Platos Allegory of the Cave and the Condition of Mankind

In philosophy the distinction between truth and knowledge is effectively highlighted in Plato’s allegory of the cave, which illustrates the great limitations faced by philosophers in discovering the ultimate nature of reality. Nevertheless regarding the theory of knowledge, the parable itself is highly symbolic and asserts that any knowledge gained through perceptual awareness is an illusion and are mere reflections of the highest truths. This allegory can be interpreted in many ways; however in the context of platonic epistemology it flawlessly conveys Plato’s â€Å"Theory of forms† of an immaterial realm of abstractions considered to be the highest reality in which upon all natural phenomenon is based on. The difference between truth and†¦show more content†¦Additionally escaping from the cave of ignorance and error is the central message of the allegory. Yet the metaphorical aspects of the parable are less comprehensible and like all narratives are subject to interpretation. Yet despite this upon examining the symbolism from the perspective of Platonic philosophy it is can be speculated that the cave is the day to day world of perceptual experience. While the other features of the allegory such as the journey out of the cave and seeing the sun being respectively representing insight and enlightenment into the true nature of reality. On the other hand if this were entirely true the universal human condition would be akin to living in a virtual simulator or in a dreamlike state, much like the prisoners inside the cave depicted living in on a steady diet of shadows and reflections. Additionally the implications for this theory are severe since this would be highly problematic t o all aspects of social and cultural life as we know it, as they form the very basis of meaning for the majority of householders in the world. Yet it is apparent that nearly everyone functions fairly well in most aspects of human life with mistakes and confusion being the exception rather than the norm. In the end the countless philosophical theories that have been proposed throughout the ages have been very difficult to confirm. Since the limits of perceptual experience and empirical evidence present muchShow MoreRelatedThe Allegory of the Cave2024 Words   |  9 PagesIntroduction: An allegory is a kind of story in which writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface story. One of the most important allegories ever to be gifted to humankind is Allegory of the Cave. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is one of the most potent and pregnant of allegories that describe human condition in both its fallen and risen states. The Allegory of the Cave is Platos explanation of the education of the soul toward enlightenment. It is also known as the Analogy of the Cave, PlatosRead MorePlato, Descartes, And The Matrix1150 Words   |  5 PagesDespite the maze of existence that peaks the curiosity of mankind at some point in our lives there is plenty of interesting insight that can be found through our thought patterns simply by looking at the work of Plato, Descartes and the modern sci-fi thriller The Matrix. In the works of Plato and Descartes entitled The Republic and Meditations on First Philosophy, each literary piece (respectively) presents fascinati ng thoughts on how mankind interprets reality and how we’ve come to know the thingsRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave1093 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Cave begins by explaining the conditions of the people inside the cave. The people inside sit side by side. Their hands and legs are chained to the ground. They face a wall in the cave. The cave is illuminated by a fire behind the people. On the wall, there are projections of shadows created by the fire and objects that passes by fire. The prisoners dont know this, of course, because they are bound so tight that they cant turn their heads. There are people that are carrying objects to createRead MorePlato And Aristotle s View On Knowledge Essay1297 Words   |  6 PagesA perpetual conflict emanating throughout all mankind questions the significance of knowledge to human nature, regarding knowledge’s definition, acquisition, branches, and value. Major role models in the foundation of philosophy - specifically, in this essay, Plato and Aristotle - obsess over the significance of knowledge and its importance to and relationship with the development of human beings and their mindsets. Although Plato’s view on knowledge describes the internal predisposed essence ofRead MoreSocial Interactions : The Inner Circle1203 Words   |  5 Pagessame. 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Forward the Foundation Chapter 27 Free Essays

22 â€Å"Mr. Bindris,† said Hari Seldon, reaching out his hand to shake the other’s. â€Å"I am so glad to be able to see you. We will write a custom essay sample on Forward the Foundation Chapter 27 or any similar topic only for you Order Now It was good of you to agree to see me.† â€Å"Why not?† said Terep Bindris jovially. â€Å"I know you well. Or, rather, I know of you well.† â€Å"That’s pleasant. I take it you’ve heard of psychohistory, then.† â€Å"Oh yes, what intelligent person hasn’t? Not that I understand anything about it, of course. And who is this young lady you have with you?† â€Å"My granddaughter, Wanda.† â€Å"A very pretty young woman.† He beamed. â€Å"Somehow I feel I’d be putty in her hands.† Wanda said, â€Å"I think you exaggerate, sir.† â€Å"No, really. Now, please, sit down and tell me what it is I can do for you.† He gestured expansively with his arm, indicating that they be seated on two overstuffed, richly brocaded chairs in front of the desk at which he sat. The chairs, like the ornate desk, the imposing carved doors which had slid back noiselessly at their arrival signal, and the gleaming obsidian floor of Bindris’s vast office, were of the finest quality. And, although his surroundings were impressive-and imposing-Bindris himself was not. The slight cordial man would not be taken, at first glance, for one of Trantor’s leading financial powerbrokers. â€Å"We’re here, sir, at the Emperor’s suggestion.† â€Å"The Emperor?† â€Å"Yes, he could not help us, but he thought a man like you might be able to do so. The question, of course, is credits.† Bindris’s face fell. â€Å"Credits?† he said. â€Å"I don’t understand.† â€Å"Well,† said Seldon, â€Å"for nearly forty years, psychohistory has been supported by the government. However, times change and the Empire is no longer what it was.† â€Å"Yes, I know that.†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ â€Å"The Emperor lacks the credits to support us or, even if he did have the credits, he couldn’t get the request for funding past the Legislature. He recommends, therefore, that I see businesspeople who, in the first place, still have credits and, in the second place, can simply write out a credit voucher.† There was a longish pause and Bindris finally said, â€Å"The Emperor, I’m afraid, knows nothing about business. -How many credits do you want?† â€Å"Mr. Bindris, we’re talking about an enormous task. I’m going to need several million.† â€Å"Several million!† â€Å"Yes, sir.† Bindris frowned. â€Å"Are we talking about a loan here? When do you expect to be able to pay it back?† â€Å"Well, Mr. Bindris, I can’t honestly say I ever expect to be able to pay it back. I’m looking for a gift.† â€Å"Even if I wanted to give you the credits-and let me tell you, for some strange reason I very much want to do so-I couldn’t. The Emperor may have his Legislature, but I have my Board members. I can’t make a gift of that sort without the Board’s permission and they’ll never grant it.† â€Å"Why not? Your firm is enormously wealthy. A few million would mean nothing to you.† â€Å"That sounds good,† said Bindris, â€Å"but I’m afraid that the firm is in a state of decline right now. Not sufficiently to bring us into serious trouble, but enough to make us unhappy. If the Empire is in a state of decay, different individual parts of it are decaying, too. We are in no position to hand out a few million. I’m truly sorry.† Seldon sat there silently and Bindris seemed unhappy. He shook his Head at last and said, â€Å"Look, Professor Seldon, I would really like to help you out, particularly for the sake of the young lady you have with you. It just can’t be done. However, we’re not the only firm in Trantor. Try others, Professor. You may have better luck elsewhere.† â€Å"Well,† said Seldon, raising himself to his feet with an effort, â€Å"we shall try.† 23 Wanda’s eyes were filled with tears, but the emotion they represented was not sorrow but fury. â€Å"Grandpa,† she said, â€Å"I don’t understand it. I simply don’t understand it. We’ve been to four different firms. Each one was ruder and nastier to us than the one before. The fourth one just kicked us out. And since then, no one will let us in.† â€Å"It’s no mystery, Wanda,† said Seldon gently. â€Å"When we saw Bindris, he didn’t know what we were there for and he was perfectly friendly until I asked for a gift of a few million credits. Then he was a great deal less friendly. I imagine the word went out as to what we wanted and each additional time there was less friendliness until now, when people won’t receive us at all. Why should they? They’re not going to give us the credits we need, so why waste time with us?† Wanda’s anger turned on herself. â€Å"And what did I do? I just sat there. Nothing.† â€Å"I wouldn’t say that,† said Seldon. â€Å"Bindris was affected by you. It seems to me that he really wanted to give me the credits, largely because of you. You were pushing him and accomplishing something.† â€Å"Not nearly enough. Besides, all he cared about was that I was pretty.† â€Å"Not pretty,† muttered Seldon. â€Å"Beautiful. Very beautiful.† â€Å"So what do we do now, Grandpa?† asked Wanda. â€Å"After all these years, psychohistory will collapse.† â€Å"I suppose that,† said Seldon â€Å"in a way, it’s something that can’t be helped. I’ve been predicting the breakdown of the Empire for nearly forty years and now that it’s come, psychohistory breaks down with it.† â€Å"But psychohistory will save the Empire, at least partly.† â€Å"I know it will, but I can’t force it to.† â€Å"Are you just going to let it collapse?† Seldon shook his head. â€Å"I’ll try to keep it from doing so, but I must admit that I don’t know how I’m going to do it.† Wanda said, â€Å"I’m going to practice. There must be some way I can strengthen my push, make it easier for me to force people to do what I want them to do.† â€Å"I wish you could manage.† â€Å"What are you going to do, Grandpa?† â€Å"Well, nothing much. Two days ago, when I was on my way to see the Chief Librarian, I encountered three men in the Library who were arguing about psychohistory. For some reason, one of them impressed me very much. I urged him to come see me and he agreed. The appointment is for this afternoon at my office.† â€Å"Are you going to have him work for you?† â€Å"I would like to-if I have enough credits to pay him with. But it can’t hurt to talk with him. After all, what can I lose?† 24 The young man arrived at precisely 4 T.S.T. (Trantorian Standard Time) and Seldon smiled. He loved punctual people. He placed his hands on his desk and made ready to heave to his feet, but the young man said, â€Å"Please, Professor, I know you have a bad leg. You needn’t stand up.† Seldon said, â€Å"Thank you, young man. However, that does not mean that you cannot sit down. Please do.† The young man removed his jacket and sat down. Seldon said, â€Å"You must forgive me†¦ when we met and set up this appointment, I neglected to learn your name-which is†¦? â€Å"Stettin Palver,† said the young man. â€Å"Ah. Palver! Palver! The name sounds familiar.† â€Å"It should, Professor. My grandfather boasted frequently of having known you.† â€Å"Your grandfather. Of course. Joramis Palver. He was two years younger than I was, as I recall. I tried to get him to join me in psychohistory, but he refused. He said there was no chance of his ever learning enough mathematics to make it possible. Too bad! How is Joramis, by the way?† Palver said solemnly, â€Å"I’m afraid that Joramis has gone the way of old men generally. He’s dead.† Seldon winced. Two years younger than he himself was-and dead. An old friend and they had lost touch to such a degree that, when death came, it did so unknowingly. Seldon sat there for a while and finally muttered, â€Å"I’m sorry.† The young man shrugged. â€Å"He had a good life.† â€Å"And you, young man, where did you have your schooling?† â€Å"Langano University.† Seldon frowned. â€Å"Langano? Stop me if I’m wrong, but that’s not on Trantor, is it?† â€Å"No. I wanted to try a different world. The Universities on Trantor, as you undoubtedly know very well, are all overcrowded. I wanted to find a place where I could study in peace.† â€Å"And what did you study?† â€Å"Nothing much. History. Not the sort of thing that would lead one to a good job.† (Another wince, even worse than the first. Dors Venabili had been a historian.) Seldon said, â€Å"But you’re back here on Trantor. Why is that?† â€Å"Credits. Jobs.† â€Å"As an historian?† Palver laughed. â€Å"Not a chance. I run a device that pulls and hauls. Not exactly a professional occupation.† Seldon looked at Palver with a twinge of envy. The contours of Palver’s arms and chest were highlighted by the thin fabric of his shirt. He was well muscled. Seldon had never himself been quite that muscular. Seldon said, â€Å"I presume that when you were at the University, you were on the boxing team.† â€Å"Who, me? Never. I’m a Twister.† â€Å"A Twister!† Seldon’s spirits jumped. â€Å"Are you from Helicon?† Palver said with a certain contempt, â€Å"You don’t have to come from Helicon to be a good Twister.† No, thought Seldon, but that’s where the best ones come from. However, he said nothing. He did say, though, â€Å"Well, your grandfather would not join me. How about you?† â€Å"Psychohistory?† â€Å"I heard you talking to the others when I first encountered you and it seemed to me that you were talking quite intelligently about psychohistory. Would you like to join me, then?† â€Å"As I said, Professor, I have a job.† â€Å"Pushing and hauling. Come, come.† â€Å"It pays well.† â€Å"Credits aren’t everything.† â€Å"They’re quite a bit. Now you, on the other hand, can’t pay me much. I’m quite certain that you’re short of credits.† â€Å"Why do you say that?† â€Å"I’m guessing, in a way, I suppose. But am I wrong?† Seldon’s lips pressed together hard, then he said, â€Å"No, you’re not wrong and I can’t pay you much. I’m sorry. I suppose that ends our little interview.† â€Å"Wait, wait, wait.† Palver held up his hands. â€Å"Not quite so fast, please. We’re still talking about psychohistory. If I work for you, I will be taught psychohistory, right?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"In that case, credits aren’t everything, after all. I’ll make you a deal. You teach me all the psychohistory you can and you pay me whatever you can and I’ll get by somehow. How about it?† â€Å"Wonderful,† said Seldon joyously. â€Å"That sounds great. Now, one more thing.† â€Å"Oh?† â€Å"Yes. I’ve been attacked twice in recent weeks. The first time my son came to my defense, but he has since gone to Santanni. The second time I made use of my lead-filled walking stick. It worked, but I was dragged before a magistrate and accused of assault and battery-â€Å" â€Å"Why the attacks?† interjected Palver. â€Å"I am not popular. I have been preaching the Fall of the Empire for so long that, now that it is coming, I am blamed for it.† â€Å"I see. Now then, what does all that have to do with the one more thing you mentioned?† â€Å"I want you to be my bodyguard. You’re young, you’re strong, and, most of all, you’re a Twister. You’re exactly what I need.† â€Å"I suppose it can be managed,† Palver said with a smile. 25 â€Å"See there, Stettin,† Seldon said as the two were taking an early evening stroll in one of Trantor’s residential sectors near Streeling. The older man pointed to debris-assorted refuse jettisoned from passing groundcars or dropped by careless pedestrians-strewn along the walkway. â€Å"In the old days,† Seldon continued, â€Å"you would never see litter like this. The security officers were vigilant and municipal maintenance crews provided round-the-clock upkeep of all public areas. But, most important, no one would even think of dumping his trash in such a manner. Trantor was our home; we took pride in it. Now†-Seldon shook his head sadly, resignedly, and sighed-â€Å"it’s-† He broke off abruptly. â€Å"You there, young man!† Seldon shouted at a ill-kempt fellow who had moments before passed them, going in the opposite direction. He was munching a treat just popped into his mouth; the wrapper had been tossed to the ground without so much as a downward glance. â€Å"Pick that up and dispose of it properly,† Seldon admonished as the young man eyed him sullenly. â€Å"Pick it up yourself,† the boy snarled and then he turned and walked away. â€Å"It’s another sign of society’s breakdown, as predicted by your psychohistory, Professor Seldon,† Palver said. â€Å"Yes, Stettin. All around us the Empire is falling apart, piece by piece. In fact, it’s already smashed-there’s no turning back now. Apathy, decay, and greed have all played their parts in destroying the once-glorious Empire. And what will take its place? Why-â€Å" Here Seldon broke off at the sight of Palver’s face. The younger man seemed to be listening intently-but not to Seldon’s voice. His head was cocked to one side and his face had a far-off look. It was as if Palver were straining to hear some sound inaudible to everyone but himself. Suddenly he snapped back to the here and now. With an urgent glance around them, Palver took hold of Seldon’s arm. â€Å"Hari, quick, we must get away. They’re coming†¦Ã¢â‚¬  And then the still evening was broken by the harsh sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. Seldon and Palver spun around, but it was too late; a band of attackers was upon them. This time, however, Hari Seldon was prepared. He immediately swung his cane in a wide arc around Palver and himself. At this, the three attackers-two boys and a girl, all teenage ruffians-laughed. â€Å"So, you’re not goin’ to make it easy, are you, old man?† snorted the boy who appeared to be the group’s ringleader. â€Å"Why, me and my buddies, we’ll take you out in two seconds flat. We’ll-† All of a sudden, the ringleader was down, the victim of a perfectly placed Twist-kick to his abdomen. The two ruffians who were still standing quickly dropped to a crouch in preparation for attack. But Palver was quicker. They, too, were felled almost before they knew what hit them. And then it was over-almost as soon as it started. Seldon stood off to the side, leaning heavily on his cane, shaking at the thought of his narrow escape. Palver, panting slightly from exertion, surveyed the scene. The three attackers were out cold on the deserted walkway under the darkening dome. â€Å"Come on, let’s get out of here quickly!† Palver urged again, only this time it was not the attackers they would be fleeing. â€Å"Stettin, we can’t leave,† protested Seldon. He gestured toward the unconscious would-be muggers. â€Å"They’re really nothing more than children. They may be dying. How can we just walk away? It’s inhumane-that’s what it is-and humanity is exactly what I’ve been working all these years to protect.† Seldon struck the ground with his cane for emphasis and his eyes gleamed with conviction. â€Å"Nonsense,† retorted Palver. â€Å"What’s inhumane is the way muggers like that prey on innocent citizens like you. Do you think they’d have given you a second thought? They’d just as soon stick a knife in your gut to steal your last credit-and then kick you as they ran! They’ll come to soon enough and slink away to lick their wounds. Or someone will find them and call the central office. â€Å"But, Hari, you must think. After what happened last time, you stand to lose everything if you’re linked to another beating. Please, Hari, we must run!† With this, Palver grabbed Seldon’s arm and Seldon after a List backward glance, allowed himself to be led away. As the footsteps of the rapidly departing Seldon and Palver diminished in the distance, another figure emerged from his hiding place behind some trees. Chuckling to himself, the sullen-eyed youth muttered, â€Å"You’re a fine one to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong, Professor.† With that, he spun on his heel and headed off to summon the security officers. 26 â€Å"Order! I will have order!† bellowed Judge Tejan Popjens Lih. The public hearing of Professor Raven Seldon and his young associate, Stettin Palver, had generated a hue and cry among the populace of Trantor. Here was the man who had predicted the Fall of the Empire, the decay of civilization, who exhorted others to harken back to the golden age of civility and order-here was he who, according to an eyewitness, had ordered the brutal beating of three young Trantorians for no apparent provocation. Ah yes, it promised to be a spectacular hearing, one which would lead, no doubt, to an even more spectacular trial. The judge pressed a contact set into a recessed panel on her bench and a sonorous gong resounded through the packed courtroom. â€Å"I will have order,† she repeated to the now-hushed throng. â€Å"If need be, the courtroom will be cleared. That is a warning. It will not be repeated.† The judge cut an imposing figure in her scarlet robe. Originally from the Outer World of Lystena, Lih’s complexion had a slight bluish cast, which turned darker when she became exercised, practically purple when she was really angry. It was rumored that, for all her years on the bench, in spite of her reputation as a top judicial mind, notwithstanding her position as one of the most revered interpreters of Imperial law, Lih was ever so slightly vain about the colorful appearance she gave, the way in which the bright red robes set off her soft turquoise skin. Nevertheless, Lih had a reputation for coming down hard on those who brooked Imperial law; she was one of the few judges left who upheld the civil code without wavering. â€Å"I have heard of you, Professor Seldon, and your theories about our imminent destruction. And I have spoken with the magistrate who recently heard another case in which you were involved, one in which you struck a man with your lead-filled cane. In that instance, too, you claimed to be the victim of assault. Your reasoning stemmed, I believe, from a previous unreported incident in which you and your son allegedly were assaulted by eight hoodlums. You were able to convince my esteemed colleague, Professor Seldon of your plea of self-defense, even though an eyewitness testified otherwise. This time, Professor, you will have to be much more convincing.† The three hoodlums who were bringing charges against Seldon and Palver snickered in their seats at the plaintiff’s table. They presented a much different appearance today than they had the evening of the attack. The young men were sporting clean loose-fitting unisuits; the young lady was wearing a crisply pleated tunic. All in all, if one didn’t look (or listen) too closely, the three presented a reassuring picture of Trantorian youth. Seldon’s lawyer, Civ Novker (who was representing Palver as well), approached the bench. â€Å"Your Honor, my client is an upstanding member of the Trantorian community. He is a former First Minister of stellar repute. He is a personal acquaintance of our Emperor Agis XIV. What possible benefit could Professor Seldon derive from attacking innocent young people? He is one of the most vocal proponents of stimulating the intellectual creativity of Trantorian youth-his Psychohistory Project employs numerous student volunteers; he is a beloved member of the Streeling University faculty. â€Å"Further-† Here Novker paused, sweeping his gaze around the packed courtroom, as if to say, Wait till you hear this-you’ll be ashamed that you ever for a second doubted the veracity of my client’s claims, â€Å"Professor Seldon is one of the very few private individuals officially allied with the prestigious Galactic Library. He has been granted unlimited use of Library facilities for work on what he calls the Encyclopedia Galactica, a veritable paean to Imperial civilization. â€Å"I ask you, how can this man even be questioned in such a matter?† With a flourish of his arm, Novker gestured toward Seldon who was sitting at the defendant’s table with Stettin Palver, looking decidedly uncomfortable. Hari’s cheeks were flushed from the unaccustomed praise (after all, lately his name was the subject of derisive snickers rather than flowery plaudits) and his hand shook slightly on the carved Dandle of his trusty cane. Judge Lih gazed down at Seldon clearly unimpressed. â€Å"What benefit, indeed, Counselor. I have been asking myself that very question. I’ve lain make these past nights, racking my brains for a plausible reason. Why should a man of Professor Seldon’s stature commit unprovoked assault and battery when he himself is one of our most outspoken critics of the so-called ‘breakdown’ of civil order? â€Å"And then it dawned on me. Perhaps, in his frustration at not being believed, Professor Seldon feels he must prove to the worlds that his predictions of doom and gloom really are coming to pass. After all, here is a man who has spent his entire career foretelling the Fall of the Empire and all he can really point to are a few burned-out bulbs in the dome, an occasional glitch in public transport, a budget cut here or there-nothing very dramatic. But an attack-or two or three-now, that would be something.† Lih sat back and folded her hands in front of her, a satisfied expression on her face. Seldon stood, leaning heavily on the table for support. With great effort, he approached the bench, waving off his lawyer, walking headlong into the steely gaze of the judge. â€Å"Your Honor, please permit me to say a few words in my defense.† â€Å"Of course, Professor Seldon. After all, this is not a trial, only a hearing to air all allegations, facts, and theories pertinent to the** case before deciding whether or not to go ahead with a trial. I have merely expressed a theory; I am most interested to hear what you have to say.† Seldon cleared his throat before beginning. â€Å"I have devoted my life to the Empire. I have faithfully served the Emperors. My science of psychohistory, rather than being a harbinger of destruction, is intended to be used as an agent for rejuvenation. With it we can be prepared for whatever course civilization takes. If, as I believe, the Empire continues to break down, psychohistory will help us put into place building blocks for a new and better civilization founded on all that is good from the old. I love our worlds, our peoples, our Empire-what would it behoove me to contribute to the lawlessness that saps its strength daily? â€Å"I can say no more. You must believe me. I, a man of intellect, of equations, of science-I am speaking from my heart.† Seldon turned and made his way slowly back to his chair beside Palver. Before sitting, his eyes sought Wanda, sitting in the spectators’ gallery. She smiled wanly and winked at him. â€Å"From the heart or not, Professor Seldon, this decision will require much thought on my part. We have heard from your accusers; we have heard from you and Mr. Palver. There is one more party whose testimony I need. I’d like to hear from Rial Nevas, who has come forward as an eyewitness to this incident.† As Nevas approached the bench, Seldon and Palver looked at each other in alarm. It was the boy whom Hari had admonished just before the attack. Lih was asking the youth a question. â€Å"Would you describe, Mr. Nevas, exactly what you witnessed on the night in question?† â€Å"Well,† started Nevas, fixing Seldon with his sullen stare, â€Å"I was walkin’ along, mindin’ my own business, when I saw those two,†-he turned and pointed at Seldon and Palver-â€Å"on the other side of the walkway, comin’ toward me. And then I saw those three kids.† (Another point of the finger, this time toward the three sitting at the plaintiff’s table.) â€Å"The two older guys were walkin’ behind the kids. They didn’t see me, though, on account of I was on the other side of the walkway and besides, they were concentratin’ on their victims. Then wham! Just like that, that old guy swings at ’em with his stick, then the younger guy jumps ’em and kicks ’em and before you know it, they’re all down on the ground. Then the old guy and his pal, they just took off, just like that. I couldn’t believe it.† â€Å"That’s a lie!† Seldon exploded. â€Å"Young man, you’re playing with our lives here!† Nevas only stared back at Seldon impassively. â€Å"Judge,† Seldon implored, â€Å"can’t you see that he is lying? I remember this fellow. I scolded him for littering just minutes before we were attacked. I pointed it out to Stettin as another instance of the breakdown of our society, the apathy of the citizenry, the-â€Å" â€Å"Enough, Professor Seldon,† commanded the judge. â€Å"Another outburst like that and I will have you ejected from this courtroom. Now, Mr. Nevas,† she said, turning back to the witness. â€Å"What did you do throughout the sequence of events you just described?† â€Å"I, uh, I hid. Behind some trees. I hid. I was afraid they’d come after me if they saw me, so I hid. And when they were gone, well, I ran and called the security officers.† Nevas had started to sweat and he inserted a finger into the constricting collar of his unisuit. He fidgeted, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he stood on the raised speaker’s platform. He was uncomfortably aware of the crowd’s eyes upon him; he tried to avoid looking into the audience, but each time he did, he found himself drawn to the **toady gaze of a pretty blond girl sitting in the first row. It was as if she was asking him a question, pressing him for an answer, willing him to **peak. â€Å"Mr. Nevas, what do you have to say about Professor Seldon’s allegation that he and Mr. Palver did see you prior to the attack, that the professor actually exchanged words with you?† â€Å"Well, uh, no, you see, it was just like I said†¦ I was walkin’ along and-† And now Nevas looked over at Seldon’s table. Seldon looked at the young man sadly, as if he realized all was lost. But Seldon’s companion, Stettin Palver, turned a fierce gaze on Nevas and Nevas jumped, startled, at the words he heard: Tell the truth! It was as if Palver had spoken, but Palver’s lips hadn’t moved. And then, confused, Nevas snapped his head in the direction of the blond girl; he thought he heard her speak-Tell the truth!-but her lips were still as well. â€Å"Mr. Nevas, Mr. Nevas,† the judge’s voice broke in on the youth’s jumbled thoughts. â€Å"Mr. Nevas, if Professor Seldon and Mr. Palver were walking toward you, behind the three plaintiffs, how is it that you noticed Seldon and Palver first? That is how you put it in your statement, is it not?† Nevas glanced around the courtroom wildly. He couldn’t seem to escape the eyes, all the eyes screaming at him to Tell the truth! Looking over at Hari Seldon, Rial Nevas said simply, â€Å"I’m sorry† and, to the amazement of the entire courtroom assemblage, the fourteen-year-old boy started to cry. How to cite Forward the Foundation Chapter 27, Essay examples

Integrating Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management Actions

Question: Describe about the Integrating Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management Actions to Create Firm Wealth? Answer: Introduction Entrepreneurship is among vital procedure in the contemporary economy. In present time, the big companies are focusing more on commencing new initiatives related to entrepreneurship. This is done to maintain a competitive advantage with innovative ideas with fresh as well as finest talent. Smart firms are actively catering to aspiring entrepreneurs, enabling employees to pitch their concepts as well as providing funds for the same (Jovanovic Lach, 1997). At the same time, aspiring entrepreneurs could acquire much knowledge regarding important lessons and develop expertise about adequate manner to run a business successfully, within the big company that is guiding these skills. In addition, working for a firm prior to commencing one's individual company holds great advantages. This is because a new entrepreneur has to consider all pros and cons to take right decisions, but an individual without any training would be less efficient to handle every bit of work. So, in this assignment, we would critically evaluate that how big companies with its employees having years of experience can put an aspiring entrepreneur on the right track to become a successful entrepreneur in the future. Factors Responsible for Success Commencing a new business is a significant stage in any entrepreneur's life. But, prior to taking the prime step, one needs to have certain skills and consider essential factors that are requisite to flourish in the competitive environment. Basically, at the time an entrepreneur starts up a business, a great deal of work is needed for getting the desired results. In fact, there are several factors that eventually contribute to this ratio of success. The big companies, mainly appears to be appropriate here in providing training because they acquaint individual with real and pragmatic experience than what one has learned in the books. The positive outcome of working in the companies is that an aspiring entrepreneur who is like a raw soil becomes familiar with how the whole management is handled (Jones Coviello, 2005). Work organizing skills: An entrepreneur is the person who keeps a record of all forms including registration, potential suppliers and employees, business plan, finance and budgeting, time management and promotion (Kim et al., 2006). The tack about all the things is kept either in paper or by using modern technology like computers and laptops. If an individual is well organized, he can handle work related to all fields properly. The big companies who are performing tasks and dealing with abundant work can provide a good experience to aspiring entrepreneurs. The practical knowledge can teach ways and trains aspiring entrepreneurs to become organized (Keeble et al., 1998). Time management: Time management alludes to administration of time, effectually so that adequate time is allotted to an activity (Knight Csgil, 1996). The study related to New Bain Company depicts that lost time can result in the loss of millions every year. If an aspiring entrepreneur doesn't have the right time management skills, the company can suffer huge deficits. However, big companies like Dell, Amazon and American Express can guide a person to enhance the overall productivity for the business. The two conventional statements that states time and time wait for one as well as time is money are completely true. To have positive outcomes out of business, aspiring entrepreneurs can gauge knowledge about managing this infinite resource in the correct manner. Building networks: Networking is a powerful strategy to escalate and maintain success in a new company. It is about developing connections and relationships with the right individuals and suppliers to expand the area of networking. Big companies are masters who have wide networking range. New entrepreneurs can learn the tactics to build and retain important networks that are required to be successful (Johansan Vahlne, 1977). Appropriate business plan: Every company needs a blueprint to carry out tasks in an adequate manner. An aspiring entrepreneur has to make a business plan that would encompass relevant points related to personnel requirements, marketing process, strategies and skills that are needed. But, a person without any understanding about real world cannot handle everything thoroughly. In fact, training on big companies can teach him the proficient and a dynamic business plan that is essential for an enterprise. Controlling expenses: A business would be successful if aggregate income is higher than aggregate expenses. The expenses associated with production, promotion and other vital operations are inevitable. A beginner with no knowledge regarding the estimate costs needed in each operation can push the company in losses. On the other hand, working and acquiring knowledge regarding cost reduction can help an aspiring entrepreneur to save financial resources so they can be used in accelerating company's growth (Iyigun Owen, 1998). Relationship among Management Knowledge, Entrepreneur and New Venture Management Knowledge refers to the strategies and approaches configured for identifying, apprehending, sharing and leveraging the intellectual strengths to improve the performance as well competitive power of a company. Today, with rise in intricacy level in the competition, entrepreneur is regarded as key asset for the enterprise. All companies require advance and innovative concepts that would take the company to new heights. Management knowledge is a basic essential source for an entrepreneur that can help to realize its exceptional significance in the market. Further, new venture and its performance depends upon the management knowledge that entrepreneur has in terms of market, available opportunities and relationships in and out the organization. Management knowledge, fundamentally, acts as an aid for the new venture to realize its areas of strengths, and the direction in which it should pursue its operations (Katz Gartner, 1988). With this, impact related to the performance is also measured using these knowledge assets by entrepreneur in particular. Besides this, management knowledge is considered as the base of innovation which is perceived as the reason for the competitive advantage. If there is a good scale of competitive advantage, there is higher scope for new venture to be successful. Utilizing management knowledge in the new venture is not just about contemplating new products and services or enhancing their sales, its the knowledge associated with layouts and procedure of products, existing relationships in the company, consumer needs, market, business environment, and other organizational assets. Thus, there is an impervious bond among management knowledge, entrepreneur and new venture that needs provide coherent information regarding how a company can attain the highest level of the success ladder. However, the complexity that exists in the above stated factors contributes in a huge manner to new business development as described below: Customer needs: This is a core factor for a company that decides its success or failure rate. A strong customer base could be achieved if the entrepreneur has adequate knowledge about the requirements of the consumer buying the goods. Having proper feedback to know their common needs can develop a beneficial relationship among new venture and customers. Organizational relationship: It is very critical for a new venture to have a positive and friendly working environment in the company. Entrepreneur can play a major role in development of a healthy environment at workplace. This would only happen if the entrepreneur has proper knowledge regarding the employees and suppliers with which they are working. This knowledge could be attained through formal surveys or by asking questions in informal way which provides an impression of how company is performing. Market: While entering into new market, an entrepreneur needs to have a complete knowledge regarding market and the level to competition. The precise knowledge would lead to success while incomplete knowledge might act as hindrance in the path of success. The market knowledge includes products offered by competitors, their price, strategies adopted by them and level at which you need to compete. Business environment: Change is the basic necessity that occurs in all organizations. But, a new venture has to keep a close check on the change that is occurring inside the organization because of extrinsic factors like technology, politics, economy, and society. A well informed entrepreneur about these transitions will help the company to grow in a positive manner, ignoring all the negative impact (Ireland et al., 2001). Stages in the Life Cycle of a New Venture As we have seen, that there are multiple factors which cone together for a success of a new venture. However, new venture has to confront many challenges and opportunities too. Different issues call for distinct solutions. Identifying and surmounting common pitfalls related to success is highly significant for a business to thrive in an expected manner. Whereas, effectual leadership can create new opportunities for the future. It is true that management of a new venture is more complex than the one which is existing and have to go through many critical stages. Management thinking: For a new venture, management thinking is required or to comprehend the situation in a better way and ameliorate the process of decision making. An effective thinking can help the company to realize the strengths and potential of employees as well as company on the whole. This would help in focusing on the areas that need improvement, which in turn would help in the achievement of set objectives. Concept: Entrepreneurs have important role that acts as fuel in the growth of new venture (McDougall, 1989). He is responsible to analyze the feasibility of concept that is chosen for the company in terms of productivity. This states that an entrepreneur needs to have proper skills, so a right concept fulfilling all demands and fitting all angles should be selected. In addition, pros and cons associated with the chosen concept needs to be analyzed in an exact manner. Prototype: It refers to a sample which is produced prior to release of an actual product or for testing a particular concept. It is basically, configured to improve the precision level in the product that would be offered in the market. It caters specifications in a practical form rather than in theory. This is an important stage in the life of the product that lies between formalization and assessment of a concept. Test: The prototype, thus created is then tested for the quality to understand all associated risks and strengths. This is done to know about the efficiency of the product that is going to be offered. For a new venture, it becomes more important to offer a product that is acceptable in terms of quality as it would decide the ultimate success rate of the company in future. Scanning: This is a critical stage that a new venture faces where the product scanning is done to determine the cost and efficiency level which decides the future of all the hard work that is being put in the new venture (Knight et al., 2004). Startup: Though there are many opportunities like demand among niche audience, huge market, several funding options and technology to create products, however, there are certain challenges that every startup needs to consider (Lu Beamish, 2001). Today there is fierce competition in the market that every new venture needs to face. Secondly, if the product of the company gets acceptance, the demand graph rises in a quick and immediate manner, which will give rise to a need to hire pool of fresh talent. Also, with changing environment each day, the company needs to change and update its technological requirements and products too. Early growth and penetration development: At this stage, new venture has to make crucial decisions that would help in the growth of the company. Here the measurement regarding the popularity of the product is done to estimate the demand level. For this, entrepreneurs should make correct decisions regarding sales and attract new customers. The opportunity here could be identified as the curiosity for new product in the population. Continuation of success: For having a consistent success graph, the company has to work hard each day. They should also male changes as required and give adequate importance to the feedback of the customers. Sometimes the product loses its consumer base due to lack of faults in efficiency that company should recover. Re- positioning: Firms consider re- positioning when the there is declination in the demand of the product. There is a need to make moderation in target market for a product that has been launched before. For this, new plans have to be made and different strategies are adopted to focus a different sector in the market (Leiblein Reuer, 2004). Contingency plan: It is mainly leveraged for risk management which analyzes the risk associated with the situation. A company has to develop a plan for unusual situations that might rise in future. Financial and HRM: For a new venture, managing costs as well as human resources is a big deal. Entrepreneur needs to hire a team suitable for the company that would focus on those departments individually and can report to him in a timely manner. Proper management would lead to success and inadequate management of these vital resources can leave negative effects on the success (Lumpkin Dess, 1996). Conclusion Starting an individual company is a very captivating thought, where a person becomes his own boss. But, it is not that easy as it involves lots of challenges that need to be undertaken. Other than this, an entrepreneur should have proper knowledge about what is to be done and how it would be done. One wrong move can cost the company in a huge manner (Madsen Servais, 1997) References: Ireland, D.R., Hitt, M.A., Camp, M.S. Sexton, D.L.(2001)Integratingentrepreneurshipand strategicmanagementactionstocreatefirmwealth,TheAcademyofManagementExecutive, 15(1),49-64. Iyigun, M.F. Owen, A.L.(1998)Risk, Entrepreneurship and Human-Capital Accumulation. The American Economic Review, 88(2), 454-457. Johanson, J. Vahlne, J.-E.(1977)Theinternationalizationprocessofthefirm:Amodelof knowledgedevelopmentandincreasingforeignmarketcommitments,JournalofInternational BusinessStudies,8(1),23-32. Johanson, J. Vahlne, J.-E.(1990). The mechanism of internationalization, International Marketing Review, 7(4), 11-24. Jones, M.V. Coviello, N. E.(2005)Internationalization:conceptualizinganentrepreneurial processofbehaviorintime,JournalofInternationalBusinessStudies,36(3),284-303. Jovanovic, B.Lach,S.(1997)Productinnovationandthebusinesscycle,International EconomicReview,38(1),3-22. Keeble, D., Lawson, C., Smith, H., Moore, B. Wilkinson,F.(1998)Internationalization Processes, Networking and Local Embeddedness in Technology-Intensive Small Firms.Small Business Economics, 11(4), 327-342. Kim, P.H., Aldrich, H.E. Keister, L.A.(2006)Access(Not)Denied:The Impact of Financial, HumanandCulturalCapitalonEntrepreneurialEntryintheUnitedStates.Small Business Economics, 27(1), 5-22. Knight, G.A. Cavusgil, S.T.(1996)The born global firm:A challenge to traditional internationalization theory, in:S.T.Cavusgil and T.K.Madsen.(eds.),Export internationalizingresearch-enrichmentandchallenges(AdvancesinInternationalMarketing series,Vol.8), New York:JAI Press Inc, pp.11-26. Knight, G., Madsen, T.K. Servais, P.(2004)Aninquiryintoborn-globalfirmsinEuropeand theUSA.International Marketing Review, 21(6), 645-665. Leiblein, M.J. Reuer, J.J.(2004)Buildingaforeignsalesbase:therolesofcapabilitiesand alliancesforentrepreneurialfirms.Journal of Business Venturing, 19(2), 285-307. Lu J.W. Beamish, P.W.(2001). The Internationalization and Performance of SMEs.Strategic Management Journal, 22(6/7), 565-586. Lumpkin, G.T. Dess, G. G.,(1996)ClarifyingtheEntrepreneurialOrientationConstructand LinkingittoPerformance,The Academy of Management Review,21(1),135-258. Madsen, K.T. Servais, P.1997.Theinternationalizationofbornglobals:Anevolutionary process,InternationalBusinessReview,6(6),561-583. McDougall, P.P.1989.InternationalVersusDomesticEntrepreneurship:NewVentureStrategic BehaviorandIndustryStructure.Journal of Business Venturing, 4(6), 387-400.

Legalization Of Marijuana Essays (186 words) - Cannabis,

Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization of medical marijuana This act may be cited as the " legalization of marijuana" Sec. 1 This bill will be for the well being of the pain stricken patients in our nation's hospitals, a doctor that will decide if a patient is illegible to receive marijuana. Sec. 2 Patients will only be permitted to get their marijuana at a hospital or a licensed distributor. Sec. 3 The patient's will have to buy the marijuana at a discount from the hospital, or distributor using their own money or if they're health care will cover the treatment. The discount will be 1/8 of the current street price on pure marijuana. The government will grow their own marijuana in a dis-closed location for security reasons. Sec.4 The Federal Drug Administration will monitor the distribution and handling of the medical marijuana Sec.5 This law will take affect 1 year after it is ratified due to the long periods of time needed to locate, distribute and grow this marijuana. Case that needs this treatment now will be allowed the first dosage that becomes available. Bibliography www.Infoseek.com/top ten killers in the United States www.yahoo.com/me-marijuana www.yahoo.com/marijuana

Freud and Maslows theory of motivation will be discussed as explanations of consumer behaviour Essays

Freud and Maslows theory of motivation will be discussed as explanations of consumer behaviour Essays Freud and Maslows theory of motivation will be discussed as explanations of consumer behaviour Paper Freud and Maslows theory of motivation will be discussed as explanations of consumer behaviour Paper It is the differences within people that make life interesting. However, the diversity in human behaviour often causes us to overlook the fact that people are really very much alike. It is these similarities that serve to explain consumer behaviour, and psychologists would suggest that most people tend to experience the same kinds of needs and motives, but simply express these motives in different ways. (Shiffman Kanuk 1994:93) Freud and Maslows theory of motivation will be discussed as explanations of consumer behaviour. Motivation is the basic concept in all human and consumer behaviour. It is described as the driving force within individuals that impels them to action, (Shiffman Kanuk 1994:94) this driving force is produced by a state of uncomfortable tension, which exists as a result of an unsatisfied need. Thus, behaviour is the need to reduce the tension to bring about a more comfortable state. One theory in motivation of human behaviour is based on internal instincts and drives that are mainly innate physiological processes. (Evans, Moutinho Raaij 1997:21) Sigmund Freud was one of the father figures of the study of personality, and gave us the notion of an unconscious element to our thinking. : He developed the Psychoanalytic theory, in which the personality consisted of three interacting parts the id, ego and superego. The id, which acts in the unconscious mind, is the infantile part of the personality. It is present from birth, and is dominated by all-impulsive drives. Thirst, hunger, and sex are the physiological needs of the individual in which immediate gratification must be sought I want it and I want it now! In an adult, these tensions maybe experienced with the inability to identify the source. (Glassman 1995:192) Opposing the demands of the id is the superego. This is a conscious drive that restraints or inhibits the impulsive forces of the id. It is the conscience, and represents the moral demands of family and society. Mediating between the demands of the id and the moral requirements of the superego is the ego. The ego is the individuals conscious control that includes our self-image. Its function is to balance the impulsive demands of the id and the sociocultural constraints of the superego, the way in which it does so, is what determines behaviour. An important part of Freuds theory was the notion that the id, ego and superego are in frequent conflict with one another. Because the ids demand for instant gratification clashes with the superegos standards of moral behaviour, results in the individual experiencing anxiety. So the ego is left to spend most of the time trying to resolve these conflicts. Thus defending itself using a number of defence mechanisms. (Gross Mcilveen 1998:569) An alternative to Freuds psychoanalytic theory is offered from a humanistic approach. In contrast, the humanistic approach is not a theory of personality, but instead looks at individuals as interpreters of themselves. Their behaviour is understood in terms of their own experiences. (Gross Mcilveen 1998:15) Abraham Maslow was concerned with viewing the person as a whole, and not just single innate responses as Freud had done. Although he was influenced by psychoanalysis, he believed in free will and that people had the ability to choose how they behaved, and so were not driven by unconscious forces beyond their control as Freud suggests. Thus, Maslow became disillusioned with innate influences and therefore rejected the determinism of Freud. (Glassman 1995:247) Again, in contrast to Freuds theory, Maslow saw a whole constellation of needs that could influence consumer behaviour. This behaviour was motivated by the conscious desire for personal growth; and was not a result of unconscious drives for bodily pleasure as Freud suggested. (Gross Mcilveen 1998:142) Maslow recognised the complexity of motivation, and sought to describe it in terms of a hierarchy of needs a ladder of motivation. Maslows theory proposes five basic levels of human needs, which rank in order of importance. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the basic physiological needs such as food, water, air, shelter, clothing and sex. When these needs are unfulfilled, nothing else matters. This level has echoes of Freuds psychoanalysis; the id would represent these physiological needs. After the first level needs are satisfied, safety and security needs become the driving force behind the individuals behaviour. These needs refer to physical safety such as freedom from danger, and psychological safety such as stability, routine and control over ones life and environment. Health can also be seen as a safety concern. When these needs are being met, one begins to focus on social needs, the need for love, affection and belonging, and assuming these needs are fulfilled, then the individual will go on and experience esteem needs. This level is concerned with egoistic needs that can take either an inward or an outward orientation, or even both. Self-acceptance, esteem and success are all examples of inwardly directed ego needs. Whereas reputation, status and recognition can all be seen as examples of outwardly directed ego needs. According to Maslow, most people do not satisfy their ego needs sufficiently to ever move to the fifth level of self-actualisation. Maslow believed that few people achieve this level because most are stalled along the way by insurmountable social or environmental barriers. (Gross Mcilveen 1998:143) But it remains a goal to strive for and could be one of the most significant motivators of all, the need to fulfil ones potential to become everything one is capable of becoming. The way, in which these needs are expressed, will differ from person to person. In summery, Maslows five level hierarchy suggests that higher-order needs become the driving force behind human behaviour as lower-level needs are satisfied. In effect, it is saying that it is dissatisfaction that motivates behaviour. Whereas Freud believes that satisfaction and gratification are the driving force behind motivation. Although both theories are widely thought of, both theories have been widely criticised. Freud was criticised for being deterministic. He suggested that all behaviour is determined, and that people are driven by unconscious forces beyond their control. (Gross Mcilveen 1998:14) Therefore neglects the concept of free will suggested by Maslow. Free will he implied, was just an illusion. (Gross Mcilveen 1999:46) Maslow was also criticised. Shiffman and Kanuk (1994) said that Maslows concepts are too general and the problem with the theory is that it cannot be tested empirically. There is no way to measure precisely how satisfied one need must be before the next higher need becomes operative. p113) He was also criticised for the sample of people he chose. They exhibited the traits he hoped to find; therefore the process was biased. (Glassman 1995:255) Despite these criticisms, both theories have been useful tools for marketers and advertisers in understanding consumer behaviour. For those researchers who apply Freuds psychoanalytic theory to the study of consumer personality suggest the idea that human behaviour is ple asure seeking, and that the id is the source of energy, drive and motivation. As this source is unconscious, individuals are unaware of their true reasons for consuming the way they do, and so this concept is used as the basis for motivational research. They tend to focus on consumer purchases and/or consumption situations, treating them as a reflection and an extension of the individuals own personality. (Shiffman Kanuk 1994:130) In other words, how we look and what we wear reflects our personality. In advertising terms, Freud provides productive grounds for image making, suggesting that the products purchased will make the individual more popular, interesting or sexually attractive. Rice 1997:247) Although personality may be consistent, consumption behaviour often varies because of psychological, sociocultural, and environmental factors that affect behaviour. Thus, personality is only one of a combination of factors that influence how a consumer behaves. Maslows hierarchy of needs theory has been very useful in offering an understanding of consumer motivation. It is readily adaptable to marketing strategy, primarily because the goods one consumes often serve to satisfy each level of need. I. e. ne buys houses, food and clothing to satisfy physiological needs, locks and insurance for safety needs, almost all personal care products are bought to satisfy social needs, luxury products such as flash cars and jewellery etc are bought to fulfil ego needs, and college training and banking services are sold as ways to achieve self-fulfilment. (Schiffman Kanuk 1994:113) Although both theories have proved to be very influential in marketing and advertising, there has been no solid evidence to support either. Whether ones behaviour is innate, or a result of the outside world has proved to be the most contentious dispute in psychology.

Argumentative Essay On Drinking Water Shortage Environmental Sciences Essay

Argumentative Essay On Drinking Water Shortage Environmental Sciences Essay Although most of the earth’s surface is covered with water, water shortage is a serious threat to the survival of humanity at present and in future. There is a water crisis which faces many parts of the world and it is a threat to survival of human beings since humans are primarily dependent on water. Shortage in drinking water is a major problem facing developing countries which have not taken drastic steps to harvest water and purify it to make it safe for human consumption. However, this problem is also being increasingly felt in developed countries where the population growth has strained available water resources and stretched the ability of governments and private firms to provide safe drinking water to the population. There are many conflicts around the world where people have died or have been injured as a result of clashes over a water resource. Most of these conflicts have occurred in Asia and Africa where most developing countries are located (Gleick 17-22). When h umans clash over resources, this underscores the seriousness of the issue and calls for drastic actions to be taken to solve the problem. Shortage of drinking water is therefore an issue which must be investigated in detail and solutions developed to curb this problem. There are various causes of shortage of drinking water and most of these are attributable to human activities. These include such activities as deforestation and pollution which contribute to global warming, misuse of the water resource and groundwater contamination among others. It is important to develop solutions to this problem if future generations are to survive. This paper aims at analyzing the shortage in drinking water resource, its causes and solutions which should be implemented to solve the problem. The discussed issues will be summarized at the end. Shortage in drinking water It has been discussed that there is shortage of drinking water in various regions across the world. In many developing countries, p eople do not have access to drinking water due to various reasons. In some cases, water resources have dried up while in others, they are polluted. As a result, there populations especially in Africa face many water-borne diseases mainly due to pollution of water resources. Human activities such as population growth and industrial activities have further strained water resources and caused a shortage of drinking water. As a result, there are many conflicts over pastures or water resources and these lead to injuries or fatalities (Gleick 17-22). As mentioned earlier, this underscores the importance of finding a solution to the problem of shortage of the water resource. In the United States, there is pressure on available water resources since half of water collected is usually used in electricity generation, leaving the population to share the little left. There are already calls for charging water resources in order to increase efficiency of use (CQ Researcher 531-550). Although wat er protection has been implemented for years, there is still water pollution occurring within the United States. After the Civil war, America strived to provide its population with clean water and its water treatment system was and is still is one of the best globally. However, industrial revolution led to the pollution of water resources, leading to shortage of clean drinking water. Other external factors such as effects of global warming have also put a strain on available water resources. It is important to understand how shortage of drinking water occurs and its causes. These will be discussed in the section below;

The Economic and Financial implication of Globalization on the UK Essay

The Economic and Financial implication of Globalization on the UK Economy - Essay Example Qualitative research generates data that is based on the participants’ own categories of meaning, it is useful for studying a limited number of cases in detail, and tends to collect data in realistic settings (Creswell, 2001).  However, quantitative research method has been adopted for this current study mainly because of the reason that it is the most suitable. The term â€Å"globalization† gained prominence in the 1960s and it began to be extensively applied by economists and other social scientists. The current study has taken into account the output generated in the GDP, rate of unemployment and inflation for instance for a period from 1997-2001. A Chow Test will be performed to check the structural break over the years. The study will specifically deal with time series data in order to check whether there is structural change (parametric instability) in the relationship between the regressand (output and import-export in UK) and the regressor (GDP, technology, Consumer’s Price Index, Producer’s Price Index, rate of unemployment for instance). By structural change, it mean that the value of the parameters do not remain the same for the entire time period (UK Economic Indicators, n.d.). Globalisation is loosely defined as the economic activity taking place across the national boundaries (Buckman 2004).  In essence, globalization sought to liberalize trade as well as deregulate the economy and this particular study seeks to investigate the extent to which deregulation has impacted on the economy of UK. Quantitative methods will be used to collect data in order to ascertain the impact of deregulation on UK economy. During the contemporary era, the concept of globalisation has liberalised trade among nations and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has substantially changed the ways of doing business. ICT has made dramatic changes in the contemporary society and economy at large and has impacted on almost all businesses

Case Study of Target Company Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Of Target Company - Case Study Example In the evaluation of the cash dimensions, attempt is made to identify and determine whether the reported earnings are supported by the cash flow. For instance, cash flow would holdup incomes for a firm that has provided its clients with prolonged payment agreements or that has accrued inventory in expectation of augmented future sales. Such lagging cash flow would blight earnings quality on the cash dimension. The balance sheet plays a very vital document in assessing the quality of earnings of a firm. The term position quality is commonly referred to the balance sheet when used to calculate the quality of earnings. The position quality is impaired if the assets of the firm are carried at amounts that surpass the fair value or when obligations are carried at amount less than that required to liquidate them (Lewis & Indiana University, Bloomington, 2007). Quality of earnings analysis is, therefore, an essential characteristic of the assessment process is obtaining a clear comprehension of the targets quality of earnings. An evaluation of the quality and sustainability of incomes should be carried out early. Evaluations enable an earlier encouragement or a dissuasion conclusion and certify that baseline assessment methods are rational and impregnable in the determination of pricing and other deal terms. Comprehending the sustainability of earnings and how that influences on business deal value and forecast modeling is vital to sail across the exceptional features of any deal. The intension of this summary information on discrete companies hence is to enable more emphasis and consideration on one or more dimensions of quality of earnings. For instance, might pinpoint non-recurring additions that thought to have reduced the companys incomes on the persistence approach. Alternatively, lessening cash flow may be the objective, impairing q uality of earnings on the cash aspect. Finally, for some firms might look at the balance

Blue Crab Report Essay Example for Free

Blue Crab Report Essay The blue crab is named because of its sapphire – tinted claws. Its shell, orcarapace , is actually a mottled brownish color. Their scientific name, Callinectes sapidus, means â€Å"savory beautiful swimmer. † Large males can reach 9 inches in shell width. Crab claws are various shades of blue and mature females have red highlights on the tips of their pincers. These bottom-dwelling creatures have a prickly disposition and are quick to use their sharp front pinchers. Crabs can regrow pinchers or legs lost while fighting or protecting themselves. They feed on almost anything they can get hold of , including mussels, snails, fish, planets, and even smaller blue crabs. Blue crabs are also excellent swimmers, with hind appendages shaped like paddles. Blue crabs are found in brackish coastal lagoons and estuaries from Nova Scotia, through the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, and as far south as Uruguay. The blue crabs burrow in soft mud or hide in sea grass to lie in wait for prey or avoid predators. The blue crab migration pattern is closely connected to its lifecycle and really begins when the crabs mate and the female crabs release their eggs. It is hard to believe that female blue crabs mate only once in their lives and a males mate often. At 12 to 18 months, blue crabs have reached sexual maturity. Sexes can be identified by the abdominal flap or apron. In the male it is shaped like an inverted T, but in the female it is broader. Perhaps only one or two crabs survive to become adults. Blue crabs can live up to three years. Prized by humans for their sweet, tender, meat, these wide ranging, ten legged crustaceans are among the most heavily harvested creatures on the planet. Crabs are prepared and eaten as a dish in several different ways all over the world.

Transformation of Milkman in Toni Morrisons Song of Solomon :: Song Solomon essays Toni Morrison Papers

Transformation of Milkman in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon In Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, the character of Milkman gradually learns to respect and to listen to women. This essay will examine Milkman's transformation from boy to man. In the first part of the novel, he emulates his father, by being deaf to women's wisdom and women's needs, and casually disrespecting the women he should most respect. He chooses to stray from his father's example and leaves town to obtain his inheritance and to become a self-defined man. From Circe, a witch figure, he is inspired to be reciprocal, and through his struggle for equality with men and then with women, he begins to find his inheritance, which is knowing what it is to fly, not gold. At the end, he acts with kindness and reciprocity with Pilate, learning from her wisdom and accepting his responsibilities to women at last. By accepting his true inheritance from women, he becomes a man, who loves and respects women, who knows he can fly but also knows his responsibilities. In the first part of the novel, Milkman is his father's son, a child taught to ignore the wisdom of women. Even when he is 31, he still needs "both his father and his aunt to get him off" the scrapes he gets into. Milkman considers himself Macon, Jr., calling himself by that name, and believing that he cannot act independently (120). The first lesson his father teaches him is that ownership is everything, and that women's knowledge (specifically, Pilate's knowledge) is not useful "in this world" (55). He is blind to the Pilate's wisdom. When Pilate tell Reba's lover that women's love is to be respected, he learns nothing (94). In the same episode, he begins his incestuous affair with Hagar, leaving her 14 years later when his desire for her wanes. Milkman's experience with Hagar is analogous to his experience with his mother, and serves to "[stretch] his carefree boyhood out for thrifty-one years" (98). Hagar calls him into a room, unbuttons her blouse and smiles (92), just as his mother did (13). Milkman's desire for his mother's milk disappears before she stops milking him, and when Freddie discovers the situation and notes the inappropriateness, she is left without this comfort. Similarly, Milkman ends the affair with Hagar when he loses the desire for her and recognizes that this affair with his cousin is not socially approved, leaving Hagar coldly and consciously, with money and a letter of gratitude.

Candy’s Dog being shot dead Essay

I believe that Candy’s dog being shot dead is one of the most important parts of the novel and should definitely be included in a film version. In this scene Carlson starts moaning about how much Candy’s old dog smells. He then suggests that Candy should shoot him and even offers to do it himself. But it is the things that Carlson says in order to justify himself that are important for the readers because it helps us to see why George decided to do what he did at the end of the book. For example, when Carlson says, â€Å"This old dog, just suffers hisself all the time,† and â€Å"you aint been kind to him, keeping him alive,† when he is trying to convince Candy that it is almost cruel to make him live life any longer. Carlson also describes how Candy could kill the dog in a quick, humane way. He says, â€Å"shoot him right in the back of the head – he’d never know what hit him. † This is particularly important because George kills Lennie in this exact way. It is where he got the idea that ‘mercy killing’ was even an option. Slim is then asked to give his opinion and he agrees with Carlson saying, â€Å"That dog aint no good to himself. † As Slim is the only person on the ranch to have natural authority, and his â€Å"opinions were law. † Candy reluctantly agrees to let Carlson shoot his dog. If this scene was left out we would not understand why George would even consider killing Lennie and we would get the impression that George carried it out in cold blood and did not care. The scene should be set in a dimly lit, dark setting. The darkness would help to emphasize the end of life. Carlson should be talking abruptly and quickly showing that he is not thinking about Candy’s feelings and is unaware of how much the dog means to Candy. Slim in contrast should be taking is time over his speech, showing that he wants this to be as painless as it can be for Candy. He shows that he cares when he instructs Carlson to â€Å"take a shovel,† so that he can bury the dog so Candy wont have to see his dog in the morning. The Fight Scene Another important scene is the fight between Curley and Lennie. In this scene Curley has just accused Slim of being with his wife and in return Slim shouts back at him. Carlson and Candy take advantage of the situation by insulting Curley. Curley feels degraded and wants to take it out on someone. Lennie is there and is the perfect person because Curley being small always feels as though he has something to prove and a ‘real chip on his shoulder’ towards bigger guys. Lennie is smiling at the thought of the dream of living ‘off the fat of the land’ and Curley uses it as an opportunity to pick a fight. He says, â€Å"What the hell you laughin’ at? † and punches Lennies face making his nose bleed. Lennie is described as being ‘too frightened to defend himself. † But under the instruction of George, Lennie grabs Curley’s hand and cannot let go, even with George slapping him round the face telling him to. Lennie feels guilty afterwards and he shows it when he says, â€Å"I didn’t wanta hurt him,† and â€Å"I didn’t mean no harm. † It is this scene that enables us to see the extent of Lennie’s strength and how dangerous it can be when combined with such a simple mind. The scene gives us a clue towards the main plot. Without this scene we would not realise what a true accident Curley’s wife’s death was and the reader would not feel as sorry for Lennie as they do. It would make the ending much less effective.

High School Life

Robert Revilla Mr. Osman English 35 #31127 March 17, 2013 The Past and Present of Teenagers Ask any teenager today and they will tell you that they are nothing like their parents, that their parents just don’t understand them. This may be true and this may be false, it just depends on how you look at it. Teenagers of the Rebel Without a Cause, meaning the parents of today’s teens, did face a lot of the same problems and issues that we now face. Yet I am left thinking did the past teens face all the same problems at the same time as we do and were some of their â€Å"problems† not as much of a problem as it is to us.Teens from the past and present are faced with problems such as school, relationships, and friends. There were many teenage problems back then in â€Å"Rebel Without a Cause† and today’s teenagers. Most of these problems that Jim Stark and the other teens faced were similar, but my own belief is that these same problems were not as big of problem back when they were growing up. Let’s take school and homework for example, oh sure your parents had it too but I just don’t believe that there was as much pressure upon them to get good grades. Also, get into a good college as there is for us.And of course with the knowledge that college is right around the corner most teens also need to work. They need to save money for college, or a car, or to make the girl/boy of their dreams happy by taking them out on dates once in a while. Plus, all this pressure and work can build up for a teen and to most of us it seems like we never have a chance to just relax and hang out with friends anymore. It relates to the movie because some of the teens do not care about homework or going to school. The reason is that was back then it was easy to get a job by only having a high school diploma with no college education.But, now in our teen lives it is hard to get a job with a high school diploma. Another thing that is different from the past from the present is the fashion that students wear. In the past, boys wear plain regular clothes and the cool guys always wear black jackets or blazers. It is similar like what a gang member usually wears right now. Except the gangs have their baggy pants or shorts and show their boxers in black or white. It is weird how those kind of guys like to show-off their boxers or underwear. For the girls in the past, they all mostly put on dresses. Now girls mostly wear skirts or short shorts.Plus, girls always try to put on the sexiest clothes to wear because to get all the attention and be popular. Like in the movie, Jim Stark wears different clothes from his classmates. The reason is that he moved to a lot of different high schools because he never made any friends and doesn’t fit in with the other teens. Also, in every high school he went to the teens called Jim, â€Å"Chicken†. Why he is called that because the teenagers see him acting like a chicken, when Jim does not want to get into trouble. I think back then music for teens like, â€Å"Rebel Without a Cause†, probably listened to rock and roll.But now teens prefer rapping and hip hop music. It’s interesting how music has changed so much in the past because teens loved to get crazy on rock and roll. I wonder how teens will react if music never came to rock and roll. Probably teens will make their own music or have to try out their parent’s music, which were more hip hop and dance music. Now teens today have a mix of genres they like to listen. Most teens in the present relate their music to their emotions. The reason is because they must have some problems in their lives and music helps teens release stress.Plus, I am sure that it happens to the teens in the past except not big problems compare to our teen years. I bet Jim Stark and his classmates love to listen to rock and roll. Even though it does not show in the movie that they played rock and roll, but back then there was a lot of rock and roll. The teens in the early years prefer rock and roll because it was something they can be themselves with their friends. Sometimes parents cannot stand their teen’s music and tells them to turn it off or take it away from them. It is weird how in the movie, it shows parents like Jim’s parents how they do not care about his school issues.For instance, when Jim’s classmates call him chicken, he tells them to stop and be angry to his parents. Then Jim’s parents decide to move somewhere else again, which happen several times. Jim does not want that because he thinks it is going to happen all over again. So, basically Jim’s parents do not really help him and his life that much. But comparing to today’s teens, Jim’s parents and other parents show more concern for each of their son/daughter’s education to make them successful in life. I can see that every year new parents learn from their past seei ng their mom and dad on how they take care of their son or daughter.Then later on the new parents learn from their parent’s mistakes and become a better parent. There are things that are similar between our time and the movie, â€Å"Rebel Without a Cause†. One is that teens hate doing homework and waking up early for school. Teens in the past and present struggle with their emotions like in relationships or family issues. Jim shows his emotions to his parents in the movie. He tells them how he feels every time when he transfers to a new school and he is not good at making any relationships or friends.The main reason is everyone calls him chicken because he is different from his classmates and they think he is afraid of them. I just want to say that I am not saying that teenagers of the past did not have their own problems, but of course they did, every single teen alive faces problems that they think is hard and that their whole world is crumbling down around them well at least once in a while. But now that they have grown up and turned into the parents of today’s teenagers I feel that they put more pressure upon their own teenage child in order for them to achieve more than they were able to.A common expression is, â€Å"My parents are so strict, overprotective, or too involved in my life, because they don’t want me making the same mistakes they did when they were my age but they need to trust me and just leave me alone. † And that expression can sometimes is kind of true. But all in all I feel that our parents do understand what we, as teenagers, are going through because they did face the same problems that we face today, but maybe with just a little less pressure.

Federal Regulations And Federal Agencies Example

Federal Regulations And Federal Agencies Example Federal Regulations And Federal Agencies – Coursework Example Federal regulations and federal agencies (Program) (Supervisor) November 4, Federal regulations and federal agencies Off-label drugs are drugs that are prescribed and are used for purposes that are different from labeled applications or for recommended groups of patients. Even though such applications are legal, the Food and Drug Administration as well as government care plans discourage them. This discussion argues that it should be illegal for a pharmaceutical company to promote off-labeled drugs because of government policies against it and because of its potential harm.Off labeled drugs may be helpful to patients if prescribed for the patients’ best interest and in a scientific based way that minimizes potential harm to the patients. Probability of harm is however, greater if such labels are not based on scientific evidence and such uninformed applications should be illegalized. Most of off-labeled drug usage is however not supported by scientific evidence (Dresser & Frade r, 2009) and the uninformed approach, especially when such usage exposes patients to adverse drug side effects, requires legal control. According to Ahuja, and with respect to children alone, off label drugs could lead to â€Å"jaundice,† â€Å"seizures and cardiac arrests,† â€Å"withdrawal symptoms,† and â€Å"staining teeth† (2005, p. 98). Such effects suggest that the government should be effective in its role of ensuring public health by illegalizing off-labeled drugs, especially prescriptions whose safety have not been proven by scientific evidence. The fact that the Food and Drug Administration and government’s Medicare and Medicaid plan discourage use of off label drugs is also an indicator of the applications threat to good health and warrants illegalization (Ausness, 2008). Off-label drugs should therefore be illegalized and pharmaceutical companies should not promote it because of their possible adverse effects, widespread uninformed pre scriptions, and existence of policies against prescription and usage of off labeled drugs. ReferencesAhuja, G. (2005). Drug injury: Liability, analysis, and prevention. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company. Ausness, R. (2008). â€Å"There’s danger here, Cherie!†: Liability for promoting and marketing of drugs and medical devices for off-label use. University of Kentucky College of Law. Retrieved from: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/law_facpub/46/. Dresser, R. & Frader, J. (2009). Off-labeled prescribing: A call for heightened professional and government oversight. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 37(3): 476-486.

Working with Youth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Working with Youth - Essay Example Without that belief, the young people will not be motivated enough to participate in challenges. Second, it is important to find useful positions for young people within the community. Providing meaningful contributions through such roles will help give young people the confidence they need. Third, groups must provide regular opportunities for young people to serve the community – at least one hour a week, but hopefully more. By providing an ongoing opportunity, these groups will build habits that will last a lifetime. Fourth, the group must provide a safe atmosphere where young people will feel the freedom to fail – and to get back up and succeed (Search Institute, 2011). The Tahoe SAFE Alliance is dedicated to eliminating violent behavior in teenagers. By focusing on such topics as mutual respect, self-esteem, and the traits of healthy relationships, this group seeks to undo much of the damage that has taken place in homes. There are several different elements to this groups curriculum, but the overriding theme is building an atmosphere of respect and dignity in which teens can reassemble their own self-concept and then move outward to work against violence wherever they find it (Tahoe SAFE Alliance,

Some like it hot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Some like it hot - Essay Example The whole story is about two musicians a saxophone player and a double bass player from a jazz band in Chicago. They witness the Valentine's Day Massacre and later come to learn that they are the only witnesses. The gangsters perpetrating the murders unfortunately see them at the murder scene and start looking for the Joe and Jerry. On noting that their lives are in danger due to the gangsters’ increased search, they flee the state. The only way they can get out of town safely is by joining a female band and disguising themselves as women so that both the women and gangsters would not spot them. The female band’s vocalist is Sweet Sue while the manager was Bienstock. They disguised themselves and changed their names to Daphne (Jerry) and Josephine (Joe). To blend in, Joe and Jerry imitated what other women from the band are doing. Through this they learn how to walk on heels and talk like women. At first, they find it hard to adapt to the new situation but later on lear n more of women stuff through their recently made friend, Sugar Kane. Additionally, both musicians had a crush on Kane. Once in Miami, Joe and Jerry change their ways of life and are ready for commitments unlike when they were womanizers back in Chicago. They also go through a lot while disguised as women such as the Osgood case, who was an infertile millionaire looking for a woman to stop his impotence. Osgood lures Kane and Jerry to be his wives but later dismisses them and the story ends after Osgood decides to marry Daphne (Jerry). The film was 122 minutes long and has been nominated for several awards in the movie industry. II. Body: As compared to the type of movies that are produced today, the writer and producer of ‘Some like It Hot’ emerged to be one of the best off all times. He divided the movie into three main acts and each preview needed the characters to expose different traits. These three acts include one before Joe and Jerry left Chicago, the other when they booked the train to Miami and finally the act where they were in Miami looking for true and sensitive love. A. Act 1: it begins while Joe and Jerry are musicians in Chicago. Jerry played double base for the bad while Joe was a saxophone player. They were known to be womanizers irrespective of their low paying jobs. On the contrary, the act also introduces cruel criminals who execute the Valentine’s Day massacre. This provides a ‘gangster feeling’ to the audience which creates suspense whether the two musicians will be caught or not. They are also the reason as to why act two comes to place. They start looking for their only two witnesses, Joe and Jerry who decide to run away for their lives. Joe and Jerry bring the trait of cross-dressing where they have to dress as women so as to blend in into an all female band led by Kane. B. Act 2: Here, the two musicians prepare to leave for Miami by boarding a train with the female group they have joined. At first, th e act brings out the funniest part of the film where they try walking in high heels. This also brings the cross dressing which is their only way to survive. While disguised, they become part of the ‘woman life’ and get to know some secrets through Susan. They also have access to private conversations of other band members who are not aware of the disguise. Susan tells them a brief story of her love life. She claims that