Dantes Inferno Essays (298 words) - Divine Comedy,

Dante's Inferno According to his guide, Virgil (in the Aeneid)Ulysses and the Greek army stormed Troy and destroyed everything. A few survivors, led by Aeneus, sailed away and finally landed in Italy (that was their fate). And with that fate they took over Italy, founded the Roman Empire which in turn becames into the states of Italy. Dante and Virgil were upset at the attack on Troy and considered the warfare brutal, so placing Ulysses in Hell in an eternal fire is a fitting punishment for his Trojan Horse design which collapsed their ancestors home of Troy. It is an ethnocentric way to demean the Greeks Ulysses discusses his son, father, and wife, and that the longing he had to gain the experience of the world and of the vices and the worth of men. So he left those he loved and deserted them to sail away with those he knew would never desert him. After gaining this experience of the world (he lists off spain, morocco, both shores, sardinia, and the other islands the sea bathes, thus he visited everything worldly. He came to the end of the world, was old and slow, at Hercules boundary stones. Everyone heeds these stones and never goes past. He had travelled everywhere, and this was the only conquest left. He wanted to best evryone. With a slick speech, a fiery speech he makes to his comrades, he convinces them all not to desert him, but to imagine they are better than other men (118) and that they dont deserve to live their lives as brutes (119) but to be followers of worth and knowledge. His speech was so compelling, that when he was finished, they would have gone even if he had not. English Essays

Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Example

Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Example Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life Essay Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Human Dignity and the Dignity of Life The terms human dignity and dignity of life are often used interchangeably. It is significant to understand that these two terms were of the approach different aspects and ideologies of life although there is sometimes a thin line between them. In the history of the human being, these two terms may have meant different things to two different groups. If, for example, these two groups were to be labeled the elite and the oppressed groups, the similarities and the differences will be discussed in relation to human dignity and the dignity of life depending on the historical period. To comprehend and to appreciate the interconnectedness of life, to live and to let live, to value the small things, to die with dignity, amongst others, are the phrases that related to the term the dignity of life. Respect, self worth, equal treatment, necessities of life, integrity, amongst others, come with the term the human dignity (Bonefeld Kosmas 35). Although these seem quite straight forward and clear, they mean different things to the groups mentioned above. Some aspects of these two terms are similar to both the elite and the oppressed groups. The freedom to search for the life necessities such as shelter, water, food, social support, just to mention but a few has been evident since man came into being. Man has been known to hunt and cultivate as a way providing food for himself. In the early times, when people used to own slaves, the slaves used to work, and in exchange have food, clothing and shelter provided to them by their masters. The slaves also used to have families, and that is how they multiplied. During the colonial period, the colonialists allowed the colonies to live in groups, go on with their own activities of fending for themselves and keep the normal social life the elite/the colonialists had (Malpas Norelle 57). Although their social and economic life may not have resembled that of the elite, they still had a life. The oppressed and the elite groups have been sharing the human dignity concept of believing anything one wants. Since time immemorial, the people have been able to believe what they wanted especially when it came to religious beliefs. In the Roman Empire, slaves still believed in the religion of their ancestral land (Kim 76). Although the missionaries and the colonialists played a significant role in the influence of Christianity in the African community, many Africans still continued with their African practices even after the reign of the colonialists. Today, it is evident that the question of what one believes does not depend on ones social status. People are either influenced by where they have come from (background), where they are or their own understanding. This can be explained by how homosexuals view themselves as oppressed since they are not allowed to fully express themselves in public. In such a case, the elite are the heterosexuals while the oppressed are the bisexuals, homosexuals and the transsexuals Unfortunately, the significance of such a concept as to live and to let live started being of significance in the late 20th century. The elite considered themselves as the people to decide how long the oppressed would live and how they would die. A master would kill a slave as he wished with not as much as a question from the authorities. A black man would easily end up dead while in the hands of the police without any further investigations of how that came to be (Ugwuanyi 528). A woman would be beaten and finally get killed by the husband without much concern from the family let alone the authorities. Although such actions call for the law’s intervention today, some concerns are still raised on the competence of the investigations being done and the actions taken. Respect, which is perceived as a form of human dignity, is meant to be respect from others. Unfortunately, when it comes to the elite and the oppressed groups, the elite expect respect from the oppressed, but the oppressed do not expect the same from the elite. In the past, the oppressed, who were mostly the slaves and peasants, did not respect themselves. They felt that their obligation was to serve their masters and the rich in the society (Malpas Norelle 60). The peasants were referred as third or fourth-class citizens depending on the society. There was the royal family, the extremely rich, the middles class and the peasants. During periods of slavery, the 19th and the early twentieth century, the whites and the Blacks represented the early elite and the oppressed groups respectively. During that period, the whites were the only people to be respected, to die with dignity, to be shown compassion, to be treated equally and to acknowledge the ambiguity of the world, amongst other concepts. They acknowledged that they had more human and life dignity as compared to the blacks and so they treated them like so. Although this has slowly been erased from the physical world and the concepts of human dignity and the dignity of life been appreciated by all parties, there are that mental part that still shows discrimination. White dominated countries do not have as many black leaders as the population dictates. Waiters and servers in the African countries will still prefer serving a Caucasian customer faster than a dark-skinned customer will. Many women do not hold leadership positions as their male counterparts. For example, there are only 12 female prime ministers,11 female presidents and 3 queens in the world. This is out of the many countries, and kingdoms we have in the world. It is approximated that 51 to 60 females have either acted as heads of states or been the heads of state after the Second World War. Although human dignity and the dignity of life may not necessarily be entirely responsible for such statistics, the aspects of inequality, empowerment of the marginalized groups and other issues affect the outcome of such statistics. When it comes to the value of small things as far as dignity of life is concerned, this might mean different things to the elite and the oppressed groups. Due to circumstances, the oppressed people value small things more than the elite do. During the slavery time, something as small as a meal in a day, no matter how small, was extremely appreciated (Ugwuanyi 529). Slaves were sold, and so it was hard to come by slaves either of the same family serving one master or in the same region. This made them value and appreciate one another very much as each was on his or her own. In the African American community during the 18th, the 19th and the early 20th century, family members were the most important, than the friends and neighbors, then the rest of the community. It is the reason why it was common to see a family inclusive of the extended family. This extends to date. The oppressed such as the poor and the disabled tend to appreciate the small things more than the elite. A beggar on the street appreciates a smile and a quarter more from a stranger more than a chief executive in a company’s office. The rich, even in the past, were not only concerned about one meal, but they were also concerned about the three meals, cooked and served well with wine and fruits as accompaniments. They were also concerned with banquets, balls and other celebrations. Even today, the elite or the rich are first concerned about how the community and the whole society think about them, before they are concerned about how their families perceive them. Issues exist concerning the human dignity and the dignity of life that can be learnt from our global neighbors and our near ancestors. Our ancestors believed in integrity and the emphasis of it. This is explained by the American Constitution, which was written in the 18th Century, is still followed even today with as few as less than thirty amendments (Bonefeld Kosmas 67). The founding fathers of the nation believed in integrity, and they acted in ways that portrayed integrity. A more specific example is where most families have something that has been passed on from one generation down to the next generation. It may be a piece of land, an expensive jewelry or a souvenir that was entrusted to the family members by the ancestors. In the quest for knowledge, the ancestors in the African countries and other countries globally embraced education thus leading to the spread of the literacy all over the world. The ancestors in the colonized states believed that they were dying a dignified death when they died fighting for their countries. This is how countries came to achieve their independence. Whether it is in Asia, Africa, America, Europe or any other continent, people believed and still do in the right to celebrate through dance and music. There is not one single group in the world which did not engage in dance and music especially during celebrations as a way of expressing their joy. Cultures, communities, administrations, occupations, sharing of knowledge, patriotism, search of prosperity, amongst other concepts were founded by our ancestors. They pursued and passed on from one generation to another, as a way of showing each generation their significance. Neighboring countries in the globe also have a way of showing the values in human dignity and the dignity of life. In Asian countries such as North Korea, China and Japan, a small bow before greeting one another or failing to look once superior directly in the eye is a form of ones respect for another (Kim 75). Countries such as China, Singapore and India are known to value families immensely thus they live in large families. The Maasai of Kenya and other cultures in Africa and Asia still practice their traditional beliefs and wear traditional clothes in appreciation of their culture. The ancestors and the global neighbors have taught us and continue teaching us the dignity of life and human dignity. The traditional songs sang during the socials gatherings, the recognition of authority where one acknowledges their superior, doing things with integrity; these are ways the ancestors and our neighbors show the significance of human dignity and the dignity of life. It is agreed that the morality ethical issues are of more concern today than they were a few years back. Children are more rude and disrespectful to their parents today that they were some time in the early twentieth century. Every individual has a right to experience human dignity or dignity of life whether by offering or by receiving. Our ancestors, global neighbors and time have taught us the significance of these two terms. They are what keep people together and protects the human race from itself. If the human race decides to go against the concepts that come along with these two terms, they will drive themselves into extinction. Bonefeld, Werner Kosmas Psychopedis. Human dignity: social autonomy and the critique of capitalism. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2005. Print. Kim, Hyung-Kon. The Idea of Human Dignity in Korea: An Ethico-Religious Approach and Application. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen Press, 2007. Print. Malpas, Jeff, and Norelle Lickiss. Perspectives on Human Dignity: A Conversation. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, 2007. Print. Ugwuanyi, Chikere. â€Å"Book Reviews: Towards a Fuller Human Identity: a Phenomenology of Family Life, Social Harmony, and the Recovery of the Black Self. by Pius Ojara.† The Heythrop Journal. 49.3 (2008): 527-532. Print.

Business Skills & Employability Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Skills & Employability - Case Study Example Further, J Sainsbury also faces the threat of interest groups that seek to ensure profound production and distribution comprehends consumer welfare appropriately. Researches implement that the corporation operates at least 1,106 supermarkets in the UK, and other leading economies. The tally also includes a broad chain of convenience stores that the company runs at a global perspective (Cunningham & Harney, 2012, p. 47). Its analysts argue out that the customers are of salient value to the longevity and growth in performances thus all its investment initiatives focus on that fact. J Sainsbury Company elevates its chain stores to ensure that its products aim at the right consumer groups in order to achieve a profitable market share, and growth on a global perspective. The UK based supermarket operates on a global platform with standardized practices while targeting a broad customer network with divergent needs and wants. Secondly, the company’s 480 retail outlets based in the UK have been of significant importance to the entire organization in maintaining its second position and challenging TESCO, the country’s market leader (Hensmans, Johnson, & Yip, 2013, p. 88). Despite its global targeting approaches, the grocery chain has continuously accrued beneficial outcomes, and profitable performances in all its segments, a factor that is evident in the over 20 countries of operations at the global platform. The chain store’s forecasts ensure that it has gradually diversified competitively and profitably over its local and foreign competitors. Informative survey shows that the company’s market operations face contests since the global grocery industry comprises of both local and international competitors and it is evident that some of them exceedingly operate in broader segments (Cunningham & Harney, 2012, p. 67). The following discussion seeks to establish J Sainsbury’s business practices and its SWOT analyses, with the recommended a pproaches to restructure its strategic plan (Wied & Ebers, 2007, p. 133). Sainsbury’s business environment The corporation founded in early 1869 by UK nationals, John and Mary Sainsbury and it grew proficiently throughout the 19th, 20th, and is currently turning into a global icon after pausing at the second largest chain in the UK, and further as the most profitable grocery company. The adventurous global market production and sales approach emanates from the company's sustainability strategy, which entails the salient measures observable before the purchase of groceries and other consumer products. Statistics reveal that Sainsbury strategic planning contributed to its profitable outcomes whereby the management reported pretax revenue of over ?400 million. Sainsbury’s economic precision extends towards growth in the market since its product portfolio includes the requirement of enticing and outsourcing on producers in order to reduce the expenses articulated to produc ing and packaging some of the company’s consumer goods (Zentes, Morschett, & Schramm-Klein, 2011, p. 244). The company’s coherent integration of the varied political systems enables it to win economic gains throughout the target markets. The use of technology and innovation stimulates competition, and Sainsbury displays the ability to prosper competitively in the global market. J Sainsbury’s SWOT analyses Strengths The company’s credentials and its success in the grocery industry emanate from the long-range objectives and

Module 2 SLP Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Module 2 SLP - Coursework Example MWPVL is an awesome website that contains financial data for industries across Europe and America. It offers insights of the forces of demand and supply in various industries in these regions by reviewing how each of these entities influences supply of commodities to the market and price determination strategies employed respectively. The food industry is among the few industries that are reviewed in the website thus the significance of this particular reference. This source is vital for this analysis as it contains consumer related information ranging from consumer behavior to buying patterns in the food industry and specifically with Kraft foods as the case firm. It formulates data of the current patterns in consumer demand and preferences and how buyers influence the prices. It is basically a financial analysis of Kraft food that refines all information within the business environment of this firm. In the internal report, the section of substitute products in the market is covered thus proving information that will be handy to assist us in our review. That notwithstanding, it has a pool of information about competition that the firm is facing from rival business organizations that are offering substitute products. However, it fails to provide a conclusive analysis of the level of threat that substitute products pose to Kraft foods. YouGov SixthSense is an insider report that refines the market position of Kraft foods in the industry. It provides information on market segmentation among the major players together with the strength of each firm in controlling major decisions that affect the entire food industry. The issue of competition in the food market in America has been analyzed in detail thus making it a worthy source. Carnegie Research Inc. (2009). Kraft Foods Inc.: A Guide for Selling and Increasing Sales at Kraft Foods Inc. Legal and Regulatory Issues. Retrieved from

Nursing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 62

Nursing research - Essay Example The quantitative designs should identify the potential influences that may affect the dependent variable in relation to the independent variable. The confounders should be controlled to ensure that the analytical inferences apply. The independent variable is the one believed to have an impact on the phenomenon being investigated. All quantitative designs should satisfy the independent variable. The dependent variable is the one that researchers anticipate to make observations. The dependent variable should be specified in the quantitative design because the research idea is to construct a project that brings out the relationship between the two variables. Internal validity focuses on the extent to which the effects reflected in the study represents the reality rather than resulting from the extraneous variables. The threats to internal validity include history, maturation and testing. History represents an event that occurs during the study and can impact on the responses of the part icipants. Maturation indicates that participants become older, wiser, more hungry and depressed. The effect being investigated may also change depending on the number of times the tests are conducted. The design of the outcome research first requires the researcher to identify the perspective on which the conclusion will be arrived. Evaluation alternatives should also be established and ranked depending on their probabilities of occurrence. The probabilities can emanate from expert panels, clinical trial data and literature review (Rezaie and Schwebel 539). A sensitivity analysis is carried once the data is collected and analyzed. These components can be applied in the formulation of the health plans and measuring the cure rates for certain diseases. Outcome research is also effective in identifying the patient functional status and the obligations of daily living and outpatient

The Importance Of Relationships

The Importance Of Relationships To better understand the argument of friendships and their potential cause of instability in the hierarchical structure of Confucian thought put forth by Norman Kutcher (2000), I examined three sources discussed in this paper. In his article The Confucian Concept of Man: The Original Formulation, Scott Morton (1971) presents the general idea of Confucian thought and explains the ideas and concept of man. To go into further detail, Donald Blakeleys (2008) Hearts in Agreement: Zhuangzi on Dao Adept Friendship explores friendship in both philosophies and defines friendship according to the Analects giving readers a better understanding of friendship and its role in society. Finally, Arthur W. Hummels (1960) article titled The Art of Social Relations in China emphasizes the importance of relationships in China and society, the role of relationships in ones maturity, emphasizing the importance of friendship on ones road to success once he leaves the family nest. These articles provide add itional insight and understanding the function of friendships in a mans maturity and growth process, emphasizing the need and necessity and importance of friendship, overall providing a bigger and clearer picture of friendship and its potential effects. The Importance of Relationships: Its roles and Responsibilities Upon reading Norman Kutchers (2000) article on friendships titled, The Fifth Relationship: Dangerous Friendships in the Confucian Context, I was left with several questions. In Kutchers (2000) article, friendship was defined and separated from the other relationships because of its uniqueness of its members and nature. He argues that friendship is an unstable relationship that could potentially upset the hierarchy in state and family relations (the other four relationships). However, his argument left me with several questions about the topic. I wanted to be better understand the role of the individual and the concept of man in Confucian thought to see how this related to relationships and human conduct in these relationships. I also wanted to comprehend and firmly grasp the ideas of relationships and friendships, in particular, its definition in Confucian terms. In addition, I also wanted to comprehend, in depth the importance of relationships in the growth and maturity of a man, wh ether friendship was something that was actually needed and required or just something voluntary as Kutcher (2000) argued in his essay. These concerns led me to research on the history of Confucian thought, the concepts and its beliefs on relationships, and the importance and role friendships played on growth and maturity. Through my research, I came across the following three academic sources. The first article is titled The Confucian Concept of Man: the original formulation about the formulation of man and the concept of man in Confucian thought by Scott Morton (1971). Morton begins by introducing the beginning of Chinese philosophy and their interest in the creation of an ethical framework for human conduct. In Chinese philosophy, especially Confucianism, it is difficult to differentiate between philosophy and ethics. The first question that Morton (1971) wants to answer is how Confucius views man. The first concept is that Man is always considered as Man living inside of society. People are individuals, but all individuals live in societies and relationships; these societies, communities, whatever you want to call them exist in a network of duties, obligations, and rights (Morton, 1971). Secondly, there is also a stated hierarchy in Confucian thought as men in society are divided into two groups, the rulers and the ruled. And finally, probably Confucius most notable contribution to Confucian thought, is the idea of Chun Tzu or nobleman. The noble man is born noble and this is shown through his actions. Morton (1971) continues to define moral character and the nobleman. Using translations mainly from Legge and Waley, Morton (1971) suggests six groups of characteristics and moral qualities that are important to the nobleman. The first is his resolution and firmness. The nobleman must be firm and decided. He is proud but not quarrelsome. He does not quit or give up on the right or the good way. The second group of moral characteristics consists of mildness, modesty, and humility. In third place is a well-balanced character. This refers to not only a perfection of delicately balancing all previously mentioned moral characteristics but also refers to his human life and relationship as a whole, reciprocity. What one man does not want done to him, he must not do to others. He knows what to do and when to do it, his style and mannerisms are very important in this balance of moral characteristics. The fourth is faithfulness; the gentleman must be one in whom others can trust. The fifth char acteristic of the gentleman is his ability to admit to fault and imperfections. If he knows his mistake, he can correct it and perfect himself; if a man lacks this characteristic, he will become the inferior man. Finally, the sixth and last moral characteristic is independence. What the Analects mean by this is not his ability to be independent, but his ability to be separate and have general moral qualifications, not a specialist or a tool trained for a specific purpose. The nobleman is one who is fit and able to do anything. According to Morton (1971), the man who is in the relationship must not only follow the rules and obligations of being in a specific relationship, but he must also be a nobleman in all cases. He must have the ability to determine and differentiate between the right and the wrong, and with resolution follow his path down the Good way. Every man has an important role to play, and depending on his situation, he should know the style with which he should perform in each. Though this article does not directly discuss relationships and Confucian thought on friendship, Morton (1971) helps to shed light on the philosophies of Confucian thought, in particular Mortons (1971) analysis on human conduct and the nobleman according to the Analects, and provides significant background information to help better understand the ideas put forth by Kutcher (2000). Mortons (1971) particular analysis and detail about the nobleman adds to Kutchers (2000) argument about friendship because it details the priorities about a man and the way he should act towards his rulers, his family, and his friends. This helps me to analyze the argument because I can better analyze and critique Kutchers (2000) argument. The second article is titled Hearts in Agreemtn: Zhuangzi on Dao Adept Friendship by Donald N. Blakeley (2008). This article by Donald Blakeley (2008) begins with an introduction to friendship in the Daodejing and then continues to compare this thought to the friendship defined in the Analects in Confucian thought. An understanding of friendships and how they are viewed in detail will help us better understand Kutchers (2000) suggestion of friendship and how it connects and plays a role in hierarchy in Confucian China. Blakeley defines friendship (which is taken from the Daodejing) as a relationship where one accepts and recognizes the other and his qualifications; people who are friends often share skills and expertise, and often times similar thoughts and values. Throughout the article, Blakeley (2008) defines friendship and analyzes it from a Daoist perspective. It is not until later in the article that Blakeley observes friendship in the terms of Confucianism and Ren. According to Blakeley (2008), priority resides in cultivating the fullness of a virtuous life as defined by proper understanding of the cultural values of the past (Blakeley 2008, p. 330). A ren person is cultivated and guided by ceremony and rituals, li. This li is then grounded in dao, or the way, of relationships and society which all operate under Heaven. In terms of friendships, the Analects and the Mencius advise that friendships have the following traits. The first is that the relationships must be based on a particular value and similar perspectives. Befriend only the right persons and Cultivate friendship with the good. The second is that friendship requires trust and sincerity, faithfulness and honesty. Good friends are ones that are devoted to virtuous living, exemp lary persons or sages. The third characteristic is that friendships must work and embrace the wider contexts of human existence (such as family, political, government, ruler-ruled settings). This relationship must work within the grand matrix of the world. The fourth is that friendships are voluntary. The fifth is that friendships are equal (otherwise, it would belong with another of the five relationships). The sixth characteristic of friendships is that they are based on mutual respect and reciprocity, which also falls within the action and behavior of the nobleman in the aforementioned article by Morton (1971). Finally, friendship is conditional. This is a relationship meant to enhance all other human relations and roles. If a friendship mistakenly affects your ability to perform your duties and obligations in another relationship, this would not be a good friendship and should be ended. Blakeley (2008) explores friendships in Chinese philosophy beginning with the Zhuangzi and then comparing that to the Analects. Through this analysis, we are able to better understand the context of friendship and how it is defined in the books and the philosophies of Confucius and other Chinese thought. By gaining an improved grasp on friendships in this context, will be able to have a more encompassing evaluation of Kutchers (2000) argument. The finally article that will be taken into consideration upon evaluation of Kutchers (2000) article is Artuher W. Hummels (1960) titled The Art of Social Relations in China. The Chinese believed that life was about relationships, and how one managed those relationships would determine his success in society. There were a total of five relationships: the relationship of the ruler and the ruled, the father and son, the elder and younger brothers, husband and wife, and friend and friend. In every relationship, there are obligations and duties, there are also right and privileges granted by one or the other in that relationship. Hummel (1960) then begins to discuss and introduce Mencius and Confucius philosophy on man and their natural goodness. Through this goodness is virtue, and the gentleman is one who is able to share and give virtue and goodness to all. Hummel (1960) then also discusses the Confucian gentleman. The Confucian gentleman is one who has manners and is style and proper ; he knows the situation and understands the accurate manners and performance in each. Human conduct, thus, became a large part of Confucian thought and consequently, Chinese thought. In his article Hummel (1960) states that is a mistake to think of Confucian ethics as a code, rule, or law. Instead, they are mere suggestions and persuasions, techniques used and highly prized in the Confucian world. Suggestion is the power to share and allow others to discover ideas almost by themselves. The gentleman and the loved man is one who is humble and large-minded. It is the ability to overlook small failings and care about the more important things and more significant things; it is the ability to differentiate between the small and the large things in life. In this article, we are given a bigger and greater practical view on how relationships are managed and should be managed according to Confucian thought. Friendships, specifically, should be looked at to help develop and cultivate virtue. According to Hummel (1960), one must be able to relate to those with virtue, and be able to maintain friendships throughout ones life. It is important to surround yourself with those who are better able to help you in the case of something happening. The Chinese place great importance on friendships because it is through friendships that one is better able to advance. The man who grows up and becomes a self-made man will be a lonely man; in the event of some unfortunate events, he will still be alone, with no one to help him along the way. Understanding friendships through Hummels (1960) analysis helps better evaluate Kutchers (2000) assumptions about friendship and the importance and need of friendship in a persons maturity, according to Confucian thought. This idea complements Blakeleys (2008) analysis of friendship based on Confucian texts such as the Analects. Blakeleys more detailed analysis on friendship thus helps us better understand friendship and its roles in society and to the individual in their maturity and growth. Finally, both of these contribute to a better understanding of Confucian thought presented by Morton (1971). Mortons (1971) presentation on Confucian thought and values, along with Blakeleys detailed analysis of friendship based on Confucian texts, together with the concept that relationships are the most important aspect according to Confucian thought allows us to grasp and better evaluate Kutchers (2000) argument on friendship and its role and effects in society and its members.

B.f. Skinner Essay examples -- essays research papers

B.F. Skinner Psychologist, born in Susquhanna, Pa. He studied at Harvard, teaching there (1931-6, 1947-74). A leading behaviorist, he is a proponent of operant conditioning, and the inventor of the Skinner box for facilitating experimental observations. B. F. Skinner’s entire system is based on operant conditioning. The organism is in the process of â€Å"operating† on the environment, which in ordinary terms means it is bouncing around the world, doing what it does. During this â€Å"operating,† the organism encounters a special kind of stimulus, called a reinforcing stimulus, or simply a reinforcer. This special stimulus has the effect of increasing the operant - which is the behavior occurring just before the reinforcer. This is operant conditioning: â€Å"the behavior is followed by a consequence, and the nature of the consequence modifies the organisms tendency to repeat the behavior in the future.† Say you have a dog and he’s just playing around with his toys and such and then when you throw a toy at him and he catches it then you give him a treat. Then all of the sudden the dog is starting to catch toys and such as you throw it in the air or at his mouth. The operant is the behavior just prior to the reinforcer, which is the treat. Then what if you decide to stop giving the dog treats, well he’ll stop his little trick which your, the owner were enjoying. This is called extinction of the operant behavior. Now, if you were to start showing the dog treats, then most likely he/she’ll want to start doing the tricks again and a little more quickly than the dog learned at first. This is because the return of the reinforcer takes place in the context of a reinforcement history that goes all the way back to the very first time the dog was reinforced for performing the tricks. Continuous reinforcement is the original scenario: Every time that the dog does the behavior (such as performing a trick), he gets a treat. The fixed ratio schedule was the first one Skinner discovered: If the dog did the trick three times, say, he gets a goodie. Or five times. Or twenty times. Or â€Å"x† times. There is a fixed ratio between behaviors and reinforcers: 3 to 1, 5 to 1, 20 to 1, etc. This is a little like â€Å"piece rate† in the clothing manufacturing industry: You get paid so much for so many shirts. Skinner also looked at variable schedules. Variable ratio means you change the â€Å"x† each ... ...e aversive stimulus of hunger? Skinner (contrary to some stereotypes that have arisen about behaviorists) doesn’t â€Å"approve† of the use of aversive stimuli -- not because of ethics, but because they don’t work well! Notice that I said earlier that Johnny will maybe stop throwing his toys, and that I perhaps will take out the garbage? That’s because whatever was reinforcing the bad behaviors hasn’t been removed, as it would’ve been in the case of extinction. This hidden reinforcer has just been â€Å"covered up† with a conflicting aversive stimulus. So, sure, sometimes the child (or me) will behave -- but it still feels good to throw those toys. All Johnny needs to do is wait till you’re out of the room, or find a way to blame it on his brother, or in some way escape the consequences, and he’s back to his old ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. F. Skinner made numerous contributions to the science of behavior. He strongly influenced the area of learning that he named operant conditioning. His Skinner box is now a standard apparatus for the experimental study of animal behavior. Much of his work involved the study of how reinforcement schedules influence learning and behavior.

Empress Wu’s rise to power is interesting

There is A Confucian dogma that pushes women ruling as â€Å"unnatural† (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008).   However, in China there lived one woman who rose to power. Wu Hou, also called Empress Wu Zetian, ruled China during the Tang dynasty, the only female to do so (2008). While some depict Empress Wu’s regime as autocracy, it could not be denied that she ruled China effectively, preserving the country’s diplomatic relationships with other nations (Hucker, 1975, p.143). Empress Wu’s rise to power is interesting. The Tang dynasty is described as a time when women experienced some freedom, at a time when women were not limited to being subservient (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). It was a period where women became part of cultural and political endeavors (2008).   Wu came from a noble family and thus was taught music, how to write and read Chinese classics (2008).   Her father was one of Emperor Kao- tsu’s supporters while her mother descended from the Sui royal family (Safra, 2002, p.90). When she was 13 years old, she was sent to Emperor Tai Tsung’s court to be a servant (2008). Soon, Wu became Emperor Tai Tsung’s favorite concubine. When the emperor died, Wu was removed from the palace, as customary (Hucker, 1975,b p.142). The emperor’s son, Kau-Tsung became the emperor at age 21 (2002). However, the new emperor, as fate would have it, was also enamored with Wu, giving him sons (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). Wu soon became the emperor’s favorite concubine and soon was hungry for power. Rumors have it that that Wu killed her own child and blamed Empress Wang (Kau- Tsung’s wife) of the crime (Walsh, 2003).   Kau-Tsung believed Wu and married her, making her the new empress (2008). Five years into their marriage, the emperor was struck with stroke and soon gave power to Empress Wu. When Emperor Kau-Tsung died, Empress Wu used her power to renounce the new emperors, her sons and by 690, Empress Wu was crowned as the Emperor of China (Walsh, 2003). She ruled China until 705 (Hucker, 1975, p.142). Empress Wu soon began her campaign to uplift the women in a relatively men-dominated environment. She ordered scholars to write biographies of prominent women (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). She also saw to it that her mother’s clan was given high positions in the political arena (2008). The new empress favored religion and symbolism. Rituals were changed during her reign (Safra, 2002, p.90).   Names of officials were even altered, and the emperor or empress, in her case, was dubbed with the new title â€Å"Heavenly Emperor† (p.90).   Empress Wu manipulated the government to follow her, employing informers and agents (p. 90). She made Buddhism as the preferred state religion (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). Empress Wu was able to engineer the Buddhist scripture into building a Ming T’ang or â€Å"Hall of Light†, a shrine to Heaven as depicted in the Classics (p. 90). She was even able to convince every prefecture to create a temple which alludes to Wu being an incarnation of Buddha (p.90). The empress’ given surname ‘Wu’ was also exploited. Everyone who had the same surname as the empress was exempted from paying taxes (p.90). In 690, Empress Wu changed the dynasty from T’ang to Chou (Safra, 2002,p. 90). She had become China’s female ruler. During Empress Wu’s reign, China was in the midst of foreign battles.   Despite being depicted as a dictator, Empress Wu was instrumental in China’s diplomatic relationships. Together with Kao-Tsung, Wu mediated in the Korean Civil War (Hucker, 1975,p.143). At that time, Koreans were able to dominate in the Korean state of Silla, they acknowledged Wu’s reign (p.143). When Empress Wu was 80 years old, her power had started to diminish. She was finally abdicated and the T’ang dynasty was restored (Safra, 2002,p. 91). Empress Wu is truly an interesting leader. For one, she is female. At a time when males where dominating the political arena, she rose to power. It is remarkable especially since Asian culture tends to be patriarchal and for a female to rule and succeed, that is exceptional. True, Empress Wu’s reign was plagued with intrigues and scandals.   She was a dictator, a usurper and while this is not new to some leaders, it is still rather surprising to find a woman who is such. That is not to say that only men can be dictators. Women can also be dictators but sometimes they simply do it subtly. Empress Wu was shrewd and she let the world knew it.   It is even shocking to discover that she may have murdered her own child just to fulfil her desire to become empress. Although this was never confirmed, the thought of parent harming his/her child is disturbing. It is something that people read in newspapers or see in the television now but to think that it happened way before it has become a norm, to say the least, it truly startling. Stories of leaders conning people to get what they want is normal, albeit wrong. This just goes to show that even during those times; power and greed were already present and destroying individuals. On a positive note, Empress Wu was one who paved the way for women empowerment. She used her position to uplift the status of women in her country.   It is interesting to know during a time when women were thought to be subservient; there rose a woman who wanted to change the norm. Leaders, regardless of gender, can learn something from Empress Wu- good traits and bad ones. References Empress Wu Zetian (2008). Retrieved 17 February 2008 Hucker, C. (1975). China’s Imperial Past. An Introduction to Chinese History And Culture. California: Stanford University Press. Safra, J. (Ed.). (2002). China. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol.16, pp.90-91. Walsh, J. (2002). The Empress Wu Hou- China’s Only Female Ruler, Retrieved 17 February 2008, from http://www.suite101.com   

Free Essays on 2Pac

Tupac Shakur (2Pac) Tupac Shakur was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1971. Early in his life, he moved to Baltimore, ND, where he attended The Baltimore School, Tupac led a lasting impression on his teachers and was showing tremendous potential. Unfortunately, Tupac was unable to continue his training. He moved to Oakland, California with the rest of his family. That’s when Tupac began hanging with the wrong crowd. Tupac later got into the rap and acting business, he was dedicated to both rap/hiphop and acting. Tupac was very real, whatever was on his mind he said it in his lyrics. Not held back by his lack of formal education, Tupac joined the Rap group Digital Underground as a dancer. Not long before the group achieved award-winning success, Tupac released his own album â€Å"2pacalypse now†, which was also a success. The hit single â€Å"Brenda’s Got A Baby† launched Tupac’s career like a rocket. His stunning talent also hot him a role in the motion picture â€Å"Juiceâ₠¬ . Tupac eventually released a second album â€Å"Strictly for my Niggaz,† which was an even bigger success. The highlight of Tupac’s acting career came when he appeared in â€Å"Poetic Juice† besides Janet Jackson. The role Jackson 2 made Tupac a household name and showed the world that music may not be Tupac’s number one thing. In the midst of a role in the movie â€Å"Above the Rim† and a Platinum album â€Å"Me against the world,† Tupac’s rising career was snagged. A woman he met at a nightclub brought him up on sexual assault charges. Hours before Tupac would be found guilty, men whose intent and purpose is still uncertain robbed Tupac at gunpoint. Tupac was eventually released at over $1 Million in bail. After his release, Tupac answered his critics by releasing his best album, â€Å"All eyes on me.† â€Å"All eyes on me† has currently sold around 6 Million copies, which is revolutionary for a double cd. Especially in Hip Hop music. As the album climbed the charts, ... Free Essays on 2pac Free Essays on 2pac Tupac Shakur (2Pac) Tupac Shakur was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1971. Early in his life, he moved to Baltimore, ND, where he attended The Baltimore School, Tupac led a lasting impression on his teachers and was showing tremendous potential. Unfortunately, Tupac was unable to continue his training. He moved to Oakland, California with the rest of his family. That’s when Tupac began hanging with the wrong crowd. Tupac later got into the rap and acting business, he was dedicated to both rap/hiphop and acting. Tupac was very real, whatever was on his mind he said it in his lyrics. Not held back by his lack of formal education, Tupac joined the Rap group Digital Underground as a dancer. Not long before the group achieved award-winning success, Tupac released his own album â€Å"2pacalypse now†, which was also a success. The hit single â€Å"Brenda’s Got A Baby† launched Tupac’s career like a rocket. His stunning talent also hot him a role in the motion picture â€Å"Juiceâ₠¬ . Tupac eventually released a second album â€Å"Strictly for my Niggaz,† which was an even bigger success. The highlight of Tupac’s acting career came when he appeared in â€Å"Poetic Juice† besides Janet Jackson. The role Jackson 2 made Tupac a household name and showed the world that music may not be Tupac’s number one thing. In the midst of a role in the movie â€Å"Above the Rim† and a Platinum album â€Å"Me against the world,† Tupac’s rising career was snagged. A woman he met at a nightclub brought him up on sexual assault charges. Hours before Tupac would be found guilty, men whose intent and purpose is still uncertain robbed Tupac at gunpoint. Tupac was eventually released at over $1 Million in bail. After his release, Tupac answered his critics by releasing his best album, â€Å"All eyes on me.† â€Å"All eyes on me† has currently sold around 6 Million copies, which is revolutionary for a double cd. Especially in Hip Hop music. As the album climbed the charts, ... Free Essays on 2Pac Tupac Music: Censored or Let It Be? â€Å"Censorship† recently we have been hearing a lot about the need for censorship of television and recording industries. Whether it is the cartoon Beavis and Butthead, the controversial television drama NYPD Blue or rap recording artists, someone always seems to argue about their negative effects on society and the need for government regulation. Being a fan of rap, I am particularly interested in issues effecting regulation of the recording industry and rap artists. Popular gangsta rappers include Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dog, Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Ice T. Many are outraged at the explicit lyrics of the songs and the lifestyles of these artists. Tupac Shakur is one of the most publicized gansta rappers whose songs contain explicit lyrics and who has been indicted for criminal activities. Tupac was a gangster rap artist who practiced what he preached. Because of his profanity and lyrics, people say he should be censored. He has the right to rap about whatever he wishes, because it’s his way to expressing his feelings, it’s not against the law, and it’s the truth. Tupac uses a lot of profanity, and his lyrics are inappropriate for kids. The song â€Å"Hit em’ Up† starts off with vulgar language and has negative content. â€Å"First off, *censored* your bitch and the click you claim West Side when we ride comin' equipped with game You claim to be a playa but I *censored*ed your wife We bust on Bad Boy niggas *censored*ed for life.† His music is for young adults, not for young kids who are easily influenced. Kids won’t know what Tupac is really rapping about anyway, but the more they hear it and grow up with it, the more it will become a part of them. The Yim 2 lyrics to most of his songs are about death and about life in the ghetto. Even though all of it is reality, kids should not be exposed at such a young age. Tupac expresses his feelings by letting it flow onto the paper and then i...

Freeze Tag essays

Freeze Tag essays I just read the book Freeze Tag by Caroline B. Cooney. I thought that this book was excellent! This was one of the best books I have read in a very long time. This book was very supportive, and it told many more things about the characters, which is what I like because it made me feel like I actually know the characters. This book brought me into fear, sadness, and anger. I was first of all fearful for every single person that Lannie Anveill froze. Just when Lannie didnt get her way, you could guarantee that the person that was hassling her or giving her a hard time was already frozen. I also felt very sad for Meghan Moore. I felt said for Meghan only because for a little while, she lost the love of her life. The only boy that she had actually cared for, or even bothered to notice. When Meghan had West Trevor, she hardly noticed anybody else that was round. The only reason that I felt angry in this book was because of Lannie. I was angry because Lannie thought that it was ok to fre eze her mom, step-dad, and little kids. Lannie thought that it was perfectly fine, like that is what was supposed to happen. I just didnt understand why she froze people when she didnt get her way. The character that I liked the most was definitely West Trevor. He was a major part in this book. If he wasnt in the book the whole thing probably wouldnt have worked. He held up everything that went on, from things that dealt with Lannie freezing people, Meghan freaking out, and protecting people by going along with whatever Lannie said to do. One character that I didnt like so much was probably Meghan. In my eyes, I saw her as a whiney baby. All she did was complain about how much she missed West, the whole Trevor family, how boring her house was, and how mean Lannie was. I didnt like her because she should have stopped whining and took action. Actions speak louder than words, and I think that if s ...

Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 11

Strategic Management - Essay Example Belasen and Frank (2007) in their paper â€Å"Competing values leadership: quadrant roles and personality traits†, sought to establish a system of number and order of leadership roles and tag the associated personality traits which determine leadership roles to them. Thus it’s an effort at establishing a system of metrics to define an otherwise indeterminate and disparate amount of values. Their use of LISREL to determine the extent of fit between competing values framework (CVF) and quadrants is essentially one loaded with a priori tenets of recalcitrant logic. Next Haakonsson, Burton, Obel and Lauridsen (2008) in their paper â€Å"How failure to align organizational climate and leadership style affects performance†, hypothesize that â€Å"misalignments between climate and leadership style are problematic for organizational performance†. The study is based on regression analysis of data collected through a questionnaire. Though the authors acknowledge an element of prejudice and bias on the part of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), there is still a considerable divergence among variables because the study is primarily a posteriori in its outcomes. Despite the existence of various influences on organizational culture and leadership style, a common tendency to produce a confluence of ideological stances on the part of the two cannot be altogether absent either. Finally Lakshman in his paper â€Å"Attributional theory of leadership: a model of functional attributions and behaviors†, applies cognitive complexity theory and attributional complexity theory to the study of positive and functional contingency model of leadership style with primary focus on the strategic behaviors of the manager/leader. According to the author in so far as subordinates are self-efficacious and motivated by a particular leadership style there is no divergence from the trend-setting behavioral construct. This assumption

Charlotte Beer's CEO Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide Essay - 21

Charlotte Beer's CEO Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide - Essay Example This paper illustrates that Ogilvy Mather (O&M) is one of the worldwide leading adverting agencies. When Beer took over as the new CEO and Chairman, the organization was on the verge of collapsing. Notably, the organization, there was a breakdown in communication channels, and the overall performance of the organization had significantly deteriorated. According to Beer, the efforts to restructure the organization back to its initial position were messy, painful and chaotic. While introducing the change within the management tier, the "Brand Stewardship" faced enormous challenges. Beer stewardship refers to the new agency philosophy that was intended to build brands within the organization. Sadly, the philosophy was poorly understood due to various communication shortcomings. Firstly, when Beer took over there was great excitement and a time to introduce change was ripe. In her first attempt at launching stewardship, she concentrated much on involving customers and investors. While th is could be a strategy to regain back the lost customers and invite new investors to the organization, the need to create a motivated staff should have formed the primary responsibility. In addition, customers had opted out of the organization due to inconsistency and fall in products quality. Matha & Boehm state that the standards of service are proportional to the staff capability and motivation. Certainly, the focus should have been a direct two-way communication with the employees. In addition, Beer greatest undoing was an uncertainty of who to seek help from in charting a new organization discourse. In fact, the press and companies focused on her solo effort in bringing up Beer Stewardship. Lack of teamwork and shared decision-making contributed to the slow development of the change program. In any organizational change strategy, the stakeholders must be involved in needs identification.