative Energy Development Board ( AEDB ) of Pakistann has planned to bring forth 10 MW of electricity from municipal waste in Karachi followed by similar undertakings in 20 metropoliss of state.

Best Practice And Best Fit Approach In HRM Management Essay

Best Practice And Best Fit Approach In HRM Management Essay 1. Introduction The discussion between promoters of best practice and best fit approaches has sparked widespread controversy in the human resource management (HRM) area. The topic has gained much scholarly attention because it not only addresses a theoretical controversy but also possesses a high degree of practical managerial significance. The essay has the aim to analyse best practice and best fit approaches in HRM of a multinational enterprise. The reader receives insight into Lincoln Electric’s organization through a case-study analysis of practical HR approaches serving as a basis for developing practical managerial implications in the last part of the paper. 2. Critical evaluation of â€Å"best practice† and â€Å"best fit† practices in HRM 2.1 Best practice approach The best practice approach claims that certain bundles of HR activities exist which universally support companies in reaching a competitive advantage regardless of the organizational setting o r industry (Redman and Wilkinson 2009). Best practice models imply a close connection between HR practices and organizational performance and are often associated with high commitment management (Paauwe & Boselie 2003). Empirical research in the best-practice field shows similar groups of HR polices which are especially suitable for maximizing performance irrespective of market and product strategies (Peffer 1998, Guest 2000). Best practice bundles of activities are characterized as mutually compatible HR activities which forge high levels of workforce competence, encourage motivation and introduce a workdesign boosting employee commitment (Maloney and Morris 2005). Based on concepts from expectancy theory (Vroom 1964, Lawler 1971) best practice HR will result in higher levels of quality, productivity and low rates of absenteeism and wastage (Guest 2000). The best practice approach suffers from a series of limitations. Firstly, when implementing best practice standards organizations run risk of introducing mutually prohibitive combinations like team working and compensation based on individual performance resulting in a deterioration of employee collaboration through overexaggerated competition (Delery 1998 in Redman and Wilkinson 2009). Secondly, high commitment management systems are generally a complex undertaking requiring large inputs of planning and top level management commitment. Thirdly, critics like Milkovich and Newman (2002) argue that best practice HR lacks direct linkages with organizational strategies and is minted by the belief that outstanding high performing human resources will influence strategy. By making HR policy precede corporate strategy an organization risks prescribing standardized sets of â€Å"one size fits all† best practice approaches which will not support the particular needs of employees and be detrimental to overall strategic objectives (Maloney and Morris 2005). Fourthly, discussions with regard to the appropriate cho ice of best practice measures resulting from an insufficient research methodology and theoretical definition exist (Marchington and Grugulis 2000 in Redman and Wilkinson 2009). 2.2 Best fit approach The best-fit model is considered as a variant from precedent models of Harvard, Michigan and York and is called â€Å"matching model† for HRM (Sparrow and Hiltrop 1994). It is based on developing HRM policies according to business strategy. Strategy involves planning future activities, performances objectives, and policies towards reaching the corporate aims. HRM strategy should be designed and applied to support the given corporate strategy (Lawler 1995). The â€Å"best-fit† approach questions the universality assumption of the best-practice perspective. It emphasizes contingency fit between HR activities and the organization’s stage of development, an organization’s internal structures and its external environment like clients, suppliers, competition and lab our markets (Redman and Wilkinson 2009). HR policy should be minted by the appropriate context of individual employees and therefore support the overall competitive strategy. Aligning HRM practices to strategies can enable companies to create potential competitive advantages (Schuler and Jackson 1987 in Redman and Wilkinson 2009).

Historians question whether or not social movements such as the civial Essay

Historians question whether or not social movements such as the civial rights and womens rights movements were successful in add - Essay Example The society today paints a picture of a highly prosperous country boasting of a cohesive social structure, one that integrates everyone despite their differences. The American society as it is today is the creation of a number of social movements such as civil rights and women rights group. Such groups of people worked hard to change a number of mindsets that could have otherwise led to either the collapse of the country or the emergence of one of the world’s worst human crisis in the history of humanity (Carl 98). With hard work and sound leadership, the country listened to the plights of the civil rights groups and addressed their issues. These led to serious changes in the American constitution through time and today America owes what it is to the sacrifices of some of the pressure group members who believed in the achievement of an all-inclusive society (Jonathan 71). Europeans took Africans into the United States to work in their plantations. However, soon after the slave ry period, the world became industrialized and for once people never needed many laborers to work in the field. This therefore led to the formation of regional and politics of segregations. The whites never considered the Africans as their equals. The whites discriminated against the African community and made sure they felt unwelcome. The society was segregated, and the Africans not allowed mingling freely with the rest of the population. They therefore never went to school and had no employment; they thus lived in abject poverty. The worst level of this discrimination was on politics and governance, the number of Africans in the country was nearing the number of the whites. Despite this large population, the rest of the Americans denied the African American community a chance to elect their leaders. They never took part in an electoral process and were not allowed to run for any electoral position. For a long time in the history of America, the African American community alongside other marginalized communities lived in abject poverty and in a humiliating environment. By the begining of the nineteenth century, a number of pressure groups sprung up to fight for the rights of the marginalized and the African American community. Led by radical and selfless African American leaders such as Martin Luther King Junior, this creed of Americans believed in equality before the law. They thus called for understanding and peaceful coexistence. They called for the abolishment of the racial segregation that was threatening to tear the country down into two. These struggles would get violent at times and the government would order for the attack on such groups and senseless murder. This drew the attention of the international community. There later followed a number of global human rights watch bodies calling for the restructuring of the American society (Jonathan 55). The African Americans were therefore allowed to vote and be voted into any elective force should they fee l like. Today, the country boasts an African American president. For a long time, this remained a dream that could not even be conceptualized at the time by the pressure groups (Johnson 66). The historical America did not only include a highly segregated population but also contained a male chauvinistic one. The men considered themselves the head of their families and therefore

WHY ARE THERE MORE BLAACK PEOPLE AND ETHNIC MINORITIES DETAINED IN Essay

WHY ARE THERE MORE BLAACK PEOPLE AND ETHNIC MINORITIES DETAINED IN SECURE PSYCHATRIC SETTINGS AS COMPARED TO THE INDEGENOUS POPULATION - Essay Example This may bring challenges in that, health officials may be unwilling to open up as that may be in contravention to their code of conduct and professional regulations. The overall goal of the research is to better understand how the black people in the community have been isolated trhough poor access system and to develop strategies to reduce this isolation. To move in that direction, the following research questions will be pursued: - By answering the above questions, the researcher hopes that solutions, measures and strategies would be developed to curb the problem and provide long lasting solutions to the problems highlighted. These strategies and measures will hopefully lead to decreased cases of black people and ethnic minorities detained in secure psychiatric settings. The study shall seek to identify causes of increased incidences of psychiatric disorders amongst blacks and ethnic minorities. This is beneficial in that, the findings shall be used to offer suggestions to the government and other stakeholders on how the government can intervene to solve the problem which is clearly threatening to get out of control. Secondly, the research is beneficial in that, it will inform the stakeholders and the general public on the status of the black people and ethnic minorities detained in secure psychiatric settings with an aim of making the community to appreciate the need for a reliable, organized, secure and dependable mental health system. By studying on how the blacks are affected by the psychiatric setting, the researcher shall help the community see the impact of an oppressive and imbalanced social services system and therefore appreciate the need for a more rational health system which would take care of the special needs of the blacks especially in regard to mortality and morbidity. Thirdly the research will bring in new and fresh insights as to how the blacks are affected by the current health crisis as well try to

Statutory Interpretation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Statutory Interpretation - Case Study Example Alec took a pecuniary advantage by deception of Vera to gain more money from the woman by dishonestly selling to her a computer that is worth 1000 for 2000. When he supplied the computer to her, he insisted that the computer is worth every penny of the 2000 given to him by Vera. There was no reason as to why the old woman would have thought the computer in question was not worth 2000 and we can not say that he was reckless to the representation of the computer. Alec knew very well the actual cost of the computer since they sold the machine at 1000 but she took advantage of the old woman and charge her double the amount the computer is worth. This act is a criminal offence under s 15 Theft Act 1968 for acquiring extra money from Vera dishonestly from the sale of the computer. For this case, Alec if convicted is liable for imprisonment of a term not exceeding ten years. This Theft Act was brought about to protect ordinary citizens from exploitation by people who want to obtain property from them in a dishonesty manner by deception. 1 For the case where Brian, an employed IT technician obtained services by deception is liable for criminal offence under the s 1 Theft Act 1978. ... Brian was a cousin to Bryan and since they share the same surname, there is no way as to why Wendy would have doubted the representation. Brian held both the season ticket that belonged to Bryan and his driving license and since they share the same surname, we can not say the Wendy was reckless to the representation and he failed to verify the two documents. For this case, Brian if convicted is liable for a criminal offence under s 1 Theft Act 1978. The Act was enacted to bring to book those who dishonestly obtain services by deception. Brian deceived Wendy, the gate attendant to believe that the services of attending to the football match has already been paid for and he was entitled to watch the football. For this case, he obtained services of watching football match by deception hence he is liable for criminal offence under s 1 Theft Act of 1978. 2 For the case where Alec advertised for a post of a qualified IT specialist who was to be graduate of BSc degree in IT but he ended up recruiting Brian who had faked that he was a graduate. Brian obtained pecuniary advantages by deception to be hired by Alec where he pretended to have graduated with a Bsc. Degree in IT where else he was using Bryan degree certificate. There is not way Alec would have noted that Brian was not a graduate since he had a degree certificate. The name Brian and Bryan looks similar and one would not note the difference between the two names and this led to Alec being deceived by Brian and recruited him to the position of a qualified IT technician believing that he was a BSc. Degree graduate. Brian was dishonest since he knew very well that he was not a BSc. Degree graduate and yet he went ahead of applying for position of a qualified IT technician with a fake degree certificate. For

Personal Biostatement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Biostatement - Essay Example There is a risk of water shortages in the near future, and many sources of water are polluted. Humanity may also be close to running out of oil and other important materials. There is a limit to the numbers of people that can be supported by the earth. A higher population requires more land to be used for food, and more chemical fertilizers and intensive cultivation to be used on existing agricultural land. If a high standard of living is maintained, a high population will also require more energy and resource use and it will usually create more pollution and waste. The world population was six billion in 2000, and it is projected to rise to almost nine billion by the year 2040. In 10,000 B.C. the maximum estimated world population was around ten million (U.S. Census Bureau-International Database, 2007). There are currently signs that the current population is reaching the limits of the carrying capacity of the world. There are constant famines in some parts of Africa. Rising oil prices may signal an impending oil shortage. Consumption of oil has risen throughout the world and there have been few significant new discoveries. Deforestation is a major prob lem as poor countries cut down their forests to provide new land for agriculture. There are large "dead zones" in some coastal areas due to pollution. Damage to the environment will eventually lower the carrying capacity of the earth as agricultural yields will fall if topsoil is eliminated because of the erosion that occurs with constant monocropping and the destruction of the forests. Overfishing can cause fish stocks to collapse, and they may not recover for a long period of time even if fishing is temporarily halted. If the world population outgrows the carrying capacity of the earth, the results could be a rapid population collapse as wars, famines, and major epidemics occur in many places at once. There is evidence that the society on Easter Island collapsed due to overpopulation and the overconsumption of resources. "Apparently the islanders were greeted with a lush tropical paradise when they first discovered it. It must have seemed inexhaustable. The trees were cut for lumb er for housing, wood for fires, and eventually for the rollers and lever-like devices used to move and erect the moai" (Wassmann, 1996). Eventually, the clear-cutting caused erosion and the permanent loss of the original forest on the island. The island could no longer support its population, and there was constant warfare and cannibalism. The society collapsed, and the population of the island is estimated to have dwindled from about 7,000-9,000 to about 750. Overdevelopment has damaged the environment in many places. Human needs and wants should not be the only thing that determines where new housing developments and cities are constructed, as development can cause important species to lose land in their habitats; and it can cause other problems, such as the loss of topsoil and pollution. The loss of some species in a region can cause other species to either die off or over-reproduce. Other species could enter the region, and they could become pest species. Land in some types of developments also becomes eroded easily. Highways and developments also create large amounts of pollution and waste. Pollution has always been a major problem throughout history. The industrial revolution added many new types of pollution to the environment

Response Paper 1 - Enacted Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Response Paper 1 - Enacted Environment - Essay Example They succeed in some ways and fall short in others. However, even more than falling short of explaining themselves adequately, their arguments simply only apply in some cases but not all. It is my belief that their ideas are very helpful in cases in which they are applicable, but there are many cases in which these ideas do not apply. There are reasons why the traditional practices of strategic management have been used for as long as they have by so many businesses, and there is something to be said for using them, so I can see this argument from both sides. What the authors are saying offers a new and useful perspective that can certainly be helpful when it applies, and their view is something that most managers fail to even acknowledge and can benefit from recognizing. However, I do not think it should be presented as the only possible view that applies, as traditional strategic management views really are the most useful in some situations. Yes, managers must look at themselves a nd their situations objectively, but external trends and consumer patterns cannot be ignored. It is true, as the authors of this article claim, that it is important for managers to look within themselves and their organizations when attempting to solve problems, but managers also need TEXAS SOUTHERN judge judy to observe what is going on in the market and in the minds of consumers, because their opinions and misconceptions are very real. Ultimately, it definitely makes sense to unlearn debilitating concepts and to take risks that others refuse to take, but it does not make sense to do this instead of looking at the environment. Why not do both? In my opinion, their refusal to consider the other methods is just as dangerous as the idea of using only the other methods exclusively. In terms of whether or not the authors convinced me, the answer is â€Å"somewhat†. While their analogies were helpful, none of the examples really proved an instance in which their perspectives worke d better than others; the only examples given listed failures of the other models to work and how these failures could have been prevented or corrected using their model, instead. Understandably, their model has probably not been used by many companies yet, and if so, it probably has not been studied in practice, so these examples were likely difficult to find. Ultimately, my conclusion is that the authors are correct that it is dangerous for a person to become confined by his or her own beliefs to the extent that that person has created an environment in which things can only be done a certain way, and he or she will not consider stepping outside of the box. However, whether accurate or not, consumers do have very real beliefs and behavioral patterns that should not be denied or overlooked for the sake of self-analysis. With regard to what difference this article’s ideas will make to the way I view or practice management, the authors do a good job of emphasizing the importan ce of looking inward first, before blaming outside factors for influence or failure, so this is something I would change or implement. One example of an external environmental factor that came to mind as I was reading this article is the way that â€Å"the economy† has sort of become the buzz word for consumers these days. Everyone uses â€Å"the economy† as the reason for everything, whether or not it has personally affected them. Consumers use

Scan virus for all domestic animal in Saudi Arabia Research Proposal

Scan virus for all domestic animal in Saudi Arabia - Research Proposal Example Such illnesses spread to humans due to failure to understand the natural environment. Over the past decade, many people have lost their lives globally because of serious infections caused by animals. Examples of such illnesses are Ebola and AIDS. A few years ago, a virus spread by domestic birds affected many people in Eastern Asia. In Saudi Arabia, a virus that spread from domestic animals to humans is corona virus. This virus spread to humans through their interaction with camels. Reports indicate that about 800 people were infected with the virus in the Middle East (Merson, Black & Mills, 2012). The first case of infection was reported in Saudi Arabia in the year 2012. It causes serious respiratory illnesses. About 27 percent of people infected with the virus die. People with weaker immunes systems as such the elderly and those with other illnesses such as diabetes are more vulnerable to the viruses. The public health departments have been focusing on scanning only wild animals fo r virus. It is also crucial for them to start focusing more on scanning domestic animals. If action is not taken in time, more people will die of the infections caused by viruses spread to humans by domestic animals. Failure to scan domestic animals has contributed the deaths of many people in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world. This is because animals have viruses that cause deadly infections to humans (Merson, Black & Mills, 2012). Apart from corona virus, another virus that uses domestic animals as hosts is rabies. Rabies is among the most infectious illnesses. Studies show that it is responsible for thousands of deaths each year in the world. Rabies is transmitted to human when bitten by infected dogs and cats. Apart from dogs, poultry farmers are also at high risks of being infected by viruses such as H5N1. In the year 2007 April, Saudi Arabia reported a fist case of H5NI. Birds spread this virus when they

Summary of reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Summary of reading - Essay Example Whereas traditional marriage gets support from majority of the people, whether other forms like Gay and Homosexual marriages deserve discrimination and should be deprived of their fundamental right to marry and beget children as per the procedure they choose? Dent, though a strong supporter of the traditional marriage acknowledges their fundamental right and freedom to choose their life-partner and above all the freedom to love the individual of their choice. If one is to summarize the article in a few sentences, this is an important observation by George Dent. He argues, â€Å"If the government treats traditional marriage as the norm, citizens are also more likely to view it that way than they would if government treats traditional marriage as but one of many equally valid choices" (p. 421). Deviation from the joint family and nuclear family has socially turned out to be disastrous all over the world, particularly in America. That the divorce rate has crossed 50% is the grim indication and the worst scenario that has engulfed the American society. At the same time, there is a section of the society and the leadership that favors gay marriages. Historically the same sex marriages have been resented and they think it is a "caricature of the real thing...an insult to a relationship that they consider to have a sacred as well as a legal dimension" (p. 425). What is the ground reality related to such marriages? Homosexual couples will not b e able to procreate, and they cannot have the marriage ceremonies performed as per cultural and traditional standards, it is at the most a social or a club event. With no emotional commitment, the agenda behind such marriages is to get some financial benefits. But the paradox is they can have the benefits through other fair alternatives. One of the prime objectives of the institution of marriage is to beget children. That is not possible for the homosexual

My professional and academic goals related to wardens school of nursing Essay Example for Free

My professional and academic goals related to wardens school of nursing Essay My Professional and Academic Goals related to Waldens School of Nursing Perspectives I have been a nurse for 14 years, mostly in the Emergency Department, and have become aware of the growing population and the need for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP’s). According to Walden’s University Catalog (DEC. 2013a), FNP’s are defined as â€Å"advanced practice registered nurses with the knowledge and skills to assess and manage health issues in patients of all age groups, from birth through senior years. † My goal as a FNP is to provide advanced health care with a holistic approach including: disease prevention, health maintenance, health promotion, restorative care, and a positive social change. I have chosen Walden University through high recommendations from my colleagues. They have enlightened me on the positive impact Walden School of Nursing has made in their personal and professional careers. Walden’s vision and mission statement reinforced my decision to become a part of the Walden Family Nurse Practitioner School of Nursing. According to Walden University Catalog (DEC. 2013b) their vision is focused on a distinctive different 21st –century learning community that provides immediate solutions of critical societal challenges and advancing global good. My vision agrees that healthcare professionals need to focus on advanced 21st century technology and the societal challenges that arise and promote a positive social change. Walden University Catalog (DEC.2013b) defines positive social change â€Å"as a deliberate process of creating and applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies. Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions. † I plan to implement social change with the knowledge and education that the Walden School of Nursing provides while supporting and recognizing the many cultures in the community.

The freedom to live Essay Example for Free

The freedom to live Essay The freedom to live Gandhi once said, An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, very much truth can be found in this statement. Is it really moral to give the same punishment to someone that we are punishing them for? The death penalty is a very touchy subject to most for a good reason, in my eyes the death penalty is injustice. For reasons such as money, religion, the principal of knowing right from wrong as well as the wrongly accused, and the prolonging suffering of the victims’, families and loved ones. Promoting the death penalty as a punishment promotes that killing is an okay solution to a difficult problem, that’s not something I wish to teach our youth. It costs far more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life without parole. Millions of dollars could be spent on violence-prevention efforts, solving unsolved cases, and increasing victim services. Executions cost two million dollars per person, keeping the criminal in prison for life cost around five hundred thousand dollars per person. As a tax paying American citizen I find it a waste of good tax payer’s money. The money saved could be spent on programs that actually improve the communities in which we live. This country has religious freedom, which is wonderful in more ways than one. Most religions such as Catholic, Presbyterian, Quaker, Amish, Buddhist, and Interfaith forbid the death penalty. Although isolated passages of religious scriptures have been quoted in supported of the death penalty, almost all religious groups in the United States regard executions as immoral. However the court doesn’t take religion into consideration, in turn, takes away a person religious freedom, which is something the country, stands proudly for. Inadequate legal representation plays a major role in determining ones sentence. Perhaps the most important factor in determining whether a defendant will receive the death penalty, is the quality of the representation he or she is provided. Almost all defendants who face capital charges cannot afford an attorney and rely on the state to appoint one for them. Many death row inmates were convicted and sentenced the death penalty while being defended by court appointed lawyers who are often the worst- paid, the most- inexperienced, and the least- skillful lawyers. Death row inmates today face a one-in-three chance of being executed without having the case properly investigated by a competent attorney and without having any claims of innocence or unfairness presented or heard; injustice at its finest. Protests have been going on in many states for the abolishment of the death penalty, families and loved ones of the murder victims included. They support alternatives to the death penalty for reasons such as the death penalty being a traumatizing experience dealing with the constant pain and remembrance for many years. Negative attention is directed on the crime and the accused, instead of where it belongs — on the family and loved ones of the murder victim and on the community. Life without parole provides certain punishment and suffering without the constant reopening of wounds; it punishes the criminal without putting him or her in the headlines, making it slightly easier for the families. Only eighteen states have abolished the death penalty, making the other thirty two will bring the good people of America better use of their money, their time, and effort. For those families and loved ones of the murder victims it will give them peace of mind, and hopefully make their rattled lives calmer. If we find it wrong to murder one another, then what makes it any different from the death penalty? We are not god; we do not decide who lives and who dies. However we do decide on what this country stands for, and what we as the people of the United States of America stand for. The freedom to live Gandhi once said, An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, very much truth can be found in this statement. Is it really moral to give the same punishment to someone that we are punishing them for? The death penalty is a very touchy subject to most for a good reason, in my eyes the death penalty is injustice. For reasons such as money, religion, the principal of knowing right from wrong as well as the wrongly accused, and the prolonging suffering of the victims’, families and loved ones. Promoting the death penalty as a punishment promotes that killing is an okay solution to a difficult problem, that’s not something I wish to teach our youth. It costs far more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life without parole. Millions of dollars could be spent on violence-prevention efforts, solving unsolved cases, and increasing victim services. Executions cost two million dollars per person, keeping the criminal in prison for life cost around five hundred thousand dollars per person. As a tax paying American citizen I find it a waste of good tax payer’s money. The money saved could be spent on programs that actually improve the communities in which we live. This country has religious freedom, which is wonderful in more ways than one. Most religions such as Catholic, Presbyterian, Quaker, Amish, Buddhist, and Interfaith forbid the death penalty. Although isolated passages of religious scriptures have been quoted in supported of the death penalty, almost all religious groups in the United States regard executions as immoral. However the court doesn’t take religion into consideration, in turn, takes away a person religious freedom, which is something the country, stands proudly for. Inadequate legal representation plays a major role in determining ones sentence. Perhaps the most important factor in determining whether a defendant will receive the death penalty, is the quality of the representation he or she is provided. Almost all defendants who face capital charges cannot afford an attorney and rely on the state to appoint one for them. Many death row inmates were convicted and sentenced the death penalty while being defended by court appointed lawyers who are often the worst- paid, the most- inexperienced, and the least- skillful lawyers. Death row inmates today face a one-in-three chance of being executed without having the case properly investigated by a competent attorney and without having any claims of innocence or unfairness presented or heard; injustice at its finest. Protests have been going on in many states for the abolishment of the death penalty, families and loved ones of the murder victims included. They support alternatives to the death penalty for reasons such as the death penalty being a traumatizing experience dealing with the constant pain and remembrance for many years. Negative attention is directed on the crime and the accused, instead of where it belongs — on the family and loved ones of the murder victim and on the community. Life without parole provides certain punishment and suffering without the constant reopening of wounds; it punishes the criminal without putting him or her in the headlines, making it slightly easier for the families. Only eighteen states have abolished the death penalty, making the other thirty two will bring the good people of America better use of their money, their time, and effort. For those families and loved ones of the murder victims it will give them peace of mind, and hopefully make their rattled lives calmer. If we find it wrong to murder one another, then what makes it any different from the death penalty? We are not god; we do not decide who lives and who dies. However we do decide on what this country stands for, and what we as the people of the United States of America stand for.

Influence Of Television Viewing On Children Media Essay

Influence Of Television Viewing On Children Media Essay Introduction This essay is about the extent, justification and concerns that adult citizens have about the influence of television viewing on children. Adults in the context of this essay encompass parents, journalists, policy makers, media researchers and human right activists among other citizens. The discussion is covered over five sections. Each section attempts to give the perspective of a loose category of adult citizen concerns. The first section begins by situating the topic in media effects research theory-a concern for social scientists and media theorists. Here it underscores the various foci of effects research over the years notably; media texts as powerful agents of social change (Hovland et.al., 1953; Galician, 2004 and McQuail, 2005), media texts have an influence on peer relations (Moreno, 1934), there is a role of mediating factors (Klapper, 1960 and Moss, 1996) among other concerns. The second section attempts to justify the question of the essay by providing some evidence of w hy the influence of television might be considered more important than other media a concern for media owners, human rights activists and policy makers. Here contributions are made on the distribution and coverage of television (Lichter, 1990), its accessibility (Burton, 2004) and extent of usage by children (Buckingham, 2007) among other arguments. The third section focuses on a range of specific concerns about the actual effects of television- of interest to parents, media researchers and human rights activists. These concerns include, aggressive behaviour (Bandura, 1994), gender stereotyping (Ingham, 1997) and citizenship (Selznick, 2008) among others. The fourth section critically discusses some of the methodological approaches to examining the influence of television on children that would be of possible interest to media researchers and policy makers. Here it briefly highlights possible theories of how children react when exposed to a media text through perceived processes of cultivation (Newbold, 1995), acculturation and socialization (Goonasekera, 1996) and varying intellectual development (Buckingham, 1998) among other theories. The fifth section is the authors perspective of the kind of effective action that should be taken to contribute to better effects research and healthy television viewing among children. The conclusion summarises the main elements of the essay. Situating the influence of television viewing on children in media effects research theory The early part of the 20th century saw a pristine effort in the study of mass media effects that began when public concern about the impact of movies on children and adolescents was prompted by the privately funded Payne Studies (Galician, 2004, p84). These and other media studies helped establish the notion that mass media messages are indeed powerful agents of social change (e.g. Hovland, et.al., 1953;Galician, 2004 and McQuail, 2005). The influence of television viewing on children is an important issue to examine because as McQuail in Newbold (2005, p9) argues, the media is a powerful shaper of opinion and beliefs. For Hovland, et.al. (1953, pp260-266), two personality factors appeared to play a significant role in determining variations in the degree of effect of a media text; intellectual ability and motivation. In even earlier work, Moreno (1934) underscored the importance of peer relations and the bonds they form based on values within the group that are perhaps influenced by media texts. Lazarsfeld et al. (1948, p151) argued that the process of attitude and opinion formation within the broader public sphere of say a community owed more to the influence of other people the opinion leaders, than the media itself. Within media effects research, the opinion leaders are considered the primary group whose relevance is not merely its existence but rather their influence on behaviour and attitudes of individuals that make up the group (Newbold, 2005, p17). Hovland and his colleagues were not only concerned with personality factors but more so with the message itself. They argued that its apparent trustworthiness and how it influences the learning of facts indeed invoked different reactions (Newbold, 2005, p15). For Klapper (1960, p8), mass communication does not ordinarily serve as a necessary or sufficient cause of audience effects, but rather functions through a nexus of mediating factors, an argument that emphasizes the total situation. Moss (1996, p5) see ms to allude to this when she stipulates that audience studies can be examined by establishing the social context in which texts are distributed and consumed. The disparity in effects research approaches perhaps provides an indication of the complexity of the emphasis of issues and concerns by mass communication scholars in demarcating the field. The next section provides some illumination on this latter concern by comparing the influence of television versus other media on audiences from the collective adult citizen perspective of human right activists, journalists and policy makers. The influence of television versus other media Lichter, et. al. (1990, p8) views effects of television as greater than the print media or even radio because it clearly provides its audience with a sense that what it views is true and real. They further argue (p8) that television has broken down class and regional boundaries to a far greater extent than other media (during the 1990s); as compared to say, the print media that is segregated by area of distribution and readership. For Burton (2004, p93), television is the most accessible media to most people, including young children, where television is their most favourite form of media. Buckingham (2007, p75) further illuminates Burtons assertion by arguing that if schools have remained relatively unaffected by the advent of new technology, the same cannot be said of childrens lives after school. He also argues that childhood is permeated and in some respects defined by modern media -television, video games, mobile phones, the internet that make up contemporary consumer culture. G avin (2005) asserts that within a year an average American child would have spent about 900 hours viewing television in school compared to and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a television at home. Kellner (1990, p1) supports the latter assertions and argues that 750 million television sets across 160 countries worldwide are watched by 2.5 billion people every day; underscoring the obvious ubiquity and centrality of television in our everyday lives. Television influence separates itself from other media influences by the extent of its central role in the lives of the contemporary child and perhaps the fact that this is coupled with frequent audio visual stimulation. Media convergence in the current advanced IT age has given rise to internet television and mobile phone television tuning that technically changes the perceived coverage and possible influence of television. Surrounding these postulations is a range of specific concerns that are briefly discussed in the next section; looke d at from the collective perspective of concerned parents, social scientists and possibly media theorists. Concerns about the influence of television viewing on children The debate about the influence of the media on children has been wide-ranging and at times fierce (Robinson Willett, 2006, p6) with concerns about violence, sexual content, advertising and its developmental and educational implications (p6). The Australian Psychological Society Ltd Factsheet (2000, p1) claims that prolonged exposure to television violence is among the factors which lead to children to display aggressive behaviour in both the short and long term. Some aggressive effects research evidences that up to 88% of children readily imitate aggressive behaviour seen earlier on television (Bandura, 1994 in Cumberbatch, 2008, p23). Other concerns revolve around the power of advertising. Buckingham in Dickinson, Harindranath and Linnà © (1998, p134) contend that advertising is often accused of promoting false needs, irrational fantasies or even reinforcing exaggerated gender stereotypes and; children are at risk because of their apparent inability to recognise its underlying per suasive intentions. Some authors attribute this to the effectiveness of advertising. Halford, et.al. (2004) argue that because food is the most frequently advertised product on childrens television programming, exposure to these advertisements effectively promotes consumption of the advertised products. Gunter and McAleer in Robinson and Willett (2006, p11) do not agree with the latter assertion and argue that objective evidence is much less conclusive as to the effect of advertising. For Coon, et.al. (2001), excessive TV viewing during childhood and adolescence contributes to higher intakes of energy through snacks and carbonated beverages and lower intakes of fruit and vegetables. Other authors (e.g. Gortmaker, et. al., 1996; Hancox, et.al., 2004) suggest that watching excessive television contributes to sedentarism in both children and adults by taking the place of more energetic activities. Some concerns have been reflected in childrens perception of traditional gender stereotyp ing on television that is perhaps no longer appropriate for the contemporary roles taken on by the sexes. Ingham (1997, p2) reports that women in the home are frequently represented via the housewife-type role, with the man as the strong, bread winning husband. She further argues (p3) that when women are portrayed as successful; it tends to be at the expense of their personal life, which invariably tends to be unhappy. From a philosophical perspective Goonasekera (1996,p41) argues that communications technology (including television) has greatly increased cultural contacts among people of different nations; providing unprecedented opportunities for the establishment of closer cultural linkages and identities. He further argues that this very opportunity raises fears of cultural domination and obliteration of ethnic identities. For Van Evra (2004, p66), the concerns have gone beyond looking at only the negative effects and argues that although television may displace study time or af fect reading habits and study skills; it can also stimulate interest in new topics, provide background material for school projects and stimulate classroom discussions. For Selznick (2008, p108), television teaches citizenship. A plethora of views exist on the perceived influence of television on children. As noted by some authors (e.g. Buckingham, 1998, p.137; Newbold, 2005, p15) and Klapper,1960, p8), intervening variables mediate between television and its audience. Selznick (2008, p108) also argues that whether the effect of television on children is seen as positive or negative, most scholars agree that television affects the way that children build their own identities, specifically how they understand who they are, what they like, their place in the world and their goals. The next section provides a critical exploration of some approaches and models in effects research around the influence of television on children by expressing the more prominent concerns that scholars have had of their peers. A critique of evidence and methodology around effects of television on children The development of effects research has largely been in the direction of emphasizing the role of intervening variables (Buckingham p136 in Dickinson, Harindranath and Linnà ©, 1998). Taking this as a starting point, Robinson and Willett (2006, p9) argues that the way we interpret physical phenomena is not constant across cultural boundaries. Cumberbatch (2008,p33) alludes to Robinson and Willets latter argument when he asserts that research evidence on the effects of viewing violence suffers from various methodological evidence. Moss (1996, p30) alludes to these latter arguments from a Vygotskian perspective when she asserts that children grow up accommodating themselves to the existing social forms of thinking, shaped through words (Moss 1996, p18) and perhaps by proxy; through what they see through different media. Perhaps at this point a small illustration might serve to stimulate the discussion. Recently in Uganda, horror was experienced when a group of school children witnessed one of their peers plunge to his death in a deep topless latrine after boasting to his friends about being Tinky Winky one of the Teletubbies on childrens television often seen to emerge or drop down a hole in the ground. The Tinky Winky illustration peripherally suggests that negligence might have caused such an unfortunate situation for the kids. But as some of the Ugandan community seemingly believed; television implanted a fatal irrational fantasy described by Buckingham in Dickinson, Harindranath and Linnà © (1998, p134). Gerbner and Gross (1976) in Newbold, 1995, p30) prefer to call the latter case cultivation that places emphasis on long-term effects of the media. Perhaps, what creates a fair amount of separation in effects research and perspectives is not only linked to the way we interpret physical phenomena but also to the way that populist views (Robinson Willett, p9) are taken as gospel truth. The elite Ugandan community called for a total ban of the teletubbies -a d emand that spread to human rights groups. Could peers perhaps have influenced their unfortunate friend through secondary transfer of their television experience with the teletubbies? For Moss (1996), children sense of the media is mediated through talk with peers, parents and teachers. Goonasekera (1996, p26) attempts to demarcate the process that leads to anti-social behaviour that he contends happens through a process of acculturation and socialization, where values such as respect for the sanctity of human life become weaker and values promoting short-term hedonistic behaviour become stronger. Does this latter postulation apply to the Ugandan tragedy above? Some authors think otherwise. Gauntlett in Dickinson, Harindranath and Linnà © (1998, p124) criticises the effects model for its media depictions of anti-social acts that he says is limited to fictional productions. The weakness with this latter assertion of the effects model is that other anti-social activities which appear in other media do not have similar effects on the same audiences. If also, as McKenna (1995,p25) asserts that public service broadcasting tends to be dominated by the elites, then how can one account for the violence that is prevalent in many rural areas in Africa that are not exposed to the media? Can this perhaps be controlled when testing hypotheses? McQuail (2005, p16) alludes to this when he asks; which aspect of the medium is being regulated? This latter assertion has connotations for media effects research methodology; especially testing hypotheses. Buckingham (2008, p31) recommends that research should contribute to the wider debates about the aims and methods of media education. For Moss (1996, p24), this kind of research could explore on a macro level, the influence of media products on society and its culture or the socio-psychology of the process for individuals. Buckingham in Dickinson, Harindranath and Linnà © (1998, p136) however notes that effects models assume that effects can simply be read off from the analysis of content. This latter assertion appears to undermine the mediating factors paradigm that he further argues, has a weakness of viewing the audience as a mass of undifferentiated individuals. However, Buckingham (p.137) also validates mediating factors research approaches that underscore the dependence of the socializing influence of television on diverse and variable meanings which its users attach to it (uses and gratifications) and where viewers construct meaning (constructivist). Anderson and Lorch (1983), allude to an active relationship between children and television as they view them as actively making the choice to pay attention to television which in turn influences the way they understand what they watch and on the activities available in their viewing environment. This approach appears not to account for future similar anti-social behaviour that children exhibit after recently watching television. Indeed, Buckingham (1998 , p139) expresses this latter concern with the ways in which childrens understanding of television changes along with their intellectual development and uncertainty over their ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy on television. But for Cumberbatch (2008, p13 p32) doubts remain over the validity of empirical evidence to the case of causality in effects research into media violence that he argues; fails to raise the question of investigating why many people seem unaffected by television violence. On the other hand Moss (1996, p30) postulates that through social activities, childrens interpretation of media text goes through a transformation as they represent what they know in the current context, and renegotiate its significance in the light of others comments to generate and sustain their talk. For Robinson and Willett (2006,p25), both popular and academic research view children as passive receivers of whatever messages the media offers, with little ability to resist t he effects. These hypotheses in the underlying models of communications create a separation in the evidence generated by effects research of the media on audiences. The variegated demarcation of concerns in this and other sections only adds to the complexity of the issues around televisions influence and further raises the question of kind of effective action that needs to be taken. The next section attempts to illuminate this latter question from the authors perspective. Effective action for better effects research and healthy television viewing among children The concerns laid out in previous sections are based on the premise that watching television might have both positive and negative effects. This said, there appears to be vast inconclusive literature on anti-social effects such as violence compared to pro-social influence that television might have on children. Research might better serve in demarcating the field by illuminating the more positive aspects of television influence on audiences. With global processes such as the current economic recession and globalization unfolding or deepening, it might be useful for research to investigate the effects of television viewing on cultural practices or on economic status of audiences across an array of ethnic groups. Also investigating the effectiveness of mediating factors in influencing the resulting effect(s) might be an interesting area for research e.g. does someones religious beliefs rein-in or promote potential anti-social behaviour? Can say criminal anti-social behaviour have a gen etic link that manifests under a threshold of specific media exposure? How can research separate media and non-media influences across different audience age groups by first establishing a baseline of what children already know about the media? In terms of the presumed effects of advertising, media violence and so forth, parents or guardians need to review the balance of the childs daily activity based on some anti-social indicators. For example, if a child always chooses to watch television instead of play with friends or only talks only about television programs and characters, or is not performing well in school, it would be prudent to cut back on the amount of time spent in front of the television. Television viewing time should be negotiated together with the child. Parental Guidance locks should also be instituted on undesirable programmes. It is also helpful for adults, media text producers and regulation to help children interpret and critique the viewed material in order to promote constructive ways that life and values should be interpreted. Conclusion This essay has benefited by examining some of the salient issues around adult citizens concerns about the influence of television viewing on children. It focused on loosely defining the category of adult citizens and their specific interest in aspects of the topic. The discussion was demarcated by situating the topic in media theory, justifying the importance of examining the influence of TV versus other media and then specifically highlighting the plethora of concerns that were mainly negative. These concerns then spilt over into a separate section that focused on a critique of some of the existing methodological approaches and concerns. This was important to examine because methodological approaches inform the existing evidence and facts that a range of adult citizens base their understanding of the issue on. The essay then underscored the fact that mostly negative evidence exists around examining the influence of TV viewing on children and inconclusive in its findings. The essay t hen recommends future research to look into more positive facets when examining the issue and to incorporate the interesting dimensions of genetics, ethnicity and spirituality. This complex essay would have benefited more from an in-depth examination of the causal link between ethonographic, child development and economic issues and critical distancing in the influence TV television viewing on children.

Commentary on a Passage from Shelleys Frankenstein :: Mary Shelley

The passage begins in first person, whom we presume is Frankenstein, where he is reminiscing on some of the consequences of his meddling with nature. He informs us that three years ago, he was engaged in an activity which created a monster whom he describes as a ‘fiend whose unparalleled barbarity has desolated my heart, and filled it for ever with the bitterest remorse.’ He then goes on to talk about how he is about to create a ‘mate’ for the previous monster and is frightened about the effects it will have on both his creation and society. The mood of the passage is very glum as the narrator is contemplating the unforeseen horrors arising from this strange experiment. He questions the result of this ‘mate’, thinking ‘she also might turn with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man, she might quit him, and he be again alone’. Through his voice, it assists our understanding of the material as through the narrator’s bleak heart, we are made to experience very strongly the extent of his guilt. The tone of this passage is somewhat personal in the sense that he seems like he is arguing and deliberating to himself about the events which either have happened or are about to, ‘ †¦Had I the a right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations?’. He questions his own significance in society at the time when the passage is written and for the future generations and thinks himself as a ‘curse upon everlasting generations’. Having heard his reasons and seen his desolation and feeling the despair of desolation we, as readers are more able to sympathise with his actions. The overall ‘meaning’ of the passage is to tell a story about a character in which they are in deep unease and melancholy and read their views on the surroundings around them. The key themes that are conveyed to us the readers are that of madness. The author manipulates our sympathy for the monster Frankenstein by seeing it from his point of view and listening to his thoughts about himself being a ‘curse’. The piece does have a clear point of view, as his thoughts are straight-forward. This will have an effect on the reader by pointing in the direction the author maneuvers our sympathies by showing us different perspectives of situations. The setting plays an important part in reflecting the shifting moods and emotions of characters by giving us a sense of loneliness ‘ I sat one evening in my laboratory†¦.

Moral Sentiments and Determinism Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Pap

ABSTRACT: P. F. Strawson’s essay "Freedom and Resentment" was a landmark in the study of determinism, free-will, and morality. It contributed a much-needed correction to the problem of overintellectualization as found in twentieth-century compatibilist literature. Although most of the central claims in Strawson’s essay are important and true, it fails to fill the lacuna in the analysis, discussion and proposals of traditional compatibilism. The reasons may be summarized as follows. The web of moral demands, feelings and participant attitudes comprises a set of facts within human social life which must be investigated in order to understand the relation (or lack thereof) between determinism and morality. If the facts themselves fill the gap, then it must be some adequate and coherent understanding of them. According to Strawson, the incompatibilist has an understandable dissatisfaction with his opponent’s account because, among other things, the latter fails to de al with the condition of desert and of the justice of moral condemnation and punishment. However, the theory of "Freedom and Resentment" fails equally on this point. What is now needed is a combination of factual study with ethical inquiry. The former would draw on the results of social psychology, the psychology of moral development, the social sciences of morals, and (philosophical) moral psychology. I In the light of a well-known distinction between participant moral attitudes and objective ones, the traditional issue of free will and morality is rephrased, in P.F.Strawson’s ‘Freedom and Resentment’ (henceforth FR), as follows: Could, or should, determinism lead us always to look on everyone exclusively in the objective way? The negative answer is defended and ... ...egal punishment, and the sociology and anthropology of morality. As far as the latter is concerned, that would amount to a sort of revival of the late l9th Century and early 20th Century studies in the social sciences of morals. In an age of multidisciplinary studies such as ours, FR may retrospectively be looked on by present-day students of our philosophical problem as containing an ‘ahead-of-its-time’ invitation, and an especially attractive one, for the philosopher to embark on such a multidisciplinary enterprise. References Honderich, T. (Ed.), Essays on Freedom of Action, Routledge and Kegan Paul, l973. Schlick, M., Problems of Ethics , Dover Publications, N.York, l939. Strawson, P.F., ‘Freedom and Resentment’ in Freedom and Resentment and other Essays, Methuen, l974 Skepticism and Naturalism: some varieties, Columbia University Press, l985.

The Ahmanson Ranch Development :: Ventura Country Environmental Essays

The Ahmanson Ranch Development It all started back in 1989 when Home Savings of America announced to build a giant new community consisting of 3,050 homes, two schools, two hotels, two golf courses and 400,000 square feet of commercial and industrial areas on the 5,400-acre Ahmanson Ranch located at the eastern end of Ventura county, adjacent to Los Angeles County. Even though the Ahmanson Ranch has been owned by Home Savings of America since 1963, the nature remained undisturbed all these past years. The ranch has become one of the important habitats for barely surviving native organisms including threatened or endangered species. For this and other important reasons, an organization, Friends of Ahmanson Ranch, was formed to stop the development with the support from other environmental organizations, local legislatures, politicians and public. Almost seven years have passed since the beginning of this issue, but the conflict still remain unsolved. What is interesting about this issue is the diversity in the reas on which the Friends of Ahmanson Ranch claims for protecting the Ahmanson Ranch from development. They point out a variety of reason, and they are not necessarily environmental opinion. First, the reasons of opposition starts from visible things such as plants and living organisms. President of the Native Plant Society San Gabriel Chapter, Melanie Baer, states that the wild grassland ecosystem of Agoura Hills located in the Ahmanson Ranch provides an important habitat for almost-extinct native plant species called Purple needle-grass, or Stipa pulchra. She also suggests that the mitigation of this plant will not be successful due to its difficulty and poor peripheral environment, such as golf course, of the mitigation site. Similaly, Dr. Barbara J. Collins, professor of biology at California Lutheran University, argues that the environmental impact report prepared for the development was inadequate and she points out the importance of the oak savannah along a North-facing slope of Lakey Mesa in the Ahmanson Ranch. According to her opinion, these oak trees are about 200 to 300 years old valley oaks and they are very sensitive species. A large portion of these oaks wi ll be removed, and the remaining will most likely not survive the environmental changes they will go through due to its sensitive nature. In addition, these plants create crucial habitat for other living organisms such as birds, mammals, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles. Some of them are even listed in the Federal and State endangered and threatened species lists.

Davos: the World Economic Forum Essay

Davos is a town located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range in Switzerland. At 1,560 meters, it is the highest city in Europe. From the middle of the 18th century, Davos became a popular destination for the ailing because the climate in the high valley was proved excellent by doctors and recommended for lung disease patients. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote an article about skiing in Davos in 1899. In the early 90s, Davos became famous worldwide for hosting the World Economic Forum (WEF), an annual meeting of global political and business elites (often referred to simply as Davos) and the home of one of Switzerland’s biggest ski resorts. Organization is defined as â€Å"an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (World Economic Forum, 2012) These meetings bring together CEOs from the 1000 member companies as well as selected politicians, representatives from academia, NGOs, religious leaders and the media. Around 2200 participants gather for the five-day event and attend some 220 sessions. The discussions focus around key issues of global concern (such as international conflicts, poverty and environmental problems) and possible solutions. In all about 500 journalists from online, print, radio and TV take part, and are furnished with access to all of the sessions, some of which are also webcast. (Davos, 2011) The organization also convenes some six to eight regional meetings each year in locations such as Latin America and East Asia, as well as two further annual meetings in China and the United Arab Emirates. Beside meetings, the foundation produces a series of research reports and engages its members in sector specific initiatives. The Forum was founded in 1971 by Klaus Schwab, a German-born business professor at the University of Geneva, who is currently an Executive Chairman of WEF. Originally named the â€Å"European Management Forum†, it changed its name to the World Economic Forum in 1987 and sought to broaden its vision further to include providing a platform for resolving international conflicts. (Davos, 2012) In the summer of 1971, Schwab invited 444 executives from Western European firms to the first European Management Symposium held in the Davos Congress Centre under the patronage of the European Commission and European industrial associations, where Schwab sought to introduce European firms to American management practices. He then founded the WEF as a non-profit organization based in Geneva and drew European business leaders to Davos for the annual meetings each January. (Davos, 2012)

Kant on Suicide Essay

4. Explain and critically assess Kant’s argument that one has a duty to preserve one’s own life. As rational beings Kant believes we have a categorical duty of self-preservation to not wilfully take our own lives. Kant talks in depth about duty and believes we should act out of respect for the moral law. The will is the only inherent good, as we are only motivated by duty and nothing else. We should act only out of demands of the law, not from inclination, desires or to achieve a particular goal. Duty dictates we should never act or will something if we do not want it to become a universal law. Kant was against any form of suicide. He strongly believed that: in taking a life you treat humanity merely as a means to an end. Kant wouldn’t be interested in the suffering or pain caused to even a person who was terminally ill and wanted to end their life, nor would he take into consideration the family/friends suffering. In this essay I will be arguing that if we follow the categorical imperative it is immoral to sacrifice a life because it involves treating humanity merely as a means to an end. I will examine John Hardwig’s counter argument that we should end our own lives if more pain and suffering is caused by prolonging it/living it even if we are no longer a rational being. We must understand that Kant is saying; if I make a maxium e. g. – ‘if I am in unbearable suffering, I should take my own life’ – it must meet the universal law and be applied to everyone. Kant believes we ought to preserve our own lives because it is our moral duty (it is necessary and universal). John Hardwig however, would argue we also have the right to end our lives. Kant would dismiss this because ultimately humans are the bearers of rational life (e. g. it is too sacred to sacrifice). Suicide fails Kant’s Categorical Imperative on the following grounds: It seeks to shorten a life that promises more troubles than please, this would be killing yourself out of self-love; when in fact the real aim would be to live a life worth living, with more pleasure than difficulties. Kant isn’t claiming that it’s impossible for everyone to commit suicide or for everyone to will it (and therefore it becoming a universal law). He believes ‘it would not exist as nature; hence the maxim cannot obtain as a law of nature’. (Immanuel Kant, The Groundwork of the methaphysics of morals, Mary Gregor and Jens Timmermann, Cambridge University 2012, p45 emphasis added). Here Kant seems to be suggesting that suicide isn’t a natural path of life; that it goes against our purpose and that it’s a contradiction to end your life when your goal would be to have an enjoyable life. The idea that the destruction of life is incompatible with improvement suggests that nature couldn’t/wouldn’t allow self-love to be used in a way that is contrary to its purpose. There is surely an obviously contradiction here; in ending one’s life to prevent suffering, one is using one’s life mere means to an end, which automatically fails the categorical imperative. Take the case of Maria Von Herbert- she is clearly appealing to Kant, if under any circumstances; suicide is morally acceptable? He isn’t as blatant with her as in his writings, but let us not forget, Kant doesn’t see woman as rational beings. I agree with Rae Langton that Kant totally bypasses the reason Herbert is writing to him. He doesn’t confront her on suicide but instead reduces her problem to a moral dilemma (regrets lying or telling the truth ), which as an intelligent woman whom has read all his writings; she could work out for herself. Could this have made Kant certain that she did lie and therefore fail the kingdom of ends? Perhaps Kant is being hypocritical; he doesn’t tell Maria the whole truth of suicide merely reducing her to ‘a thing’. He tells Maria she should be ‘ashamed’ for not telling the truth to her former friend but, doesn’t this apply for himself too? Is he just avoiding the truth (states this is just as bad a lying) by not confronting her about suicide? Most likely he wants her to be autonomous and get to the reason herself. Hardwig disagrees with Kant. Take a different situation; Is a terminally ill person-needing 24/7 care, who is entirely financially reliant- only using their family as a means to an end? You can see this as a ‘two way street’ situation. Kant doesn’t look to consequences of an action; it wouldn’t matter to his philosophy that the ill person’s family suffers because they are preserving their life. But is there a flaw? (1) I ought to do my duty as long as I am alive; and (2) It is my duty to go on living as long as possible. Kant strongly believes that you can’t affirm life by taking your own. There is only one exception. Kant claims those who die in battle are ‘victims of fate’ (not simply suicide because they chose to fight). He holds the view that it is better to die in battle than to die of a wound in hospital. Kant believes it’s noble to risk our lives for others- nobody uses us as mere means and we follow our own maxium. We are no longer forced into serving for our country or deceived into joining (if this did happen it would fail the CI because we wouldn’t be treated as rational beings and would be used as mere means and not as ends in ourselves). John Hardwig strongly believes that life should be treated no differently from death. We are free to live in the way we want, so why aren’t we free to die in the way we want (when and how)? He also switches the question but Kant would simply say we have a duty to live. Hardwig has also argued that medical advances eliminate the threats of many terminal illnesses. He then concludes, if our continued existence creates signi? cant hardship for our loved ones, we have a duty to die. By continuing a live of suffering the burden that this person imposes on others is often great. One may have the duty to die in order to relieve them of these burdens. This argument seems to be based on fairness. Kant would refute this; suffering is a tool of reasoning and it ensures the development of mankind. Kant strongly believes that we should preserve our own lives. The argument though strong is flawed. 1- All duties are absolute- Kant doesn’t advise us on how to resolve conflicting duty (for example: help others vs. never kill). 2- He discounts moral emotions like compassion, sympathy, desire and remorse as appropriate and ethical motives for action. 3- Kant completely ignores the consequences of an action and is purposefully blind to following circumstances. He states that human life is valuable because humans are the bearers of rational life. We have the great capacity to think, organize, plan etc. and Kant holds this as being valuable. Therefore we should not sacrifice this for anything (as previously discussed autonomous creatures should not be treated merely as a means or for the happiness of another). There are also great issues with Hardwigs counter argument; if we agree that we have the duty to die; who has the duty to die? When do they have they duty to die? Although this argument is strong is some areas (greater burden), it is greatly flawed. It would be extremely difficult to universalize a maxium for everyone to follow so they could decide if at that moment they had the duty to die. A problem would also occur if the family disagreed with the ill person’s decision, which could cause great problems within society (though Kant would not look to consequences but they are greatly important to Hardwigs argument). I believe –and agree with Kant- that if we follow the categorical imperative it is immoral to sacrifice anyone at all (including yourself) because it involves treating the humanity in that person as merely a means to an end. I also accept and agree with his point that it seems to go against our purpose and is an unnatural path for us to take a life. I find it interesting that Kant believes suffering is a tool of development and therefore essential to us. Though John Hardwigs argument is partly convincing, if we were all given the choice of when we should die, would we find the right time? This would be very hard to govern, as people would of course take advantage of this right. I’ve found it hard to find a counter argument to Kant’s stance -without suffering there wouldn’t be cures and perhaps less happiness. Therefore I have to agree with Kant that it only allows us to grow and develop. Thus we do have the duty to preserve our own lives even if it is riddled with suffering.