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. 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