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

Phil - Essay Example Based on Bacon’s idea we could substantially deduce the thought that initiating experiments is a must in order to learn something more about the nature’s secret. In fact, we learned more about genetic engineering and its associated human benefits for instance because scientists were able to initiate studies or experiments and are still on the continuing process of doing them, which according to Bacon’s discourse are form or means of disturbing or annoying nature just to unearth potential deeper learning or understanding about it. Descartes’ assertion on the other hand is focused on separting from the natural world and so to make precise measurement possible. It is about modifying physical process from one system of constraints to another (Descartes and Gaukroger 8). Just like Bacon, Descartes could still be referring to the inclusion of experimental process in order to make certain of the nature’s essential hidden information. It is only this way th at humans would be able to come up with a definite or precise explanation how everything is going on in the physical world. 2. What is the goal of Bacon’s and Descartes’ new science? Articulate the goal itself, and why it is necessary human goal. Articulate how the goal shapes the new way of inquiry and its new starting point. The goal of Bacon’s and Descartes’ new science is to uncover the secret of the nature. For them, this is a necessary human goal because it will lead to the betterment of life. The advancement of technology for instance has been made possible through consistent and existing scientific inquiry. Various technologies are able to give life’s comfort and even improvement of the humans’ way of living and this is because of the continuing quest to inquire the world and uncover the very secret that every human being should understand. Concerning this goal, Bacon and Descartes might be implying the fact that we need to be more a ggressive with our inquiry in order to promote the remarkable way of understanding the nature and even extend our power and dominion over the universe. Today, the new way of inquiry might have a strong relevance with the ideas of Bacon and Descartes. As the human technology advances, many things that are kept hidden before us from the past are momentarily revealed right before our eyes today. Science and technology are combined together in order to promote more dynamic output in the process of scientific inquiry. Research designs are formulated from time to time just to be able to acquire relevant information that would make sense prior to acquiring the appropriate inference. In other words, though the basic foundation implied from the ideas of Bacon and Descartes remains, what is very obvious is the fact that there are dynamic improvements or changes in the inquiry and its new starting point is revealed through the allocation of existing information and developed technologies. 3. F or Locke, what is the state of nature? How are liberty, equality and law found in the state of nature? In what way does Locke expect his reader to find his natural law teaching in this state â€Å"a strong doctrine†? Locke’s idea of the state of nature concerns with men who can reach order without being controlled by someone else. It is therefore a state of perfect freedom and equality, as every one lives together according to reason under the law of nature (McDowell 146). Under Locke’

The purpose of Johns Gospel Essay Example for Free

The purpose of Johns Gospel Essay To tell the truths about Jesus rather than recount the facts of his life. Critically examine and evaluate this claim concerning the purpose of the author of the Fourth Gospel. There are several alternative views about the purpose of Johns Gospel. I plan to examine the view that it was written to tell truths about Jesus, and discuss its likelihood within the context of some of the other theories. In order to assess this view of the gospels purpose, it is necessary to discuss for whom John was writing, as his purpose will hinge upon his audience. If he was writing so his audience could see and have faith in Jesus then he may well have been writing for unbelievers. Karl Bornhauer has proposed that the gospel was written as a straightforward missionary tract for unbelieving Jews. Only Jews, he claims, would have understood the document, because it is preoccupied with Jewish matters and omits any reference to the institution of the Christian rites of Baptism and the Lords Supper. In its final edition, the gospel was written in Greek, possibly because this is what Hellenistic Jews spoke. On these grounds, the gospel was written to convince Jews of the Christian claim that Jesus is the Messiah. Robinson agrees with this view but Smalley thinks that by the time this gospel was written, the Christian mission to Israel was largely over. The Jews featured in the gospel are Jesus enemies, not potential Christians while some believe in him (12:11) the majority are responsible for his death. Johns attitude to them would therefore have been polemical not missionary. This seems like a relevant view, also, because it is doubtful that John would have succeeding in converting these Jews by casting them into the role of Jesus enemies; he would merely have alienated them. Therefore I do not believe Johns Gospel was written to convert unbelieving Jews. Another theory, from Raymond Brown, is that John was addressing Diaspora Jewish-Christians; Greek speaking Jews already converted to Christianity, or those torn between their faith in Jesus and their loyalty to Judaism. They were mistrusted and seen as subversive to the law, and attempts were made to exclude them from the synagogue. The polemic against Jews would not apply to them, and the authors emphasis on Jesus as the Messiah and as the fulfilment of all the Jewish feasts and institutions would be a strength to their faith if they were allowed to remain in the synagogue, and an encouragement to them if they were forced to withdraw. There are three references to being put out of the synagogue in Johns Gospel, and two instances of those who overcame their fear of the Jews, and even at risk of expulsion from the synagogue, publicly acknowledged Jesus (the blind man, and Joseph of Arimathea). Jesus is also portrayed positively, attending festivals. Brown concludes that John is inviting Jewish-Christians in the synagogues of the Diaspora to follow the example of such people. However, despite the fact there is internal evidence to support this, it is unlikely these were the sole intended recipients. Smalley suggests that the gospel could also have been written for Christians, to challenge their faith, to encourage their belief and to help them grow into the Christian way of life. There is nothing exclusive about the gospel; its perspective is infinitely wide, and it may well have been intended for all Christians everywhere. It is, however, also possible that John was writing for a particular group around him, because his gospel was originally anchored in a real life situation which helped to shape its tradition, and caused its publication. Smalley thinks the Johannine church was made up of many disparate groups of people suffering under the Romans persecution. These groups included Judaisers, ex-heretics, ex Gnostics, those from Gentile and Jewish backgrounds and ex-pagans, but all were followers of the beloved disciple, and the purpose of writing a gospel for all of these people would be to reconcile them, and thus show the universality of Christianity. C H Dodd and C K Barrett are the two scholars most associated with the belief that John is a work of evangelism. The gospel itself states that it contains an evangelical purpose: so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ (20:31). Thus its main purpose would be to persuade people to grow in faith, (which is a different thing from belief). A discussion between Jesus and Thomas (20:26-28) seems to emphasise this Thomas sees because he believes. Jesus is saying that without actually seeing him on earth, faith is a spiritual perception. Thomas needs to see reality. This theme is running through the gospel, the light and dark imagery symbolising seeing faith, and demonstrating that Jesus is the light of the world and the source of eternal life. So, Smalley concludes that the gospel was written so that its readers could find out truths about Jesus and believe he is the life-giving Messiah (v 31). Dodd thinks the gospel is written in two parts, chapters 2 11 being the signs, and 12 20 b eing the passion. Thus Jesus is shown being glorified. It has been suggested that the gospel is a polemic or an apology, and according to Bultmann, one against the Baptist sect. Its main purpose would be to demonstrate the inferiority of John the Baptist to Jesus. John the Baptist is described only as a man sent from God (1:6) and his role is heavily played down in comparison with the synoptics Jesus, not John, is the light (1:8), the Baptist is neither the Christ nor the Elijah, but merely a crying voice (1:19-23), Jesus existed before John, and is greater (1:30), Jesus performed many signs, but John never worked a miracle (10:41). Only in this gospel does Jesus not get baptised. Therefore, the suggestion has been raised that Johns gospel was written to refute the claim of a Baptist group. Bultmann argues that the author of the gospel was a former Gnostic who had been part of a Baptist sect before becoming a Christian Gnosticism flourished in the 2nd Century and his disciples were given to Jesus. Smalley is very critical of this view, saying the only other evidence we have of a Baptist sect is in Acts 19, and this is debatable. Although it is possible there was a Baptist sect in the 3rd Century, this wasnt unusual judging by the other sects in existence e.g. Manichaeism and there is little evidence to suggest such a group created any real problem for the early Christian church. Furthermore, I do not think the author could have been meaning to downgrade John the Baptist, because he isnt mentioned very much the gospel is about Jesus. Another possibility is that the gospel is a polemic against heresy, in particular, against Gnosticism. Gnostic influences, or pre-Gnostic ideas, were brought to bear on the Christian gospel once it was carried from a Palestinian to a Graeco-Roman environment. We also know from Gnostic redeemer myths, in which deliverance from the lower world of matter is effected by a non-earthly, ideal, saviour figure and appropriated by knowledge, that such ideas when taken over by Christians involve a denial of the physical reality of Jesus in his life and death. Edwin Hoskyns argued the gospel was anti-Gnostic, as did E Scott, who thought John was basically a reinstatement of the Christian good news in Hellenistic terms. But he also found evidence that the author of John wrote to counteract heretical, Gnostic teachings he insists on the reality of Christs life, denies the Gnostic hierarchy of intermediate spiritual agencies, opposes the Gnostic idea that divine sonship is possible apart from t he Christ, avoids Gnostic watchwords, and so on. Barrett thinks John was writing whilst Gnosticism was developing; and essentially was trying to nip it in the bud before it really became successful (although Bultmann disagrees and thinks it was already established by c.100 AD). Gnostics, in general, think Jesus message is for an elite, and only some will get to Heaven. The author of John was clearly conscious of Gnosticism, and apparently not completely or directly critical of it he uses Gnostic imagery such as light and dark, heaven and earth, is sensitive to the importance of knowledge, and accepts a dualist framework for his theology of salvation. Bultmann believes that the author of John is actually a former Gnostic who is editing the sign source (which is the heart of the ministry), and that John uses a separate source from the synoptics, in which the signs do not feature. Bultmann thinks Gnosticism used the sign source too, but attached the redeemer myth to it. John is therefore editing out Gnostic influences, reclaiming the text this means that Gnosticism and John are similar, but the conclusion is different. So through using Gnostic ideas, John is actually showing that Christianity is universal. However, this to me does not hold much weight as an argument because the author has been so ambiguous he swings between supporting the Gnostic way of thought and opposing it. Had the author been writing a polemic, he would surely have left no doubt about his point. It has also been questioned whether John might have been trying to interpret or complement the synoptics, or perhaps going beyond them completely to write an ultimate gospel. Evidence for this is that it was part of Jewish tradition to write a commentary on something previous: Windisch and Lightfoot think it is an assumption to say that the author of Johns gospel used the synoptics as a source, (although John was written late, C 100 AD) and he might have used a non-synoptic sign source. Windisch thinks John was written, to supersede the synoptics, by a single author who must have known the gospel of Mark and other synoptic material. Windisch claimed John was autonomous and sufficient so might have been replacing them completely. Lightfoot developed this idea, but said that the synoptic gospels would have had too strong a position in church for Johns gospel to achieve this, and was only interpreting them, to draw out the significance of the original events. This was suggested long before by Clement of Alexandria, when he wrote of a spiritual gospel. I think the idea of interpretation is probably more likely than that of replacement, as John does not seem to be meant to be independent, but probably complements the synoptics. The title asks whether the purpose of Johns gospel was historicity or not. For a large part of history, it was not thought to be accurate in the modern historians sense, especially as St Clement of Alexandria referred to it as a spiritual gospel. Some events in John appear to occur in a different order to the synoptics, e.g. the last supper, which occurs at Passover in the synoptics but is first thing in John. But according to Lightfoot, the author was well aware of the historical truth lying at the heart of the Christian tradition, and even if he can sit lightly to subordinate aspects of his main historical subject, he may give us better guidance than the synoptics. Smalley has tried to answer the question by examining Acts: Martin Dibelius believes Acts is not historical at all, F F Bruce says it is a summary of history but a sanitised version. But why would an author write one factual gospel and one inaccurate gospel? Paul is the main character in Acts, and Pauls inaccurate writings seem to contradict. Galatians also mentions a missing journey to Arabia which Acts leaves out though according to Catchpole, this could have been because it wasnt successful. But Smalley points out that in Acts, the council of Jerusalem is mentioned, which isnt in Paul. This means Acts and Luke are probably not historical, so John could still be. Despite this, Schmeitzer has said that the only thing the gospel shows is that Jesus existed, not anything about him. I do not think this can be true judging by the apparent structure of the gospel. Smalley divided it up into four parts (the prologue, the ministry, the passion, and the epilogue). Guilding identified a two-year cycle within the narrative, although he thought it was a liturgy. However this does suggest history was important, or why would the author put the gospel into a historical context? The gospel has a clear time period, and mentions historical figures. Smalley identified that the author must have thought about structure as well, and said that the main purpose was to show who Jesus is (thus agreeing with the titles claim). Jesus performed miracles which C H Dodd called sign sources, and Smalley thinks that these, along with the discourses and the I am sayings, are meant to show the reader who Jesus actually is, and what his purpose is. None of these three things have a historical purpose, although John might be historically accurate, containing historical and geographical tracts. I could accept this view, as it allows for the miracles to be only literary devices, designed to show the role of Jesus. The gospel is certainly centred about Jesus, who seems to be acting as a pastor he cares about his people (as in Pauls letters). Smalley questions whether or not Johns Gospel contains the same kind of Kerygma as the rest of the New Testament writings. C H Dodd identified the Kerygma in early speeches of Peter in six different parts throughout Acts: 2:16-21, in which the Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled, 2:22-32 and 3:15, where it is stated that Jesus is from the Davidic line, 2:33-36 and 4:11, stating that Jesus is the lord, 2:33 and 2:38, in which the Holy Spirit is given, 3:20 and 10:42, where it proclaims that Jesus will return, and 2:38-40 and 3:19 which says man should repent their sins. In John, the Old Testament prophecy is fulfilled in John 1:1 and 1:14. 1:14 and 7:14 state that Jesus is from the Davidic line, 17:20-22 and 15:1-6 that Jesus is the lord, 20:21 that the Holy Spirit has been given, 6:39, 6:44, 14:3 that Jesus will return, and 20:31 that man should repent. C H Dodd thinks this Kerygma is in John, Peter and Paul. Smalley accepts it is there in John and Paul but thinks it is less developed. He also believes there is a significant difference between its presence in John and in Paul, because Jesus is supposed to be the second Adam in Paul, but John has a greater emphasis on surpassing Moses. He argues that the fourth gospel is much closer to the synoptics than to Paul, that Paul never saw the historical Jesus, only the risen Jesus, and is therefore incomplete. I would agree with Smalleys reasoning because in the Kerygma and in Paul there is little reference to Jesus historical life, so the purpose of the gospels might have been to put teachings of Jesus into a historical setting. In conclusion, it is impossible to be sure of the purpose of Johns Gospel, but it seems likely that the author wanted to communicate truths about Jesus, his role on earth, his divinity, etc. Smalleys views seem well supported by evidence, and I would agree that the gospel couldnt have been a purely historical account although it may well have a true frame of events. Surely spreading the good news about Jesus would be more important than relating everything he said and exactly as it happened. Robinson, who thought the gospel was written before the synoptics, said that historicity might have been a purpose, but not the main one. Most of those who think the synoptics came first will disagree and think Johns history is inaccurate, but as Brown as said, the accuracy is irrelevant, as the narrative frame is probably only there to strengthen teachings about Jesus.

Jonathan Swifts Gullivers Travels - Attitudes and Perceptions of Societies :: Gullivers Travels Essays

Attitudes and Perceptions of Societies in Gulliver's Travels    By the end of Book II in Gulliver's Travels, it is very clear that the character of Gulliver is not the same man who wrote the letter in the beginning of the story.   In fact, he is not the same man he was in Book I.   From the onset of Gulliver's Travels, Swift creates for us a seemingly competent character and narrator in Gulliver.   In his account we learn how his adventures have changed him and his perception of people, for the central theme of this story is how human nature and reason reflect society. Throughout the novel, the character, Gulliver changes his attitudes and his perceptions of people because of the different attitudes and perceptions of the different societies of Lilliput and Brobdingnag.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the whole, Gulliver is a very frustrating character to deal with for a number of reasons.   For example, he's not steady; this unsteadiness as a narrator leads us to question the validity of what Gulliver tells us.   This means that we have to be on our guard against what he says, and even though he's our guide, we can't follow him everywhere, which is just what Swift wanted.   Gulliver makes many apologies for himself and his actions and puts us the reader emotionally involved in the story.   Gulliver seems to direct a good deal of hostility toward us, creating a tinge of hostility back at him.   Ultimately, Gulliver works as a narrator because we can relate to him and as a result find him engaging.   We too can jump from emotion to emotion, but in the long run, Swift is not attempting to create an Everyman.   This Gulliver is not, by any means a wholly allegorical character, but as much an individual as the next person.   In certain ways, Gul liver proves to be more resilient than the average man is by managing to survive the disastrous shipwrecks and people so foreign they might as well be aliens.   Still in other ways Gulliver is a naà ¯ve person, bereft of decency and consideration.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Gulliver is an entirely credible and probable person at the same time that he is precisely the person to be the instrument for Swift's satire.   In his incredible circumstances, Gulliver shows himself to be very resourceful and observant of his surroundings.   With that he changes in relation to the places he visits and the events that befall him as he voyages.

Abortion: Women Must Be Given A Choice Essay -- Freedom of Choice, Pro-

This is paper is about the issue of Abortion. I think the discussion of this issue is important because, I think women should have the choice whether to continue with a pregnancy or not. There are a lot of reasons why women have abortions. Here are a few reasons why, rape, or physically not able to carry the pregnancy to full term, or genetic defects. Abortion is a tough decision in its self, women should not have to deal with the worry of the being convicted or condemned because of her choice. There also have been studies done involving â€Å"unwanted children† they end up suffering from physical and psychological damage done by the parent. There is also the issue of the relationship between a husband and wife, especially if the woman was raped, the husband has a hard time dealing with the pregnancy itself and once the child is born the husband does not treat the child as if it was his. Then you have the psychological damage to the woman after being raped, itself. Some may argue that it is morally wrong to have an abortion and a crime. It is considered to be murder. A few years back, it was considered a crime for a woman to have an abortion. Since this was considered a crime many women would seek out â€Å"back alley† doctors to perform an abortion. These were done in unsanitary conditions, sometimes the â€Å"back alley† doctor would mess up the procedure and the woman would either die from this or be unable to conceive later in life. Some would even consider drinking a mixture that would induce a miscarriage, and would end up dying from the mixture. Some women would even cause injury to themselves to induce a miscarriage of the unwanted pregnancy, with metal and wooden objects. Then there is the argument of the church it is... ...rious physical defects. B. Women should have abortions when they want to terminate an unwanted pregnancy and the fetus has serious physical defects. A rule utilitarian would try to answer the same question, which rule will produce more total well-being? In conclusion, a choice needs to be available to prevent the birth of unwanted children, to avoid damage to the child as well as the well-being of women. Preservation of life seems to be a slogan for anti-abortionists. If we turn our backs on women now, it would bring more deaths and illegal and self-induced abortions. Anti-abortionists do not know what it is like to have to make the decision of having an abortion; they have not experienced the situation that some women had to go through. There are arguments on both sides and judgment against people needs to be stopped. Abortion should remain legal,

Motivation in The Workplace

Bonus pay can be defined as a payment In Dalton to an employee's base salary or hourly wage. Bonus pay is normally used to reward employees for a job well done, but it can be used to improve employee morale, productivity and motivation as well. Bonus's usually work best in an environment where the job greatly depends on an employee or employees to accomplish a goal with high effectiveness. With bonus payments, there is a significant advantage. Offering a cash amount to employees who complete a specific goal can offer Incentive.It also expresses a sign of appreciation awards an employee(s). This can then motivate en employee to continue working hard to achieve another bonus payment. There are disadvantages to bonus payments, such as a high cost for the company. Giving out bonus payments yearly, during holidays or at other times, must be calculated to figure out how many employees a company can afford to give a bonus to. Another drawback to bonus payments Is having to pay taxes. A bonu s Is added to your yearly Income, meaning a large bonus means higher taxes.Commissions Commission payments are an amount of money, whether it be a percentage or a flat ate, paid to an employee after completing a task, such as selling a product. Commission may be paid in addition to a salary or Instead of a salary. Commission works best in a retail sales business. Real estate is a good example. In retail sales, commission pay can encourage an employee to put 100% effort into a sale. When a worker Is offered commission pay, whether It's In addition to a salary or not, it offers the employee a high paying opportunity, as the number or sales they make effect their pay.By paying commission It also allows the company to weed out those who are not able to succeed at the job. If an employee cannot earn enough by commission pay, the company is then left with only the top earners, who clearly succeed at their jobs. A fluctuation in pay is considered a disadvantage. Some weeks an employee may earn a high amount, while other weeks sales may be very slow and earnings will be extremely low. This Is the largest disadvantage to commission sales. Especially If a worker Is being paid commission only – with no salary, an employee may end up working for many hours while not earning any money.Employee Stock Ownership (ESP.) Employee Stock Ownership is a program where employees accumulate shares and ay ultimately assume control of the company. These stocks can be acquired through purchase, or through bonuses. Seeps work best for large companies such as West Jet or other airlines. Sop's can increase production and profitability, and Improve employees' dedication and sense of ownership. When employees become owners in the company, they become more loyal and productive. Seeps also offer significant tax breaks to a company.Some disadvantages to Seeps are that an employee basically has all of their eggs in one basket, so if the company does not perform, the employee's investment could be lost. In addition to a loss of investment, s more shares are purchased, an employee's share becomes a smaller percentage of Gain-sharing is when a company's employees' performance improves, that company will share the financial gain. Gain sharing works to improve performance while eliminating wasted time, energy and materials.This way, as the employees' performance progresses, they profit from the company's savings from the improved performance. With gain-sharing, it focuses on rewarding only performance improvement, and payouts are self-funded from savings generated by the plan. Employees become more interested in the company's goals. Measures are narrower Han organization-wide profit and therefore gains may be paid even though profits may be down. Gain-sharing also requires that management openly shares information about performance, therefore a participative management style works best.Gain-sharing works best in a work place that focuses on groups rather than individual accomplishments. Profit-sharing Profit sharing is when the people who work for a company receive a direct share of the profits. The payouts are funded through company profits. Unlike gain-sharing, payouts are made when there is profit, performance doesn't necessarily have to show improvement. With profit sharing employees will be focused on the company's profitability. This motivates employees to work together for the success of the company. This in turn will allow employees to feel more committed to the company.Disadvantages of profit sharing include the fact that employees pay goes up equally, and there can be major fluctuations in smaller companies. This can then be very difficult for employees with their pay varying so much. Merit Pay Merit pay is extra pay rewarded to an employee regarding performance. If an employee succeeds at his or her Job, they are then rewarded with an additional mount of money to their regular salary. This type of financial incentive works excellent in e nvironments where employees work independently, as each employee can then be rewarded (or not rewarded) for their performance individually.Merit pay works well at Jobs related to retail sales. Merit pay is a very good motivator for employees. It shows the direct connection between hard work and rewards. An employee can be individually rewarded according to their performance. Merit pay also increases the commitment of employees. Each person will then strive to succeed to the best of their ability because they know it will be compensated. This is very good for company profit. Employees will also be more likely to stay within a company if they feel secure within their Job.Hard work being rewarded allows an employee to feel comfortable and secure. A disadvantage to merit pay is it can be affected by outside factors. In the case of a retail sales employee, sometimes no matter how hard they work to make a sale, that person may Just not want to purchase that item. This is a factor that can not be controlled, and affects that employee's pay. Merit pay also can cause pressure. If an employee is constantly worried about not being able to succeed ND earn a higher paycheck through their performance, that may affect their abilities as they are stressed out.Skill-based pay Skill-based pay is when employees are paid based on their individual skill levels knowledge and acquire new skills. This is best for self – motivated employees. Being paid according to skills allows the employee to focus on career development. This means you have to continue to develop new skills and education through courses and training if you want to increase your pay. Another disadvantage of knowledge- based pay is employees may feel bitter towards one another due to difference in pay. Motivation in The Workplace Bonus pay can be defined as a payment In Dalton to an employee's base salary or hourly wage. Bonus pay is normally used to reward employees for a job well done, but it can be used to improve employee morale, productivity and motivation as well. Bonus's usually work best in an environment where the job greatly depends on an employee or employees to accomplish a goal with high effectiveness. With bonus payments, there is a significant advantage. Offering a cash amount to employees who complete a specific goal can offer Incentive.It also expresses a sign of appreciation awards an employee(s). This can then motivate en employee to continue working hard to achieve another bonus payment. There are disadvantages to bonus payments, such as a high cost for the company. Giving out bonus payments yearly, during holidays or at other times, must be calculated to figure out how many employees a company can afford to give a bonus to. Another drawback to bonus payments Is having to pay taxes. A bonu s Is added to your yearly Income, meaning a large bonus means higher taxes.Commissions Commission payments are an amount of money, whether it be a percentage or a flat ate, paid to an employee after completing a task, such as selling a product. Commission may be paid in addition to a salary or Instead of a salary. Commission works best in a retail sales business. Real estate is a good example. In retail sales, commission pay can encourage an employee to put 100% effort into a sale. When a worker Is offered commission pay, whether It's In addition to a salary or not, it offers the employee a high paying opportunity, as the number or sales they make effect their pay.By paying commission It also allows the company to weed out those who are not able to succeed at the job. If an employee cannot earn enough by commission pay, the company is then left with only the top earners, who clearly succeed at their jobs. A fluctuation in pay is considered a disadvantage. Some weeks an employee may earn a high amount, while other weeks sales may be very slow and earnings will be extremely low. This Is the largest disadvantage to commission sales. Especially If a worker Is being paid commission only – with no salary, an employee may end up working for many hours while not earning any money.Employee Stock Ownership (ESP.) Employee Stock Ownership is a program where employees accumulate shares and ay ultimately assume control of the company. These stocks can be acquired through purchase, or through bonuses. Seeps work best for large companies such as West Jet or other airlines. Sop's can increase production and profitability, and Improve employees' dedication and sense of ownership. When employees become owners in the company, they become more loyal and productive. Seeps also offer significant tax breaks to a company.Some disadvantages to Seeps are that an employee basically has all of their eggs in one basket, so if the company does not perform, the employee's investment could be lost. In addition to a loss of investment, s more shares are purchased, an employee's share becomes a smaller percentage of Gain-sharing is when a company's employees' performance improves, that company will share the financial gain. Gain sharing works to improve performance while eliminating wasted time, energy and materials.This way, as the employees' performance progresses, they profit from the company's savings from the improved performance. With gain-sharing, it focuses on rewarding only performance improvement, and payouts are self-funded from savings generated by the plan. Employees become more interested in the company's goals. Measures are narrower Han organization-wide profit and therefore gains may be paid even though profits may be down. Gain-sharing also requires that management openly shares information about performance, therefore a participative management style works best.Gain-sharing works best in a work place that focuses on groups rather than individual accomplishments. Profit-sharing Profit sharing is when the people who work for a company receive a direct share of the profits. The payouts are funded through company profits. Unlike gain-sharing, payouts are made when there is profit, performance doesn't necessarily have to show improvement. With profit sharing employees will be focused on the company's profitability. This motivates employees to work together for the success of the company. This in turn will allow employees to feel more committed to the company.Disadvantages of profit sharing include the fact that employees pay goes up equally, and there can be major fluctuations in smaller companies. This can then be very difficult for employees with their pay varying so much. Merit Pay Merit pay is extra pay rewarded to an employee regarding performance. If an employee succeeds at his or her Job, they are then rewarded with an additional mount of money to their regular salary. This type of financial incentive works excellent in e nvironments where employees work independently, as each employee can then be rewarded (or not rewarded) for their performance individually.Merit pay works well at Jobs related to retail sales. Merit pay is a very good motivator for employees. It shows the direct connection between hard work and rewards. An employee can be individually rewarded according to their performance. Merit pay also increases the commitment of employees. Each person will then strive to succeed to the best of their ability because they know it will be compensated. This is very good for company profit. Employees will also be more likely to stay within a company if they feel secure within their Job.Hard work being rewarded allows an employee to feel comfortable and secure. A disadvantage to merit pay is it can be affected by outside factors. In the case of a retail sales employee, sometimes no matter how hard they work to make a sale, that person may Just not want to purchase that item. This is a factor that can not be controlled, and affects that employee's pay. Merit pay also can cause pressure. If an employee is constantly worried about not being able to succeed ND earn a higher paycheck through their performance, that may affect their abilities as they are stressed out.Skill-based pay Skill-based pay is when employees are paid based on their individual skill levels knowledge and acquire new skills. This is best for self – motivated employees. Being paid according to skills allows the employee to focus on career development. This means you have to continue to develop new skills and education through courses and training if you want to increase your pay. Another disadvantage of knowledge- based pay is employees may feel bitter towards one another due to difference in pay.

Example of Law School Admission Essay †Application Essays

Example of Law School Admission Essay – Application Essays Free Online Research Papers Example of Law School Admission Essay Application Essays The determination and perseverance that I have developed throughout the past four years of college have significantly shaped the course of my life. Throughout high school I was never particularly motivated in school. I received average grades and struggled through the obstacles that I encountered in my classes, finishing high school still not remarkably motivated. I went on to the University of Arizona where I was completely undecided about what I wanted to study. I initially thought that psychology would be an exciting and interesting major, however this proved to be wrong after experiencing my first few classes. As I explored my options I determined that I had an enormous amount of interest in law. I subsequently pursued this direction by changing my focus to political science and declared it my major. For the first time in my academic life I felt focused and challenged by school. I actually enjoyed attending class. The subject matter and the related research filled a void that gave me a direction in life. I had never been so excited and driven to be successful in my life. My research about law school options pointed out that there would be many obstacles that I would need to overcome in order to be accepted. I realized that I would need excellent grades and that if I wanted to attend a leading law school that I should transfer to a school more compatible with my major. Thus, I strived to transfer to the University of Southern California where political science is a dominant and respected major. Throughout the next two years of college I worked extremely hard to try to achieve this goal. I took the maximum amount of units each semester, working diligently in order to be accepted to this prestigious school. I excelled in my tests and research papers, and was rewarded with excellent grades in my subsequent semesters. My determination to persevere and succeed onto USC gave me the motivation to raise my grades and excel in everything I did, including achieving my goal of being accepted to USC. Upon my acceptance into the University of Southern California I was extremely nervous about the change of environment. When I say environment I don’t mean a new location, I mean a completely different spectrum of intellectuals. USC was like no other school I had been to before. It was an intellectual challenge that I was not used to and I initially felt uncomfortable. In the beginning of my transition I perceived everyone around me to be smarter than I and I was embarrassed to speak in class. The classes were quite different, the teachers were intellectually challenging, and the student’s intensity and dedication was intimidating. I struggled and continued to tell myself that I was just like them. I mean I did get into the same school they did right? Through my determination to succeed I was able to overcome this fear and excel at this school as well. After completion of my first semester at USC I did better than I had done in my entire academic life. My abil ity to conquer my fear of failing and transforming it into my ability to succeed in school ultimately led to my success as a student. In addition to my academic achievements I felt that related work experience would be helpful in broadening my understanding of the law. I applied for and was accepted as an intern at the LA District Attorney’s office where I worked with the attorneys in organizing evidence and assisting them in preparing for trial. This experience further enhanced my understanding of the legal process and reinforced my commitment to become a lawyer. As I previously stated, school was never my focus. However, now that I have succeeded both at the University of Arizona and USC I know that I can succeed in law school as well. I am confident that the determination and perseverance that I developed throughout my college experience will enable me to excel in both law school and the legal profession. Research Papers on Example of Law School Admission Essay - Application EssaysStandardized TestingTrailblazing by Eric AndersonHip-Hop is ArtPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenGenetic Engineering19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfResearch Process Part OneBringing Democracy to Africa

About Charles Garnier, the Designer of the Paris Opera

About Charles Garnier, the Designer of the Paris Opera Inspired by Roman pageantry, architect Charles Garnier (born November 6, 1825 in Paris, France) wanted his buildings to have drama and spectacle. His design for the magnificent Paris Opà ©ra on the Place de lOpà ©ra in Paris combined the classicism of Renaissance architecture with ornate Beaux Arts ideas. Jean Louis Charles Garnier was born into a working class family. He was expected to become a wheelwright like his father. However Garnier wasnt healthy and his mother didnt want him to work in a forge. So, the boy took mathematics courses at the École Gratuite de Dessin. His mother hoped he would get good, steady work as a surveyor, but Charles Garnier achieved much greater success. In 1842 Garnier began studies with Louis-Hippolyte Lebas at the École Royale des Beaux-Arts de Paris. In 1848 he won the Premier Grand Prix de Rome and was off to Italy to study at the Academy in Rome. Garnier spent five years in Rome, traveling throughout Greece and Turkey, and being inspired by Roman pageantry.   Still in his 20s, Garnier aspired to design buildings that had the drama of a pageant. The highlight Charles Garniers career was his commission to design the Opà ©ra in Paris. Built between  1857 and 1874,   the Paris Opera quickly became Garniers masterpiece. With its magnificent hall and grand staircase, the design combines opulence for its patrons with remarkable acoustics for the performers. The palatial Opera House has become known as Palais Garnier.   Garniers opulent style reflected the fashion that became popular during Napoleon IIIs Second Empire. Garniers other architecture includes the Casino at Monte Carlo in Monaco, another opulent complex for the wealthy elite, and the Italian villas Bischoffsheim and Garnier in Bordighera. Several other buildings in Paris, including the Panorama Marigny theatre and Hotel du Cercle de la Librairie, cannot compare with his grand masterpieces. The architect died in Paris on August 3, 1898. Why is Garnier Important? Many people might say that Garniers importance is his creation of a house for The Phantom of the Opera. Professor Talbot Hamlin suggests otherwise, pointing out that despite the oversumptuous detail of the Opà ©ra in Paris, the architectural style was imitated for decades because there is a magnificent clarity in the general appearance, both outside and in. Hamlin notes that Garnier conceived the Opà ©ra in Paris in three parts- the stage, the auditorium, and the vestibules. Each of these three units was then developed with the greatest richness possible, but always in such a way as to accent its relationship to the other two. It is this logic as the supreme quality that was being taught at École des Beaux-Arts and perfectly executed by Garnier. A buildings logic, the basic relationships in buildings, was founded on common sense, directness, emphasis of the most important elements, and expression of purpose. This insistence on open and logical planning and on the clarity of basic expression was vitally necessary to the solution of new architectural problems, writes Professor Hamlin. Architecture became a matter of disciplined study of plan relationships. Learn More: Charles Garniers Paris Opera: Architectural Empathy and the Renaissance of French Classicism by Christopher Mead, MIT Press, 1991Charles Garniers Opà ©ra: Architecture and Exterior Decor by Gà ©rard Fontaine, 2000Charles Garniers Opera: Architecture and Interior Decor by Gà ©rard Fontaine, 2004Paris Opera House: Scale Architectural Paper Model by Jean-William Hanoteau, 1987 Source: Architecture through the Ages by Talbot Hamlin, Putnam, Revised 1953, pp. 599-600

Chemicals That Could Make You Fail a TSA Swab Test

Chemicals That Could Make You Fail a TSA Swab Test If youre flying, you may get pulled aside by a TSA agent for a swab test. Also, your baggage may get swabbed. The purpose of the test is to check for chemicals that might be used as explosives. The test cant check for all the chemicals that might be used by terrorists, so it looks for two sets of compounds that can be used to make many types of bombs: nitrates and glycerin. The good news is the test is highly sensitive. The bad news is, nitrates and glycerin are found in some harmless everyday products, so you could test positive.   Getting swabbed doesnt seem to be particularly random. For example, some people get swabbed nearly every time they fly. This may be because theyve tested positive before (possibly related to a penchant for making smoke bombs and other small pyrotechnics) or because they meet some other criteria. Just expect to be swabbed and be prepared. Heres a list of common chemicals that may cause you to test positive. Avoid them or else be ready to explain the test result, because it can take a while for TSA to complete its evaluation of your belongings, which can translate into a missed flight. Common Products That Test Positive Hand soaps that contain glycerin (Rinse very thoroughly after washing your hands.)Lotions that contain glycerinCosmetics or hair products, which may contain glycerinBaby wipes, which may contain glycerinCertain medications (such as nitroglycerin and other nitrates)Lawn fertilizers (Nitrates: Wash your hands and especially your shoes.)MunitionsAccelerantsFireworks and other pyrotechnics What to Do If Youre Flagged Avoid becoming hostile and aggressive. It wont speed the process. Youre likely going to get patted down by an agent of the same gender who will also empty your bag for additional testing. Theres a chance your luggage may get pulled, although this rarely happens; its also unlikely that you will miss a flight because of the test. Be aware of chemicals in your environment and able to trace your steps to help TSA identify the source of the triggering compound. Sometimes you wont have any idea why you flagged the test. But, careful attention to hygiene may help you avoid the situation. The best advice is to arrive early enough before your flight to get through security. Try to avoid the problem, plan for it, and dont overreact if it happens to you.

Tourism Product Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tourism Product Report - Essay Example On the other hand, tourism product can be defined as a service that can only be put to some use for deriving benefits. There are a number of features which are of relevance to the way in which travel and tourism products are managed and differentiated from physical goods. These include intangibility, inseparability, perishability, heterogeneity, and ownership (Evans et al. 2003:1994). Intangibility of tourism products makes this business diversified yet accessible to all. Unlike goods, services such as accommodation in a luxury hotel and cruising to an exotic island cannot be bought in physical terms. In other words, these services can only be used by customers and service providers alike. Customers make use of them for fulfilling their purpose of travelling whereas service providers put them to use for making profits. In either way, they cannot be physically located but be experienced only. Baum (2006) argues that in a culturally diversified setup, the intangibility of tourism products enables tour operators and travel agents to adjust to the varying demands of visitors (151). They can increase the stake of services, wherever necessary, to optimise revenues. At the same time, the invisibility phenomenon associated with intangible service products poses some major challenges to overcome. Intangibility itself is an attribute that sometimes appears vague and superf luous. Unless the service itself proves its worth, potential customers may completely or partially ignore it. To take away the equivocation, tour operators usually apply tangible means to promote their services to target customers. This is why video clippings of holiday destinations or cruise ship tours are uploaded on the web to lure in customers into availing of the services. Similarly, tour organisers spend time and money to make creative and visually appealing travel brochures to minimise the uncertainty factor involved with intangibility. Inseparability of tourism products is again a

HR Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HR - Essay Example But, if you try to please everyone by doling out good reports, your seniors might question your judgment and ability to differentiate between good and bad workers. Therefore, most of the initiating officers tend to take the performance appraisal process as a millstone round their necks. 2. Definition Wikipedia (2011) described performance appraisal as a systematic method of evaluating an individual’s on the job performance against pre-determined standards and his/her potential for the future responsibilities usually by his supervisors or managers. 3. Purposes of Performance Appraisal One may count as many as twelve purposes of performance appraisal; however, the most basic is to provide information about job performance. Following are the important purposes of performance appraisal:- 3.1 Basic Purpose. The basic purpose of performance appraisal is to get information about how people are doing their jobs and find the problems affecting the overall performance of individuals (Mu rphy & Margulies 2004). 3.2 Judgmental Purposes In judgmental perspective, performance appraisal may provide a basis for reward allocation, identification of high performance/high potential individuals and low performance/low potential individuals. ... 4. Benefits The process of performance appraisal helps both the managers and the workers by providing employees an opportunity to indicate the direction and level of their ambitions. It induces leaders to take interest in their subordinates’ development which in turn becomes a motivation tool in helping the organization to retain the ambitious and capable personnel instead of losing them to the competitors. It identifies areas where specific training is needed, desired, or available. Performance appraisal can be used as a motivational and encouragement tool for employees who have been trying to perform well (Rao 2004). Performance appraisal is also a means for communicating and documenting dissatisfaction in respect of unacceptable employee performance. It provides a reliable basis for making a myriad of organizational decisions concerning promotions, deputation, rewards, postings at key appointments, etc. 5. Process for Performance Appraisal Since a good report can qualify th e individual for more important responsibilities, more rewarding assignments and promotion to higher ranks, therefore, a development plan should be preferably tailor made for each employee. In general way, a development plan should include the following steps:- 5.1 Analyze Job Duties and Responsibilities Job duties and responsibilities should be clearly spelled out and be available in written form for the benefit of the organization as well as the individual (Elizabeth et al. 2006). 5.2 Establish Standards of Job Performance Standards of performance for each job should be established and known to both initiating officer and the subordinate (Ziagon

Paul and the Law- Paul's view on the Law Research Paper

Paul and the Law- Paul's view on the Law - Research Paper Example The church cannot be denied to have such power as to gather people as a force which can go against the government when the church does not agree with the leadership. Likewise, the government could be a strong force which could dissolve a church. Thus, the two oftentimes have to come up with solutions to bridge the gap and bind their forces to promote good leadership. America once experienced leadership under the government and the church and also witnessed many changes as the state tried to separate itself from the church. In this respect, it is interesting to look into this matter and examine the biblical principles concerning the government, which circumscribe the law and the role of the church or religion. In this paper, the focus will be on the perceptions of one man who was an expert in law—not only the Jewish law but also the Roman law, and at the same time converted to Christianity— Paul the Apostle. The Law As a Right Paul had always been a zealous Jew who, acco rding to the Bible, became a persecutor of the early Christians. In fact, before he was converted to Christianity, he stood approving the demise of Stephen who was stoned to death by people, believing that he was teaching things contrary to Jewish laws (Archeological Study Bible, Acts 7.60). When Paul was arrested after his conversion, he presented himself before Agrippa and confessed how he had been a Pharisee from childhood. He said that he did not simply persecute the followers of Jesus Christ but also imprisoned and killed them. In his argument before the Roman ruler and the Jewish officials, Paul not only presented the circumstances of his conversion but also used his knowledge of the Roman and Jewish laws to show that he was not worthy to be imprisoned. From this, it could be concluded that Paul looked at the law as a God-given mandate which should also be followed even by the great workers of the church, whether it is to their advantage or disadvantage. He presented his case before the appropriate audience whom he believed would be able to do something about his situation, and took advantage of his knowledge of the rules and regulations of the government and the church in order to show his innocence and demand an appropriate action. As a result, he was able to convince Agrippa with his speech about his innocence, so that the latter thought Paul could have been freed if only he had not appealed to Caesar. In addition, when Paul was arrested together with Silas in Philippi because Paul drove out the spirit of divination from a servant girl, he refused to be released without being escorted. Paul argued that he was a Roman citizen who was wrongly imprisoned because he did not undergo the lawful process of being heard. Therefore, since he was put to public shame for being imprisoned, he claimed for his rights as a roman citizen. During his time, Romans were considered a special breed of human beings who had extensive privileges. They were not supposed to be abused or manhandled the way ordinary people were treated (Vos 551–552), just as the imprisonment suffered by Paul. As a Jew turned Christian and as a Roman citizen, Paul did not simply let go of the circumstances and play his part passively. Rather, he took advantage of

The effects of Employee satisfaction on Productivity, Performance, Research Paper

The effects of Employee satisfaction on Productivity, Performance, Customer satisfaction and the organization financial performance - Research Paper Example Any changes caused to any one of the above parameters may have strong impacts upon other parameters. Even though an organization may have lot of resources, human resources or the employees seem to be the most vital one because of the necessity of employees in mobilizing all the other organizational resources. In other words, employee performance and productivity is linked with the mission, vision, objectives and goals of the organization. Only the satisfied employee may deliver his maximum productivity for the betterment of the organization. Dissatisfied employees may not perform well and their reluctance in delivering the goods, may affect the customers of the organization. Dissatisfied employees may not treat the customers well which may result in dissatisfaction of the customers and the subsequent drop out of customers. The loss of customers may cause heavy financial damages to the organization. In short, employee performance can make or break an organization. This paper analyses the importance of employee satisfaction and its impacts on Productivity, Performance, Customer satisfaction and the organization financial performance.... re are direct and quantifiable links between customer service variables (such as satisfaction and loyalty), employee variables (such as satisfaction, enthusiasm, loyalty, commitment, capability, and internal service quality), and financial results (Linking Employee Satisfaction with Productivity, Performance, and Customer Satisfaction, 2003, p.1) Employees are the only active element in an organization. All the other organizational resources are passive and need the support of human element to deliver the goods. In other words employees are the drivers who drive the organizational resources in a particular direction to meet the organizational goals. If the drivers or the employees are incapable of driving the vehicle properly, it is difficult for the organization in reaching the target or meeting the goals. Only the satisfied drivers will keep the vehicle in good condition by driving the vehicle safely and effectively. Dissatisfied drivers will never bother much about the conditions of the vehicle or the negative impacts of crazy driving habits. Proper driving will help the vehicle owner to reduce maintenance cost of the vehicle which will increase his profits. â€Å"The Watson Wyatt Worldwide Human Capital Index study suggests that effective human resources practices lead to positive financial outcomes more often than positive financial outcomes lead to good practices† (Linking Employee Satisfaction with Productivity, Performance, and Customer Satisfaction, 2003, p.2). Many people often raise the question - which one evolved first; hen or egg? The same question is asked in the organizational world also – whether good human management practices lead to better organizational performances or better organizational performances lead to good human management practices? The

Entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words - 2

Entrepreneurship - Essay Example The main motive of an entrepreneur is to earn profit through production or distribution of product and/or services. On the other hand, entrepreneurship has been explained as a process of performing a work in a new and better way. As per the views of Peter F. Drucker, an entrepreneur is one who always searches for change, responds to it and exploits it as an opportunity (Drucker, 2007). In a broader way, it can be said that entrepreneur shifts economic sources out of lower into higher productivity and greater yield. Every management theorist has represented entrepreneurship in its own way. The entire management study has been based on entrepreneurship. Like any other management studies, entrepreneurship has diverse characteristics, themes and types (Magretta, 2014). With this concern, the essay intends to conduct a debate between characteristics and themes of entrepreneurship. Moreover, the entire essay provides a brief view about entrepreneurship types, characteristics and themes. Every profession has different characteristics or traits, which make that occupation more diverse and exclusive from others. Likewise, an entrepreneur has many unique traits, which make this occupation different from other (Magretta, 2014). An entrepreneur has various characteristics that are described hereunder. To make a mark in any field, every individual is needed to be confident. In an entrepreneur, confidence is recognized as a hallmark characteristic. It has been seen that individuals are able to be success in their profession by developing the level of confidence. In this regard, an entrepreneur is required to possess confidence, so that he or she is creative as well as risk taking in approach for better business performance (Otote, 2009). To be a successful entrepreneur, every individual should have strong leadership qualities for

The effects of Employee satisfaction on Productivity, Performance, Research Paper

The effects of Employee satisfaction on Productivity, Performance, Customer satisfaction and the organization financial performance - Research Paper Example Any changes caused to any one of the above parameters may have strong impacts upon other parameters. Even though an organization may have lot of resources, human resources or the employees seem to be the most vital one because of the necessity of employees in mobilizing all the other organizational resources. In other words, employee performance and productivity is linked with the mission, vision, objectives and goals of the organization. Only the satisfied employee may deliver his maximum productivity for the betterment of the organization. Dissatisfied employees may not perform well and their reluctance in delivering the goods, may affect the customers of the organization. Dissatisfied employees may not treat the customers well which may result in dissatisfaction of the customers and the subsequent drop out of customers. The loss of customers may cause heavy financial damages to the organization. In short, employee performance can make or break an organization. This paper analyses the importance of employee satisfaction and its impacts on Productivity, Performance, Customer satisfaction and the organization financial performance.... re are direct and quantifiable links between customer service variables (such as satisfaction and loyalty), employee variables (such as satisfaction, enthusiasm, loyalty, commitment, capability, and internal service quality), and financial results (Linking Employee Satisfaction with Productivity, Performance, and Customer Satisfaction, 2003, p.1) Employees are the only active element in an organization. All the other organizational resources are passive and need the support of human element to deliver the goods. In other words employees are the drivers who drive the organizational resources in a particular direction to meet the organizational goals. If the drivers or the employees are incapable of driving the vehicle properly, it is difficult for the organization in reaching the target or meeting the goals. Only the satisfied drivers will keep the vehicle in good condition by driving the vehicle safely and effectively. Dissatisfied drivers will never bother much about the conditions of the vehicle or the negative impacts of crazy driving habits. Proper driving will help the vehicle owner to reduce maintenance cost of the vehicle which will increase his profits. â€Å"The Watson Wyatt Worldwide Human Capital Index study suggests that effective human resources practices lead to positive financial outcomes more often than positive financial outcomes lead to good practices† (Linking Employee Satisfaction with Productivity, Performance, and Customer Satisfaction, 2003, p.2). Many people often raise the question - which one evolved first; hen or egg? The same question is asked in the organizational world also – whether good human management practices lead to better organizational performances or better organizational performances lead to good human management practices? The

Strategic Direction of Harley Davidson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Direction of Harley Davidson - Essay Example It has been recommended that the best way forward for Harley-Davidson is to expand overseas and outsource its production and assembly lines, especially in emerging economies like China and India. To its credit, the company’s management has already been making efforts in this direction. Summary of Strategic Direction & the Balanced Scorecard From the analysis of the company’s own strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats to the motorcycle industry at large and the heavy motorbike segment in particular, it has been suggested that the best way forward for Harley- Davidson at this juncture is to expand overseas in emerging economies like China and India and also to think of setting up production and assembly lines for the local manufacture or assembly of H-D motorcycles. This will not only help lower costs, as Asian labor is cheaper than the American or European equivalent but also to increase market size, revenues and profits. The recessionary tren d in Western economies makes to difficult to achieve sales and profit goals there. It is therefore recommended to spread the risks and even create a production or assembly hub in Asia, from where finished products can be transported to areas where there is a demand for them. Coming to the matter of the Balanced Scorecard, this will compare actual results attained to an agreed target value for financial and non-financial measures, such as Financial, Customer, Internal Processes and Learning and Growth. For H-D’s agreed best-recommended strategy, we could have actual sales in units and type of motorbike, revenues and profits earned, type of customers targeted in terms of earning capacity and lifestyle, costs and expenses to set up production/ assembly plants in India and China and comparison of common and differentiating factors relating to customer choices, culture, purchase behavior and lifestyle in different areas of the globe. Stakeholder Interests Of course, in todayâ€⠄¢s environment, a company has a number of different stakeholders and each of them have different interests in the company and its operations. For example, creditors and banks would like to see that it has enough revenues and profitability to cover its interest payments, as well as make the required installments of principal and interest at the agreed date and rates. They would also look at the debt and equity balance before deciding to lend. Shareholders would expect a return in terms of capital gains and dividends. Employees would be looking for job stability and a fair wage. In this way, Harley Davidson has to satisfy the interests of various stakeholders at the same time. Company History, Purpose & Goals Harley Davidson Inc. was started by a group of friends and entrepreneurs at the beginning of the 1900s. The name of the company is, in fact, a combination of the two families which combined their skills and efforts to get the business off the ground.  

Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Essay Example for Free

Alternative-Fuel Vehicles Essay Atmospheric pollution is a major problem nowadays. So it is important that we should immediately find alternative fuel sources for petroleum and reduce the emission of harmful gases in the atmosphere. This has been the dream of many scientists because this will significantly reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, a green house gas, to the atmosphere. Most of these fuels can be manufactured domestically so I cut the costs of importing from other countries. Some are even derived from renewable sources. Electric cars are now being manufactured globally. Unknown to many, electricity-powered cars came into the automotive scene before its diesel and petroleum counterpart. But due to the limitations of the technology in the past, its development was stopped and diesel cars became the standard car. Most of the problems electric cars faced points to the battery. Batteries were heavy and required recharging. But there are new developments in this technology. A battery now has longer life and comes in much lighter forms. The main drawback of this car is the distance it can travel before the batteries run out. If there are enough recharging stops, like gas stations, the electric car will prove itself as a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly car. Natural gas cars are also gaining popularity. The promise of being able to fuel the car at one’s own home is hard to deny. Honda calls it a personalized solution to the fact that gasoline stations don’t sell natural gas. The Honda model Civic GX is coined as the cleanest internal combustion engine-powered vehicle ever tested by Environmental Protection Agency. However, natural gas is not renewable. A potential advantage of Hydrogen cars is that it can be used over and over again by the process of electrolysis. Although the supply hydrogen is not limited as fossil-fuels, production of such cars doesn’t come at a cheap price. Hydrogen has many advantages if used to fuel cars, but currently it is very expensive. Some car companies offer to convert diesel cars into hydrogen cars, but most of the time the price of conversion is much more expensive than the original price of the car. Also, hydrogen in normal temperature is gas and to be used as fuel it should be squeezed in high pressures so it is somewhat difficult to contain. Fuel cell cars are definitely a technology to watch for. It has the potential to minimize the use of energy while reducing harmful emissions at the same time. What sets it above the others is that it can make its own energy through certain chemical processes. Also, fuel cell cars don’t emit pollutants. But the price is almost the same for hydrogen cars, if not higher. The developments in fuel cells is rather young, it is not yet tested as compared to other alternative fuels, so it would be a risk if we utilize this technology right away. Among these alternative sources of energy, I choose natural gas. The other alternatives may score a higher grade in terms of energy advantage and minimal emission, but they are too expensive. The economy will suffer as we save the environment using Hydrogen, Electric, and Fuel Cell cars. Natural gas is widely distributed around the world. New natural gas reserves are discovered as time pass, it is just waiting for us to harness fuel from it. Most countries will be able to tap their own resources and strengthen one’s economy. The production of cars and fuel supply for natural gas cars is also very feasible compared to the other alternatives. Atmospheric pollution is increasing during each day. And since natural gas is the cheapest, we can immediately put it to use. This is the realistic approach concern the threat of global warming. We put into use something that works and will be a benefit for both the economy and environment. And after we became successful in harnessing natural gas, and the economic condition permits it, it is the time to upgrade to hydrogen or fuel cells and completely eliminate harmful emissions from vehicles.

An Overview Of The Book Of Ruth Theology Religion Essay

An Overview Of The Book Of Ruth Theology Religion Essay The Bible is full of inspirational concepts and full of revelatory truth. While the Old Testament points to Jesus of New Testament, it also contains basic doctrines that are established in the New Testament. Hence, words like kindness, faithfulness and mercy have their root in the Hebrew Bible. Hesed is an interesting and fascinating Hebrew word that has a wide range of meaning. The desire to study it makes one to learn a great deal about the characters and attributes of God as it relates to His kindness, faithfulness, goodness, mercy and steadfast love. Hesed was explicitly expressed in the Bible, most especially in the Old Testament. God revealed Himself to His chosen nation (Israel) through His personal attributes and characters (Jenkins,2011:1). No discussion of hesed would be complete without mentioning its role in the interactions of Naomi, her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, and the redeemer Boaz. It is on this fact that this paper answers the following questions: What does the concept of hesed entails? What is the general overview of the Book of Ruth? How is hesed described in the book of Ruth? And what implications do hesed present to the Nigerian Christians? This paper therefore intends to discuss how hesed was embraced and expressed in the Book of Ruth. THE CONCEPTS OF HESED There is a beautiful and rich word in the Hebrew language that powerfully describes the faithfulness, mercy, steadfastness and loving-kindness of the Lord. This Hebrew word is transliterated into English as hesed (Maxey, 2012:1). Hesed (pronounced khesed) is not just a Hebrew word to be translated by exegete as simply loving-kindness or mercy , it is in fact an attribute of God. The hesed of God is a divine characteristic and is at the center of why God acts as He does in real space and time. (Belnap,2009,1) Hesed as Jenkins(2011) asserted can be divided into the following three categories: family relationships, relational and religious (1). He went further to describe its occurrences in the Bible in the following words: Hesed occurs in the family relationships categories seven times in the Old Testament, six times in Genesis, once in 1samuel and once in Ruth. Hesed occurs in nine times in a relational way in the Old Testament- once in Ruth, once in Psalms, once in Esther, once in Daniel, twice in Ezra, once in Job, once Psalms and once Zechariah. Hesed used in a religious category involves forty times in the Old Testament- four timed in Genesis, once in Exodus and Deuteronomy two times in 2nd Samuel, fifteen times in Psalms. Once in 1Kings, once in 2nd Chronicles, once in Job, three times in Isaiah, once in Jeremiah, and once in Ruth. (2) The Bible also reveals that hesed is an attribute that children of God possess and they are commanded by God to emulate and develop it. Being made in God image, Gods people can emulate the divine attribute of hesed. While the idea of loving-kindness and mercy may seem to be only that of positive emotion, it will be demonstrated that Gods loving-kindness is a two-edged sword. Hesed can also mean a mechanism of judgment and accountability before God. People can be described as having the gift of hesed or having no hesed, or no loving-kindness. Hesed is both a Hebrew word and more importantly a Jewish theological concept. Hesed is found approximate 250 times in the Hebrew Bible, with about125 appearances in the Psalms alone. And while the word is not identified specifically as hesed in the Greek New Testament, the Old Testament concept of loving-kindness, mercy and selfless giving can be said to be the very heart of the New Testamnt Gospel. For God so loved the world that He gaveà ¢Ã¢â €š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Jn 3:16) (Emilio, 2012:4). AN OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF RUTH The Book of Ruth is named after one of the main characters in the story. There are two books in the Bible that bear the name of a woman. These books are: Ruth and Esther. While Ruth was Moabites, Esther on the other hand was a Jewess. The Book of Ruth has the records of a Gentile woman who came to live among the people of Israel and became the great-grandmother of David, Isreal greatest king; while in the Book of Esther an Israelite woman was taking into the court of the Gentile king and became a queen who secured deliverance for her people (Cowle, 2008; 22). Also, Tiessen in his write up portrays the book of Ruth as one of the most well-crafted pieces of literature in the Old Testament. He submits that: Despite its lesser status within the Jewish canon and the Christian Bible, the narrative of Ruth is well known. This popular familiarity is largely due to the engaging and challenging story the book offers: The tale of two women who overcome several formidable obstacles and succeed in preserving themselves and the family line, which eventually leads to the great King David (Tiessen,2010:1) The name of Ruth is mentioned twelve times in this book which bears her name (Heijkoop, 1989:7). The meaning of this name is friendship. This meaning according to Harlow (1987) reflected in the relationship of Ruth with her mother in-law (Naomi), and other people that came along her way. Even though she was a stranger in a strange land she blended well with the people because being friendly was part of her (5). This book of Ruth is in connection with the geneology of Jesus Christ as recorded in (Matt 1.5). Heijkoop (1989) also asserted that, The book itself beautifully illustrates how the Holy Spirit gathers up family circumstances in a manner which quite naturally directs the mind and thoughts to a very important truth(7). This special story in the Book of Ruth draws ones attention to the most precious titles of the Lord Jesus Christ. The word kinsman as used here could be translated as Redeemer or Avenger. This little book of only four chapters has drawn tributes from very many, and it has even been described as the Perfect Story. It is told simply and directly. Cundall and Morris (1968) in their own assertions described this book in the following words: The book is a book about friendship. The devotion that Ruth shows to Naomi and the care that Naomi exercises towards Ruth run through the book. It is simple a tale of friendship. The three principal characters of the book are depicted as being mindful of their obligations to the family. Ruth does not forget her duty to Naomi, and consequently to Elimelech, Naomi seeks out a marriage that will preserve the name of her deceased husband while Boaz marries the Moabites to raise up the name of the dead (241). It is better to see the book as a tale told because it is true and because it shows something of the relationship between God and man. The book of Ruth raises the question of whether or not Yahweh can be trusted. The incident suggests to Naomi that God had abandoned her or He is no more reliable. The author of the is unknown, but the last verse of chapter 4 points to the fact that it was written during the time of king David because the is where the list of Ruth descendants ends. (Harlow,1987; 6). The story according to Reid (2000), is told from a female point of view and certainly seems to commend Naomi and Ruth to believers (25). HESED IN THE BOOK OF RUTH The book of Ruth revolves around the concept of hesed. Hesed is an active concept and it is considered as an essential part of the nature of God. The word is frequently used to describe the gracious and merciful practices of God (Farmer, 1991: 96). Human beings, as said earlier are also expected to show hesed to one another. The Book of Ruth is about a stranger who had probably not encountered God personally but might have been hearing her mother in-law talked about that God. This gentile woman acted as an agent of Gods hesed when she showed hesed to Naomi. When Naomi thought that every hope was gone, this non- Israelite woman that brought hope by showing kindness to her mother in-law. In accordance with this, Farmer asserted: Ruths speech in 1:16-17constitutes an act of hesed. By committing herself and her future to the Lord, Ruth becomes the means through which God will transform Naomis emptiness into fulfillment. The Lord will be able to work through the loving-kindness of Ruth to change a crises situation into an occasion for hope. The Book of Ruth is a special book Christians should study and ponder well upon. It has an unhappy beginning, an uncertain middle and a happy ending. The tragedy that befell Naomi made her to forget that YHWH is still in control and that He can still bring redemption. This reflected in her statement: 8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go back, each of you, to your mothers home. May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband. Then she kissed them and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, We will go back with you to your people. But Naomi said, Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lords hand has gone out against me! 14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Look, said Naomi, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her. ( Ruth:8-15) NIV Naomi tried to convince the women to go back home She even reminded them of their mothers house. She knew the weak spot of Moabites female. The existence of Moab was the result of willfulness of the part of Moabs first mother, who at all costs had to have a relationship with a man and have children. (Gen 19:30-38) And the daughters of Moab had manifested the same willfulness (Heijkoop 31-33). Naomi directly blames YHWH for the tragic circumstances of her life. Believing that everything came from God. Her situation can be related to that of Job. Job accepted the misfortune that came upon him is from God. He said: Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me. Why do you pursue me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh? (Job 19:21-22). NIV Bruggeman, quoted by Tiessen explained the thoughts of job in relation to that of Naomi in these words: Job asks: Is God reliable? And Job, in his rage, entertains the option that Yahweh is not. Naomi, like Job, is in the throes of tragedy and likewise expresses and entertains the option that Yahweh is not reliable. Notice that in 1:13b Naomi asserts that the hand of Yahweh is against her, and thus she excludes her daughters-in-law who also have experienced profound loss through the deaths of their husbands (4). Naomi also pointed to her lonely position. A life without a husband and no children who would give her hope. All was Gods fault. Not only did Naomi try to keep her daughters-in-laws from joining her by depriving them of any hope of help, but she had also given them a total false picture of God, who actually is the husband to the widows and helper to the strangers. She indicated that God was responsible for all her misfortune, instead of admitting that she had brought those things upon herself by leaving God and His appointed place where they would have blessings (Heijkoop,36). She and her entire family chose to go to Moab neglected the place where they would have had the experience of Gods hesed as the Psalmist expressed: Behold, the Lords eye is upon those who fear Him who revere and worship Him with awe, who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,  To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine (Ps 33:18-19). Naomis great effort to dissuade her daughters-in-law from accompany her seems strange, especially in view of her desire that they become true children of the Lord God of Israel. However, it seemed to be the only course she could take in view of her dire circumstances (Parker, 1980:144). While Orpah yielded to the advice of her mother in-law, went back to her own people and gods. Ruth clave to her, And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you (1:16-17). The strong desire of Ruth to go with Naomi symbolized her commitment to her and her God. Ruth was neither obliged for expected to become her mother-in-laws source of support. But once they were back in Bethlehem she was the one who went into the fields to glean the bits of grain that the harvests missed. Ruth indeed was a good daughter in-law. Her kindness was a total self sacrifice. She took the initiative in providing for their needs by suggesting that Naomi let her glean ear of corn. Gleaning, according to Parker (147) was a special provision of God written into the law to provide for the poor, especially for strangers, widows, and orphans (Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut.24:19). The practice required that owners should leave at harvest the corners of their fields and the droppings of the harvesters to care for the unfortunate groups of people. The attitude of Ruth towards Naomi by volunteering herself to take care of her is an expression of hesed which actually belongs to YHWH. One would wonder how a gentile could display the attributes that Gods children should possess. Emilio responded in the following words: How then did Ruth, a Moabitess, come by this divine trait which was originally given by God to the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? The answer to this mystery is not found in the Holy Bible. However the Talmudic explanation is of value and interest because it helps clarify the theology of hesed which is found in both the OT and NT. Simply put, the Sages held that Ruth was a direct descendent of Abraham by way of Lot. They teach that Ruth was the daughter of Eglon and the granddaughter of Balak who were direct descendents of Moab the son of Lot and nephew of Abraham. Thus Ruth was an inheritor of the seed of lovingkindness which Abraham planted in Lot (Emilio, 2012) The hesed that Ruth showed to Naomi made it possible for her to meet her redeemer. Ruth met Boaz and received unexpected praise and favour. 11  And Boaz said to her, I have been made fully aware of all you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to a people unknown to you before. 12  The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under Whose wings you have come to take refuge! 13  Then she said, Let me find favor in your sight, my lord. For you have comforted me and have spoken to the heart of your maidservant, though I am not as one of your maidservants. 14  And at mealtime Boaz said to her, Come here and eat of the bread and dip your morsel in the sour wine [mixed with oil]. And she sat beside the reapers; and he passed her some parched grain, and she ate until she was satisfied and she had some left [for Naomi]. 15  And when she got up to glean, Boaz ordered his young men, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. Ruth 2:11-15 The writer of this paper has discovered that Ruth and Boaz are like-minded people. The similarities between them are emphasized. Reid (2000), enumerates their similarities as follows: Boaz praised Ruth for her kindness to Naomi (Ruth 2:11-12) and Ruth praised Boaz for his generous kindness to her (Verses 10, 13). As Boaz enters the field, he pronounced a kindly phrase, The Lord be with you!(verse 4). This suggests that Boaz is such a leader who values and respected his employees. The workers respond, The Lord bless you! Boaz is clearly a good, kind man; who is suitable for good, kind Ruth (41). Studying this Book one will discover that God is at work even in the lives of his people. Ruths story reveals loud and clear that through the ordinary and unpredictable aspects of everyday life, one experience the reality of Gods care (Reid, 2000:25-28). IMPLICATIONS OF HESED FOR NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS Hesed in the book of Ruth is significant to the Nigerian Christians. It expresses how good and faithful YHWH is to His promises. He remembered Naomi in her low estate (Psalm 136: 23), even though she and her family brought the tragedy upon themselves. Many Nigerians Christians today run to Oversee countries because of the economical situation of their father land. Some of them are lost not remembering home again. The writer of this paper is of the opinion that there is still hope for Nigeria. The situation can still be better than what it is, if only Nigerian Christians can hope in God and trust Him absolutely. Similarly, hesed in the Book of Ruth stresses both family and community loyalty. Naomi thought first of the welfare of her daughters-in-law. She always acted with their best interest in mind. Boaz was noble. Ruth was loyal. Kent, (1980) submits that the simple narrative also amply illustrates the Lords providential care. God is clearly at work in the lives of those open to Him (143). Nigerian Christians are to commit to one another so as to be of help to one another in terms of needs; an adage says a friend in need is a friend indeed Also, as God expressed hesed (mercy) to His people, He expects them to reciprocate. God was ever faithful and devoted to His people (Israel) in the ancient time and He is still the same God of the contemporary times. In like manner does He expect faithfulness, total dedication and devotional life from the Nigerian Christians. The Christian leaders are expected to be faithful and dedicated to the position they are holding. They should be mindful of the welfare of their followers. As God is good and loyal to His promises, Boaz was good and kind to his followers so the Nigerian Christians should be good and loyal to one another. Also, Nigerian Christians should see God as a God of love and should demonstrate that love into their personal lives and ministries towards others. By doing this, Christians will be able to demonstrate to the world in words and deeds that their lives are grounded in the character of God who loves and desires to redeem the world through the person and work of Jes us Christ. Furthermore, it is worth noting that God can use anybody, no matter how rough the background may be. Willingness and readiness is what He desires. In like manner, Christians should pay sacrifice of taking other peoples problem upon themselves. They should be mindful of poor and the needy around them. CONCLUSION Hesed, is indeed a word denoting emotion but it is more a word of action. On the other hand, hesed is a gift from God, that is to say, God imparts a measure of His loving kindness to His children. And He expects all His children to express it to one another. Hesed, as used in this paper reveals the characters of three major people, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Many in this world have experienced the tragedy of Naomi and long for God to be present and active amidst situations where He does not always act in the way human beings expect. But absolute trust in Him will end in a happy way.

A Hero :: essays research papers

A hero is often a man that is usually of divine ancestry. A hero or heroine can be found in many different forms. There are certain characteristics that make up a hero or a heroine. Some of those characteristics are someone who is endowed with great courage, loyalty, obedience, cleverness, strength and someone who is noted for special achievement in a particular field. Depending on the book or the character a hero or heroine could show one heroic characteristics or more and still considered to be a hero.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero. He is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters hideous monsters and the most ferocious of beasts but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership skills are superb and he is even able to boast about all his achievements. Beowulf is the ultimate epic hero who risks his life countless times for immortal glory and for the good of others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all but his last. In his argument with Unferth, Beowulf explains the reason he lost a simple swimming match with his youthful opponent Brecca. Not only had Beowulf been swimming for seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf is also strong enough to kill the monster Grendel, who has been terrorizing the Danes for twelve years, with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel's mother, who is seeking revenge on her son's death, he is able to slay her by slashing the monster's neck with a Giant's sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. When he chops off her head, he carries it from the ocean with ease, but it takes four men to lift and carry it back to Herot mead-hall. This strength is a key trait of Beowulf's heroism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another heroic trait of Beowulf is his ability to put his peoples welfare before his own. Beowulf's uncle is king of the Geats so he is sent as an emissary to help rid the Danes of the evil Grendel. Beowulf risks his own life for the Danes, asking help from no one. A Hero :: essays research papers A hero is often a man that is usually of divine ancestry. A hero or heroine can be found in many different forms. There are certain characteristics that make up a hero or a heroine. Some of those characteristics are someone who is endowed with great courage, loyalty, obedience, cleverness, strength and someone who is noted for special achievement in a particular field. Depending on the book or the character a hero or heroine could show one heroic characteristics or more and still considered to be a hero.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The hero, Beowulf, is a seemingly invincible person with all the extraordinary traits required of a hero. He is able to use his super-human physical strength and courage to put his people before himself. He encounters hideous monsters and the most ferocious of beasts but he never fears the threat of death. His leadership skills are superb and he is even able to boast about all his achievements. Beowulf is the ultimate epic hero who risks his life countless times for immortal glory and for the good of others.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Beowulf is a hero in the eyes of his fellow men through his amazing physical strength. He fought in numerous battles and returned victorious from all but his last. In his argument with Unferth, Beowulf explains the reason he lost a simple swimming match with his youthful opponent Brecca. Not only had Beowulf been swimming for seven nights, he had also stopped to kill nine sea creatures in the depths of the ocean. Beowulf is also strong enough to kill the monster Grendel, who has been terrorizing the Danes for twelve years, with his bare hands by ripping off his arm. When Beowulf is fighting Grendel's mother, who is seeking revenge on her son's death, he is able to slay her by slashing the monster's neck with a Giant's sword that can only be lifted by a person as strong as Beowulf. When he chops off her head, he carries it from the ocean with ease, but it takes four men to lift and carry it back to Herot mead-hall. This strength is a key trait of Beowulf's heroism.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another heroic trait of Beowulf is his ability to put his peoples welfare before his own. Beowulf's uncle is king of the Geats so he is sent as an emissary to help rid the Danes of the evil Grendel. Beowulf risks his own life for the Danes, asking help from no one.

What Is Fascism And Why Does It Emerge? :: essays research papers

What is Fascism and Why does it Emerge? The purpose of this essay is to explain what fascism is and why it emerges. Fascism is a political ideology that consists of an all powering totalitarian government, which has total control of the people, the nation and the economy. The fascist economic system creates an upper class for the owning/ruling class and leaves the working class in a lower state who in turn produce for the elite. To justify themselves as beneficial to the oppressed lower class, the fascist installs an extreme sense of Nationalisms and organicism. If these method do not work then force is used. Fascism emerges out of economic crisis, a revolutionary promise and reaction to capitalism. It is often allowed to emerge because it is usually easy to get support from the upper class. The fascist political structure consists of a totalitarian government with an extreme sense of absolutism. Absolutism is the principle of a absolute power in control with power that transcends even the laws itself, under the control of one main dictator who carries traits of of a geniuses or of a hero. This way the masses can be drawn into him through emotion and appeal. With the totalitarian government the fascist has total control of the nation and the people. Along with the fascist total ruling over the people and nation came its total ruling over the economy. Although different fascist have had different economic structures, all regimes more or less, have had the same model. The main defining character of the fascist economy is the principle of goverment-buisness relationship. Like the first fascist regime in Italy, its leader created a system where private ownership was allowed but state intervention was issued on management and labour. He did this by creating grouped established syndicates, such as â€Å"The National Confederation of Commerce† or the â€Å"The National Federation of Credit and Insurgence†. The government then controlled these under managing agencies called â€Å"Corporations† which in turn would regulate issues and guidelines such as supply and demand, labour disputes or what interest the business is to aim at. Although the system is supposed to function as a partnership, the government is always in control and dominate. Although the fascists claim this system is in the interest of the nation, it is only in the interest of more empowerment for the government. Due to this system both the states interest and the interest of the owning class are integrated which creates an elite. Therefore the development and technology only serves the interest of the elite and not the working class which is to be

Nature of childhood Essay

There are many aspects of early years practice which have their origins in the past and which reflect particular ideas about the nature of childhood. It can be argued that it is important to identify these aspects so as to understand current interpretations of early years practice. Discuss with reference to the philosophies of two key historical figures. Current early years practices such as play, a stimulating environment, the role of the practitioner, and recognising the child’s parents as playing a key role in their education originate from theories that were made in the past. The following pages will outline the influential ideas of Friedrich Froebel and Dr. Maria Montessori and discuss them in relation to the current ideas relating to the above topics. Before the nineteenth century, childhood was not seen as a stage of life separate from adulthood. Instead, the concept of childhood was regarded as an immature form of adulthood (Wood, E. 1996) children were regarded as being naturally evil and so education was not prioritised. Most children learnt the values of life through labouring alongside adults. Into the nineteenth century, and with the concept of original sin dropped, three different views of childhood and education arose. The nativist view is the view that children are born with a pre-programmed development pathway. The empiricist view believes that each child is an empty vessel waiting to be filled, and the interactionist view recognises that children do have pre-programmed ideas whilst understanding the influence that the child’s socio-cultural surrounding has on his education. (Bruce, T. 1997) At the moment, the interactionist view is the most popular method of educating children (Ibid) and professionals regard both Friedrich Froebel and Maria Montessori as interactionists. However, both approached the development of childhood from a very different angle. Friedrich Froebel believed that The human being is born for research; and he is to practice it even as a child (Anonymous, 2000,p1) He assumed that children have to investigate the inner properties of things in order to discover hidden influences and causes. Froebel also considered children as being naturally good suggesting that this goodness could be harnessed and fostered through nurture care and education. (ibid) and so developed a special environment where children could grow and learn. This he called his Kindergarten or garden for the children. Froebel also considered the spiritual, physical, feeling and intellectual aspects of a child as a whole and believed that within his special environment (which will be discussed further on) allowing children free playful, conversational experiences would build and shape all of a child’s senses. Like Froebel, Dr. Montessori believe that the best way to educate a child was to design a method that would track the natural physiological and physical development of the child and allow touch, movement and freedom to aid the child to learn. (Montessori, 1964). Maria Montessori however did not regard her method of education as instigating play claiming; If I were persuaded that children need to play, I would provide a proper apparatus, but I am not so persuaded. (Ibid) The Dr. claimed that a child’s mind was most absorbent between the ages of 0-6 years, and that children learn best through movement and senses although this should not be regarded as play. She also viewed the child as a whole however, in contrast to Froebel’s theories, she believed that each sense should be isolated and developed separately. To achieve this Montessori developed thematic activities based on real life experiences, and allowed her children to work individually or as part of a group. Again, a special environment was set up where children could move about freely and pick and plan there own method of self education using apparatus that could only be utilised one way.