Thursday, October 31, 2019

Mind and Consciousness Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mind and Consciousness Questions - Essay Example John Searle defines consciousness to consist of inner, qualitative, subjective states and processes of sentience or awareness. The subjectivity of consciousness is one of the issues that John Searle seeks to clarify. He argues out that consciousness is subject to some human or animal. All conscious states according to him have first person ontology and not third person ontology therefore they can only exist when experienced by some human or animal agent and it is therefore subject to the existence of a human or animal. I.e. it is dependent on the existence of an agent (human or animal) (Searle, 1980). Searle also points out that consciousness is purely a biological process in that is exclusively caused by neurobiological progressions and is realized in the brain structures. He however argues that it is different from other biological phenomena due to its qualitativeness, intentionality, subjectivity and unity traits. He likens the way the brain unites all of the variety of our differ ent stimulus inputs into a single unified conscious experience to the way the visual system binds all of the different stimulus inputs into a single unified visual percept (Searle, 1980). Searle’s arguments are sensible in that they show sense on the connection between the state of the mind and consciousness. The fact that consciousness is a biological process explains how conscious states are processed and how they come to be. The explanations give greater insight to what consciousness is. Consciousness cannot occur without the interconnections between various aspects like sight and the mind. Various biological processes involving the brain have to take place for consciousness to be in place. One does not just become aware of their surroundings or environment through sight only. Seeing has to be accompanied by conceptualization of the environment for one to make a judgment on what he/she is seeing. Consciousness is therefore not a one instance thing but a process comprised o f a number of activities and stages. I therefore support the argument that consciousness is a biological process and it is subjective. Semantic knowledge can be defined as established knowledge pertaining objects, facts and word meanings. They bear based on facts and the knowledge is shown by referencing of words. A good example is the statement, ` a snake is not a fast runner, in fact, and it cannot run at all.’ This is a representation of semantic knowledge because it points out a fact that depends on the referent of the word run. Syntactic knowledge on the other hand is basically linguistic knowledge that can be stated without a reference to the words they refer to. An example of syntactic knowledge is the statement `there are rampant cases of food insecurity and illiteracy in third world countries’ (Levy, Bayley, & Squire, 2004). This represents syntactic knowledge because it brings out the intended information or knowledge without having to use references that rel ates to expertise in grammar. The form of knowledge basically entails knowledge by description. The way I can describe a past experience I had is basically a form of knowledge. There are three major forms of knowledge namely intellectual knowledge which entails collection of facts, knowledge of states which entail human emotional feelings and the real knowledge which is basically what is considered as the reality. The content of knowledge on the other hand, is a prior knowledge on an issue one is trying to

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Aristotles Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aristotles Politics - Essay Example As Swanson and Corbin (2009) maintain, â€Å"His critical analysis of things political and intellectual emanates from a perspective that sees a necessary and objective linkage between politics and ethics.† (Swanson and Corbin, 1) Therefore, it is important to recognize that one of the essential factors contributing to the universal approval of this work is that it establishes the connection between politics and ethics. In a careful analysis of this classic work by Aristotle, it becomes lucid that it is one of the best examples of philosophical writings on the relationship between politics and ethics and it deals with various crucial aspects of politics. Aristotle is also explicit and clear about the qualities of people who rule the state, the people who are ruled (citizen), and the merits and demerits of different types of government. A profound exploration of Aristotle’s Politics confirms that Aristotle is highly effective and convincing in proving that politics is the fundamental feature of human beings and that no human being can neglect the prime role of politics. In other words, Aristotle’s Politics establishes that man is essentially a political animal, and this is one of the best explanations of human nature. Therefore, Aristotle underlines the fact that politics is ultimately linked to man’s basic nature. According to him, â€Å"it is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal. And he who by nature and not by mere accident is without a state, is either a bad man or above humanity.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

English Law and Entrapment

English Law and Entrapment Analyse the approach of the English courts towards entrapment evidence. How far is it consistent with the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights? Before we can analyse the English Courts approach to entrapment evidence, we must define what entrapment is. It can be defined as An agent of the state à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦., cause some to commit an offence. For he should be prosecuted.[1] Over the years, the common-law approach on entrapment has evolved. The courts took it as if the evidence is relevant than the court would deem it admissible. In R v Leatham it was said it matters not how you get it; if you steal it even, it would be admissible in evidence[2]. Of course, we cant imagine it being like that now. We have The European Convection of Human Rights, which guarantees everyone a fundamental right to a fair trial in criminal courts cases. We also have the Human Rights Act[3], which also gives the defendant to a right to fair trial. In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law[4] It has always been clear that there is no defence for entrapment, someone who has committed the crime should be convicted of such crime. This is shown R V Sang[5] the fact that the counsellor or procurer is a policeman or informer, although it may be of relevance in mitigation of penalty for the offence, cannot affect the guilt of the principal offender[6]. Any entrapment should be taken into mitigation when deciding the appropriate sentence. Even though there is no defence to there is a chance for entrapment, for the case to be stayed, meaning to have the case stopped if there has been an abuse of court processes. This shown in R V Loosely: Although entrapment is not a substantive defence, English law has now developed remedies in respect of entrapment: the court may stay the relevant criminal proceedings, and the court may exclude evidence pursuant to s.78. In these respects, Sang has been overtaken. Of these two remedies the grant of a stay, rather than the exclusion of evidence at the trial, should normally be regarded as the appropriate response in a case of entrapment[7] However, even though a judge has the power to stay proceedings if there is an abuse of process. This cannot be seen an acquittal as an it is not, but just the judge stopping the case. As he believes the case must be stopped, as continuing with the abuse of process would make the trail of the defendant unfair. Which would be a breach of Artifice 6 of The Convention on European Human Rights. It should be noted that even though it Is not an acquittal, it would be very unlikely for the case to go back to court. If this is done without a change to the facts and circumstances of the case, and the prosecutor tries to bring the charge again. This could also be an abuse of process. Even though the English common law has evolved over time in regards to entrapment and protecting the defendants human rights to a fair trial. Several leading cases have made it to the European Court of Human Rights. One of them being Teixeira de Castro v. Portugal[8] in this case the applicant was asked to buy drugs, for two undercover police officers. The applicant did buy these drugs for them after which he did he was arrested. He was convicted and appeals in Portugal went against him, he took his case to The European Court of Human Rights, they held that Portugal did breach article 6. The court held that: . In the light of all these considerations, the Court concludes that the two police officers actions went beyond those of undercover agents because they instigated the offence and there is nothing to suggest that without their intervention it would have been committed. That intervention and its use in the impugned criminal proceedings meant that, right from the outset, the applicant was definitively deprived of a fair trial. Consequently, there has been a violation of Article 6  § 1.[9] Even though it seems that The European Court of Human Rights, believes that using entrapment evidence. Does infringe Article 6 of the Convection of Human Rights, right to a fair trial, as shown iTeixeira de Castro v. Portugal[10]. However, it is also worth pointing out that entrapment as a whole and inadmissibility of evidence does not automatically breach Article 6. This can be shown in Schenck v. Switzerland[11] where the court said While Article 6 (art. 6) of the Convention guarantees the right to a fair trial, it does not lay down any rules on the admissibility of evidence as such, which is therefore primarily a matter for regulation under national law. The Court, therefore, cannot exclude as a matter of principle and in the abstract that unlawfully obtained evidence of the present kind may be admissible. It has only to ascertain whether Mr Schenks trial as a whole was fair.[12] At this stage, it is fair to state there is a number occasions where entrapment by the police is genially allowed. As long as the is evidence that the suspect is doing something illegal and the entrapment of the suspect is not the only evidence. One of these occasions is where police or other state officials, go into a shop and conduct test purchases. Another occasion is where police or other state officials act as passengers to catch out unlicensed taxi drivers. Entrapment of unlicensed taxi driver is shown in East Riding of Yorkshire Council v Dearlove,[13] In this case Dearlove placed an advert for Chauffeur services, a licensing officer saw this advert and noticed that he was not licenced for these services. The licensing officer emailed Mr Dearlove on several occasions reminding him of licensing obligations. A test purchase was made and the booking did happen. Mr Dearlove was taken to court and they came to the following descion: We were of the opinion that the actions of the local authority were excessive in the absence of any criminal activity on Mr Dearloves part and as such we found it would be unfair to allow the proceedings to continue and ordered a stay of the proceedings.[14] When the case was appealed, they decided that the actions of the council was not entrapment, as they only did what a normal member of public would do in booking the service. The went on to say the following: It does not seem to me that there was, in the conduct of the councils officers, anything that could amount to impermissible entrapment. They booked the service just as an ordinary member of the public would do à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ In my view the officers simply provided the opportunity for commission of an offence by the provision of the very kind of service that Mr Dearlove had advertised[15]. They went on to say: Mr Dearlove had an express warning that a test purchase might be made and there can be no unfairness in those circumstances in initiating a test purchase a few weeks later. There is, moreover, a strong public interest in ensuring that only licensed operators supply taxi services of this kind.[16] In conclusion with the European Conviction on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights, only allowed to focus on the trail being fair. The approach of the English Courts does seem to be consistent with the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. This is because English common law has evolved, to help make trails fairer in regards to evidence and entrapment. This has been done the Police and Criminal Evidence Act[17] and the Abuse of Process Doctrine. Which has given the courts to the power so stay an case, for an abuse of process, which has come from entrapment. Word Count: 1343 Bibliography Table of Legislation Cited: Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Human Rights Act 1998 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Table of Cases Cited: East Riding of Yorkshire Council v Dearlove [2012] EWHC 278 (Admin), CO/8593/2010R Leatham (1861) 25 JP 468, Crompton J R V Loosely, [2001] UKHL 53 R v Sang [1980] AC 402 Schenck v. Switzerland, (10862/84 (Series A No.140; (1988) 13 EHRR 242)) Teixeira de Castro v. Portugal, (25829/94 (1999) 28 EHRR 101) Table of Journals Cited: McKay, Simon, Approaching Allegations of Entrapment Part I [2009] Criminal Law and Justice Weekly. https://www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk/features/Approaching-Allegations-Entrapment-Part-I Accessed March 2017 McKay, Simon, Approaching Allegations of Entrapment Part II [2009] Criminal Law and Justice Weekly. https://www.criminallawandjustice.co.uk/features/Approaching-Allegations-Entrapment-Part-II Accessed March 2017 Further Reading: Sleight, David, The law regarding entrapment June 2010 Accessed March 2017 [1] R V Loosely, [2001] UKHL 53 as per Lord Hoffmann paragraph 35. [2] R v Leatham (1861) 25 JP 468, Crompton J [3] Article 6, Human Rights Act 1998 [4] ARTICLE 6, Right to a fair trial, European Convention on Human Rights [5] R v Sang [1980] AC 402 [6] R v Sang [1980] AC 402 [7] R V Loosely, [2001] UKHL 53 as per Lord Nicholl paragraph 16 [8] Teixeira de Castro v. Portugal, (25829/94 (1999) 28 EHRR 101) [9] Teixeira de Castro v. Portugal, (25829/94 (1999) 28 EHRR 101) at Paragraph 39 [10] Teixeira de Castro v. Portugal, (25829/94 (1999) 28 EHRR 101) [11] Schenck v. Switzerland, (10862/84 (Series A No.140; (1988) 13 EHRR 242)) [12]Schenck v. Switzerland, (10862/84 (Series A No.140; (1988) 13 EHRR 242)) [13] East Riding of Yorkshire Council v Dearlove [2012] EWHC 278 (Admin), CO/8593/2010. [14] East Riding of Yorkshire Council v Dearlove [2012] EWHC 278 (Admin) [15] East Riding of Yorkshire Council v Dearlove [2012] EWHC 278 (Admin) [16] East Riding of Yorkshire Council v Dearlove [2012] EWHC 278 (Admin) [17] Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Friday, October 25, 2019

Blackness in Macbeth Essay examples -- Macbeth essays

Blackness in Macbeth      Ã‚   The Bard of Avon shows in his tragedy Macbeth an evil couple who face the dark hand of death - as a result of criminal deeds. Let us look closely at the growing, enveloping darkness of the play as it progresses.    In his book, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, H. S. Wilson identifies the darkness in the play with evil, hell, devils:    Mr. Kenneth Muir, in his introduction to the play - which does not, by the way, interpret it simply from this point of view - aptly describes the cumulative effect of the imagery: "The contrast between light and darkness [suggested by the imagery] is part of a general antithesis between good and evil, devils and angels, evil and grace, hell and heaven . . . (67-68)    A.C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy comments on the darkness within the play:    The vision of the dagger, the murder of Duncan, the murder of Banquo, the sleep-walking of Lady Macbeth, all come in night scenes. The Witches dance in the thick air of a storm or, 'black and midnight hags', receive Macbeth in a cavern. The blackness of night is to the hero a thing of fear, even of horror; and that which he feels becomes the spirit of the play. The faint glimmerings of the western sky at twilight are here menacing: it is the hour when the traveller hastens to reach safety in his inn, and when Banquo rides homeward t meet his assassins; the hour when 'light thickens', when 'night's black agents to their prey do rouse', when the wolf begins to howl, and the owl to scream, and withered murder steals forth to his work. (307)    In "Macbeth as the Imitation of an Action" Francis Fergusson states the place of darkness in the action of the play:    It is the phrase... ...re: The Tragedies. A Collectiion of Critical Essays. Alfred Harbage, ed. Englewwod Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964.    Knights, L.C. "Macbeth." Shakespeare: The Tragedies. A Collectiion of Critical Essays. Alfred Harbage, ed. Englewwod Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1964.    Lamb, Charles. On the Tragedies of Shakespeare. N.p.: n.p.. 1811. Rpt in Shakespearean Tragedy. Bratchell, D. F. New York, NY: Routledge, 1990.    Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. http://chemicool.com/Shakespeare/macbeth/full.html, no lin.    Warren, Roger. Shakespeare Survey 30.   N.p.: n.p., 1977. Pp. 177-78. Rpt. in Shakespeare in the Theatre: An Anthology of Criticism. Stanley Wells, ed. England: Oxford University Press, 2000.    Wilson, H. S. On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy. Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 1957.   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Statement and Topic Sentence

Cause/Effect Outline Your introduction should: get your readers' attention state the title and author of the novel indicate historical context as applicable clearly identify the cause/effect relationship in the thesis Organize the body of your essay to fit the cause/effect relationship you are analyzing. For an essay that examines one effect with multiple causes l. Introduction A. Please write out your thesis statement using a complete sentence. II. Body paragraph #1† Topic sentence identifies cause#l A. supporting details (details†examples/textual support)B. supporting details C. concluding sentence Body paragraph #2† Topic sentence identifies cause #2 A. supporting details Ill. ‘V. Body paragraph #3† Topic sentence identifies cause #3 A. supporting details V. Conclusion For an essay that examines one cause with multiple effects paragraph #1 †Topic sentence identifies effect #1 Body paragraph #2† Topic sentence identifies effect #2 A. suppor ting details ‘V. Body paragraph #3† Topic sentence identifies effect #3 A. supporting details paragraph #1† Topic sentence identifies cause #1 ‘V.Body paragraph #3† Topic sentence identifies effect #1 A. supporting details V. Body paragraph #4† Topic sentence identifies effect #2 VI. Conclusion OR a. Please write out your thesis statement using a complete sentence. II. Body a. supporting details b. supporting details c. concluding sentence Ill. Body paragraph #2†Topic sentence identifies effect #1 a. supporting details ‘V. Body paragraph #3†Topic sentence identifies cause #2 V. Body paragraph #4†Topic sentence identifies effect #2 Remember, these are Just models to help you organize your essay.You may have more or fewer body paragraphs or supporting details. Do not feel like you have to force your essay to fit these examples exactly! Also remember, topic sentences and concluding sentences make assertions, Your conclusion sh ould: Restate your thesis (without using the same exact wording) Broaden from your character's examples to the larger historical and world context Leave the reader with a call-to-action/larger lesson that connects to your thesis but is applicable to the world (don't mention the book)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

National University Essay

American students have different attitudes about studying Contents 1. Tallahassee Democrat, Flag. Tallahassee Democrat, Flag. BY Quit Lie One and a half years ago, when my husband came to Florida State University for his doctorate in oceanography, I accompanied him from China. When I first stepped on American soil, many American things deeply attracted me. Since enrolling at the community college for my associates degree, I have especially noticed the differences between Chinese and American attitudes toward studying. Many of my American lacerates are also Curious about societal, family and educational systems in China. Expressing my ideas about the effects of these systems on college students in China may help my friends here understand the differences between us. China is a big country, not only in its land but also in its tremendous population. Although the government spends a huge amount of funds on developing education every year, It still can’t satisfy the innumerable students who are seeking knowledge. Thus,unlike in America, where everybody can go to college, a lot of Chinese students do not have the opportunity to study at colleges. For example, the government has a policy that people must be under 25 years of age to be able to go to college. Also, students must pass an annual National University Entrance Exam, which Is very strict. Often, only one out of 10 students pass It. The students call this testing month ‘ ‘ Dark July,† implying that this exam decides their fate. Not only do the students regard it as important, but also their parent’s treat It seriously. In America, students can decide to go to college by themselves and their parent’s hardly Interfere with them. In China, old, traditional thoughts are still kept In people’s minds. They think that studying at allege Is an Incomparable honor. If a student Is enrolled In college, his or her parent’s are extremely happy. They will Immediately tell all their relatives and friends. But If a student doesn’t pass the entrance exam, his parent’s will feel as If they cannot raise their heads In front of others. Some parent’s will even blame their child for not studying hard enough. These common views make some students feel pressure on their hearts. By comparison, American students leave their parent’s earlier and live and work In society by themselves. Most Chinese students never leave their parent’s before they go to college. This dependent life makes them want to obey their parent’s’ advice about everything. Prenatal advice Is their mall Influence. Some parent’s Insist that their child attend the July exam year after year until he or she passes It. The Influence of the family Is very Important on students In China. When I first came to college here, the American laissez-fairer style of education deeply Interested me. American colleges give students broad space and allow students to develop Independently. Students can freely choose their favorite courses, except for certain required courses. They can even choose their favorite teachers. This Is Incredible to e. In China, the field of study can’t be changed from the first day that the students come to college. Furthermore, every semester the school has already formulated the limits their development. At the community college, I also observe that quite a number of students cut class without excuses. This behavior is really strange. In China, even if a student is sick, he will normally persist in attending classes. Although the school has strict rules for absent students, the majority of students think that they should take responsibility for their own education. Chinese students study very hard and treasure the opportunity to study. Everyone wants to get the highest score. In China, there are no part-time students in a university. Tuition is provided by parent’s, so students want to get the highest scores to repay their parent’s’ love. Unlike American students who have a lot of chances to get a good Job, when Chinese students graduate, their grades become a major factor for a good company to choose them. To get a good Job in the future, students must study hard. Obviously, compared with the American educational system, the Chinese educational system could be improved by giving students more freedom to develop their abilities based n their interests.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

LAs Getty Center by Architect Richard Meier

LA's Getty Center by Architect Richard Meier The Getty Center is more than a museum. It is a campus that encompasses research libraries, museum conservation programs, administration offices, and grant institutions as well as an art museum open to the public. As architecture, wrote critic  Nicolai Ouroussoff, its scale and ambition may seem overwhelming, but Richard Meier, the Gettys architect, handled a daunting task admirably. This is the story of an architects project. The Client By the time he was 23, Jean Paul Getty (1892-1976) had made his first million dollars in the oil industry. Throughout his life, he reinvested in oil fields across the globe and also spent much of his Getty Oil wealth on fine art. J. Paul Getty always called California his home, even though he spent his later years in the UK. In 1954 he transformed his Malibu ranch into an art museum for the public. And then, in 1974, he expanded the Getty Museum with a newly built Roman villa on the same property. During his lifetime, Getty was fiscally frugal. Yet after his death, hundreds of millions of dollars were entrusted to properly run a Getty Center. After the estate was settled in 1982, the  J. Paul Getty Trust purchased a hilltop in Southern California. In 1983, 33 invited architects were whittled down to 7, then to 3. By the fall of 1984, architect Richard Meier had been chosen for the massive project on the hill. The Project Location: Just off the San Diego Freeway in the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking Los Angeles, California and the Pacific Ocean.Size: 110 acresTimeline: 1984-1997 (Inaugurated on December 16, 1997)Architects: Richard Meier, lead architectThierry Despont, museum interiorsLaurie Olin, landscape architect Design Highlights Because of height restrictions, half of the Getty Center is below ground - three stories up and three stories down. The Getty Center is organized around a central arrival plaza. Architect Richard Meier used curvilinear design elements. The Museum Entrance Hall and the canopy over the Harold M. Williams Auditorium are circular. Materials Used: 1.2 million square feet, 16,000 tons, of beige-colored travertine stone from Italy. The stone was split along its natural grain, revealing the texture of fossilized leaves, feathers, and branches. From the beginning, I had thought of stone as a way of grounding the buildings and giving them a sense of permanence, writes Meier.40,000 off-white, enamel-clad aluminum panels. The color was chosen to complement the colors and texture of the stone, but, more importantly, was chosen from among fifty minutely varied shades as the architect negotiated his color scheme with local homeowners associations.Expansive sheets of glass. Inspirations: In choosing how to organize the buildings, landscaping, and open spaces, writes Meier, I deferred to the sites topography. The low, horizontal profile of the Getty Center may have been inspired by the work of other architects who designed buildings in Southern California: Rudolf SchindlerRichard NeutraFrank Lloyd Wright Getty Center Transport: Parking is underground. Two 3-car, computer-operated trams ride on a cushion of air to the hilltop Getty Center, which is 881 feet above sea level. Why Is the Getty Center Important? The New York Times called it a marriage of the austere and the sumptuous, noting Meiers signature crisp lines and a stark geometry. The Los Angeles Times called it a unique package of art, architecture, real estate, and scholarly enterprise - housed in the costliest art institution ever built on American soil. Architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff wrote that it is Meiers culmination of a lifelong effort to hone his version of Modernism to perfection. It is his greatest civic work and an important moment in the citys history. Still, writes critic Paul Goldberger, one feels frustrated because the overall effect of the Getty is so corporate and its tone so even. But doesnt that exactly express J. Paul Getty himself? The esteemed architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable might say thats exactly the point. In her essay in Making Architecture, Huxtable points out how architecture reflects both the client and the architect: It tells us everything we need to know, and more, about those who conceive and build the structures that define our cities and our time....Zoning restrictions, seismic codes, soil conditions, neighborhood concerns, and many invisible factors required constant conceptual and design revisions....What may look like formalism because of the ordered solutions was an organic process, elegantly resolved....Should there be anything to debate about this architecture if its messages of beauty, utility, and suitability are so clear?...Dedicated to excellence, the Getty Center conveys a clear image of excellence.- Ada Louise Huxtable More About the Getty Villa In Malibu, the 64-acre Getty Villa site was for many years the location of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The original villa was based on the Villa dei Papiri, a first-century Roman country house. The Getty Villa closed for renovations in 1996, but is now reopened and serves as an educational center and museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Sources: Making Architecture: The Getty Center, Essays by Richard Meier, Stephen D. Rountree, and Ada Louise Huxtable, J. Paul Getty Trust, 1997, pp. 10-11, 19-21, 33, 35; The Founder and His Vision, The J. Paul Getty Trust; Online Archive of California; The Getty Center, Projects Page, Richard Meier Partners Architects LLP at www.richardmeier.com/?projectsthe-getty-center; Getty Center Inaugurated in Los Angeles by James Sterngold, The New York Times, December 14, 1997; Getty Center Is More Than Sum of Its Parts by Suzanne Muchnic, The Los Angeles Times, November 30, 1997; It Doesnt Get Much Better Than This by Nicolai Ouroussoff, The Los Angeles Times, December 21, 1997; The People’s Getty by Paul Goldberger, The New Yorker, February 23, 1998 [accessed October 13, 2015]

Monday, October 21, 2019

Lone Star essays

Lone Star essays Lone Star is a modern day based western. Director John Sayles is one of the many great independent directors. Lone Star was made in 1996 so it is a more contemporary film. This film has a basic western theme. But it is set in the present day. It is set in a boarder town on the U.S./Mexico boarder like the film Touch of Evil by Orson Wells. There is a sheriff trying to solve a crime that has to do with his past. The crime has to do with him and his father, Buddy Dees, who was also a sheriff and is now dead, the mayor of the town, and a bartender, Ottise that is half black and half Native American. The film also goes through the sheriff's love life with a history teacher that he had been dating while he was in high school. Her mother owns a restaurant in the town and got to the U.S. by jumping the boarder. At the end of the film we find out that the sheriff's father, Buddy Dees, and the teacher's mother had a fling and that's how the teacher was born. So that makes the sherif f and the teacher brother and sister. The funnier thing about this is that they had sex and the sheriff said that it felt weird. The crime that the present sheriff has to deal with is the murder of another cop, Charley Wade. This cop was a low down murderer. He killed a Mexican in Mexico while he was trying to bring people to the United States. He was also making people pay him off so that he wouldn't end up taking them to jail. He was killed by Buddy Dees because he was going to kill Ottise the bartender. The mayor of the town was the other cop with Wade when he was murdered. The bartender has a son who is a Colonel in the army. He has a son that has never met his grandfather, the bartender. The bartender has a small museum in the club he owns. The museum is to honor the Native tribes that helped the black people escape form their owners. These Native Americans would help hide them by saying that the slaves ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How To Make Small Talk With Your Boss

How To Make Small Talk With Your Boss Stuck in the elevator or the break room when your boss comes in? Suddenly panic and get tongue-tied? Want desperately impress but not to look in any way desperate? Never fear, you’ll no longer have to spend the rest of the day regretting your awkward small talk drivel. Here are 7 tips on how to talk to your boss without looking stupid or insane.1. Remember their humanity.Your boss is also a person. I know that can be hard to keep in mind, but it’s important to remember. Don’t overanalyze and read things into every single thing she says. Keep in mind she might be tired or having a bad day, or just preoccupied, and doesn’t mean anything by what she says. Bosses get to be introverted or awkward too!2. Read the signs.Body language is your friend here. Take note of your boss’s stance and gestures, then compare those to when he talks to other colleagues or co-workers. That furrowed brow might just be the way his face looks- not a sign he’s mad at y ou! If he looks really busy and closed off, leave the conversation to a minimum and try to charm him on another day.3. Know your answer.Guaranteed the first question you’ll be asked is â€Å"How are you?† or â€Å"How’s it going?† Don’t be caught out by this obvious first conversational parry. Have an answer ready that won’t trap you in the â€Å"Good. And you?† â€Å"Good† dead end. Pivot to a conversation about something you’re both working on, or some piece of company or industry news. Try to keep the conversation 80/20 about cool interesting work-related things, vs. personal matters- yours or hers.4. Trader Joe it.Ever been in a Trader Joe’s? Those employees are pathologically pleasant and instantly put customers at ease. Be easygoing and forthcoming. Throw in a few details and a charming smile and you might just make a lastingly positive impression.5. Talk about them.Accomplished people love nothing more than to talk about themselves. Give your boss a bit of leeway to do just that. Compliment a recent project or accomplishment of theirs, then sit back and let them direct the conversation.6. Talk travel.Particularly if your boss just got back from traveling or from vacation, you can always just ask how their trip went and then sit back and hear all the jealous-making details. Bonus points if you have some nice trivia or intel about the place they’ve just come from or are going next.7. Problem solve.If there’s a particularly stick or baffling bit of an upcoming project you’re working on, it can be a great idea to get your boss involved. Make her a part of the excitement of problem solving. Two heads are always better than one! Plus it gets your boss looking at how devoted and intent you are on doing excellent work for her and for the company. Bonus!

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Rights Of Workers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Rights Of Workers - Essay Example Gonos, in his article entitled â€Å"Never a Fee!† explained the historical experience of the effects and consequences of the staffing industry to the real welfare of workers, stating that the few laws existing and the deregulation of the staffing business has further undermined the â€Å"workers’ ability to gain self-sufficiency† (Gonos, 2000-01). A further analysis of secret fees charged should therefore be made in order that appropriate policy changes for the protection of workers. The union organizing policy presented in the article entitled â€Å"Never a Fee!† written by George Gonos, which I think should be changed is their reliance on establishing a â€Å"national code of conduct† which appeals on all the staffing agencies concerned to make available to workers the information regarding the rate which client employers pay workers (Ziegler, 1999). This policy merely encourages and urges the staffing agencies and do not really oblige or mandate that the â€Å"hidden fees† or rates in employment contracts be revealed. Instead of lobbying for a legislation that would truly examine and delve into the fees that are charged especially on temporary and contract workers by either the client firms or staffing industries or both, they have merely settled on having such a national code of conduct (Gonos, 2000-01). The group pushing for this code of conduct consists of groups representing contingent workers and represent other diverse interests suc h as workers in the construction business, workers belonging to labor unions, professionals belonging to the high-tech industries, graduate assistants from various universities, and some undocumented immigrants (Community Partners, 2009).   There is a seeming lack of follow through or inconsistency on the part of workers’ group to lobby and support such a legislation that would reveal the so-called â€Å"hidden fees† in employment contracts which has been a

Friday, October 18, 2019

Descriptive questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Descriptive questions - Assignment Example Business Operations: Worldwide business operations are handled with the help of technology. IT has played a big role in managing backhand support; the LAN, WAN systems, and connectivity through websites is supported by IT teams in organizations. Management Information Systems (MIS), a system that is used by companies in order to manage their operations, deal with customers and store data is due to advancements in technology. The latest trends include storing the data on virtual cloud, and being able to retrieve and present with the help of DropBox, Skydrive etc., is a great development into IT industry (Slatman, 2013). Food Processes: In food industry, where technology has changed many ways of business operations, both input and output side. For input side, order procurement is an area where with the use of JIT (Just in Time) inventory systems, the storage costs are minimized. Moreover, with the use of bar codes, effective inventory management gives a change to businesses to analyse which items are slow movers and what are fast movers and how effective marketing must be used to create pull factors for such items. At processing stage, machines are being used to monitor the temperature, humidity and other factors. Use of automated machines is increased in order to increase efficiency and decrease the service time. McDonalds, a well-known food chain used a prototype of robots to handle the processes of fries and shakes (Pantelidis, 2009). Sociocultural Forces in IT: Information technology has largely impacted on sociocultural factors. With the use of internet and latest technologies, people share a set of different values: Cultural and Ethnic Identity: with regards to Information Technology, the previous cultural identity of people, that is they are recognized and affiliated with a particular cultural norms and values, seems to vanish. With increasingly virtual world, people seem to own and present their own individual identities. The trend is widespread in West, though the East is in process of adopting it and the pace is quick. With increasing number of internet users, mostly due to the growth in Asia and Middle East, the cultural identity is taking new shape. A mix of cultural and personal identities, the ethnic aspect is equally affected due to change in technology. It is evident in real world the size and pace of immigration taking place. However due to technology, in virtual world, the ethnic identity is obscured by factors such as individualism, personality, self-concept and the like. Question 2 (a) Direct Marketing, one of the oldest form of marketing has been used in different ways. Direct mail, email, promotional material in shape of broachers, leaflets, billboards as well as advertisement on TV are few forms where consumers are tried to inform, persuade and remind about the presence of a product or a service. Many a times it is surprising to see how purely website businesses use TV as a promotional media as opposed to online media (where the consumers are just a click away from website businesses). The presence of such strategy is an example that consumers are complex, hard to comprehend and many a times irrational. Therefore they must not be treated by simple forms of selling, rather with a well-thought strategy with

Dangerous and Natural Energy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Dangerous and Natural Energy - Research Paper Example However, the risk that is close to the highest magnitude and frequency lies next to areas with the highest risk. As per the map, the western seaboard experiences the highest hazard of earthquakes (USGS: Science for a Changing World, 2012). Considering that the pink color represent areas with the highest earthquake hazard, Seattle lies in the green area, which is third to the least risky area. However, there are maroon areas surrounding it meaning that earthquakes may be experienced from these areas reaching the area (USGS: Science for a Changing World, 2012). In the past seven days, according to the earthquake center, there has not occurred any seismic activity in the area. The closest earthquake activity that occurred in the past seven days was in Canada and not in the USA. There has been seismic activity in the USA that has occurred in most recently, and in some cases up to this month on the 2nd of June in California. On a global scale, seismic activity seems to occur offshore in the areas bordering the land. This is particularly so in the areas around Alaska, the west coast of the USA, as well as the West coast of South America. Among all these regions, there is consistency in the occurrence based on fault lines around the world. These are mainly to the west of Alaska, East of Australia and the western side of the South American continent. There are, also, several earthquakes occurring in continental shelves in areas such as Alaska, China and India. In addition, there are several occurrences in the Middle East, an area with not much seismic activity. In Japan, 46 kilometers East of Namie, a magnitude 4.7 earthquake occurred on 2 July 2012. It occurred in an area where two fault lines lie (USGS: Science for a Changing World, 2012). Living in a red area is difficult following the high risk involved. However, I would be willing to live in such an area as long as I know the full implication of exposing myself to such a hazard and the benefits that come with

Thursday, October 17, 2019

The Covenants that God made with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David Essay

The Covenants that God made with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David - Essay Example A biblical covenant, however, is not one that is made between two equal parties. After reading the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, one would discover that it was always God who proposes that a covenant be made between Him and man. Apparently, this only proves that God is not one who simply imposes his decisions on man, regardless of the fact that these are always absolutely wise and infallible. The covenants show that He also respects the free will that he gifted man with. He may ask mankind to do things in his favor, but he also grants them privileges in return. Man, for his part, also gets some of his wishes from God, he also has to oblige to certain conditions explicitly stated by the Creator. There were instances though that God unconditionally enters into a covenant with man and this only proves that, unlike man, He can grant favors out of love and not out of the wish for benefits. The first most prominent covenant mentioned in the Bible is that between God and Noah. After the Great Deluge, in which He literally washed the earth to rid it of man’s wickedness, God made a promise to Noah. In Genesis 9:11, He said that he would never punish man by destroying the world with flood. To seal the covenant, God creates the rainbow and makes it the sign of a lasting covenant between Him and man. ... It basically repeated what God once agreed with Adam. The point here is that â€Å"if the relationship with Noah is a new beginning for the human race, picking up where Adam’s seed left off, so to speak, and if it can be explicitly referred to as a covenant, then it should be evident that the relationship with Adam in the garden was also a covenant.† (Smith 36) However, it is clear that the Noahic covenant is a more important indicator of the evolving relationship between God and man. It is in this pact that God manifests His love for mankind by promising not to impose harsh punitive measures. Man, for his part, must not violate the rules established by God. When God placed the rest of His creations under man’s care though, the covenant with Noah clearly governs non-human entities on earth. What is most prominent in the this covenant though is that while God promised never to flood the earth again out of love for his creation, man should also avoid committing act ions that are destructive or self-destructive in nature. While God also promised never to destroy the living creatures, He also granted man stewardship over His creation. God’s covenant with Abraham is different in the sense that it is here where the concept of chosen people is first introduced. In the covenant, God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky. God also said that Abraham’s descendants would be his chosen people. He also defined the land which is to be called by His chosen people their own. On Abraham’s part, such favor is returned by simply remaining faithful to God and become a medium through which God’s kindness and generosity would flow to others as explained in Genesis 12:1-3. This covenant with Abraham

Midterm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Midterm paper - Essay Example According to Twain, if there was no slavery, then the war would not have occurred. Slavery was the leading cause of the American Civil War. The American author argued that the case would have been avoided if the South's protests against slavery took place earlier (Roderick 35). According to the author, the war was inhumane, and everybody deserved equal treatment. Question 2 Mark’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is written with a negative perspective of the society. This is portrayed by the proceedings of the characters in the novel, as well as Mark’s use of symbolism to put across his views. The author illustrates the society as full of racial discrimination and slavery in order to justify the need for slavery (Roderick 35). For instance, Mark creates characters like Aunt Sally and Miss Watson who, although, are morally upright and religious, deem slavery as essential for life. This eventually causes people to dislike the book instead of praising Mark Twain. In â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer†, critics claimed that the plot of the novel had been copied from â€Å"The Vicar of Weilby† by Steen Blicher (Roderick 35). ... On curiosity, Ford took apart his brother’s toy just to see how it functioned, and after that, he put it back together. Ford was persistent in his work. He tried all the means even though he did not succeed many times. Ford was smart. This is because he designed the Model T car, the V8 engine, the assembly line and a vehicle out of soybean plastic among others (Roderick 76). Henry Ford was also strong since he created the Quadracycle from scrape virtually by hand. A successful trait of individuals in any field is their commitment to constant learning. Ford affirmed many times that the long hours put in studying and practicing contributed to enhancing his abilities and they never seemed like work when he was excited by his study. In his 20s, Henry was still working in another company, yet he found ways to enhance his machinery and tools even at work. Question 4 Henry looked outside of his given conditions for fresh opportunities and the possibility to pursue his likes, which we re not being fulfilled. Hence, his opposition to farm work led him to the point of an apprentice worker at the age of 16 (Roderick 77). Even when he went back to the farm, he followed this interest in engineering and mechanics to the level that he could work on his conditions. Ford was highly motivated to be an engineer. Henry Ford realized that he could sell more cars, and he could only trade more cars by restraining turnover and maintaining workers on the assembly line (Roderick 77). Ford’s treacherous $5 a day policy worked even though the general public was cheated, or at the very least inaccurately paid. It was a fair gesture by Ford. Job seekers were lined up every day outside the Ford industry for months after this

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Journey Through the River Valley of Manaus - the aim of the poem Personal Statement

The Journey Through the River Valley of Manaus - the aim of the poem - Personal Statement Example And I know from that day forth it was their very best year To have been freed from the hands of Margarethe De La Rue 40 If you had been there you would have seen it, too. And that is my story of my journey through the river valley of Manaus And how I freed the courtesans of the Amazon's "Pink House." This is the process of how I created my poem. The aim of this poem, The Journey Through the River Valley of Manaus, was to tell a humorous story, primarily, although, that was not the only one. I also wrote to entertain, as well as for personal enjoyment, because I happened to enjoy writing this particular piece. The metre was irregular, and the stanza form was A-B throughout. I kept the voice of the poem in first person because there is more personalism in that tense, I believe. My choice of language was helped by using two rhyming dictionaries.1 I only used repetition when talking about the journey of Manaus, and I think my best imagery in the whole poem dealt with regards to describing what the women in the Pink House were wearing (pearls, silk, and the like). I think, technically, this poem is the best that I am capable of doing as far as rhyme, imagery, and voice are concerned. I could probably do better as far as metre were concerned if I were classically trained in writing Sha kespearean quatrains, but alas, I have not the discipline or interest in writing such a poem frought in tedium. I know that must sound horribly cold and disrespectful to Shakespeare and those who appreciate his work, as do I, but I don't care to try to attempt something I know I'm not good at. I believe this poem is generally free of commonplace and hackneyed images, save for perhaps the mention of Christopher...I think, technically, this poem is the best that I am capable of doing as far as rhyme, imagery, and voice are concerned. I could probably do better as far as metre were concerned if I were classically trained in writing Shakespearean quatrains, but alas, I have not the discipline or interest in writing such a poem frought in tedium. I know that must sound horribly cold and disrespectful to Shakespeare and those who appreciate his work, as do I, but I don't care to try to attempt something I know I'm not good at. I believe this poem is generally free of commonplace and hackn eyed images, save for perhaps the mention of Christopher Columbus. I know he is mentioned in quite a few poems. Perhaps he is considered an unnecessary abstraction, I'm not sure. I meant the Columbus reference only as an aside to demonstrate an example of people having gone on journeys, and I thought Columbus was particularly cogent to use since he had traveled to Latin America before. I don't think I've used any unnecessary inversions in the poem, or at least, if I have they are minimally invasive. I tried not to overload the poem with too many adjectives. If I have, that is my fault and my fault alone.

Midterm paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Midterm paper - Essay Example According to Twain, if there was no slavery, then the war would not have occurred. Slavery was the leading cause of the American Civil War. The American author argued that the case would have been avoided if the South's protests against slavery took place earlier (Roderick 35). According to the author, the war was inhumane, and everybody deserved equal treatment. Question 2 Mark’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is written with a negative perspective of the society. This is portrayed by the proceedings of the characters in the novel, as well as Mark’s use of symbolism to put across his views. The author illustrates the society as full of racial discrimination and slavery in order to justify the need for slavery (Roderick 35). For instance, Mark creates characters like Aunt Sally and Miss Watson who, although, are morally upright and religious, deem slavery as essential for life. This eventually causes people to dislike the book instead of praising Mark Twain. In â€Å"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer†, critics claimed that the plot of the novel had been copied from â€Å"The Vicar of Weilby† by Steen Blicher (Roderick 35). ... On curiosity, Ford took apart his brother’s toy just to see how it functioned, and after that, he put it back together. Ford was persistent in his work. He tried all the means even though he did not succeed many times. Ford was smart. This is because he designed the Model T car, the V8 engine, the assembly line and a vehicle out of soybean plastic among others (Roderick 76). Henry Ford was also strong since he created the Quadracycle from scrape virtually by hand. A successful trait of individuals in any field is their commitment to constant learning. Ford affirmed many times that the long hours put in studying and practicing contributed to enhancing his abilities and they never seemed like work when he was excited by his study. In his 20s, Henry was still working in another company, yet he found ways to enhance his machinery and tools even at work. Question 4 Henry looked outside of his given conditions for fresh opportunities and the possibility to pursue his likes, which we re not being fulfilled. Hence, his opposition to farm work led him to the point of an apprentice worker at the age of 16 (Roderick 77). Even when he went back to the farm, he followed this interest in engineering and mechanics to the level that he could work on his conditions. Ford was highly motivated to be an engineer. Henry Ford realized that he could sell more cars, and he could only trade more cars by restraining turnover and maintaining workers on the assembly line (Roderick 77). Ford’s treacherous $5 a day policy worked even though the general public was cheated, or at the very least inaccurately paid. It was a fair gesture by Ford. Job seekers were lined up every day outside the Ford industry for months after this

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Narrative (fiction) texts Essay Example for Free

Narrative (fiction) texts Essay Children should be able to distinguish narrative texts from expository ones. For a child to be familiar with each type of text means to possess sound communicational, analytical, reading, and writing skills. DQ 14 It is critical that children are able to distinguish expository texts from narrative works of writing. Generally, there are several features which make narrative and expository texts different from each other. Narrative (fiction) texts are filled with numerous sensory details. Personal experience is not a rare subject of fiction stories. Fiction literary works are usually told from a first person’s view. In many instances, the author of a fiction story will refer to personal interpretation of events and phenomena by using â€Å"I† or â€Å"we† pronouns. Expository (non-fiction) texts are primarily aimed at informing, explaining, or persuading the reader. Expository texts are not colored with emotions, being written from a non-personal (often neutrally objective) viewpoint, and carrying no sensory details. Expository texts are never written in the first person (Vacca, 1999). Children should be able to differentiate expository texts from narrative literary works. Children need these skills to read and interpret texts, to be able to search and analyze the required information, to choose a correct writing style according to the specific writing needs and circumstances (Vacca, 1999). The process of education requires using either expository or narrative information as the source of knowledge on various curriculum subjects. To understand the meaning of a word, to communicate with audiences, to acquire new information, and to use this information to achieve personal goals, children need to possess sound knowledge on what a fiction, and what a non-fiction text is. The five examples of fiction books: Louis Ehlert’s Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf; Mary Hoffman’s Amazing Grace; Jerry Stanley’s Children on the Dust Bowl; Harriette Gillem Robinet’s Children of the Fire; Marya Dasef’s Tales of a Texas Boy. The five examples of non-fiction books: DK Publishing’s Children’s History of the 20th century; Delia Ray’s A Nation Torn: The Story of How the Civil War Began; Anne Millard’s Pyramids; Aliki’s Communication; Russell Freedman’s Children of the Wild West. References Vacca, R. T. (1999). Content area reading: Literacy and learning across the curriculum. New York: Longman.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Models of Policy Making

Models of Policy Making I think the whether policy process is incremental or non-incremental depends on different situation. (I think the reality is much more complicated than any theory, in order to reduce the complexity of this question we can use different theory models.) Before we discuss whether the nature of the policy process is incremental or non-incremental, we should first think what is an incremental model of policy and what is a non-incremental model of policy process, and we should also think about both the advantages and disadvantages of these models. There are three different models here: the rationality (bounded rationality) model, the incrementalism model and the garbage can model. Bounded Rationality Model In Simons bounded rationality model, the rationality is conditioned. The actual process of social activities is affected by intuition, experience, accuracy of information and value judgments. Pure objective and rational decision-making model is only a hypothesis model, it doesnt exist in reality. In the bounded rationality model, the decision maker should distinguish fact from value and preferences; and he shouldnt replace the value with the fact; also, the decision maker should distinguish method from goal In fact, the government has only limited policy options and decision-maker can only do limited cost-benefit analysis. The information, material resources, political support and time of the policy are all limited; therefore, the policy choice has been limited. According to this situation, the assessment criteria of the policy are not whether this policy is optimal or not, the criteria of the policy are whether it is satisfying and second best or not. Simons theory doesnt say that t he decision makers cant make any non-incremental progress, however it tells us that the decision making process are limited by information and power. If the policy maker can have enough material support, political support, information and enough time then they can make some non-incremental process; if all these factors are very limited then it is highly unlikely for them to make a very no-incremental policy process. Incrementalism model Lindbloms incrementalism model emphasizes that the policy process is an ongoing process. Decision-making process is largely based on decision-makers past experience with some slight modifications of existing policy. This is an incremental process, and the changes within this process seemed to be slow, but the small changes may lead into some great changes, the actual speed of changing is often greater than we thought. However, a drastic policy change from policy A to the next policy A1 is not only unfeasible but also undesirable; a drastic change may threat social stability and will cause policy disruptions. In his view, the decision-making and policy-making process are bounded to political factor, technical factor, and they are also constrained by existing policies. And all these constrain have determined that the decision-making process is incremental. Garbage can model Garbage can model is carried out by Marche and Olsen. They believe there is inherently irrational factor within in the decision-making process, and sometime there is limited rationality in the incremental process. They argue that policymakers policy targets and solutions are often not very clear. In the policy process, the policy making organizations are facing lots of potential policy solutions, policy programs, policy participants and policy opportunities. And these factors were thrown into a policy garbage can and they are mixed together. The policy is what the policy maker finally picks out from the can. The garbage can model tried to expand organizational decision theory into the then uncharted field of organizational anarchy which is characterized by problematic preferences, unclear technology and fluid participation. There are four of those streams were identified in the model: Problem (requires attention), Solutions (has it own life.), Opportunities, Participants (not stable). They are independent of each other and there is no causal link. The theoretical breakthrough of the garbage can model is that it disconnects problems, solutions and decision makers from each other, unlike traditional decision theory. Some opportunities may cycle and some may never return. When o pportunities arise, problems, solutions and participants will across and the four streams may converge. If problems and solutions are matched during this period then the problem is resolved. If they dont match, then they will wait for another decision-making opportunity. Specific decisions do not follow an orderly process from problem to solution, but are outcomes of several relatively independent streams of events within the organization. Under normal circumstances, policy makers are using his default preference with his to discovered the right questions. Garbage can model has some advantages: on the one hand, it can explain why the bureaucracy is often inefficient. Using this model, we can understand that bureaucrats often lack the incentive to push reform; therefore, public policy process tends to change slowly. On the other hand this model shows that opportunities, human creativity and choice still have some space in policy process and some dramatic change can happened through a non-incremental random way. Kingdon creates the multiple stream models from the garbage can model to explain why there are major shifts in the agenda, and why these changes could be non- incremental change to existing policy. Kingdons model identifies three streams in the system: problems, policies, and politics. Each stream is flowing during the policy process. And each is stream is independent from others, and each stream has its own dynamics and rules. However, in a critical time point all these streams will merge into one single package. Usually, a focusing issue will bring this critical time point, also the change of political structure will also bring the critical time point to the policy entrepreneurs. And the policy entrepreneur will use this package to promote their policy solution. If the solution of the issue has been received by the policy makers, then there will be even a dramatic change within the policy process. As I discussed above, Lindbloms incrementalism model can work goo in a stable situation. However, it has some limitations and inadequacies. Firstly, it is a conservative approach; it is generally suitable for relatively stable environment. In order to make the policy process work well, the former policy should be good. However, once the social conditions and the environment changed dramatically, the incremental decision-making model may not work well. History has shown that certain moment in social development requires substantial policy adjustments, and sometimes it is even necessary for the policy makers to abandon former policy. In these situations, the incremental method could be useless or even has some negative effects. In these cases, I think the bounded rationality policy model can work better. Because in this model, policy maker can make new policy by using limited information through careful calculations. Although in the bounded rationality model, the first trial of new pol icy is not perfect, but it can provide a useful base for further improvement for next incremental process or at least it can provide a potential policy alternative for the garbage can. At some degree, I think the incrementalism approach and the garbage can approach are method directed which means these two policy process dont require a certain policy goal; while the bounded rationality approach is goal directed which means there is a certain goal. In conclusion, I think whether policy process is incremental or non-incremental should depend on different situations. Also, in order to discuss whether a policy process is incremental or non-incremental we should limit the time span of the policy process. The incremental process works better in a stable environment and it does not require a clear policy goal; if the policy process is theoretically limited within a short policy period, then there will be no major changes. The non-incremental process may work better in a rapid changing situation. The bounded rationality model shows that the policy makers could make useful policy with limited information and resources. 5) Some criticize policy theories for being better at explaining policy stability than policy change. Evaluate this claim with respect to some leading thinkers from our course. No, I think there are some theories can explain policy change as well as policy stability. Here are some theories which can be used to explain policy changes: Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and Policy Change Punctuated Equilibrium Theory attempts to describe the progressive policy changes and significant change. When the policy issues are addressed by the political sub-system, we usually can observe the existence of incremental changes; conversely, when dealing with policy issues to be raised to the macro political system, there may be a significant policy change, and we often observe a major policy change (True, Jones, and Baumgartner, 1999:102). In the process of policy change, the policy entrepreneur is trying to change recognized/accepted ideas of the public (Baumgartner and Jones, 1993:42). Although the Punctuated Equilibrium Theory has pointed out when the image of the existing policy is challenged the opportunities will be created, but the theory hasnt tell why policies will be challenged. We can observe a policy change when there are new way of policy thinking, a mobilization of new policy supporters and a institutional change within the policy structure. Whether these factors appear together or they appear alone will make policy maker change their former incremental and stable policy process at different degrees. These factors will punctuate the equilibrium of policy stable developing process; and these factors will bring turbulent and unstable policy process. The definitions of policy issue, the boundary of policy problem, the agenda setting of policy are the key factors in policy process. Different interpretation of policy issue will also reinforce policy supports or bring doubts to existing policy. The model emphasizes policy change is punctuated equilibrium, the change is motivated by a complex combination of internal and external factors. Advocacy Coalition Framework and Policy Change Advocacy Coalition Framework was first proposed by Sabatier (1988). Sabatier suggests that we should focus on the interaction of the policy advocacy. Sabatier suggests that within the coalition those members share the mutual belief in a set of policy beliefs. Based on this hypothesis, policy change can be understood as a function of the relationship between the competing advocacy coalition and outside factors (Sabatier, 1999:9; Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith, 1993:5). The policy change is a result of advocacy coalitions competition, interaction of beliefs and outside factors. Advocacy Coalition Framework shows that belief system can be divided into three levels, deep core, policy core beliefs and secondary aspects. Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1999:147) pointed out that major changes in a policy actually is a change of core beliefs, while a smaller change of policy reflects changes in the policy beliefs or the secondary beliefs . Basically, deep core values are fixed, and it is more like an exogenous variables; policy core beliefs are formed and it serve as advocacys adhesives, it often take a decade or more time to change, and it can be considered as part of the endogenous variable. Substantial policy change is the result of the changes in policy beliefs. And the changes in secondary level will lead to small, incremental policy change (Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith, 1999: 131). Also policy Change is divided into two types: incremental policy changes and significant policy changes. Incremental change can be the result of policy learning. Because the goal of policy learning is not to shake the foundation of core beliefs, therefore there will not be major policy changes (Sabatier, 1988:149; Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith, 1999:123). And the leaning process is often used to reinforce and support the policy belief and core belief. Another way to think of the learning process Subject of Learning Object of Learning Consequence Governmental Govt Officials Intelligent policy process Institutional Change Experimental Policy Network Methodology New Policy Solution Societal Policy Community Idea and Concept Shifting Paradigm However, if the core belief is shaken, then the advocacy coalition may collapse. Sabatier and Jenkins-Smith (1999:147-49) pointed out that the cause for major policy changes include: changes in socio-economic conditions, changes in governance system, etc Multiple Streams Model and Policy Change Multiple Streams Model is developed based on the garbage can mode (Cohen, March and Olsen (1972). Multiple Streams Model is proposed in 1984 by Kingdon. According to this model, when policy maker are facing uncertainty and time pressure, the most concerned issue for them is the time point rather than rational or optimal output. From this perspective, the key point for policy change is the right time point. If policy maker can grasp the key time point, then he can make some policy changes. Multiple Streams Model indicates that the policy process consists three processes/streams; and these processes are made by different actors: the first problem streams includes different information and solutions proposed by their supporters; the second policy streams includes government officials concern of policy alternatives and policy formation; the third politics stream includes political consideration by the elected officials and elected representatives (Sabatier, 1999:9). These three processes flow inside and outside the federal government, and each is an individual process operation for most of the time, they are unrelated to each other (Kingdon, 1994:216). In a crucial time point, policy entrepreneur will combine the various processes (coupling into a single package, and it will greatly enhance a policy issue attention and even create a policy opportunity) (Zahariadis, 1999:73). And in this critical point, policy window will be opened. Kingdon (1994:216) has described, when the policy window open, a policy issue will come out. Some policy solutions which can be used to address the policy issues have already existed, and the time for this policy is correct. Policy window is an opportunity to promote a particular policy program, they will appear by themselves, but it is a very short time for people to notice and use this opportunity (Kingdon, 2003:166). Kingdon (2003:168) further pointed out that under the Multiple Streams Model, policy window may flow from the political stream or problems stream. If the policy window is opened for political reasons, it is because of president changed, there are changes of the administrating party, there is change in congress, etc If the policy window is opened from the policy stream, it is mostly because some issues have caught the attention of government officials. Whether policy makers are seeking solutions to promote existing policies or seeking alternatives to replace existing policies, the policy maker will always provide some opportunities for policy advocators to sell their policies. This means that as long as those policy advocators can make policy makers believe that their program is a feasible option to address policy issues or their solutions can help to accumulate political prestige and resources of the new policies; sooner or later, their policy proposals will have the chance to enter the policy agenda. It is possible for these proposals to be legitimized and carried out as the governments policy (Kingdon, 2003:172). Zahariadis (1999:82) argues that, if the policy window is opened in the political stream, then the combination of the various processes are more likely to be doctrinal. It is an existing policy to help find solutions to solve policy issues. If the policy window is opened in the problem stream, then the combination of th e various processes are more likely to be consequential, that is a process for finding a viable solution. Kingdon (2003:94-95) also pointed out that the policy problems may not seem obvious to every person. Sometimes a problem is noticed because there is a focusing event which has provided it with a policy window. Kingdon (2003:97) the focus of the event will be made as symbol in political world; and a symbol will draw attention and strengthen the role for certain issues. In conclusion, I think from a philosophic aspect the theories of policy stability and theories of policy changes are the two sides of the same coin. Also, I think the relationship between different theories is not only completive but sometime different theories are complementary to each others. I think the problem for some policy scholars is that they often focused on one theory instead of looking for different explanations from different theories 4) Deborah Stone calls the struggle over ideas the essence of policy making. Discuss this claim with respect to leading theories of the policy process. I name my answer to question as Idea and Deborah Stone, I want go through her book and explain why ideas are so important. According to Deborah Stone, idea will help people to define alliance, strategic considerations also idea will help people to get the legitimacy and draw policy boundaries. (Deborah, P 34). According to Deborah Stone, idea will decide who will be affected, how will they be affected and will they be affected legitimately (Deborah, P.34). In the first Chapter, Stone starts her analysis at the city-state (the Greek term polis) level. The public policy is considered as an attempt to achieve a certain community goals (Deborah, P 21). However, due to the fact that everyone has his own understanding of ideas, therefore the political community has become a place for internal debates over who will be affected, how will they be affected and will they be affected legitimately(Deborah, P 34) . The policy-making process has thus become a continuous interaction between the conflict and cooperation. In Stones model, individuals may pursue their goals through collective action. The motivation is not only based on self-interests but also based on public concerns. This is because the public interest is be related to the goal of survival (Deborah, P 33). However, when there is a contradiction between self-interest and public interest, the policy process will be more complicated (Deborah, P 33). When the group is motivated under common ideas, the group will get more strength, and there will be a balance between private interests and public interests in the conflict. Stone directly uses the idea as the core concept of this book. In her construction of polis community vs market individual(Deborah P 33) model, ideas have become the focus. Stone tries to use struggle of idea to explain all stages of policy-making process. Policy-making is followed by a continuous constantly struggle to fight for the classification of standards, types of boundaries, and guide people to conduct the ideal typical definition. The struggle of idea can be seen in several policy levels. According to Stones theory, idea defines what people want from the policy; it is the foundation for people to cognize and understands what the policy is. Idea provides a relationship between advocators and advocacy coalitions; Idea provides causal relationship for these people and groups, and ideas will be reflected to their policy objectives through their actions of obtaining support. And these people with the shared idea will persuade decision-makers to meet their preferences. As mentioned above, Stone sees idea as a constantly changing dynamic and resources of construction. And by given different interpretations of ideas, the concept of the ideas will also change. She points out that the politics of policy is to choose the interpretation (Deborah P 75). Stone argues that the authority to interpret idea is the key factor in the policy-making process. Only legitimated idea can be transformed into policy. And using the legiti macy, peoples knowledge or behavior can be changed. And policy change can also be made through this interaction of ideas. Ideas affects how people cognized politics, and the change of politics will also feedback on ideas. To Stone, idea is not static; idea is an ongoing of constructing and reconstructing process of concepts. Now I will try to exam whether Deborah Stones idea theory can fits with other policy process theory. In the punctuated equilibrium theory, Baumgartner and Jones also argue that idea is a potential power in the policy making process. According to their book Agendas and Instability in American Politics, a powerful supporting idea is associated with the institution (Baumgartner and Jones, P 7); In page 16, they also writethe tight connection between institution and idea provides powerful support for prevailing distribution of political advantage. These statements mean that idea will help people understand what is at stake and how will they be affected (Stone, 2002), policy advocators will use institution arrangement to make their idea be legitimate. Also, in order to gain more power those policy actors will manipulate images and ideas. To Baumgartner and Jones, ideas are important because they provide some potential undergirding institutional arrangements; and the struggle of idea is the struggle over legitimate institution arrangements. In the book Agendas, alternatives and public policies, Kingdon also discusses the importance. In order to make useful policy suggestions, participants in the policy process are competing to develop new ideas; and they are trying to provide their ideas in the form of potential solutions to policy makers. According to Kingdon, policy entrepreneurs lie in wait in and around government with their solutions [already] in hand, waiting for problems to float by to which they can attach their solutions, waiting for a development in the political stream they can use to their advantage (Kingdon, P 165). Shared ideas make policy entrepreneurs into alliance; and these alliances are trying to make their ideas become legitimate. Kingdons primal policy soup (Kingdon, P 139-143) model provides us a picture of how decision makers accept idea through coherent narrative process (ideas are flowing in the streams just as molecules flowing in the soup). According to Kingdon, a policy community creates a sh ort list of ideas. If the ideas can go through the selecting process, softening up process and if they can pass the exam by specialists and policy makers, they may finally become policies. The whole process can be viewed as a continuing struggle of ideas. In this case, ideas are not only competing with other ideas, they are also struggling to survive in this primal soup. I also think Kingdons policy window model is another improvement to Deborah Stones arguments. People are now struggling to make their idea in front of the policy window at the correct time. This model discovers that the during the policy process, critical time is also important for ideas struggling. However, I think there are also some theories which do not fully support Deborah Stones argument. In the garbage can model, because the nature of unclear, policy is not necessarily to be the consequence of the ideas struggling. In Kingdons Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies, he describes that as garbage can into which various kinds of problems and solutions are dumped by participantsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ removed from the scene (Kingdon, P 85). In some sense, Deborah Stones Struggling of ideas assumption is more based on a goal-oriented policy making process, in order to make it work, there should be a clear policy goal from all participants; while the classical garbage can model is more like a method-oriented policy making process, it doesnt require a clear goal or solution at the beginning. In the garbage can model, people are not fighting with each other over ideas in the final solution selecting stage, however it is still correct to say that each solution in the garbage can is a result of deliberative idea thinking. I think there is a slight difference between Deborah Stones theory and the garbage can model. Another policy theory which doesnt fully consistent with Deborah Stones theory is the incrementalism theory. According to Lindblom, the incremental policy process is more relied on former existing policies. According to this model, the policy environment generally remains stable. Because the incremental nature of the policy, the new policy will inherent the policy environment from previous policy, if the former policy has resolved the struggling of idea, then there will be less struggling of ideas in the new policies. Since the policy environment is stable, it will be unlikely for us to speculate a violently struggle over ideas. The last policy process theory I want discuss in the context of struggling over idea is the advocacy coalition framework (ACF) theory. The central idea of this theory is that people or groups with the same beliefs (core/policy/secondary) will form a coalition. I think Sabatiers concept of belief is similar to Deborah Stones concept of idea. Especially, I think the concept of policy belief is playing the role of idea in the policy process. I think his core belief is rooted even deeper than idea. The core belief will sometimes become unnoticeable. And using the ACF model, we can find out that the policy process is a competition among different policy beliefs, and I think this observation is close to Deborahs struggle over ideas the essence of policy making.'. But it does not mean that the change in the secondary belief level is also a result of struggling, according to Sabatiers theory, such change is more like the result of an incremental learning process. In conclusion, I think Deborah Stones argument is useful for us to understand some policy process. However, by using different theories we should also notice whether policy processes are struggle over ideas should be analyzed in situations. The Punctuated-Equilibrium model, ACF model and Multiple Stream model indicate that Deborahs argument is valid. In the P-E model, the change of existing idea or appearance of new idea will bring turbulence to the policy process; in the ACF model, the learning process can change beliefs at different level, and these changes will bring feedbacks to the policy process; in the M-S model, policy entrepreneurs will using the opportunity to propose their ideas, and when critical time is come, the coupled stream will become policy. Incremental Model suggests that policy process is not necessarily linked to struggling when the time span of the policy is very short. There could be no struggle when the whole policy process is already fixed. However, I think the origin/first policy in the incremental model is a result of idea struggling. The Garbage Can model suggests that the choosing process within the policy process may appear as a random process, it is not necessarily to be the consequence of the idea struggling. Reference: Sabatier, Paul A. 1988. An Advocacy Coalition Framework of Policy Change and the Role of Policy-Oriented Learning Therein, Policy Sciences, 21:129-168. Sabatier, Paul A. (ed.) 1999. Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Sabatier, Paul A. and Hank C. Jenkins-Smith. 1993. Policy Change and Learning: An Advocacy Coalition Approach. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Sabatier, Paul A. and Hank C. Jenkins-Smith. 1999. The Advocacy Coalition Framework: An Assessment, In Sabatier, Paul A. (ed.) Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Kingdon, John W. 1995. Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. 2nd ed., New York: HarperCollins. Zahariadis, Nikolaos. 1999. Ambiguity, Time, and Multiple Streams, In Sabatier, Paul A. (ed.), Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. True, James L., Bryan D.Jones, and Frank R. Baumgartner. 1999. Punctuated- Equilibrium Theory: Explaining Stability and Change in American Policymaking, In Sabatier, Paul A. (ed.), Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Jones, Bryan D., Frank R. Baumgartner, and James L. True 1998. Policy Punctuations: U.S. Budget Authority, 1947-1995, The Journal of Politics, 60(1):1-33. Baumgartner, Frank R. and Bryan D. Jones. 1993. Agendas and Instability in American Politics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Reference: Kingdon, J. W. (1984) Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies . U. S. A.: Harper Collins. Lindblom, C. E. (1959) The science of muddling through. Public Administration Review, 14, pp. 79-88. Cohen, M., March, J., Olson, J. (1972) A garbage can model of organizational choice. Administrative Science Quarterly, 17, pp. 1-25. March, James and Olsen. (1984) The New Institutionalism: Organizational Factor in Political Life. American Political Science Review 78. 734-749

Sunday, October 13, 2019

A Poverty Stricken Paradise - Original Writing :: Papers

A Poverty Stricken Paradise - Original Writing On arrival in a small village called Wamba in Northern Kenya, the first thought that struck me as I stepped out of the Land Rover was the intensity of the midday sun blazing down upon me. As I took in the sights around me, a huge crowd of inquisitive children appeared from their huts and flocked towards the vehicle. So many happy faces in such a deprived village. This image will stay in my mind forever. To experience what life was really like in this small, but highly populated village, I stayed in a basic hotel among the villagers. The hotel was not a five star, luxury hotel, but was simply a bed and an integrated shower and squat toilet. For the villagers this would have been luxurious, as they lived in mud huts using whatever discarded plastic materials they could find to act as a roof. For me, this was like taking a trip back to the Stone Age. Everything was so basic. The most extraordinary view was one child's favourite toy. This was not some computer game, but an old car tyre. The poverty that these people were enduring was overwhelming, yet they were so happy with what little they had. The smiles on their faces were there constantly, even though they may not have eaten for many days due to the continuing drought that was affecting the area. When I asked one woman how she coped with not eating for so long, she replied, "When I feel hungry, I tighten my belt." This was horrific to hear, but for her it was a way of life. Because of the ongoing drought, water was becoming very scarce. To such an extent that their beloved cows and goats, which were their sign of wealth, were starting to die, leaving their owners with no food and no milk to drink. This leaves the people frail, but they are still both physically and mentally strong. The best example that showed this was one small boy, around twelve years old, carrying a

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Accounting :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Accounting Accounting Project BAC 3AA Profile of an Accounting Department My interview with the accountant of Robin Hood Multifoods Inc. was one of the greatest interviews I have ever experienced. The person whom I interviewed was Mr. Jeff R. Scott. Jeff was a really nice person when I asked him questions. His desk was not as organized as I thought, because accountants are really organized. The reason is because he just got promoted from assistant controller to controller. As I asked him more and more questions, the answers that came back at me were pretty interesting. Jeff R. Scott is a Chartered Accountant acquired at the University of Western Ontario. His requirements of completing C.A. were a business degree, he had to join a C.A. firm – also know as an â€Å"article†, and completing the C.A. exam. Skills included aptitude with numbers, relationships between numbers, algebra, and high-level thinking e.g. summarized data, interpreting what 3-4 pages means in 5-6 years. What might this job lead to? This job will most likely lead onto intern al audit, managerial, and vice president of finance. How much influence does Jeff R. Scott have in the department/company? In his own words, â€Å"I’m in full control. I tell people what to do, whom to fire, whom to hire, what their salary should be. Why? Because I’m the controller†. He has leadership, teamwork. Does not really have a routine set for his staff, as long as the work is done. The working hours what the company refers to as â€Å"flex-time†. Hours of work for Jeff R. Scott is 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. For the staff, it is 7  ½ hours. The salary for Jeff R. Scott is between $90,000 - $120,000. Here are some extra information that I fount out. There are a total of 54  ½ employees working in the

Friday, October 11, 2019

Advertising: the Magazine Game Informer

Informer an advertisement for Old Spice caught my eye. The reason for this was because it was large scale, in your face, and took up two pages. The way that this ad established and reinforced the brand name was very clever. The ad used very neutral, warm welcoming colors such as dark orange, and blue with bold white text. This seems to be a typical old spice ad in my eyes. I say this because the way old spice portrays its self is humorous but at the same time, without a doubt seriously manly.This is an obvious point, because in the add the man is covered in the old spice foaming body wash while riding a giant crow away from the sunset while being struck by lighting. This makes a very bold point that it is the manly of manliest body washes. This is apparent because not any average man could tackle riding a giant crow as well as a substantial lightning strike all while covered in a foamy blanket of body wash. When it comes to the question of what I think they are trying to create, I be lieve they are trying to portray this superior man of men image.I am able to link this ad with others that I have seen for old spice in the same manner. Such as a commercial I remember about â€Å"the man that your man could smell like† the slogan of the ad is that â€Å"We're not saying this body wash will make your man into a romantic millionaire jet fighter pilot, but we are insinuating it. † This reinforces my point that the company Old Spice is trying to create a superior image that their body wash represents. Back to the magazine ad, I feel that creating this superior image targets young as well as older men.They appear cool to a younger age group while also targeting a more middle age group that represents everything they could have been in their lives, but can be by using their body wash so as insinuated in the commercial I talked about previously. The placement of this ad in the magazine is more towards the end. The ad itself is outlined by a white border, whi ch complements the bold large white text. The man riding the massive bird takes up one page while a close up of the mans face takes up the other half.This is important because I believe that they are trying to show what the man is capable of by showing him riding the bird while holding the body wash, while on the other half of the ad they show a close up of his face, which displays confidence. You can tell this by his facial expression. He seems sympathetic but also sincere at the same time. While on the other hand he is riding the bird with a yelling face, such as athletes do when they are getting â€Å"pumped† up. This is relevant because this is an NFL endorsed ad.I believe that this can also portray two sides to the body wash, such as confident and outgoing but also compassionate. This may also have to do with the scent â€Å"showtime† that they are advertising. Which probably has to do with meaning business. This ad influences me, and attracts me to their product because I feel that this scent will make me feel as if I am more confident and ready for business, or â€Å"showtime. † This is something that is important to many people as well as me.If I am feeling good about myself and how I smell, I may be more apt to be more outgoing and in a better mood throughout my day or night. I feel like people are looking for products that give them more drive. I say this because that is something that I look for, such as more appeal and confidence. Overall, I believe that this ad is trying to impose the â€Å"coolness† that everyone wants. They are able to do this by showing two different sides of a person through this two page-spanning ad designed around the scent â€Å"showtime. This is represented through the warm subtle colors surrounding the ad, with the popping lightning bolt striking the man and the body wash bottle in the background. Which is displaying the more confident outgoing side of the scent. These are important characteri stics, because when it comes to smelling right it is very important. People do not want over dominating scents, they want scents that attract others, and give them a new sense of achievement and accomplishment like old spice portrays this scent to be.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Essay Midterm Essay

1)The subfields of anthropology seem quite diverse in their specific subjects and methods. Why, then, are they all considered parts of the single discipline of anthropology? What ties them together? Anthropology is an extensive discipline. It is so broad it had to be split into four subfields; Archeology, Biological (Physical), Cultural, and Linguistic anthropology. The definition of anthropology is â€Å"the holistic, scientific study of human kind† (Park, 2014). Parks (2014) states, every anthropologist wants to know why we have a tendency as humans to behave as we do, change constantly, have different cultural behaviors and the ability to constantly evolve. Anthropology answers these questions from the different subfields. â€Å"Archaeology examines our past ways of life through the interpretation of material culture, organic remains, written records, and oral traditions, Biological Anthropology deals with the evolution of the human body, mind and behavior as inferred through study of fossils and comparisons with behavior and anatomy of other primate species, Cultural Anthropology explores the diversity of existing human ways of life, how they work, how they change, and how they interrelate in the modern world and Linguistic Anthropology examines the structure and diversity of language and related human communication systems† (Sanoma State University, 2014). Even though the subfields seem quite diverse they do have similarities that tie them together. According to the American Anthropology Association (2014), â€Å"each subfield applies theories, employs systematic research methodologies, formulates and tests hypotheses, and develops extensive sets of data.† References â€Å"Anthropology: exploring the human in all of us.† (December 12, 2012). American Anthropological Association. Retrieved from http://www.thisisanthropology.org/about-anthropology Parks, (2014) Introducing Anthropology an Integrated Approach (6th ed), McGraw Hill education Sonoma State University, (March 5, 2014). Anthropology consist of four (some would say five) subfields. Retrieved from https://www.sonoma.edu/anthropology/home/subfields.html

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Descartes and Plato Essay

Explain both of descartes Arguments for the existence of God Descartes proof of God’s existence comes from his third meditation and is based on three ideas. He argues that innate idea exists within us, the fictitious or invented ideas are a result of our own imagination and adventitious ideas result from our experiences in the world. Descartes said, the idea of God is innate and cannot be invented. Descartes presents some arguments that lead to his conclusion. The first argument is that nothing can result to something and the cause of an idea will always have a formal reality because the idea must have an objective reality. He argues that if an individual have God, then the idea has an infinite objective reality and therefore, the individual cannot be the cause of the idea, because he is not infinite or a perfect being or he doesn’t have enough formal reality. It’s only a perfect and infinite being who can be the cause of the idea. Therefore, God as an infinite reality must exist. A perfect being, is benevolent and good; implying that God is benevolent and would not deceive or allow making errors without giving a way of correcting the errors. The second argument Descartes gives is based on the premise that I exist, and my existence must have a cause. He gives the only possible causes are: my existence, existence of something less perfect than God and existence of God. Out of this Descartes argues that if I had created myself, I would have created myself perfect and that if my existence have a cause, then it doesn’t solve the problem. If I’m not an independent being, then I would need the sustenance of another being. And that the perfection in me could not originate from a less perfect being. Therefore God exists. Descartes second proof of God’s existence is based on the fifth meditation on essence of material objects and it’s called the ontological argument. Descartes identifies external objects that can either be distinct and clear or obscure and confused. Descartes argues that without any sure knowledge of existence of a supreme and perfect being it would be impossible to have any assurance of any truth. Descartes defined God as an infinitely perfect being and that perfection will include existence. Meaning therefore, God exists. Explain the Allegory of the Cave and relate it to Platos metaphysical and epistemological theory The allegory of cave is about prisoners who have spent their lives chained to the wall of a cave and facing the wall. The prisoners are watching shadows cast on the wall by objects passing in front of the fire behind them, and they start to attribute the forms of these shadows. It is a figurative show of how a man is trapped in the illusion of material existence and how he can free himself from such trappings by philosophical thoughts of personal and social awareness through constant self examination. These shadows are the close the prisoners can get to reality. When the one who actually is able to free himself from the cave, returns back to the cave to tell his fellow man about the world outside the cave he is ridiculed for his free thoughts by the ones not knowing the real truth yet. Thats how a philosopher feels, he is like the prisoner who has freed himself from the cave and realizes that shadows on the wall are not the reality of things in life but merely shadows. This allegory of the cave is related to Plato’s theory of Metaphysics and Epistemology. Seen as an epistemological account, it attempts to determine the importance of ideas which we can only comprehend through reason resulting from our experiences from the physical world. The allegory of the cave is a philosopher’s effort to enlighten the society which can be seen as prisoners, imprisoned by their dark ignorance. The cave could represent our daily experiences and how we always accept the dictates of the society without questioning them.