HR Law Research Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HR Law Research Paper - Essay Example For example, the law prohibits the employers to discriminate an employee or deny him or her opportunity to benefits from the privileges of employment on the bases of sex, religion and color. This paper seeks to discuss Title VII and sexual harassment including Quid Pro Quo, Hostile Work Environment and Court Decisions. Title VII specifies that a violation is undertaken only when a sexual conduct is on the conditions of employment. One of the major types of sexual harassment is quid pro quo. This kind of harassment takes place when hiring, promotion, grading and salary increment among other aspects are based on the employee’s submission or rejection of sexual favors and advances. This implies that for a quid pro quo to occur, an employee is required to submit to sexual harassment from his or her seniors in order to be advantaged in the work places. In the same way, hostile work environment as depicted by Title VII occurs when harassment at the work place interferes with the duties of the employees thus altering their performance. It also occurs when the working environment is characterized by abusive and offensive language. To determine whether a working environment is hostile, Title VII depicts that an examination should be conducted to ascertain whether or not the conduct was physical or v erbal. Secondly, it is imperative to examine if the conduct was done on regular bases. Thirdly, as a manager I should conduct an examination as to whether the conduct was patently offensive or hostile. Fourthly, it is vital to examine whether the harassment in instigated by a supervisor or a co-workers. Fifthly, as a manager I need to examine whether other employees or supervisors of various departments were perpetrated in the harassment. Even though Title VII does not explicitly differentiate between hostile work harassment and quid pro quo, the application and the distinctions between these two forms of sexual harassment

Defining Humanities Essay Example for Free

Defining Humanities Essay Humanities is the study of language, philosophy, communication, environment, history, religion, sociology, arts, culture, education and ethics. The word humanities originally comes from the Latin word, â€Å"humanus. † The word humanus means â€Å"human. † To be â€Å"human† is to possess the qualities and attributes of man. Being human also has the feelings and dispositions proper to man. However, humanities as the study of the different cultural aspects analyzes man’s weaknesses in life and how each can be improved. Culture includes speech, knowledge, beliefs, arts, technologies, ideals, and rules. To be cultured means to be refined and well versed in arts, philosophy, and the languages. It is also to be learned about great men and leaders in the past. Culture should regulate the type of behavior considered appropriate to an individual. Its teaching is essential for one to obtain the proper knowledge in his efforts to achieve the status of being a cultured man. On the other hand, understanding man and his affairs rather than just a body of accepted facts and theories is a purpose for humanities. It has various meanings in different historical periods, but it is only the same. This sums up to remind everyone about humanity. Humanities dealt with philosophy and theology in the 12th, 13th centuries and Renaissance period. This was the study of disciplines among languages, fine arts, music, and philosophy. Recognizing literature defined humanities in the past. There were different types of performing arts such as music, dance, theatre, philosophy, and religion. Humanities supported various categories of literature. Each and every one of these types were study academically. in the early centuries. Humanities is still an ongoing study of today and the future.

Conflict Influence On The Provision Of Aid Politics Essay

Conflict Influence On The Provision Of Aid Politics Essay The question of how conflict influences the provision of aid subtly posits a normative assumption; the reader is immediately positioned on the affirmative side of whether aid should be provided in a conflict situation. This reflects a new reality in the global political landscape: the proliferation of conflict involving a high humanitarian cost has led the international community to prioritise intervention over sovereignty. As Duffield notes, largely through a series of ad hoc Security Council resolutions, a key development has been the ability [of the United Nations] to provide relief assistance even under war conditions.  [1]  Essentially, the changing nature of conflict has provoked changes in the role and function of aid, and when, and by whom it is provided. I will be exploring the perspective that the relatively new strategy of providing aid during conflict has led to an inevitably dynamic interactive relationship between conflict and aid, characterised by both legal/ moral quandaries and delivery problems. Initially I would like to define what is meant by the term conflict. Contemporary conflicts, as described by Kaldor, are a mixture of war, crime and human rights violations.  [2]  They are no longer inter-state affairs participated in by actors delineated along traditional lines, i.e. military vs. military. They are typically intra-state, characterised by low intensity warfare; they are facilitated by technological advances such as low cost, lightweight weaponry and speedier communication; they receive much international attention, both from the media and the international/ political community; and whilst not being inter-state, they may be facilitated by external involvement. Duffield suggests these new wars are a permanent characteristic of fragmented crisis areas, which lack political and economic cohesion.  [3]  Duffield explains that these areas outside of the economically and politically integrated blocs- cannot be understood in conventional terms of war and peace. Thei r defining feature is ongoing instability, and furthermore this is not a temporary phase in the process of development and transition toward liberal democracy (i.e. modernisation)  [4]  . A more appropriate framework than the binary war/ peace opposition is to situate contemporary violence on a conflict-to-peace continuum. This spectrum perspective firstly accommodates the varying levels of intensity within a conflict, and also situates conflict in a timeframe. In considering the interaction of conflict and aid, one must not only consider the influence of the actual conflict enacted in the present; but the influence of past conflicts, and how aid might avoid or exacerbate potential conflicts in the future. The continuum should be viewed as linear but non-teleological, in that it includes the causes of conflict, conflict itself, and post-conflict situations which have the potential for repeated conflict. Uvin defines the transition from a state of conflict to a state of peace as a process with no definitive endpoints: Sustainable peace is not something that can be produced rapidly; it is not something that can be mastered technically, with a fixed formula; it is not ev en a clear state that can be achieved once and for all as much as a process.  [5]  Conflict can also be defined in opposition to peace. Within Suhrke and Buckmasters definition of a transition to peace, the conflictual position on the spectrum is also elucidated: Peace stabilization [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦involves securing] transition from a military to a political mode of conflict [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] demobilisation, return of refugees, reintegration [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] and mechanisms for dealing with the conflict in political terms (elections, power sharing), relief (especially for IDPs and refugees), and immediate reconstruction to [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] offer alternatives to war economy.  [6]   As mentioned before, contemporary conflicts involve a range of less-clearly defined actors. Conventional distinctions such as state vs. state or state vs. rebel have dissolved, and the lines demarcating illegitimate state/ legitimate state/ military, civilian/ military/ rebel/ revolutionary are very much distorted.  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­In relation to this dissolution of clearly defined actor roles, an overarching feature of contemporary conflict is that whilst some are waged as legitimate rebellions over genuine grievances pursuing the objective of social transformation, the sustaining of conflict itself is often the objective. In a situation with few economic opportunities and resource scarcity, the ability to wage war is the wielding of economic and political power in itself, and sustaining the conflict may paradoxically be synonymous with sustaining the means of life. Conflicts may not just be the outcome of deep, structural causes, but also actors attempts to address a nd weather these causes. It is also necessary to define what aid is. Aid can- theoretically at least- be categorised as either relief (humanitarian assistance) or development aid. The former will focus on material goods (food, medicine, clothes and shelter) and services (water, security), and will be provided in the short term, as emergency situations dictate. The latter will concentrate on addressing structural inequalities and divisions, aiming to transform and reconstruct society through capacity building in political, economic and social spheres; and will generally be disbursed within a longer term framework. Aid is for the relief of suffering and human needs, both the immediate need and the causes of that need. Aid is delivered by NGOs (e.g. Oxfam), international organisations (e.g. the UN) and governments (e.g. DFID) although these actors may overlap, conflict and co-operate. However, this neat categorisation of aid is not theoretically or practically possible. It seems that whether relief constitutes aid is disputed. The OECD says: Official development assistance is defined as those flows to countries and territories on the DAC List of ODA Recipients and to multilateral development institutions which are: i. provided by official agencies, including state and local governments, or by their executive agencies; and ii. each transaction of which: a) is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective; and b) is concessional in character and conveys a grant element of at least 25 per cent (calculated at a rate of discount of 10 per cent).  [7]  This definition should not technically include relief or humanitarian assistance, as generally these do not fulfil the second criterion. However, other literature does consider humanitarian assistance as a (growing) part of ODA: the share of human itarian assistance has risen sharply, from about 3 per cent of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the 1980s to close to 10 per cent in recent years.  [8]  The problem of, and reasons for, separating these different sorts of aid in practical situations will be discussed further. It is similarly useful to consider aid in terms of a continuum: relief-to-development. The purpose and goals of aid modulate along this spectrum, and may in fact be in opposition as well as converge. Short term provision of relief aid which bypasses a weak state will serve to effectively weaken that state further, hindering future development efforts. For example, Natsios details how the effect of one the ICRCs interventions in Somalia in 1992, intended to improve food security, had other long term negative effects. Their soup kitchens actually destabilised society socially and politically, because the starving remained relocated near to the kitchens instead of returning to plant crops. Whilst the ICRCs methods preserved life, they had other long term effects.  [9]   The core humanitarian value acknowledging a responsibility to prevent human suffering, whether in the short or long term- underlies both relief and development aid. Traditional, apolitical, neutral humanitarianism emerged, as Duffield explains, from the inhumane political bias cultivated within the Cold War climate.  [10]  Humanitarianism is based on qualities of impartiality (need being the only criteria for distribution) and neutrality (not taking sides or interfering in a conflict). This is emphasised in UN Resolution 46/182, clarifying the provision of aid in conflict situations. Guiding Principle two states Humanitarian assistance must be provided in accordance with the principles of humanity, neutrality and impartiality.  [11]   Duffield initially concluded that neutrality is impossible in the new wars, since any assistance necessarily has political effects.  [12]  He also charted the development of a New Humanitarianism which acknowledges that there are severe difficulties in the real life provision of apolitical, impartial and neutral aid.  [13]  Duffield later suggested that humanitarianism had changed its modus operandi, supposedly maintaining neutrality with practices such as negotiated access and the more refined variable consent.  [14]  Whatever the practical feasibility of neutrality and impartiality, it is important to bear in mind the importance effects of trying to maintain these principles in order to preserve the likelihood of access: Duffield suggests it is a useful tool of practical diplomacy.  [15]   As well as delivery problems, such as maintaining impartiality, humanitarian aid faces a legal problem in conflict settings; such as the adhering to the responsibility of providing aid whilst not in the process of intervention impinging on sovereignty. Chapter One, Article 2, Paragraph 7 of the UN Charter: forbids intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign state: Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦]  [16]  UN Resolution 46/182 reinforces state sovereignty but also emphasises the states responsibility towards those needing aid. Guiding Principle six states: States whose populations are in need of humanitarian assistance are called upon to facilitate the work of these organizations in implementing humanitarian assistance, in particular the supply of food, medicines, shelter and health care, for which access to victims is essen tial.  [17]  Within this Resolutions framework, the state has had a much greater role in the delivery and co-ordination of humanitarian assistance: but expectations of responsibility are stressed as well. This provides aid donors and international organisations with a clearer duty and right to intervene in situations where a predatory state blocks aid to one or more population groups. Who provides aid to whom is a complex problem, and in the reality of a conflict situation it involves a series of moral tradeoffs. Duffield pinpoints a shift from apolitical aid to an acknowledgement of aids political effects: the new humanitarianism involves a shift in the centre of gravity of policy away from saving lives to supporting social processes and political outcomes.  [18]  However, he is, as am I, uncomfortable with the new accommodation and its willingness to sacrifice lives today on the promise of development tomorrow.  [19]  He explains that the consequentialist ethics of the new humanitarianism [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] in holding out the possibility of a better tomorrow as a price worth paying for suffering today, has been a major source of the normalisation of violence and complicity with its perpetrators.  [20]  Unfortunately, Duffield is left in the same position as anyone attempting to find a clear-cut, positive way to provide aid. There are problems with eit her viewing aid as apolitical or political. The most responsible path through this quandary is to look in detail at the actual dynamics between conflict and aid, and to approach each particular conflict situation individually with these dynamics in mind. The dynamic influence conflict has on aid results primarily from the new types of actors involved in conflict. For example, a state which offends human rights (i.e. not fulfilling its security role) has a direct impact on how aid will be provided. Unable to ignore the human rights offences of predatory states, donors will target aid and incentivise it for peace. Uvin suggests that the international community has become active in so-called democratic policing a matter which would have been considered far beyond the reach of ODA only a decade ago.  [21]  The tools used to foster democracy and other liberal goals include, among others, the use of conditionality, which has evolved into less strong-armed methods such as DFIDs promotion of: ownership, alignment and harmonization, as detailed by Goodhand.  [22]  But it is unclear how these positive governance-related behavioural results can be used as tools in the same way that aid can be leveraged. Conflict attracts aid: it creates a need for it, and negatively impacts successful disbursement and provision in a variety of ways. Aid is unavoidably a source of political, economic and social power and combatants will use it for their objectives. Conflict is a perverse economic, political and social system, an imbalance of powers: when the power associated with aid is introduced into that system or conferred on one party, it cannot be expected to fulfil a pacifying role, immediately solving the conflict and its effects. It will interact with, and within, the conflicts dynamics. Parties involved in conflict will misuse, deplete and misdirect aid. Lischer outlines these: firstly, aid will be given to combatants, both unknowingly, and on purpose (in efforts to adhere to the impartiality criterion of humanitarian aid). For example, after the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and massive subsequent refugee movements into neighbouring countries, UN aid was disbursed in refugee camps in eastern Zaire. These camps and aid received were controlled largely by the RDR, a combatant group of Hutus who had perpetrated genocide. Secondly, Lischer notes that as well as supporting combatants, aid will support their dependents (families, political supporters) thus allowing them to use their resources to pursue conflict. Thirdly, aid will be coercively taken instead of donated. Lischer outlines the following methods of diversion: Refugee leaders levy war tax on refugee populations [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] refugee leaders control distribution, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] militant leaders divert aid by inflating population numbers, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] raiding and stealing.  [23]  The resource scarce and hungry dynamics of conflict means aid inevitably supports combatants, thus sustaining conflict. Conflict also creates the economic conditions in which aid is expected to function. Donors may intend aid to work in one way, but the context of the conflict economy will distort this intended impact and actual provision of aid may differ greatly from operational policy. War economy and war markets will be reinforced. Natsios details the way in which this was evident in Somalia. Civil war, drought and resulting famine meant that attempts to improve food security were distorted by the perverse dynamics of Somalias conflict economy. Natsios explains that the scarcity of food in Somalia increased its value: as food aid was disbursed, relief food was an attractive objective of plunder.  [24]  In addition, market demand was driving some of the looting the normal disposition of merchant classes supporting law, order and stability as essential to commercial exchange was reversed, because of distorted markets.  [25]  Conflict and aid also interacted to produce very variable food pri ces rather than affordably low ones, as the influx of food aid was supposed to produce. Natsios explains how prices fluctuated, rising as warlords hoarded substantial tonnage, and dropping as these same warlords dumped food on the market preceding the US airlift. As flooding the market had little effect in the conflict context, OFDA began a policy of monetization. However, even though a reduction in food value was achieved, the effect of this aid policy had an adverse effect due to the conflict economy. Instead of making food relatively invaluable and improving security, the drop in food prices increased [the level of violence] as warlords and thieves alike stole a greater volume of food to make up for its diminished value.  [26]  The conflict economys dynamics meant peverted the intended effects of food aid. The disbursement of aid is not only prey to conflicts perverse economic forces, but to its socially divisive nature. Conflict is waged along and facilitated by divisions in society (ethnic, territorial, religious) and the provision of aid will be influenced by these cleavages: aid will reflect adverse group relations. This can be on an operational policy level (ostensibly aiding refugees, but prolonging their segregation from society), and at the level of delivery; Anderson suggests that the practice of targeting aid reinforces divisions rather than connectors in societies.  [27]  However, if social connectors are facilitated and reinforced instead of undermined, as Natsios exemplifies in the case of Somalia, aid can avoid the vicious effect of conflict on social dynamics. He details how the irrigation project in the Shabeelle valley bolstered Somalian societys connectors, the tempering natural stabilizing force of the clan elders, as they were given the resources and money to cr eate employment.  [28]   Conflict engenders a need for aid but also jeopardises its integrity, as the humanitarian imperative to fulfil this need means aid donors interact with less than ethically robust actors still pursuing conflict. In order to gain access and begin peace building, a short-term pragmatic attitude is required, resulting in engagement with combatants in positions of control, and thus conferring legitimacy, both domestically and internationally. Uvin posits a sliding scale of principle/ pragmatism/ complicity which is positions the problem usefully: as policy slides down this scale, the dangers of ignoring the humanitarian objective reform into being complicit in or fuelling an illegitimate actors actions.  [29]   Conflict creates gaps in state function, which aid presumes to fill (not close): for its very nature is substitutive. Uvin points out that During conflicts, many governments cease functioning, particularly in areas with heavy violence.  [30]  Filling this gap of capacity or service delivery may have the adverse effect of weakening and undermining state and local capacities: for example governance in Afghanistan, and food provision in Somalia.  [31]  Stewart and Samman suggest that in the long term, conflict and the aid it attracts perpetuates the situation: Even when [CONFAID] does help prevent starvation in the short term, it can prolong suffering over many years by contributing to the financing of the war and diverting people from their normal economic activities.  [32]   The political context of conflict influences the provision of aid dramatically. By political context, I mean that a) aids impact is unavoidably politicised, and b) the political context and objectives of international involvement, and various recipient actors, will be influential. The political context of donor actors involved in the conflict-peace continuum, will determine how aid is used. For example, Goodhand and Sedra argue that international engagement in Afghanistan has been Janus headed [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] tension between one face prioritizing the war on terror and short term stability and the other durable peace through state building.  [33]  The donors short term focus and commitment due to domestic political pressures meant that long term goals were undermined. The political context of non-state actors receiving aid is also a factor. Lischer argues that the extent to which a group is politicised will determine for what purpose aid is used, and how successfully. The greater the level of political cohesion among the refugees, the more likely they (or their leaders) will attempt to divert refugee relief in support of their political and military goals.  [34]   The political context of state recipients can influence the on-the-ground provision of aid in adverse ways. Stewart and Samman contrast the way in which successful aid provision depended on the political stance of the governments in Sudan in 1983 and Mozambique in 1975- 1982: CONFAID was manipulated and used to pursue conflict by a predatory government in Sudan, but in Mozambique the Frelimo government, whilst less predatory, was still associated with aid provision. This made the opposing Renamo areas inaccessible despite having an impartial mandate.  [35]   Furthermore, the combination of political contexts of both recipient and donor results influences at whom the aid is targeted: Uvin exemplifies this: in Rwanda, many donors abandoned targeting for fear of being seen as partial to any one side; in Afghanistan, they strengthened targeting to women, for fear of acquiescing to government policies that exclude women.  [36]   In conclusion, having looked at the intricacies of the conflict-aid dynamic, I would like to position the question of conflicts influence on aid within the wider spectrum of debate about conflict. Conflict is often seen as a breakdown or transgression from a normal state of affairs: however, as Anderson notes, it is normalcy that gave rise to the emergency initially.  [37]  Relinquishing this idea will obviously have an effect on the role that aid is expected to play: it is not merely a temporary measure, but a whole new start. Related to this is the fact that conflicts have structural (deep) and immediate (light) causes requiring long-term development and short-term aid solutions, but the two are rarely successfully reconciled. As Uvin notes, outside pressure for democracy [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] tends to take more time, consistency, knowledge, finesse and commitment than the international community typically has.  [38]  This is perhaps because the traditional view of conflict att ributes blame to internal problems; whereas aid and development are imposed, technically and professionally, from a sphere external to the conflict. But as Uvin explains, aid can be an integral part of the system; which, in the case of Rwanda, perpetrates and perpetuates structural violence; development aid interacts in manifold and important ways with profound social processes of inequality, exclusion, humiliation, impunity, and despair, on which the genocidal edifice was built [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] Domestic politics are inseparable from external aid: foreign aid is constitutive of domestic processes.  [39]  Lastly, the impossibility of neutrality and apolitical action within complex situations of conflict does not mean that we must retreat back to neutrality: politicisation is inevitable. Beyond neutrality is an acknowledgement of responsibility, for both the successful and unsuccessful results of aid provision. 3448 words.

Bridge To Terabithia :: essays research papers

There are many main themes in Bridge to Terabithia. One of the most important is Jesse and Leslie's magical kingdom in the woods called Terabithia. Terabithia is a small castle they built in the woods where they go to escape and have magical adventures. The "bridge" is a rope they use to swing over the dry creek. Another main theme is Jesse running every morning during the summer so he can be the fastest runner in fifth grade, only to be beat by Leslie, the new girl in town. One more theme is Jesse being the only boy in his house. He has two evil older sisters, who always get their way by whining. He has a younger sister who looks up to him and a baby sister, who of course, gets all the attention. Every time the baby cries his mother assumes it's because Jesse had something to do with it. A few main ideas are the differences between Jesse's family and Leslie's family. Jesse's family is quite poor and high strung. Jesse's mother is a housewife. She cooks; she cleans and raises the children. Jesse's father is usually angry. He works and tries to bring home some money. Until he gets laid off but even then he doesn't give up. He wakes up at the same time ever morning to go to the unemployment office. Jesse's two older sisters are Brenda and Ellie. All they do is whine to get off of doing their chores and criticize Jesse for anything. His younger sister May Belle, looks up to him but he tries to act like an older, tougher brother and doesn't give her much thought, even though he loves her. The youngest sister, Joyce Ann isn't really mentioned except when Jesse tries to push May Belle to her so she'll leave him alone and when Jesse's mother yells at him because of her. Jesse's hobbies are his art and running. Before Leslie moved in, his best friend seemed to be Miss Bessie, the cow. She would watch him run every morning. Leslie's family on the other hand is actually rich. Both her parents are writers and they decided to move because they felt they were getting too absorbed in their money and lifestyle. Leslie is an only child but even though she is it seems as if she doesn't spend much time with her father. When her father was fixing up the house and asked her to help she felt so needed and happy.

History of philosophy Essay

The study of philosophy may deal with every dimension of human life and can raise questions in any field of study or endeavor. Philosophy pursues questions rather than answers. Philosophy is not bound by any particular â€Å"truths† that set limits to the desire to continue asking questions. Philosophy changes historically both in respect to its content and its character. Definitions Etymologically, philosophy is derived from the Greek word philein or philia meaning â€Å"love† or â€Å"friendship† and sophia meaning â€Å"wisdom. † Hence, â€Å"love of wisdom. † The Chinese define philosophy as Zhe-Xue or Che Shueh (originally coined by Dr.Nishi Amane). Zhe means â€Å"wisdom† while Xue means â€Å"study. † Significantly, the Chinese character Zhe bears the emblem of mouth and hand which suggests the inseparability of words and action. This philosophy is the translation of words into action or the application of theory into praxis. Hence, for the Chinese, philosophy singles out a person to live on what he says. For the Hindus, philosophy is Darsana. Darsana means seeing, not only through the eyes but through the whole being of the one that sees. In other words, philosophy for the Hindus means seeing the whole reality through a total advertence and involvement of the looker. Philosophy refers to the field of study of the process which includes standards and guidelines for thought and for logic by which people develop concepts and principles which describe people, things and events, and techniques for using the concept and principles for the purpose of observing, analyzing, understanding, evaluating, organizing, and dealing with themselves and other people, things, and events who/which comprise reality (Kroepel, 2011) Philosophy refers to a human drive in the search of knowledge and wisdom to facilitate the evolution of man. Philosophy studies the fundamental nature of existence, of man, and of man’s relationship to existence. CONCEPT OF PHILOSOPHY In order to live, a man must act; in order to act, he must make choices; in order to make choices, he must define a code of values; in order to define a code of values, he must know what he is and where he is, he must know his own nature (including his means of knowledge) and the nature of the universe in which he acts. All of this things put together, is the very concept of PHILOSOPHY. Origin of Philosophy Western Philosophy began in Miletus ( accdg.to Reginald Ellen). The radix of the claim lies on Thales: the acclaimed first philosopher. Historically, western philosophy began in Greece. The word philosophy is even derived from the Greek language and means a love of wisdom. Ancient western philosophy had three main branches: ethics, logic, and physics. These three branches have now broken into even smaller sub-sections, covering everything from epistemology to aesthetics. Socrates was a large influence on western philosophy, but there was a pre-Socratic era that covered philosophical topics. Eastern philosophy has its roots in religion, specifically the Abrahamic religions (Islam, Judaism & Christianism). It is more concerned with asking questions about God and how the world relates to God. Abrahamic religions (also Abrahamism) are the monotheistic faiths of Middle Eastern origin, emphasizing and tracing their common origin to Abraham or recognizing a spiritual tradition identified with him. They are one of the major divisions in comparative religion, along with Indian religions (Dharmic) and East Asian religions (Taoist). Abraham was said to have lived during the Iron Age sometime after 2000 B. C. E. , in the city of Ur in Mesopotamia. The way eastern philosophers created theories on knowledge and religion has led people to practice the philosophies of certain philosophers without adopting all aspects of that branch. For example, some people may consider themselves believers in the Buddhist philosophy, but they never actually go and worship Buddha. The eastern philosophers historically believed that religion was a large part of the study of philosophy. Contemporary practices of eastern philosophy often remove the religious part. Islam impacted much of what we now consider eastern philosophy, meaning that most branches have a religious aspect. The most common branches of eastern philosophy include: Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Maoism, Shinto, Confucius, and Legalism. Both regions can attribute a large amount of current philosophical thought to some form of religion. The eastern world chose to embrace religion as their main pursuit of knowledge, while the western world broke philosophy into a bunch of different branches. Branches of Philosophy Epistemology This refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of knowledge. It answers the question, â€Å"how do we know? † It encompasses the nature of concepts, the construction of concepts, the validity of the senses, logical reasoning, as well as thoughts, ideas, memories, emotions and all things mental. It is concerned with how our minds are related to reality, and whether these relationships are valid or invalid. Aesthetics refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of art. It answers the question, â€Å"what life can be like? † In philosophy, aesthetics is important because it delves into the reason why art has always existed to reflect and express the desire and need of mankind through the ages to see the world in a different and clear way. It further evaluates art by using the standards of human life, and if whether it accomplishes the job of satisfying man’s intellectual needs, or whether it tends to hurt or make worse of those needs. Metaphysics Literally means beyond physics, this refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of existence. It answers the questions, â€Å"What is out there? † or â€Å"What is real? † As the foundation of philosophy, metaphysics is also regarded as the fundamental view of the world. It encompasses everything that exists, as well as the nature of existence itself. It determines whether the world is real, or merely an illusion. Ethics This refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of action. It answers the question, â€Å"what should I do? † Ethics deals with the proper course of action for man. Specifically, it answers whether or not a human act is good or bad. At a more fundamental level, Ethics can also be defined as the method by which people categorize values and pursue them. Logic It is the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of reason. It answers the question, â€Å"what is correct reasoning? † Furthermore, logic attempts to distinguish a fact from fallacy. Politics It refers to the branch of philosophy that is broadly defined as the study of force. It answers the question, â€Å"what acts are permissible? † Under its philosophical perspective, politics is ethics applied to a group of people. Brief History of Philosophy. Pre-Socratic Philosophy Characterized by the rejection of the mythological explanation on the nature and phenomena in the universe. The thinkers under this time period were mainly concerned with the search for the â€Å"true essence of things† and made use of systematic and scientific approach in uncovering the realities in the universe. Pre-Socratic Philosophers Thales (c. 624 – 546 B. C. ) Greek philosopher who was regarded as the first philosopher in western tradition. He became known for positing that water is the single element that comprised all things in the universe. He also made famous the aphorism, â€Å"know thy self. † Anaximenes (c. 610 – 546 B. C. ) A student of Thales who postulated that air is the source of all things in the universe. His major contribution, however, was stating that nothing can be created from nothing. Matter, force, and energy are indestructible. These ideas later reappeared in physics in the laws of the conservation of matter and energy. Anaximander He explained the world as originating in conflicts between contraries, such as hot and cold and wet and dry. The cold partly dried up, leaving the Earth and its water. The hot turned some water into mist and air, while the remainder ascended to form fiery rings in the heavens. Holes in the rings are the sun, moon, and stars. CLASSICAL PHILOSOPHY Classical Philosophy was primarily characterized by the rise of the â€Å"Great Greek Triumvirate† – Socrates, Plato & Aristotle. Classical Philosophers Socrates (c. 469 – 399 B. C. ) A Greek philosopher who became known as one of the most prominent philosopher in Ethics. Unlike his contemporaries, Socrates was more concerned with how people should behave rather than how the world works. Plato (c. 428 – 348 B. C. ) A student of Socrates who become known for through his dialogues which contained the presentation of his ideologies and theories in a conversational form. Aristotle (c. 384 – 322 B. C. ) He was the student of Plato and became known as the first thinker to create a comprehensive system of philosophy, encompassing Ethics, Aesthetics, Politics, Metaphysics, Logic and Science. MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY Medieval Philosophy was the period predominantly composed of philosophers who were concerned with proving the existence of God and with reconciling Christianity/Islam with the classical philosophy of Greece particularly that of Aristotle . This period also saw the establishment of the first universities, which became an important factor in the subsequent development of philosophy. Medieval Philosophers Avicenna (980 – 1037) A Persian philosopher, physician and polymath during the Golden Age of Islam. As a philosopher and a devout Muslim, he tried to reconcile the rational Greek philosophy with Islamic theology. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) An Italian philosopher and theologian who became a great influence on subsequent Christian philosophies, particularly that of the Roman Catholic Church. EARLY MODERN PHILOSOPHY Early Modern Philosophy. The rise of Modern Philosophy can be attributed to certain historical and cultural changes that happened between the Age of Reason during the 17th century and the Age of Enlightenment during the 18th century. Among the changes during the said period were the advancement in science, the growth of religious tolerance and the rise of liberalism (promotion of liberty and equality). Early Modern Philosophers Rene Descartes (1596 – 1650) A French philosopher, mathematician, scientist and writer of the Age of Reason. He has been called the â€Å"Father of Modern Philosophy†, and much of a subsequent Western philosophy can be seen as a response for his writings. He is responsible for one of the best-known quotations in philosophy: â€Å"Cogito, ergo sum† or â€Å"I think, therefore I am† (Mastin 2008). Baruch Spinoza (1623 – 1677) a Dutch philosopher who was a contemporary of Descartes. Spinoza became famous for his belief that absolutely everything including human behaviour occurs through the operation of necessity, leaving absolutely no room for free will and spontaneity. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646 – 1716) A German philosopher, mathematician, scientist and polymath who postulated the concept of â€Å"monads† which refers to the ultimate element of the universe from which all things, including human beings and God himself are made of. Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804) A German philosopher during the Age of Enlightenment. He is regarded as one of the most famous thinkers in modern philosophy. His contributions in all branches of philosophy are often described as being, â€Å"immeasurable†. Kant’s Copernican Revolution. One of the most popular Kantian theories which states that the â€Å"representation† of an object greatly helps the perceiver to perceive a certain object and not the object per se. To put it more accurately, tangible materials (such as the actual glass) are less important in perceiving the glass. What is important is how we experience the â€Å"glassness† of the glass through experience. Kant believed that the human mind can be compared to a tabula rasa (blank tablet). Examples: It is like a computer with no operating system. A computer with no â€Å"O. S. † should be installed with various programs to function properly. A new born baby should be exposed with positive experiences which may affect his lifestyle and manner on how he/she perceive things. MODERN PHILOSOPHY Modern Philosophy. The modern period of philosophy generally refers to the 19th and 20th centuries. The late 20th Century which is sometimes referred to as the contemporary period, became the venue of major development in philosophy characterized by the rise of new philosophical movements. Modern Philosophers Jeremy Bentham (1748 – 1832) An English philosopher, political radical and legal and social reformer of the early modern period. He became the founder of the Utilitarianism which refers to the principle that holds that the right action is that which would cause â€Å"the greatest happiness of the greatest number†. John Stuart Mill (1806 – 1873) An English philosopher and political scientist who was the protege of Bentham and conducted major improvements on the principles of Utilitarianism. Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (pronounced NEE-cha) (1844 – 1900) A 19th Century German philosopher who was known for challenging the foundations of Christianity and traditional morality, famously uttering, â€Å"God is Dead†. EASTERN & WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES: AN OVERVIEW Western Philosophy Refers to the philosophical thinking in the Western or Occidental world, particularly in Europe. Historically, it refers to the philosophical thinking of Western civilization, beginning in ancient Greece. Western thought puts more emphasis on individualism, science, math, and politics – hence, rational and materialistic. It can be seen as the triumph of reason and empiricism over faith/religion – a search involving many questions. Eastern Philosophy. Refers broadly to the various philosophies in the Eastern or Oriental world, particularly Asia and some Arab countries. Historically, it is heavily influenced by Hinduism — the world’s oldest religion, beginning in India. Eastern thought puts more emphasis on interdependence (of human beings and nature), harmony, unity, and faith – hence, meditative and spiritual. It can be seen as the triumph of faith/religion over science and reason – an answer following realization. KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF EASTERN & WESTERN PHILOSOPHIES Western Philosophy. Is rational because most western thought focused on refining epistemology and logic. It emphasized that it is the individual using his/her rational ability to deduce the truth about the things around him/her, and this separates the individual as a subjective mind different from objective reality: Nature, God, the Universe. Eastern Philosophy In the East, philosophers have been more concerned with ordaining society in a harmonious manner, finding humanity’s proper place in society and nature, acting and thinking in a way that would promote unity and order in the universe. It does not have to rely on rationality and often tries to transcend individuality itself to reveal a person’s inherent sameness with the universe/nature. Reason is in fact seen as a stumbling block to truly understand reality. It focuses on how to live and tends to accept the way things are. Eastern thought is focused more on the mind and the spirit/soul, tending to offer a different level of internal experience (meditative) from which to draw conclusions. Thus, it would be hard to separate philosophy and religion.

Megan essays

Megan essays In the early nineties, most American suburban households would have never thought twice about letting their kids play nearby outside or in the front yard of their homes. Before the nineties, citizens never new if there was a sexual predator living near by their homes or withinin their communities. On July 29, 1994, a family and a community was shattered when 7 year old Megan Nicole Kanka was brutally raped and murdered less than thirty yards away from the doorstep that she was playing on. She was lured into a neighbors house who had invited her inside to come and play with his new puppy. No one in the community knew that he was a convicted sex offender, who had attempted sexual assault on other children. Would you want to be informed if a sex offender moved in next door to your home? Should citizens have the right to be informed of the sex offenders that our living inside their communities? After a tragic story like Megan Kanka, the emotions from within naturally scream out y es. The solution to this problem is not as easy as the emotions within make it first appear. When Megan Kanka was brutally sodomized and raped, the aftermath was something like a tidal wave of immediate response. The family and community had no idea of their new neighbors recent convictions. Many within the surrounding communities pledged their support by signing petitions saying that citizens have, The right to know when a sex offender moves into the area. With the help of four hundred thousand signatures collected, the slogan, The right to know! became a law in New Jersey in a record 89 days after Megans murder (Tom Hughes 136). Today, there are laws in all fifty states that require some form of public notification when a sex offender moves into a new area. Child molestation cases and pedophilia have always been serious issues that stir up some of the strongest emotions from deep within. The emotio...

How Scientists Estimate the Weight of Extinct Dinosaurs

How Scientists Estimate the Weight of Extinct Dinosaurs Imagine that youre a paleontologist examining the fossilized remains of a new genus of dinosaura hadrosaur, say, or a gigantic sauropod. After youve figured out how the specimens bones are put together, and what type of dinosaur youre dealing with, you eventually go on to estimate its weight. One good clue is how long the type fossil is, from the tip of its skull to the end of its tail; another is the estimated or published weight estimates for comparable types of dinosaurs. If youve discovered a huge titanosaur from late Cretaceous South America, for example, you might venture a guess of 80 to 120 tons for a full-grown adult, the approximate weight range of South American behemoths like Argentinosaurus and Futalognkosaurus. Now imagine that youre trying to estimate the weight not of a dinosaur, but of an obese stranger at a cocktail party. Even though youve been around human beings all of your life, of all shapes and sizes, your guess is more likely than not to be inaccurate: you might estimate 200 pounds when the person actually weighs 300 pounds, or vice-versa. (Of course, if youre a medical professional, your guess will be much closer to the mark, but still potentially off by 10 or 20 percent, thanks to the masking effect of the clothing the person is wearing.) Extrapolate this example to the 100-ton titanosaur mentioned above, and you can be off by as many as 10 or 20 tons. If guessing the weight of people is a challenge, how do you pull off this trick for a dinosaur thats been extinct for 100 million years? How Much Did Dinosaurs Really Weigh? As it turns out, recent research demonstrates that experts may have been drastically overestimating the weight of dinosaurs, for decades. Since 1985, paleontologists have used an equation involving various parameters (the total length of the individual specimen, the length of certain bones, etc.) to estimate the weight of all kinds of extinct animals. This equation produces reasonable results for small mammals and reptiles but veers sharply from reality when larger animals are involved. In 2009, a team of researchers applied the equation to still-extant mammals like elephants and hippopotamuses and found that it vastly overestimated their weight. So what does this mean for dinosaurs? At the scale of your typical sauropod, the difference is dramatic: whereas Apatosaurus (the dinosaur previously known as Brontosaurus) was once thought to weigh 40 or 50 tons, the corrected equation puts this plant-eater at a mere 15 to 25 tons (though, of course, it doesnt have any effect on its enormous length). Sauropods and titanosaurs, it seems, were much more slender than scientists have given them credit for, and the same probably applies to plus-sized duckbills like Shantungosaurus and horned, frilled dinosaurs like Triceratops. Sometimes, though, weight estimates veer off the tracks in the other direction. Recently, paleontologists examining the growth history of Tyrannosaurus Rex, by examining various fossil specimens at various growth stages, concluded that this fierce predator grew much more quickly than was previously believed, putting on as many as two tons per year during its teenaged spurt. Since we know female tyrannosaurs were bigger than males, this means that a full-grown T. Rex female may have weighed as much as 10 tons, two or three tons heftier than previous estimates. The More Dinosaurs Weigh, the Better Of course, part of the reason researchers impute enormous weights to dinosaurs (though they may not admit to it) is that these estimates give their findings more heft with the general public. When youre talking in terms of tons, rather than pounds, its easy to get carried away and carelessly attribute a weight of 100 tons to a newly discovered titanosaur, since 100 is such a nice, round, newspaper-friendly number. Even if a paleontologist is careful to tone down his weight estimates, the press is likely to exaggerate them, touting a given sauropod as the biggest ever when in fact it wasnt even close. People want their dinosaurs to be really, really big! The fact is, theres still a lot we dont know about how much dinosaurs weighed. The answer depends not only on measures of bone growth, but on other still-unresolved questions, such as what type of metabolism a given dinosaur possessed (weight estimates can be very different for warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals), what kind of climate it lived in, and what it ate on a daily basis. The bottom line is, you should take the weight estimate of any dinosaur with a big grain of Jurassic saltotherwise, youll be sorely disappointed when future research results in a slimmed-down Diplodocus.

Free Essays on Hawthornes Portrayal Of Puritanical Hypocricy

Hawthorne’s Portrayal of Puritanical Hypocrisy Throughout time, there have been many great American novelists and short story writers. To some, Nathaniel Hawthorne has earned both of these titles. From writing several successful novels, and many short stories, Hawthorne has introduced the way of life in Puritanical America to many readers. Along with his views on this culture, Hawthorne uses irony, tales of witchcraft, and the concepts of guilt, confession, and hypocrisy to show his feelings on the Puritanical society and the way they treat other people. He does this by using primary characters in the novels The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, and many short stories who have a problem, like an inner secret, or who have some kind of guilt, and shows how society looks upon these people. It regards them with scorn and ridicule and looks down upon them, which is contrary to their strict beliefs on how they should live and act towards others. Hawthorne expresses the opinion, by using the aforementioned concepts, that he is critical of the way that the Puritan humanity regard their less fortunate members of society. For over 100 years, the New England Puritan beliefs dominated most of America’s first settlers. The Puritans voyaged to America in search of religious freedom that they were not being granted in their former homes in Europe. They followed the teachings of God in the Bible very strictly. They were very strict about sins, like lying and adultery, and believed in forgiveness and fair treatment of others. They were also very strict in their obedience to laws, which will later be addressed in reference to society’s treatment of the young woman in the novel, The Scarlet Letter. The Puritans were very influential, and their beliefs even continued after the era was over. Because of Hawthorne’s emphasis on the Puritans, and the time period in which he lived in, many of his themes are conveyed by some... Free Essays on Hawthorne's Portrayal Of Puritanical Hypocricy Free Essays on Hawthorne's Portrayal Of Puritanical Hypocricy Hawthorne’s Portrayal of Puritanical Hypocrisy Throughout time, there have been many great American novelists and short story writers. To some, Nathaniel Hawthorne has earned both of these titles. From writing several successful novels, and many short stories, Hawthorne has introduced the way of life in Puritanical America to many readers. Along with his views on this culture, Hawthorne uses irony, tales of witchcraft, and the concepts of guilt, confession, and hypocrisy to show his feelings on the Puritanical society and the way they treat other people. He does this by using primary characters in the novels The Scarlet Letter, The House of the Seven Gables, and many short stories who have a problem, like an inner secret, or who have some kind of guilt, and shows how society looks upon these people. It regards them with scorn and ridicule and looks down upon them, which is contrary to their strict beliefs on how they should live and act towards others. Hawthorne expresses the opinion, by using the aforementioned concepts, that he is critical of the way that the Puritan humanity regard their less fortunate members of society. For over 100 years, the New England Puritan beliefs dominated most of America’s first settlers. The Puritans voyaged to America in search of religious freedom that they were not being granted in their former homes in Europe. They followed the teachings of God in the Bible very strictly. They were very strict about sins, like lying and adultery, and believed in forgiveness and fair treatment of others. They were also very strict in their obedience to laws, which will later be addressed in reference to society’s treatment of the young woman in the novel, The Scarlet Letter. The Puritans were very influential, and their beliefs even continued after the era was over. Because of Hawthorne’s emphasis on the Puritans, and the time period in which he lived in, many of his themes are conveyed by some...

Applying Critical Discourse Analysis on a news report Essay

Applying Critical Discourse Analysis on a news report - Essay Example Quoting Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, and referring to the concept of jihad or holy war, the Pontiff challenged, â€Å"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached† (Pope Benedict XVI, â€Å"Pope’s Speech at University of Regensburg,† para. 8). The Pope later indicated the remarks were taken out of context and that he was merely quoting statements made by the medieval emperor, for which he later apologized. The textual excerpts below gleaned from Reuters news reports are particularly interesting in terms of discourse analysis. The first section of the paper analyses both texts using methods of analysis including Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) methodology of Norman Fairclough and those suggested by Jan Blommaert. A second section applies other approaches that are useful and relevant, such as member categorization analysis (MCA). Indians set fire to an effigy of the Pope as a wave of protests ripples through the Muslim world. Words written more than 600 years ago still cause offence when taken out of context. The Pontiff’s care to point out that he was quoting someone else doesn’t seem to have prevented an angry reaction in some quarters. The statements are ugly and unfortunate. The Pope needs to take a step back, and should apologize to the Islamic world. Further north police had to restrain protestors in Jammu and Kashmir. Churches in the West Bank and in the Iraqi city of Basra were attacked, although the damage was minor. The church in Basra is Christian Orthodox and not aligned with the views of the Pope. Extra security outside the Pope’s summer residence on a very unsummery day. The Pontiff made a further apology, this time in person, to try to quell the anger in the Muslim world over his quote of a medieval philosopher. Pilgrims outside the Castel Gandolfo residence

The Objectives Of The Spanish And British Colonizers Case Study

The Objectives Of The Spanish And British Colonizers - Case Study Example Comparisons made between the two as far as patterns of colonization demonstrate the existence of significant differences. There were similarities, such as the use of the New Lands to further their mercantile ideologies. Both also ravaged the native peoples of the Americas, which set on course cultural destruction and disruption. However, both nations would lose their colonies by the early 19th century as independent settler communities were established. How were their objectives for finding these settlements similar or different? The objectives of the Spanish and British colonizers were starkly different apart from their goal of advancing their mercantile ideologies. The Spanish colonized and settled in the New Lands primarily as conquerors with the political system that they set up being entirely autocratic and centered on furthering the Spanish motherland (Elliott 37). After they had conquered the lands, they proceeded to loot vast resources. Spain viewed the new lands that it colo nized as an object whose only use was for the furthering of its mercantile objectives. This was evident in a large number of ships that traveled from Spanish America to Spain laden with gold, silver, and other valuables. Since it was their sole objective, Spain gave minimal rights of self-rule to their colonies, instead of dictating the policies governing them from the Spanish mainland (Elliott 38). The British settled peacefully rather than as conquerors into the new Lands. They migrated to these lands with the sole objectives of economic opportunity, political freedom, and independence. Because England had a long tradition of partial representation, their colonies were able to achieve some self-government with a form of assembly that was representative of the settlers.

The Mind-Body Connection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Mind-Body Connection - Assignment Example It should be understood that our physical health is strongly connected to our psychological health. This is because it is the nervous system and brain which is the principal co – coordinator in the physical functioning of our body. All the bodily organs function with the aid of brain and nervous system. Moreover our mind’s balance is what makes us an healthy person. The negative emotions like anger, aggression and fear can destroy mental and physical health. In case of stressors, the most effective tool to control it is physical activity. Everybody come across stress in their daily life and physical activity releases hormones to stabilize the stress factor in people. While exercising the body produces endorphins which act as a natural painkiller and also energize a person. The exercise impacts the brain and decreases the fatigue and increase the concentration and alertness of a person. Exercise increases the blood flow to the brain and this refresh the brain and nervous system which give rise to healthy mental

Bilby Case Study- persuassive writing portfolio Essay

Bilby Case Study- persuassive writing portfolio - Essay Example The future, any future, hospital or no hospital, is built on the foundation of our past: Our natural history and our man-made heritage. A new hospital is a brilliant idea. Destroying our natural history and heritage to build a new hospital is nothing but a headlong rush into the future with a foundation of sand: A race to the future with no foundation in the past. Bilbys blessing, and its curse, is its persona as a byword for local tranquility. Located off the highway, a century-and-a-half after the Gold Rush, time had largely past Bilby by until the production of City Stress, Country Pleasures. Now, Bilby is famous as the home of local tranquility, and its future, is contingent on preserving that image. A new district hospital will do nothing to facilitate that image and, if anything, undermine it. The development of Bilby, in a sustainable manner, must be predicated on preservation of local tranquility. Visitors seeking pastoral peace and quiet not visiting hospital patients are the key to Bilbys future. Preservation and restoration of the natural environment not enhancing the built environment is the key to Bilbys future. Preservation and restoration of Bilbys built heritage, not new development, is the key to Bilbys future success. John Russell, founder of Bilby Landcare, will be hosting a special event at the entrance to the Bilby Cemetery on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at noon. It will kick-off Bilby Landcares campaign to protect the cemetery and the community from reckless development. Joining John will be Garrett Pietro of Grassroots who will be debuting his new song about preserving the natural and built heritage of Bilby. John Russells past, present and future are embedded in Bilby. Born and raised here he left Bilby for university and returned to take over Russell Native Nursery in 1993. His commitment to the community deepened further when he stood for election to the shire council. Johns personal, professional and political lives are all

Change Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Change Management - Essay Example Change forces usually have direct impact on the management and running of business resulting to the need for transitioning to the desired state which an organization will operate at an optimum capacity (Paton, Paton and McCalman 2008). Resistive forces to change usually diminish the change forces effects by advocating for status quo, resulting to change failure. These resistive forces may be categorized into organizational resistances or individual resistances. Organization resistance may include structural inertia, group inertia and having limited view of change importance. On the other hand, individual resistances may vary from fear of the unknown, limited information and lack of security. These forces can be effectively reduced through education and communication from the change pioneers (Gonà §alves 2007). Change management plays an important role in ensuring that employees are aware of the importance of change. In addition, it is the means through which resistance forces can be earlier identified and resolved. Thus, change management is the way of combating resistive change forces and effectuating change forces in the process of implementing

Marketing Requisites Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Requisites - Case Study Example For the same reason, the market, unable yet to recognize the trend, is falling short when it comes to the products aiming at the grey population. We have taken an example of a company, Saga, which specializes in the grey market related products specifically. This company too was running in the same old pattern, taking its clientele to be the conventional waving walking sticks kind. However, with its clientele fast adapting to the new times, the company fell short in appeasing the new generation of "silver surfers" with the kind of products they wanted. To keep up with the times, the company changed its strategy and tried to conform to the latest trends amongst the silver surfers. This was just one company. However, many companies are now waking up to this fact and are trying to turn their attention to the grey market around the world. In this case study, we are to prove how correctly targeting the grey market will help in increasing your clientele, as will your profits be affected. Kindly advance to the next segment of this case study; which we have divided in the form of headers and sub - headers, in order to segment the whole study to increase the understanding of the reader. Some people might argue that the grey market does not actually form a substantial part of consumer exploration, however, the argument seems to be getting stale as each day passes by. The truth is, the grey market today consists of many baby-boomers. This has led to a prominent change in the way these elderly think and plan their future. By grey market, we are considering people over fifty. These days, many studies have started referring the oldies as 'Gotys', meaning 'Getting Older, thinking Younger' and nothing was more closer to truth that this euphuism (Gabriel, 2008). The reason for this is that most people, who are in the 'grey' age group, have suddenly started showing more tilt towards the fun element in their lives. Many years of research have conformed the fact that the grey segment happens to be the wealthiest of the lot, holding 80% of the total wealth in UK alone. For the same reason, while most of the financial power is being controlled by the grey segment, aiming for th em could not have reaped better results at any other time. Some other statistics might come as shocking too - it is estimated that 49% of the grey population enjoys an active sex life (while more than half amongst those enjoy the marital bed), over 19% might try for online dating, 10% would also consider getting a plastic surgery done and 75% amongst them all have an extremely bright outlook towards life (OMD UK, 2006). While the grey population is estimated to reach 50% by the end of year 2048, most of these people are opting for unconventional lives. Unlike the older times, these silver surfers are more gung ho about adventure trips or the likes of gap years working abroad - hence being termed as the grown-up grappers. More than seventy percent of these people are free of all mortgages, while nine out of ten are in charge of their own home. As shocking as it may sound, these pensioners, silver surfers, elders etc alone make for an accumulative figure of pounds 500 billion. Apart from

Bilby Case Study- persuassive writing portfolio Essay

Bilby Case Study- persuassive writing portfolio - Essay Example The future, any future, hospital or no hospital, is built on the foundation of our past: Our natural history and our man-made heritage. A new hospital is a brilliant idea. Destroying our natural history and heritage to build a new hospital is nothing but a headlong rush into the future with a foundation of sand: A race to the future with no foundation in the past. Bilbys blessing, and its curse, is its persona as a byword for local tranquility. Located off the highway, a century-and-a-half after the Gold Rush, time had largely past Bilby by until the production of City Stress, Country Pleasures. Now, Bilby is famous as the home of local tranquility, and its future, is contingent on preserving that image. A new district hospital will do nothing to facilitate that image and, if anything, undermine it. The development of Bilby, in a sustainable manner, must be predicated on preservation of local tranquility. Visitors seeking pastoral peace and quiet not visiting hospital patients are the key to Bilbys future. Preservation and restoration of the natural environment not enhancing the built environment is the key to Bilbys future. Preservation and restoration of Bilbys built heritage, not new development, is the key to Bilbys future success. John Russell, founder of Bilby Landcare, will be hosting a special event at the entrance to the Bilby Cemetery on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at noon. It will kick-off Bilby Landcares campaign to protect the cemetery and the community from reckless development. Joining John will be Garrett Pietro of Grassroots who will be debuting his new song about preserving the natural and built heritage of Bilby. John Russells past, present and future are embedded in Bilby. Born and raised here he left Bilby for university and returned to take over Russell Native Nursery in 1993. His commitment to the community deepened further when he stood for election to the shire council. Johns personal, professional and political lives are all

Marketing Requisites Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Requisites - Case Study Example For the same reason, the market, unable yet to recognize the trend, is falling short when it comes to the products aiming at the grey population. We have taken an example of a company, Saga, which specializes in the grey market related products specifically. This company too was running in the same old pattern, taking its clientele to be the conventional waving walking sticks kind. However, with its clientele fast adapting to the new times, the company fell short in appeasing the new generation of "silver surfers" with the kind of products they wanted. To keep up with the times, the company changed its strategy and tried to conform to the latest trends amongst the silver surfers. This was just one company. However, many companies are now waking up to this fact and are trying to turn their attention to the grey market around the world. In this case study, we are to prove how correctly targeting the grey market will help in increasing your clientele, as will your profits be affected. Kindly advance to the next segment of this case study; which we have divided in the form of headers and sub - headers, in order to segment the whole study to increase the understanding of the reader. Some people might argue that the grey market does not actually form a substantial part of consumer exploration, however, the argument seems to be getting stale as each day passes by. The truth is, the grey market today consists of many baby-boomers. This has led to a prominent change in the way these elderly think and plan their future. By grey market, we are considering people over fifty. These days, many studies have started referring the oldies as 'Gotys', meaning 'Getting Older, thinking Younger' and nothing was more closer to truth that this euphuism (Gabriel, 2008). The reason for this is that most people, who are in the 'grey' age group, have suddenly started showing more tilt towards the fun element in their lives. Many years of research have conformed the fact that the grey segment happens to be the wealthiest of the lot, holding 80% of the total wealth in UK alone. For the same reason, while most of the financial power is being controlled by the grey segment, aiming for th em could not have reaped better results at any other time. Some other statistics might come as shocking too - it is estimated that 49% of the grey population enjoys an active sex life (while more than half amongst those enjoy the marital bed), over 19% might try for online dating, 10% would also consider getting a plastic surgery done and 75% amongst them all have an extremely bright outlook towards life (OMD UK, 2006). While the grey population is estimated to reach 50% by the end of year 2048, most of these people are opting for unconventional lives. Unlike the older times, these silver surfers are more gung ho about adventure trips or the likes of gap years working abroad - hence being termed as the grown-up grappers. More than seventy percent of these people are free of all mortgages, while nine out of ten are in charge of their own home. As shocking as it may sound, these pensioners, silver surfers, elders etc alone make for an accumulative figure of pounds 500 billion. Apart from

Home School vs Public School Essay Example for Free

Home School vs Public School Essay Have you ever wondered what the difference is between home schooling your children and sending them to a public school? How are there learning environments different and similar? How do they teach the state standards compared to teaching them yourself? What are the disadvantages and advantages of home schooling and public school? Doing the research yourself can be a waste of time sometimes or if you don’t have the time. The learning environment of public school is kind of a hassle. They teach the students as a whole, the students can ask for help if they are having trouble with what they are learning. Also public school pushes the students to do their best in class to make sure that they understand what they are working on. The teachers also allow the student to go to the library to learn more helpful things in life. If they can read on their own why not give them the chance to read as many books as they want and not limit them. Some teachers want to challenge the children in their reading and it also improves your children’s reading score and lets them understand and comprehend more words. Also public school is very good at socializing your children with other children there age and they make friends to play with each other. Home schooling environment is more on the pace of the adult that is teaching the children. The adult also chooses the setting to have the children in, as well as the environment could be in a loud place or a calm relaxing environment. Messing with the environment of the children can make it so that they end up misbehaving and not listening due to them being stressed. Home schooling background also makes it harder to socialize your children to other children there age and you could also cause issues with other children and your children. All schools follow a state standard that all students are supposed to pass without ease. Public schools follow a chart that states what the students need to learn that week, and that is what they should be learning and have it learned by the end of the that lesson week. If any student doesn’t completely understand the lessons that are told to leave the room and to go see a different teacher to have them explain it to them. As well if you were to fall behind in your school work, they normally don’t help you make it up, they will give you at least two days to get the work turned in or it would be counted as incomplete and that would lower your grade. You would have to get the notes from a friend to understand how to do the assignment, also you get a tutor that is easier to come to your home then to school for one on one learning. When you are the one that is teaching and you can teach at your own pace or the pace that your children want to learn the material. If they are grasping the concept very well without any issues then they could move onto a different lesson. As though there are some students that need the special help and you could be on that lesson or that material for a month. As long as you get the lessons for that whole year done then you would be on tract with the lessons. The advantages of a public school is to have some alone time with yourself and to have time away from the children and be able to run errands and go to doctor appointments without the kids. Being able to be alone in the house without children is the best time to clean and complete your grocery shopping. The disadvantages of public school are all the drama that occurs within the walls of the school. The administrators are also sometimes not the best people to have around your children. Sometimes how they treat their students due to them being out of school very often or if they are having a hard time in school and the teacher doesn’t not want to help. The advantages of home schooling would be having more family time and being able to monitor the progress of the children’s learning ability to read and to understand how to comprehend how they solve the work. Also if the child is sick you wouldn’t have to go pick them up from school, they would already be home. You wouldn’t also have to deal with the drama between your children and other children and the teachers. The disadvantages of home schooling is that you would very rarely get time alone without the children and it could stress you out and make you feel like you have been enclosed in a cocoon. Having the ability to send the children off to school and be able to be your own person and not have to listen to the children whine about something and to get them to understand what it is like to be socialized is all beneficial in the end. Having the ability to completely understand the difference between the two different types of schools that are out there to allow your children to go to and them enjoy either choice that you choose. With people having their own opinions about certain schools why not get the information straight from the information and based on what the opinions say. Having the feeling that you did your research and your children are getting the education that you would like them to have it a good feeling. Finding the right reasons and the wrong reasons for sending your children to a school that you have looked at is better than not knowing about it at all.

A Review of Recessive Genetic Diseases in Cattle

A Review of Recessive Genetic Diseases in Cattle Huan Yu Introduction Cattle are susceptible to a wide range of genetic diseases. The majority of inherited genetic diseases recognized in cattle are autosomal recessive, mainly due to the practice of â€Å"line-breeding†. The defective calf receives error gene inherited from both its sire and dam. However, if the inherited mutant gene comes from only one parent, such individual usually turns out to be a carrier of the disease without any symptoms (Patel, 2010). Genetic abnormalities contribute to poor performance and structural unsoundness to semi-lethal and lethal diseases. Since most genetic diseases are breed-specific, artificial insemination a widely used technique for cattle breeding may lead to high levels of inbreeding and an inevitable increase in the prevalence of recessive defects. Hence, it is imperative to increase the awareness of genetic diseases in cattle among animal breeders and farmers. This will stimulate strategies to reduce the economic loss due to such genetic diseases in cattle. More so, genetic tests for DNA markers such as Citrullinemia and BLAD may be utilised to identify animals with inherited defects at a very young age based on PCR-RFLP marker (Gholap, Kale and Sirothia, 2014). Also, there is need for cooperation among government agencies, veterinarians, animal scientists and farmers in the control of genetic defects among commercial cattle populations, by formulating and adopting good monitoring and control measures. This paper reviews some recessive genetic diseases in cattle with particular reference to its definition, genetic cause (DNA mutation) and the clinical symptoms. Furthermore, it also discuss some best practice to control the genetic disease in breeding population of dairy and beef cattle breeds. Recessive Genetic Diseases 1. Double Muscling or Muscular Hypertrophy Animals are described a â€Å"double-muscled† (see Fig. 1) when they have a myostatin mutation. Double muscle gene is caused by the mutation of the muscle growth inhibition gene located on the second chromosomes. It is a negative regulatory factor of the skeletal muscle growth, a member of the TGF-ÃŽ ² supergene family (Fiems, 2012). McPherron et al., (1997) noticed that these diseases are mainly found in Belgian Blue and Piedmontese cattle, which usually have an incredibly muscular look even if they do not exercise. Although, DM animals are touted to be beneficial to farmers, meat industry and consumers due to their valuable carcasses, however, they are more susceptible to respiratory disease, stress and dystocia, resulting in a lower robustness. Fig. 1. A fullblood Belgian Blue bull showing the double muscling phenotype. Adapted from McPherron et al., 1997. 2. Bovine Progressive Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (Weaver Calf) Bovine Progressive Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (see Fig. 2) is a recessive neurological disease most commonly reported in Brown Swiss pure and crossbred cattle since the 1970’s in Northern America and Europe. It is usually caused by mutations in the EZH2 gene and some rare reported cases have implicated mutations in the NSD1 gene (Gholap, Kale and Sirothia, 2014). Clinical signs of the disease includes hind limb weakness, ataxia, and dysmetria appear in homozygous individuals around 6 months of age with a progressive weakness extending over 2-3 years. The occurrence of this disease can be determined by mapping Bos Taurus autosome (BTA) 4:46-56 Mb and a commercially available diagnostic test marker for 6 microsatellite (MS) (McClure et al., 2013). Fig. 2. Eighteen-month-old Brown heifer affected by â€Å"Weaver syndrome† Adapted from Gentile and Testoni, 2006. 3. Arachomelia Arachnomelia is a monogenic recessive disease in cattle characterized by skeletal abnormalities and usually found in Brown, German Fleckvieh-Simmental cattle (Drà ¶gemà ¼ller et al., 2010). The causative mutation is due to SUOX gene (BTA5) encoding molybdohemoprotein sulphite oxidase and deleting c.1224-1225delC (Gholap, Kale and Sirothia, 2014). The affected cattle presents with fragile, thinner and longer legs in combination with stiffened joints. The fetlock joints are deformed and the skull malformations are characterized by shortened lower jaw, pointer head (see Fig. 3). Fig. 3. Phenotype of bovine arachnomelia in Brown Swiss cattle Adapted from Drà ¶gemà ¼ller et al., 2010. 4. Neuropathic Hydroceohalus (Water Head) Hydrocephaly is an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity. It is accompanied by expansion of the cerebral ventricles, enlargement of the skull and especially the forehead, and atrophy of the brain which may result in stillborn or dummy calves (Arsdall, 2011). One mutation causing NH in the descendents of GAR Precision 1680, and a popular AI sire in high marbling Angus bloodlines. This disease most commonly found in Angus and Angus infused beef cattle. Affected calves are born dead with an extremely large cranium with little or no brain material or spinal cord (see Fig. 4). It is probable that a large percentage of mortalities relating to NH occur through embryonic or fetal loss during gestation, which causes the defect to go misdiagnosed or unnoticed. Fig. 4. Deformity in a stillborn calf due to neuropathic hydrocephalus Adapted from Vetbook.org, 2013. 5. Chondrodysplasia (Dwarfism) Bovine chondrodysplastic dwarfism (BCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder with the phenotype of short limbs, joint abnormality, and ateliosis (see Fig. 5). This disorder mainly results from the mutation of a single nucleotide substitution leading to an activation of a cryptic splicing donor site and a one-base deletion resulting in a frameshift mutation (Takeda et al., 2002). Clinical signs of the disease may present with wide variation, but the main feature is reduced length of bones with an endochondral growth pattern. The Dexter cattle that inherit two copies of the ACAN mutation will abort during the third trimester, while the heterozygous individuals will show the desired miniature cattle phenotype (Arsdall, 2011). Fig. 5. An example of the degree of dwarfism expressed in carriers Adapted from Davidson, 2008. Strategies for Controlling Genetic Defects Most genetic diseases are breed-specific that can cause the huge economic losses due to poor animal performance; structural unsoundness reduces the production and reproductive potential of the animal. Consequently, it is necessary to determine the cause of inherited defects. Moreover, controlling genetic diseases, ethical and legal considerations are also important methods to minimise the genetic diseases in breeding population of dairy and beef cattle breeds. Firstly, farmers should have good breeding records for each animal which include their sire and dam, date of breeding, the date of breeding, abnormality descriptions and photos or videos and causes of death, if the farmers cannot find the reason of death, they should ask help from veterinarians or state diagnostic laboratory (Jane and Trent, 2010). Some of the recessive genetic diseases are somewhat difficult to recognise because mutant gene inherited from only one parent is usually without symptoms. Therefore, good records by breeders will help to know the causes of death in controlling diseases and good diagnosis for the congenital defects. Secondly, animals that carry a defective gene should be prevented from passing it on to their offsprings by culling. DNA testing is currently available for the genetic diseases. The calf should be made to undergo blood typing within one-month of age to allow early diagnosis of underlying disease. Importantly, Bulls or semen should be purchased from reputable breeders, produced by parents who are not known to carry undesirable genes (Schalles, Leipold and McCraw, 1914). Although, the DNA testing is a huge financial burden as well as time consuming, however, a good diagnosis from one dead calf can save many others. In the last decade, the development of DNA tests for detecting BLAND and Citrullinemia has been effective in breeding population (Gholap, Kale and Sirothia, 2014). Furthermore, seed stock producers have an obligation to be honest with the customers and to ensure that their customers understand the consequences of using offspring from know carriers. Otherwise, the breeder’s reputations will be at stake, as well as reflect negatively on the entire breed. Conclusion Genetic diseases in dairy and beef cattle affect the economics of animal breeders and farmers, and it is a long way to developing DNA tests for the diagnosis of most diseases to check the spread of undesirable genes effectively. Farmers should cooperate with the breed association, extension and university personnel and veterinarians to eliminate and avoid these problems. The government also need to raise public awareness of genetic diseases in breeding population of dairy and beef cattle breeds via social media, advertisements and journals. References Arsdall, D. V. (2011). Neuropathic Hydrocephalus (NH) Water Head [online] Available from: http://calfology.com/library/wiki/neuropathic-hydrocephalus-nh-quotwater-headquot [Accessed 12 May 2015] Arsdall, D. V. (2011). Dwarfism (Condrodysplasia) [online] Available from: http://calfology.com/library/wiki/dwarfism-condrodysplasia [Accessed 12 May 2015] Carol Davidson (2008). American Dexter Cattle Association [online] Available from: http://www.dextercattle.org/adca/adca_article_chondrodysplasia.html [Accessed 13 May 2015] Drà ¶gemà ¼ller, C., Tetens, J., Sigurdsson, S., Gentile, A., Testoni, S., Lindblad-Toh, K. and Leeb, T. (2010). ‘Identification of the Bovine Arachnomelia Mutation by Massively Parallel Sequencing Implicates Sulfite Oxidase (SUOX) in Bone Development’, PLoS Genetics, vol.6, no.8, pp.e1001079 Fiems, L. (2012). ‘Double Muscling in Cattle: Genes, Husbandry, Carcasses and Meat’, Animals, vol.2, no.4, pp.472-506 Gholap, P. N., Kale. D. S. and Sirothia. A. R. (2014). ‘Genetic Diseases in Cattle: a Review’, Research Journal of Animal, Veterinary and Fishery Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, pp.24-33 Gentile, A., Testoni, S. (2006). ‘Inherited disorders of cattle: a selected review’, Slov vet Res, vol.43, no.1, pp.17-29 Jane A. Parish and Trent Smith (2010) Managing Genetic Defects in Beef Cattle Herds [online] Available from: http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2622.pdf [Accessed 13 May 2015] McClure, M., Kim, E., Bickhart, D., Null, D., Cooper, T., Cole, J., Wiggans, G., Ajmone-Marsan, P., Colli, L., Santus, E., Liu, G., Schroeder, S., Matukumalli, L., Van Tassell, C. and Sonstegard, T. (2013) ‘Fine Mapping for Weaver Syndrome in Brown Swiss Cattle and the Identification of 41 Concordant Mutations across NRCAM, PNPLA8 and CTTNBP2’, PLoS ONE, vol.8, no.3, pp.e59251 Patel, R. K. (2010). ‘Autosomal Recessive Genetic Disorders of Cattle Breeds Worldwide-A Review’, Journal of Livestock Biodiversity, vol.2, no.1, pp.35-41 Schalles, R. R., Leipold, H. W., McCraw, R. L. (1914). Congenital Defects in cattle [online] Available from: http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/Beef%20Cattle%20Handbook/Congenital_Defects_Cattle.pdf [Accessed 13 May 2015] Vetbook.org (2013) Neuropathic hydrocephalus – Cow [online] Available from: http://vetbook.org/wiki/cow/index.php/Neuropathic_hydrocephalus [Accessed 13 May 2015]

Ceramics - Incredible Refractory Materials :: Art

Ceramics - Incredible Refractory Materials Introduction First we will start with the definition of refractories and ceramics. Refractories and ceramics are non-metallic materials capable of maintaining physical and chemical stability at high temperatures. Refractories in modern practice are usually ceramic in nature, and are used in a wide variety of primary, secondary and tertiary industries. Wherever an industrial process involves heat in excess of 700 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly), one will find refractory material in place, either as a lining or forming the process vessel itself. Some common process vessels using refractories are; boiler combustion chambers, furnaces like the one in the foundry, incinerators, many emission control scrubbers, rotary kilns and so on. The list is by know means exhaustive. For example, Launch Pads 39A and 39B at the Kennedy Space Center are refractory lined. The shuttles themselves are lined with ceramic tiles to protect them from the heat of re-entry into earth’s atmosphere, these tiles are! unique to the shuttle, but are non-metallic and heat resistant. The Making of Refractory Materials The first step in processing ceramics is crushing of the raw materials. Crushing is usually done in a ball mill, either wet or dry. Wet crushing is more effective because it keeps the particles together and prevents the suspension of fine particles in air. The ground particles are then mixed with additives, the functions of which are one or more of the following: 1. Binder for the ceramic particles 2. Lubrication for mold release and to reduce internal friction between particles 3. Wetting agent to improve mixing 4. Plasticizer to make the mix more plastic and formable. 5. Various agents to control foaming and sintering. 6. De-flocculent to make ceramic-water suspension. De-flocculention changes the electrical charges on the clay particles so that they repel instead of attract each other. Next, it’s time to begin the casting process. The shaping process for refractories are casting plastic forming and pressing. The most common casting process is slip casting. The slip is poured into a porous mold made usually of plaster of paris. Then inverted and the remaining suspension is poured out for making hollow object much like slush casting. The part is then trimmed the mold opened and the part removed. The second process of shaping ceramics is plastic forming. We have various methods of plastic forming such as extrusion, injection molding and jiggering. Plastic forming tends to orient the layered structure of clays along the direction of material flow.

The Negative Impact of High Stakes Standardized Testing Essay -- Stand

Standardized testing is not a new concept; it has been in use since the mid to late 1990’s. However the â€Å"high stakes† focus on standardized testing is. The practices that accompany standardized testing have long been in debate. Those in favor of standardized testing will argue that the testing creates a system that increases grades and accountability among teachers, students and school districts across the country. On the other hand those that oppose standardized testing will argue the ill effects that standardized testing can have on students, teachers, and schools. There are numerous ways in which standardized testing has gravely impacted education, some of which are high stress levels of students and teachers, the hindrance on educational instruction, high monetary costs of testing as well as inadvertent discrimination and bias. Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota stated â€Å"Far from improving education, high-stakes testing marks a major retreat from fairness , from accuracy, from quality and from equity.† High-stakes standardized testing greatly impacts the environment in which students learn. When such a huge emphasis is placed on these tests and scoring well on them, it often creates, in excess, unnecessary anxiety and stress. In Florida alone the number of different standardized tests given to students spanned across kindergarten through 12th grade has increased to over sixteen. Often students are faced with the harsh realization that not scoring well can mean the difference from a pass and fail grade. That kind of pressure can lead to a complete shutdown of their learning. Although students are heavily impacted by the pressure and anxiety that accompanies standardized testing, they are not the only ones. Teachers not unli... ...Child Left Behind has laudable goals, but it's too narrowly focused on just test scores, To just constantly boil everything down to standardized test scores doesn't tell the whole story.† - Catherine Sullivan Works Cited Kohn, Alfie. "Standardized Testing and Its Victims." Education Week. N.p., 27 Sept. 2000. Web. 15 Jan. 2015. Moon, Tonya R., Catherine M. Brighton, Jane M. Jarvis, and Catherine J. Hall. "State Standardized Testing Programs: Their Effects on Teachers and Students." The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. University of Connecticut, 2007. Web. 05 Feb. 2015. Steinberg, Jacques. "NATION'S SCHOOLS STRUGGLING TO FIND ENOUGH PRINCIPALS." New York Times 03 Sept. 2000: n. pag. Web. 08 Feb. 2015. Strauss, Valerie. "How Standardized Tests Are Affecting Public Schools." Washington Post 18 May 2012: n. pag. Print.

The Fictitious Novel A Tale Of Two Cities

A Tale of two Cities In the fictitious novel Tale of Two Cities, the author, Charles Dickens lays out a brilliant plot. Charles Dickens was born in England on February 7, 1812 nears the south coast. His family moved to London when he was ten years old and quickly went into debt. To help support him, Charles went to work at a blacking warehouse when he was twelve. His father was soon imprisoned for debt and shortly thereafter the rest of the family split apart. Charles continued to work at the blacking warehouse even after his father inherited some money and got out of prison. When he was thirteen, Dickens went back to school for two years. He later learned shorthand and became a freelance court reporter. He started out as a journalist at the age of twenty and later wrote his first novel, The Pickwick Papers. He went on to write many other novels, including Tale of Two Cities in 1859. Tale of Two Cities takes place in France and England during the troubled times of the French Revolution. There are travels by the characters between the countries, but most of the action takes place in Paris, France. The wineshop in Paris is the hot spot for the French revolutionists, mostly because the wineshop owner, Ernest Defarge, and his wife, Madame Defarge, are key leaders and officials of the revolution. Action in the book is scattered out in many places; such as the Bastille, Tellson’s Bank, the home of the Manettes, and largely, the streets of Paris. These places help to introduce many characters into the plot. One of the main characters, Madame Therese Defarge, is a major antagonist who seeks revenge, being a key revolutionist. She is very stubborn and unforgiving in her cunning scheme of revenge on the Evermonde family. Throughout the story, she knits shrouds for the intended victims of the revolution. Charles Darnay, one of whom Mrs. Defarge is seeking revenge, is constantly being put on the stand and wants no part of his own lineage. He is a languid protagonist and has a tendency to get arrested and must be bailed out several times during the story. Dr. Alexander Manette, a veteran prisoner of the Bastille and moderate protagonist, cannot escape the memory of being held and sometimes relapses to cobbling shoes. Dr. Manette is somewhat redundant as a character in the novel, but plays a very significant part in the plot. Dr. Manette’s daughter, Lucie Manette, a positive protagonist, is loved by many and marries Charles Darnay. She is a quiet, emotional person and a subtle protagonist in the novel. One who never forgot his love for Lucie, the protagonist Sydney Carton changed predominately during the course of the novel. Sydney, a look-alike of Charles Darnay, was introduced as a frustrated, immature alcoholic, but in the end, made the ultimate sacrifice for a good friend. These and other characters help to weave an interesting and dramatic plot. Dr. Manette has just been released from the Bastille, and Lucie, eager to meet her father whom she thought was dead, goes with Mr. Jarvis Lorry to bring him back to England. Dr. Manette is in an insane state from his long prison stay and does nothing but cobble shoes, although he is finally persuaded to go to England. Several years later, Lucie, Dr. Manette, and Mr. Lorry are witnesses at the trial of Charles Darnay. Darnay, earning his living as a tutor, frequently travels between England and France and is accused of treason in his home country of France. He is saved from being prosecuted by Sydney Carton, who a witness confuses for Darnay, thus not making the case positive. Darnay ended up being acquitted for his presumed crime. Darnay and Carton both fall in love with Lucie and want to marry her. Carton, an alcoholic at the time, realizes that a relationship with Lucie is impossible, but he still tells her that he loves her and would do anything for her. Darnay and Lucie marry each other on the premises of the two promises between Dr. Manette and Darnay. Right after the marriage, while the newlyweds are on their honeymoon, Dr. Manette has relapsed and cobbles shoes for nine days straight. France’s citizens arm themselves for a revolution and, led by the Defarges, start the revolution by raiding the Bastille. Shortly before the start of the revolution, the Marquis runs over a child in the streets of Paris. Gaspard, the child s father, who is also a part of the revolution, assassinates him soon after. Three years later, right in the middle of the revolution, Darnay is called to France to help Gabelle, an old friend. As soon as he goes down what seems to be a one-way street to France, he is arrested (in France) for being an enemy of the state. Dr. Manette, Lucie, and the Darnay’s daughter go shortly after to Paris to see if they can be of any help to Charles. When the delayed trial finally takes place, Dr. Manette, who is in the people’s favor, uses his influence to free Charles. The same day, Charles is re-arrested on charges set forth by the Defarges and one other mystery person. The next day, at a trial that had absolutely no delay, Charles is convicted and sentenced to death. Because of the despondent situation, Dr. Manette has a relapse and cobbles shoe. Sydney Carton overhears plot to kill Lucie, her daughter, and Dr. Manette and has them immediately get ready to leave the country. Carton, having spy contacts, gets into the prison in which Darnay is being held, drugs him and switches places with him. Lucie, Charles, and their daughter successfully leave the country. Sydney Carton, making the ultimate sacrifice, partly for Lucie, goes to the guillotine in place of Charles. Just before he dies, Carton has a vision in which society is greatly improved and the Darnays have a son named after him. This dramatic plot revolves around several central themes. One theme involves revenge. The evil effects of revenge bring out one s bad side. Madame Defarge is the main subject of this implicit theme. She turns into a killing machine because she must get revenge. An example of this is when she finds out Charles Darnay is an Evermonde and is going to marry Lucie Manette. She knits Darnay’s name into the death register. Another key theme in the novel has to do with courage and sacrifice. There were many sacrifices in this novel by many different characters. Sydney made the ultimate sacrifice Carton because of his love for Lucie and his friendship with Darnay, Carton is the example of one of the most important themes implied in this book. Carton helps others, and does not think so much of himself. Right before going to the guillotine, Carton sees a better world, a world where he gave to others, not thinking of himself. These themes help outline an interesting story.