Society and Morality Good vs. Evil Essays - Fiction, Literature

Society and Morality : Good vs. Evil A Clockwork Orange, a novel written by Anthony Burgess in the 1960's takes place in dystopian future in London, England. The novel is about a fifteen-year-old nadsat (teenager) named Alex who along with his droogs (friends) commit violent acts of crime and opts to be bad over good. In time, Alex finds himself to be in an experiment by the government, making him unable to choose between good and evil, thus losing his ability of free will, and being a mere clockwork orange. A "clockwork orange" is a metaphor for Alex being controlled by the government, which makes him artificial because he is unable to make the decision of good verses evil for himself and is a subject to what others believe is right. In A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess utilizes contrast, symbolism, and the first person narrative point of view to illustrate and enhance the theme of free will, because a person who lack's the ability to choose between good and evil, is not really a human being. Therefore, for the duration of Part One, Alex possesses the ability of free will yet decides to be evil by committing violent crimes in society. Further on in Part Two of the play, Alex is imprisoned for his crimes and is forced to go through the Ludovico Treatment where he loses his free will. Finally, at the end of the novel in Part Three, Alex is "cured" and has reverted back to his previous state of having a choice between being good or evil, thus acquiring that sense of free will once mor e. In part one of the novel, we witness the ability of free will that Alex possesses and his ability to choose between good and evil through contrast presented by darkness of night and lightness of day. At the beginning of the novel, Alex and his droogs (friends), Pete, Georgie, and Dim are at the Kovova Milkbar, roaming the streets and committing violent acts during night. Alex and his droogs encounter an old man who is drunk and is singing a sentimental song. Alex instantly chooses the path of evil with the free will that he encompasses, and along with his droogs they beat the old man while laughing at his misery. The old man complains about the "stinking world" and says, "It's a stinking world because it lets the young get on to the old like you done, and there's no law nor order no more." (Part 2, Chapter 2, Page 12) At night, Alex uses violence and chooses to beat, rape, and murder innocent people because it shows that he has freedom of choice and has authority and power in society . Alex's interpretation of darkness and night is, "The night belonged to me and my droogs and all the rest of the nadsats (teenagers), and the starry bourgeois lurked indoors" (Part 1, Chapter 4, Page 33). In contrast, during the day, Alex's power of freedom is partly taken away from him as it signifies danger and fear. He is unable to choose the path of good or evil during the daytime because the day is not controlled by the youth. Alex notices that the day belongs to middle-aged "bourgeois" and he is unable to commit as many crimes in the day without repercussions due to the police patrolling areas more during the day. Alex's interpretation of the day, in contrast to night is, "The day was very different from the night the day was for the starry ones, and there always seemed to be more rozzes or millicents (policemen) about during the day, too." The quotation interpreted by Alex is that the day is for the old, while the night is for youth. In addition, this quotation also explains the contrast between night and day, and shows who is in authority and how society works during different times of day. Therefore, the contrast shown by Burgess between night and day enhances the theme of free will and good verses evil, because it shows how one has the power to act more freely at a certain time in the day, choosing to be bad instead of good and having no ramifications for crimes

Right to die essays

Right to die essays The Right to Die, Physician-Assisted Suicide 6/3/99 History " I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect" The Hippocratic Oath Physician-Assisted suicide is one of the most controversial issues in our society today. During the 1990's, assisted suicide has become the subject of public debate and legislative action across the nation. Even the U.S Supreme Court has been involved in critical decisions involving the legalization of Physician-assisted suicide. These matters call into question the ethical standards and legal bases for all Doctors and Health Care Providers. The American Heritage Dictionary defines euthanasia as "the act of killing an individual for reasons considered to be merciful". Killing in this case is a physical action where one individual actively kills another. The word "euthanasia" comes from the Greek eu, "good" and thanatos, "death" or "good death". Doctor assisted-suicide can be considered auto-eutha nasia. The Doctor provides the means for a patient to take their own life painlessly but does not actively or physically help that person die. Doctor assisted suicide is nothing new to society, dating back to the time Socrates 470-399 BC. With the interventions of Jack Kevorkian M.D., being played out in the media and in the courts, Doctor assisted suicide has become the focus of intense public and professional debate. Most of this attention is focused right here in Michigan because of Dr. Jack Kevorkian AKA, "Doctor Death". Doctor Kevorkian has assisted in over one hundred assisted suicides. The Debate There are many arguments for and against assisted suicide. Points for and against this practice encompass legal, ethical, religious and medical arguments. They are very complex and lengthy. Listed are just a few simplified issues from both sides of the debate. Arguments for Assisted Suicide A person should have control over one's own body. This is a fundam...

The Collapse of Gupta India

The Collapse of Gupta India The Gupta Empire may have lasted only about 230 years, but it was characterized by a sophisticated culture with innovative advances in literature, arts, and sciences. Its influence continues to be felt in art, dance, mathematics, and many other fields today, not just in India but across Asia and around the world. Called Indias Golden Age by most scholars, the Gupta Empire was likely founded by a member of a lower Hindu caste called Sri Gupta. He came from the Vaishya or farmer caste and founded the new dynasty in reaction to abuses by previous princely rulers. The Gupta were ardent Vaishnavas, devotees of Vishnu and they ruled as traditional Hindu monarchs. Advances of the Golden Age of Classical India During this Golden Age, India was part of an international trade network which also included other great classical empires of the day, the Han Dynasty in China to the east and the Roman Empire to the west. The famed Chinese pilgrim to India, Fa Hsien (Faxien) noted that Gupta law was exceptionally generous; crimes were punished only with fines. The rulers sponsored advances in science, painting, textiles, architecture, and literature. Gupta artists created marvelous sculptures and paintings, perhaps including the Ajanta caves. The surviving architecture includes palaces and purpose-built temples for both Hindu and Buddhist religions, such as the Parvati Temple at Nachana Kuthara and the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh in Madhya Pradesh. New forms of music and dance, some of which are still performed today, flourished under Gupta patronage. The emperors also founded free hospitals for their citizens, as well as monasteries and universities. The classical Sanskrit language reached its apogee during this period as well, with poets such as Kalidasa and Dandi. The ancient texts of the Mahabharata and Ramayana were converted into sacred texts and the Vau and Matsya Puranas were composed. Scientific and mathematical advances include the invention of the number zero, Aryabhatas astonishingly accurate calculation of pi as 3.1416, and his equally amazing calculation that the solar year is 365.358 days long. Establishing the Gupta Dynasty In about 320 CE, the chief of a small kingdom called Magadha in southeastern India set out to conquer the neighboring kingdoms of Prayaga and Saketa. He used a combination of military might and marriage alliances to expand his kingdom into an empire. His name was Chandragupta I and through his conquests he formed the Gupta Empire. Many scholars believe that Chandraguptas family was from the Vaishya caste, which was the third tier out of four in the traditional Hindu caste system. If so, this was a major departure from Hindu tradition, in which the Brahmin priestly caste and the Kshatriya warrior/princely class generally held religious and secular power over the lower castes. In any case, Chandragupta rose from relative obscurity to reunite much of the Indian subcontinent, which had fragmented five centuries earlier after the fall of the Mauryan Empire in 185 BCE. Rulers of the Gupta Dynasty Chandraguptas son, Samudragupta (ruled 335–380 CE), was a brilliant warrior and statesman, sometimes called the Napoleon of India. Samudragupta, however, never faced a Waterloo, and was able to pass on a greatly expanded Gupta Empire to his sons. He extended the empire to the Deccan Plateau in the south, Punjab in the north, and Assam in the east. Samudragupta also was a talented poet and musician. His successor was Ramagupta, an ineffectual ruler, who was soon deposed and assassinated by his brother, Chandragupta II. Chandragupta II (r. 380–415 CE) expanded the empire still further, to its greatest extent. He conquered much of Gujarat in western India. Like his grandfather, Chandragupta II also used marriage alliances to expand the empire, marrying into control of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and adding the rich provinces of Punjab, Malwa, Rajputana, Saurashtra, and Gujarat. The city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh became a second capital for the Gupta Empire, which was based at Pataliputra in the north. Kumaragupta I succeeded his father in 415 and ruled for 40 years. His son, Skandagupta (r. 455–467 CE), is considered the last of the great Gupta rulers. During his reign, the Gupta Empire first faced incursions by the Huns, who would eventually bring down the empire. After him, lesser emperors, including Narasimha Gupta, Kumaragupta II, Buddhagupta, and Vishnugupta, ruled over the decline of the Gupta Empire. Although the late Gupta ruler Narasimhagupta managed to drive the Huns out of northern India in 528 CE, the effort and expense doomed the dynasty. The last recognized emperor of the Gupta Empire was Vishnugupta, who ruled from about 540 until the empire collapsed around 550 CE. Decline and Fall of the Gupta Empire As with the collapses of other classical political systems, the Gupta Empire crumbled under both internal and external pressures. Internally, the Gupta Dynasty grew weak from a number of succession disputes. As the emperors lost power, regional lords gained increasing autonomy. In a sprawling empire with weak leadership, it was easy for rebellions in Gujarat or Bengal to break out, and difficult for the Gupta emperors to put such uprisings down. By 500 CE, many regional princes were declaring their independence and refusing to pay taxes to the central Gupta state. These included the Maukhari Dynasty, who ruled over Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. By the later Gupta era, the government was having trouble collecting enough taxes to fund both its hugely complex bureaucracy and constant wars against foreign invaders like the Pushyamitras and the Huns. In part, this was due to the common peoples dislike of the meddlesome and unwieldy bureaucracy. Even those who felt a personal loyalty to the Gupta Emperor generally disliked his government and were happy to avoid paying for it if they could. Another factor, of course, was the near-constant rebellions among different provinces of the empire. Invasions In addition to internal disputes, the Gupta Empire faced constant threats of invasion from the north. The cost of fighting off these invasions drained the Gupta treasury, and the government had difficulty refilling the coffers. Among the most troublesome of the invaders were the White Huns (or Hunas), who conquered much of the northwestern section of Gupta territory by 500 CE. The Huns initial raids into India were led by a man who is called Toramana or Toraraya in Gupta records; these documents show that his troops began to pick off feudatory states from the Gupta domains around the year 500. In 510 CE, Toramana swooped down into central India and inflicted a decisive defeat at Eran on the Ganges river. The End of the Dynasty The records indicate that Toramanas reputation was strong enough that some princes voluntarily submitted to his rule. However, the records do not specify why the princes submitted: whether it was because he had a reputation as a great military strategist, was a blood-thirsty tyrant, was a better ruler than the Gupta alternatives, or something else. Eventually, this branch of the Huns adopted Hinduism and was assimilated into Indian society. Although none of the invading groups managed to completely overrun the Gupta Empire, the financial hardship of the battles helped hasten the end of the dynasty. Almost unbelievably, the Huns, or their direct ancestors the Xiongnu, had the same effect on two of the other great classical civilizations in earlier centuries: Han China, which collapsed in 221 CE and the Roman Empire, which fell in 476 CE. Sources Agrawal, Ashvini. Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1989. Chaurasia, Radhey Sham. History of Ancient India. Atlantic Publishers, 2002.Dwivedi, Gautam N. The Western Limits of the Gupta Empire. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 34, 1973, pp. 76-79.Goyal, Shankar. Historiography of the Imperial Guptas: Old and New. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 77.1/4, 1996, pp. 1–33.Mookerji, Radhakumud. The Gupta Empire. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1989.Prakash, Budha. Last Days of the Gupta Empire. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 27.1/2, 1946, pp. 124-41. Vajpeyi, Raghavendra. A Critique of the Huna Invasion Theory. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 39, 1978, pp. 62-66.

Explain the VaR framework and its utility in Risk Management Essay

Explain the VaR framework and its utility in Risk Management - Essay Example VaR can be said to be an easy method of measuring the market risk. As of date, VaR technology has spread its wings well beyond financial derivatives and is completely transforming the style the financial institutions’ approach to their financial risk. Initially, VaR is employed to measure the market risk, but now it is being employed to administer and control risk actively. The VaR methodology is now assisting the industry to reckon both operational and credit risk, resulting in the sangraal of companywide management of risk1. (Jorion 2009: x). VaR employs a method of valuation of risk that uses standard statistical methods employed regularly in other technical sectors. In simple terms, VaR can be explained as the most speculative loss over an objective horizon that will not be surpassed with a given level of confidence. Footed upon the company’s scientific founding stones, VaR offers users with a detailed synopsis of market risk. (Jorion 2009: x). . 2 Backgrounds For t hose companies and financial institutions that are vulnerable to risks, management of risk is a vital function. There has been a real reform in the risk-management process, especially in the last decade and VaR is regarded as one of the solutions that received wide publicity in business circles. As per Holton (2003), the main fundamentals of the VaR can be traced back to as early 1922 when the New York Stock Exchange prescribed capital norms for its members. Until 1952, research in VaR was not in progress. Two independent researchers namely Roy and Markowitz almost concurrently advanced but with different version of measuring the risks and the same were published in 1952. As per Holton (2003), the two authors mentioned above were engaged on establishing a way of choosing portfolios that would be facilitating to obtain the benefit for certain level of risk. Holton was of the view that it took nearly four decades until VaR measurement started to be broadly employed by companies and fi nancial instructions. As per Fernandez (2003), the worst financial crisis that occurred in 1987 and the crisis that forced to find a solution by the Basel Committee that all banks should keep adequate cash reserves so that it can cover probable losses in their trading assortment over a 10 –day marked and 99% of their time. With the help of VaR, the quantum of cash to be maintained will be decided. Due to poor risk management process and poor supervision, a huge volume of money can be lost, which was well evidence from the past financial crisis. Thus, VaR has widely been acknowledged as a breakthrough process due to historical errors that crept into the risk -management process. (Holton 2002). As of today, the usage of VaR is being widely employed in financial institutions but there is only limited usage of VaR in non-financial firms. This can be explained that why companies do not employ VaR as they do not normally predict their profits and losses on daily footings that are n ot impacted by volatility in prices in the short-run. However, Mauro (1999) stresses that VaR can be employed even by non-financial firms (companies) that are not impacted by volatility in prices, especially in a short-time horizon. Thus, the chief advantage of VaR is that it is a yardstick that can be employed to almost every

Neo Aristotelian Analysis of Sex and the City Essay

Neo Aristotelian Analysis of Sex and the City - Essay Example According to Bushnell, the main characters of the story are based on her and her friends in real life (Degtyareva, 2005). This inspiration from real life makes the series believable and identifiable. The story is told in first person by Carrie in the form of a narration. Carrie often talks to the audience in the middle of a scene to make a specific point. The first person narration also means that we see the lives of the four women through Carrie's perspective. This is important since it impacts the "character" aspect of the Neo-Aristotelian Analysis and will be discussed in details below. The entire series is set in Manhattan and so the overall character of the city also influences the characters and their actions. At the start of the series, the audience is introduced to the four friends who are all single and looking for love. Carrie is a writer, Samantha is in public relations, Miranda is a lawyer and Charlotte works in an art gallery. The four friends have contrasting characteri stics. For example, while Samantha is assertive and aggressive and has a number of short lived affairs, Charlotte is much more traditional and believes in marriage and relationships. The four main characters hope to find love and marriage and so are shown dating a number of men through the series in an attempt to find the right life partner. The main theme repeated several times through the series shows someone of the main cast finding what seems to be the perfect man but then realizing that the said man is not the right one. Keeping this overall theme in mind, we shall now attempt a Neo-Aristotelian Analysis of the Sex and the City series. Action: The Neo-Aristotelian Analysis defines action as "any occurrence performed by a character, be it physical, mental or emotional that furthers the plot, delineates character, or explains or dramatizes a theme" (Taflinger, 1996). Action consists of eight parts. These are exposition, problem, point of attack, foreshadowing, complications, cris is, the climax and the denouement. In Sex and the City, we see these eight parts of the action being repeated in every episode, every season and in the series as a whole. In other words, every single episode had an exposition which establishes the status quo at the beginning of the episode. This is quickly followed by the problem definition as we were introduced to an issue that needs to be solved. Some kind of complication furthers the story to the crisis point which is than solved by the characters in the climax. As such, each episode is a complete story on its own and any person not following the series could still enjoy a particular episode. Just as each episode is complete on its own because it follows the eight parts of action, similarly, each of the six season is a complete story on its own. And the whole series also follows the eight actions to form a complete story which can be said to have an exposition, a problem, a complication, crisis, climax and denouement. This charac teristic off Sex and the City is common to all sitcoms wherein every episode is a complete story on its own and the entire series also tells a story. This action is extremely important for the success of a sitcom because every audience, irrespective of whether or not he/she is regularly watching the show, should be able to enjoy the episode. The aim of each episode is to hook any new viewer as well as keep the old

How Taubman Technique Essay Example for Free

How Taubman Technique Essay How Taubman Technique can be applied to young beginners piano learning- using traditional materials Background information With hundreds of years of evolution in the study of elementary piano, nowadays materials of this sort have been widely available, perhaps even gone rampant. This article argues the effectiveness of solely relying on certain elementary piano methods to teach, without the incorporation of a more holistic approach to piano playing. The beneficiaries of the renowned Taubman approach to piano technique are mostly injured concert pianists, conservatory students, and piano teachers, people who lready have more or less a certain degree of piano proficiency. Since Taubman approach is so effective in helping intermediate and advance pianists, I would like to experiment the application of it to young beginning childrens piano lesson. Seeing that systematic materials for young beginner based on Taubmans approach are extremely limited, my goal is not only to incorporate part of Taubmans ideas to the standard beginning teaching, but to suggest a way to make it an essential part of teaching, using existing beginning materials. This article will discuss how the Taubman Technique can be systematically taught, learned in young beginners lessons with traditional materials, using the Alfreds Basic Piano Library lesson series as a model. The need to incorporate a more holistic approach to beginning piano teaching There is a huge array of beginning piano materials- Hal Leonard, the Music Tree, Alfreds Basic Piano Library, Piano Adventure and so on. The methodology each publishing company varies slightly. Hal Leonard Piano Student Piano Library starts with off- staff notation recognition, and the Music Tree starts with recognition of roups of two and three black notes. Most of the companies sell books introducing theory, lessons, and other activities at a sequence. For example, Hal Lenard has lesson books, technique books, theory books, ear training books, game books tc. , and in the first page of lesson book, a chart is used to explain the sequence. None of the piano methods is perfect or complete; each has its own unique combination of strengths and weaknesses. Contrary to popular belief, a child doesnt become great by going through the designated steps in a beginning lesson book. To know simple heory, history of mus ic, and enjoy some fun piano games may be important for a 6- year-old beginner, but its not the most important thing to make a good pianist. A young beginner becomes great when his coordination with the instrument is properly developed. We make motions to produce music, therefore, music and technique are inseparable, and technique is coordination. (Lister-Sink) The and young beginning students, its not so much as to pound the concepts on paper into their brains- the head knowledge, rather, its the connection between their body and the instrument they feel that sticks- the body knowledge. Without a deliberate emphasis on teaching in the physical aspect of playing, the teachers found the most popular piano method books insufficient to help the student reach his full potential. Thats why there are so many people who quit after learning the piano for couple years, and so many advanced students, even those in the conservatories, suffer piano related injury. That makes me wonder, what can supplement my teaching with the Alfreds Basic Piano Library materials, or more precisely, what makes the material stay with the students, how to ingrain the sense of playing to the students. I suppose its not about the methods, its about the truth in the mechanisms of piano playing. Since its the people, human beings, who invented piano and developed its technique, the piano technique must be something thats inherently natural, and there must be a set of principles that can solve any pianistic problems. Through couple lessons with Certified Taubman teachers and research, I found out there are governing principles thats beyond the scope of existing materials in piano teaching. These principles need to be included in the very first lessons, regardless of what material used. Why using the Taubman concept to teach Started in 1976 by Dorothy Taubman, a New York piano teacher, Taubman approach is a ground breaking analysis of the invisible motions that function underneath a virtuoso technique. Ms. Taubman and her analysis helped pianists overcome technical limitations as well as cure playing-related injuries. Before meeting Tauman, American pianist Leon Fleisher and professor of Peabody Institute of Music was forced to play with only one hand for many years due to playing related hand injuries.

Computer Crime :: essays research papers fc

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The technological revolution has taken full swing. If a business doesn't have some form of e-commerce, or if a person does not have some form of an e-mail address, they are seen as living in the stone age. This new world of virtual life, where with the click of a button a person can travel millions of miles in a few seconds, millions of new opportunities have arisen. However, someone has to always ruin the good things in life. Very similar to Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," where the second thing built in a Utopia was a prison, the advent of computer crime is only becoming more prevelant everyday. The whole idea of a computer crime is rather absurd indeed. Really, who wants to go around spray painting on computers anyway? Though the definition of computer crime varies from source to source, the most common being," any illegal act which oinvolves a computer system" (  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  "What is a computer..." p.1). This holds true even if the computer contains s omething as simple as a threatening e-mail. Computer crime in nature ranges from relatively small things such as software piracy to magnificent crimes like fraud.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Computer crime itself has metamorphasized from its mere infancy. In the late 1970's, a would-be criminal would need direct access to the actual computer terminal. This is because the most computer crime of that time actually involved hardware sabotage and theft, rather than a more software oriented problem. In the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, computer crime had elevated a notch with the advent of the inter-schiool network. This network was a connection of several major universities through modem lines. Educated computer users were now changing each others ideas and information, but not for the malicious, but instead for the better. The mid to late 1980s saw the rise of computer "hackers" such as Kevin Mitnick. kevin Mitnick was caught at least a half dozen times, with the charges ranging from criminal tresspassing to fraud. Mitnick had broken into several corporations' servers,n one being the well reknowned Sun Microsystems. When he was arrested Mitnick beca me a martyr and a heron to many teenage computer enthusiasts. These teens would be determined to carry on the symbolic spirit, or what they thought to be, of Kevin Mitnick. However, the computer crimes that thses users perpatrate cost small businesses and corporations millions each year, put restraints on legitimate computer users and still remain an extremely dangerous, costly and virtually unstoppable crime.

Group Dynamics in 12 Angry Men Essay

The 1957 Sidney Lumet directed classic 12 Angry Men, the film adaptation of a stage drama from a few years prior, is centered logistically and physically around an uncomfortably diverse set of men with a common goal of achieving a jury verdict in a murder trial.   Representing the greatest of organizational challenges, the plot forces these 12 instinctively conflicting personalities into the suffocating quarters of a shrinking jury deliberation room. The setting is consumed by a wilting pressure, as the men are isolated together on a sweltering summer day with the difficult task of assessing the terrible allegation at hand.   Lumet’s film is, on the one hand, an excellent discourse on morality and duty amongst a diversity of caricatures.   To another extent though, the work is a study on organizational behavior, producing a setting in which undefined roles are gradually filled by a combination of necessity and individual instinct.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Amongst the men collectively assigned to the task, numerous organizational roles begin to form and shift, with leaders, followers, thinkers and bullies occupying various positions throughout.   Though all are moved to address the same problem, each perceives it according to a perspective tied to his own experiences.   The task of reaching a verdict on the basis of evidence would require collaboration, but these prejudices and personalities distinction render this a continually elusive goal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It becomes clear quite immediately that leaders and followers are not strictly defined by their willingness to exercise power, but perhaps more by their varying senses of duty.   This is embodied by the narrative’s protagonist, who shows himself to be naturally imbued with a devotion to the propriety of the cause.   The eventual emergence of Juror #8, played to due complexity by Henry Fonda, illustrates that leadership is a capacity which comes with reason, communication and focus.   This is a distinct characterization from the founding of leadership in aggression or overbearing authority.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With respect to the organizational behavior apparent in this distinction, the critical viewer is inclined to consider the interesting pressure which is placed upon such a leader as Juror #8, who must attempt to levy a minority influence over a group of individuals mostly inclined by the desire to go home to cast their votes with relative unanimity.   In the face of eleven guilty votes, #8 felt that he had no choice but to enter a not guilty vote, bearing in mind the singular duty of the jury.   It was his contention that the primary objective here was not, as some had clearly seen it, to end this case with expediency, but instead to determine whether the defendant was guilty ‘beyond a reasonable doubt.’ This language represents the mission statement of the organization formed by the 12 man jury.   Juror #8 was the only individual to administrate the pursuit of this goal and, in a fashion that is reflective of the challenges potentially common to any working environment, was forced to do so in the face of hostile opposition, oppressive external circumstances and various informational challenges.   Instead of seeking to render each of these challenges to obscurity or allowing them to derail the organization from achieving its defined goal, Jury #8 illustrates a valuable managerial talent in motivating various members therein to consider their role in reaching said goal.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is through this plot movement that Lumet carefully draws out the process of ascension to group cohesion.   Indeed, this is no simple task, as Juror #8 must none-too-gently navigate the apprehension of some, the distortion of perspective in others and the outright irrational defiance of still others in order to steward the organization to a recognition of itself as a single working unit.   This is a useful point to consider, as we evaluate the many challenges related to personnel which would individually be forced to the surface by the protagonist’s tireless instigation of critical thought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After provoking some consternation for voicing his ‘reasonable doubt,’ Juror #8 pragmatically deconstructs the case, pointing out that the primary witness was an elderly woman who was not wearing her glasses at the time of the murder in question.   Moreover, the murder weapon, a switchblade knife which a store clerk claimed he sold to the defendant, was illustrated to be one of a possible infinitive of knives which looked nearly identical to the exhibit A knife. And perhaps most importantly, the victim of the murder was the defendant’s father and the close association and bad relationship between the two provoked a wealth of circumstantial evidence against the defendant.   From an organizational perspective, these are factors which can be looked upon as uncertain variables upon which critical scrutiny need be applied.   However, the flimsy nature of these variables is generally obscured by the persistence of a group conflict that is founded upon the disparate strands of personality which make up the jury.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Juror #8 skillfully weaves the primary goal of finding a correct verdict through the fabric of these case facts, appealing to what he senses is an experientially biased perspective in each juror, in order to invoke consideration of all these prospects.   It is thus that he encounters several phenomena of group dynamic which detectably play a part in obstructing the immediate achievement of intended goals. One effect in particular is that of conformity, which would play a significant part in stimulating some of the meeker jurors to assume the defendant’s guilt on the basis of popular consensus.   For many jurors falling into this category, the influence of many of the more vocal jurors would serve to intimidate or cloud individual perspectives, causing the minority perspective taken by Juror #8 to encounter pointedly steadfast opposition.   The meeker men would retain a strength in numbers that would allow them to hide from organizational responsibility.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For Juror #8, the situation of organizational unanimity without critical speculation would be in and of itself problematic.   We are not even certain as the audience that the juror is responding to a belief that the defendant was necessarily innocent.   Instead, there is a clear sense of concern over the propriety in carrying out the appropriate duty of the court.   Therefore, we see that the character was left with only the option of initiating conflict as a means to invoking the critical debate which would have otherwise been problematically absent from the proceedings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We may consider that the juror might have sought another approach than facing collectively and individually the obstructions to the deliberation of justice.   For one, a possible alternative for action in this circumstance may have been the call for a dismissal of certain jurors.   In particular, Juror #3, played by Lee J. Cobb, is driven by the damaged relationship he shares with his son and Juror #7, played by Jack Warden, is moved to action by his deep-seeded hatred for foreigners. In the self-appointed role of group leader, the protagonist must attempt to draw these individuals away from these distorting perspectives in order to understand the case on its own merits.   These facts of prejudicial perspective might have been treated as grounds for dismissal from the organization given the legal consideration surrounding such motives and the inherent contrariness which such motives posed to the mission of carrying out justice.   Such an alternative might have properly saved the organization the bottle neck to meeting its goal produced by the resistance of poorly oriented personnel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ultimately, however, Juror #8’s methods, while painstaking, were perhaps the most optimal, implementing as they did a careful strategy of communicative and practical organizational unity in spite of a seemingly irreconcilable spectrum of ideologies, personalities and intentions.   In the resolution of this unique film, the audience never does learn if the defendant is guilty of murder, but viewers are collectively moved to better understand the identifiable characteristics which constitute organizational responsibility.

Absolutism Pros And Cons Essay

The history of Absolutism began during the seventeen century during the transition from Feudalism to Capitalism in England and was known as â€Å"The Divine Right of Kings† England was experiencing a complete overthrow of their monarchy and its replacement was first by a Republic and then by a new and weakened monarchy. For England, at the end of the seventeen century they would see the erosion of the monarch’s powers in the â€Å"Glorious Revolution†. Absolutism was a form of government where the ruling monarchs were responsible for God and sovereignty was embodied in the King only. Despite the attempts by the Kings in England their idea of Absolutism didn’t hit its full power like it did when King Louis XIV of France took the throne. I believe I share the same opinion of the majority of people throughout this country and even worldwide that there are more cons and weaknesses of Absolutism than there are pros and strengths. I will start out with the cons and weaknesses. In all reality the notion that one man, a single â€Å"leader† could have all this power invested into him with a single view on the entire country’s personal choices, religious beliefs, lifestyle choices, culture and moral values is beyond insane and a form of slavery if you ask me. His views are not shared with the entire country and for a single person to be in control of them all is disturbing beyond belief. These monarchs were recognized as France’s supreme legislators, executors, judicators and ruler of the entire country. In other words, the judge, lawyers and jury! I would say that is a major â€Å"con† right there! Absolutism doesn’t take into account and even refuted any historical developments during the scientific revolution during the Enlightenment era. It also debunks science theories, new ideas on creation, morals theories, personal family values, individual lifestyles and evolutionary na ture of humanity in general. It also lacks cultural differences and many of the monarchs seemed intolerant to any cultural diversity. Another weakness is that Absolutism basically ignores the circumstances in which ethical judgments are made and in today’s world in the 20th and 21st centuries those are the very freedoms and liberties we have as Americans. It’s a nightmare looking back in history and learning about these wealthy, selfish and greedy unruly men being the kings and rulers of an entire country. Really one â€Å"mind† and â€Å"theory† for all? Thank goodness for the Enlightenment era when the intelligent, educated and morally sound men rose to the occasion to change the world in which they lived in from the dark ages into the â€Å"light† known as the Enlightenment period! The last â€Å"con† of Absolutism that is probably the most dangerous to their society was the fact that there was no Democratic legitimacy because the leader was not elected by the people he inherited the position by either a family passing away or given to them by a retiring king. So any liability and accountability is lacking when it comes to a bad ruling by an inefficient tyrant of a ruler. Some examples include religion beliefs and castration to the non-believers and followers, a rush to judgment for a crime the accused might not have committed with their â€Å"eye for an eye† outlook of cruel punishments because remember there was no trials, jurors and their â€Å"government† lacked that liberty to defend yourself and speak your mind in that era. It was a great moment in history when Absolutism hit its shelf life with the age of the Enlightenment on the rise with a more modernized way of thinking. The pros and strengths were hard to gather but taking my biased hat off for a moment I can open my mind to other people’s opinions and different views on Absolutism†¦.I guess. Absolutism can provide a fixed ethical code which gives clear moral judgments in situations where there is a need for ethical guidance. Their ideas are that morality isn’t based on individual or group preferences but rather on absolute and universal values. Some people feel it’s better to follow then to lead and it allows different societies to share common values. It could bring stability and a more civil society when everyone follows the same ruler, whether they agree with it or not, the ruler sets clear and simple rules which would any avoid conflicts, disagreements and any personal biases because options and consequences are not taken into account. This would be somewhat beneficial when it comes to decisions on war because decisions are reached and implemented quickly, as there is a no debate and bureaucracy involved. There is a sense of equality within the government because the same rules apply to everyone in every situation. In conclusion, it is common sense that having an Absolute monarchy government over a Democracy is absolutely insane. We have come a long way from the dark ages into the era of the Enlightenment, the Scientific and American revolutions, along with the end result of a strong U.S. Constitution and Bills of Rights that is now the foundation to our country’s civil liberties and freedoms we pride ourselves on and are very thankful to have.

How to Write Your Graduate School Admissions Essay

How to Write Your Graduate School Admissions Essay The admissions essay is often the least well-understood part of the graduate school application yet it is critical to your admissions success. The graduate admissions essay or personal statement is your chance to distinguish yourself  from other applicants and let the admissions committee know you apart from your GPA and GRE scores. Your admissions essay can be the deciding factor in whether you are accepted or rejected by a graduate school. Therefore, it is necessary that you write an essay that is honest, interesting, and well organized. How well you structure and organize your application essay can determine your fate. A well-written essay tells the admissions committee that you have the capacity to write coherently, think logically, and do well in grad school. Format your essay to include an introduction, a body, and a concluding paragraph. Essays are often written in response to prompts posed by the grad school. Regardless, organization is key to your success. Introduction: The introduction is the most important part of the essay, especially the first sentence. The first sentence introduces your essay and a bad introduction, in person or in writing, is detrimental to your admissions chances.The first sentence should be unique and compelling, possibly thought provoking or attention-grabbing.First sentences may explain your desire to study the subject of interest or discuss the motivation that influenced your desire to study the subject of interest. State it in a creative manner.The sentences following the first sentence should provide a brief explanation that supports the claim stated in the first sentence.Your goal for the introduction is to entice the reader to continue beyond the first paragraph. The Body: The body includes several paragraphs that provide detailed evidence to support the statements made in the introductory paragraph.Each paragraph should have a transition, which starts each paragraph with a topic statement that will be the theme of that paragraph. This gives the reader a heads up of whats to come. Transitions connect paragraphs to preceding paragraphs, enabling the essay to flow smoothly.Each paragraph should have a resolution, which ends each paragraph with a meaningful sentence that provides a transition to the next paragraph.Experiences, accomplishments or any other evidence that can support your claims should be included in the body. Future goals should also be mentioned in the body.A short summary of your educational background can be discussed in the 1st paragraph of the body.Personal experiences and the reasons for wanting to attend the school can be discussed in the 2nd paragraph.Do not simply repeat what was stated in the application.The last paragraph can exp lain why you are a good match for the program. Conclusion: The conclusion is the last paragraph of the essay.State the key points mentioned in the body, such as your experiences or accomplishments, that explain your interest in the subject. State it in a conclusive and brief manner.Convey your fit to the specific graduate program and field. Your essay should include detail, be personal, and specific. The purpose of the graduate admissions essay is to show the admission committee what makes you unique and different from other applicants. Your job is to display your distinct personality and provide evidence that confirms your passion, desire, and, especially, fit for the subject and the program.

How Do You Address Your Professional Background in a Job Search

How Do You Address Your Professional Background in a Job Search You might see the phrase â€Å"professional background† popping up now and then in your job search, but what does it mean? The quickest summary is that they’re asking for your  work history. But you shouldn’t stop there–no one really wants a dry list of previous employers. When a hiring manager wants to hear about your  Ã¢â‚¬Å"professional background,† they are looking to learn about your performance and history in your current and past professions.Where Should You Put It?The best place to share this information is perhaps at the top of your resume, in a summary of your qualifications or a career profile- both much more effective than the outmoded â€Å"Objective† section. With each job you apply for, make sure you’ve made a convincing map of your skills and experience as matching the requirements for the job.On a resume, the best way to format your work history and professional accomplishments is probably chronological. But you can also try formatting it in a way that emphasizes jobs you’ve had that are particularly relevant- by type.What Should You Say?Be as honest as possible about what you’ve done and where you’ve worked, but, with that in mind, emphasize your particular skills and expertise as strongly as possible.If you don’t have a white-collar background with fancy managerial positions, that shouldn’t matter. What matters most is your professionalism, how you conducted yourself on the job, and how much you have grown. Showing your record of acting  responsibly and accountably, with excellence and integrity, will do you a world of good.  It’s still a â€Å"professional† background even if you feel your job is not fancy.Go Beyond Just Paid JobsRemember to include training and education- which are more than just academic credentials. Any certifications or skills training or onboarding you’ve acquired in the course of your career are relevant and quite important.Remember, how you look on paper is only the first step. Your resume is a partial summary of your professional background. Use it to get in front of a hiring manager or recruiter, and then expand upon the bullet points while you have the face time.And keep in mind: when an interviewer asks you to tell them about your professional background, remember that they want more than just a chronological list of jobs that they could read straight off your resume. Present yourself professionally, and your background can provide the extra boost you need.

Environmental Issue Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Environmental Issue - Essay Example Mr. Brown thinks problems like global warming, soil erosion, water shortage and population growth should be addressed first; whereas, Mr. Paarlberg argues that aids directed to the betterment of education, agriculture, infrastructure development etc. will be sufficient to address the problem. Parties to the effort are also a subject of disagreement. Paarlberg thinks developed countries especially the US should take the initiative; whereas, Brown thinks all the counties together should make an effort to solve the problems like water-soil crisis, global warming etc. (Easton, 2011). In some respect both of them are right; but Mr. Brown is more right. For a sustainable and long term solution to the problem of food shortage soil condition and water condition of a region must be improved and global warming must be harnessed on a long term basis by â€Å"restoration of forest, soils and aquifers†. Poverty must be eradicated and population must be stabilized. For the last two efforts developing countries can use some foreign aids (Easton, 2011). 2. Genetically Modified Foods Scientists have found out a way to transfer genes from one living organism to another and give bacteria, plants, animals etc. new features. When similar modification is done in our sources foods like grains, fruits, vegetables or live stocks we get Genetically Modified (GM) food. ... Mr. Coleman argues that to meet the growing demand of food GM food is a solution; whereas, Mr. McDonagh thinks that the problem lies in distribution, not in demand-supply. Mr. Coleman claims that production of GM food requires less chemical and water, whereas yield is higher. Mr. McDonagh completely disagrees and said that though there is an initial saving of cost, the cost of producing GM foods increases after few years and there in no significant increase in yield. Mr. Coleman tries to argue that farming of GM corps for a continuous period of 10 to 12 years has produced no adverse effect on environment and human being; therefore it is harmless. Where as Mr. McDonagh thinks this period is too short to draw any conclusion (Easton, 2011). It is hard to accept Mr. Coleman’s argument and even harder to consume GM foods. Until now there is no real food shortage in the world; only distribution must be improved greatly. Land- reform, social equality and cheaper credit will improve t he distribution of food. Another point is: production of GM food will make us dependent on few big corporate and there is no guarantee that they will help the poor. Moreover, playing with god’s creation and questioning his might is not good (Easton, 2011). 3. Organic Farming Organic farming refers to a practice that utilizes natural, non synthetic nutrient cycling process; almost exclude synthetic pesticides; and sustain or regenerate soil quality. The practice may include cover crops, manure, compost, crop rotation etc. (Easton, 2011). The topic of debate is: â€Å"Can organic farming feed the world?†. Ms. Catherine Badgley says yes and Mr. John J. Miller says no. Badgley claims that organic farming has enough potential to produce sufficient