Of Revenge: Francis Bacon’s Optimistic Tale? Essay -- Of Revenge Essay

Of Revenge Francis Bacons Optimistic Tale?           Revenge and vengeance are basic tools of humanity instinct. Whether society chooses to get hold of or blind itself to this fact, it is an indisputable truth. Francis Bacon examines this truth in Of Revenge, a view of society and literary cases that reflects the strive for vengeance. However, Of Revenge deeply underestimates the corruption of the human spirit and soul. It completely disregards the presence of the basic human instinct which thrives on the manipulation and destruction of others, for the pursuit of satisfaction. Though Bacons inferences to the book of Job or Solomon are perfectly viable to a character that chooses to take revenge after they have been wronged, to believe that no man does savage just for the sake of evil annihilates any complete sense of credibility that Bacons thoughts imply. The authors aspirations of the seeking of revenge solely as a means of avenging for oneself, and not to satisfy the evil within the human soul, is a beautiful and idealistic hope which belongs in some earthen utopia. Unfortunately, it has no bearing on the modern world. Though the beliefs of Bacon expressed in On Revenge fulfill the traits of characters such as Medea, they neglect the human thrive for meaningless vengeance in characters such as Shakespeares Iago.Euripidess Medea uses the theme of the hunt club for revenge in order to instigate the downfalls and deaths of numerous characters. This theme is expressed through the character of Medea, who fits directly into the mold laid out in the guidelines of Of Revenge. Medeas search for revenge commences after her husband, the famous Greek hero Jason, leaves her for... ...nge Francis Bacon considers the good and evil sides of man, and thus draws conclusions given the relationship between the good and evil in a character is equal. Therefore, a character such as Medea, who possessed many virtuous qualities, as wel l as detestable ones, fits the mold of Bacons beliefs of the defense of revenge. However, Bacon disregards the fact that in some men, their is more evil than their is good, and the strength and pertinacity of that man override moral views. It is this imbalance that leads characters like Iago to do evil for the sake of evil and though they are not justified in their search for revenge, they endlessly endeavor to disrupt the natural flow of good to satisfy their evil cravings. Bacon discounts this amoral view of the human race which irrevocably overshadows the conclusions he draws as to the justification of human vengeance.

Essay --

Popular cultivation can be defined as the general accepted purification in society. Anyone can learn rough what is the generally accepted culture in America because its usually advertised in music, books, fashion, literature, schools and the mass media to name a few. In the book images of color, images of crime, chapter 1 shows how Indians have been negatively affected by popular culture throughout the years. However, I would say that many races have been affected by popular culture to the point in which the identity and the heritage of different culture is rapidly disappearing. Throughout my life, I have seen how African American have been portrayed by popular culture as a race of people in which it is acceptable for one to be ignorant, loud, conceded, and flamboyant. As a matter of fact, if one does non act in this manner, that person would be considered to be acting white. To uphold a certain image and to not be categorized as a White person, I have seen people purposely behav e in a manner to portray trends advertised by the commonly accepted culture in our society. I have also seen how...

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty Essay -- Anatomy, Coron

IntroductionIn 1977, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was introduced to dilate narrow coronary arteries. Over the years, the exploitation of the procedure knocked down major anatomical obstacles. Typically the procedure involves a small incision into the leg, a catheter is inserted through the groin vein and is then steered to the close up coronary vessel via a guide wire. On the tip of the catheter is a deflated balloon. Once at the congested region of the artery the balloon is inflated, create plaque to compress against the artery wall, dilating the artery and restoring blood to flow 1. The initial success was demoted by the occurrence of elastic recoil. Nevertheless, scientist over came these drawbacks (well so they thought), by mount a bare-metal stent (BMS) on the balloon of the catheter 2. Jacques Puel and Ulrich Sigwart inserted the first stent into a human coronary artery in 1986. The inflation of the balloon ca economic consumptiond the minute expand able metal to infix into the vessel, causing the vessel to expand and remain expanded. The hindrance of elastic recoil was believed to be defeated, therefore in 1994 the U.S Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the first Palmaz-Schatz stent 3. The insertion of BMS did initially improve results, mainly by reducing the risk of abrupt closure and improving long-term results. However, a new restraint was exposed in the form of In-Stent Restenosis (ISR). The new problem included negative remodelling and neointimal formation. One way to combat ISR was the concept of coating the metallic stent with an anti-proliferative pharmacological agent. The medicate coated stents, referred to as drug eluting stents (DES), delivered the drug locally from the surface of the... ...st generation SES. The second generation EES showed superior clinical and safety over PES in the SPIRT trails. Highly significant data in TLF, MACE, stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization was demo nstrated in favour of EES. However, second generation DES may not be the be all of what they are made out to be. A number of clinical trails report negative information for ZES. ENDEAVOR I and III trails and Kandazri et al. observed significantly higher rates of in-stent late lumen loss ZES verses SES. Furthermore, SORT-OUT III trails also observed negative results for ZES, reporting considerable increases in stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularisation. On comparing both(prenominal) of the second generation DES together, mixed results were obtained. ESTROFA-2 reported low rates of thrombosis in both ZES and ESS. Explain difference....

Different Types of Mutual Funds and Their Investment Objectives :: Business Finance Investment

Different Types of Mutual Funds and Their Investment ObjectivesMutual descents be an investment vehicle which pools the gold of many investors. The funds manager uses the money collected to purchase securities such as stocks and bonds. The types of mutual funds vary according to the funds investment objective. A funds investment objective will usually sample capital gains, income, or a combination of both. The basic types of funds are described below. The first types of mutual fund I will discuss are Money Market Funds. Money mart funds seek safety of the principal by investing in high quality, short-term securities. This type of fund is designed so that the investors principal should not decrease in value. However, there is no guarantee that this will always be the case. A money market fund seeks to provide a regular distribution of income which is determined by short-term interest rates. The second types of mutual funds are nonplus Funds. Bond funds carry more risk than money market funds and are often used to produce income (retirement) or to help stabilize a portfolio (diversification). The primary types of bond funds are municipal bond funds (issued by state and local governments), corporate bond funds (debt obligations of U.S. corporations), mortgage-backed securities funds (securities representing residential mortgages), and U.S. Government bond funds (U.S. treasury or government securities).

Atlas Shrugged - Iser and Bakhtin on the Closed Text Essay -- Atlas Sh

Atlas Shrugged - Iser and Bakhtin on the Closed Text The process of reading places the author, text, and reader into a dynamic relationship in which, through a fusion of the authors literary vision and the readers creativity, the text is transformed into an informative and enjoyable experience. This process is especially apparent in the newfangled form. As the theorist Wolfgang Iser states, a bracing must be conceived in such a way that it will engage the readers imagination in the chore of working things out for himself, for reading is only a pleasure when it is active and creative (Iser 51). Similarly, another theorist and philosopher, Mikhail Bakhtin, argues that within a novel an author creates numerous different voices and languages, each of which contributes to the dynamic reading process every word and sentence has a context both inside and outside of the novel. Though thither are many other theories regarding reader-response, these two form a cohesive definition of the pro cess Isers possibility broadly explains the interaction-or intersection-of the three components in the process, while Bakhtins theory explains the specific subjectivity of the novel language. Both of these theories, however, rely on the basic assumption that all texts are intended to be interpretable that is, in the speech of Umberto Eco, that all texts are open. Eco describes an open text as one that attempts to force the reader into an interplay of stimulus and response which depends on his unique capacity for sensitive reception of the mo (Eco 49). In essence, an open text invites the reader to fuse his own unique experiences with that of the text to form an interpretation that is his own. Conversely, Eco also describes an antithesis to the... ...tes reader anticipation. Thus, one must end that while Ecos theory is fascinating and may very well have a solid basis outside of the novel form, it is impossible for a novel to be closed though the authors intentions bay be set in s tone, the readers intentions certainly never will be. A novel, by virtue of being a novel, will always be more open than closed. Works Cited Bakhtin, Mikhail. The Diologic Imagination. Austin University of Texas Press, 1981. Eco, Umberto. The Role of the Reader Explorations in the Semiotics of Texts. Bloomington Indiana University Press, 1979. Iser, Wolfgang. The Reading Process A Phenomenological Approach. Published in Tompkins, Jane P. ed., Reader-Response Criticism From Formalism to Post-Structuralism. Maryland John Hopkins UP, 1980. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged. New York Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1957.

Atlas Shrugged - Iser and Bakhtin on the Closed Text Essay -- Atlas Sh

Atlas Shrugged - Iser and Bakhtin on the Closed Text The process of reading places the informant, text, and reader into a propellent relationship in which, through a fusion of the authors literary vision and the readers creativity, the text is transformed into an informative and enjoyable experience. This process is especially apparent in the novel form. As the theorist Wolfgang Iser states, a novel must(prenominal) be conceived in such a way that it will engage the readers imagination in the task of working things out for himself, for reading is only a pleasure when it is active and creative (Iser 51). Similarly, another theorist and philosopher, Mikhail Bakhtin, argues that within a novel an author creates numerous different voices and languages, each of which contributes to the dynamic reading process every word and sentence has a context both inside and outside of the novel. though there are many other theories regarding reader-response, these two form a cohesive definition of the process Isers theory broadly explains the interaction-or intersection-of the three components in the process, spell Bakhtins theory explains the specific subjectivity of the novel language. Both of these theories, however, rely on the basic assumption that all texts are intended to be interpretable that is, in the words of Umberto Eco, that all texts are open. Eco describes an open text as one that attempts to force the reader into an interplay of stimulus and response which depends on his unique capacity for sensitive reaction of the piece (Eco 49). In essence, an open text invites the reader to fuse his own unique experiences with that of the text to form an interpretation that is his own. Conversely, Eco also describes an antithesis to the... ...tes reader anticipation. Thus, one must conclude that while Ecos theory is fascinating and may very well have a solid basis outside of the novel form, it is impossible for a novel to be closed though the authors intentions bay be s et in stone, the readers intentions certainly never will be. A novel, by virtue of be a novel, will always be more open than closed. Works Cited Bakhtin, Mikhail. The Diologic Imagination. Austin University of Texas Press, 1981. Eco, Umberto. The Role of the Reader Explorations in the Semiotics of Texts. Bloomington Indiana University Press, 1979. Iser, Wolfgang. The Reading bear upon A Phenomenological Approach. Published in Tompkins, Jane P. ed., Reader-Response Criticism From Formalism to Post-Structuralism. Maryland John Hopkins UP, 1980. Rand, Ayn. Atlas Shrugged. New York Penguin Books USA, Inc., 1957.

Organic food Essay

We asked Food Scientists a simple question What foods do you avoid? Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they wont extinguish these eight foods. Food scientists are shedding light on items loaded with toxins and chemicalsand simple swaps for a cleaner diet and supersized health. Experts from different areas of specialty explain why they wont eat these eight foods. Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often theyre constituent(a), and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. only when in some cases, the methods of todays food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering whats safeor nonto eat. Their answers dont necessarily make up a banned foods list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you bet ter healthand peace of mind. 1. The Endocrinologist Wont work through Canned Tomatoes Fredrick Vom Saal, is an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A.The problem The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a orotund characteristic of tomatoes) ca mathematical functions BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most peoples body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or inducts chromosomal damage to the nut of animals. You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and thats a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young, says vom Saal.I wont go near canned tomatoes. The solution Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak box es, likeTrader Joes and Pomi. Exposure to BPA Causes Permanent Damage In OffSpring 2. The Farmer Wont tucker Corn-Fed Beef Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable provokeing. The problem Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today fertilise their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter.But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less(prenominal) nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and grand lower in inflammatory omega-6s and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure, says Salatin .The solution barter for grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers markets, and nation whollyy at Whole Foods. Its usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you dont see it, ask your butcher. 3. The Toxicologist Wont run through Microwave Popcorn Olga Naidenko, is a elderly scientist for the Environmental Working Group. The problem Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer.Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporizeand migrate into your popcorn. They stay in your body for days and accumulate there, says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 201 5 below a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then. The solution Pop organic kernels the old-fashioned way in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.Make it organic and use coconut oil. If Youre Still Eating Microwave Popcorn, Youre Not Fully Grasping The Health Consequences 4. The Farm Director Wont Eat Nonorganic Potatoes Jeffrey Moyer is the chair of the National perfect Standards Board. The problem Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoesthe nations most ordinary vegetabletheyre hideed with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After theyre dug up, the potatoes are treated nevertheless again to prevent them from sprouting.Try this experiment Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It wont, says Moyer, who is also farm conductor of the Rodale Institute (also owned by Rodale Inc. , the publisher of Prevention). Ive talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals. The solution Buy organic potatoes. Washing isnt good enough if youre trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.Budget tip Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional spuds. 5. The Fisheries Expert Wont Eat Farmed Salmon Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University at Albany, published a major study in the journal Science on contamination in fish. The problem Nature didnt intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, inclu ding carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT.According to Carpenter, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer, says Carpenter, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. Its that bad. Preliminary cognizance has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. there is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish.When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals. The solution Switch to fantastical-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, its farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon. Farmed Fish vs. Wild Fish How Healthy Is The Fish At Your Favorite Grocery? 6. The Cancer Researcher Wont D rink take out Produced With Artificial Hormones Rick North is project director of the Campaign for Safe Food at the operating theater Physicians for Social Responsibility and former CEO of the Oregon division of the American Cancer Society.The problem Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to emanation milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract, says North.Theres not 100 percent proof that this is increasing cancer in humans, admits North. However, its banned in most industrialized countries. The solution Buy raw milk or check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced withou t artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products. Why Do Humans Still Drink Milk? 7. The Biotech medical specialist Who Wont Eat Conventional Soy GMO Unfermented Soy Michael Harris is biotech specialist who has directed several projects within the biotech sector including those for genetically engineered food.He has been a consultant, manager and director for companies such as Xenon Pharmaceuticals and Genon Corporation. The problem Genetically engineered food is a cause of great concern due to the manipulation of deoxyribonucleic acid and genetic code including transfers from one species to another. Fermented Soy Is The Only Soy Food Fit for Human Consumption and since almost 90% of soy in the worldly concern is genetically modified, if you are not ensuring sources are organic, long-term health problems are inevitable, especially since soy has been found to affect hormonal balance and even cause cancer.The solution Check labels to ensure soy is N on-GMO or organic and never consume unfermented sources. If possible contact the company to find out scarcely where the Non-GMO soy was obtained. 8. The Organic-Foods Expert Wont Eat Conventional Apples Mark Kastel, a former executive for agribusiness, is codirector of the Cornucopia Institute, a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods. The problem If fall fruits held a most doused in pesticides contest, apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor.As such, apples dont develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But Kastel counters that its just common sense to minimize film by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers, he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinsons d isease. The solutionBuy organic apples or apples from a farmer that you trust

Article; Train Fares Essay

Train fares go off the rails. Are control fares becoming low-cost for only the rich? Travel is ridiculously expensive bus train or taxi, but especi anyy the train. As trains are habitd by umteen lot for various reasons to travel to and from work to and from school to and from visiting family or holidays. They are used daily, and can be used by anyone any age, to anyplace they need, and this is why trains shouldnt be so expensive.Trains are know as being the quickest,most efficient type of transport, as they travel through many different towns whole over the country, and because they cast professionals driving them already, they allow you to work on the move- fewthing you cant do whilst driving. But the train isnt as great as they make it out to be, Dan thoroughfare a business worker who travels by train to lay out to work everyday quoted The price of a train ticket is absolutely ridiculous, I have to pay at least ? 200 a month to travel to and from work. I dont really mast er alot, and most the money I do earn is mostly spend on buying more train tickets.I Could travel by car for a cheaper price, but i cannot afford a car, and I dont have a drivers licence. Great Western obviously dont think the prices are enough, so keep rising them more. On average they earn ? 2 one thousand million a year, but want more. High rail fares at peak times could be adding to social exclusion as the high prices are barring poorer bulk from using trains because they cannot afford a ticket Because poorer people are less fortunate to use the train, they could be forced on dependence of cars, but to some could still not be accessible.As they are employed in different towns, they will need to find a way of transport, so many deposit on using the train, but could be finding it difficult to pay to use it everyday. Train fares are highly expensive, and still rising to outrageous prices. slightly are even finding it too such(prenominal) to pay for housing, food, children, fa milies and paying up to ? 200 on fares, they could end up finding theirselfs with very teeny-weeny money.If train fares continue to rise, and stay unable to keep affording tickets, it could consequence to them being forced either out of work because of unable access to rush their destination, or forced out of their homes because they could end up unable to afford to live their any more. On the subject of ridiculous prices- Great Western made a ? 2 billion profit last year, -No wonder Prices rose by an outrageous 50%. These rises in price could be the reason families have to move or change jobs- because the new locations could make their transport a whole load cheaper and quicker.Many people like visiting their families or friends, and may have to use the train to get their, which could be a problem because transport is essential and they could simply not afford it. Great Western managers dont realize they are preventing people from seeing family, friends, going to work, or going to school. They only care about making the money, they dont care about their passengers. Some people simply can not afford the ridiculous price of just 1 train ticket. This year has flew by, leaving Christmas very soon.This means that people will be traveling to towns to do their Christmas shopping, which they need their money for, not to spend on a little piece of paper. Also people struggle to afford Christmas because they need to use the train to visit their families all over the place. John Lunton, 60 who is retired is angry with what is going on with the prices and wants to do something about it. The prices when I was a teenager is what the prices should still be now, as they were reasonable. The prices have over doubled since then and I think it is absolutely ridiculous.I need to travel because I have Grandchildren and other family all over Britain, and I would like to see them over Christmas. Sadly, I cannot afford to travel to see all of them, but if I do choose to, then it would matter in me not looking after myself by not eating, because I will need the money to travel. A major problem with trains, is how managers allow them to get so overcrowded,which could be bad for others health, some people are claustrophobic so it could be bad for their health. Also trains are dirty and their is litter all over the floors, there are security cameras but they dont seem to help with anything at all.Trains are sometimes late and delayed, this shouldnt happen, as people need to get to work and if the train is late, and results in them being late for work, it could cost them their job. Trains show absolutely no sign of improvement for the conditions and them being on time, but which they should. Do the government care about their passengers and wasting their money? I think not. As long as their making their nice, big comfortable profits, they dont care who their passengers are, and how much they charge them.In my opinion, I think that the prices should be lowered to suit the conditions of the trains, which would be quite low, but would result in them not making as much money. Oh no, What a shame Im not surprised that British citizens complain about the prices of train fares, as Britain has the highest price of train fares in the whole of Europe. The railway has been expound as being a rich mans transport because it is becoming affordable for the rich only. An example of the ridiculous prices is from Exeter to London The price of a single way travel is ? 130 minimum price. this shows how outrageous our county is getting.Many people have described First group as being Worse group and some people have even be complaining. So why are train fares so expensive? to get money for themselves, not caring abut other peoples money, as long as they have as much as they desire. Trains are used by many people for various reasons, therefore the prices should be reduced. but if the rising prices continues, they could lag customers, described as price inc rease= Passenger decrease. So if they want to maintain the high number of customers they are currently obtaining, they should either lower the prices or stop rising them.

How Water Pollution Effects Marine Life?

For years man has been polluting our vast resource of maritimes, not expecting to ever cause harm to them. Unfortunately, they were wrong. Our oceans and other(a) waterways have shape a poisonous playground of garbage, chemicals, and sewage. The effects of this ignorance has had devastating affects on the marine life and their habitat. This affects the habitat for marine life by destroying their homes. In doing so the intricate balance between marine animals and their homes can alter our oceans forever. Our very existence depends on the oceans.Without oceans, Earth would be too hot and at that place would not be enough air to breathe. (Hogan 10) The immediate importance to stop the destruction of our oceans is clear. Our oceans atomic number 18 not only crucial to our climate, but also stomach us with food, jobs, and much loved recreation. The effects of mans abuse can be seen on a daily basis, from the disappearance of long lively sea life such as whales, to garbage stiflei ng up on the shore, to the disastrous oil spoils that cost one thousand millions of dollars each year to clean up. In some areas the neglect is already so great that complete clean up is impossible.Pollution is the introduction of harmful contaminants that are outside the norm for a give ecosystem. Common man-made pollutants that reach the ocean include pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers, detergents, oil, sewage, plastics, and other solids. Many of these pollutants collect at the oceans depths, where they are consumed by small marine organisms and introduced into the world-wide food chain. (oceannationalgeographic. com) The some polluted body of water on Earth is the Mediterranean Sea. Factories and ships dump over 300,000 tons of oil, toxic waste, and raw sewage in the Mediterranean each year.(Hogan12)Even though most European countries have been working since 1975 to clean up the sea they still are living along the most polluted waters on Earth. With each year of po llutants being dumped into it the water has darkened and the sea floor is covered with deadly slime. Plastic pollution has become a major problem throughout the world. Plastic nets, plastic garbage, and plastic medical wastes are knock offing millions of marine mammals, turtles, and fish. Animals may become tangled in the plastic debris or may eat it and die. Many governments have banned the dumping of plastics in oceans.(csshome. com)There are other pollutants that affect our oceans like down payment and thermal pollution. These pollutants are mostly found in the United States. Sediment destroys spawning and feeding grounds for fish, reduces fish and shellfish populations, destroys pools used for resting, smothering eggs and fry, fills in lakes and streams, and decreases light penetration, thus endangering aquatic plants. (csshome. com) Thermal pollution refers to heating or cooling the water which changes the biota in the water. This can harm or kill organisms that rely on the w aters ecosystem.It can effect the way fish eggs will hatch or the fish will grow. It may even kill all living life unless they adapt to it. Scientist have counted some 400 such dead zones around the world. (ocean. nationalgeographic. com) Oil spills are other huge pollution problem that effects not only marine life but the whole ocean. Tankers spill anywhere from three to six million tons of oil int the ocean every year. It can take anywhere from two to ten years for aquatic life to recover from a spill. (csshome. com) These spills have caused severe devastation not only to marine life but the our countrys economy and livelihood of many people.Chemical pollution occurs every daytime all over the world. Factories are pouring deadly chemical waste into our waters. Some are dumped directly and others end up their finally because they are poured into rivers which eventually end up in our oceans. This toxic dumping has caused severe abnormalities in our marine life and has cause almos t all marine life in the White Sea off the coast of the Soviet Union to completely disappear.In Washington state some company presidents have been thrown into jail for good luck very strict pollution laws. A final type of pollution, toxic runoff, is much harder to control than pollution form factories and sewage plants. Toxic runoff is the wash off of fertilizers, pesticides and weed killers that wash off farmers fields and into our rivers and eventually into our oceans. Some problems of this type of pollution is that fertilizer runoff can cause some ocean plants to grow out of control and eventually crowd out other plants which obviously has a direct effect on the food chains of our oceans. (Hogan 20) this instant that the water is so polluted people want to clean it up and change the bad affects it has had on our worlds oceans.There are many countries who are trying to clean up all their polluted waters, but one big problem is it is very costly. So they designed rules and organi zations to help clean up and stop polluting. Lawmakers have made several acts to help stop pollution. The acts are the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, Coastal Zone care Act, Endangered Species Act, Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. All of these acts were set up for saving animals in the water or cleaning up the water. They are now starting to fine or arrest anyone who is caught dumping in the ocean.If hindsight is 20/20 surely man would have made better choices closely ocean dumping. It is apparent today that our societys ignorance of many years has caused a lasting and extremely costly deadly effect on our earth. in concert we must all work to keep the oceans clean and safe not only for the animals that live these waters but for ourselves as well. The oceans and seas of our world dont belong to just one country or one person, but rather they are all connected making everybody responsible to protect and prohibit the con tinuous destruction of marine life and their habitat.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 16

It was the lone hoot of an owla long, plaintive soundthat caused my eyeb all to snap open. As my eyes ad provideded to the dim light, I felt a pulsing pain on the side of my neck that seemed to keep time with the owls cries. And suddenly I remembered everythingKatherine, her lips drawn back, her teeth sparkling. My heart hammering as though I were dying and being born all at the same time. The awful pain, the red eyes, the dark black of a breathless sleep. I glanced around wildly.Katherine, clad only in a necklace and a simple muslin slip, sat just steps away from me at the basin, washing her top(prenominal) arms with a hand towel. Hello, sleepy Stefan, she said coquettishly.I swung my legs let out of bed and tried to step out, only to find myself tangled in the sheets. Your face, I babbled, knowing I sounded insane and possessed, like a town drunk stumbling out of the tavern.Katherine continued to run the cotton cloth along her arms. The face Id seen termination night was not human. It had been a face filled with thirst and desire and emotions I couldnt even think to name. But in this light Katherine looked lovelier than ever, blinking her eyes sleepily like a kitten after a long nap.Katherine? I asked, forcing myself to look into her eyes. What ar you?Katherine slowly picked up the hairbrush on her nightstand, as if she had all the time in the world. She turned to me and began to run it through her luxurious locks.Youre not afraid, are you? she asked.So she was a vampire. My blood turned to ice.I took the sheet and wrapped it against my body, then grabbed my breeches from the side of the bed and pulled them on. I quickly shoved my feet into my boots and yanked on my shirt, not caring about my undershirt, still on the floor. Fast as lightning, Katherine was at my side, her hand gripping my shoulder.She was surprisingly strong, and I had to jerk sharply to wrench myself away from her grasp. Once free, Katherine stepped back.Shhh. Shhh, she murmured, as if she were a mother soothing a child.No I yelled, holding my hand up. I would not make up her try to charm me. Y oure a vampire. You putting to deathed Rosalyn. Y oure killing the town. Y are evil,ou and you take in to be stopped.But then I caught sight of her eyes, her large, luminous, seemingly depthless eyes, and I stopped short.Youre not afraid, Katherine repeated. The words echoed in my mind, bouncing around and finally victorious residence there. I did not know how or why it was so, but in my heart of hearts, I suddenly wasnt afraid. But still Y are a vampire, though. How can I abideou that?Stefan. Sweet, scared Stefan. It will all work out. Y oull see. She cupped her chin in my hands, then raised up on her tiptoes for a kiss. In the near sunlight, Katherines teeth looked pearly white and tiny, and nothing like the miniature daggers Id seen the night before. Its me. Im still Katherine, she said, smiling.I forced myself to pull away. I wanted to believe that everything was the same, but Y oure thinking of Rosalyn, arent you? Katherine asked. She noticed my startled expression and shook her head. Its natural that youd think I could do that, based on what I am, but I promise you, I did not kill her. And I never would have.But but , I began.Katherine brought her finger to my lips. Shhh. I was with you that night. look on? I care about you, and I care about those you care about. And I dont know how Rosalyn died, but whoever did thata flash of anger flickered in her eyes, which, I realized for the first time, were flecked with goldthey give us a bad name. They are the ones who scare me. Y may be scared to whirlou during the night, but I am afraid to walk during the day, lest I be mistaken for one of those monsters. I may be a vampire, but I do have a heart. Please believe me, sweet Stefan.I took a step back and cradled my head in my hands. My mind whirled. The sun was just beginning to rise, and it was impossible to tell whether the mist hid a brillian t sun or a day of clouds. It was the same with Katherine. Her beautiful exterior cloaked her square(a) spirit, making it impossible to ascertain whether she was good or evil. I sunk heavily to the bed, not wanting to leave and not wanting to stay.Y imply to trust me, Katherine said, sittingou down beside me and placing her hand on my chest so she could feel my heart beat. I am Katherine Pierce. Nothing more, nothing less. Im the girl you watched for hours on end after I arrived two weeks ago. What I confessed to you is nothing. It doesnt change how you feel, how I feel, what we can be, she said, moving her hand from my chest to my chin. Right? she asked, her voice filled with urgency.I glanced at Katherines wide brown eyes and knew she was right. She had to be.My heart still desired her so much, and I wanted to do anything to protect her. Because she wasnt a vampire she was Katherine. I grabbed both of her hands, cupping them in my own. They looked so small and vulnerable. I broug ht her cold, delicate fingers to my mouth and kissed them, one by one. Katherine looked so scared and unsure.Y didnt kill Rosalyn? I said slowly. Even asou the sentence left my lips, I knew it to be true, because my heart would break if it werent.Katherine shook her head and gazed at the window. I would never kill anyone unless I had to. Unless I needed to protect myself or someone I loved. And anyone would kill in that situation, wouldnt they? she asked indignantly, jutting out her chin and looking so rarified and vulnerable that it was all I could do not to take her in my arms right then. Promise youll keep my secret, Stefan? Promise me? she asked, her dark eyes look for mine.Of course I will, I said, making the promise as much to myself as to her. I loved Katherine. And yes, she was a vampire. And yet the way the word came out of her mouth was so different from the way it sounded when Father said it. There was no dread. If anything, it sounded romantic and mysterious. Maybe Fa ther was wrong. Maybe Katherine was simply misunderstood.Y have my secret, Stefan. And you knowou what that means? Katherine said, throwing her arms around my shoulders and nuzzling her cheek against mine. Vous avez mon coeur. Y have ou my heart. And you have mine, I murmured back, meaning every word.

How Psychological Research Has Helped in the Understanding of Criminal Behaviour Essay

Albert Bandura created the bobo doll test in 1961, the aim of this experiment was to show that if children where witnesses to high-pressure displays by an with child(p) of some sort they would imitate this deportment when given(p) an opportunity. The tested group contained 36 young girls and 36 young boys whole aged mingled with 4 and 5 years which was then divided into 3 groups of 24 the in-your-face condition, the non combative condition and the control group. The first group involved the children watching aggressive impersonates, where the children where then subdivided by come a personify of the role model they were exposed to.The second group involved the children watched non aggressive models, where the children were also subdivided by the sex of the role model which they were exposed to. This left the two conditioned groups subdivided into eight experimental groups each containing 6 subjects. They were 6 boys with the similar sex model, 6 boys with opposite model , 6 girls with the same sex model and 6 girls with the opposite model. With 3 different groups, Bandura had created a complicated design for the study which resulted in 3 independent variables the conditions the children were exposed to, the sex of the child and the sex of the role model.Each child was then tested individually and the encounterings where then put down. The experiment was done in an artificial environment and the research worker manipulated the independent variables into the conditions. In stage one of the experiment, the children were brought into the experimental path by the examiner. The room was set knocked out(p) as a nursery play room since that was the appropriate setting for the age of the children. One corner of the room had been arranged as a childs play area consisting of a atrophied table and chair and picture stickers.In the opposite corner of the room was where the adult models would be followed by a small table and chair, tinker roleplay set and a five foot bobo doll. In the aggressive condition the model began by playing with the tinker toy set but after(prenominal) a couple minutes the model turned its attention to the bobo doll and was aggressive towards the doll in a very distinctive agency. Were as in the non aggressive condition the model ignored the bobo doll and played with the tinker toys in a gentle manner. After 10 minutes the children where then interpreted into new room.In stage two of the experiment the children were brought into a room with relativity attr interpretive toys. In this room the children were to be subjected to mild onset arousal. erstwhile the children started to play with the toys, the experimenter took them off the children claiming they had been reserved for the other children. The children were then taken into the last and final room for stage three of the experiment. In this room the children were told they could play with both toys in there, the toys in stage three consisted of both non aggressive and aggressive toys.The children were kept in the room for 20 minutes where observations were made through a one way mirror by judges. With the observation and findings of this experiment, three measures of impersonation were obtained. For this study the observers looked specifically for responses from the children that were very similar to the display by the adult model. They include imitation of physical aggression, imitation of verbal aggression and imitation of non verbal aggression.With these observations, the researchers were able to consider which children imitate the models, which models the children imitated and whether the children showed a general increase of aggressive doings. The of import findings of this study were that the children in aggressive model condition made more(prenominal)(prenominal) aggressive responses than the children in the non aggressive condition. They also rear that the boys made more aggressive responses than girls, as well as the sex of the children being more aggressive if the model was of the same sex.These findings support Banduras genial memoriseing theory that children learn social behaviour through observation learning, which children learn through imitation. This study has attend toed in the judgement of woeful behaviour as children learn through imitation and the environment which they grow up in have an act on their behaviour. If a child has been brought up around abuse, criminal activity or uniform aggression then the child is most likely to offend by imitating their role model which could be a parent, sibling or even yet a role model which they look up to.Philip Zimbardo (1971) Stanford prison experiment Dr Philip Zimbardo created the Stanford prison experiment in 1971, the aim of this experiment was to find out the psychological effects of prison life, and to what extent can moral people be seduced to act immorally. The study consisted of 24 students selected out of 75, the roles of these 24 men were randomly assigned, 12 to play prison guards and 12 to play prisoners. The prison set up was built inside the Stanfords psychological department, doors where taken of research laboratoryoratory rooms and replaced with vane bars in order to create cells.At the end of the corridor was the small opening which became the solitary confinement for the bad prisoners. Throughout the prison there were no windows or clocks to judge the passage in time, which resulted in time distorting experiences. After only a few hours, the participants capable to their roles well beyond expectations, the officers startle displaying authorisation and subject some of the prisoners to humiliation and torture whilst the prisoners developed passive attitudes towards the guards and accepted the physical abuse that was given to them.On the second day with surprise an unexpected rebellion broke out, reinforcement was called and more guards where to be on duty however the prisoners refused to leave their cells, barricading themselves in. This early in to the experiment the prisoners had already snarl a loss of identity to the extent they started to refer to themselves as their inmate number rather than anticipate. Even Dr Zimbardo him self-importance started to lose sight of his role in the experiment believing he was in fact a prison superintendent rather than a psychologist.Due to the extent of the rebellion the guards were forced to show more authority over them which led to the creation of the countenance cell. In order to break down the superior inmates the guards placed the good prisoners in the privileged cell for a few hours, then placed the good prisoners back into the bad cells causing confusion within the inmates, breaking the trust and isolating them. in spite of appearance a week the study was abandoned as the experiment was no longer a simple simulation, instead the guards saw the prisoners as trouble make waterrs they were made out to be.In response to this they began stepping up control, surveillance and aggression whilst the prisoner started breaking down emotionally being unable to handle the situation anymore. From the observations and information given by Dr Zimbardos reports, this study has helped in the understanding of criminal behaviour as it relates to imitation and conformity. The guards imitated the behaviour of real guards adapting the role quiet quickly. The prisoners also adapted the role quickly falling into depression and conforming to each other.This also helps how a person mental state can change their behaviour, with the prisoners they soon became cast down and mentally unstable, and this shows that when put into a certain disciplinary situation the mind adapts causing them to act immorally. Solomon Ashce (1951) Conformity experiment- Solomon Ashce conducted the conformity experiment in 1951. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the extent of social pressure from a majority group can affect a perso n to conform. For this experiment Ashe used a lab experiment. Ashe used 8 participants for this experiment, 7 confederates and 1 naive participant.The 7 confederates had previously agreed to what their responses would be when presented with the line task. However the real participant had no familiarity of this and was led to believe that the other 7 participants were also real. With this experiment each person had to state aloud which line was most like the target line, (A, B or C). The answer was always an obvious one. The real participant always gave his or her answer last in order to see if they conformed or not. In some trials, the confederates gave the wrong answer whereas in some they gave the correct obvious answer.In the experiment there was 18 trials altogether and the confederates gave the wrong answer 12 out of the total 18. Ashce main observation was to find out if the real participant would end up conforming based on the majority views given by the other 7 participants . The results were then drawn up and out of the 18 trails, around 75% of the trials the real participant conformed even though he or she knew the answers were wrong. From the observations, this study has helped in the understanding of criminal behaviour as it explains that criminals may have previously been highly exposed to such aggressive behaviour causing them to conform.This shows that publicly any source of aggressive behaviour or criminal activity can lead to conformity causing more criminal behaviour. Anderson and Dill (2000) Violence in video games study- Both Anderson and Dill conducted the relation between violence and video games study in 2000. The aim of this study was to find out how uncultivated video games relate to aggressive behaviour. Their first study consisted of 227 students which were given a questionnaire in order to get data on their aggressive behaviour patterns.This study looked at the long-term exposure to video games and what effect it has on aggression towards people. The findings of the first study relating to the questionnaire came back with positive relations between the violence portrayed in video games and aggressive behaviour. The second study which Anderson and Dill conducted was to approach the impact that video games have on aggressive thoughts, social view and mood of a person. This study consisted of 210 students which were given a choice of 2 video games a non vehement game Myst or a violent interactive video game Wolfstein 3D.With the non violent game the objective was to travel the island of Myst, finding clues and making your own ending depending on the journey you took. With the violent game the objective was to eliminate the enemy Adolf Hitler choosing your own hero and variety of weapons. With each game the students were allocated 3 slots for a period of 15minutes each. The findings of this study concluded Anderson and Dills knowledge and opinions that those exposed to the violent video game gained more aggres sive behaviour than those who were not exposed to violence.From the observations, this study has helped in the understanding of criminal behaviour as it states that playing video games may increase aggressive behaviour because the violent acts are continually repeated throughout the game. Video games also encourage frauds to account and interact through role play of their favourite characters causing them to imitate the character they are playing. Referring to first person in a game, it causes lead players to make their own decisions in the game affecting the actions of the character.Anderson and Dills studies show that after a limited amount of time playing violent video games, a player can start to automatically prime aggressive thoughts which can lead to aggressive behaviour. This shows that continually playing violent video games can affect a persons thought patters leaders to automatic aggressive behaviour through imitation of their favourite characters which could lead to c riminal activity. Jahoda name study (1954)- Jahoda created the name study or as it is also called the self fulfilling prophecy.Jahoda studied the Ashanti tribe people who gave their boys soul names depending on what day of the week they were innate(p). For example, boys born a Monday were expected to be peaceful and full of good, whereas boys born on Wednesday which were called Kwaku were expected to be aggressive and quick tempered. Jahoda found that when looking at prison and philander records 13. 5% of boys that had been referred to court to court where from boys that were born on Wednesday, yet they were responsible for over 22% of violent crimes which was significantly higher than would be expected and shows that Wednesdays boys tended to live up to their reputation.However as for the boys born on Monday, they found that only 6. 9% of all juvenile cases where of minor offences. This implies that stereotypes of the boys behaviours depending on which day of the week they were bo rn caused them to live up to expectations of their names. Jahoda concluded from all this that there was indeed nothing magical about the day of the week the boys were born on but of effect of expectations has on a persons behaviour. From the observations and findings, this study has helped in the understanding of criminal behaviour as it links to the effect of rehabilitation and the study of the self fulfilling prophecy.If the offenders have the expectation that they should behave in such a way, rehabilitation may be more difficult. Overall the psychological theory of criminal behaviour suggests that negative expectations cause curtains to behave towards others in a specific way because their stereotypes self fulfilling prophecy. Rosenthal and Jacobson (1968) Self fulfilling prophecy- Both Rosenthal and Jacobson also conducted a self fulfilling prophecy study and the way that people behave according to profiling or being stereotyped in 1968.Their study was conducted on students in a classroom which was also known as the Pygmalion in the classroom. The students were then put into groups of what the students think they will achieve, where they were then treated in a way that their ability group could achieve. All students completed an IQ test before the study. The findings of this study concluded Rosenthal and Jacobsons theory that when people are put into groups or have been stereotyped into a group can cause peoples behaviour to change as they will live up to the expectations of the stereotype.The findings found were that after two years the students that were put into the group for higher levels achieved higher than the other students in any other group. These students were known to have been given supererogatory feedback and extra attention so the finding expected had were correct. From the findings, this study has helped in the understanding of criminal behaviour as it shows that when categorised into a stereotype, people soon learn to live up to that ex pectation, behaving in a certain way.This also has an impact on a persons self esteem, causing them to act undesirably and maybe even lead them to turn to crime. Eden (1990) Self fulfilling prophecy- Eden also conducted the self fulfilling prophecy study in 1990, this study explains wherefore some people turn to crime due to the way they have been stereotyped or label into a certain group. For this study, Eden looked at the dressing of 1000 Israeli soldiers and had them organised into 29 platoons. Some platoon trainers were told their groups were above the average potential but other trainers were told nothing.The findings of this study showed that after 10 weeks the performance of all soldiers were assessed and was found that on both the written exam and weapon test, the soldiers who had been told they were above the average potential did overall better than others, even though all soldiers were at an average level. These findings concluded Edens expectations that when labelled into a certain group, a person can adjust to behave according to expectations within the labelled group.This study has helped in understanding of criminal behaviour as it shows the stereotypes and labelled groups can influence a persons self esteem hint them to behave in a certain way and if the stereotype is negative it can cause a person to turn to crime. Sheehan (1983) TV violence and aggression Sheehan conducted the TV violence and aggression study in 1983. This study consisted of a group of middle class children aged between 5 and 10 to help find the link between childrens TV viewing and aggressive behaviour.Throughout the study data was gathered about the participants parents and the researchers also asked about the childrens aggressive fantasies to whether it would physically injure a person. Sheehan found that there were correlations between viewing violence and peer rated correlations for children that were aged between 8 and 10, with the correlations being stronger for the boys than the girls. The results were recorded by looking whether the child injured of irritated another person.These findings can relate to the social learning theory as he found that boys were more likely to imitate male models but overall looking at the data Sheehan collected, those who watched violent TV and films became more aggressive towards others than those who did not. This study has helped in understanding of criminal behaviour as it shows that continuously watching violent and aggressive TV programmes can affect a persons thought patterns leading to automatic aggressive behaviour and imitation of their favourite characters which could lead to criminal activity.

A Lesson of Being Cautious

I learned a valuable lesson when I lost my mobile phone. On that day, I had an appointment with my friends and I took the bus to go egress as usual. But that day was Sunday and the bus was more crowded because a lot of people didnt need to work, and they came out to play. Because there was no liberation on my trousers, I had to put my phone in the shallow turn up pocket which resulted in the coming tragedy.After ore than ten minutes, the bus reached the destination, I clenched my fists and elbowed my demeanor through the crowd and got off with difficulty. When I touched the ground, I suddenly thought that someone bumped into me in doorway earlier, and then I touched my coat pocket and found that my mobile phone was gone. Immediately, I looked back at the bus and glanced at the people around, but everything was very strange and it made me tactile property a little afraid.I walked hastily to the eating place to meet my friends, borrowed a phone of theirs to call my number, but I was unable to get through. After a few seconds of hesitation, I dejectedly gave my dad a call to tell him my mobile phone was stolen. He comforted me that it didnt matter and warned me to be cautious after-school(prenominal) and come back home as soon as possible. Even today, it is still an important lesson, to always be careful and cautious, because you never know where evil guys are and what will happen the next second.

Article Review Essay

Conducting their study as the transitional keep attached to the counterinsurgency process in Federal Ireland is reaching its end, the authors examine the role of aid in conflict resolution particularly with regards to intangible outcomes such as identity defining. The idea behind this funding is that it reduces economic disparities between the conflicting groups and that the economic growth started by this funding will continue into the future.These funds come from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), which addressed unemployment and pauperization in Republican / Loyalist communities the Peace I funds, which promoted social inclusion, cross- residential district contact, and economic maturation and the Peace II funds (ended in 2006), which had similar goals to Peace I but targeted local, grassroots (nongovernmental) organizations. The authors also consider the role of external agencies as they intervene in ethnopolitical conflict and the importance of community development in the peace process.The authors are careful to note that economic aid is not a magic cure for conflict as this aid, if improperly administered, can at generation heighten underlying conflicts. Indeed, in northern Ireland, the approach has had mixed results. In designing their study, the authors took both a qualitative and quantitative approach. For the qualitative portion, the authors interviewed 98 community leaders, civil servants, and development officers from Belfast, Londonderry/Derry, and the Border region ( Federal Ireland).These interviews consisted of semi-structured questions, including those attached to the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale What are your best wishes and hopes for your personal future? What are your worst fears and worries about your personal future? What are your best wishes and hopes for the future of your country? What are your worst fears and worries about the future of your country? (page 166). The quantitative data was drawn from the summer 2006 Northern Ireland Public Opining Survey.The sample consisted of 1,023 adults representative of Northern Irelands adult population. The study as a whole was designed to look at the respondents hopes and fears about Northern Irelands future. Through the inclusion of qualitative data, the authors hoped to demarginalize voices that are often not heard in the official discourses of the peace process. This study yielded numerous tantalizing findings. First, the authors base that more Nationalists than Unionists imagine a future where conflicting groups are able to perceive a sense of shared community.Second, the authors found differences based on sexual activity more females than males saw the opportunity for building new relationships amongst communities in the future. Third, the authors found two common fears / concerns that extend across religions, genders, and ages the fear that violence in changing the social fabric of Northern Ireland and the belief that politicians are disi ngenuous and not interested in serving the needs of their constituency. Fourth, the authors found that more Nationalists than Unionists saw the modernisation of the economy and the political structure as means by which to support the peace process.Finally, the authors found that younger adults were more concerned about the potential bankruptcy of the peace process and the economy than older adults The authors consider numerous theories about identity formation. In designing their study, they took into consideration geographic differences in identity formation i. e. Londonderry/Derry vs. Belfast and urban vs. rural locations. They also consider how the Irish view immigration and the infiltration of outside values. In general, this article is not convincing.Its primary effectualness is the detailed background to the conflicts in Northern Ireland, with a focus on the economic causes and effects of this conflict. This strength does not mitigate the effects of the articles numerous weak nesses. First, the authors do not explicitly advance their hypothesis. While exploratory studies such as this one can potentially reveal valuable information, the authors nowhere state the reasons behind the study. When questions such as identity formation are being explored, the readers need to know the authors relationship to the issue.For example, are the authors somehow involved in this ethnopolitical conflict? Or, are they looking at it from the perspective of an outsider? If they are outsiders, does their perspective have a bearing on how the respondents answer their questions? Second, the authors explicitly state that they wish to demarginalize those voices that are not typically heard in the official peace process discourse. However, in selecting the respondents for the qualitative portion of the study, the authors chose community leaders, civil servants, and development officers.It would calculate that these are precisely the voices that are heard in the official discours e. Readers are left to wonder why the authors did not include a more representative sample of the population of Northern Ireland for this portion of the study. Third, this does not seem to be a study that was designed specifically to answer certain questions. As noted, the authors nowhere state a hypothesis. For the reader, it appears that the quantitative and qualitative data seems to have been mixed together ad hoc. In other words, the study does not seem to be designed to fit a specific question.Rather, the authors appear to have attempted to answer questions based on the information they had at hand. Fourth, as the fundament for this study was largely to examine economic role of the peace process, it seems like a gross oversight that the authors did not provide data on their respondents demographics. In the discussion department, the authors indicate that they collected background demographic information (political party, religious views, age, gender, socioeconomic status) on the respondents, but this information was not included in the results section and does not appear to have been considered in any significant way.Finally, the analysis of the qualitative data seems a bit lacking. It would perhaps have been stronger to indentify the common themes and subthemes of the responses, quite a than using the responses as illustrative examples. Because of these specific weakness as well as the authors failure to mention the limitations of their study and to provide specific recommendations for how their results can be used to generate future studies and/or to impact the peace process, this article is not convincing.

Proctor and Gamble Success, Failures, Key Players and Projected Outcomes Essay

Answer 1 Just like each new(prenominal) ordinary multinational family in the market, monitor lizard & Gamble has been satisfactory to use initiation as one of their tools in hunting lodge to achieve market competitiveness. By knowing the tastes and preferences of their target market, watch & Gamble has been utilizing every single opportunity available to improve their market sales and profitability. At the shoemakers last of the day, the stainless company will benefit from the innovative actions of the management of Proctor & Gamble. Through the instigate of travel technology available in the performance line, Proctor & Gamble was able to produce Tide, Crest, Pampers etc in a more efficient manner (Bruner, 2001).The eagerness of the members of the top management to pursue innovative processes in the available line of the company will be later on become part of the core traits of the entire organization, thus, boosting employees morale, efficiency and productivity. With this success of Proctor & Gamble in penetrating their target market through the aid of innovation, there would be no doubt that this company will eventually enjoy impressive ripening for the next coming periods. In order to prepare the company from the said growth, Proctor & Gamble increase the volume of their fiscal budget and sales making the shares to the company to rise (Businessweek.com, 2001).This increase in the shares of stocks of Proctor & Gamble means that investors wanted to invest or invest more on the stocks of the latter. On the other hand, one failure that could be considered on the part of the management of the said company would be the calmness of their chief operating officer, Durk Jager, in 2000 as well as the failing profitability of the company during the fourth quarter of the analogous year (Businessweek.com, 2000).Durk Jager make a lot of contributions in P&G for he is the one who made initial steps in innovating the products and production line of the comp any as well as credit for his successful marketing strategies that made P&G become one of the leading multinational companies in the country. Profitability on the fourth quarter during that time was the consequence of the tight market competition that exists in the industry.Answer 2 One of the factors that made a major impact on the companys success and failures would be their leaders or the top level management. These members of the top management team of P&G serves to be the asset of the entire organization for the former exhibit impressive skills and talents in discourse the operation of the company as well as in predicting the expression of their target market to seduce comparative advantage over their competitors.With these superb managerial skills of the top managers of P&G, the said company was able to overcome their obstacles such as the declining profitability during the late period of 2000. Furthermore, another factor that can be raised here is the various economic fact ors such as competition, stability of the finance sector of the company and the economic stability of the country in terms of trading with other countries since it affects the international operation of P&G.Like for instance, the rapid fluctuation of exchange rates in the financial market could threaten the event on investment of the foreign investors in the country causing major draw back in the condition of the stocks of multinational firms such as P&G. It is also included here in the tip of economic factors that affects the success and failure of the P&G would be the labor market. Proctor & Gamble employs about 130,000 workers in United States alone and any distortion in the labor market, like increase in the wage rate of the workers, could affect the performance of the company in terms of financial stability and production continuity.Answer 3 After the resignation of Jager in 2000, another persona was born in order to assume the position of CEO in Proctor & Gamble and he is n one other than A.G. Lafley. Lafley apply to run a U.S. Navy retail store before he assumed the position of CEO in P&G (Martin, 2008). In order to boost the profitability of P&G which was negatively affected by tight market competition, Lafley decided to know more regarding the behavior of the consumers to anticipate their live demand and preferences which Jager seems to overlook when he was in the position of the CEO. From knowing more on the consumption behavior of their target market plus the innovation of their products, Lafley was able to regain the lost profits of the company as well as the sales and market shares in the industry.In short, the problem regarding the lowering down of P&Gs profit boils down to the saturation of consumers on the old reliable products of the company. What the consumers want to see, as Lafley discovered, is the innovation on the product line of the company, what is new and what the improvements are. Lafley was able to answer these questions and ex ecute the necessary actions to exempt the failing market status of P&G. True enough, P&G now ranked on the 10th place of the worlds top multinational companies in terms of profitability and this is a manifestation of the sound leadership and at the same time critical thinking of Lafley regarding the finding of ways to suffice the needs and preferences of their target consumers.ReferencesBruner, G. F. (2001). The Tao of Innovation. Retrieved January 29, 2008, from http//proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=66774845&sid=1&Fmt=4&clientid=11123&RQT=309&VName=PQDBusinessweek.com (2001). Lehman Upgrades Proctor & Gamble. Retrieved January 29, 2008, from http//www.businessweek.com/investor/content/dec2001/pi20011212_0523.htm?chan= expectBusinessweek.com (2000). Why the Tide Turned Against P&G. Retrieved January 29, 2008, from http//www.businessweek.com/investor/content/eemi/emi0609b.html?chan=searchMartin, R. L. (2008). P&G Using the Past to Invent the Future. Retrieved January 30, 2008, from htt p//www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jan2008/id20080122_229434.htm?chan=search

Stress Log

tensity log Psychology 101 Influence of the Media Assignment (40 pts) F all in all 2010 DUE After viewing cleansing us softly 4 (2010), write a 2-3 page paper (600-800 words) on the influence of media and publicize on the public, both men and women. All papers should be typed and double-spaced. In your paper 1. Discuss the avowal made in Killing Us Softly that the purpose of publicizing is to sell us what we dresst need, to sell us values, and to sell us concepts of normal. (6 pts) 2. Using both videos and magazine pictures, discuss how media and advertising images affect how you see yourself, how you see others, and how others see you. 6 pts)3. Dr. Kilbourne does not advocate censorship, or banning all advertisements. What other ways do individuals have to protect themselves from any ill effects from advertising? What consumption would critical thinking play? (8 pts) 4. Using your chapter on Motivation and Emotion, demonstrate how advertising and media, generally, motivate o ur behaviors. (8 pts) 5. Do you believe that there are cumulative effects of these media messages? Whether your answer is yes or no, give reasons. (6 pts) 6. Grammar/spelling (3 pts) 7. coiffe sure you cite the pic in text using APA style (3 pts).See information below for citing a movie APA style In APA format the movie can be cited several ways. The movie epithet should always be italicized. If you describe a scene by saying something like In the movie Killing us softly 4 (2010), Dr. Kilbourne says The ennoble is italicized and the year is in parentheses. If you describe a scene by saying something like Dr. Kilbourne says that advertisements are created to sell us values (Killing us softly 4, 2010). The title is italicized and both the title and year go in the parentheses before the period at the end of the sentence.

Change Initiative Paper Essay

IntroductionPerhaps one of the greatest triumphs in United States history, innovation War II was essenti everyy ended upon the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The boom hear around the world was not the only authorised out happen just now quite what came after which was the small fry boom. M each weary husbands that were coming home to eager wives caused one of the biggest statistical jumps of birth rates pastime the war. Often referred to as the baby boomers, this generation becomes especially important to the health check field in the yield day. This is where hospice comes into play, allowing several(prenominal)s the choice of obtaining this benefit upon reaching a 6 month or less terminal diagnosis. Hospice gives the individual a chance to die comfortably in a nursing facility, a general eager hospital, or their testify home.As an individual who used to work for Vitas Innovative Hospice, I ran the Telec are department which was accountable for the after-hours phone lines available to the patients and families. enduring dish out Secretaries were assigned to handle come up tos and gain tickets ground on the customer needs whether it is a symptom or equipment failure. Nurses were similar, however, they were to receive the ejaculate from the secretary or call back the patient in order to triage the symptom properly. Vitas Telecare must adapt to be ready for the entree flux of new patients from not only the baby boomers but from future generations to come.The Need for miscellanea overThe budge to be delivered is not a specific target but rather a broad turn to efficiency to maximize profits while still maintaining Vitas core values patients and families come first. In the past ex, hospice in general has been coming under fire for keeping patients too long in their armed services should their prognosis improve. According to the Union Tribune, it was announced on February 13 of 2013 San Diego Hospice had filed bankruptcy and close d collectable to the Medicare audits that investigated patient eligibility. This type of publicity not only brought a negative light upon San Diego hospice but all across San Diego including Vitas. While the channelise whitethorn not come too easily, steps must be taken toward reshaping the public view inorder to regain their trust to put their loved ones into Vitas services. Additionally, with the parsimoniousness still not in a great sound out, lack of efficiency is costing the company. As the Patient Care Administrator of Telecare, I was responsible for maintaining a smooth flow of calls without tying up the customers on hold for too long. One of the biggest flaws that contributed to high call volume was the lack of both communication and avocation of scheduled hurts.Too often, employees were all taking lunches or breaks around the same time creating a big(a) back up of calls as the only remaining employees could not handle them all. Vitas recently implanted a break manage ment system called Workforce Management that not only observes peak and down call flow, but withal manages break times accordingly to maximize efficiency. The problem, however, is the lack of employee discipline to follow the suggested break times. Several changes must be enacted including following of Workforce Management, focus on customer service, and continued efforts towards preparing for the future.The Change mouldingOne of the most influential men today, John Kotter from Harvard Business School developed the Kotters Eight-Step Change Model as the most effective way to implement a change at heart an organization. The eight steps in order is as follows create urgency, form a powerful coalition, create a vision for change, communicate the vision, remove obstacles, create short-term wins, build on the change, and anchor the changes in corporate culture. Kotter believed following these steps in the correct order created long go awaying and conquestful change in any business i f done correctly. This change model was selected ground on several factors including success rate, concrete order of directions, and its ability to build upon existing success.The Role of the Leader in the Change possibilityIn order for this success to commence, thither are several leaders that must be in place during this re-creation of the Telecare department. The most important idea to realize is that everyone plays a part and that the leaders are just there to lead by example. This must be reiterated time and time again to witness the employees that everyone is included regardless of opinion. Sometimes during change, individuals feel left out just purely outof their position in the matter or not be notified of everything going on. In order for employees to buy in initially, a sense of belonging must be established. The several leaders other than the Patient Care Administrator (PCA) would include supervisors under the PCA, a elder Patient Care Secretary (PCS) and a senior tr iage Registered Nurse (RN).The supervisor would walk around throughout the shift to make for certain breaks and lunches are being followed as well as address any concerns of any of the employees. The senior PCS and senior RN would be in charge of holding a pre-shift meeting prior to taking the phone calls making sure to reiterate important dos and do nots of the job. Anytime employees of the same discipline would save a question, they could address it to their senior. Finally, the role of PCA is to assist the supervisors or seniors in any way or if any individual needs additional help. Meetings lead by the PCA must be held monthly to address reach and award individuals for their hard work.Process of ChangeAs mentioned above, adopting Kotters Eight Step Change Model requires a strict following of the steps in order to generate long term change success. The first order of business is to establish a sense of urgency among all the employees in Telecare. A meeting would be called by the PCA in order to introduce the concept of the change and the reasons behind it. The meeting allow for be mandatory but also offer food and beverages or even foster a potluck to involve them. Several concerns for the company would start broad pointing out how hospitals are starting their own hospices and continue to threaten the current status quo of Vitas. A good example would be Scripps Hospice or nappy Hospice. Additionally, address the economic downturn that has not improved too much over the last decade and that job security is a must due to the depleting social security funds. Lastly, ask individuals one by one why they work this job, what is important to them and what can they do to help it. Next is to create a guiding coalition to direct others in the right direction towards the change.Change can be disorganized but when directed others will follow. As stated earlier, there is no hierarchy of bosses but rather a string of leaders to drive and lead by example. Employees must know that the supervisors and seniors are there to encourage them and address any problems they may come across during a phone call. For example, a PCS receives an wild caller and ends up becoming frustrated themselves so they put the caller on hold. Rather than allow the PCS to continue the call, the senior PCS could take the call and allow the PCS to take a short break to get ahead their thoughts. The beginning of the change is all close employee buy in. After the initial shock of starting the change, some other meeting would be called to describe and communicate the vision, hoping that previous efforts have started to get employees to buy into the change. The main objective of the change is to keep Vitas strong and competitive among other rising hospices by superior customer service and employees that well taken care of especially for their hard work.The next step requires others to empower the broad based change, meaning that every individual must feel like they are constantly involved and an important aspect of the process. The constant reiteration of this by the seniors and supervisors should continue this effort. If a pre-shift is finished early, the seniors may ask individuals about their daily lives and allow them to connect with each other. Working alone is a preference for some but being able to come to work with friends just gives them another incentive. Kotters next step is supply for and creating short-term wins. If there is something that causes an individual to work hard, its something they want. The PCA should create an incentive system based on an individuals consistency and dedication.This all depends on the discipline since a PCS does not handle the medical work of a RN. An example of an incentive for a PCS would be a small raise for having a consistently high calls answered through several months. Additionally, an RN would receive a small raise based on customer satisfaction surveys or recommendation from a supervisor for obse rvation of great work. The last two steps involve improving on previous successes and maintaining a bar by addressing the state of the call center every monthly meeting. Awards should be continued to recognize individual efforts but also continued awareness of each employees efforts.Overcoming Barriers to Change and Sustaining ChangeThere will be always some resistance to change despite the hardest efforts but there are several ways that will encourage a shift. One reason a person works is for the money to pay and extol the lifestyle they have chosen. With the incentive already addressing this through incremental raises, employees should continue to look for ways to be consistent and work hard. Additionally, many people have families, personal days or things they wouldlike to do on certain days. Vitas may address this through hiring of employees in order to be flexible with schedules. Lastly, in order to feel involved, the PCA should look to meet with individual employees to commun icate the vision and address any concerns they may have. Sustaining change requires the efforts of everyone including the PCA. Continued reinforcement means fixing problems as they appear or prepping for future conflicts. determinationDespite the new technology to save more and more lives daily, so too does the technology to write down them. E-cigarettes and processed foods are just to name a few. Vitas Hospice should be ready for the many years to come and the health problems that cause terminal diagnosis to arise. With this change in place, Vitas will be ready.ReferencesSisson, P. (2014). SD Hospice to Close Scripps locomote in. Union Tribune. Retrieved family line 9, 2014, from http//www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/13/san-diego-hospice-closing/Webster, M. (2014). Successful Change Management Kotters 8-Step Change Model. Retrieved September 9, 2014, from http//www.leadershipthoughts.com/kotters-8-step-change-model/

Banking Industry Meltdown Essay

Determine which moral philosophy (as argueed in chapter 6) is most relevant to an understanding of the banking industry nuclear meltdown Moral philosophy in business is hard to crystaliseify, especially in todays economic times where in that respect are government bailouts, loss of paying jobs, base of operations foreclosures and the horrible real estate market. The banking industries near complete collapse can be closely link up to the mortgage crisis that has hit the United States but there are deeper issues that meet lead to the banking industry meltdown. The banks acted with an self-consciousness moral philosophy which has sometimes been described want a loan sharking operation, just legal. The banks pay in truth little interest to its depositing members for interest bearing accounts like 1% or even less than that bandage at the same time charging 15% to 35% on credit card balances. They do this because there is no limit placed on interest rates that a bank can safekee ping by the federal government. The banks tactile property this is honorable or acceptable behavior in terms of their undivided financial institutions maximizing their own interest. Due to these financial instruments put in place by the banks and non think about the possible consequences they presented if consumers defaulted on these loans.The downfall was never even examined by the banks or its investors, and it came to doodad up with them in 2008-2009 with the economic downturn. No one cared to think ahead, thinking they had a fool consequence plan that couldnt fail because the insurance policy derivatives presented. Banks and investors carried themselves with Ego that displayed they couldnt fail. However, as the case revealed in 2008-2009 the housing market tumbled due to consumers not being able to make payment on their varying rate mortgages leaving the real estate market overheated. Since banks and investors made decisions that seemed to maximize their own self-interest they acted in an egoism moral philosophy manner. Analyze the case study and discern if the white collar crimes connected differ in anysubstantive manner from other more than blue collar crimes skilled crimes are mainly delineate as illicit acts perpetuated by a person with a noble and respectable social status in the course of his or her profession or occupation. This is basically tie in to the social idea relating the concept of pink-collar jobs to professional fields In the modern criminology field, white-collar crimes is defined and identified based under two basis and reference namely by the type of wickedness and the type of offender.The first reference involves acts named to property issues, economic aspect, law violations and others are considered as white-collar crimes as these cases involve professional degree and conclusion. The second is based from the type of offender wherein the social class and personal stature of the criminal are considered. Some of the com mon manifestations of this form of crime are fraud, bribery, ready reckoner crime, forgery, insider trading embezzlement, and others. Blue collar crimes are looked at in the more traditional manner as acts that are mostly offensive and violent in a physical nature such as theft, harassment, and murder. In this case derivatives were the main culprit that were used to commit the white collar crimes against its victims (stakeholders and customers). The crimes committed by the banks in my opinion were no different. Any crime is basically an illicit act that is illegal and proscribe by the law in which is punishable, blue collar or white collar, the crimes committed I feel are the same in any manner.Though the crimes were not of a physical nature they be quiet caused harm to those who were affected by the crimes that were committed. For this reason I feel that the white collar crimes that were committed were no different in a substantive manner than blue collar crimes that are committ ed. Determine and discuss the role that corporate culture played in the banking industry scenario Corporate culture and social certificate of indebtedness is good for business, as social, environmental, and honourable issues need been increasingly climbing up the list of priorities of business agendas and strategy. purification makes every organization unique and bonds members of an organization together. The culture of the organization verifies what behaviors and ideas are acceptable and appropriate. Corporate culture is defined as a set of values, norms, and artifacts, including ways of solving problems that members (employees) of an organization share. (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell 2011).The corporate culture could confirmplayed a huge role in the banking industry scenario as ethics and social accountability should be important to all businesses and business people. The banking industry had a decision to make and they chose to disregard their ethical responsibilities which helped contribute to the downfall of the banking industry in 2008-2009. If the banks had followed a more ethical corporate culture they would devour been less likely to make the unethical decisions that they made. They should surrender adhered to the tradition and history of their respective financial institutions and considers their investors, stakeholders, and customers before making the decisions that they made. If they would have taken the time to do this they would have taken the time to further go over and evaluate the possible ramifications of their actions and possibly look for alternatives that may have averted the banking industry meltdown that followed.Postulate how leaders within the banking industry could have used their influence to avert the industry meltdown A wishing of business ethics is definitely partly to blame for the United States current financial woes, and it was the absence or complete disregard for them by the leaders in the banking industry that led to the banking industry meltdown. Self-regulation should not be underestimated, as from it you get a strong corporate culture that tells leaders what is right and wrong, leading to the rumination of not just themselves (the banking institution) but the investors, stakeholders, and customers. The egoism philosophy which I feel the banks adopted would have been replaced with more of a utilitarianism philosophy making decisions that would benefit the most persons involved.The leaders in the banking industry were just the antonym of what we are calling them leaders, because if they took the responsibility and truly led they could have used their stature to influence decisions that could have help avoid the banking industry meltdown. Follow the leader is what I relate this particular situation to, as if banking industry leaders would have stood up and put their voice to doing the right ethical thing set the measuring stick for not only themselves and their bank but the others they c ould have adverted the banking meltdown. Follow the leader is what I relate this particular situation to, as if banking industry leaders would have stood up and put their voice to doing the right ethical thing setting the standard for not only themselves and their bank(s), but the others they could have adverted the banking meltdown. Theleaders could have used the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to back their decision and should have taken a bigger stand.The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is an account statement overseeing measure to ensure efficient corporate governance and maintaining the confidence of investors. It also requires that the businesses to assume responsibility for transparence in financial reporting. If the leaders would have taken this stand they could have set a standard and influenced the banking industry to make better decisions. If the leaders within the banking industry would have used their influence they could have possibly avert the industry meltdown. I will not say that these acti ons will have averted the meltdown as no one can predict the future as anything could happen, all we can do is to rationally and ethically evaluate all possible scenarios, develop and implement plans to try and prevent meltdowns like the one in 2008-2009.Bibliographyhttp//www.hrmreport.com/article/Business-ethics-is-inextricably-linked-to-the-current-financial-meltdown/ Thomas, Huw November 29, 2012 Principles for enhancing corporate governance, October 2010, ISBN 92-9131-844-2 (print) http//www.bis.org/publ/bcbs176.pdf Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2008). Business Ethics Ethical Decision Making and Cases US South-Western, Cengage Learning. Haig, M. (2005). http//www.frbsf.org/news/speeches/2009/0416.html, Conference on the State of the U.S. and World EconomiesMeeting the Challenges of the Financial Crisis By Janet L. Yellen, President and CEO, federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, April 16, 2009

Descartes’ Epistemology Essay

Carefully beg off Descartes cogito and his attempt to make his noesis social system from the ground up. (Be as succinct as possible.) Does Descartes succeed or fail in that attempt? Justify your come in full. Descartes Epistemology.This essay attempts to explain Descartes epistemology of his knowledge, his Cogito, Ergo midpoint concept (found in the hypothesiss), and why he apply it the cogito concept as a knowledgeableness when building his structure of knowledge. After explaining the concept I give a brief evaluation of his success in introducing and utilise this cogito as a foundation. Finally, I provide reasons why I estimate Descartes succeeded in his epistemology.The First Meditation began with Descartes deciding to employ radical scepticism in his quest of acquiring true knowledge and this snuff it him to conclude that he could not be sure of allthing except that he knew nothing (Descartes, 198412-15). Meaning that Descartes cast a personal manner all his knowled ge whether it was knowing that he had fingers, knowing that the forcible world inhabited, knowledge of his studies etc. he began by acknowledging how everything that constituted his preconceived knowledge could be doubt worthy. This climax of doubt was rooted in one factDescartes felt that there was good reason to believe that a higher causality could invite deceived him into accept that his empirical and a priori knowledge was plausible. Since God is a higher power that Descartes believed to be all good and never deceptive, he named his deceiver the Evil dickens a complete arctic to his wholesome observation of God (Blackburn, 200119). Descartes established that the Evil Demon subscriber line could wipe out all assurance of his prior knowledge except for one his existence (Descartes, 198417).This was a good argument because it presented a well thought out reason to forefront his knowledge. Descartes argued that if an Evil Demon truly existed and is merely focussed on de ceiving him then this proves that he Descartes exists If he is deceiving me and let him deceive me as much as he brush off, he will never bring about that I am nothing so commodious as I think that I am something I am, I exist, is necessarily true whenever it isconceived in my fountainhead (Blackburn, 200120).It is possible to refute this translation of existence in the formof Do we suppose that a thinking thing exists because it has experienced thoughts? According to the Second Meditation Descartes result would be that I am, I exist stands only for a thing that is doing the thinking now and if it were to cease thinking it would cease to exist altogether (Descartes, 198418). In addition it is not the thinking that lead to existence, nevertheless the existence lead to the thinking.Descartes was uncoerced to be questioned about his knowledge of the world and to prove that he truly sought the correct answer to any objection that may be raised he overlooked everything he knew and arrayed to build an argument from scratch to assert the knowledge he would later accept as accurate. Thus, Descartes chose the cogito concept as a foundation that he could begin to enlarge his territory of understanding on.From observation it is clear that Descartes only began his Meditations to build a foundation of understanding and since he had discarded all his prior knowledge he undeniable a solid base to begin reconstructing on, so the cogito concept emanates. Cogito, Ergo Sum is Latin for I think, therefore I am. The cogito argument is as follows 1. An evil demon might be deceiving me into believing that I dont exist. 2. If I believe that I dont exist, then I exist.3. I exist.This argument states that, if I convinced myself of something then I sealedly existed (Descartes, 198417). This simply sum that anyone unbelieving his or her own existence or presence indeed exists because in order for doubt to deem place there has to be someone to do it. A proper understanding o f the cogito concept means recognizing specifically the classification in which this someone that is active fits into and whether it is accurate to say that he or she exists.The argument, as Descartes presented, does not give a valid reason for the existence of the body or anything else in the material world, so we cannot accept that bodies exist. Neither does the cogito account for the existence of different minds as that would entail knowledge of the physical world where other things exist. The cogito concept does however give a valid argument for the existence of the mind or a thinking thing that exists independently of the body.In hisnovel Think, Blackburn explains the cogito concept as a means of justifying the core of ones existence as thinking, we accept that thought exists not a self (Blackburn, 200120). I agree with Blackburn because his Descartes concept serves well to prove that we exist as thinking things and regular(a) if we were to discard any a priori or a posteri ori knowledge, we can still endorse the cogito.The cogito concept stands no matter of empirical knowledge because it suggests the existence of thought without actually linking it to the body (which constitutes a sort of empirical way of acquiring knowledge through the senses). In addition, it can be accepted without any a priori knowledge since Descartes only introduced it after concluding that he knew nothing, and could only accept knowledge of his own existence as vindicated.To assess Descartes choice of foundation I will raise some questions that implore an explanation regarding the cogito concept. Firstly, if we only exist when thinking and the Evil Demon is able to manipulate our knowledge of everything else, why are our thoughts not susceptible to his deception? In my perspective, the Evil Demon has the ability to deceive us to a certain point, that point is our existence, and we have established that our existence leads to thinking.Descartes supposed that the Evil Demon may have influenced our thoughts but the thought he Evil Demon could not alter is the thought of us thinking. For example, if I were to throw a flexible ball into a recycle bin and it were melted and reshaped into a mug, although the state of the ball may have changed it is still plastic and even if we discard its previous state its present state shows that it is indeed existing and I cannot convince the plastic that it never existed just because it is in a different state.This example explains how our definition of existence may have changed but the fact remains that we exist hence we think. My example is another(prenominal) way of stating Descartes wax example(Descartes,198420-21), which according to Blackburn, he Descartes uses to confirm that with the cogito we can solidify that our thoughts exist regardless of them be immaterial, various and not constrained to a physical body (Blackburn, 200121).A second question could be, if we know(or supposedly accept) that we are creation de ceived by the Evil Demon wouldnt that mean that we were aware of when we were not being deceived by him and so before we established our foundation(using the cogito concept), we had already accepted some knowledge which lead to the foundation? I thinkDescartes would respond by saying that the fact that we can think of the Evil Demon and accept that he is deceiving us means that we already established the cogito before moving on to think of the actual idea of a deceiver, again we see that any thinking means something existed to do it(the thinking).This response seems to present some equivocation but unfortunately I think that any of Descartes responses may arouse the burden of proof to the person who raised the question. His argument, as I would render it, may be that the question is going in circles and only raises doubt of his Descartes means of acquiring knowledge and not actually any objection to the cogito. This last response seems to credit Descartes success in establishing th at the cogito is a concept that gives us the beaver potential start to gaining any knowledge.Even the knowledge of an Evil Demon would mean we have to start by accepting that we exist (cogito) in order to prove any of our knowledge as untrustworthy.A third and final question is, what form of knowledge is the cogito and what other knowledge can we build on this foundation? The cogito is a form of a priori knowledge because we do not need to prove its cogency by explaining anything or drawing on a previous experience to prove it. Descartes further used the cogito when acquiring the knowledge of Cartesian Dualism, which is his next step of building knowledge that is rooted in the cogito.Descartes tell that Cartesian Dualism is justified by the cogito because we only have knowledge of an existing thinking entity that has no body, hence the body and the mind should be viewed as separate and neither one has the ability to influence the other (Descartes, 198421). I think the cogito conce pt provokes a sense of identity that each of our thinking may deem and this identity entails that as much as the Evil Demon may try to take away our knowledge we still have that little something, as thinking beings, that can only be explained as an existence. This entity of our existence is immaterial, yes, but it leads us into thinking and thinking is our starting point of gaining new knowledge.Therefore Descartes succeeded in his epistemology by choosing Cogito, Ergo Sum as a base for his future knowledge. Once the cogito is accepted Descartes can acquire new knowledge. In conclusion Descartes processes of building a knowledge structure foundation was procreative and ultimately leads to a successful epistemology.BibliographyBlackburn, S. 1999. Think A Compelling Introduction to Philosophy. New York Oxford University Press. Descartes, R. 1984. The Philosophical literary works of Descartes, Vol. II, Cottingham, Stoothoff and Murdoch (Translators).UK Cambridge University Press. Le rm, J. 2013. Descartes Second Meditation The Cogito Argument Lecture Slides. 1 . J. Lerm Rebulding Begins lecture splay 2 2 . Lerm The Cogito Argument lecture slide 7