Meditations Techniques Essays - Ren Descartes, Epistemology

Meditations Techniques Meditations is a discussion of metaphysics, or what is really real. In these writings, he ultimately hopes to achieve absolute certainty about the nature of everything including God, the physical world, and himself. It is only with a clear and distinct knowledge of such things that he can then begin understand his true reality. In order to acquire absolutely certainty, Descartes must first lay a complete foundation of integrity on which to build up his knowledge. The technique he uses to lay this base is doubt. If any belief can be doubted it is not certain, therefore making unusable as a foundation. Descartes starts by looking at our usual sources for truth. Authority, which is churches, parents, and schools, he says, are not reliable sources for truth because time shows we all die, and that we are eventually proved wrong, much in the same way the accepted truths of science have changed dramatically over the course of history. Also, he considers the generally excepted view that our senses dependably report the absolute nature of reality. Like authority though, Descartes discards the senses as a source of truth because of the ?Dream Argument' or the belief that based on the senses there is no definite way of proving that you are dreaming or that you are awake. Therefore it is possible that everything we believe is false, making the senses an unreliable source. Upon establishing this, Descartes doubts the existence of a physical or external world. Despite that he has an idea of things in the world, he has no definitive way of knowing if they exist beyond his own mind. Another foundation that he tries to confirm is mathematics. But he soon realizes math's truth isn't completely reliable because of the ?Demon Hypothesis', which acknowledges the possibility of an all powerful, malicious being that is deceiving him about everything, including mathematics. As a result, Descartes ponders the possibility that he has no way of being completely positive about anything, e ven is existence. It is only after some deliberation that he comes to the conclusion that it is impossible to be incorrect about everything because he has doubt, and to posses doubt, there must be a doubter. Hence, he doubts, therefore he exists. With the assurance of his existence, he is presented with the deeper question of what he, himself actually is. Descartes knows that he is not just a body based on his doubt of the senses. Despite the fact that he feels he's not a body, he does believe he has properties, such as doubt, that make him a substance. From this he concludes that his is an immaterial substance and that his essential property is self-consciousness because you can have no real proof of yourself except through your own thoughts or consciousness. Descartes articulates this belief in the statement, ?I'm aware that I'm aware.? Furthering this with the belief that the essential property of existence itself is self-consciousness. Accordingly, he has established the first a bsolutely certain foundation of truth that he was seeking. Although he cannot yet be sure of the existence of anything external to or outside of his mind, the certainty of his own thoughts cannot be doubted. This leads us to wonder about the relationship between the immaterial mind and material body, commonly known in philosophy as the mind/body problem. Descartes takes the stance of a strong dualist or someone who believes that the mind and the body are not only separate, but competent of independent existence. Other positions are that of the weak dualist, who feels that while the mind and body are metaphysically distinct, they cannot exist independently of one another, and that of the materialist who deem that only physical things and physical procedures exist, while the mind does not. Beliefs of this nature are brought up in relation to Descartes' question of what makes a thing particularly itself through time and change. For him, it is the mind/soul that exists through time and change. Hoping to discern the existence of anything else aside from himself, an immaterial substance, Descartes considers a variety of ideas he has within his mind and contemplates whether he could have conceived them himself or not. Predominantly

I Believe In Jesus Christ Religion Essay Essay Example

I Believe In Jesus Christ Religion Essay Essay Example I Believe In Jesus Christ Religion Essay Essay I Believe In Jesus Christ Religion Essay Essay Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman wrote this vocal in 1953 and Frankie Laine sang the most popular version of it. Jane Froman commissioned the vocal was commissioned for her early 1950s telecasting show, going the first hit vocal of all time introduced on telecasting. Troubled by the eruption of the Korean War in 1952 so shortly after World War II, Froman invited the four work forces to compose a vocal which would offer hope and religion to the people. Over the old ages the vocal written for Americans became a global success with Frankie Laine singing the most popular version.[ 1 ] Merely as Jane Froman who suffered chronic hurting and wore a leg brace for most of her life after lasting a plane clang in February, 1943 while she was touring ground forces cantonments in war torn Europe, commissioned this vocal to raise the liquors of people fearing the Korean War would go World War III, so did the Christian Church develop popular statements of religion to prolong its members in the face of unorthodoxy. Every, declaration in The Creed was an early Church effort to clear up the Church s beliefs and divinity. ADOPTIONISM Lord and Christ The Man Jesus KENOTICISM Divine Pre-existence Lord and Christ The Man Jesus Docetism The ageless Lord Human visual aspect The Church took many 100s of old ages to develop the beliefs and divinity which you and I take for granted. During the first 400-500 old ages the Church s theologists and those who repudiated them debated and discussed the nature of Jesus Christ: Was He human? Was He divine? Could He be both godly and human at the same clip? The Church besides tussled polemically with non-believers about the crucified Christ. If Jesus was Godhead, how could He endure on the Cross? Would nt He merely travel through the gestures of deceasing without really sing human hurting? The people who said this was the instance, non merely denied Jesus humanity, but besides denied His human birth to Mary, His female parent and denied His human decease and descent into snake pit. Christians had to believe carefully about such issues. They had to be even more careful about how they stated their beliefs: on one manus so they would clearly define God s disclosure and on another manus repulse all incorrect announcements and instructions. SLIDE FOUR To state I believe in God, the Father Almighty, The Maker of Eden and Earth was to aline Christian beliefs and divinity with Judaism from which Christianity had emerged. It was besides to put Christianity apart from Greek and Roman faiths and all other spiritual patterns and announcements by which fans worshipped many Gods. To state I believe in Jesus Christ, His lone Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary was to put Christianity apart from Judaism and, in the 7th century, from Islam. Christians committedness and devotedness to Jesus Christ sets every Christian apart from everyone else in the universe, because Christians commit to and idolize merely God whom you know through Jesus Christ. The name Jesus comes from the Aramaic name Yeshua ( Joshua ) , from Hebrew Yah-shua, intending God saves which was a popular name of the clip.[ 2 ]The name points to Him being an historical individual and non a figment of person s wild imaginativeness. Jesus is frequently called Jesus Christ or Christ with Christ being the English term for the Greek IÂ §I?I?I?I„I?I‚ intending the anointed 1. It is a interlingual rendition of the Hebrew ?zOÂ ©Oâ„ ¢?-OÂ · ( MA?A?iaa ) , normally transliterated into English as Messiah.[ 3 ]Use of this rubric grants Jesus a specific topographic point in History. When you declare that you believe in Jesus Christ your Lord, you are seeing Him in His function in relation to your personal religious demands. Merely through Jesus Christ can you trust to cognize God, so He overcomes your ignorance of God. Merely through Jesus Christ can you trust to be related with God, eliminating your alienation from God. Merely through Jesus Christ can you have the counsel and protection you need to populate as trusters who know God and are reconciled to Him. SLIDE FIVE When John wrote of such things, he called Jesus Christ the Word of God ( John 1.1-4 ) . He assumed that anyone who read his Gospel would hold at least a working cognition of the Old Testament and of Judaism within both of which the Messiah is referred to as the Word. John assumed that his readers would cognize that Jesus, as the Word, was active and powerful in Creation ( Genesis 1 ) , in rescue of God s people ( Isaiah 42.1-9 ; 49.1-7 ; 52.13-53.12 ) and opinion of people s behavior and belief ( Psalm 96.13 ) . SLIDE SIX Remarks such as those John made in the first few poetries of his Gospel ( John 1.1-4 ) underpinned the base the Church took against unorthodoxy. SLIDE SEVEN In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him and without Him non one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life and the life was the visible radiation of all people. ( John 1.1-4 NRSV ) When John started his Evangel with these words, he indicated his belief that Jesus was ageless, sharing infinity with God His Father, because In the beginning was the Word: i.e. , Jesus existed before the creative activity of the universe and the human race. John besides gave the Church a theological foundation upon which it could set up declarations such as The Apostles Creed. In the manner human existences step Time, Jesus was in the beginning with God and, because He rose from the dead defeating decease, He has no terminal. Yes! Jesus lived as a adult male within Time for about 33 old ages, but Time did non adhere Him. He was non like God, because He was God really, is God. Where God is, Jesus is. With these words John countered the dissident claim that God the Father and Jesus the Son were two distinguishable entities two distinguishable separate existences. SLIDE EIGHT John besides stated his belief that Jesus participated in the Creation of the universe and Mankind, because nil was made without Him being the Godhead: All things came into being through Him and without Him non one thing came into being ( John 1.3 ; Hebrews 1.10 ) . Besides, What has come into being in Him was life and the life was the visible radiation of all people ( John 1.4 ) . Jesus non merely participated in Creation, but besides in giving life to people. Jesus did non merely make, but besides continues to supply, so that life can travel on and on. SLIDE NINE Decision Although the Church published the first known visual aspect of The Apostles Creed about 710-714AD[ 4 ], Christians of most persuasions have used it repeatedly to confirm their religion and to give them a footing for farther theological thought. In today s western society in which Christianity is progressively marginalised and in which indifference and a deficiency of sympathy towards Christianity is distributing obliges all Christians to act openly as trusters and to declare their beliefs more boldly utilizing The Apostles Creed. You are encouraged to clear up your beliefs for yourself and others and underpin your Christian behavior. I: sermons 2010Christian Year 2010Pentecost 17 Location Raymond Terrace 19-09-2010 Bible John 1.1-18 Hebrews 12.1-4 Beginnings Bettenson, H. Documents of the Christian Church ( OUP ) Oxford 1993 repr. 23-24 Bray, G. Creeds, Councils and Christ ( IVP ) Leicester 1984 98-104, 212-214 Leith, J.H. Creeds of the Churches ( John Knox Press ) Louisville 1982 22-24 Milne, B. The Message of John ( IVP ) 1993 31-50 Packer, J.I. Confirming the Apostles Creed ( Crossway ) Wheaton 2008 24-36 Bibles Nestle-Aland Greek-English New Testament ( Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft ) Stuttgart 1971 26th Edition lt ; RSV-English gt ; lt ; Novum Testamentum Graece gt ; Thomson Chain Reference Bible NIV ( B.B.Kirkbridge A ; Zondervan Company ) New York Vocabulary Perschbacher, W.J. ( ed. , ) The New Analytical Greek Lexicon ( Hendrickson ) Peabody 2006 repr.

Malcolm X Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Malcolm X - Essay Example agencies were the incarnation of white oppression caused the BPP to believe that civil justice for the black community could be accomplished only through militant actions. It is not possible to comprehend the reason for the formation of the BPP or attempt to explain its violent tendencies without first examining the Civil Rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s and the specific events leading up to its establishment. The person most credited with bringing the Black Panther Party to prominence was a man called Malcolm X. Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little) did not start the Black Panther Party, but he became a powerful speaker during the Civil Rights Movement, eventually becoming more important to the cause by his death than he was in life as he inspired the movements that took place in the cities of the country. As Martin Luther King Jr. had secured the character of the Southern black, Malcolm had become the messiah of city slums in the North, Midwest and West. The semi-militant organization he headed, the Nation, grew quickly under his leadership. Malcolm was most remembered for his passionate anti-white speeches. This was an idea that was emulated by other pro-autonomy organizations. He was the target of many death threats, one of which, in 1965, was successful. Soon after Malcolm’s death, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale began forming the Black Panthers (Hollaway, 1998). Malcolm seemed perfectly suited to become the new leader of the Black empowerment movement having been born in 1925 to a half-white mother, Louise Little, and a black father, Earl Little, who headed the local branch of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (Perry, 1991). Regardless of what he might have thought of his father’s beliefs in the future, he never forgot the messages of Black pride and self-reliance he learned at his father’s knee. Although born in Nebraska, Malcolm grew up primarily in Michigan after his family fled, when he was still an infant, from the terrors

Ethical and Legal Implications of Medical Errors Essay

Ethical and Legal Implications of Medical Errors - Essay Example Codes of conduct at the place of work are fundamental observe. Moral values of caregivers hold it that instances of errors should be on the minimal possible. This further gives an insight into what healthcare providers consider being right or wrong. Hospital-Acquired Infections are crucial to account for. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are regarded as places where healthcare issues are addressed. As a result, Hospital Acquired Infections to some extent fails to constitute ethical occurrences. Nurses, doctors, and all medical professionals should come up with ways that alleviate or significantly minimize Hospital Acquired Infections.Rules of practice should be highly observed so that all stakeholders do not view Hospital Acquired Patients are entitled to quality and effectiveness healthcare. All responsible parties in that pursuit should ensure that the underlying rights and freedoms are observed. Failure to do so may highly attract lawsuits between the patients and the healthcar e providers. Medical errors affect different patients in different ways, and so are the legal processes that different patients will result in times of medical errors like Hospital Acquired Infections. The legal structure operates on proves, but not necessarily what the lawsuit parties individually know. For this reason, prove of conditions that exacerbate the occurrence of Hospital-Acquired Infections is highly likely to favor patients, thereby placing the healthcare sector and healthcare providers in jeopardy of service.

Role of CNO (Chief Nursing Officer) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Role of CNO (Chief Nursing Officer) - Essay Example According to a 2002 survey, approximately 55 percent of the CNOs were found to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation., & Institute of Medicine, 2011). This presents the CNOs with a good chance to present the ailing problems of the treatment, disease management, patient safety, and nursing staff safety to the top management board. In other words, the CNO is a representative for the nursing staff and the patients to the health care administration. This should go in hand with the implementation of strategies that are geared towards the improvement of the quality of services in the health care institutions. In most cases, the management board focuses primarily on financial and business aspects of health care institutions (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation., & Institute of Medicine, 2011). However, with the representation of the CNOs in the board, there is an all-round structure of administration that can make diverse and all-inclusive decisions that touch on all the stakeholders in the health sector. The significance of their representation is that they are directly in touch with the nursing staff and the patients as well as other stakeholders in the health sector. It is through the representation of the nursing staff by the CNO in the hospital board that critical issues affecting health care such as understaffing, budget pressures, turnover levels, and retention can be satisfactorily addressed. Another significant role of the CNO in health care is guaranteeing and assuring the quality of services offered in the clinics. The Chief Nursing Officer ought to directly supervise the nursing staff to ensure that patient satisfaction is achieved. The achievements and

The Speech On Animal Testing Philosophy Essay

The Speech On Animal Testing Philosophy Essay Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, it is great to be here with you all on this marvellous morning. I am here to convince all of you to oppose, stop and disengage from the cruel, detrimental and unnecessary animal testing. Do you know that the lipstick, the eyeshadow and the mascara we use to make ourselves look more attractive have poisoned hundreds of thousands of innocent animals? Do you know that the hairspray, the hair gel and the perfume we use to make ourselves look smarter have blinded hundreds of thousands of innocent animals? Do you know that even the toothpaste, the shampoo and the soap we use everyday have killed hundreds of thousands of innocent animals? If your answer is No, now is the time for all of us to know it. Animal testing is not only a research to find cures for human diseases, it is also an experimentation to establish safety of various products such as daily necessities, cosmetic products and medicines. To produce a safe product for us, numerous animals have died in laboratories. To ensure our health, numerous animals have tortured in laboratories. To let us stay away from diseases, numerous animals have gone through the unbearable aches and pains in laboratories. An overview of animal testing of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has judged us guilty of killing nearly 100 million of animals in research laboratories every year. Each year, nearly 100 million of animals have been burned, poisoned and starved. Each year, nearly 100 million of animals have been dosed with poisonous elements, driven insane and deliberately infected with diseases such as cancer, diabetes and AIDS. Each year, nearly 100 million of animals, their eyes are removed, their brains are damaged and their bones are broken. Each year, nearly 100 million of animals have been brutally abused, mercilessly tortured and defencelessly killed for human benefits. Did they deserve such cruel and brutal treatment? They died for genetics research, for biomedical research, for xenotransplantation, for physiological research, for medical research, for drug testing and for toxicology tests. Perhaps you may say these tests and researches are for a good cause, but is it a really good cause that numerous innocent animals are caged up, tortured and sacrificed to achieve? Perhaps you may say these tests and researches are good for your safety, but is the chemical reaction on an animal same as the one on a human being? Perhaps you may say these tests and researches are good for your health, but can these tests and researches reliably predict effects in humans? Are there no any side effects on human beings? Scientists and researchers claimed that they have unlimited access to animals for experiments in order to find cures for human diseases. Yet, animal testing has actually endangered the life of human beings as the results from animal testing cannot be applied to humans. According to PETAs fact sheet, they argued that In many cases, animal studies do not just hurt animals and waste money, they kill people too. Some drugs were all tested on animals and judged safe but had devastating consequences for the humans who used them. Have all of us thought that why this would happen? The answer is very simple. This is because animals and humans are completely different from each other. As Dr. Arie Brecher said, No animal species can serve as an experimental model for man. Scientists should ask themselves; do dogs have the same DNA as us? Do cats have the same genetic characteristic as us? Do rabbits or rats have the same body cell as us? It is absolutely ironic when scientists answer No to these questions while they are still using human benefits as an unacceptable and unconvincing excuse to perform the practice of animal experimentation. Thus, should we still keep our faith in scientists and researchers ability to find a cure via animal testing? Should we still believe in those products which have made millions of rabbits blind? Should we still depend on and rely on such an inaccurate experimentation to cure our diseases? For me, the answer to these questions is No. It should also be the answer of yours, the answer of our humane society, the answer of our country, the answer of all the five continents and the answer of the entire world. We have no the right to use animals as the subject for any researches or experimentations just as we do not have the right to experiment on humans without their consent. We should respect the right of all species just as we respects the right of all people. We should pitch in with the work against animal testing and stand up for animal rights, for the animals tortured and yelled behind laboratory doors just as we stand up for our own right. Like Sri Aurobindo said, Life is life whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for mans own advantage. Any of us who donates to a medical charity is actually assisting to fund the research involving animal testing. We fund to cover the expenses of cage, the expenses of feed and the expenses of experimental materials. We fund to provide and purchase animals as experimental subject. We fund to blind, scald and poison animals. Animals are just like our family, friends and companions. Is it right for us to provide money that causes our family, friends and companions to be subjected to medical research? Animals are just like us, they are creatures which created by god. Just like us, they have feelings. Just like us, they are able to feel pain, hunger and thirst. Just like us, they will grieve over loved ones they have lost. We should try to imagine the feeling of animals. We should imagine if we were massacred by those wild and ferocious animals and nobody is trying to save us. Imagine if we were living inside a small cage and waiting to die in vain. Imagine if we had no any control of our own life and had no any freedom. Imagine if we were forced to be injected with drugs or toxic substances when we had never even done anything. With modern technology that we have created these days, animal testing is really an unreliable, unscientific and unnecessary experimentation. Nowadays, we have plenty of alternatives which have a much higher percentage of success than animal testing. Instead of animal testing, we can use human cell culture systems; instead of animal testing, we can use computer mathematical models; instead of animal testing, we can use artificial human skin and eyes that mimic the bodys natural properties. I believe that with the changes in technology these days, we are able to find more ways and methods that scientists and researchers can do research without involving any cruelties and causing any harm to any creatures. Now, let us stop buying and using the products tested on animals. Now, let us save the ship of animal rights that had sunk to the bottom of the sea of humans ignorance, rudeness and curiosity. Now, let us dig up the roots of cruelty and start sowing the seeds of humanism all over the world. Now, let us start it today. Thank you very much.

Mark Edmundson’s Critique

Critique: Our Views of Online Education In Mark Edmundson's article discussing online education, he makes many valid points about an online education short comings. His reaction, however, is based solely on traditional education and is limited to such online study. He focuses primarily on student teacher interaction and oftentimes states how such communication cannot be factored into online courses. He argues that a large lecture course with face to face contact and student teacher dialogue benefits the student more; opposed to online courses with contrasting features.While this is valid, Edmundson does not consider that these issues can be worked around and that there are many pros to online education as well. Edmundson’s passage states teacher-student interaction is vital in obtaining an education. This particular form of contact has proven to keep students engaged in the learning process. Also, teacher-student interaction allows for teachers to monitor each individual stude nts’ progressions and shortcomings throughout the course of study.In Edmundson's article, he states that teachers should make it necessary to learn who their students are and adapt to their ways of learning as well as helping them grow. I strongly agree with this point of view. Many times, students who are having a hard time grasping studies find themselves somewhat bashful or embarrassed and become hesitant to speak up. This causes them to be outshined by others who may be more vocal and grasp the information quicker. Having that teacher-student connection with online education is extremely vital. Since you're not studying in a traditional classroom, you'll also miss having face time with other students.This can deprive you of important networking opportunities for your future career, as well as basic social interaction. The article states that Edmundson is adamant that in order for students to excel and obtain information, a teacher should be adaptive to their students lear ning style. Having real life courses are extremely helpful in this case. Individuals who are more comfortable with one on one meetings should totally be allotted the option of having a professor on hand to call on and meet with. Also, students who adapt more to group learning need real courses as well.Having course mates and interacting in open course discussions are great examples of the benefits of teacher-student interaction. It is also proven that students can; in fact, teach teachers. Open course discussions are the perfect time to share. When studying an appointed topic, some students go above and beyond the requirements and obtain additional knowledge that the teacher or students may or may not know. Edmundson makes several valid points about being opposed to online education. He speaks volumes about the pros of choosing a traditional, face to face education.In some ways, I agree with his argument that not having that interaction amongst the teacher and student kills the stud ents chance of receiving fair education. However, I disagree with some other things he stated. What Edmundson fails to consider is the mere fact that online teachers carry the same capabilities as traditional teachers. Students’ progress can still be monitored, test and other assignments can still be administered and in the end, grades will still be obtained. Although there is no physical connection, the online teacher can still communicate and work online with their students’ via-email and lectures.The downside of email communication is that delay time in an answer being received. There are some online schools which have courses with virtual lectures or conference lectures which give an overall classroom feeling where there is dialogue. In my opinion, online college instructors gain access to students that is at least equal to the access to students of those instructors who are teaching courses in traditional colleges. Online colleges also serve as an alternative for some aspiring students who cannot attend traditional colleges.These may be students who have encountered hardships that eliminate their option to attend a traditional school. Online schools may, in this case, serve as an alternative; online college may be more convenient. Aspiring students seeking to pursue or further their education may be wrapped up in day to day chaos that enables them to reach a campus and online courses just may fit with their busy schedules. In some cases, lack of transportation may be a rendering factor as well. Another riveting factor may be monetary situations; online colleges may have courses that are more affordable than those of a traditional university.Edmundson's article was captivating and indeed informative. He metaphorically spoke of a teacher being taught by a student which caught my attention. Had that teacher ever been that student? It's a cycle that I'm sure will not end. A degree is in fact the goal. Whether it's online schools or â€Å"real l ife† a degree is sought. Teachers and students, in my opinion, should at some point in time have some sort of physical communication but that is not that a vital source of learning. If an education is sought it can be obtained regardless of any physical contact. The source of education ultimately depends on the students drive and initiative.

Political economy Essay

Most people don’t think about their country’s economy unless it happens to be the nature of their business or unless it somehow directly or indirectly has an impact on the manner of living to which they’ve become accustomed. Economy is the financial circumstance of a country based on its level of prosperity which is determined by the success or failure of it business practices and dealings and proved by the lifestyle of its citizens. The economy is only as good as its management while management is only as good as its political economy. The political economy is a combination of economic and political factors that determine the methods of management or governing. Just what method of governing is best for a country’s economy remains a topic of debate. According to David Coates, â€Å"†¦capitalism as an economic form can be distinguished by the qualitatively distinct mixes of technologies, forms of business organization, characters of labor forces and state functions that come to predominate within it. (Coates) There are three methods of governing capitalism: market-led capitalisms, state-led capitalisms, and negotiated or consensual social capitalisms. The United States is an example of market-led capitalism. In this form, decisions are left to the discretion of private companies. While lucrative to the higher-ups within the company, employees are often only minimally compensated in the wages they earn and in industrial and social privileges. In this form of capitalism, the states involvement is constrain ed and extends only to creating and protecting the market. Ideals related to morality and business ethics are unique to individual companies and tend to be permissive. In state-led capitalism, decision making is left up to the private companies, but only after they’ve met with the approval of administrative leadership within the banking system. Japan is a shining successful example of state-led capitalism. In consensual social capitalism state regulations are minimal, but the political system supports the rights and welfare of the labor and allows them to cast their votes in decision making. Sweden and Germany are strong examples of consensual social capitalism. (Coates) Scholar, Milton Friedman contends that democracy and the rule of law are key factors that together, are instrumental in growing a strong economy. While research ratifies the benefits of property rights and the rule of law, it conveys ambivalent reactions towards the benefits of democracy. Stable property rights and an effective legal system are positive reinforcements, but even when property rights are unstable it doesn’t necessarily affect the economy adversely. Situations such as this tend to increase business activity. When the government spends money to help maintain and protect the rights of businesses, it can actually strengthen the economy. When regulations are tightened to the point that they hinder businesses and increase tax rates, it’s then that the economy is negatively affected. In a democracy, redistributions of income by means of land reforms and social welfare are implemented in order to alleviate social discord. When the governments response is exorbitant, this too will have and adverse affect on the economy. Democracy does have its flaws, but it has greater potential and is more favorable than that of an autocracy. (Robert J. Barro) In the context of rapid marketing and global integration, the consensus was that capitalism adversely affected the labor wages in countries with low labor costs. Brazil, however, has a renewed eagerness for capitalism. According to Arminio Fraga, with Gavea Investimentos, â€Å"Taken together, these things have created a new enthusiasm for capitalism, a feeling that the stockmarket is not a casino and that being part of the world economy is a good thing. (Sen) Their currency is strong and the economy is getting stronger. Companies have a more positive outlook in regards to international integration. The citizens of Brazil are also reaping the benefits. Although Brazil remains closed for the most part, they are reaping the benefits of their limited involvement in the international market. Despite the fact that Brazil is closed, it’s not unaffected by e conomic situations in the United States. A short time after the stock market crashed in 1929, Brazil’s democracy ended and a dictatorship rose up out of the dust. Brazil’s economy was hit again in the 1950’s when coffee prices soared in the U. S and again in the 1970’s when oil prices rose. It’s also been adversely affected by economic crises in other countries. Author, Sen sums it up this way, â€Å"Its politics are frustrating: corruption is rife in public life, violence widespread, illiteracy normal, poverty stubborn. And yet compared with the Brazil of old, this has the feel of a golden age. † (Sen) Trade liberalization has been a slow and steady process in Brazil. Attempts at policy reforms have met with road-blocks and often the progress that was made was lost. Despite setbacks, Brazil has made more progress in building an industrial base than other Latin American countries. They fought back against the debt crisis by pushing its exports. This move proved to be smart and effective in that it stopped the grouping of economic conglomerates. Other countries didn’t fair as well but, between 1982 and 1992, Brazil showed a trade balance of over $11 billion. (Schamis) The economy is gauged in various ways. Peter Gourevitch says, â€Å"Economic performance derives from political choices, social organization, culture, circumstances, history. † (Gourevitch) Investors measure the performance of the economy with specific indicators including the gross domestic product, job growth, consumer confidence, weekly retail sales, monthly retail sales, earnings growth rates, and the Institute for Supply Managements index. Some of these indicators, however, are determined by the spending habits of the citizens. Spending habits can also be a reflection of consumer confidence. When sales are up and the public is investing their money, it’s a fairly reliable indication that the economy is in good shape, at least from the people’s perspective. Unknown) The quality of life of the citizens should definitely be considered when gauging the performance of economy. Brazil’s economy is fairing far better now than it did for twenty years. Since 2004, the economy has shot up at a rate of 4. 5%. The economy is stable and growing. Paulo says, â€Å"In fact, for those excited by economic meltdowns and political turmoil, the place has become r ather dull. † (Sen) As recent as 2007, the stockmarket experienced growth by 44%. Overall, growth increased to 5. 4%. In comparison to Russia, India and China, one might think that Brazil’s economy is dormant and insignificant, but nothing could be further from the truth. Although out-ranked in size, Brazil’s economy is growing and strong. Once hounded by the persistent problems of inflation, debt and democracy, the country has successfully overcome them and now their economy is in good standing. Due to considerable reforms, Brazil’s corporate and financial future looks bright as well. Growth is fixed and holding. Inflation is no longer out of control and has stabilized. Foreign exchange has gradually increased and so has foreign investment. International reserves have also stepped up. Domestically speaking, retail sales have increased to 9. 7 percent and auto production has reached 13. 9 percent. The unemployment situation is improving and new jobs are being created. There has even been a rise in social mobility. Now, 49 percent of the population is in the ranks of the middle class compared to 32 percent 2002. Success has been a long time coming for Brazil. According to Mauro Leos, Vice President of the Sovereign Risk Unit, these achievements were reached by means of good luck and hard work.

The eNotes Blog Answer Questions, Earn Money for School eNotes New ScholarshipProgram

Answer Questions, Earn Money for School New ScholarshipProgram Each month were awarding a $500 grant to one of our standout students. Could it be you? Welcome to a new kind of scholarship program. At , we dont need you to write an essay to try and stand out from the millions. We just want you to share your knowledge with others and help your fellow students  get through their homework assignments. Contribute your answers to Homework Help and youll be automatically entered to win a $500 grant each month! How does it work? Its simple: 1. Answer questions from other students at /homework-help. 2. Become one of the top 50 student answerers and youll earn a place on our TA Scholarship Leaderboard, here.  This page displays the students on who have posted the most answers in the current  month. 3. One winner and two runners-up will be selected each month from this top 50. 1st place receives $500 and an premium membership. Runners-up will each receive a $250 grant. Thats money that can be put towards your tuition, textbooks, anything you spend money on for school. To stand out from the top 50 on the TA Scholarship Leaderboard your answers must show an enthusiasm to share your knowledge with others, so make your answers fun, informative, and entirely your own. Its that easy! Head to Homework Help now to get started or visit our scholarship Leaderboard for more information. You can also check out our  TA FAQ page  for a complete list of rules and guidelines. Dont yet have an account? Head to this page to sign up for free and start posting answers. We cant wait to read your posts. Happy answering!

What You Can Learn From Obamas Biggest Failure

What You Can Learn From Obamas Biggest Failure Everybody fails. Even the fanciest and most successful of celebrities, historical figures, and our most idolized idols. Including the President of the United States, Barack Obama. Here’s a look at Obama’s biggest failure in his career and how it paved his path to the presidency. You know Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and an all-around successful  guy, helping dig the economy out of it’s 2008 chasm, presiding over recovery, stimulating job growth, improving global opinion, etc., But did you know that he was once a big fat failure? Really.He lost. Big time.His first bid for national office was a total flop. Having spent two terms in the Illinois Senate, he made a run for Congress in 2000- running as a practical nobody against an opponent who was both a household name and had a 70% approval rating. His first failure was choosing the race. His second? The race itself. He lost by 31 points.Part of this was out of his control. His opponentâ €™s son was shot and killed during the campaign. And while Obama suspended his campaign for a month and worked to help champion gun control legislation, circumstances found him stuck in Hawaii caring for his sick daughter when the vote occurred. The story told by the news media? He was lounging on a beach instead of helping to make Illinois a safer place.He made up for it.What matters is what he did with that failure. First he went back to the state Senate, then he ran successfully for U.S. Senate in 2004. Somewhere in there he retooled his message, shooting bigger and higher, focusing on hope. He wrote his book, The Audacity of Hope, and set his sights on the presidency.Without that one humbling failure, Obama may never have had to do the kind of soul-searching and message re-thinking he did in 2002. The next time you fail, take a few steps back and remember how a guy from Chicago went from getting spanked in a run for Congress, and turning that failure into the spectacular suc cess of a two-term presidency of the United States.President Obama: A Profile in Failure

English Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

English - Research Paper Example However, once fans found out that Tim Burton would be in charge of the project, many fears and doubts were alleviated. Indeed, nobody left the theater feeling disappointed. Janet Maslin, a writer with The New York Times, states that, â€Å"[...] An ornate visual fantasy of Mr. Burton’s can be expected to make its own rules, and Sleepy Hollow does that with macabre gusto.† Maslin continues her article with much praise for the â€Å"grimly voluptuous† Sleepy Hollow. Burton made his name in the film industry by never holding back when trying to display or explain something. If the scene called for horror, he would deliver horror, and then some. While the fans of Burton are used to his macabre style, many were still shocked, though pleasingly so, with how far he took the graphics in Sleepy Hollow. As Tim Burton has a very distinctive style with his filming, people expected quite a bit out of Sleepy Hollow. While most directors either get away or not with how they film something, a specific outcome is expected from Tim Burton. Kamal Larsuel-Ulbricht, for one, was not disappointed. In her review (1999), she expresses a certain fondness for the result of Sleepy Hollow, saying, â€Å"This was not Disney’s ‘Sleepy Hollow’. [Tim Burton] is sometimes a bit too weird for those who don’t quite understand his style [but for those who do], people can appreciate this take on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.† So it would seem, those that can really take away something from the film would be those that are already familiar with Tim Burton’s unique style of directing. Justin Felix (1999) considers Sleepy Hollow to count â€Å"among [Tim Burton’s] better movies,† further stating that, â€Å"With the recent disappointments in theatrically released horror movies, we needed a film like this.† Felix takes his review a little bit further by commenting on the aspects that

What if Alexander Graham Bell Did Not Invent the Telephone Essay

What if Alexander Graham Bell Did Not Invent the Telephone - Essay Example High-end communication devices at present are products of a gradual and consistent innovation of telephone to become cellular phones or the so-called wireless communication devices. Now, consumers are no longer satisfied with the primitive capacity and purpose of telephones or cellular phones which is to be able to hear and talk to important people. With the invention of Internet by Tim Berners-Lee, phones are now capable of surfing the Web, tracking locations, and capturing images. Now, we ask, would we have the kind of luxury and convenience in doing our everyday tasks if, first and foremost, no one invented the telephone? What if Alexander Graham Bell did not think of creating a magnificent machine that allows people to speak to people separated by geographical distance? Well, the answer might vary and would depend on probabilities, like other inventors in the likes of Joseph Henry, who invented the electric telegraph, or Thomas Edison, could actually thought of inventing the tele phone. A reluctant response might be that cellular phones are impossible to surface, and the Internet remains a mystery to the humanity. This essay attempts to present the possibilities if Alexander Graham Bell had never created the electric telephone, and highlights the importance of this invention to humanity’s history. ... Meucci, among other telephone inventors, was reportedly the first â€Å"to have a functioning electric telephone† which he attempted to patent (Meucci 9). Then there was Elisha Gray who was also regarded as the one who first patented the telephone close with Bell’s filing of patency in 1876 (Evenson 3). There were conspiracies regarding who really is to be credited for the telephone’s invention, but the federal government credited Alexander Graham Bell for patenting the telephone’s creation (Evenson 3). Alexander Graham Bell undoubtedly has been part of the pages of world history. Bell is a notable inventor, scientist, and teacher. Born on March 3, 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Bell was known for his pet name Alec (Feinstein 1). His contemporary, Samuel Morse, also invented a communication device, which was the telegraph, which enables the transmission of electrical impulses that result in dots and dashes (Feinstein 10). These dots and dashes represent the letters of the alphabet and can be interpreted using the Morse code (Feinstein 11). Although he received a patent in 1840, Morse’s electric telegraph had certain shortcomings. It did not cater the needs of ordinary people since it cannot be connected to their respective homes, and second, it was quite expensive. Feinstein wrote that, while the telegraph was a big leap towards the advances in communication, Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone â€Å"truly conquered time and distance† and â€Å"create a world in which people were as close to each other as the nearest phone† (19). 3.0 Period of Natural Science and Technology Early and late nineteenth century was a period marked by the fall of European and Asian empires and the rise of the German, British, American, and Japanese