Saturday, August 31, 2019

Catch 22 By: Joseph Heller Essay

Catch 22 has many scenes of violence in it that helps to contribute to the meaning of the complete work. The first scene of violence that helps portray the complete meaning of the novel is Kid Sampson being cut in half by McWatt while flying his plane too low to the ground. The second scene of violence was when Yossarian broke Nately’s nose on Thanksgiving while some men were playing around with the machine gun. And finally the last example of violence in Catch 22 the help contributes to the meaning of the novel is Milo Minderbinder making a contract with the Germans to have him fire on his own unit to help the syndicate. These scenes give a good idea on how the violence of Catch 22 contributes to the meaning of the complete work of the novel and shows the importance of the violence to the novel. The first scene of violence that helps portray the meaning the novel Catch 22 is McWatt accidently killing Kid Sampson on the beach. McWatt was flying way too low to the ground like he does all of the time and flew over the beach. Then he went right at Kid Sampson and then sliced him to pieces with the blade of his ship. Kid Sampson was at the beach with everyone else and he was standing on a raft when he got hit by the plane. McWatt was on a training flight with two new pilots showing them how to fly when it happened. They parachuted out of the plane and he rode it into the side of a mountain. Everyone thought Doc Daneeka died in the plane accident becasue McWatt put Doc Daneeka name down for flight hours but he was really on the ground with everyone else. Yossarian warns him about flying so low but he still decides to fly low to the ground. Colonel Cathcart is so devastated about what happened he made the missions go up even more than it was before. This is how McWatt accidently ki lling Kid Sampson is important to the novel. The second scene of violence in Catch 22 is Yossarian breaking Nately’s nose on Thanksgiving when Nately tried to stop Yossarian from shooting the guys firing the machine gun at the base. Then Nately told his whore and she hated Yossarian for that. When Nately got killed in the disastrous crash on the La Spezia mission with Dobbs, Yossarian decides to go to Rome and tell her what happened to Nately. When he was there, she tired to kill and was throwing  stuff at him. Then she keeps following him around wherever he went. She was in the plane when it landed and she was at the base. Then she jumped out of a bush after he got out of the Colonel Cathcart and Colonel Korn office. They were discussing sending home Yossarian and about giving him a medal. But she stabbed him and he had to go to the hospital. This is why Yossarian breaking Nately’s nose on Thanksgiving was important to the story. The last major scene of violence in Catch 22 that was important to the novel had to do with Milo and the M &M Enterprises is in the business for finding the best deals and trading to make a profit for the syndicate. His only failure was buying Egyptian cotton was going to ruin his business because he can’t sell it. He made a deal with the Germans who by the way were the enemies of America in the war. The deal stated that he had to bomb his own outfit and many of his own men were hurt during this. Milo even decided it was best for him to tip off the Germans during a surprise attack by the Americans. But instead of getting punishes for shooting his own unit the public celebrates all of his profits he made. His explanation for playing for both sides was if it benefits the syndicate it benefits the men and it is worth taking a risk for. Then he decides he wants to fly more missions because he has only seven but Colonel Cathcart makes him agree to have the men fly his missions for him. This is the cause for more un needed deaths in the novel. This is how Milos bombing his own unite helps show how violent scenes are important to the novel. Throughout the novel Catch 22 there are many scenes of violence. These violent scenes help to contribute to t he meaning of the book. The first scene was when Yossarian broke Nately’s nose during the Thanksgiving celebration which causes Nately’s whore to hate him. The second scene of violence that contributed to the meaning of the book was when McWatt Killed Kid Sampson with his airplane. And finally the last scene was when Milo started shooting at his own unit after making a deal whit the Germans. This is how these scenes help to contribute to the whole meaning of Catch 22.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Healthcare Policy Analysis Essay

Its finally happening!We get to manage our own health care .Our issues with Healthcare and insurance is finally looking up in a positive way .Finding a doctor won’t be such a hassle nor will it be someone else telling you who you have to pick . Insurance won’t be so high and even has made it possible to carry insurance without it breaking our pockets each month .This new way of insurance marketing is a great idea . I feel this will save our pockets and cost of health care can finally go down .The facts are exceptional and putting a great attitude in a lot of people to feel good about going to a physician again . For the first time in most states, small businesses and consumers who do not have affordable health insurance through an employer will be able to select coverage with the confidence that they will be offered a plan, and that their premiums will predominantly reflect its value, rather than their health, gender, or occupation. Also for the first time, individuals with incomes under $92,000 for a family of four will be eligible for subsidies to help pay their premiums for plans sold through the exchanges. It is essential that federal and state governments continue to work hard to ensure that all Americans who lack health insurance can begin shopping and signing up for coverage nine months from now.What a marketplace indeed . A health insurance marketplace otherwise known as health insurance exchange .This is a government regulated and standardized health care plans in the United States. Individuals may purchase health insurance eligible for a tax reduction . All exchanges must be fully certified and operational by January 1, 2014, under federal law. The federal government has spent $2.2 billion to help states establish their health insurance exchanges, which require creating websites to let millions of small businesses and individuals in every state buy health insurance from qualified health plans.Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have received conditional approval from HHS to operate a state-run marketplace in 2014. These states are: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho,  Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. HHS’ approval of these marketplaces is conditioned on the states addressi ng a short list of issues highlighted in the review process. This Issue Brief examines issues related to managed competition and the use of a health insurance exchange for the purpose of addressing cost, quality, and access to health care services. It discusses issue that must be addressed when designing an exchange in order to reform the health insurance market and also examines state efforts at health reform that use an exchange. The basic component of managed competition is the creation an organized marketplace that brings together health insurers and consumers (either as individuals or through their employers).The sponsor of the exchange would set â€Å"rules of engagement† for participating insurers and offer consumers a menu of choices among different plans. Ultimately, the goal of a health insurance exchange is to shift the market from competition based on risk to competition based on price and quality. Among the issues that need to be addressed if an exchange that uses managed competition has a realistic chance of reducing costs, improving quality, and expanding coverage: Everyone needs to be in the risk pool, with individuals required to purchase insurance or face significant financial consequences; effective risk adjustment is essential to eliminate risk selection as an insurance business model forcing competition on costs and quality; the insurance benefit must be specific and clear without standards governing cost sharing, covered services, and network coverage there is no way to assess whether a requirement to purchase or issue.has been met; and subsidies would be necessary for low income individuals to purchase insurance. The public plan option is shaping up to be one of the most contentious issues in the health reform debate. Proponents also believe a public plan is necessary to drive private insurers toward true competition. Opponents view it as a step toward government run health care and are wary of cost shifting from the public plan to private insurers. There were three key events significantly impacted the legislative session. Obamacare Became the Law of the Land,With the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the individual mandate and President Obama’s reelection, supporters and opponents of the health reform law now  accept that like it or hate it the Affordable Care Act is here to stay. This reality shifted the political tone at the Capitol, resulting in less of the fierce rhetoric from years past. Most of Colorado’s Republican lawmakers remain opposed to federal health reform, but several bipartisan bills were passed to help facilitate a smooth implementation of the law. Colorado democrats took control of both chambers and the balance of power remained the same in the colorado Senate, with Democrats holding a 20-15 seat majority. Control of the Colorado House of Representatives, however, shifted from Republicans to Democrats, who picked up five seats for a 37-28 seat majority.With control of both chambers and a Democratic governor the Democrats wielded significant power in getting their agenda passed. The economy saw slow But steady progress and difficult budget discussions and painful cost cutting dominated previous legislative sessions, but this year’s Joint Budget Committee had an easier task. Colorado’s economic recovery outpaced the nation , and General Fund dollars were up 5.5 percent in fiscal year (FY) 2013-14. With more money in state coffers, legislators restored cuts and made new investments in health care and other programs. The budget passed on a party-line vote, with Democrats praising it as a smart and strategic approach to state spending and Republicans saying it isn’t prudent enough and doesn’t spend money in the right places. Open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s new state insurance exchanges begins in October 2013, with coverage beginning in January 2014. For the first time in most states, small businesses and consumers who do not have affordable health insurance through an employer will be able to select coverage with the confidence that they will be offered a plan, and that their premiums will predominantly reflect its value, rather than their health, gender, or occupation. Also for the first time, individuals with incomes under $92,000 for a family of four will be eligible for subsidies to help pay their premiums for plans sold through the exchanges. It is essential that federal and state governments continue to work hard to ensure that all Americans who lack health insurance can begin shopping and signing up for coverage nine months from now.With some help from our key players health care just might work this time . Thank Obama and his team for another shot in a another chance at good h ealth . Fronstin, Paul and Ross, Murray N., Addressing Health Care Market Reform Through an Insurance Exchange: Essential Policy Components, the Public Plan Option, and Other Issues to Consider (June 2009). EBRI Issue Brief, No. 330, June 2009. Available at SSRN: http://www.ebri.org/http://ssrn.com/abstract=1426184 https://www.statereforum.org/exchange-governance http://www.apihealthcare.com/hwie?_kk=hie&_kt=afa5ea9c-2ead-4efc-84dc-d7e709e1a31b&gclid=CLKB_7aQpLkCFY9AMgodsVcA6Q Molly Voris of the Washington Health Care Authority shared the state’s enacted Exchange enabling legislation. Access the legislation here: http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/final_5445.pdf T. S. Jost, Health Insurance Exchanges and the Affordable Care Act: Eight Difficult Issues, The Commonwealth Fund, September 2010. References Oapi healthcare (2013). Welcome | State Refor(u)m. Retrieved from https://www.statereforum.org/ T. S. Jost, Health Insurance Exchanges and the Affordable Care Act: Key Policy Issues, The Commonwealth Fund, July 2010.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Workplace ethics

Workplace ethics Conduct Internet research on a selected business topic. Take notes on Internet research. For this project, you will conduct Internet research on a productive business skills topic of your choice from the following list: teamwork and collaboration; time management; conflict resolution; workplace ethics; professional dress and grooming; effective speaking and presentation skills.Each of the following parts of this project will help you use the skills you have learned in this unit to complete a well-written report on the business skill you have selected. Part 1: For this section of the project, you will select your topic and begin to conduct Internet research related to this topic. You should review a minimum of three sources for this project. Take notes on each source using the following points as a guide: Source (title and URL) Summary of the information How do you know this source is credible?Part 2: Using your notes, write a five-paragraph (minimum) essay about your selected business skills topic. You must incorporate references from the research you did (remember to cite your sources). Be sure to organize your ideas logically and equentially, including a compelling introduction and a summarizing conclusion. Part 3: You will read and review one of your classmate's reports and give constructive feedback on their report.You should identify what they have done well as well as give suggestions for improvement. Remember the components of effective feedback you learned in Chapter 2. Question #1 Essay Download g_bcsl au01 p14d. rtf Upload Answer File Max File Size : IOMB Accepted File Type : [csv, doc, docx, pdf, xls, xlsx, txt, rtf, ppt, pptx, odf, odt, ods, odp, mdb, accdb, pub, Jpg, Jpeg] File Actions NO File workplace ethics By Jinksauce300

Theory & Practice in Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Theory & Practice in Management - Essay Example This is due to cultural diversity that can be well explained by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions which include individualism, uncertainty avoidance, power distance index etc (Hofstede, 2005 p 26). This essay is an evaluation of the various roles of a manager and their importance to organizations. As a manger, one is entrusted with various roles which are meant to enhance the progress and smooth running of a business thus facilitating a favorable environment for business progress as well as harmonizing business operations (Pareek, 2000 p 12). The roles include for example supervising and managing staff. In every department in an organization, there must be someone in charge of ensuring that employees perform their responsibilities according to their job description. This is due to the fact that there are those employees who cannot perform unless there is someone senior supervising them (Pareek, 2000 p 20). If this is not done, the organization would lose a lot in terms of time due to the reluctance of the staff to deliver the expected results within the required time frames. In this context, the manager has the responsibility of ensuring that any staff that shows indiscipline is punished according to the organization’s ethics code. The manager also has the responsibility of assigning duties to the various employees so as to ensure that they do not stay idle at any one time (Christiansen, 2002 p 30). He also has the authority of hiring and firing staff depending on there is need to reduce or increase their number may be due to the increase or reduction of the amount of work. This ensures there is a balance between income and expenditure which correlates highly with production. A manager also has the role of advising his employer on the various strategies that can be made to increase production and standards of goods and services. As such, he is an agent of change (Pareek, 2000 p 32).

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Housing and Benefits for Asylum Seekers in UK Essay

Housing and Benefits for Asylum Seekers in UK - Essay Example Housing is at the very cornerstone of reception and resettlement (BRC 1987, 96-99; Carey-Wood etal. 1995, 66-72; Majke 1991, 267- 283; Refugee Council 1997; Robinson 1993, 170-186) and controlling access to housing has become an increasingly important part of the government's asylum and immigration strategy. Without adequate shelter, few other opportunities exist for those unfortunate enough to be destitute. With no permanent address, there is little chance of establishing the minimum rights of citizenship, which offer inclusion into the host society. Social exclusion has been a reality for many thousands of asylum seekers over a prolonged period of time. This was true even before the more draconian measures introduced in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The prevailing environment of competition, performance review and value for money has had the effect of increasingly marginalising the most vulnerable groups in British society. In all but a few notable exceptions, the needs of asylum seekers have been inadequately addressed by either public or private sectors (Zetter and Pearl 1999a, 24-27). This has been due to a combination of institutional inertia and political sensitivity - both cock-up and conspiracy. The most recent legislative measures have further exacerbated the process of exclusion, generating additional hardship for an already overburdened group by extending uncertainty and increasing dependency. In reality, the rights and entitlements of refugees are little changed by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. They remain eligible to receive support and assistance in terms of both benefits and housing from the public sector. This is an important distinction from asylum seekers. Refugees are individuals or households whose status under the 1951 Geneva Convention has been approved by the UK government: that is, their 'well founded fear of persecution' has been accepted. They are likely to have either permanent or long-term status of residence in the UK and generally share in the usual rights of citizenship. (Duke, 1995, 12-18) Those with refugee status are eligible for assistance under the homelessness legislation and qualify for the housing register. To a large extent, such households have fewer institutional barriers to overcome than asylum seekers. Asylum seekers have no such clarity of outcome, for which they depend on the result of their pending application. While in this state of limbo, they are disqualified from access to employment, benefits or permanent housing, and are thus placed at the very margins of society. Indeed, at certain times within the mid-1990s, large numbers of single asylum seekers were actually destitute. (Joly, 1996, 121-128) The political reality behind the asylum legislation appears, therefore, to indicate a reliance on two cardinal principles above all other considerations: 1. the control and limitation of public expenditure, particularly personal benefits 2. the maintenance of an image of political toughness. (Robinson, 1985, 305- 330) It seems likely that excessive zeal in investigating applications and a

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The Broader Impact Of DSP (Digital signal processing) In A Global Research Paper

The Broader Impact Of DSP (Digital signal processing) In A Global Economi And Social Context - Research Paper Example Each of these areas has involved substantial involvement of the digital signal processing technology with its own unique algorithms, mathematics and specialized techniques. As a result, digital signal processing has significant impact on the social, economic and in global lives in our society today. Digital signal processing convert analogue signals to digital signal. By doing this, there is extraction of signals, which later get modifications to meaningful and relevant information through the digital signal. In the pioneer ages digital signal processing was only in computers and by the application of technology limited in some key areas, for instance radar and sonar where national security appeared to be at risk. This is because of the international threats that were happening because of international tension. Another area is oil expiration and in this area, there are large amounts of revenue for example mad, oil sector industry is a very profitable industry that is capable of raisi ng the economic level of a nation. Space exploration is another sector that digital signal processing adopted because of the importance of data received. The collected data are of an irreplaceable nature. The final area of involvement in digital signal processing was medical imaging, where it could play a vital role in the treatment and saving of lives. Impact in an economic context Digital signal processing has had great impact in our lives especially economically. The recent technological advances have commanded entrepreneurs and investors to spend a lot of money in technology. Innovations in technology have led to many firms competing with each other to develop the most sophisticated technological devices that outsmart its competitors and gain the largest market share in the industry. Advances in computing, data storage and data transmit ion have enabled firms to reduce costs, create new market, expand existing market and create employment in the nation (44). Maintaining the inte grity of the specifications Companies and organizations have moved quickly to grab these newly found opportunities and as a result, firms are spending billions on their enterprise system. Firms are developing sophisticated software and hardware packages that integrate ordering, procurement, inventory, finance and human resources in their companies. Consumers get a wide range of goods and services for communication entertainment, shopping, education and other activities that relate to the firm and firms on the other hand get the opportunity to widen their consumer targets. With the embracing of technology, firms are able to reduce cost, maximize their profits and increase shareholders wealth. Consumers also benefit from these technological advancements where by prices of commodities are reduced due to the decrease of costs. This is also by being able to access wide ranges of products that are available (32). Telecommunication has also been a beneficiary of these technological advance s. Drastic improvements in computing power, accompanied by healthy competition in the industry have led to dramatic reduction rates among the consumers in communication. The telecommunication industry has been able to expand massively to tap the new opportunities; these firms now enjoy substantial customers in their networks. The introductions of wireless and broadband services have made communication much easier and faster (22). This

Monday, August 26, 2019

An improvement of Intrusion Detection System using HCI Essay

An improvement of Intrusion Detection System using HCI - Essay Example Network/system specialists and administrators mostly know more about computer networks and systems than regular computer system owners. Some IDS users may have different duties than others. Therefore the time and effort required to detect attacks may not be the same. IDS users can be categorized from two perspectives: (1) their knowledge about network/system security management; and (2) the time and effort that they could put into intrusion detection. From the first perspective, different knowledge levels divide users into advanced, intermediate, and novice levels. From the second perspective, we see them as three types: keen users, regular users, and casual users. An IDS interface is expected to support numerous actions. Generally, the interface shall apply both graphs and text to help present information. SnortReader shall support adaptable functionality, which means that users are able to change its look and the behavior according to their needs. Another important point is that SnortReader shall provide real-time intrusion status information and enable users to locate intrusions quickly and accurately. All user actions are divided into two types: configuration related and data-navigation related.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Negative impacts of an organisation without a Human Resource Research Paper

Negative impacts of an organisation without a Human Resource Department - Research Paper Example According to Kirby (2007), issues such as recruiting the right people, rewarding them and having a succession plan in place is as critical for a small firm as for larger firms. This prompts the study of KSS Ltd that has been trying to manage things on its own. While the line managers are stressed in trying to fulfill the dual role imposed on them, the staff morale is low. Some have even threatened legal action. There is lack of coordination and communication between the staff and the management. In small firms, Kirby argues, the owner/managers hardly get to know the truth of what takes place at the workplace. They are told most often only what they want to hear. Besides, Whittaker and Marchington (2003) find that line managers can work in conjunction with HR practitioners and not by themselves. The argument is that if they shoulder dual responsibility, they may do so at the cost of the corporate goals and objectives. In addition, they may not possess the necessary skills and capabilities to handle the HR issues. This, possibly, is the reason which leaves the top management stressed thereby having a negative impact on the organization. This study would hence, benefit KSS Ltd in assessing the exact situation at the workplace. The outcome of the study would benefit several organizations that have raised doubts about the contribution of the HR department. The HR departments have come under pressure to show what value they add to the company and how they can develop more effective ways of working (Truss & Gill, 2009). A study into a hospital’s functioning by the authors revealed that line managers’ objectives need to redefined and they must be aware of the communication mechanisms that are available within the organization. Thus, the outcome of this study would help KSS understand the benefits of formal HR department. As of now, the line managers try to handle the HR issues but they would need to engage HR

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Analyzing article for Derivatives Risk and Management Class Essay

Analyzing article for Derivatives Risk and Management Class - Essay Example For mothers, they might have an option to be a plain housewife or to be a working mom. For working parents with meager income, they might have an option to start a new business and leave their jobs or to continue working for a company. All of these options seem to have a thing in common: uncertainty and the need of a decision. However, decisions are not made out of thin air; they have to be carefully woven and a well thought because any wrong move would affect the success of one’s own life. The question then is how to come up with a sound decision. In business sense, there are so-called financial options that give individuals the right, not an obligation to make a business decision---usually involving capital investments. Basically, there are two types of methods. One is the traditional method, commonly used is the net present value, which solely assess the financial value of the decision therefore ignoring any economic implications. The decision involved here will be very obj ective taking into account only the discount factors, cost of capital, etc. Using this method, if the computation produces a positive net present value, the investment must be pushed through. On the contrary, the second one, which is the real options method, is a modern approach to decision making. It takes into consideration the importance of a flexible management and a dynamic working atmosphere. Thus, clearly, it does not purely focus on the financial aspect of the decision but also on its economic value. Options start to surface as they pose new opportunities. Opportunities of growth are commonly the main reason why individuals are looking out on them rather than sticking to their present condition. However, the results of these opportunities may or may not materialize in the short-run, medium-term, or long run. There are a lot of factors to be considered before considering an option hence it may take some time to come up with a final decision. First is the irreversibility of th e decision. Once a person is already at it, he/she cannot easily escape from the realms of his/her decision. Second, opportunity loss may be offset by waiting for the appropriate time to implement the action. In other words, an allowance for a delay in decision-making is provided in order to make more sound decisions. To meet these two requirements, there are these â€Å"real options† that are allows you to exercise what you want to accomplish in the future. To show a concrete example, consider a young man who recently graduated from a university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After finally getting out of the academe, he had in mind two options: to continue his studies in Law School or to work in the corporate world and earn money. In this case, whatever the decision is, a trade off will exist. Notice also that whatever decision he chooses, then it would be irreversible as it would mean a waste of time and money. If he goes to Law School, that mea ns he has to forego the course that he has taken up for years and enter a new realm or school of thought. Therefore, there is an opportunity cost involved here. However, there is a need to do so in order to be flexible enough to face the world waiting for him outside the academe. Financially, it would not be favorable for him to take up law because he will just be spending another years in law school both with time and

Friday, August 23, 2019

MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY - Assignment Example From both excel, and the formulae, the mean is 50.8, which is different from the mode and the median, which are 58 and 57, respectively. However, the figures are roughly close to each other showing that is spent over 50 minutes everyday in physical fitness activities. The numbers are lower than I expected since I work out for a whole hour every day. This means that I spend a couple of minutes in switching from one activity to another. The time I spend in switching from one activity to another and the time I spend on different physical fitness activities add up to sixty minutes per day. The most effective measure of the central tendency, as far as the mean, median, and mode is the mean. This is because of the fact that it utilizes 100 percent of all the data in the sample (Walpole, 2010). The other measures of central tendencies, including the median and mode do not utilize all the information provided. Mean helps in performing further mathematical calculations thus helping in conducting more statistical tests. For example, it helps in the calculation of standard deviation, variances, as well as, significance tests. Additionally, it has an algebraic definition (Bertsekas, 2002). The mean is applicable in the probability theory to generate probability distributions. Such distributions do not utilize other measures of central tendencies including the median and the mode. Mean as well has some weaknesses, for example, the presence of outliers in the data lowers its accuracy. Its strengths, as a measure of central tendency, outweigh its weaknesses. To draw the box plot, one utilizes the 25th percentile, the 50th percentile, and the 75th percentile. The 25th percentile is the lowest score, which is greater than 25 percent of the scores. Using excel, the 25th percentile is 41. This means that the highest figure of the first 25 percent of the data is 41. The 50th percentile is equal to the median.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Henry Viii, the Tyrant of England Essay Example for Free

Henry Viii, the Tyrant of England Essay All throughout history, many important figures have contributed to the growth and development of the world in several aspects including the economic and political advancement of their corresponding regions. However, many of these great leaders have achieved this goal through various contrasting ideologies, as seen with the rule of Henry VIII in England during the 16th century. Henry VIII, also known as Henry Tudor, ruled between 1509 and 1547 during which he was â€Å"regarded as England’s most important monarch† (Mcenegart). While King Henry is credited to playing a vital role in the development of England, the methods by which he achieved this title can be considered questionable due to controversial actions he had taken during his rule; Henry is still criticized to this day for his dramatic reduction of the nation’s economy due to expensive warfare and expansion, and his extensive spending to ensure his place as the king (Mcenegart). I believe that King Henry is an extremely tyrannical yet effective leader in history because of his active role in the development of England and the social strife and economic conflicts he brought to the complex civilization. Biographical Information Henry Tudor existed during a crucial event in history with the secession from the Roman church, and was born in Greenwich England on June 28, 1491. As a child, Henry Tudor was a very enthusiastic student and enjoyed learning. His father, Henry VII, enrolled him to learn various languages including Latin, Spanish, French, and Italian while at the same time required him to study mathematics and music. In his leisure time, Henry Tudor enjoyed hunting numerous animals, and took part in physical competitions including wrestling and jousting in which he was regarded as being able to draw â€Å"the bow with greater strength than any man in England† (â€Å"Henry, VIII†). However, in 1502 Henry’s eldest brother died due to tuberculosis. Arthur Tudor was the rightful heir to receive the throne after his father; however Henry then became the eldest son to Henry VII and was next in succession to inheriting the throne (Mcenegart). As a result, Henry Tudor was forced by his father to marry his brother’s wife, now a widow, named Catherine of Aragon, the first of many Catherine’s he would soon marry (â€Å"Henry VIII.† Great 105). Shortly after on April 22, 1509 the ruthless yet notorious father of Henry Tudor passed away, allowing Henry Tudor, now more popularly known as Henry VIII, to receive the throne as the youngest and first uncontested Prince to ascend as the King of England (Mcenegart). Leadership Qualities Throughout the rule of the new King of England, many leadership qualities Henry possessed soon became apparent and served as a crucial example of how he was to lead the citizens of England. After the death of Henry VII, Henry Tudor claimed the throne and immediately became the next ruler, Henry VIII of England. In the early years of his rule, Henry quickly discarded his father’s trusted chief ministers, Edmond Dudley, and Richard Empson who he had executed for treason in 1510. Henry then primarily focused on foreign affairs in which he supported Spain but acquired a detested view of the French, and soon conjugated with Spain in their efforts to invade France in 1512 by distributing troops to help support the war effort; this in return lead to the victory of the Battle of the Spurs in 1513 and the acquirement of the cities Tournai and Thà ©orouanne. The War of the Holy League then concluded with the marriage between Henry’s sister Mary Tudor to Louis XII of France, comp leting the treaty between the two regions. Following this marriage, â€Å"Henry received the papally bestowed title, ‘Defender of the Faith’ as a reward for writing the Assertion of the Seven Sacraments, a criticism of Lutheran doctrine† (â€Å"Henry, VIII†). In the later years of King Henry VIII’s rule, he began to focus less on foreign affairs and gradually increased his interest in the English Reformation. In 1530 after several negotiations, Henry realized that the secession from the Roman Catholic Church would be the only way to achieve what he desired politically and socially. As a result, he created an independent church that would â€Å"declare his marriage to the guiltless Catherine null and void†, seeing that she could not produce the desired male heir that king Henry so desperately required, and one that would end his marriage without question to his authority (â€Å"Henry VIII† Great 106). Throughout his rule, King Henry found himself married to several wives including one marriage to Anne Boleyn who gave birth to Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen of England, but was still unable to give birth to the desired male heir that would take the throne following King Henry VIII’s rule. After the birth of Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn became â€Å"a shrew of a wife† and was accused of adultery and witchcraft, by Henry himself, and was executed later that year (â€Å"Henry VIII† Great 106). Following the death of Anne, Henry was soon married to Jane Seymour, who for the very first time was able to create a son that would serve as the male heir for the throne; however, Henry’s wife quickly passed away due to natural causes during childbirth. As was expected of the King, Henry accused his following three wives, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr, of adultery in which only Catherine Parr was spared (â€Å"Henry VIII, King† 442). During the complicated marriages of Henry VIII, he was also very focused on the English Reformation in which he decided to educate his son in Protestant beliefs so the future King of England would carry on his legacy. During the 1540’s however, Henry became very weak and unhealthy; as a result he wrote a will that stated if Edward was to die without any male heirs, the crown would descend to Mary and then onto Elizabeth (â€Å"Henry VIII† The Renaissance 350). Soon after the will was written, the honored yet feared King Henry passed away on January 28, 1547 (â€Å"Henry VIII, King† 443). Connection to Literature The tyrant Henry VIII is characterized as an incredibly smart individual who is manipulative in his efforts to achieve his desired goals and often caused chaos and complications where conflict may have been easily avoided. The King of England is easily comparable to Curley’s wife from the book Of Mice and Men, in the aspect that both shared very similar personalities. In this book, Curley’s wife often desired to be around other men that appreciated her and would unintentionally cause conflicts between the numerous farmhands. Early on in the book, Lennie begins to develop an interest in Curley’s wife noticing how pretty she was when they first met. Near the end of the book, Lennie and Curley’s wife are alone talking to each other while all the other men are gambling on a game of horseshoes; during this discussion, Curley’s wife mentions how soft her hair is, and as Lennie starts to feel it, she begins to become nervous and pull away. Lennie however does not let go of her hair and accidentally snaps the fragile neck of Curley’s wife. Henry VIII of England and Curley’s wife are similar in numerous ways. Both had created pandemonium among the civilians around them through poor decision making and conflicts they had created. While Curley’s wife associated herself with other farmhands causing tension between the workers; King Henry VIII had also associated himself with the wrong women in whom he decided to have killed through accusation of adultery or witchcraft. The several wives of the king were unable to produce a male heir he so desperately desired so as a result, he caused unnecessary tension by killing them in a similar way Curley’s wife was killed, through decapitation. Both Curley’s wife and Henry VIII played a vital role in the lives of others and without them, the events succeeding them would be drastically changed. Conclusion Without the existence of Henry VIII of England, the outcome of the War of the Holy League and the connection between church and state in England would still be very contrasting to this day; on the other hand, Henry’s rule was very costly towards the nation’s finances and several critical horrifying decisions he had taken while King confirmed his existence as a more tyrannical leader in history. While he did create a separate Protestant church in England and helped form valuable connections between France and Spain, several hundred men and women were accused of treason and put to death at the mercy of his word. Alongside these men and women, several of Henry’s personal friends and family members were also put to death including his father’s trusted advisors and many wives just because they were unable to give him what he wanted. Henry’s life had an astronomical impact on a very complex civilization during his time period; however many of the actions he had taken were to nourish his extensive and controlling lifestyle in which he was willing to do anything to achieve his goals (â€Å"Henry VIII† Renaissance 351).

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Education of Philosophies Essay Example for Free

Education of Philosophies Essay After reading through the different philosophies of education, I have come to the conclusion that I can relate to the student centered philosophy the most for several different reasons. As stated in the chapter, education is not a competition. I don’t agree with having students take multiple choice tests to see who gets the highest amount of right answers. Many students suffer from test anxiety and giving them one chance to prove they are educated on the subject isn’t fair. I am a firm believer that students don’t gain knowledge from textbooks, they gain knowledge by being out in the real world. To me, experiencing things first hand is the strongest way to learn about a subject matter. This leads me to the progressivism philosophy of education. I am all for experimental learning, having students have the chance to learn by doing. Another method of this is called the scientific method. This happens by expecting students to pursue their answers through problem solving and critical thinking, and are rarely expected to find their answers in a textbook. Another method I agree with is social reconstruction. Democracy in a classroom encourages teachers to guide an important dialogue among the children, but to avoid telling students how to think or what to believe. Social purpose gives students an opportunity to instill habits or values that are useful to the greater community. I believe students should be encouraged to think about local, national, and international issues in the real world. More importantly, I believe existentialism is the most crucial student centered philosophy in education. Giving students the ability to develop their own creativity and different ways of self-expression is something that should be focused on in every school. Students should be allowed freedom to go at their own pace and should be inspired by the things shared among peers  in the classroom. Students are expected to be in control of their own lives at school while playing an active role in functioning community, students should leave the school with the important ability to think critically.

Early Psychology And Introspection Psychology Essay

Early Psychology And Introspection Psychology Essay The question of whether psychology is a science persists. John Broadus Watson ignited this topic, offering strong evidence in pursuits of establishing psychology as an empirical science. Today, some psychologists reject the idea that psychology is a science at all, while others who agree weigh heavily on the role of behavior. Historically, traditional views on psychology have been unscientific. Offering an alternative view, the central idea in behaviorism is the prediction and control of behavior. Although controversial, the evidence for behaviorism, its contribution to the field, research, and treatment of disorders is undeniable. This paper addresses a history of behaviorism, with focus on the viewpoint and contribution of John B. Watson. Additionally, behaviorisms application to the field of clinical psychology is discussed. Keywords: behaviorism, learning, classical conditioning Behaviorism: A History of John B. Watson and Contributions to Clinical Psychology The interest in knowing and understanding human behavior is deeply rooted within historical philosophies and persists today. The desire to obtain tangible evidence in order to measure ones actions, thoughts, and emotions paved many ideas, including John Broadus Watsons revolutionary theory of Behaviorism (Hart Kristonis, 2006). Before he established behaviorism, Watson considered learning as one of the most important factors of psychology and established it as a central topic for basic research and application of American psychology (Rilling, 2000). Dissatisfied with the view that psychology focused on the mind, he dedicated his career to establishing psychology as a valid science. His dedication to learning and establishment of behaviorism shed light on several important clinical issues such as mental health disorders, drug addiction and phobias. In regards to theory, Watson is credited for having brought validity to some of the psychoanalytic concepts such as the role of early chi ldhood experiences, relationships, and the effects of trauma. His interest and dedication to uncovering psychopathology led to the discovery of conditioned emotional responses and an explanation for learning of feared behaviors (Rilling, 2000). Today, the contribution of Watson is undeniable. Therapies with strong behavioral components are utilized and applicable to many disorders. The purpose of this paper is to provide a history of Watsons behaviorism emphasizing the foundations of his work through his viewpoint. In addition to history, behaviorist contribution within the field of psychology and modern clinical psychology utilization are discussed. Historical Roots of Behaviorism Science originally developed within, and eventually navigated away from philosophy. Before astronomy and physics understood phenomena through observation, philosophers used God as the means to reason and conclude about the universe (Baum, 1994). Philosophers weighed heavily on Gods contribution to living and nonliving organisms, referencing the soul as the force of life. The Enlightenment saw substantial contributions to science as philosophers such as Galileo and Newton uncovered scientific truth through observation (Baum, 1994). Emphasizing data, early physiologists such as William Harvey conceptualized the body as a machine, discovering in which the heart functioned like a pump, circulating blood through tissues, arteries and veins (Baum, 1994). In addition, Charles Darwins theory of evolution radically debunked the bibles accounts of the creation and offered a new explanation that left out God (Baum, 1994). As astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology began to break away from phi losophical thought, so did the field of psychology. Early Psychology and Introspection Late nineteenth century labeled psychology as the science of mind. The field of psychology emerged as a discipline through Wilhelm Wundts laboratory at the University of Leipzig in 1879 (Moore, 2011). In his work, Wundt assumed that the study of consciousness was the appropriate subject for psychology, conducting experiments within areas now known as sensation and perception. Following Wundt, Titcheners structuralism, focused on sensations, images, and feelings, researched by drawing inferences from participants introspective reports and reaction times, indicating which sensations were higher or lower in the structure of consciousness (Moore, 2011). An alternative functionalism employed similar methods as structuralists but emphasized the function of conscious mental phenomena. For example, functionalists might use reaction times to study how childrens conscious mental phenomena developed over time, in efforts to provide individual education services (Moore, 2011). Concerns manifeste d in practical applications of either theory, and a lack of reliability. Introspection as a method was particularly problematic. For instance, concerning the lack of reliability, research findings with the introspective method were not often replicated with other participants or in other laboratories (Moore, 2011). Problems with Psychology The major emphasis of contention for Watson within psychology was introspection, specifically within the theories of structuralism and functionalism. Structuralist and functionalist views incorporated introspection to understand the contents and function of consciousness, using it as data in forming conclusions about human behavior (Carr, 1930; Boring, 1954). Unlike scientific method, Watson believed that introspection was biased towards the individual, had unreliable methods and formed baseless speculations (Baum, 1994; Watson, 1913). Further, he discarded introspective methods due to their inapplicability to animals, believing that the fundamentals of human behavior may be better explained through animal experiments. He rejected both theories, due to his belief that they lacked the applicability, consistency and logic for the more pressing issues within the field (Mills, 1999; Watson; 1913). To Watson, the introspective aspects of consciousness (feeling, choice, judgment) had not d emonstrated functional use, were unreliable and impossible to verify in an experimental setting (Boring, 1954). Behaviorist Psychology Watson grew frustrated with psychology defined as science of consciousness, attributing to psychologys failure in becoming a true science (Watson, 1913). It was in his 1913 publication Psychology as the Behaviorist Views it, that he stated his intentions to change the subject of psychology from consciousness to behavior, replacing introspective methods with objective approaches. For him, the goal of behaviorist psychology was in the prediction and control of behavior (Goss, Watson, 1913; 1924; Rilling, 2000). From his point of view, behavior is a function of stimulating conditions within in the environment and characteristics (e.g., drive states, hereditary, habit, emotions) within the organism, later defining behaviorism as stimulus-response, or S-R (Wozniak, 1997; Watson, 1919). According to him, behavior consists of motor and glandular responses to sensory stimuli (sensorimotor) (Woodworth, 1959). A stimulus arouses activity in one or more receptors, exciting nerve impulses in the brain and spinal cord where outgoing nerve currents are excited in the motor and glandular nerves with resulting excitation of muscles and glands. Whatever organizational activity is taking place, it is present in the brain and spinal cord, and should not be attributed to higher processes (Woodworth, 1959). Watson formally ruled introspection out of psychology and urged for applicable undertakings within psychology, beneficial to the legal, educational, medical and business arenas (Boring, 1954; Watson, 1913; Mills, 1999). For the first time behaviorism was given definitive goals, methods and parameters.   The structure that Watson illustrated for the behaviorism was a discipline based heavily in rationalist thought, and on the precept that learning, and habit is the major influence on development (Rilling, 2000; King, Viney, Woody, 2009). Thinking and Language. Watson believed that the causes of behavior were within the environment rather than the mind (Markey, 1925). In his 1919 book Psychology From the Standpoint of a Behaviorist, Watson rejected the concept of mind completely, extending all of his behaviorist views to introspective activities, such as language and thinking (Markey, 1925). According to him, thinking a mental process, is actually an overt behavior nothing more than sub-vocal speaking, or silent talking (Watson, 1920). Thinking is a verbal process where expressive movements (gestures) serve as substitution of words. In the study of human behavior, Watsons views on language explained consciousness and awareness as an objective mechanistic process. Higher order processing (e.g., expression of the face, hands, shoulders), fulfill the symbolic character necessary in language. Our whole body comes to be part of the language mechanism providing a basis for imagery, reasoning, and thought (Watson, 1920). To Freud, Watson proposed a behavioristic translation of the unconscious, stating that situations where language is covert, or un-verbalized is the unconscious, where overt language, speaking is the state of conscious (Goss, 1961; Watson, 1928). In summary, thinking, where learning is involved, is a trial-and-error process dependent upon motor expression and language (Watson, 1920). As the 20th century sought to uncover the actual mechanisms of learning, Watson discovered the opportunity to extend learning experiments to psychologists (Rilling, 2000). Central to his theory was the concept of habits. Watson believed that personality, like language also developed through a system of habit and conditioning, beginning immediately after birth. Furthermore, he believed that pathology depended on the environment, normal personality is a function of healthy upbringing, while weaknesses in person were related to trauma, or punishment (King et al., 2009). Behaviorists avoid terms such as normal and abnormal, because t hese words imply an absolute distinction between health and sickness (Roberts, 2012). Watson argued in which mental illness was a product of environmental conditioning, and is best illustrated through his famous work on fear conditioning (King et al., 2009). Contributions of Classical Conditioning. Like Pavlov, Watson believed in observing and training physical responses to stimuli without referencing the mind, allowing animal and human behavior to be interpreted similarly (Markey, 1925). Based on the animal experiments of Ivan Pavlov, Watson applied classical conditioning experiments in efforts to study human behavior and create an objective science. Watsons interest in animal learning provided him a tool for controlling behavior, preempting his widely recognized conditioning experiment of Albert B. Cited within psychologys history, Watson demonstrated the impact of classical conditioning to human emotional behavior (Harris, 1979; Watson Rayner, 1920). The goal of conditioning A.B. to fear a white rat by paring it with the presentation of a noise led to the discovery of conditioned emotional responses. Initially, A.B. did not display fear, however once rat and noise were paired and repeatedly presented, fear developed. After several presentations of rat and noise, a new respo nse, crying, was noticed, generalizing his fear response to new stimuli that appeared similar to the rat (Watson Rayner, 1920). Watsons clarification of psychopathology to the detection of conditioned emotional responses is proclaimed as his major contribution to the field of psychology (Rilling, 2000). Literature cites A.Bs conditioning as a model of psychopathology (e.g., specific phobia) and is often implemented within discussion of systematic desensitization as treatment for phobia (Harris, 1979; Eysenck, 1960). Through his theory and research, Watsons behaviorism unquestionably provided major contributions to the field of applied psychology. Behaviorism generated behavior therapy, developing behavior management techniques for children with autism and token economies for the management of severe mental illness (Spiegler Guevremont, 2010). Due to Watsons work, the areas of legal forensic psychology blossomed and continues have utility in courtroom matters (e.g., reliability of eyewitness testimony, fitness to stand trial) (Rilling, 2000). Due to the behaviorists, personality and development were given credit as the result of interaction between genetics and experience, holding true for abnormal and normal development (Roberts, 2012). In conclusion, Psychology is defined as the science of behavior. Supported through the works of John B. Watson, his passion and contribution to the field of psychology, the relevance of behaviorism is a permanent in the field of applied psychology.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Book Of Judges :: essays research papers

The book of Judges is the sequel to Joshua. It is the seventh book of the Old Testament. It recounts stories and events from the death of the hebrew leader and prophet Joshua to the birth of the hebrew Samuel. That is roughly, from the end of the Israelite conquest of Canan in the 13th Century B.C to the begining of the monarchy in the 11 th century B.C. It tells about the hebrews from Joshua’s Death to the time of Samuel. It was written in about 550 BC, on tablets named the Ras Shamra tablets. The Ras Shamra tablets where later discovered in the early 20th Century, even though the stories and acountings of the judges where already known and written. The book of Judges belongs to a specific historical tradition which is called the Deuteronomic history. The author of the book of Judges, was in exile in Babylonia. While in exile he was deeply concerned with foreign domination. So he wrote many of his stories on the migration of the tribe of Dan to the North and the sins of the B enjamites. The author emphasized that Israel was being influenced by foreign powers and the loss of freedom and prosperity. Recurring throughout the book is the stereotyped formula: "The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the lord." Then after each period or subjection the author introduces another formula: " But when the people of Israel cried the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people. Through-out the book, the book of judges tells about prophets, rulers and influencial people such as: Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Gideon, Tilian and Samson. There are also many more minor people. The name of the book is very deceptive, because there weren’t any judges at all, nor any judges notified of this book been written. The word Judges was actually a translation for the hebrew word "Shofet" which signifies a ruler or a great military ruler, which through out the book, influencial people such as Samson and or even Joshua are described as the Judges. The book of judges is supprisingly part of the book of prophets, because many prophets are mentioned and reported apon.

Monday, August 19, 2019

A Comparison of Online Shopping at JCPenney and Kohls Essays -- compar

JCPenney Dominates Over Kohl’s in Online Shopping Being a multi-billion dollar retailer comes with its perks. JCPenney’s dominance over catalog merchandising has now extended into the cyber world at www.jcpenney.com. This website is multi-functional and easy to navigate, but how would JCPenney’s new e-commerce site stack up against its toughest competitor, Kohl’s, on the web? The answer may surprise you. This is an intriguing look at how varied retail comparisons can be. While JCPenney is struggling with sales on the retail floor, Kohl’s continues to exceed expectations in their stores. Online though, it is a completely different story. Kohl’s has a fledgling site located at www.kohls.com. The homepage for this site looks very modern and eye-catching with its large feature window and cute icons. Navigating into the site; however, a customer may notice that there are no opportunities to make online purchases or to view product. JCPenney’s homepage is dedicated to listing all departments and displaying several links to some of our strategic alliances. For instance, JCPenney’s ... A Comparison of Online Shopping at JCPenney and Kohl's Essays -- compar JCPenney Dominates Over Kohl’s in Online Shopping Being a multi-billion dollar retailer comes with its perks. JCPenney’s dominance over catalog merchandising has now extended into the cyber world at www.jcpenney.com. This website is multi-functional and easy to navigate, but how would JCPenney’s new e-commerce site stack up against its toughest competitor, Kohl’s, on the web? The answer may surprise you. This is an intriguing look at how varied retail comparisons can be. While JCPenney is struggling with sales on the retail floor, Kohl’s continues to exceed expectations in their stores. Online though, it is a completely different story. Kohl’s has a fledgling site located at www.kohls.com. The homepage for this site looks very modern and eye-catching with its large feature window and cute icons. Navigating into the site; however, a customer may notice that there are no opportunities to make online purchases or to view product. JCPenney’s homepage is dedicated to listing all departments and displaying several links to some of our strategic alliances. For instance, JCPenney’s ...

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Canadian Identity :: essays research papers fc

Throughout Canada’s relatively short existence we have created quite a reputation for ourselves. Our great nation is known for many things , and I am proud to say that most are positive. Does Canada have a strong national identity? Anyone can see the answer is yes. Just take a look at the facts. For example, we are renowned for our peacekeepers and no other country is considered more peaceful. Without a doubt this is the type of identity we should work to keep. The first thing we should examine is what exactly is meant by â€Å"strong national identity†. A very good example of strong national identity is the U.S.. I doubt there is a man on this planet who is not familiar with the U.S.. People immediately recognize their flag, and most people can tell you quite a bit about them. The same is true of Canada, and what do they know of Canada? In 1995 U.S. President Bill Clinton stated his view of Canada in a speech where he declared, â€Å"Canada has shown the world how to balance freedom with compassion and tradition with innovation, in your efforts to provide health care to all your citizens, to treat senior citizens with the dignity and respect they deserve...†(Canada Today 9). We were also rated first in the UN’s 1992 â€Å"Human Development Index† (9).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As I have already stated Canada is very well known for our many peacekeeping efforts. This is due to the many places our peacekeepers have been, or are at this very moment, such as Bosnia, East Timor and even Central Africa. These are just a very small portion of the places our peacekeepers are presently stationed. I am not even mentioning the dozens and dozens of other places they have been to. Our peacekeepers have helped save countless lives and Canada has gained relatively little in return, but Canada does it anyways, because it is the right thing to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Aside from our activities outside the country, we are also one of the best countries to live in. We have one of the top 5 life expectancies for both men and women. We also have the longest expected education according to the UN’s stats. These are just a few reasons why Canada is the greatest country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not only do we have a lot to offer Canadian citizens, here is a list of reasons to immigrate to Canada provided by KAM International:

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Effects of Technology Essay

Technology and the changes it brings can have a very big effect on our lives. Which technological change has had the largest effect on life in this country? Why? Write an essay explaining the technology you have chosen and how it has affected our lives.†, and the essay is below. Smartphone technology has had the greatest effect on life in this country; however, it can be both a blessing and a curse in today’s society. This type of technology directly impacts how we go through our daily lives, and it continues to evolve at a rapid pace. The way in which this technology impacts lives can normally be managed by the individual user. The speed in which it brings information to the public is unprecedented. Everyone with a smartphone or tablet has access to limitless information right at their fingertips. The way in which people communicate as a result of smartphone technology has changed dramatically. There tends to be less of a verbal connection between individuals due to digital communication. This impact can be seen when eating dinner at a restaurant and looking around the room. Most likely, the majority of the people observed would be staring at their smartphones rather than communicating with their dining party. Another growing problem with smartphone technology in today’s society is texting while driving. This dangerous action can put the offender and many others at risk. There are many benefits to the evolution of cell phone technology. Teachers and students are able to access information instantly. This saves both time and money in certain situations. Smartphone technology has been used in medical research and treatment that has continued to improve the quality of life of patients across the globe. This technology has also been used by law enforcement and has aided in locating missing children with alerts being sent directly to people’s smartphones. The ease in which most users of all ages are able to operate a smartphone is astounding. The limits for this type of technology are truly endless. It is amazing to see how far technology has advanced in such a short period of time. However, people must be cognoscente of the impacts, whether good or bad, that technology can have on society as a whole. Technology, as with most things, must be used responsibly and in moderation.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Role that People’s Bank is playing in distributing these insurance services

People’s bank can be regarded as a mid level distributor in the insurance services sector. The company informs people about insurance products and then directs them to those receptive insurance companies. However, the consumers are entitled to special discounts in if they buy insurance as People’s consumers. (People’s, 2008) Length of the chain that the bank uses to distribute its own accounting product For its own accounting products, People has a very short chain. This is because most of the distributing agents are actually employees of the company. However, there are certain aspects that do not incorporate this short chain. For instance, in the credit card section of their product offering, the company works hand in hand with credit card companies to distribute the product. (People’s, 2008) Description of channel positioning of People’s Bank People utilizes a variety of service distribution outlets to access clients. For instance, the company utilizes direct retailing where sales men target consumers directly. In other instances, the company embraces online banking as method of distributing their services. This method has been found to be quite efficient because it accesses the client immediately, facilitates efficient communication and encourages effectiveness of the banking process. This channel has become a source of people’s channel positioning strategy because it is an aspect that many clients identify the company with. People’s, 2008) People’s unique value proposition People provides itself in offering it clientele services at an efficient and speedy manner. The company has a variety of accounting options that can be conducted online thus creating a convenient way of doing things. Some of the activities that have been streamlined through online banking include, controlling one’s money, managing home finances, controlling stock or one’s business accounts.

Traditional Methods of Performance Appraisal

Performance appraisal is a method of evaluating the behaviour of employees in the work spot, normally both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of job performance. Performance here refers to the degree of accomplishment of the tasks that make up an individual’s job. It indicates how well an individual is fulfilling the job demands. The purpose of performance appraisal is to update the worker on his progress, gauge his behavior and performance, praise good work, and note opportunities for improvement. A poorly conducted appraisal could cause the worker to lose morale, but a constructive performance appraisal can encourage him to go above and beyond the call of duty. People differ in their abilities and their aptitudes. There is always some difference between the quality and quantity of the same work on the same job being done by two different people. Performance appraisals of Employees are necessary to understand each employee’s abilities, competencies and relative merit and worth for the organization. Performance appraisal rates the employees in terms of their performance. The history of performance appraisal can be dated back to the 20th century and then to the second world war when the merit rating was used for the first time. An employer evaluating their employees is a very old concept. Performance appraisals are an indispensable part of performance measurement. Performance appraisal is necessary to measure the performance of the employees and the organization to check the progress towards the desired goals and aims. The latest mantra being followed by organizations across the world being – â€Å"get paid according to what you contribute† – the focus of the organizations is turning to performance management and specifically to individual performance. Performance appraisal helps to rate the performance of the employees and evaluate their contribution towards the organizational goals. If the process of performance appraisals is formal and properly structured, it helps the employees to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities and give direction to the individual’s performance. It helps to align the individual performances with the organizational goals and also review their performance. Performance appraisal systems began as simple methods of income justification. That is, appraisal was used to decide whether or not the salary or wage of an individual employee was justified. The process was firmly linked to material outcomes. If an employee's performance was found to be less than ideal, a cut in pay would follow. On the other hand, if their performance was better than the supervisor expected, a pay rise was in order. Little consideration was given to the developmental possibilities of appraisal, It was felt that a cut in pay, or a rise, should provide the only required impetus for an employee to either improve or continue to perform well.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

No pain, No gain Essay

The proverb, no pain no gain means no effort, no success. Parents make their children pursue education since childhood, aiming to lead a better life. With peerless parental love, they want their children to be educated people. They often tell us to work hard at our lessons. They beat or scold us if we do not study well because their life experience proves that â€Å"No pain, no gain.† We cannot succeed in life without taking pains. To pass examination, students must attend classes regularly and learn their lessons daily. If we do not work hard, we will meet failure no merely in examinations but also in life. Similarly, a continuous training is necessary for soldiers to defend themselves and to defeat the enemies in the battlefield. Not an athlete will win over games without serious training. Likewise, a healthy person possesses his sound health by doing physical exercise, taking nutritious food, drinking clean water and living a healthy lifestyle. Here I would like to say teachers take great pains in teaching so that their students can learn more lessons and pass the examination with high marks. All these examples tell us that there is no effortless success in life. There is nothing we can get easily and readily. To sum up, we cannot gain any success without pain or effort.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Monkeys and how we judge mental illness Essay

In the movie 12 Monkeys there features a virus which was deliberately released in 1996 and killed more than five billion people. The survivors seek refuge into the underground. The refugees send volunteers to bring insect specimens from the universe to test for the virus presence. One of the sent prisoners is James Cole. He is sent for a mission into the past to collect information about the virus. He arrives in Baltimore in 1990, instead of 1996. Cole begins to recall the past events as if he was in a dream. For instance, he recalls an event when he witnessed a man killed at the airport while he was a child. Cole seems to have mental problem. That is the theme of the movie (Lynette, 3). In the movie, the issue of mental illness is brought out vividly. The definition of mental illness in regard to the social norms and beliefs is brought out clearly. Also, the Cole’s experience and how it relates to Plato’s allegory of the cave is highlighted. In this film, mental illness is featured several times. For instance, Jose mentions that the so called volunteers are said to go mad. This presents a clear case of mental illness in the movie. We also notice Cole getting locked up in the mental institution with other lunatics. That shows that there were many other lunatics present. Goines is definitely crazy or schizoid because of his hallucinating and grandiosity nature. Dr. Railly, the psychiatrist alludes that maybe the whole world may be insane. We really do not understand whether Cole was really from the future or he was ‘mentally divergent’. We notice Cole questioning his mental capabilities when he asks himself if it could not be great if he was crazy. Simultaneously, the Dr. is convinced that he is from the figure of which we know that this cannot be right (Lynette, 8). If he was really sane and from the furfure, then how can one explain the voice that he hears, the one he calls bum calling him Bob? What about th e changing guard faces? Again, what about the fact that he is never seen coming or leaving and his memory lapses? We really cannot know the physical divergence he claims to have because one cannot explain his foreknowledge about the boy in the well. It is also to explain his appearances in a World War One photo and the bullet in his leg. In short, this movie seems to be implying that we may not be mentally ill or weirder than the world we live. Relative to the social beliefs and norms, mental illness or abnormality can be seen as not being an exact process as it tends to focus on different individuals with different lines of thinking. This relies on different situations, behaviors and context to which the measure is applied (Weinberger, 2001). In defining abnormality, people from different societies and countries have varied ideas. Each and every culture has its own concepts of what it considers to be normal or abnormal. This can make us conclude that what is considered abnormal in one society is not the same in other societies. So, there is no society which is more superior to the other in their perception of mental illness or one society has got many mental disorders than the other (American Psychiatric Association. 2000). If we look at the deviation from the norms, something or somebody can be considered abnormal if he or she does not conform to what could be considered statistically normal. Those who focus on this explanation consider specific aspects such as the intelligence quotient (IQ), the personal traits and their distribution. Asserting that a person is abnormal in this aspect typically means that they deviate from the numeric average of a specific trait and behavior patterns. The other mostly applied aspect in examining the mental illness of people is the deviation from the social norms. Naturally, some behaviors are considered unaccepted in the society, but they can still be expected to be applied in certain situations. Majority of people know how to adjust and come along with these changes (Weinberger, 2001). The ones that contradict what is socially normal are taken as abnormal or mentally ill to the extreme. Also, a person is considered abnormal if he/she is not functioning correctly in that he or she may lack a full range of emotion and feelings and, therefore, his life is considered abnormal. Such people can only participate in a limited range of functioning lifestyle (American Psychiatric Association. 2000). Distress can also be used to gauge the mental illness and capability of people as it could be an underlying mental problem. Another aspect of the social norms definition of mental illness is the person’s association with others. If a person’s relationship with others causes them discomfort, then, the approach of the person may lead to the description of abnormality in the context of that relationship. The Cole’s experiences relate to the Plato’s’ allegatory of the cave’ with respect to allegations that the real world may not be what our senses reveal. In relation to the Cole’s experience, we see him moving from one world of the past to the furfure and vice versa. In real this could only be a dream or mere imaginations. In this case, Cole’s experiences could be reflecting Plato’s thoughts or allegations. In his Dialogue with Glaucon, we are not sure of the cave which he was referring to. It could either be the underground that the people had escaped to after the virus struck the universe or the prison where Cole was imprisoned. Cole imagines that the prisoners could think that the sounds they had heard were really coming from the shadows. Surprisingly, that imagination coincides with his seeing the changing face of the guard and that of omnipresence. His concepts on the shadows could reflect Cole’s switching from one world to another. Was what he saw from the 1990 world true or could it be his experience from the 1996 and 2035? Which was the truer experience? On the last part of their discussion with Glaucon, he tells him that they, meaning the government, cannot show any gratitude for the culture which they have never received. This could be reflecting the 12 monkeys who had released the virus that almost eliminated the human race according to the film. He said that with education on how to tackle issues, one will be able to defeat these ill minded people. That notion reflects Cole’s endeavors. References Roger Ebert (1996-01-05). â€Å"12 Monkeys†. Chicago Sun-TimesLynette Rice (August 26, 2013). † 12 monkeys pilot†. Entertainment Weekly James Berardinelli. â€Å"Twelve Monkeys†. Reviews Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences Education, National Research Council. 2000. How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Weinberger, D., Torrey, E.F., and Berman, K. 2001. Schizophrenia PET scans. Retrieved July 13, 2008 American Psychiatric Association. 2000. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition The Allegory of the Cave http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html Source document

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Alice Walker's Everyday Use Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Alice Walker's Everyday Use - Essay Example Maggie is comfortable with who she is as a person and is proud of her family’s heritage. While she may be self-conscious of the burns and scars left by the fire, and she may be edgy about Dee’s opinion of her appearance, she still accepts herself as she is, knowing that it cannot be changed. She still manages to wear her family name with pride despite the bad hand she has been dealt. Dee, on the other hand, believes that she is above her own heritage, doing what she must to keep herself separated from the life that her younger sister leads. This can be seen when Dee changes her name to Wangero, because she â€Å"couldn’t bear it any longer, being named after that people who oppress† her. Dee changes what she can about herself because she is not pleased with the person she was raised to be. Similarly, Maggie wants to keep one of the family quilts because it has meaning to her. Dee, however, does not think that Maggie has the kind of love to her heritage tha t she has and demands the quilt for herself. Dee’s very personality makes it known that she has little love for her heritage and has an ulterior motive for wanting the quilt -- if she has it, Maggie cannot. Instead of arguing, Maggie agrees to give up the quilt that was rightfully hers, stating that she could take another quilt.

Monday, August 12, 2019

Final Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Final - Essay Example The North/South conflict in The Octoroon elaborated on the consequence of the secession of southern states, particularly Louisiana, from the United States. It gave rise to the prohibition from marriage of Whites and Octoroons or those which bears 1/8 black heritage. The segregation between Whites and those with black heritage were presented so critical in the play. In Shenandoah, marriage or romantic relationship was not emphasized. The North/South conflict was introduced as it is. Conflict of interest due to the regional associations of the character which complicated issues relating to personal engagements. In the latter, the political facet of the North/South conflict was stressed. [Student’s Last Name] 2 2. From the late 19th century to early 20th century, there were significant changes in the entertainment as a business. What were those changes and how do they reflect what we see in the entertainment today? In the later part of the 19th century, the United States develope d home entertainment, theatrical shows and folk music and dances as observed and eventually copied from different countries like Ireland, Canada and Germany. The entertainment industry in the United States focused more on consolidating different types of culture into one state aiming for a centralized entertainment that would attract more audience around the globe. Immigration surged and many foreign artist were recruited for different theatrical and musical productions which contributed a lot to the entertainment industry of the US. In 1880, years after the Civil War and the widespread emancipation of Blacks, a great variety of performers and artists flocked into one. As we can see today, Blacks are given equal opportunity. Also, more and more foreign artists are immigrating to the US to pursue career in music. 3. How were the immigrant/ethnic acts in vaudeville different from the other entertainments we’ve studied that featured people who were different from the â€Å"norm al† citizen? In principle, foreign citizens or immigrants or both essentially had their individual upbringing. Since they have grown up with the kind of culture which is customary and prevalent in their mother nations, it would most likely be reflected on their entertainment style, whether it is in music, dance, comedy, magic or any other type of artistic skill. [Student’s Last Name] 3 In 1880, years after the American Civil War, the United States started to embrace variety in entertainment. There was a mixture in the entertainment industry with different races and colour transpired into the performances of many immigrant performers. The acts in vaudeville of immigrants differ from the normal citizen largely because of cultural variations and customary influence which until now is still apparent just like musicals which play in Broadway that depict some of the old English love stories and events. PART II 1. Compare the character of the American people as it is exhibited in The Octoroon with the character as seen through Buffalo Bill’s Wild West. What changed and what remained the same? How do they compare with our attitudes about similar issues today? More than just the recurring scenes featuring cowboys, shooting and horses, Buffalo Bill’s Wild West highlighted the kind of life there was in the west or the so-called

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Compact Cars Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Compact Cars - Research Paper Example Corolla comes with more standard safety features, including six airbags, front-seat active head restraints and antilock brakes. Electronic stability control is optional. The new Toyota Corolla's good crash test scores earn it a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Reviewers praise the Toyota Corolla's safety record and excellent reputation for reliability. Fuel economy is outstanding with EPA ratings of 26-27 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, and real-life averages very close to those figures. The larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder in the XRS model gets 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway in either manual or automatic. Corolla, LE, XLE and S trims come with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine standard, producing 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. The XRS model ($18,760) dishes up a more beefy 158 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Corolla and S trims are available with either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual. LE and XLE versions are only available with the four-speed automatic, while the XRS can be had with the five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. Toyota played it too safe in the styling department; Driverside says that "the 2009 Corolla is blessed with styling derived from its big brother, the Camry .The driver and passenger seats sit up higher than you might expect, and the vantage delivers exceptional visibility. Also, the steering, while adjustable, seems to jut from the dash, giving it a golf cart feel. Exterior options like a spoiler and 16-inch aluminium wheels do much to add character to the car. Surprisingly spacious inside, the Corolla offers plenty of head and legroom up front, with enough room inside for people over the six-foot mark. The backseat doesn't skimp on space either, though taller people may wish to stick to calling shotgun. The seats are comfortable in either cloth or leather trim, and build quality is impressive for a vehicle at this price". Interesting features: The most deluxe of all the Corolla trims, the XRS model comes loaded with a more powerful engine, leather interior, power windows and locks and a six-speaker sound system for $18,760. A six-disc CD changer

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Space (Digital) and Place (Physical) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Space (Digital) and Place (Physical) - Coursework Example In the older days companies tried to market themselves and used several medium that range from radio, personal selling, and direct mail among others (Kurtz, 2008). In the new economy, companies must adopt strategies that are advantageous. This makes digital presence important for each and every organization. Digital presence is seen as the application of the digital platform by an organization in its business strategy (Mullins & Walker, 2010). The digital platform involves the use of web based applications in the delivery of goods and services. The internet and the World Wide Web have been used extensively by companies as mediums of digital presence. Companies have set up their websites and these are being used to sell goods and services both nationally and globally (Hanzaee, Behbound, & Ardakani, 2011). This brings us to the importance of digital presence for any organization which is: the syndication of information, the increasing returns to scale of network products, ability to cu stomize and personalize market offerings, ability to disinter mediate distribution, global reach, round the clock access and the possibility of instantaneous delivery (Mullins & Walker, 2010). ... Physical presence helps organizations in the delivery of goods and service to the market. Whereas digital presence is seen as important in the twenty first century because of the techno savvy generation, physical presence is still important especially to the local market and to those people who do not have access to the internet (Kurtz, 2008). A few strategic steps must be taken to ensure a company is located at the right place that is safe, friendly and accessible to the target market. The strategic positioning must follow the process of marketing that is concerned with socialization providing the needed activities in order that the customers and the organization get what they want and when they want it to facilitate an effective exchange process (Mullins & Walker, 2010). There are many implications for companies planning to maintain digital presence or physical presence. Digital presence means that a company must invest in technology especially web based technologies and mobile tel ephony platforms that will enable them to reach their customers and their customers to reach them (Simms, 2007). Vats amount of resources may be required in infrastructure in order to reach targeted populations. Financial resources will also be required to facilitate the entire process. The company must also involve itself in the provision of information to its customers informing them of the move to the online platform and these require a lot investment in advertising and promotional content (Simms, 2007). Many companies especially in the 20th century began with the physical presence before venturing onto the online platform. In the 21st century companies do not necessarily have to set up a physical presence before moving to the

Cultural Event Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 28

Cultural Event Report - Essay Example Buell theatre was full of all sorts of personality where in attendance including Senator Nancy Todd hence government was fully represented. The Shen Yun festival was all about Chinese culture and music. The set up was amazing it was like being on avatar movie (Fritsch 17). The Shun Yun performances are arts and entertainment based on the 5000 years of Chinese culture it’s a series of events including music and dances about China and the impact and its revolution. The dances express history and past ways of life .the revolution also is expressed. The orchestra is conducted by Antonia Joy-Wilson. While the dances vary from classical dances to story based. Animations are also included in portraying the full message of Chinese culture. Performances began at 8:00 am. First to perform were a group of Chinese ladies approximately sixty dancers. They performed a classical dance, there costumes were superb silk clothing and ribbons with bright colors there dresses where red white and green. The dance involved turns, leaping air flips spins and side ways movements in a well choreographed pattern. What followed was a group of other female dancers with white attires and pink ribbons was like the first dance involved less dancers but very colorful. The third dance was story based performed by male dancers , it portrayed one general who was heading to war while a woman probably his wife or mother holding his right hand while fighting with his left hand. All dancers were dress in brown attire except the woman who is in red one (Fritsch 109). Most are dressed like accident combat men. Then it followed a performance of ancient drums. The artists where dressed in orange tops, black boots and white trousers, the performed differ ent arts. Each rhythm came about with changes in the background representing the Chinese landscapes, buildings and different cultures. It showed the transformation of china over the

Friday, August 9, 2019

Casuals by Steve Madden - summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Casuals by Steve Madden - summary - Essay Example This is one of the reasons as to why casuals came into the market. They ensure that the heel is folded into a flat when it is not needed (Simmons 1). SWOT Analysis The product has concentrated on several factors that have ensured it has actively and wholly penetrated the market. It has paid heed to its strengths in the fashion industry. The strengths include focus oriented approach for the customers, community and their employees. In relation to their employees, the company has ensured that they have the space to conduct their activities in the company. This ensures that they come with new strategies for the company, ensuring maximized profits (Simmons 1). They give back to the community as part of their corporate social responsibility and this augurs well with the community that surrounds them. As for their clients, they have created this classic yet comfortable lifestyle that many ladies have craved for in the fashion industry. The aspect of versatility and convenience is an added advantage as the shoe can be used for any occasion. This has led to the fact that many clients are aware of the shoes existence and they love it. One of the major weaknesses noted lies on the limited style ranges of the shoe. This is because of the limited capacity to incorporate different shoe ranges into the specific design in question. Another weakness is pegged on the fact that issues of access are limited to retail and online stores. This reduces the stores general revenue collected. The opportunities for the product lie in the broad market segment that is targeted by the product. The population of women who are looking for elegant style and comfort provide a wide array of potential consumers. The fact that the convertible shoe is new in the fashion industry creates the platform that many consumers will want to sample the new product in the fashion line. The innovation is threatened by competitors from other shoe companies. The companies are either adopting the same strategy or incorporating certain aspects and features that are giving the company a run for its money. The fashion industry is a very unpredictable industry (Kotler 12). The issue of economic and fashion trends are constantly hampering the way that the company plans to meet its set goals and objectives. These are the two threats to the creative innovation of elegant but stylish shoes that have been brought into the market. Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning The product has segmented the market based on the concentrated marketing strategy. This is the strategy that ensures that each and every aspect of the market is segmented and dealt with. It has concentrated on women and their willingness to spend to access the product. This is based on demographic segmentation. The market has also segmented based on the ability to arouse the risk taking nature of many in the fashion industry. This forms the psychographic aspect of independent women who love to take risks at each and every point. The b enefit oriented segmentation approach is based on the women who know the benefits of wearing a heel at the right time and getting comfortable when they need to. This is without the excess baggage of carrying an additional pair of shoes. This segmentation works hand in hand with the geo demographic segmentation. This is the specific one that targets the specific women who are in the profile areas. They include the women in

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Measuring student attitudes ....ect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Measuring student attitudes ....ect - Essay Example However, it is more efficient for instructors to have a clear idea about students’ backgrounds, conceptions, misconceptions and attitudes toward Statistics. Another issue is that some students come from different colleges and they do not have enough knowledge about statistics. Measuring student attitudes towards introductory statistics course for non- specialist gives us a good idea about how we can develop their statistical conception and achievement. A lot of studies exploring and investigating the relationship between attitudes toward statistics and achievements have been carried out and some of them involve Wise (1985), Katz &Tomazic (1988), Toto (1992). However, there has not been enough research to address the issue of conception and misconceptions in statistics (Garfield &Alhgren, 1988; Mevarech, 1988; Lasser, 1994; Barkley, 1995). For instance, Barkley (1995) points that understanding and correcting students’ misconceptions in statistics, would help statistics’ instructors to decide the best corrective activity to eliminate misconceptions. Apart from the studies that have been carried related to the research area, there has not been enough research to address the issue of conception and misconceptions in statistics (Garfield &Alhgren, 1988; Mevarech, 1988; Lasser, 1994; Barkley, 1995). Also, there is lack of research about measuring student attitudes, conceptions and achievements towards statistic course for non statistician students in Saudi Arabia. The researcher will use the questionnaire as the first method to collect data from non-specialist students who have studied the introductory undergraduate statistics course in different colleges of the universities. The second method interview, will be used to gather data from the teachers who teach introductory undergraduate statistics course in these colleges. This study will be carried in the northern

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Analyzes paper on Medea Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analyzes paper on Medea - Essay Example Pasolini’s Medea effectively shows the clash that exists between ancient and old fashioned culture and the modern civilization. Through the relationship between Medea and Jason, viewers are shown how archaic or outdated culture is crashed in the hands of modern culture and the new ways of doing things. Given that the movie takes place in the 1960s, Europe, like most parts of the world at the time, was experiencing change. Through the film, Pasolini effectively shows how different groups in the society attempted to resist such changes, but were overpowered by the wave of modernity. The old was paving way for the new. In this movie, Pasolini successfully brings out the clash between the old and the new, and how the old cultures eventually die in the hands of the modern revolutionary ways. Medea is shown to be a woman of the old, ancient world who is overtaken by the changes taking place in the new world. Medea is portrayed as a woman who experiences reality in a totally differen t way, and sees herself as the only thing that has remained unchanged over time. She still holds onto barbaric and outdated traditions and practices. For example, after the boy is sacrificed and sliced into portions, other larger pieces are burnt. Medea is shown to use a kind of wheel that spins the smoke across the fields. This is an illustration of how Medea believed and prompted old-fashioned practices such as the making of human sacrifices. Her husband Jason and the two children are used to represent modernity. Jason realizes that Medea is too old fashioned for him and decides to marry the daughter of the king, who is much younger. This illustrates who modernity overpowers the old ways. Medea is used to illustrate the sufferings of the ancient people. Through the movie, Pasolini figuratively shows the audience the kind of anguish and pain the ancient people went through in the hands of other barbaric individuals. The movie thus successfully reminds the audience of the need to

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Discusses Confucius contributions Essay Example for Free

Discusses Confucius contributions Essay Confucius life was of tremendous importance in the forming of Chinese culture. Confucius plan and simple approach to life, revealed his deep seeded beliefs that through great human effort one can shape their own future. He had great faith in the ordinary man and believed that they are teachable and perfectible. Confucius believed that ordinary humans could be come awe-inspiring with wisdom and great knowledge. The quest to improve ones self became deeply rooted in the Confucian heritage. Confucius concept of moral rectitude was considered part of the pursuit to becoming the perfected person. Confucius was devoted to learning and teaching. His teaching emphasized self-improvement and moral rectitude. When his words for the sake of the self are explored it becomes clear Confucius was constant in his belief of self-improvement through out his life and his work. Confucius was a philosopher, teacher and political figure that lived from (551-479 BC) in the state of Lu, now know as the Shandong province. He was a member of the minor aristocracy and bureaucratic class during that time. By the time of his birth, his family had apparently become poverty-stricken. He was known for his conservation of the traditions of ritual and music of the Chou civilization. At an early age, it was apparent that Confucius was dedicated to learning. Confucius father died when he was three years old and this probably had a huge impact on his familys class. The lose of his father and his family being poverty-stricken must have been key factors that set him upon his ambitious journey to improve human kind, governments and society. His mother was his first teacher and he developed an emphatic quest for knowledge. It was a common practice for aristocratic families to hire tutors to educate their sons, but Confucius was one of the first persons to devote himself totally to learning and teaching for the sole purpose of transforming and improving society. Confucius was also a dedicated government servant. He served in government posts where he managed stables and kept books. At the age of nineteen Confucius married a woman of similar background. Confucius early influences are all contributing factors that made him a young and wise  scholar during his time. Confucius concept of moral rectitude was evident because he wanted to make education available to all men. He believed everyone could benefit from learning and self-cultivation. Confucius established a humanities program for leaders, paved the way for education to all and redefined learning as not only the acquisition of knowledge, but also as a character builder. Confucius primary role of education was to provide the proper way of training noblemen. This education would consist of continuous self-improvement and frequent social interaction. To personally achieve the goal for the sake of the self, Confucius mastered six arts: ritual, music, archer, charioteering, calligraphy and arithmetic. The art that became most important was that of ritual. Confucius was actively involved with the government. It was his desire to have a rebirth of the ideas and institution of a past golden age. Confucius hoped to integrate the ritual of those times into the government and family life. He believed this could only happen with ideal rulers such as the legendary sage-kings Yao and Shun. Confucius believed that the ethic of an ideal ruler would translate to a moral state. The ideal ruler would cultivate virtues of benevolence toward others, a general sense of doing what is right, loyalty and diligence in serving ones superiors. The moral rectitude according to Confucius could also be taught and handed down by performing rituals. Ritual acted as guidelines for people to follow in any given social situations. Ritual could vary considerably depending on age, social status and gender. Confucius contributed to some specific rituals and values but also the importance of the past and hierarchy of the social classes. Rituals be came the way to act. Most East Asian societies continue to be influenced by Confucius teachings, valuing the community, the family, and other social relationships over individuality and uniqueness. The Confucius influence encourages support of education and learning from books and from the past, refinement of social rituals to smooth the relationships of people in a community. The western  culture has vastly deviated from Confucius teaching. Each day the western culture ignores more rituals and become more self-absorbed. A glance at todays headlines or reality TV makes this obvious. Today there are still some existing rituals and moral behavior, but the boundaries blur with each generation. What Confucius provided was a definition of ethics and morally characterized by personal actions and rituals. A simple way to understand Confucius thoughts is to gain an appreciation of the varying levels of honesty. Over time, they developed into the following form: *Li ritual. Propriety or politeness, Etiquette. This concept originally meant to sacrifice. The term later expanded to secular ceremonial behaviors and then even more diffuse mean, that of propriety or politeness. This expanded the term to everyday life situations. Confucius was revered as the authority on ritual behavior. *Ziao or Hsiao filial piety. Respect and obedience. The was considered to be the greatest virtue and was shown towards the living and dead. The term filial means of a son and therefore denotes that a son should have respect and obedience to his parents. This term was expanded to other relationships such as ruler and subject, husband and wife, elder brother and younger brother, and that between friends. The duties and ritual where prescribed for each of these relationships. Eventually this term was integrated into the Chinese legal system. An example of this would be that a child would be punished more harshly if the crime were against a parent. *Zhong or Chung loyalty. This term is equivalent to filial piety, but on a different level. This term apply predominantly to the social classes of ruler and minister. In a case of Zhong, a minister should obey the ruler because he has the higher (anointed by god) authority and therefore that maked it the right thing to do. *Ren or Jen humanness. The relates to the Golden Rule This term is best described by Confucius version of the Golden Rule, Do not do to other what  you would not like them to do to you. *Junzi or Chun-Tzu the gentleman. The ideal towards which all strive. This term mean son of a ruler. This term implies that a gentleman are always expected to act as moral guides to the rest of society. Gentlemen are those who cultivate themselves morally and who personify the other characteristics of honestly. Confucius is exclamatory of this concept Confucius was a man of great vision. The politics of his time did not allow his philosophy to flourish, but he did provide an awakening to human king. He was perceived then and now as a heroic conscience. Confucius teaching remains enormously influence today, but unfortunately, they are not always taken to heart or practiced. Todays politicians could learn much from his teaching. One of Confuciuss principal legacies, the notion of the enlightened civil servant, is not a prevalent as it should be in the modern word. Humankind moves forward, but sometimes we forget to bring the greatness of our history with us.