Monday, September 30, 2019

Hard Times: Many Symbols about Human Nature

In Dickens's Hard Times, there are many symbols that run through the novel. These symbols stand for much more than Just word you would come across multiple times as you read. Each symbol can mean something about human nature, human relationships, morality, and even about our society. Each symbol can have a different meaning to all of us. The symbols that came up frequently and that stood out to me as I read were staircase, Pegasus, smoke serpents, and fire. The first symbol that stood out to me was the staircase Mrs. Sparsit imagines. This ymbol stood out to me when Mrs.Sparsit notices that Louisa and Harthouse are spending a bunch of time together. As she notices this, she imagines that Louisa is running down some sort of staircase into a â€Å"dark pit of shame and ruin at the bottom. † I believe that this staircase represents her belief that Louisa is going to disappear with Harthouse and ruin herself forever. Mrs. Sparsit has disliked Bounderbys marriage to the Louisa and has always hoped to marry him herself. So this makes her very happy by Louisa's action to disappear with Harthouse. Through he staircase, Dickens reveals how Mrs.Sparsit's character is hypocritical. He also suggests that Mrs. Sparsit's own self misinterprets the situation between Louisa and Harthouse. She misinterprets this because she ends up in shame by having an affair with Harthouse and Louisa ends up returning home to her father. The next symbol that stood out to me was the Pegasus from Mrs. Slearys circus. Mr. Slearys circus entertainers would stay at an inn called the Pegasus Arms. The symbol is inside of this inn. On the inside of this inn, the symbol is a Pegasus that is a odel of a flying horse with golden stars stuck on all over him.This symbol, the Pegasus, represents a world of fantasy and beauty from which Gradgrinds children are not a part of. There is a point when Mr. Gradgrind informs the pupils at his school that wallpaper with horses on it is unrealistic because h orses do not in fact live on walls. He always taught the kids hard facts and nothing but them and to not have an imagination. The circus people however live in a world in which horses can dance and flying horses can be imagined even if they do not in fact really exist in the eal world.The name of this inn shows the contrast between the imaginative and very happy world of the circus and Mr. Gradgrind's belief in the importance of fact and to have no imagination. Another symbol that stood out to me was the smoke serpents above Coketown. The symbol was the streams of smoke that was in the skies above Coketown. These streams are the outcome of factories and industrialization. However, these smoke serpents also represent the obliviousness of some factory owners like Bounderby. He is always so focused on making as much money and profit as he possibly can.Bounderby concludes that the serpents of smoke are a positive sign that the factories are producing and making a g prott Bounderby tails to see the smoke as a torm of unhealthy pollution because he is so concerned about making a profit. He also fails to recognize his own abuse of the hands in his factories. He does not realize how miserable and poor his workers are and is more worried about his business and himself. The final symbol that stood out to me was fire. The first time the symbol fire stood out to me was when Louisa is first introduced in Chapter 3.The narrator explains that here is a â€Å"fire with nothing to burn, a starved imagination keeping life in itself somehow. † This shows that Louisa seems she has not listened to her father's beliefs against wondering and imagining. The fire also shows a certain kid of warmth. It is says that Louisa often stares into the fireplace when she is alone. She stares as if she sees things in the flames that others do not, like her rigid father and brother. However, there is also another kind of fire that stands out to me in Hard Times. The other time I think of f ire in this novel is the fires that keep the factories running.The fire provides heat and power for machines. This shows that fire can be an example of an evil that can be used as a greater good. Through this symbol, Dickens shows the importance of imagination to show the industrialization of human nature. In conclusion, symbols can mean and represent many things in life. People use different symbols every day to represent something that they believe in. For example, many very religious people may wear a cross around their neck to show a symbol of faith Just how the Pegasus from Mrs. Slearys circus is a symbol to the people to have an imagination.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Introductory to Organisational Behaviour Principles

Essay Title:Introductory to organisational behaviour principles Books, journals and articles on organisational behaviour (OB) can be found anywhere nowadays. Experts and professionals in this area have done a lot of research, coming up with theories, models, concepts, explanations and views on how a person will behave in an organisation. This paper argues that there are other resources to help us understand OB better. This paper will firstly define what OB is and discuss the similarities and differences found from other resources to our main textbook, ‘Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim’ written by Steven Mcshane and Tony Travaglione. It will then analyse the relevance and usefulness of information to people working in organisations and students of OB. So what does OB actually mean? Robbins and Judge (2007, P. ) defined that ‘OB is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structure have on behaviour within organisations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organisation’s effectiveness. ’ While, Nahavandi and Malekzadeh (1999, P. 3) points out that ‘OB is the study of how people behave in organisations as individuals, teams and how the organisations structure human resources to achieve goals. ’ Comparing these two long definitions on OB, I would rather go along with the statement by Mcshane and Travaglione (2007, P. ), where it says that OB is the study of what people think, feel and do in and around organisations. It’s so much easier to grasp and understand the gist of OB especially to students like me. What all these experts are trying to say is actually the same and what they had done is only putting their own thoughts into words. This signifies that we humans have a lot of views on one issue, it can be either the same or different, there’s no right or wrong either, it’s just a matter of how we perceive things. Thus we need to look into other resources to tap into other peoples’ views and concepts to learn more about OB. So why do we study OB? As Mcshane and Travaglione (2007) had put it, we need to understand, predict and influence the behaviour of people, by doing so it will benefit the individual and the organisation. However, Tosi, Mero and Rizzo have a slightly different kind of say, they say that we study OB to understand, predict and improve the performance of people and ultimately to the organisation which they work (2000, P. 2). The latter statement seems to be more appropriate. Organisations are always trying to improve their employee’s performance, communication and decisions making ability by sending their employees for courses like team building. Mcshane and Travaglione (2007) have clearly identified and explained the five anchors on which OB is based on, which are the multidisciplinary anchor, systematic research anchor, contingency anchor, multiple levels of analysis anchor and lastly the open systems anchor. It appears that this is the only book that includes all five anchors in one book. These clearly explained concepts would help students to understand OB with ease and clarity than any other resources researched. With regards to the multidisciplinary anchor, Robbins and Judge (2007) only talks about the contributions to OB field from four behavioural disciplines which are psychology, social psychology, sociology and anthropology. Mcshane and Travaglione talks more than that, they even listed and discussed how emerging disciplines like communications and marketing contribute to the study of OB. Mcshane and Travaglione (2007) say that scholars have been depending on systematic research to form research questions, and apply test hypotheses against collected data. Mcshane and Travaglione also suggest that researchers are adopting grounded theory to understand the working environment. It’s a qualitative method whereby concepts and theories are formed by data collections like observations and interviews. For example, the Department for transport in the United Kingdom did a project to find out what factors affect the choice of transport of their citizens (Department for transport 2003). Maybe the Land Transport Authority in Singapore can refer to this article and find out the reason for the increasing number of people owning cars in Singapore. Mcshane and Travaglione (2007, P. 17) state that ‘no single solution is best in all circumstances. ’ What works in one situation may not be successful in a different situation (12Manage, 2008). This is a view shared by Nahavandi and Malekzadeh (1999) where they say for each situation a different kind of respond is required. An example can be money; money can be a motivator for some people but may not be that effective on others, it all depends on the person’s financial needs and status (Vries 2007). Therefore, OB experts and managers in organisations learn to understand factors of different situations in order to respond more appropriately and effectively (Nahavandi and Malekzadeh (1999). Similarly to our main text, Robbins and Judge (2007) states that there are three levels of analysis on OB, the micro which studies the individual, middle level which covers the small group and the macro level which looks into organisations. However, the latter book had included a model for visualisation, creating an image of importance on this classification will help students to understand topics area of concern later in the book. Now let’s look at the last anchor, the open system anchor. Similarly to our main text, Thomas (2005) points out that organisations are open systems that will receive input of information and resources from the environment and in turn transform them into goods or service before returning them back into the environment. Organisations are always restructuring and strategising to survive in the corporate world (Taplin 2005). This information will definitely be useful to top managements of organisations. They can apply this knowledge to strengthen their market share and strengthen their company image. This paper has argued that in order to understand OB principles more, a lot of reading and research had to be done. We have looked at what OB exactly is and due to the ever changing environment, peoples view and perceptions change, so we need to understand, predict and influence the changing needs of people. By using the five anchors we will be able to do that. Even though some information researched is the same, it still increases my knowledge on OB through the constant readings, some information may be irrelevant, but it is still useful even if only one percent of new knowledge is gained. Total word count (1060) References Cummings, TG 2005, ‘open systems’, Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Organizational Behavior, viewed 2 August 2008, < http://web. ebscohost. com. libproxy. sim. edu. sg/ehost/detail? id=4&hid=120&sid=add89e44-3e79-4bf6-ac4d-7c90f405c030%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=lmh&AN=20986772> Department for Transport 2003, ‘Psychological Factors Affecting Transport Mode Choice’, viewed 2 August 2008, . Mcshane, S. & Travaglione, T. 2007, ‘Organisational Behaviour on the Pacific Rim’, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd, NSW. Nahavandi, A. & Malekzadeh, A. R. 1999, ‘Organizational Behavior, The person-or ganization fit’, Prentice –Hall Inc, New Jersey. Robbins, S. P. & Judge, T. A. 2007, ‘Organizational Behavior’, 12th edn, Pearson education Inc, USA. Taplin, I. M. 2005, ‘Strategic change and organisational restructuring: How managers negotiate change initiatives’, Journal of international management, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 284-301, viewed 4 August 2008, Science Direct. Tosi, H. L. , Mero, N. P. & Rizzo, J. R. 2000, ‘Managing Organizational Behavior’, 4th edn, Blackwell Publishers Inc, USA. Vries, M. K. D. 2007, ‘Money, Money, Money’, Organizational Dynamics, vol. 36, no. 3, pp. 231–243, viewed 29 July 2008, Science Direct. 12 Manage 2008, ‘Contingency Theory’, Bilthoven, viewed 2 August 2008,

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Clostridium Difficile Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Clostridium Difficile - Essay Example The role of CDI in antibiotic-associated diarrhea was recognized in 1970s. In 2000, the emergence of a drug-resistant hypervirulent strain was documented. This strain was associated with severe and recurrent CDI. Between 2000 and 2005, the CDI cases almost doubled, of which majority were older adults (Kee 2011). CDI is characterized by at least three unformed feces, within a 24-hour period, with C. difficile (McCollum and Rodriguez 2012). The presence of infection is examined through histopathologic or endoscopic tests. CDI has been linked to approximately 20% of all cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in humans (Carman et al. 2011). From being associated with simple to severe diarrhea, C. difficile is now regarded as the principal cause of various diseases, including sepsis, fulminant colitis, multiorgan failure, toxic megacolon, and even death (Ananthakrishnan and Binion 2010). History and Epidemiology Staphylococcus aureus was commonly linked to antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but in 1974, the cases of clindamycin-associated pseudomembranus colitis were found not caused by S. aureus (Bartlett 2008). These cases were later associated with C. difficile when the link between CDI and antibiotic therapy was elucidated. CDI became more common and severe since the year 2000. From a common cause of nuisance, it evolved into a principal nosocomial cause of mortality and morbidity (McCollum and Rodriguez 2012). ... This percentage increases with age, making the elderly more prone to CDI than the young adults. Older adults may have 10% to 20% colonization rates, depending on the length and frequency of exposure to antibiotic treatments and to C. difficile (Wilcox 2003). Although the vegetative forms of the bacillus die upon exposure to air, its spores may last for months and even years. Hospitals are the major source of C. difficile spores. The bacillus can also be found in farmyards and domestic animals like dogs, cows, cats, horses, and pigs. In developed countries, hospital-acquired diarrhea is likely associated with C. difficile than any other bacteria (Wilcox 2003). In England and Wales, about 18,000 laboratory cases of C. difficile are reported annually (Wilcox 2003). More than 80% of these cases involved patients with ages of over 65 years (Wilcox 2003). The elderly patients tend to acquire severe CDI, though increasing age is not a risk factor for the extent of infection severity. These trends were also observed in the U.S. In fact, the economic cost of CDI cases in the U.S. range from $436 million to $3 billion in a year (Ananthakrishnan and Binion 2010). Clinical and Pathological Features It is often difficult to differentiate the clinical and pathological characteristics of the disease caused by C. difficile from those of other intestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Knoop et al. 1993). The symptoms may manifest as early as one to two days after an antimicrobial therapy and as late as two to ten weeks after the therapy. C. difficile-associated disease could also occur after a single

Friday, September 27, 2019

Principles of Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Principles of Economics - Essay Example There are economics variables and principals of solving the problem of alcohol abuse. First, by increasing the prices of alcohol, the authority will require that the goods will not be easily affordable, and it would require people to stop in order to afford it. The government would be required to accumulate tax on a product that is used in fermentation or to increase the tax of finished products. Increase in tax will force producers raise the prices of alcohol. Lastly, economist suggests that by limiting the place and time used in taking alcohol can minimize the cases of alcohol abuse. Authorities in many countries have passed legislation that increases the time costs used in taking beverages. High costs licences are levied to those that require more time to develop their businesses and also restricting certain area by increasing the cost of doing business (Cook, 2002). Alcohol abuse can also be mitigated through packaging. The government through legislation can control the least amo unt of alcohol that can be packaged in a container. The aim of control is to minimize the affordability of beverages. Large amount of alcohol would be more expensive than when packaged in smaller packets (Cook, 2002). Question 2 Prescription drugs are those drugs that require a prescription from a doctor before one can use them. This problem has affected the free flow of drugs, therefore, affects the supply and demand of other goods. Prescriptions drugs are taken with other goods. Example, doctors prescribe drugs and encourage meals that increase the health of patients to help them recover from their ailments. Therefore, prescription drugs complement other product like food, fruits and beverages. Increased use of prescribed medication increases the demand for food, fruit and beverages and reduction of the same reduced the need of food, fruits and beverages (Anderton, 1977). Prescription drugs change the demand and supply of other drugs. Patient who would rather buy drugs over the co unter do not do so when they seek medication from doctors. Therefore, increase in prescription drugs reduces the provision of other drugs in the market. Prescription drugs increases the demand for medical service. Specialized medical doctors earn a lot when more patients seek their services. As more and more cases that need patient to seek medical attention, the demand for those services increases. However, decrease in the supply of prescription drugs has a negative impact on doctor’s services. Question 3 Elasticity is the sensitivity of supply and demand to changes in the affecting factors. Elasticity can also be defined as the degree of variation of demand when price change or the amount of change in supply when price changes. Elasticity is a key factor to consider when there is a shift in supply because it determines the degree of a change in the quantity supplied. Elastic demand curve has little effect when there is a shift in the supply curve. Inelastic demand curve has a large magnitude on the shift in the supply curve (Stonebraker, 2013). On the other hand, elasticity of supply is a factor to consider in the shift of the demand curve because it elasticity help determine the extent of the quantity demanded in a given time. A shift in the supply curve when is less when the demand curve is relatively elastic. Inelastic demand curve has a significant change in the quantity demanded in case of a shift in demand curve. The principal of elasticity of demand and supply in the shift of

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Market target paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Market target paper - Essay Example In addition, LA is also the focal point of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, which has cumulative population of over 18 million approximately estimated in 2009 (US Census, 2010). It should be highlighted that the larger the population in a city, the great the derived needs / demand and the greater the market size. In addition, the per capita income across Los Angeles city is nearly $55,000 as estimated in 2010 (Beacon Economics, 2010). The major suppliers of watches to JBR collections will be international corporations with well known brands such as Replica, Rolex, Casio, Citizen, Armani, Adidas, Orient, Omega, Franck Muller, Rado, Raymond Weil, Seiko etc. For instance, the non-branded local and imported watches from India and China of medium to high quality will be offered at budget prices to attract customers from different social classes. The watches will be marketed to both male and female customers within the age bracket of 16 - 65 years. 2. Target Market The actual target m arket of JBR Collections is elite, upper – middle and middle – middle class groups because Los Angeles is a city of well-established rich consumers with an average annual income of $55,000 in 2009 – 2010 (Beacon Economics, 2010). Indeed, highly expensive elitist branded watches will be targeted to income groups having on average $70,000 and above per annum. The relatively high priced and affordable brands will be observed to middle – middle customers with an income range of $45,000 – 70,000 per annum. Finally, the low priced budget watches, local and imported, will be for lower – middle customers with an income of $20,000 – 30,000. 3. Product Indeed, it should be highlighted that the US economy is recovering from recession; therefore, new business opportunities have been created that could be utilized prudently to maximize financial gains. The products will be wristwatches, wall clocks and time pieces that are heavily demanded by indi viduals, households and businesses because a watch is a genuine need of a human being, thus having relatively inelastic demand. 4. Competition The value proposition of JBR will be â€Å"Premium watch collections at competitive prices†. Indeed, the showroom will be opened in well established City Shopping Center, which enjoys a strong customer base. For instance, the showroom will face intense competition with other watch showrooms located in LA in shopping malls such as Beverly Center Shopping Mall, Rodeo Drive, Two Rodeo, Century City Shopping Center and Westside Pavilion (LA Tourist Guide, 2011). Shops located in unorganized smaller markets will also give competition to JBR Collections. The only strategy to ensure business survival is to adopt penetration pricing strategies in first few months of operations because low introductory prices will help attracting many potential customers to JBR Collections. 5. Mission Statement To offer valued customers of Los Angeles City the high priced premium quality watch brands as well as budget price watches at affordable prices and to create value through meeting consumers’ watches demand and maintaining quality standards through strict control and after-sales-services. 6. Market Strategies 6.1 - Price JBR Collections has planned to use promotional pricing strategy in first three months after official inauguration of its new showroom. The reason behind it is the fact that it would like to attract maximum customers in first few mon

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Management accounting and financial accounting Essay

Management accounting and financial accounting - Essay Example The capacity to make available this vital fiscal and non-fiscal information for organisation management, has witnessed the development of environmental accounting (Clarke & O'Neill, 2005). Just in moderately modern times has a wide section of societal participants from across the international community started to appreciate the necessity for a sustainable environment. The increasing appreciation of this compound problem has made various communities to look for greener solutions from industrial and business organisations within their social setting. Every organisation consists of those supposed to have awareness sets relevant and apposite to the resolution of the critical environmental subject. The environmental problem covers a number of disciplines, for that reason, a multiplicity of professions counting engineers, scientists and ultimately accountants logically claim some jurisdiction. The suitability of the input of all of these professional clusters will decide how sensational a community will or will not be in solving the ecological sustainability issue. Business and industrial groups conventionally endeavor to cut down compound and shifting societal troubles in to a need that in particular demands for solution kinds that only they can supply; since they subsequently handle the set of knowledge that the supposed solution is found. For a while now accounting has been acknowledged as a traditional profession, typified by the essential blend of technical proficiency and benevolence. Benevolence, in this logic is epitomised by the accountant's duty to give sufficient and purposeful information for the advantage of a wider societal good (Clarke & O'Neill, 2005). The confirmation of the supposed societal significance and thus, influence of professional accounting and its set of knowledge can be quantified in a number of ways. Number of employees it recruits; number and size of its public firms; degree of using and providing education and research resources; the extent of authority it has with regard to the state; and the societal standing and fiscal remunerations enjoyed by its employees are some of the quantifiable ways. Additionally, the significance of accounting acquaintance is reproduced by the number of study materials that materialize in sociological writings as regards its historic service and content. Financial bookkeeping historians have studied the progression of an accountant's prerogatives transversely and inside a number of cultural and societal settings. This writings propose that the elementary knowledge core, which underlines accounting, has barely transformed past one and a half century although it is continually related to a range of societal matters. The adjustments in accounting practice, whereas intermittently drawing censure, they do not indicate a change in the set of accounting knowledge but only the reemployment of the current knowledge into novel and beneficial forums (Schaltegger & Burritt, 2000). The utilisation of the accounting information has stretched out to embrace nearly every business area and therefore considerably broadened the horizons, from its genesis in bookkeeping. Originally, the spreading out of accounting

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Sociology and Power Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sociology and Power - Essay Example This is what will be dissertated in the following. The Howard County Department of Police is located in Ellicott City, Maryland. The Office of Sheriff in this police department is responsible for enforcing all federal, state, county, and municipal ordinances within the county. Included in these duties are the investigations of theft, vandalisms, assaults, illegal drug activity, reported child and or domestic abuse, as well as all other criminal allegations. Also, the sheriff is required to carry out all duties relating to the involuntary hospitalization of persons with mental illness and duties relating to condemnation of private property. The power elite theory claims that a single elite, as opposed to a multiplicity of competing groups, decides the life-and-death issues for the nation as a whole. First coined by C. Wright Mills in his 1956 book, The Power Elite, the term, in political and sociological theory, is a small group o people who control a disproportionate amount of wealth, and privilege and access to decision-making of global consequence.

Monday, September 23, 2019

For an organisation with which you are familiar and drawing on Essay - 1

For an organisation with which you are familiar and drawing on scholarly sources, critically evaluate the value of social networking technologies to knowledge sharing, integration and creation - Essay Example Also, various organizations have now been recruiting experts in the field to carve out an incisive social media strategy to avoid complications and clarify the rules of order regarding information sharing and integration beforehand. This is especially true for big organizations where the procedures are bureaucratic in nature, and thus a systemized way of running the communication paradigms is regarded (Goertz, shortle & Bergestorm 2005: 177). For this reason, the paper will explore the utilization of social media technology in the United Nations Organization to integrate communication paradigms for effective advocacy and awareness campaigns. Lately, the organization has been focusing on developing blueprints on how social media tools and techniques can be used to enhance the output of communication and advocacy campaigns. It can be argued that the United Nations organization utilizes the social media technology as a product of interpretive flexibility over various relevant social gro ups. In other words, technology in social media and its utilization for various social groups in driving the organization to take leaps while the organization in itself isn`t leading the process, rather it is being led by interpretive flexibility processes. Also, the conceptualization of the social media technology differs over the scope and role, thus in turn changing the structural systems. Thus, observing the organization, it can be precisely states that the variables in social media technology tends to dictate how the UN designs communication strategies while the strategies tend to in turn impact structural change and thus, the process takes place in a circular manner which is dynamic and progressive. United Nations has missions and offices all around the globe, and thus it would be ignorant to perceive the social media communication paradigms at all levels integrated and similar in nature. Thus, for the purpose of determining a holistic

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Reaction paper for international studies lectures Essay

Reaction paper for international studies lectures - Essay Example The relationship between the economy and globalization is only based on positive impacts and change. While defining globalization, Norberg (2003) points out that globalization is a way in which nations can share the same platform of trade with minimized legal and corporate requirements. He regards this definition as the main reason behind the development of many nations from underdeveloped countries to developed and developing countries. Apart from economic growth, globalization has led to many other positive changes in the modern society. Norberg (2003) cites gender equality, improved education and a more efficient way of fighting global crimes such as terrorism as other significant changes impacted by globalization. In his arguments and theories, Held & McGraw (2007) argue that globalization creates a united globe that greatly depends on each other for excellence. Norberg (2003) creates well formulated defensive arguments in support of globalization. In his arguments, he acknowledges the most important positive changes globalization has impacted in the global front (Norberg, 2003). He cites significant reduction of poverty and hunger across the globe as one major importance of globalization (Norberg, 2003). With globalization, poverty and hunger are effectively addressed as global bodies and nations have steeped up the efforts to eradicate the two problems. Additionally, Norberg (2003) argues that globalization has increased the level and spread of democracy. Across the globe people have the freedom of speech and decision making regardless of the cultural or social affiliations. Kalder (2000) also points out that the increased gender equality can be attributed to the rising levels of globalization. Kalder (2003) also depicts globalization with positive perception. The most important argument in her literary piece is that globalization is the answer to wars experienced across the globe. She points out that

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Logic of the Sea Essay Example for Free

Logic of the Sea Essay The article The Duty of Inquiry comes from the book The Ethics of Belief by William Kingdon Clifford. The author, William Clifford is a notable English philosopher and mathematician of the 19th century. This article talks about belief and how it necessitates responsible inquiry. It asserts that belief should be accompanied by reasonable investigation rather than baseless assertions. Also, we are the ones responsible for our belief regardless of the consequences (Clifford). These arguments were delivered using hypothetical situations pertaining to belief and the importance of inquiry. The author’s main argument is that our beliefs precede our actions and even the result of these actions, which is why we have to take full responsibility of these beliefs through appropriate means of inquiry. The author starts by presenting a hypothetical situation of a ship owner and his vessel. The ship owner’s vessel is about to set sail across the ocean with a lot of emigrants aboard. However, the owner thinks that the ship may have some problems, and perhaps it is not fit to set sail at all, however, he thinks that it is all too expensive to repair. He gives it some more thought, clearing his mind of the doubts, establishing a firm idea that his ship is still capable of sailing. He has convinced himself and he clearly disregarded his prior suspicions, and he finally permits he ship to set sail. The inevitable happens, the ship sank, and all those aboard died or were lost at sea. The ship owner collects the insurance, but deep inside him he is guilty of what happened to the passengers. The ship owner may be sincere with his admission of guilt; however, this is already irrelevant in this situation. It’s because the belief that he conjured were not made from careful investigation, rather it was from stifling his doubts, from disproving by himself whatever thought of uncertainty he had in the first place. In this situation, the ship owner’s guilt is from the fact that he was the one who knowingly and willingly created the frame of mind that made him to believe that his ship can still sail. He had doubts in the beginning but he was able to convince himself, though his decision is made out of preference rather than what is real. He didn’t do anything to check up on the ship, to see whether his doubts may hold true or not, instead he just thought about it, thought that it was alright, and made up his mind that it was indeed all right. He is guilty because he didn’t do the appropriate inquiry to verify or disprove his thoughts. Rather than acting upon it, he just thought about it, which if we look at it carefully, it’s a bit careless since a lot of lives are at stake. The author then asserts that the ship owner’s guild is actually determined regardless of its effects, so whatever the consequences of his beliefs, he is still responsible for it. After giving it some thought, even though the ship may have successfully sailed at that time or even for many more times, the mere fact that he has somehow believed that the ship was unworthy of sailing, he is still responsible for it. His guilt is already determined whether or not the ship survives. It is not about the consequences of the action, but about the belief he had already conjured. From the moment he thought about it, he is already responsible for his belief, so it is his task that to know about his thoughts, to take appropriate means of inquiry in order verify or confirm it. The author then presents another hypothetical situation, this time regarding religious teaching. It is about a prominent personality who is constantly attacked in an organized way, only to find out after further investigations that the accusations made about him were all false. Because of this, the accusations were immediately discredited. This situation is important because it proves that any reasonable effort to know the truth or reality of situation given could indeed disconfirm or disprove any of the accusations initially made. This means that because of the effort exerted to know what’s real, the accusations made in the first place are already disconfirmed. Even though the charges directed towards the person were sincere, they are still irrelevant to this situation. The basis of this is that the beliefs presented initially were just based on preference; the accusations made towards that person were the result of their prejudice or perhaps their passion without really giving any attention to factual evidence. So based on this, they really had no right to believe on whatever is presented before them. So when effort is made to verify any of this, it could be regarded as an act to disprove the accusations, and supports the author’s argument that the morality of the question is already settled even though the consequences are known. The author employed the steps in this order so that the reader could build up on the assumption that indeed beliefs should correspond to the appropriate inquiry. Without inquiry, these beliefs were just worthless, and it wouldn’t be justified by whatever consequences. By carefully analyzing the hypothetical situations posed by William Clifford, we can see that indeed, belief should be accompanied by reasonable investigation rather than baseless assertions, and that we re responsible for these beliefs. We can achieve this by through appropriate means of inquiry. Work Cited: Clifford, William Kingdon. The Ethics of Belief. 1877. December 12 2009. http://ajburger. homestead. com/files/book. htm#ethics.

Friday, September 20, 2019

McDonalds Standardisation of Products

McDonalds Standardisation of Products Should marketers attempt to standardize their products and marketing communications so as to minimize the costs of doing business internationally? Or should they adapt their products and messages depending on the market in which they wish to operate? Students should provide suitable examples from the academic literature and your own business knowledge when responding to the question. In the case of this question students may want to consider the arguments of Theodore Levitt, especially when he argued against the marketing concept, stating that firms should standardize their products to obtain maximum economies of scale in production. There have been numerous critiques of this position, with other academics arguing that products have to be adapted to local conditions for a host of reasons, such as avoiding creating offence in the marketing of certain products in countries where religious codes do not sanction certain forms of consumption. The key case study to illustrate such adaptation, among many others, is MacDonalds. INTRODUCTION: With ever increasing improvements in transport, communications and reduced trade barriers, international trading which was once considered a luxury is now a necessity in many sectors (Vrontis et al., 1999). Once the decision to venture into international markets has been taken, there are two broad strategies, which can be adopted. A fundamental strategic decision has to made immediately as to whether to employ a uniform marketing mix (standardisation strategy) as part of a global strategy or whether to adjust the marketing mix and strategies (Adaptation strategy) to take account of the unique characteristics of each local market (Vrontis and Vronti, 2004). The debate over standardisation versus adaptation of marketing strategy in international markets has been intense and has gone on for a long time. The focus of this intense argument has been whether marketers at international or global level should standardise their products and communications to all markets within which they opera te around the world or whether the products and communication should be adapted or tailored to reflect varying infrastructure, cultural and behavioural dimensions associated with different markets in the global arena. Both sides of the debate have been addressed in the marketing literature over the years, with arguments offered as to why an emphasis on standardisation rather than adaptation should be pursued and vice versa but no definitive outcome of this debate has emerged (Douglas Craig, 1986; Vrontis, Thrassou Lamprianou, 2009). McCarthy (1975) introduced the concept of marketing mix or 4 Ps (product, price, promotion and place and firms have based their marketing plans on this to gain competitive advantage. However with particular attention to services marketing Fifield and Gilligan (1996) identified three additional variables, which then became an integral part of the marketing mix and which has become popularly known as the 7Ps namely product, place, price, promotion, people, process and physical. The Marketing mix has been used as the basis of marketing plans and therefore it is employed in the provision of goods and services whether a company uses globalisation stategy standardisation strategy or both. This essay will discuss the globalisation of markets and will dwell particularly on the marketing strategies used by firms once they decide to enter international markets. The broad strategies of standardisation of the marketing mix on one hand and the adaptation of the marketing mix on the other hand will be highlighted. Finally, the contingency strategy which is the combination of both the standardisation and adaptation strategies will be discussed and will be and justified as the best to be considered by marketers. Globalisation Globalisation is a widely used term and as such is defined in many different contexts. Walker and Fox (1999) define globalisation as the global integration of the financial markets and argue that the process of financial globalisation is the most important part of the process of globalisation. Neuland and Hough (1999) see globalisation as the interconnectedness of the world economy. Gill (2000) define globalisation as the reduction of transaction cost of transborder movements of capital and goods and hence of factors of production and goods. Redding (1999) defines globalisation as the increasing integration between the markets for goods, services and capital and at the same time the breakdown of borders. Braibant (2002) says that the process of globalisation not only includes opening up of world trade, development of advanced means of communication, internationalisation of financial markets, population migrations and more generally increased mobility of persons, goods, capital, data and ideas but also includes infections, diseases and pollution. In addition to these terms Goldberg (1983) observed that: Many transnational companies have grown so large that their size exceeds that of some nation-states. Thus they could override, neutralize, or even counteract the political will of a nation state. The facilitation of the global market in the form of transport and communications improvements and reduced trade barriers and others has led firms to go global in order to gain competitive advantage and survive. Ohmae (1989) states that large companies must become global if they hope to compete and they must change from companies that treat their foreign operations as secondary, to companies that view the entire world as a single borderless market. Levitt (1983) suggests that as markets become increasingly similar and more global, the key to success lies in the ability to globalise. Additionally there are a variety of motives underlying a firms decision to trade globally such as the ability to extend the life cycle of their product in a phase of a mature domestic market and escape from increasing levels of domestic competition (Vrontis Vronti, 2004). Going global is therefore a necessity due to the reasons given and firms who are capable of expanding globally take the opportunity. However among the issues to consider before moving to the international market is the need to adopt the appropriate marketing strategy in order to achieve the aim of making such a move. The marketing strategies that is being considered are standardization and adaptation. , and adaptation where products and communications are adapted or tailored to reflect varying infrastructure, Globalisation of markets Standardisation and Adaptation According to Levitt (1983) and Ohmae (1989) standardisation refers to where firms operating at the global level attempt to standardize their products and communications to all markets within which they operate around the world. Proponents of global standardisation such as (Levitt 1983; Ohmae, 1989) argue that a corporation should operate as a single entity selling the same items everywhere in the same way. They believe the world is increasingly homogenised in its consumer requirements and that the force driving this process is technology, which has facilitated communication, information, capital, transport and travel. The rise of global media giants such as MTV, CNN etc lend weight to the notion that communications technology is the major negotiator of convergence of human preference in that technology facilitates the global spread of promotional messages resulting in homogenisation of consumer tastes across the world. Levitts (1983) notion of homogenisation of consumer taste refers to a worldwide desire for modern, low priced, world-standard and dependable products from the modern world. For example Levi Jeans paid $550,000 for one series of TV commercials to use around the globe for advertising and promot ion of its jeans (Jeannete et al., 1998). This trend would appear to make possible the application of uniform (standardisation) marketing mix strategies across global markets (Levitt, 1983: Ohmae, 1989). In addition, marketing program standardisation would allow for economies of scale and scope in production and marketing, cross-subsidisation (using financial results resources accumulated in one part of the world to respond to competitive challenges in another), easier control and coordination of marketing activities, transfer of marketing know-how, and a uniform brand image across borders (Douglas Craig, 1986; Levitt, 1983). It has also been noted that marketing program standardisation becomes particularly viable if firms can identity global market segments with common tastes and preferences such as teenagers, working women, and affluent people or a cluster of countries that share similar macro-environmental characteristics (Douglas Wind, 1987). Levitt (1983) distinguishes between the multinational corporation which he states operates in a number of countries and adjusts its products and marketing practices in each resulting in relatively high costs and the global corporation which operates as if the entire world were a single entity, the same things are sold in the same way everywhere. He further argues that this supposed converging preference structure makes it necessary for all corporations to standardise their product offerings and marketing activities in order to stay competitive. Levitt (1983) further states that the difference between the two corporations is that global corporation which in his view is the better one treats the world as composed of a few standardised markets rather than many customised markets. According to Levitt (1983) standardisation becomes necessary, a natural condition for the survival of the corporation. The following quotes strengthen his assertions: The commonality of preference leads inescapably to the standardisation of productsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (ibid.,p.55) Selling a line of products individually tailored to each nation is thoughtless..(ibid.,p.61) Companies that do not adapt to the new global realities will become victims of those that do..(ibid.,p.65) McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Nikes trainers, Levis jeans have all crossed global borders but there is evidence of tailoring of communications message, (Vignali, 2001). According to the same author, brand name, product characteristics, packaging and labelling are the easiest of the marketing mix to standardise. On the other hand, adaptation refers to the marketing strategy where the products and communications are adapted or tailored to reflect varying infrastructure, cultural and behavioural dimensions associated with different markets in the global arena (Britt, 1974; Buzzell, 1968; Douglas Wind, 1987). Proponents of adaptation, although acknowledging the potential benefits of a standardised marketing strategy point out its weakness of significantly undermining a firms foreign market position. This is because despite globalisation, national value systems and traditions persist. Furthermore product purchase and usage patterns are not identical across national borders because consumers respond differently to different advertising appeals (Keegan, 1969). (Czinkota and Ronnekan, 1995; Vrontis 2003) emphasises the various differences evident in international markets and urge multinational companies to adjust the marketing mix elements and marketing strategies. He further states that the advantage of specific marketing mix approach is that strategy is tailored to suit local market needs while flexibility and responsiveness are maximised and believes that marketing orientation is achieved at an optimal level. This in turn calls for changes to promotional campaigns, product features, price and distribution thereby adjusting wholly utilisation strategy without rendering the marketing mix ineffective (Zou Cavisgil, 2002). Consequently firms need to adjust their marketing programs to suit local needs and adequately respond to various environmental forces. Products such as McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Nikes trainers, Levis jeans have all crossed global borders but there is evidence of tailoring of communications message, (Vignali, 2001). Contingency Strategy: A number of scholars have proposed a contingency perspective for international marketing arguing that neither adaptation nor standardisation is feasible and that in reality neither of these polarised views is feasible or desirable and that in fact the two co-exist (Vrontis, 2003; Zou Cavusgil, 2002). Culture has been identified as a barrier in relation to the suitability of the product in particular local markets (Czinkota et al., 1995). This is echoed by Vrontis, (2003) who argues that the huge costs involved inhibit the use of any one strategy in an absolute manner but suggests that international marketers should have to search for the right balance between standardisation and adaptation in the order and extent of globalisation of the business and adapt the organisations response accordingly. The author called his new modelling approach the AdaptStand Process which he used in the Levi Jeans brand case study (Vrontis, 2003). Taylor (1991), supporting the view that firms should use both internationalisation and globalisation elements to create competitive advantage emphasises the notion that corporations should think global and act local coined Glocal by Ohmae (1989). Some of the companies that have successfully adapted their marketing mix to achieve glocalisation include McDonalds and Levi Jeans. McDonald for instance embraced and adopted the concept of think global, act local and has successfully adapted its marketing mix to a local environment in order to meet and the challenges posed socio-economic -cultural, political-legal, demographic (Vignali, 2001). Explaining further with the marketing mix and considering the case of product McDonald, while aiming at creating standard food items that taste the same across the whole world realises that standardisation brings cost savings. The company however acknowledges that the ability to adapt to an environment ensures success (Vignali, 2001). McDonald adapted its product because of religious laws and customs in some countries. For example in Israel the company avoided dairy products and beef in the case of Hindus in India and also pork in the case of Muslims. Calantone et.al.(2004) state that adaptation of a product is a core aspect of customising and to be successful in the market, the firm has to satisfy the customer wants and needs better than the competitors in that environment. MacDonald main course however remains the same across the world, that is burger/sandwich, fries and a drink. Quality control and standards are consistent throughout all McDonald outlets to ensure the same standard and quality starting from suppliers through to food preparation (Vignali, 20 01). In the case of Levi Jeans, females in Islamic countries for example are discouraged from wearing tight fitting jeans which is the favourite of their American counterparts (Czinkota et al,, 1995). It is therefore evident that fit design and style of jeans need to be adapted to meet requirements of the local buyers. Relating the contingency strategy to the marketing mix place, McDonalds expansion into international markets is based on ownership, franchises and joint ventures. Its strategy is open as many restaurants company owned and operated rather franchised or joint ventures to reduce competition. In 1998 McDonald had over 24500 restaurants in 116 countries showcasing its level of globalisation but also operationally showing a Glocal focus as it shares ideas, best practices and human resources across borders further enhancing its competitive advantage and strengthening its leadership position (McDonalds Corporation, 1998) In the case of price, while it is accepted that one of the benefits of standardisation is savings in cost McDonalds pricing strategy is focused on localisation rather than globalisation.It not only implements different pricing strategies for different countries but also attains its market objective to increase its market share by ensuring the right price for the right market (Vignali, 2001). The McDonalds pricing policy takes into account factors, firstly the demand and perception of price by the consumer in comparison to similar products from rivals and would then set its prices taking into account other food purveyors in each country. Secondly the McDonalds pricing strategy takes into account the stage in the life cycle of their product in each country before setting the price, For example, in the USA, the product is in maturity to decline stage and McDonalds price will be lower than the price set for Japan which is in the growth to maturity stage (Vignali, 2001). Adapting prices t his way allows McDonald to recover lost revenues in the USA while maximising profits in the Japanese market. McDonalds Corporation sponsors many sports nationally for example in basketball, racing and globally for example the Olympic Games and the World Cup. It employs standardisation for advertising its brand in many countries across the globe showcasing sports personalities but localising the advertising tactics by using top footballers from each country. The effect of this is that standardisation and consistency of the brand is achieved globally while localisation of advertising a particular top football personality makes the advertising campaign more effective and successful in capturing customers and market share away from competitors (Vignali, 2001) Levi Jeans faced competition from prevailing substitute products and therefore had to raise the quality of its jeans while adjusting its price to fight lower prices, counterfeits and substitute products in the local markets (Vrontis and Vronti, 2004) Advertising When it comes to people McDonalds policy on staffing issues is to blend US human resources practices with host country norms by first investigating and understanding the host countrys labour laws, and conditions of work including working times. The benefit of this is that blending of corporate and local cultures in the workforce and at the same time forcusing recruitment policy on the local community while promotion is from within globally. The objective is to have consistency in terms of people management and development and standardisation with a local focus on the labour and cultural norms in each country in order to achieve loyalty and also the best customer service (Vignali, 2001) If the process is considered, food preparation is the same the world over and must meet McDonalds strict standards and demands This includes suppliers and franchisees as well. For example kitchen layouts are identical globally and there are specific dimensions for fries, meat, Big Mac and buns (Vignali, 2001). Standardisation is also evident globally at the tills which display symbols of the food items instead of numerals or words to eliminate language translation barriers. Local adaptation is shown as the restaurants in different countries have slightly different meals. Physically McDonalds penetrated international markets through franchising but the layouts of these restaurants are almost identical in every country. from kitchens to staff uniforms, display signs, the slogans and the friendliness of the staff world-wide epitomize standardisation (Vignali, 2001). Local adaptation is apparent as different international restaurants adjust to suit local conditions for example in China, where interior walls are decorated with posters and slogans emphasising family values. CONCLUSION: The essay discussed globalisation and internationalisation with special reference to the strategy firms used to enter the international market. Two main strategies is identified. The first relates to whether firms should standardise their products and communications to all markets within which they operate around the world and the second is whether the products and communication should be adapted or tailored to reflect varying infrastructure, cultural and behavioural dimensions associated with different markets in the global arena. The standardisation-versus-adaptation debate for pursuing marketing strategy in international or global markets has received considerable attention for decades. It has been shown why supporters of standardisation such as Levitt (1983) feel that a corporation should operate as a single entity selling the same products everywhere in the same way. The argument is that that the world is increasingly becoming homogenised in its consumer tastes and requirements and that the force driving this process is technology, which has facilitated communication, information capital, transport and travel. The author also considered how the benefit of economies of scale and scope could lower costs to the advantage of the investor. However other scholars argument that the cost savings to be made from standardisation should not be the mauor consideration is very valid. According to the proponents of Adaptation,, the cultural, social and legal settings in some countries makes it impossible to compete successfully in all countries offering the same products and services (Vrontis, 2003). Adaptation is seen to override standardisation due to the importance attached to thge need to adapt to the peculiarities of the home country. However it has been clearly shown that, neither standardisation nor adaptation is the best solution. Rather standardisation and globalisation co-exist and do not operate in isolation. Therefore while corporations can standardise their brands globally, some aspects of their marketing mix must be adapted so that their products and services suit and satisfy the needs, wants and tastes of customers in different countries if they are to create a competitive advantage and increase market share in international markets. The McDonalds and Levi Jeans marketing mix show that these two corporations embraced the notion of glocalisation i.e. combining globalisation and internationalism in order to remain competitive, penetrate international markets, increase their market share. It is therefore not surprising that they have become leading brands internationally in their respective industries. .

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Appealing Americas Commitment to the War through Triumph of the Will a

Appealing America's Commitment to the War through Triumph of the Will and Why We Fight These films were arts of propaganda, which is the attempt to control the beliefs and behaviors of people in times of crisis. This was the goal of each film, to try to persuade the world by the use of powerful film propaganda of different points of view. The film Triumph of the Will expressed how Hitler and his people wanted the world to see them. The main goal here was to encourage membership in the nazi party by emphasizing mass accommodation, mass gatherings, and above all collectiveness. The film Why we Fight: Prelude to war on the other hand wanted to make America aware of why they had to become involved in WWII. The film describes the events that led up to WWII. The escalation of Japanese militarism and the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy are also explored. This series of films was created by the US War Department to appeal to Americans' commitment to the War. The most effective element of each film to me was the use of visuals/images in the scenes and the use of sound (music etc.) The reason is that in both films in order to really get the point across the use of the images were very specific, to make their audience really believe what they wanted to portray. In Triumph of the Will for example the use of the images of Hitler's plane emerging like he is God from the sky. Also the use of the shots of Hitler from the windows and him acknowledging the crowd, and mainly th...

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

The Bill of Rights Essay -- American History

Bill of Rights We live in the 21st century, where most Americans mind their own business but take for granted our God given rights. Not only God given rights but also those established by our founding forefathers. This paper will illustrate and depict the importance of the original problems faced when adopting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It will discuss the importance of the first amendment, the due process of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and the 8th amendments. Last but not least the importance of what is known as the â€Å"second Bill of Rights† (14th amendment). What problems with the original document motivated the adoption of the Bill of Rights? Many felt the Constitution was strongly focused on the power and authority the central government would have over the states and the people. Such supporter was Thomas Jefferson, who said, â€Å"bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on the earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse.† Thomas Jefferson December 20, 1787 (American Civil Liberties Union [ACLU], 2002). The Constitution was set up with a system of checks and balances between the three branches of government. For its time it was remarkable but was flawed in expressing what it could do, but nowhere did it say what it could not. This was the great argument by the Anti-Federalist. Second, the Anti-Federalist would only support the Constitution if Congress was to include the proposed Bill of Rights. This would ensure the unalienable rights would be protected. Federalist No.84 says. â€Å"In the course of the foregoing review of the Constitution, I have taken notice of, and endeavored to answer most of the objections which have appeared against it. There, however, remai... ...brief-history Coates, R. E. (1995-99). Freedom of the Press . Retrieved November 12, 2010, from http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1600.htm Freedom of assembly and association. (N.D.). Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://www.hrea.org/index.php?doc_id=406 Hamilton, A. (n.d.). Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered. Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fed_84.html Morse v. Frederick. (2007). Retrieved November 16, 2010, from http://oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2006/2006_06_278 Patterson, T. E. (2009,2008,2005,2003,2001,1999,1997,1993,1990). The American Democracy (9th ed.). [Adobe reader]. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/TOC.aspx?assetdataid=d779f52a-1e20-4dad-a9af-b169cc8fe798&assetmetaid=972de29b-d180-4689-8f49-21b4f77c72a3

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

The Cell Essay -- essays research papers

The cell is the fundamental structural unit of all living organisms. Some cells are complete organisms, such as the unicellular bacteria and protozoa; others, such as nerve, liver, and muscle cells, are specialized components of multi-cellular organisms. Cells range in size from the smallest bacteria-like mycoplasmas, which are 0.1 micrometer in diameter, to the egg yolks of ostriches, which are about 8 cm (about 3 in) in diameter. Although they may differ widely in appearance and function, all cells have a surrounding membrane and an internal, water-rich substance called the cytoplasm, the composition of which differs significantly from the external environment of the cell. Within the cell is genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), containing coded instructions for the behavior and reproduction of the cell and also the chemical machinery for the translation of these instructions into the manufacture of proteins. Viruses are not considered cells because they lack this transla tion machinery; they must parasitize cells in order to translate their own genetic code and reproduce themselves. Cells are of two distinctly different types, prokaryotes and eukaryotes; thus, the living world is divided into two broad categories. The DNA of prokaryotes is a single molecule in direct contact with the cell cytoplasm, whereas the DNA of eukaryotes is much greater in amount and diversity and is contained within a nucleus separated from the cell cytoplasm by a membranous nuclear envelope. Many eukaryotic cells are further divided into compartments by internal membranes in addition to the nuclear envelope, whereas prokaryotic cells never contain completely internal membranes. The prokaryotes include the mycoplasmas, bacteria, and blue-green algae. The eukaryotes comprise all plant and animal cells. In general, plant cells differ from animal cells in that they have a rigid cell wall exterior to the plasma membrane; a large vacuole, or fluid-filled pouch; and chloroplasts that convert light energy to chemical energy for the synthesis of glucose. Structure and Function Cells are composed primarily of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen, the elements that make up the majority of organic compounds. The most important organic compounds in a cell are proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides (carbohydrates). The "solid" structures of the cell are co... ...t of cells and cell products. Thus, a whole organism could be understood through the study of its cellular parts. In 1858 the German pathologist Rudolf Virchow's theory, that all cells come from preexisting cells, led to the development of ideas about cell division and cell differentiation. The development in the late 19th century of techniques for staining cell parts enabled scientists to detect tiny cell structures that were not actually seen in detail until the advent of the electron microscope in the 1940s. The development of various advanced optical techniques in the 20th century also increased the detection power of the light microscope for observations of living cells. The study of cells is not limited to describing structures. A central concept in modern cytology is that each structure has a function that may be understood as a series of biochemical reactions. The understanding of these functions has been greatly aided by the development of cell fractionation techniques, using an ultracentrifuge to separate specific intracellular structures from the rest of the cell. Another technique is tissue culture, by which specific kinds of cells can be isolated and grown for study. The Cell Essay -- essays research papers The cell is the fundamental structural unit of all living organisms. Some cells are complete organisms, such as the unicellular bacteria and protozoa; others, such as nerve, liver, and muscle cells, are specialized components of multi-cellular organisms. Cells range in size from the smallest bacteria-like mycoplasmas, which are 0.1 micrometer in diameter, to the egg yolks of ostriches, which are about 8 cm (about 3 in) in diameter. Although they may differ widely in appearance and function, all cells have a surrounding membrane and an internal, water-rich substance called the cytoplasm, the composition of which differs significantly from the external environment of the cell. Within the cell is genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), containing coded instructions for the behavior and reproduction of the cell and also the chemical machinery for the translation of these instructions into the manufacture of proteins. Viruses are not considered cells because they lack this transla tion machinery; they must parasitize cells in order to translate their own genetic code and reproduce themselves. Cells are of two distinctly different types, prokaryotes and eukaryotes; thus, the living world is divided into two broad categories. The DNA of prokaryotes is a single molecule in direct contact with the cell cytoplasm, whereas the DNA of eukaryotes is much greater in amount and diversity and is contained within a nucleus separated from the cell cytoplasm by a membranous nuclear envelope. Many eukaryotic cells are further divided into compartments by internal membranes in addition to the nuclear envelope, whereas prokaryotic cells never contain completely internal membranes. The prokaryotes include the mycoplasmas, bacteria, and blue-green algae. The eukaryotes comprise all plant and animal cells. In general, plant cells differ from animal cells in that they have a rigid cell wall exterior to the plasma membrane; a large vacuole, or fluid-filled pouch; and chloroplasts that convert light energy to chemical energy for the synthesis of glucose. Structure and Function Cells are composed primarily of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen, the elements that make up the majority of organic compounds. The most important organic compounds in a cell are proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides (carbohydrates). The "solid" structures of the cell are co... ...t of cells and cell products. Thus, a whole organism could be understood through the study of its cellular parts. In 1858 the German pathologist Rudolf Virchow's theory, that all cells come from preexisting cells, led to the development of ideas about cell division and cell differentiation. The development in the late 19th century of techniques for staining cell parts enabled scientists to detect tiny cell structures that were not actually seen in detail until the advent of the electron microscope in the 1940s. The development of various advanced optical techniques in the 20th century also increased the detection power of the light microscope for observations of living cells. The study of cells is not limited to describing structures. A central concept in modern cytology is that each structure has a function that may be understood as a series of biochemical reactions. The understanding of these functions has been greatly aided by the development of cell fractionation techniques, using an ultracentrifuge to separate specific intracellular structures from the rest of the cell. Another technique is tissue culture, by which specific kinds of cells can be isolated and grown for study.

Monday, September 16, 2019

The Code of Hammurabi

After the fall of the third dynasty of Ur, King Hammurabi came to power in ancient Babylon from 1792 to 1750 BC. As an influential ruler, he accomplished many things, including the reunification of Mesopotamia. His interest in state affairs and his opinion of himself as a â€Å"shepard to his people† most likely led to his greatest contribution to Mesopotamian life, the Code of Hammurabi. The 282 laws mainly focus on responsibilities of public officials, standards for agriculture and commerce, expectations for women, and regulations of sexual relations.Hammurabi believed that the laws were sent by the gods, which explains their strict expectations. In addition, the laws generally follow the philosophy of â€Å"an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth†, revealing the importance of a strict justice system in Mesopotamian society and establishing the authority of the gods and the state. Overall, the punishments were very harsh, with most offenses resulting in death or di sfigurement.Although today's legal standards greatly differ from those of 18th century BC, the Code of Hammurabi can be seen as the foundation for modern day Western legal codes. One reason why modern society's legal system differs from Hammurabi's is because the concept of order in society and, even, in the family has changed greatly. While there are still economic classes today, they are not judged differently in the court of law. In ancient Babylon the social classes of the offender and victim were factors in determining the severity of the penalty.Family life has also changed from a power based (patriarchal) system to a more nurturing and supportive (unified) atmosphere. For example, during Hammurabi's reign, if a son were to hit his father, he would be punished by having his hand cut off. In today's society this would be considered â€Å"cruel and unusual†. Except in extreme situations, the law would not even have reason to get involved. Such is the case for many of the 18th century BC's codes. Mahatma Ghandi made this distinction clear when he said, â€Å"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Modern legal codes aim more at consequences that will help change the behavior, as opposed to punishments that â€Å"get back at† the offender. Despite the differences, Hammurabi's approach to justice was very influential to the development of modern Western legal systems. They were not the first set of laws of this time, but they were the most structured and thorough. In other cultures the law was simply whatever the king said it was, which inevitably would change depending on certain factors.However, with Hammurabi's laws set in stone and displayed for everyone to see, it was clear what was expected of the people. This concept of a fixed law is the primary similarity between Hammurabi's legal codes and those of today. In addition, the code of Hammurabi established that there be a â€Å"process† in law. Because there were now penaltie s for wrongfully accusing another, it made people think twice before bringing up false charges against somebody. In modern society, specifically the U. S. , this concept is found in the fifth amendment under the clause â€Å"without due process†.The Code of Hammurabi may seem harsh when applying it to modern society, but since values, practices, and standards were different at that time, it really wasn't too far fetched. The inhabitants of Mesopotamia valued the individual rights of the people and the means by which to protect those rights. Even though the process may be different today, the general goal of establishing justice within the society is the same. Hammurabi not only marked his place in Babylonian history, but also throughout the world, by constituting a model of moral codes that civilizations would duplicate for centuries.

Would you use Keynesian Policy?

1. Would you use Keynesian Policy? Explain Keynesian Economics in 10 lines or less. Keynesian Economics, broadly speaking, is a macroeconomic approach that advocates active government intervention in a country's monetary policy in order to ensure the best economic outcome. This produces a mixed economy, where both the private sector and the government control market conditions. In order to ensure economic growth and stability, governments impose policies that could stimulate the economy towards their desired ends. In a recession, stability can be achieved through tax breaks and government spending; in an economic upturn, this can be   done though tax hikes and cutbacks on government spending. Keynes, the theory's proponent, believes that trends in the macroeconomic level can influence the spending and market behavior of individuals, and that the government plays a crucial part in instigating these trends by adjusting the economy's general equilibrium. 2. Would you use Supply Side Policy? Explain this Economic Policy in 10 lines or less. The supply-side policy holds that influencing the supply of goods and services will lead to economic health. It emphasizes the supply, rather than the demand stimulus towards economic activity. Its conjecture is that if individuals have the means to buy, demand will be created. Supply-side economics thus focuses on policies that raise production capabilities for lowering the cost of products and controlling inflation. Supply side economists believe that high taxes increases the costs of production, thereby reducing the incentive to work and to invest. As such, they advocate policies that lower taxation rates in order to raise labor outputs and market capitals. 3. Would you use Monetarism? Explain this policy in 10 lines or less. The doctrine of Monetarism places emphasis on controlling the domestic money supply for promoting growth and maintaining economic stability. Monetarists believe that regulating the national income is the primary means for improving economic activity. It holds that instability and market changes such as inflation are due to fluctuations in the money supply, specifically, that these changes came as a result of the money supply being larger than the demand. By this assumption, increasing or decreasing the money supply, rather than raising taxes, will keep inflation in check. This is usually done by maintaining price stability and steadily increasing the stock of money in a moderate manner. 4. Would you use a combination of some or all of the above? Explain their main differences in 16 lines. Among the three macroeconomic policies, I believe a combination of Keynesian and Monetarist approaches will do best in achieving economic growth and stability.  According to the theory of Monetarism, inflation is an effect of the supply of money exceeding the demand. As such, regulating market prices is the best way of controlling inflation. But while Keynesian economics focus on the stability of currency, Monetarism focuses on price stability, which is achieved through maintaining money's supply-demand equilibrium. Keynesian economics supports government manipulation of market conditions by way of   monetary policies based on real aggregate demand. When there is economic recession and inflation, it advocates higher taxes in order to curb individual spending. But aside from the monetary angle, it also employs fiscal strategies, those that relate to government spending, revenues, and debt. Supply-side economics is concerned with policies that produce more incentives for work, rather than stimulate demand. The emphasis on the supply factor is the main difference between the Supply-side and Keynesian theories. Proponents of supply-side economics believe that increasing taxes will only cause revenues to fall, therefore, reducing it will do more good by generating economic activity. However, I believe that this will not increase the supply of labor and services substantially. Lower taxes does not necessarily mean that individuals will choose to be more productive. Moreover, huge tax cuts can cause enormous deficits in the federal budget. 5. Given the economic model/theory, you choose to work with, explain your economic strategy for the next four years.  In the next four years, I aim to guide the nation towards having a strong and stable financial system. This means that in economic trems, stable prices are maintaned, inflation lessened, and long-term interest rates are moderated. I also aim to keep unemployment to a minimun, or better yet, lower than the current rate of 5.10%. I propose to achieve these things though policies that follow and Monetarist and Keynesian principles. We can best promote a progressive climate by maintaining an environment of low inflation. An important reason for keeping inflation low is that businesses will be able to foresee substantial future benefits if they are to be willing to bear the long-term risks that are associated with creating new enterprises, and expected low inflation affords them a clearer view of projected benefits. The Monetarist theory holds that variations in unemployment and inflation rates are caused by changes in the supply of money, and that inflation is a purely monetary phenomenon—this means that if the money supply does not change, the price level remains the same. Therefore, regulating the money supply will ensure a stable economic preformance. The money supply can be balanced through the buying and selling government bonds and securities. By buying securities, the government increases the money supply, thus lowering interest rates. On the same note, when it sells securites, the money supply becomes tighter. Using the Keynesian perspective, rising inflation levels can be curbed by imposing higher taxes to lessen demand and stabilize economic performance. This can also reduce the money supply so that interest rates will go up, making it harder for firms and consumers to obtain money, thereby reducing aggregate demand. Since the current rate of inflation is on the rise, I propose higher interest rates in order to lessen spending. This can also be done by regulating reserve requirements of member banks, affecting interest rates. When banks reserves are lower, there is a limited amount of money to go around so interest rates go up. This usually affects the amount of money banks lend to consumers and firms. When interest rates increase, consumers are less willing to borrow money to spend on goods or services. I expect the above measures to decrease inflation and increase employment rates, which means that the total market value of all the goods and services will also increase. This translates to a higher GNP. Higher taxes would also lessen the budget deficit, and since the deficit is financed by borrowing, the country's debt will decrease as well. As for productivity, I also expect it to increase. The link between costs and   productivity is usually a positive one. Productivity helps offset costs so if inflation is low, it means that productivity is high.  If my strategy does not work and my inflation and unemployment goals were not reached, I may opt for deficit spending in order to stabilize the economy. While deficit spending can catalyze negative effects, under certain conditions (such as in a recession), it can help the economy cope. Since the money used to finance deficits usually come from foreign governments and institutions, it would be to the economy's advantage if   they can be convinced to support my proposal.. Economic indicators, dictate how the policies are implemented. However, globalization can make it harder to determine the extent of economic manipulation that is needed to promote economic growth. A global market changes the dynamics of traditional economic systems, making economic outcomes more difficult to predict. Prices of products and services are now increasingly determined by market factors aside from those within the country. Thus, intervening with the money suppy may not be an accurate response to certain economic situations. Emerging economic trends and indicators should be taken into account regarding government policies and decisions.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Sherlock Holmes a Study in Scarlet

Sherlock Holmes different methods of solving crimes The detective genre is prominently one of the most popular forms of literature. When the detective subject arises in conversation, one is quick to think of the original and typical detective profile, imagining a man in a plaid coat, brown hat and a large magnifying glass pressed against his face, sniffing out clues and making rather large assumptions in regard to his mystery at hand. Although the description above would describe your classic, ordinary detective, Arthur Conan Doyle shows a much different perspective of the detective genre in â€Å"A Study in Scarlet†.Detective Sherlock Holmes does in fact have some very strong similarities to the characteristics shown in previous detective stories though shows a different personality and a stylized method to solving his mysteries. Doyle depicts Sherlock Holmes’s style of solving crimes through his methods, ability to observe, and his use of vocabulary. Sherlock Holmes i s undeniably one of the most interesting detective characters. Although the story line is already made to be a complex mystery, Doyle emphasizes the story more by defining and exemplifying the character of Sherlock Holmes.Sherlock has a very distinctive personality, and Doyle does an excellent job of showing his different reactions in the various situations he is presented with. When carefully analyzing Holmes character in different situations, he shows how he uses his techniques and special abilities that enable him to solve his mysteries. Doyle makes Holmes inquiry very notable by giving him and very large and witty vocabulary. Holmes is very clever and likes to show superiority above the people around him. When he speaks he makes sure to be swift, precise, and very clear about what he is trying to relate.The language he uses is large and makes others around him feel beneath him. Holmes is very clear on what his observations are and makes certain the people around him know he is i ntelligent and correct in his interpretations of the crime scene. Sherlock Holmes shows his superiority when he is observing a scene, he states to his surrounding audience that, â€Å"by his coat-sleeve, by his boots†¦ by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb† Holmes shows that his observations are quick, obvious and to his knowledge and flawless; any idiot could recognize these interpretations (Doyle).After showing his skill in recognizing the apparent, he goes on to say â€Å"That all united should fail to enlighten the competent inquirer in any case is almost inconceivable. You know that a conjurer gets no credit when once he has explained his trick; and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all† telling his coworkers and surrounding audience that his method works, it always works and others will soon learn that he is the best in the business and will continue to be so (D oyle).Holmes uses his large vocabulary to confuse and befuddle his peers, showing his superiority, making them feel small and incompetent. Holmes has a very high self-esteem and his intelligence is astounding and although he knows very well of what he is doing, he acts oblivious to his own actions. Holmes has a very powerful skill for observation in the account of any situation he is placed in. Doyle shows how intelligent Sherlock is when she describes his ability to observe scenes and details that a regular person would never perceive. He is able to analyze evidence and draw conclusions and inferences from them.When Holmes first meets Watson he is very quick to analyze him. Sherlock is introduced to Watson and asks him, â€Å"How are you†¦You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive. † And Watson replies to him in astonishment â€Å"How on earth did you know that? †(Doyle). Watson is astonished at Sherlock’s quick and accurate assumption and impeccable observa tion. Holmes has not done any research on Watson, and even though this is the first time he has ever seen or spoken to Watson in his entire life, Holmes finds observing people almost as easy as breathing.He doesn’t need to stop to think about it anymore, his observational abilities come naturally and without effort. His mind works in a different manner then normal detectives finding it easy to notice and observe the people who are brought in his presence. â€Å"Quite so. I have a kind of intuition that way. Now and again a case turns up which is a little more complex. Then I have to bustle about and see things with my own eyes. You see I have a lot of special knowledge which I apply to the problem, and which facilities matter wonderfully.Those rules of deduction laid down in that article which aroused your scorn, are invaluable to me in practical work. Observation with me is second nature† (Doyle). Holmes is a consulting detective and in this statement to Watson he sho ws his reasons and theories of working. Sherlock has a remarkable sense of observation in any type of case he is given. Whether there is a mystery to be solved for a regular citizen or for the government and law, Holmes has the ability to observe situations and easily see what the situation has in store for him.Holmes has a very strict method of working and because of his methods; he is successful at his occupation. The methods he uses are foreign to others in the detective business therefore his intelligence outshines his opponents. His powers of observation and his procedures are even influential to others because of how astonished peers seem to be of his abilities. Doyle gives Sherlock Holmes a sense of language that is very metaphorical.When Sherlock is trying to make a point, explain a thought process, or try and make his coworkers and surrounding peers feel incompetent to his knowledge, he uses a wide range of metaphors and phrases. When speaking about a murder he compares the mystery to that of a â€Å"scarlet thread of murder running through the colorless skein of life, and [their] duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it† (Doyle). Doyle gives Sherlock this very precise yet large range of metaphorical expressions when he is talking about his work.The way he describes the murder is very clear although almost brilliant. He exemplifies his methods of solving mysteries through a metaphor to try and explain to others how the murder mystery should go about being solved. Although there are many strings all raveled together in one thread, Sherlock plans to single handedly one by one remove those strings and narrow it down to one, to expose it, isolate it and execute it, all to move on to the next crime. Not only does Sherlock use his metaphors to explain his method of work but also to make others feel beneath him, as he always does.Holmes knows his capabilities and is aware of his genius mind and thought processes. When talking to Watson he says â€Å"I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it.Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it – there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones† (Doyle).Holmes, in his metaphori cal terms, lets Watson see into his mind and how it works compared to others while still making him feel incompetent to his coworker. In Sherlock’s mind, he explains that he only acquires the precise and important information that he will need all his life. The information that he stores in his brain is exactly where he put it, organized and easily accessed while typical human beings, â€Å"fools† he calls them, simply gather anything and everything they can find to jumble it into their small minds.When it comes times to find the information they are seeking they have a hard time, typically because they don’t know where to find it. Holmes thinks in a different way, only gathering the information that he finds absolutely necessary and easily accessible to help him be swift, flawless, accurate, and faster than anyone else he comes in counter against. Working this way helps Holmes to solve his mysteries faster leaving his peers with astonished and dumbfounded looks on their faces. Holmes has many methods of solving crimes, although working backwards seems to be one that benefits him sufficiently.Sherlock likes to perform his work in a different manner than most others. He seems to see what others do and perform the exact opposite. Holmes exclaims â€Å"In solving a problem of this sort, the grand thing is to be able to reason backwards. That is a very useful accomplishment, and a very easy one, but people do not practice it much. In the every-day affairs of life it is more useful to reason forwards, and so the other comes to be neglected. There are fifty who can reason synthetically for one who can reason analytically† (Doyle).Most people would rather take the easy way out and reason forward like the majority of society. It is easier to reason forward than it is, of course, to reason backwards. If one were asked to say the months of the year backwards or the alphabet, a person would have a difficult time stating the months or letters i n a timely fashion. For Holmes, performing his methods backward is something he prefers to do, knowing it is not a method that a lot of people use, he figures the technique will work and of course they do work wonderfully.Doyle depicts Holmes style of solving crimes through his intelligent and seemingly flawless methods. Overall, Sherlock is able to solve the mysteries he is presented with simply due to his observation skills, analysis of the crime scene and his broad yet careful choice of words and phrases. Doyle makes Holmes inquiry very notable through the personality she has given him in the novel. His character is not only unique but also is plays a huge role in his remarkable ability to solve mysteries.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Why Does Plato Argue That Rulers Must Be Philosophers?

Within this essay I Intend to examine Plates reasoning and justification for his belief in philosopher rulers and question whether they are, in fact, the best people to govern society. The current democratic method of organization of the â€Å"polis† was not suitable for Plato as he considered ruling far too vital a role in society to be left to the untrained. Instead, it should be left to those who have the knowledge and more crucially, the wisdom required to comprehend such a task.It Is, however, at this point, we should consider that a significant factor In Plat's opposition to democracy was that the Athenian democracy had condemned Socrates o death. It is important to remember that the liberal democracy which we currently experience is very recent and not at all the concept of democracy that Plato speaks. In fact, the idea of all adults over the age of 18 being able to vote would indeed be absurd to someone such as Plato.The democracy, of which he speaks, would be of great er equivalence to a modern day referendum, In which all those eligible to vote gather to debate and eventually vote. Plato thus set out to craft a new structural form for the polls, in simple, an Ideal society. This constituted three general social lasses and indirectly three separate polio's within the whole Solipsism. At the lowest end of this, was the â€Å"producers†, although Plato pays little attention to this class, it compromises people who were engaged in economic activities, such as, farmers and manufacturers.Although of no political importance, they served the crucial function of providing the economic and material requirements of the community. Primarily, Plato places them as obedient workers under the control of the axillaries. This constitutes the first polls, â€Å"one In which money lovers, and only money lovers are made as happy as possible† (Reeve C. D. C IPPP 1984), and thus becomes a â€Å"luxurious polis† (Plato The Republic IPPP e). The sec ond level on Plates ideal society was that of the auxiliaries.It was the auxiliaries who, in current times, would complete the actions of the military civil service and public offices I. E. Police. Consequently, it was their occupation to enact the decisions made by the ruling class. It would be from the elite of the auxiliaries that a philosopher guardian would emerge, as they had worked their way through the education and training. Therefore, this emerges as the second polis in which â€Å"unnecessary appetites† (Reeve C. D. C IPPP 1984) are removed this is the part of the Solipsism in which honor-lovers are made as happy as possible. (Reeve C. D. C IPPP 1984) However, it must be pointed out that the auxiliaries also shared this second polis with the guardians who were not chosen as â€Å"pensioner Kilns. † Hymnal, It was ten Guardians won were let at ten top AT ten society, as the rulers. This was the elite group above the rest of society, only those who completed a ll the statutes laid out during their training would be able to become a recognized philosopher guardian at the age of 50. These would be the people who had a true understanding of the forms and ultimately, of what is good ND Just.With this Plato has set out his â€Å"dodos† for the ideal society and his belief that those most suited to govern this society were his â€Å"Philosopher Kings† who were chosen from this Guardian class. It is at this point, that I believe we must further engage with what in fact it means to be a philosopher, and how you reach such a position. Plato sets an initial screening process, â€Å"the one who is willing to taste every kind if learning with gusto, and who turns to learning with enthusiasm, and cannot get enough of it, he is the one we shall rightly call a philosopher. (Plato The Republic 474 c) â€Å"Those who have reached that goal are philosopher kings at last. The polis over which they rule, and which contains the elaborate educa tional apparatus necessary to reliably produce them, is the third polis. † (Reeve C. D. C. P 195, 1984). During Plat's explanation of his philosopher-king, he uses three analogies, the sun, the line and finally the cave, in order to depict the reason for the philosopher's irreplaceable role in politics.The central element in each of these is the concept of the forms. In my opinion, Plato most aptly explains the transition to a philosopher with his simile of the cave. Plato classes this as â€Å"the enlightenment or ignorance of our human condition† (Plato The Republic IPPP a). The allegory of the cave is to illustrate that the philosopher is the one who sees things as they really are. The philosopher is able to see the truth, whereas, the masses see, merely, shadows.The arduous process of education which draws the philosopher from the state of ignorance and belief to the enlightened state of knowledge and wisdom is comparable with the difficult Journey from a dark cave up a long path to the open light of the sun. Whilst explaining the Journey of the philosopher's education he also attempts to show why it is that the masses reject the philosopher once their knowledge has been gained. Primarily, Plato says that the philosopher is misunderstood by the ignorant masses and that the knowledge which they attempt to impart threatens the beliefs of their UN-enlightened minds.It is clear upon examination of Plat's society, that it is indubitably a totalitarian regime; however, this point must be critically examined as it is clear that there are distinct and separate ways to critique this point. Naturally, there are those who would say that the restriction of freedom from a dictatorial power is inherently wrong. Conversely, though it must be considered that restriction of freedom for the good of people is no bad thing. In theory a system which imposes â€Å"The Good† on all people, would be one which benefits all and enhances the chance of maximum hum an development and freedom from evil. Until philosophers rule as kings, or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophies, that is, until political power, authority and philosophy entirely coincide, while the many natures who at present pursue either one exclusively are forcibly prevented from doing so, cities will eve no rest from evils,†¦ Nor, I think, will the human race. † (Simon Blackburn IPPP c- D 2006) Obviously the counter argument to that and the very basis of Plat's critics, is that whether human nature being as it is, would ever allow it in reality?Especially when compared Walt previous totalitarian regimes, experience Allocates Tanat teen have rarely brought good to the majority, and predominantly have indeed brought the opposite. In reality, it could be argued that there has been a historical dominance of state dictatorships in comparison with the relatively recent liberal democracies. Citizens who are raised within the l iberal western tradition are taught to be convinced of the faultlessness of democracy and thus find it challenging to comprehend that any other system could be better, or even to see the weaknesses in democracy.Due to the inability to acknowledge the failings of democracy, Plato creates two illustrations to depict them; these are the similes of the beast and the ship. Plato utterly rejects two common modes of thought in democratic societies, Just because everyone believes it to be true and good does not make it so, and that Just cause someone is a convincing speaker and persuades the masses to his view – it does not mean he is speaking the truth or that his ideas are good. The foundation of these illustrations is that the Philosophers simply know â€Å"The Good†.Plat's debate is clearly rejecting some of the foundational ideas within Democracy. Within the simile of the beast, the large and powerful animal in this story is the general population who make up the democrac y. In this tale, Plato is depicting a clear division between, what the majority like and think is good, what pleases them, and unbeknown to them, what actually is â€Å"The Good†. The Good (I. E. The dodos or form of the good) is good whether people think it is good or not. The Good is the predetermined standard against which the pleasures and desires of the masses must be Judged to determine whether they are good or bad.Plato is saying that the Sophists of his time were merely concerned with remaining in power and thus would bow to the appeasement of the masses that were ill educated. Fiscal and devoid of the knowledge of what is truly important in life and were subsequently unfit to rule the polis. They were no more than manipulators and responders to popular opinion without any standard tit which to work. The Sophists were relativists. For them ‘good' meant no more than what the people want, what will keep them happy, and what society thinks are good.This approach to politics is recognizable within the contemporary use of opinion polls and pressure groups. â€Å"All those individuals who make their living by teaching, and whom the public call â€Å"Sophists† and new for their skill, in fact teach nothing but the conventional views held and expressed by the mass of the people, when they meet; and this they call a science† (Plato The Republic IPPP a-b) This forever, does not entirely show why Plato is convinced that it is philosophers who should rule.Socrates proposes the notion that the study of philosophy results in the unearthing of objective truths about what is good, from this grounding this knowledge can be used as an unique;coal platform for policy-making. Plato believes that in contrast with his idea of the world of matter, the world of sense , which he classes as a mere world of shadows, is in fact â€Å"world of final, immutable, changeless, objects of contemplation, at the summit of which stands the ultimate object of a facial kind of knowledge independent of sense experience.This is ultimately a real and ultimately fitting object of love and desire, a constantly radiant eternal source of light, the form of good itself. † (Blackburn S. Pop, 2006). Subsequently, it has the natural progression that the people most suited to rule, are the people who have the wisdom of this higher realm, so Justifiably this would be the philosophers. â€Å"If pensioners nave ten capacity to grasp ten eternal Ana Immutable, Wendell tense won have no such capacity are not philosophers and are lost in multiplicity and change, which of the two should be in charge of a state? (Plato The Republic p 484 b). At no point, has it ever been empirically verified that those who have studied philosophy will all agree on that which is good and right. Even those who do agree that there are moral facts do not agree on exactly what they are – nor do they agree on what is the best way to act in the light of those facts. Eve n if we do agree with Plato and accept that a true understanding of goodness and Justice is both possible and agreement can be reached between philosophers, it still leaves the question whether this is all that a politician needs.