Marketing Management Week 5

Strategic planning at the corporate level involves the formulation of strategies to achieve the corporate goals and objectives. Corporate goals and objectives are the specific goals or objectives that the company is striving to achieve to fulfill the corporate mission and vision. Examples of corporate strategies include product differentiation strategy which is employed by a company when the product or service launched to the market is something that does not exist yet in the market. At the division level, strategic planning involves the formulation of strategies to attain the divisional objectives and goals of the company. The company may be divided into functional divisions (marketing, finance, production, and human resource) which have functional goals and objectives. To reach these goals and objectives, the company devises strategic plans for each functional division. For instance, the company might have decided to use the just-in-time production strategy to attain the goal of reduced storage cost. Finally, strategic planning at the business unit level involves the formulation of strategies to achieve the goals or objectives of the strategic business units (SBUs). If the structure of the company is divided into product SBUs, for example, then as part of the strategic planning, the product SBU goals and objectives should be attained. Product SBU strategies may include promotional strategies to achieve product SBU goals like 100 percent increase in profit of a certain product line. (2) The marketing process involves conducting a situational analysis by considering the internal and external environment to determine the opportunities and threats the company may face. It also involves formulation of strategy by using the company’s strengths to exploit the opportunities and minimize threats and improve weaknesses (SWOT analysis). This would be followed by marketing mix decisions concerning the four P’s of marketing (product, place, promotion, and price). Finally, the marketing plan is implemented and adjusted in accordance to changes in consumer preferences. (3) A marketing plan includes a situational analysis to investigate the internal and external environment of the company. This involves conducting a company analysis where the goals and current capabilities (strengths and weaknesses) of the company are identified. This is followed by the presentation of market segmentation which involves identifying your market and how they can be divided into different groups of customers (segments). Through market segmentation, the company would be able to customize its approach to different market segments in order to satisfy the needs or preferences of each market segment. A marketing plan also includes a discussion of alternative marketing strategies. This part discusses the marketing strategies the company considered to employ before deciding to pursue the recommended strategy. Examples of alternatives marketing strategies include re-branding and discontinuing a product line. Finally, the marketing strategies for each of the four P’s of marketing (product, place, promotion, and price strategies) are discussed. (4) A thorough market research is imperative to effectively manage the marketing process the central focus of which is the market needs and preferences. Since the ultimate goal of the marketing process is to satisfy the needs and wants of the customers in order to maximize profit, a company needs to learn about all the details concerning its target market. Hence, the company has to conduct a market research on what would satisfy the customer’s needs and preferences. In this way, the company would be able to successfully manage the marketing process. This would also ensure that there is an existing market for the product. Â  An effective implementation of the marketing process would prevent the company from having financial losses due to bad investments. References Netmba.com (2007). The marketing process. Retrieved November 15, 2007, from http://www.netmba.com/marketing/process/ Quickmba.com (2007). Marketing plan outline. Retrieved November 15, 2007, from http://www.quickmba.com/marketing/plan/ Â  

Marketing Management Essay

The brand is the most important factor in the marketing strategy of a company. Brand represents the name under which a company markets a product and therefore it is an important factor in the overall growth sale of the product. A brand identifies a product from similar other products. In marketing a brand is perhaps the most important factor that differentiates the performance of same products in the market. There will be strong and weak brands in the market but this depends on the product quality and the appeal that the company markets to the target consumers. Stronger brands tend to sell more events without marketing since they have already won the heart of the consumers. A brand strategy can be defined as an important strategy that a company takes to market its product. A brand strategy is an important strategy that is undertaken by a company to create a strong brand in the market. There are important factors that a company has to take into consideration in formulating a brand strategy. Aaker came up with important factor that a company has to consider in their brand strategy in order to ensure that there is overall success of the brand in the market. Brand equity is a term which stem from the greater confided that consumer has in a brand compared to the competing brands in the market. This is the way in which consumers perceive a certain brand as more fulfilling to their needs when compared with other brands in the market. It is brand confidence which later translates to the consumer loyalty in a brand. This confidence also helps the consumer to be able to pay a certain premium price in order to obtain certain product in the market. This paper will look closely into brand equity in light of the Aakar model. It will look into the application of brand equity following the Aaar model for Blacks which is one of the leading shopping outlets in Britain. It will apply the four factors to make recommendation to the board on what the company can undertake to develop strong brand equity. Background of the company Black Leisure Group is one of the leading companies in the UK that holds different shopping outdoor groups under that name. The company has been raised an important preference to customer owing to strong brands they have created in the market. Under the company there are three outdoor groups which operate under that name. These include millet, Blacks, Free Spirit, Mambo, and O’Neill Rectal and O’Neill Whole sale. Millet is the largest outdoor retail in the UK and has specialized in the provision of all the products which are used in various outdoor activities. On the other hand Mambo and Free sprit are the leading rattail chain in the emerging UK board wear market. The company has been able to consolidate the retail outdoor marketing by positioning different outlets in different markets. This has ensured that there is a high level of specialization from each retail outlet which has given the company a competitive edge when company to others. This is because all the groups under the name market different product and they are able to give the best owing to a high level of specialization. Freespirit is the leading UK shop which is known for distribution of the surf, skate and snowboard, footwear and others. The demand of the product in the market has been increasing and currently there are more than 30 free sprit stores distributed all over the UK. They mainly cater for the young, active and the fashion conscious men and women who have shown increasing need for these products. On the other hand Mambo has risen to be a leading Australian surf and street wear brand. The product was launched in 1984 in a pair of some reasonable authentic board shorts and a small range of oversized t-shirts. The brand has grown over the years from an irrelevant and sardonic brand into an icon in the surf wear labels. This has been achieved through effective brand management strategy which has made the brand a name in the surf wear segment. O’Neill has grown to become a leading name in the world of board wear. The Black Leisure Group plc has been the exclusive right of distribution of this brand. The brand in sold in wholesale and retain in the whole of UK and currently there are about 8 outlets which operate under the name of O’Neill mainly selling the board wear. The Board wear Division is comprised of the wholesale and the retail arms of the O’Neill brand which has risen to become one of the leading names in the board wear market. In order to consolidate the market well, the group has been given an exclusive distribution right for the brand in the UK market. Dimension of brand equity Brand equity is build around brand personality. Bother terms are important and they are used to support the other. Brand personally describes the core factors which to identify brand. These are the characters of a brand which helps a certain market segment to identify with that brand compared to all the other brands in the same category. Brand personality is therefore a measure of personality related to a brand in the market. Brand personality is an important concept that helps to identify the brand with the target market. It is personalization of any brand according to the target market. Brand personality is therefore the profile of any brand which is used as an analogy with human beings. They are those characteristic which will assist somebody to like the certain brands compared to the other brands in the same market. There are many considerations that a customer makes when they are in the market. There are those consideration that will make the customer get more attracted to buy a product while there are those which will make someone to dislike a brand even before it they have had an experience with it. Therefore there are specific characteristics in a brand that helps the customer to choose one brand from the other. When we go shopping we usually make a number of considerations which can be cognitive, economical or psychological. For example unless we are doing impulse shopping we will always purchase a product that we need. This means that we must have a physiological factor that is compelling us to purchase that product. But when we go shopping, we are likely to meet different brands in the market. Among all those brands we are supposed to purchase one. At this juncture there is different consideration that we will make to choose one brand from all those we find in the shop. One of the considerations we are like to make is the economic consideration. Most researches have shown that customers are likely to by that product that will give them maximum utility from the amount that they will invest. No one is likely to purchase a product that will not give them the needed value. We will also make cognitive consideration like we are likely to purchase products that we think matches our class. In this case this might also depend on the place where we are going to shop. All these factors are found in the brand that we are purchase. We will purchase the brand that will earn more marks after going through this consideration. This is an important factor in the marketing and the branding strategy since a brand will tend to include most of the characteristic which will enable it to appeal to the target market. Therefore brand personality will be the characteristic in this brand which will help the customer to give it more markets when compared to the rest of the brands. These are the characteristic of the brand that makes the customer seen the brand as more fulfilling to other needs compared to the other brands. They are important factor in that brand that can reflect their personal characteristic. If a customer thinks they live in the upper class, then they are likely to purchase products which also reflect an upper class even if they are the same with others. There has to be a difference that the customer will attribute to that brand that will make them differentiae it with other brands. This will help them to make the final decision to purchase the product. Therefore brand equity as build around brand personality can be described as the incremental value of a certain product which can be attributed to that brand. It is the value that a consumer will attach to a product owing the strength of the brand in the market or owing to the overall value that the consumers are likely to attach to that certain brand. They are important aspects of the product that have helped the consumer to develop confidence in the brand and which makes them to ultimately choose to pay a certain price for that product compared to the others in the market. Brand equity according to Aaker According to Aaker, there are important steps that brand must go through in order to win the said confidence of the consumers. These are important steps that the brand goes through in the market before it is finally recognized by the consumer and before it makes an impact in the consumer market. The following are the important stages that are important in building brand equity: †¢ Awareness of the brand †¢ Brand association †¢ Perceive quality †¢ Brand loyalty †¢ Other brands asset or the competitive advantage Aakder assert that brand equity gives value to customer through building the capacity of the customer to interpreter and process the information and to develop confidence in the decision making process as we described above. It also helps to raise the valve of customer by enhancing the user satisfaction of the brand. (Aaker 1991, p. 92) On the other hand the same brands equity provide value to firms through the enhancement of efficient and the effectiveness of the marketing program, enhancing brand loyalty, prices and the margin, and through enhancing the extension, the leverage of trade and raising its competitive advantage of the brand. (Neumeier 2006, p. 38) Brand equity is therefore useful to both consumers and the firms. It is an important marketing process that determines the way a product is received by consumers and how it performs owing the seen value to the consumers. (Chu and Hean 2006, p 24) Application of the brand equity model to Blacks Leisure Group To accept and understand the applicability of brand equity model, we will review how this model can be applied to Black Leisure group to understand how the company has built its brands over the years. We will also give recommendation on the further steps that can be undertaken by the company to develop its brand more in the market in view of the personality qualities of the consumers who purchases products from the company. Black Leisure Group is one of the companies which have build strong brand in the UK market. The company has been specializing in an exception market which can be perceived to have low demand of the product but apparently it is one of the biggest marketing the UK. The market has been growing over the years and the company has responded by producing various brands which are targeted to satisfy the growing market Brand awareness This is the initial step in any brand equity strategy. Brand awareness will encompass various efforts that are carried out by any company in order to raise the awareness of its brand in the market. Brand awareness is usually achieved through a number of ways which are aimed at ensuring that the brand reaches to the target market. (Keller 2003, p. 50) Black Leisure Group has been making important steps in creating the awareness of their brands. The most important steps that have been taken by the company have been through advertisement in various advertising outlets. Advertisement remains the single most important activities that can be used by any company in order to create brand awareness in the market. The company has carried out various advertisements in the mass media which are aimed at reaching the target market. However the company has not explored all the available channels to advertisement its product. It overlies on its website to take its proudest to the market. This means that brand awareness is only limited to the segment of the market which is searching for outdoor wear. It should diversify its advertisement strategy so as to reach wide segment of the market even for those who are not involved in advertisement. Brand association Brand association is an important factor in brand equity. Brand association describes the extent to which customers can actually association with the brand that is being sold in the market. Brand association is determined by the extent to which a brand can satisfy the demands of the consumers. (Ailawadi, Donald and Scott 2003, p. 43) Black Leisure Group has come up with effective brands which the consumers can associate with. The Group has identified important characteristics in their target market group and the therefore it has produced products which reflect the needs of this group. Brand association comes as result of the product bearing the most important characteristic that the target consumers can identify with. The company should therefore come up with an effective market data that will identify the specific characteristics which can be used by the target group to identify with. In order to understand the important characteristics the company will include in its product, an effective market study should be carried out which well help the company to formulate brand strategy to identify with the target consumers. Perceived quality Perceived quality describes how the consumer thinks they will get in the products compared to what they would get from another brand. It is the comparative advantage of a brand compared to the others. Perceived quality is important in the purchase decision making process since it is the main factor that is considered by the consumers before they purchase their product. For a company like Black Leisure Group, consumers will make decision on whether to buy their products depending on the quality of their brands compared to other brands in the market. In order to rise the perceive quality of their brands, the company should come up with high quality demands that will meet the needs of the consumer and offer them at an affordable prices. This will ensure that the consumer finds more value for their money. Brand loyalty The brand loyalty in a brand comes only after the customer has experienced the product and when they find that the product satisfies their demands. It is an after purchase experience of the product that makes the consumers to identify with a particular brand. When the consumer finds that the products are satisfying their demands, they are likely to purchase it again unlike when the product does not satisfy their demand. (Keller 2003, p. 41) Black Leisure Group has provided their customer with goods which keeps them coming again. Most of the consumer in these shops has been repeated buyers which mean they have already experienced the quality of the products from these shops and they are likely to go for more of their products again. However the company should invest more in the development of their brand in order to address the changing consumer demands. With the increased globalization, customers are having experiences of different products and the marketing strategy has to be kept up to date with the new developments in the market. This will ensure that the company meets the changing nature of consumer demands. (Leuthesser, Kohli and. Harich 1995, p. 92) Competitive advantage Competitive advantage describes how a brand appeals to the consumers compared to the other brands in the market. Competitive advantage is the sum of all the above process we have reviewed and it describes the specific way in which the brand appeals to the consumer when the compare its value and that of other brands. The Black Leisure Group products have created a competitive advantage over the other brands in the market by given consumer value for their brands. It has ensured that it provides quality products that meet the needs of the consumers. Conclusion and recommendations Black Leisure Group has strived to create strong brands in the market which has become its important selling point. The company has risen to become a leading outlet for outdoor activity wears. However there are still important areas that the company can improve on in order to widen its market base. The company should come up with more advertisement activities which will ensure that it targets a large customer base. The company should also come up with a variety of needed products which are more aimed at addressing the changing nature of consumer demands in the market.

1981 Springbok Tour Essay Example for Free

1981 Springbok Tour Essay ? Focus Question: What was the background to the 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand? For 56 days in July, August and September 1981, New Zealanders were divided against each other in the largest civil disturbance seen since the 1951 waterfront dispute. More than 150,000 people took part in over 200 demonstrations in 28 centres, and 1500 were charged with offences stemming from these protests. To some observers it might seem inconceivable that the cause of this unrest was the visit to New Zealand of the South African rugby team (the Springboks). Although not a major sport on a global scale, rugby has established itself not only as New Zealand’s number one sport but as a vital component in this country’s national identity. In many ways the playing of rugby took a back seat in 1981, and the sport suffered in the following years as players and supporters came to terms with the fallout from the tour. Some commentators have described this event as the moment when New Zealand lost its innocence as a country and as being a watershed in our view of ourselves as a country and people. Usefulness of evidence to focusing question: This is useful because it shows me evidence on what New Zealanders thought on about rugby. It shows that rugby sport is a background to New Zealanders because it’s their number 1 sport. This is part of a useful website, www.nzhistory.net.nz. This source is reliable because this source is that its not something someone has said or someone has typed that was from the 1981 springbok tour. It is basic facts. 1981 Springbok Tour. (2016, Oct 11).

Marketing Process Model by Robert J. Dolan Term Paper

Marketing Process Model by Robert J. Dolan - Term Paper Example In the context of the organisations overall business practices, 75% of total products and services are exported in more than 100 nations through its 33 international offices (EADS, n.d.). The inclusion of Airbus within its business is one of the major beneficial factors for EADS in its global aircraft manufacturing process. EADS is further recognised as the major European industrial flagship which combines the major capabilities of four main market leaders of the global aircraft industry such as Airbus, Cassidian, Astrium as well as Eurocopter [1] (EADS, 2013). From the perspective of identifying the major customer base, it can be stated that the governments as well as the private sectors across the globe which incorporate aircraft facilities for military as well as commercial purposes are its key customers. The government of the UK is one of the major customer segments for EADS in terms of acquiring aircraft services in the nation for different purposes including both in the militar y as well as in the commercial service sectors. Moreover, it has been also observed that the overseas countries such as North America, Australia, India, Russia, China, Brazil as well as Middle East Countries, apart from the UK are also the major markets for EADS to deliver its range of innovative commercial as well as military aircrafts [2] (EADS, 2013).Airbus SAS is one of the major subsidiary companies of EADS which offers several kinds of jet-liner products, including military communication aircrafts, commercial airline aircrafts.... t manufacturing as well as aerospace commercial service industry with regard to various competitive marketing tools such as Marketing Situation Analysis, STP model as well as marketing mix. 2. Major Customers around the World In relation to the business performance of the organisation, it can be witnessed that the European roots of EADS is quite stronger. However, the aerospace and defence industry based operations of EADS is one of the major considerations for the organisation which entails a range of products and services both for the European and the global markets as well. In the context of the organisations overall business practices, 75% of total products and services are exported in more than 100 nations through its 33 international offices (EADS, n.d.). The inclusion of Airbus within its business is one of the major beneficial factors for EADS in its global aircraft manufacturing process. EADS is further recognised as the major European industrial flagship which combines the major capabilities of four main market leaders of the global aircraft industry such as Airbus, Cassidian, Astrium as well as Eurocopter [1] (EADS, 2013). From the perspective of identifying the major customer base, it can be stated that the governments as well as the private sectors across the globe which incorporate aircraft facilities for military as well as commercial purposes are its key customers. The government of the UK is one of the major customer segments for EADS in terms of acquiring aircraft services in the nation for different purposes including both in the military as well as in the commercial service sectors. Moreover, it has been also observed that the overseas countries such as North America, Australia, India, Russia, China, Brazil as well as Middle East Countries, apart

Article Summary ( Financial Planning and Accounting) Essay

Article Summary ( Financial Planning and Accounting) - Essay Example The accountant is the major channel through which quantitative information flows to management† (Lynch & Williamson, 1976, 6). The essay aims to address the following questions after a review of three articles on the subject of finance, accounting or ethical standards, to wit: (1) discuss the key differences in accounting and finance; (2) discuss the types of reports accounting and finance personnel generate and the purpose of the reports; and (3) compare and contrast the types of business decisions that can be made using accounting and finance information. Key Differences in Accounting and Finance Dr. Castro of LeTourneau University briefly presented the differences in accounting and finance by examining their primary functions. Accordingly, accounting is focused on the development and generation of data that measure the accurate quantitative performance of an organization, evaluating its financial status, and to compute for the taxes the firm has to pay.

Teacher Performance Assessment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Teacher Performance Assessment - Case Study Example For example, he uses the words abuelita and abuelito to refer to his grandmother and grandfather. There is evidence of his poor writing and oral skills in his writing about the family and oral response respectively. Most of his sentences are incomplete, and his spoken words have a weak structure.   Student activity or instructional strategy presented on the second day could be challenging to Guillermo. The instructional strategy demands the student to hold a discussion based on the defining features of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. The activity also requires the entire class to design a chart that will highlight the features of each and every rock that will be discussed. Every student will be required to cooperate during every stage of the discussion. In addition, all groups of students who cooperate during the discussion will be provided with additional ten rocks. The students will be required to arrange the rocks into different categories on the basis of their characteristics. Afterwards, the students will draw a picture that is appropriate and write matching paragraph about the features of the different rocks. These are metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks. The reason I chose the activity or learning strategy employed on the second day is because of the student’s poor writing and oral skills. Guillermo reads English that is two years below his fourth grade level. This will make it difficult for him to efficiently participate in a discussion based on the defining features of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks (Scriven 23). He will face several challenges when grammar that is technical is used during speaking or writing on the rocks. In addition, the student is socially shy; this will also hinder his active participation during the discussion. His poor writing skills will also isolate him when the rest of the students are making a chart for the rocks that are being studied. The

Internal combustion engine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Internal combustion engine - Essay Example Since the ports remains open during up word stroke, the actual compression starts only after both inlet and exhaust ports have been closed. So actual compression ratio and the thermal efficiency of the two stroke cycle engine is less than that of four stroke engine of the same dimension. In two stroke cycle engines the number of power strokes per minutes are twice the power strokes of four stroke cycle engine. So the capacity of cooling system used must be higher. The cooling of the engine also presents difficulty as quantity of heat remover per minutes is large. The piston gets over heated due to firing in each revolution and oil cooling of the piston is necessary. In two stroke cycle engine some of the fresh charge is mixed with burnt fuel and exhaust through the exhaust port which causes high fuel consumption. So two stroke cycle engine is not widely used except in the case where size is compact for example light vehicles, scooters, out board motor, motor cycle etc .Large two stroke cycle engine are generally CI engines. Two stroke CI engines are better for slow and moderate speeds.

Budgeting db5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Budgeting db5 - Essay Example The company would have budgeted unwisely making the budget deficits occur due to poor budget plan. Poor budget plans are source to monetary crisis. The foundation need to assess the risk and re-strategize on the important issues that will assure the children’s summer takes place. The strategy should focus on the strengths of the company, which will help sustain the company in the crisis. Another way to go about the debacle is to share the expense of the evenly in the company endeavors so that every department has little to go around and finding the balance in the budget. The budget restructuring will make economic sense when the company has in place a strategic direction in the crisis period. The company must accept the crisis to move on quicker through tightening the use of money in the company. The expenditure needs to be trimmed to a sizable amount in order to make the company survive the hit. More caution on the use of funds should be placed with scrutiny monetary utility

Community Health Advocacy Project Part Five Essay

Community Health Advocacy Project Part Five - Essay Example Another key observation from the result of the questionnaire was that after the research was done to Belle Glade community was leading in number of the individuals infected, with 447 (73%) of the addresses randomly selected found with HIV as compared to Western Palm Beach Country which had HIV prevalence of 7/447 (1.6%, 95% CI: 0.4, 2.7) and 5/286 (1.7%, 95% CI: 0.2, 3.3) in Belle Glade (p = 0.2 in comparison with 1986). My aim, therefore, is to bridge the depravity gap, ascertaining the needs, and helping to decrease HIV/AIDS in the Glades area For the aforementioned objective to be met that is intensifying and mobilization of resources, both the Government and the Non-Governmental organization has to play a vital role in achieving this, the government should come into partnership with world-wide anti-HIV organization such as the Chevron as these organizations accumulate funds, from charity organizations, donation, these funds can then be channeled into the three levels of prevention to our aggregate’s health concern, Belle Glade Community. Another intervention, is by the social media, the social media should stress and emphasis the importance of abstaining, and having protected intercourse, that is for the primary level of the disease, and for the tertiary level of the disease, the media should advocate for the use of retroviral drugs, encouraging the victims, to use them, â€Å"it should advise the youths on substantial abuse, making it well-known that it is one way through which they can acquire the Immune Deficiency Virus† (James, 2008). Following the results, it will be rather prudent for men themselves to take care for their lives, by taking care of themselves, abstaining from unprotected sex, and attending regular medical checks in case of any suspicion. Towards my next objective that is, ascertaining the needs, and helping to

Smart Phone Uses by Health Professionals Presearch Methodology and Essay

Smart Phone Uses by Health Professionals Presearch Methodology and Procedures - Essay Example Due to the limitation of resources, the research will target small health organizations and individual health professionals. For the health organizations, we will target the senior-most manager we can reach and the average healthcare professional from the same organization. This will enable us to compare the feedback given by the parties so that we can analyze/validate the differences found (Creswell 10). For the individuals, we have decided to target as many individual health professionals as possible from the diverse organizations, departments and other institutions. This kind of diversity encourages diverse responses, thus enabling us to make a more solid conclusion as compared to limiting our participants. Procedure Our research question concentrates on the effectiveness of smart phone applications by health professionals. Since we are using the quantitative and the qualitative research methods, we settle to use the questionnaires, which fall under the quantitative method and the interviews, which fall under the qualitative method. We have prepared fifteen questions on the questionnaires. Most of the questions are open-ended questions so that we can allow the participants to be speculative. Such questions encourage personal opinions too. In order to allow comparison, most of the questions appearing in the questionnaires are in the interview form. ... a potential participant that, they were only supposed to answer a questionnaire that was only fifteen questions long, than telling one which is way above that number. Our target is to get at least three health providing organizations and one hundred health professionals. We will incorporate the top management in an organization so that they can convince the employees to take part. By using this approach, we will be able to get more participants as compared to convincing individuals to take part. Questionnaires will be sent to the participants through their emails, mails, text messages, hand deliveries or picking them up in a designated area at the workplace. These methods of issuance will allow the participants to give answers to the various questions, at their convenience. The questionnaires will be distributed one and a half months before the time they are expected to be submitted, to ensure that the participants gain ample time to answer the questions. The submission date will be stated one month before the due date of the research submission. This will give use adequate time to analyze the data collected. It will also give an allowance for late submissions. We are targeting doing as many one-on-one interviews as possible. We want to carry out the interviews to the top management of the organizations. Since most of the managers already asked to take part are not comfortable with recording the interview, we will write down the answers received from the interview questions. However, a lot of keenness will be involved in order to avoid distractions. We will also interview the health professionals. Interviews will either take place face to face or through the use of phones (landline or cell-phone). However, we want to have as many face-to-face interviews as possible

What Is Philosophy Essay Example for Free

What Is Philosophy Essay Philosophy is integrated into every individual’s life. This essay will analyse the differences between Western, Chinese and Indian traditions. It will evaluate what it is that constitutes a valid philosophical enquiry and investigate different branches of philosophy. It will also look into the ways in which philosophy is utilised in contemporary society and the ways in which language impact on philosophy. Greco-Roman tradition originally came from Greek and Pagan culture, later gaining influences from other cultures. When the belief in the actual existence of Gods and Goddesses died, reasons needed to be provided for human existence, the purpose of life, and the problems of living in a civilisation. This saw the Greek philosophy grow and the traditions main issue was to define and describe human life and conditions. The tradition later became known as Western tradition, as the Greek’s and Roman’s used ideas from other cultures and ingrained them within their tradition. This still remains a key feature of Western tradition today. There are few surviving original sources of the tradition, preserved by Catholic and Orthodox monasteries, despite their differences to Christian teachings. The influences from Western tradition are key features in society today. It provided reason and science which can be seen as the ground works for technology and science today. â€Å"From the Greco-Roman period came respect for the rule of law, the idea of natural law, and, for its day, toleration of religious beliefs. † (Pappas, 2005) If anything was so prevalent in society today it would be that thought. The ability to live among others with different beliefs but still all follow the same laws is a necessity in todays society. The Western tradition taught us to question who we are and respect individuality, a teaching which lives on to this day. Dissimilar to Western tradition, which looks to define human life and conditions, the Chinese traditions main aim is to keep harmony at all times. Confucius was China’s most famous philosopher. â€Å"The most important thing to Confucius was Jen, or human kindness, love of man. Jen is the ideal feeling of warmth, kindness, dignity, and respect that should develop between two people. † (Powell, 2000, p. 95) The Chinese tradition is one of practicality, therefore the importance of logic is paramount. Logic sees that everything is subject to change, and that opinions and beliefs are of their time and place. Differing to the Western tradition, the Chinese took few ideas from other cultures, highlighting the desire for China to remain separated from other societies. It did however, take influence from Buddhism, but even this was adapted to suit Chinese culture. The Chinese tradition believes that to remain harmonious is of more importance than finding the truth. Followers of Chinese tradition may not see it fit to unburden themselves of their woes onto others as this is not harmonious. Arguably the oldest surviving tradition, Indian tradition aims to eliminate unhappiness and create nirvana, the cessation of suffering. Unlike the Western tradition, both the Chinese and Indian combine philosophy and religion. Indian tradition however does so more harmoniously by combining them both equally. Because of this, Indian tradition is compared to a Banyan tree, with its deep roots and tangled canopy representing the intertwining of Indian philosophies and religions. Buddhism is originated from India. This philosophy believes in karma, that what you are reincarnated as is a reflection of your past life. From a cynical point of view, it could be seen that followers of Buddhism are kind only to protect their reincarnation, and that it is not a selfless act they are carrying out, just one which will benefit them in their next life. It is important that all philosophical enquiries are valid so correct outcomes are produced. There are many elements that constitute a valid philosophical enquiry. It must not be biased or favour one side. It must be non-emotional and it must be able to bring together the deductive and inductive methods of reasoning. It is arguable that for the enquiry to be valid it would need to be proven. This may not be the case and it could be believed that it would just need to not be disproved. For example, it has not been proved that God ever existed, however it has not been disproved. Therefore, the question as to whether there is or was a God, is a valid philosophical enquiry. A valid philosophical enquiry should only be based on evidence and not include feeling or opinion. The final conclusion of the enquiry should then be interpreted and evaluated. No hasty predictions should be made as it should be based just on fact. Descartes provides his process when producing a philosophical enquiry in Discourse on Method. (See appendix 1) There are many different branches of philosophy. Romanticism is originated from 18th century Germany. Romantics react negatively to what the modern world does to people, for example the effects modern day technology have on human interaction. Jean-Jacques Rousseau marked the way for the Romanticism movement as he â€Å"believed that civilisation was a corrupting influence on people, who are instinctively good † (Kindersley, 2011, p. 144) Romantics are very much against the dehumanisation of the modern world where technology replaces people. A romantic might argue that the self-service check outs provided at most supermarkets have a negative effect on human interaction as there is no need to communicate with people face to face now when shopping. Romanticism links with another branch of philosophy, Environmentalism. This philosophy is concerned with keeping the planet green. Environmentalists, like Romantics, are concerned with the developments happening in society and the effects they could have on the planet and those within in the future. In complete contrast to Romanticism and Environmentalism, The Enlightenment is another branch of philosophy. It also originated in 18th century Western Europe but is closely allied with science. It challenges the rule of religious superstition and tradition and uses science to provide most, if not all, of the answers. It sits well with the development in human beings and their surroundings. Ethics is a branch of philosophy that moves with the times. As society, religion, and politics move forward, so do the ethics within those institutions. It is perfectly possible that the ethical issues one experienced in their upbringing could totally differ from those they experience in their adult life. Ethics is a system of values where certain things are â€Å"right† and certain things are â€Å"wrong†. Abortion is a subject that has always been surrounded by moral and ethical issues. (See appendix 2, BBC, 2013) Until 1967, abortion was illegal in England. This however, does not mean it did not happen. In the 1950’s, when abortion was still illegal, mothers carrying unwanted babies would seek non medical personnel to carry out abortions. This was highlighted in a recent episode of Call the Midwife, a drama series based on the personal experiences of an East End midwife in the 1950’s, where a mother had an illegal abortion which lead to her contracting septicaemia. (‘Episode 5’, 2013) Times have clearly moved on, and today abortions are far more available and medically safe. But that does not mean that the ethical views of some have changed with the times, regardless of whether the law has changed. It is important to consider teleological and deontological theories when dealing with ethics. Teleological theorists believe that it is the end result of an action that determines whether the action was good or bad. Deontological theorists however, believe that each action in itself is good or bad, regardless of the consequences. (Harrison-Barbet, 2001, p. 186) There are many ethical issues raised in the arguments against abortion, one of the main being that killing an innocent human being is wrong. (BBC, 2013) This is a deontological argument. It is arguable as to when you consider a foetus a human being. Is it at the conception stage when it is simply a collection of cells, or is it when the heart begins to beat and when the brain starts to function? At around 18-22 weeks a foetus acquires sentience, the awareness of pleasure, pain and perception. As it stands, abortions can be carried out on females up to 24 weeks into pregnancy so ethically one could argue that carrying out abortions this far through in pregnancy is wrong. (Lacewing, 2010) Arguing from a potential perspective creates further questions as to whether contraception is as wrong as abortion. People who oppose abortion may argue that although the foetus may start off as just a collection of cells, it has the potential to become a human being who has the right to life. Therefore, even using contraception is wrong as it prevents the potential of life. Pro-abortionists however may argue that potential means that something does not yet exist so why treat it with the same ethical values as something that does exist. (Lacewing, 2010) Pro-abortionists would also argue that the pregnant female has moral and ethical rights and these may outweigh the foetus’ rights. This could be the case if the female was a victim of rape and would suffer mentally and emotionally if they went through with the pregnancy, or if the continued pregnancy could have detrimental effect on the female’s health. In conclusion, abortion faces many ethical issues from both pro and opposing viewpoints. It is a subject that cannot be determined as right or wrong by science or philosophy. In the end, the most important viewpoint that should be considered when making such a decision is the pregnant female. The impact of language on society is a lot more prevalent than one may assume. Umberto Eco believed that we learn through our knowledge of languages, and that translating between one language and another is not just about comparing them both, but interpreting them in the ways they were written, based on culture. The philosophy of language looks at what the nature of meaning is. John Searle explains that language is crucial in the understanding of human life, and to look into human characteristics without language would be impossible. (YouTube, Unknown) Language is what distinguishes human from animals, the ability to understand the concept through language, which would not be possible through just observation. The development of language continues through time. Words used in an offensive manner now, were often used many years ago in day to day language. In Gloria Bertonis’, Stone Age Diva, she talks about the word ‘cunt’ and how its original meanings of woman, queen, and female genitalia, should evoke pride in females and that the word should not offend. It encourages females to reclaim words that have been used as weapons against them and recapture them for their positive qualities. (Bertonis, Date unknown) Such a word would once have just been used to describe a part of the body, like head or knee, but the context in which it is now used has turned it into a derogatory term. Semiotics is the study of the meaning of linguistic expressions. Clear examples of this are apparent every day. The letter ‘M’ presented in such a way is no longer just the letter but also an expression for McDonalds. The same applies to the letter ‘f’, which is now universally seen as a symbol for Facebook. Therefore, applying philosophy to language gives the language itself a whole new meaning. It is not just the letter and words that need to be taken into account, but also the context in which it is received. â€Å"A paradox is a statement that contradicts itself or a situation which seems to defy logic. † (Unknown, 2012) The liar paradox is a clear example of this. If one were to say they are lying, and were truly doing so, then they are actually telling the truth. (See appendix 3, Unknown, 2012) There are four primary paradoxes (see appendix 4). This essay will discuss knowability paradox. This is the recognition that some truths are not currently known but that they are all knowable. This means that we as a world do not know everything, so truths that may be proven in the future, could make what we consider as known truths today untrue. (Salerno, 2009) An example of this could be developments in medical science. With the constant developments in medicine, something we thought we knew as true 50 years ago, may now prove to be untrue because of new medical knowledge. In conclusion, it is clear that all individuals use philosophy in day to day life, whether they are aware of it or not. Philosophy aids us in learning more about ourselves and the world, which is what humans naturally strive for. It helps us be reasonable, which is a characteristic which helps one fit in to society and live among others who may be different. It also helps us be moral and ethical, as discussed previously in this essay. Without morals and ethics we would have no guidance as to what is right and wrong. Therefore, the world would not be as it is today without philosophy, and may be a much harder world to live in without it. ‘Episode 5’ (2013) Call the Midwife, Series 2, episode 5. BBC One Television, 17 February BBC. (2013). Ethics Guide. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from BBC: http://www. bbc. co. uk/ethics/abortion/philosophical/introduction. shtml Bertonis, G. (Date unknown). Say It! The Origins of Cunt. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from vdaysunyoswego: http://vdaysunyoswego. worldbreak. com/custom2. html Harrison-Barbet, A. (2001). Philosophy. New York: Palgrave. Kindersley, D. (2011). The Philosophy Book. London: Dorling Kindersley. Lacewing, M. (2010). Philosophy for A2. Oxon: Routledge. Pappas, J. (2005, September 24). Our Greco-Roman Heritage. Retrieved March 2, 2013, from Liberty and Culture: http://libertyandculture. blogspot. co. uk/2005/09/our-greco-roman-heritage. html Powell, J. (2000). Eastern Philosophy For Beginners. New York: Writers and Readers Publishing, Inc. Salerno, B. B. (2009). Fitchs Paradox of Knowability. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/fitch-paradox/ Unknown. (2012). Famous Paradoxes. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from BrainDen. com: http://brainden. com/paradoxes. htm YouTube. (Unknown). John Searle on the Philosophy of Language: Section 1. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from YouTube: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=jOlJZabio3g.

Book Reviews Essay Example for Free

Book Reviews Essay 1. To what does the title of the book refer? Having a detailed and well-constructed setting in Packingtown, Chicago, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle can easily be mistaken as a story that has its central on the setting. Therefore, it is but natural to point out that the title is referring to Packingtown itself. Reading thoroughly into the book, though, one is led to realize that the jungle actually refers to something larger than just the city where the story happens. Aside from a vivid description of the setting, which greatly resembles the darkness and gloominess of the jungle, a reader has to note what the characters in the story have to go through. The novel depicts scenes where characters do everything in their power to survive the cut-throat environment in which they live in. These scenes point to what the title actually refers to: the concept of survival of the fittest. Much as the most cunning animals in the jungle are those who survive, The Jungle reflects that those who are devious reign supreme. 2. What is the main point(s) of the book? Why did the author write it? Did the author achieve his objective? Upton Sinclair wanted to reveal the evils of the meat-packing industry during his time. But more than just wanting to abolish the barbarity of the meat industry, Upton Sinclair wanted to take a jab at the evils of capitalism and the meat industry was just a start for him. Being a socialist, the author wanted to show how capitalism is detrimental to the poor as it only makes the rich richer. Though Sinclair was not totally successful in abandoning capitalism, he was, at the very least, successful in urging the government to take a look at the meat-packing industry and take steps in bettering the said industry. To date, The Jungle remains one of the most influential books in American history. 3. When was the book written? Is that relevant in this case? The novel was written in 1906, which holds significance as to why the story was written. The setting depicted in the novel is one that Upton Sinclair has experienced, urging him to write the book. 4. What do you know about the life of the author that would have led him to write The Jungle? Upton Sinclair was born to a family who once enjoyed aristocratic status but was thrown into the binge of poverty towards the end of the 1870’s. Growing up in a poor environment and hearing stories of the rich lifestyle from his once wealthy grandparents had its mark on young Sinclair. This contrast between the rich and the poor greatly affected his writings. Aside from this, though, something that led him to write The Jungle was the introduction to the socialist philosophy during his college years. Not only did the philosophy instill the principles that were apparent in The Jungle, it literally pushed Upton Sinclair into the industry he represented in the novel. Being an avid fan of socialism, the author became a writer for a socialist paper that sent him to investigate the lives of stockyard workers – those working in the meatpacking industry included. 5. How well does The Jungle reflect political, urban, business and immigrant life in America in the early twentieth century? Do you think it is an accurate reflection? Why or why not? Upton Sinclair is often criticized for his tendency to exaggerate; hence, it can be assumed that his portrayal of what was happening in the meat-packing industry is sort of larger-than-life. Assuming that this is true, one can still not deny that The Jungle still is a reflection of the political, urban, business and immigrant life in America during the early twentieth century. Despite whatever embellishments were written in The Jungle, Upton Sinclair still truthfully revealed the atrocities regarding the capitalist society – how the immigrants have to fight for their lives in order to ensure survival in the city and how the authorities turn a blind eye to industries that have the capacity to â€Å"pay†. 6. What were the problems immigrants faced at the turn of the twentieth century? Are those problems still evident? How or how not is that the case? That is, what has changed or not changed in the last hundred years for immigrants? The face of immigration in the United States has changed several times in the past decade. Towards the end of the 19th and during the earlier parts of the 20th centuries, immigrants faced numerous kinds of discrimination. Coming to America under circumstances where the country was riddled with poverty, crime, and disease, the immigrants in this period were feared and ridiculed. They were seen by the majority as the source of everything bad in American society during that period. Also, the growing number of immigrants has led the U. S. government to take some steps to curb the entrance of more people into U. S. shores. Positive changes have occurred for immigrants as well. The quotas were eventually removed, welcoming more immigrants to fulfill their â€Å"American† dream. Also, the concept of white ethnicity shifted from scientific evidence to common knowledge – making race dependent on social boundaries rather than scientific definitions. 8. What did you like most and least about the book? I could have done without the overly vivid depictions of the meat-packing industry, though I also have to admit that it was those depictions that made the novel deliver an effective message. The fact that the book spoke truthfully of the anomalies in the food industry and urged changes that up to now I am benefitting from is what I loved most about it. Rarely do we come across a literary piece that affects lives as much. 9. What was the most important and/or interesting thing(s) you learned from reading the book? The most important thing I learned from the book is the beauty of socialism and an appreciation for the kind of capitalism that America has at the moment. I also found it interesting how a literary fiction greatly affected one aspect of corruption in the country. 10. Are there any other comments you would like to make that were not addressed above? Whether or not socialism would have been a better system for the United States is something that we all have to just imagine. I guess despite the evils that capitalism may present, one cannot deny that capitalism is not such a bad thing, considering how much growth it has brought to this country. We all just have to be wary of possible corruptions and act upon these when spotted. QUESTIONS FOR GRAPES OF WRATH 1. Who was John Steinbeck? Why did he write his book? What was there in the author’s background or the time period of the book’s writing that might have led him to write the book? Living in California most of his life (with just a brief stay in New York), John Steinbeck has been exposed to the events that went down in Californian history. Grapes of Wrath was a direct result of the happenings that transpired in America during the 1930’s. With the Great Depression dawning over the â€Å"Dust Bowl† states of Oklahoma and Texas, many of the farmers migrated to California. Steinbeck was a witness as to how California became crowded, making job and food scarce for the migrant farmers who became known as ‘Okies’. 3. What is the time period of the book’s action? The book’s action occurs mostly in the 1930’s – mostly 1930’s when the migration of the ‘Okies’ to California and when the discrimination occurred. 4. What were the attractions of California? Are there any parallels today? California was seen as the ‘salvation’ of the Okies farmers. It was a land that promised fertile lands which equated to jobs. Though California is no longer the agricultural land that it once was, it still is a refuge for people who want to get good employment. Instead of lands to till, California offers movie studios that equate to jobs for aspiring actors and actresses. 5. What was the opposition to the Okies? Was any of it valid? The ‘local’ Californians were greatly opposed to the Okies because they saw the migrants as threats wanting to take over the land as they once had over the Mexicans. Though total land domination was not what the Okies intended, 6. When was the book written? Why is that relevant? First published in 1939, Grapes of Wrath was penned in 1938. The time period is relevant as it tells a lot as to why Steinbeck chose the subject matter for the novel. 7. To what does the title of the book refer? Grapes of Wrath refers to the fruits of wrath. John Steinbeck wants to communicate the good thing about maintaining a sense of anger towards people who intend to clip your wings or who attempt to trample your dignity. There’s this line in the novel that clearly depicts this: â€Å"as long as fear turn to wrath† – when fear turns to wrath, self-respect is maintained. 9. How well did the book expose what some would call the social ills of the nation? Many have criticized the book to be merely a sentiment rather than a true exposure of the social ills of America during the time of its publication. However, its continuing popularity to date – not just with casual readers but with students as well – reflects just how effective Steinbeck was in exposing the ills of society. Even though the story was something central to the setting, the morals and themes exposed still rings true at present times, making Grapes of Wrath a truly classic story. 10. Do you think the book is an accurate reflection of America at that time? Why or why not? I guess even with the contention from some Americans, Grapes of Wrath is an accurate reflection of 1930’s America. With the Great Depression dawning over America, one cannot blame the people for being selfish and doubtful of other people. And though Steinbeck’s novel is considered fiction, the stories depicted in it are those that have been painted in history books as well. 11. What have been some of the racial criticisms of Steinbeck? Why? In this novel, John Steinbeck focuses on â€Å"white† racism. He mostly deals with a rich white to poor white discrimination. He wanted to paint the discrepancy between the rich and poor at that time. Though he also touched on discrimination of the black Americans in Chapter 19, â€Å"Why, Jesus, theyre as dangerous as niggers in the South! If they ever get together there aint nothin thatll stop em. † Steinbeck wanted to reiterate the fact that racism exists and that it is still an issue Americans have to address. 12. What does the book say about the state of socialism or communism in America at that time? What are the author’s greatest criticisms of capitalism? Are they valid? Explain. John Steinbeck portrayed America in a state of unrestricted capitalism. His greatest critique of this kind of philosophy is that the â€Å"haves† continually drive the â€Å"have nots† into extreme poverty. Because of inconsideration and a desire to constantly acquire more wealth, the landowners and bank people deprive the small landowners and share-croppers of the basic needs of survival, such as the case with oranges being spilled with kerosene. Basing on accounts of the Great Depression, one can say that Steinbeck did paint a realistic picture. Given that, one can say that his criticisms are valid in that they needed attention from the people and action towards change. 13. If the author’s points are valid regarding problems depicted in the book, then why weren’t there more violent uprisings? Violent uprisings were not possible given the fact that most of the poor people have survival as their primary concern. With families starving, small landowners and share-croppers worry more about where their next meal will come from rather than how they can better their lives through insurgency. 14. Do you think Steinbeck supported or rejected the New Deal? Explain. Explain what the book has to say about the effects of technology, both negative and positive. Though the ending of Grapes of Wrath shadows Steinbeck’s belief that communism may be a better way of living (the breastfeeding scene tells that sharing of resources is a better option as compared to capitalism), I think Steinbeck may have accepted the New Deal in that it aimed to put a control over capitalism. 15. How did the philosophy of Jim Casey, who some critics say embodied the ideas of Steinbeck more than any other character, fit the philosophy of the New Deal? Jim Casey was the voice of reason in Grapes of Wrath. His philosophy meshes well with the New Deal as it speaks of how Steinbeck wanted ‘structure’ in the capitalism ruling over America. New Deal streamlines programs that will attempt at balancing the scale that at that time favors the rich and tip it to favor the oppressed. 16. What did you like most and least about the book? Steinbeck’s novel had too many characters that one needs to keep track of. However, his point of view and manner of narration was effective, making one crave for the pages to come. 17. What was the most important and/or interesting thing(s) you learned from reading the book? Much like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, The Grapes of Wrath makes one see into commercialism as not entirely the evil that everyone may lead to believe. Proper control of the businesses and willingness in everyone to help each other out is just what we need to make capitalism work and to have it fair for all involved. 18. Why did some Americans not like the book? Some, if not most, Californians and Oklahomans at the time of publication did not appreciate Grapes of Wrath because of the thinking that they were poorly – if not wrongly – represented in the novel. They argue that the books’ depiction of the events were not true to life. 20. Are there any points you would have liked to see developed more in the book? I would have liked to see more of what kind of steps Steinbeck wanted America to partake. It would have been a more effective read had there been more suggestions as to what the citizens or government needed to do to alleviate poverty. 21. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? I would certainly recommend this book to others because I enjoyed reading it. It gave me a look into American history that I never would want to be repeated in present times. Given this, it made me realize what I need to do to prevent history from repeating itself. 22. Are there any other points you would like to make that were not addressed above? I guess all points have been discussed in the above questions. QUESTIONS FOR IN RETROSPECT, The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam 1. Who was Robert McNamara? Why did he write his book? Robert McNamara was the United States’ 8th Secretary of Defense. The book IN RETROSPECT: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam was born out of his experiences as the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam War. 2. What are topics covered in the book? What is the book’s time period? Why? After a brief autobiography of his life up to the point when he was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara went on to discuss everything he knew about the Vietnam War. In each chapter, he outlined how America came to a point of deep involvement with South Vietnam’s fight against succumbing to communism. He detailed JFK’s decisions and on to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s plans on Vietnam. Since this is mostly about the Vietnam War, the book covers the 1960’s. 3. What were the arguments for staying in Vietnam during the 1950s and ‘60s? JFK’s reason for involvement in Vietnam is containment, suppressing communism and ensuring American influence in Asia. When JFK started to withdraw U. S. troops in Vietnam, he was shortly assassinated. When LBJ took over, U. S. troops were still highly visible in Vietnam. On top of pressure for more military support, LBJ’s reason was that he wanted to retaliate for attacks on the American presence in Vietnam. 4. What does McNamara say are the false assumptions the U. S. had about the Vietnam War in the early and mid 1960s? Being a strong to reckon with, America has falsely assumed that it can – single-handedly – prevent communism and help South Vietnam fight off the force of the North. What America failed to see was that it needed the support of other nations regarding the causes being fought in the Vietnam War. Also, America thought South Vietnam needed Americans to fight their war when in fact all they would have needed was mere aid. 5. Why did the U. S. escalate the war in the mid 1960s? The attacks on the U. S. troops at the Tonkin Gulf led to the escalation of the war in 1965. 6. What does McNamara say were some of the basic questions we failed to ask and answer before committing U. S. forces in Vietnam? McNamara listed the following basic questions that we failed to ask ourselves before involving ourselves deeper into the Vietnam War: (a) Was it true that the fall of South Vietnam would trigger the fall of all Southeast Asia? (b) Would that constitute a grave threat to the Wests security? (c) What kind of war — conventional or guerrilla — might develop? (d) Could we win it with US troops fighting alongside the South Vietnamese? And (d) Should we not know the answers to these questions before deciding whether to commit troops? 7. Why does McNamara feel that a greater U. S. military effort in Vietnam would have been disastrous? McNamara felt that escalating war in Vietnam will have its grave effects mostly because the effort will not be something that the Congress has agreed upon, leading to unrest from the American people. Also, the fact that America has failed to answer the â€Å"five basic questions† prove that America really is yet unready to take things a step further in Vietnam. 8. Are there any lessons from the Vietnam War that might have significance for America’s current policy in Iraq? Though unified agreement on a looming war is impossible, America should have learned from Vietnam the lesson that the nation needs to be unified in the causes of a war. Also, America should wholly ready in facing any impending war instead of making head-on collisions without any preparations. 10. What is the most important thing you learned from the book? The book taught me about a period in my country’s time that I was not able to bear witness to. It made me understand as to why Americans had the sentiments about Vietnam and why the same sentiments are being applied to Iraq. 11. Did you like the book? Why or why not? Though the book was a historical account rather than a fictional stab at past events like the books above, I did enjoy reading it. It also made me look into events that have unfolded as of late. 12. What sources did the author use to make his points? McNamara pointed to his own experiences to drive his point. 13. Does the author achieve what he set out to do? I think Robert McNamara was fairly effective in opening the eyes of the nation to the truths about the Vietnam War. The objective was achieved because for the first time, Americans were able to get a perspective from an insider. It was a relief to actually get an admission of the mistakes of the Vietnam War straight from the â€Å"author of the Vietnam War† himself. 14. Are there any points you would have liked to see developed in the book more? I guess the book pretty much covered all bases, especially since we were getting an â€Å"insider’s perspective†. 15. What have you learned from reading this book? I have learned that by looking deep into the inner workings of the Vietnam War will prevent America from making the same mistakes over again. Also, I learned that a deliberation of the nation’s actions will yield better results than making hurried decisions. 16. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? To any American who cares to have a glimpse of one of the most eventful periods of America, I will recommend this book because this is a really good insight to the Vietnam War. Also a lot of lessons can be learned from it. 17. Are there any other comments you would like to make that were not addressed above? None, everything has been said above. QUESTIONS FOR THE KITE RUNNER 1. What is the time frame and location of the book? Kite Runner takes us to Afghanistan during the last days of monarchy (1973) into recent times. We also get glimpses of America but the story mostly occurs in Afghanistan. 2. What did you learn about the history of Afghanistan from reading the book? Afghanistan’s history is very much described by socioeconomic class, with the lower classes having little to almost no hope of moving up the ladder. Discrimination was central to the poor and this discrimination led to uprisings and upheaval of monarchy. I have also learned how the history of Afghanistan was riddled with a lot of turmoil such as civil war and the Soviet invasion. I also got a glimpse of how the Talibans started to try and take control. 3. What did you learn about the Cold War? The Cold War left Afghan in a more turbulent state, having been in the center of two superpowers’ desire to take over. Having acquired help from Soviet Union, Afghanistan became sort of a target for the U. S. , who saw an opportunity to bring down the communist country. 4. What did you learn about the immigrant experience from reading the book? Did it support or change your views about immigrants? The book supported my view about immigrants. Immigrants are not entirely a trouble to a country, as one may have been led to believe by previous media works. Immigrants, who have as much difficulty leaving their homelands as settling in a new place, can actually contribute something good to the country. Amir, in one hand, lived in America righteously. 5. What part of the book was the most memorable or meaningful to you? For me, the part where Amir tells Sohrab about his father Hassan is the most memorable part of the book. Not only was it emotionally-laden but any child who has had a good relationship with his/her father can relate to it. It proves that bonds within families are the most important of all. 6. Farid (Amir’s driver) tells Amir that Amir has always been a tourist in Afghanistan – he just didn’t know it (page 323). Do you agree or not? Why? Do you think it’s true for you in your country? I do agree with what Farid told Amir. Amir’s story is not a story that tells what a normal Afghan will go through during the time of the story’s writing. Amir was born of money, something that only a few Afghans have the privilege of having. I don’t think I am like Amir though, because my lifestyle and family stature are what one can describe as being in the middle spectrum of American society. 7. What did you learn about Afghanistan and the Middle East from reading this novel? I learned that the turbulences that we hear in the news of Afghanistan and the Middle East are something that has deep roots in the nations’ histories. 9. Were you surprised to read about the racial tension between the Pashtuns and Hazaras? Why do you think the oppression existed? Does it have parallels in America? I guess I can say that I was surprised to read about the racial tension between Pashtuns and Hazaras. I think the oppression came from the fact that the majority group (Pashtuns) wanted to eliminate the minority (Hazaras). This was mainly because they had different beliefs and they wanted one belief to reign supreme. Though in present-day America, this kind of oppression no longer exists, one can recall the kind of racial tension during the American Civil War. 10. Did the end of the book express hope for the future? Why or why not? The ending, for me, presented a lot of hope as I think Sohrab’s little smile is a step towards achieving better things not only for Sohrab himself but for Afghanistan and the Afghanis. Amir allowing a link of the past and the present and a reversal of roles symbolizes the fact that if one is willing to give way, things will eventually be better. 11. How did the book get its title? Who was the kite runner? The original kite runner was Hassan. The act of flying a kite expresses â€Å"controlled† freedom as flight is controlled by that string that binds it. 12. What did you like most and least about the book? The book was generally a sad one, painting stories that are almost heart-wrenching. But since it was a book that presents hope and is a book that has great potential to move people into action, I loved reading it. 13. Why did Baba like Ronald Reagan? Why do you think the neighbors disliked the president? Known for his acceptance of immigration, it was but natural that Baba liked Ronald Reagan. The neighbors, though, disliked the president because he was known to have passed policies that sank America into greater poverty. Baba’s neighbors blamed the president for the oppressed state they were in. 14. Who are the Taliban and how are they portrayed in the book? Do you think the portrayal is accurate? The Talibans were portrayed as the â€Å"bad people†, being shown to do random killings and unjust executions. If one is to believe the things being aired in the news, one can say that the portrayal was accurate. Given that the story was written by an Afghan, one may also assume that the portrayal can only ring the truth. 15. The book talks a lot about courage. Cite some examples of how courage was displayed. Who do you think was the most courageous character? I think the most courageous character was Hassan. His acts of covering up for Amir and standing up against the Talibans are prime examples of courage. 16. With which character did you feel the greatest attachment? Why? I had the greatest attachment to Hassan. He was a real friend and a real admirable character, making him someone that people easily want to know. Please let me know if you have any further question.

Language And Reason In History History Essay

Language And Reason In History History Essay Language and reason, two ways of knowing, play important roles in the area of knowledge of history. They are both concerned with the extent to which they provide objective knowledge in history. The role of language in history is to provide a clearly crafted unbiased account of a historical event which is described to people through language, whereas the role of reason in history is to help the reader in order to make rational decisions in evaluating the validity of a historical account. Our first knowledge issue concerns the extent to which the language a historian uses, reflects their own paradigms. A historian must analyse information in the past accounted by other historians in order to gain insight into what has occurred, then pick and choose and organise in accordance with his insight as to what is significant (Abel, 1976, p. 165). As different historians will have differing perspectives about certain events, the history a historian writes about, will be based on his particular interests, which are, in turn, partially dependent on his culture (Alchin, 2006, p. 194). For example, a nationalist Croatian historian writing about the War of Independence in Croatia would hold a very different perspective to a communist Yugoslavian historian recounting the same event. One could argue that communism was not executed properly and therefore encouraged the rise of nationalism which slowly led to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, while the other would claim that communism is an effective sociopolitical structure and the war need not occur. A counter claim of this is that scientists are objective as scientific measurement can be tested independent from the individual scientist who proposes them despite the language they may use. This is because scientific explanations are not as reliant on the use of language because in order for a scientific law to be discovered or proven, experimental results must confirm an initial hypothesis. Therefore scientific explanations are more successful in providing us with objective knowledge. Similarly, another knowledge issue deals with the extent to which historians attempt to be objective. It could be argued that, since the past no longer exists, it cannot be changed and is therefore completely objective. However, as historians evaluate information based on their interpretations of the text through their own paradigms, the interpretation depends not only on the objectivity of the historian writing it but also on the person who reads it. This is evident in Russia in a new middle school history teachers manual by Alexander Filippov, which calls Stalin the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics most successful leader and an effective manager. Filippov believes, that it is wrong to write a textbook that will fill the children learning from it with horror and disgust about their past and their people. And it is why we need to have a generally positive term for the teaching of history in the middle school which will build optimism and self assurance for their young people and m ake them feel as though they can play their part in the bright future of this country (Josefs comeback, 2010). Filippov is not being objective as he is writing positive history influenced by Vladimir Putin, in order for the past events to not seem so daunting on the pupils learning about the history of their country. The implication of this is that Filippov is refraining the children from being able to fully understand and appreciate the events which took place, which has influenced how the country is today. These implications will be still present in one hundred years from now when there will not be any civilians alive who intrinsically know the full extent of Stalins impact on Russia and therefore can not equip the children with truth of events as they will be heavily influenced by the positive history as written in their textbooks. When a text is mistranslated from one language to another, this will hinder the extent of its objectivity. For example, when the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand was translated from English to MÄ ori in 1840, in the MÄ ori text of article one, British translators used the inadequate term kawanatanga, a transliteration of the word governance (Meaning of the treaty, 2010). In the MÄ ori text of article two, British translators used the term rangatiratanga, a transliteration of the word sovereignty. The implication of these mistranslations of the Treaty of Waitangi from English to MÄ ori was that in article one, the English version describes that MÄ ori completely give up their kawanatanga (sovereignty) and power to the British Crown. The MÄ ori version however only implies a sharing of power as they gave the British a right of governance. Another implication is that in article two, in the English version the Queen guaranteed to MÄ ori t he undisturbed possession and control over their lands, forests, fisheries, and other properties, emphasising property and ownership rights. The MÄ ori version however, promises much broader rights in regard to upholding the authority that tribes have always had over their lands and taonga, this implies possession and protection of things such as language and culture (Tourism New Zealand, 1999). There would have been no mistranslation in the Treaty of Waitangi if the British translators had used rangatiratanga in article one of the MÄ ori text and kawanatanga for article two, resulting in the problem of meaning and understanding from the misuse of language. Furthermore, an additional knowledge issue deals with the extent to which reason helps us acquire objective information in history. As the historian never indeed knows all there is to be known about an event, the historian will then select their facts and decide how they will describe them. As a result of this, historical accounts may be confronted, compared, and contrasted, emphasis and bias may be made manifest; evidence may be scrutinised; arguments may be evaluated (Abel, 1976, p. 168). Often a historian will use both deductive and inductive reasoning to draw a conclusion about a historical event. Using these particular methods, a historian can, move from the general to the particular (deduction) and then from the particular to the general (induction), in order to state a conclusion that was previously unknown and help bring us closer to the truth. However, deduction turns out to be no more certain than induction. This is because the premises on which deductive reasoning about th e world is base must be derived from induction. An example of this is that due to the use of fallacies when historians describe historical events in the past they make unwarranted inferences and draw a conclusion from something which does not follow from premises from which they initially drew it. Subsequently objective information is not always acquired. For example, during the witch hunt against communist in the USA in the early 1950s, Senator Joe McCarthys case against one alleged communist was that there is nothing in the files to disprove his communist connection (van de Lagemaat, 2005, p. 127). However, in order to show that someone is a communist; we need positive evidence of their political affiliation. This is because fallacies of this type occur if you attempt to claim that something is true on the grounds that there is no evidence to disprove it (van de Lagemaat, 2005, p. 127). When historians use such fallacies they do not allow the reader to obtain objective knowledge i n history and are therefore not enabling the reader to obtain the inner truth about something. Our last knowledge issue concerns the extent to which vague language can lead to poor reasoning in history. The role of reason in history is to make logical and rational decisions when it comes to evaluating sources and their validity. One of the main reasons of poor reasoning in history is the ambiguity of the language in which the historian describes a historical event. This is because, history is constantly being rewritten, not simply because new facts are discovered, but because it is always perceived by an individual as wrongly written. The past is in a steady process of reinterpretation and reconstruction as we want it to be meaningful to us in the present (Abel, 1976, p. 164). Historians use vague language in order to convey an idea to individuals as they themselves are not consciously aware of what happened in the past as they rely on primary and secondary sources to provide them with the information. In turn, however, there may be more than one true account of the past (Abel , 1976, p. 168), as through the ambiguity of the language used, two historians of opposing views on a particular event could both be providing the reader with true information, but due to the vague language used, it leads to poor reasoning of which the historians are not able to make explicit claims of what occurred. Both the roles of language and reason are important in acquiring the reader with objective information in the area of knowledge of history. Although language and reason differ in the way in which they help the reader obtain this knowledge, they both aim to provide an account which is true. As the reader, we hope that we will obtain a truth which is objective, however inevitably there will be elements of personal paradigms and bias which will hinder the extent to which the information in history is objective. Language and reason play an equally important role in history and as a knower I do not deem one to play a more critical role than the other. In the late 1830s, there were approximately 125,000 MÄ ori in New Zealand and about 2000 settlers. More immigrants were arriving all the time though, and Captain William Hobson was sent to act for the British Crown in the negotiation of a treaty between the Crown and MÄ ori.

Multiple Universes Essay -- Astronomy Research Science Essays

Multiple Universes For the sake of characters, I will assume that everyone understands, or at least partly understands, the grave obscurity in which quantum mechanics revolves. In essence, like light, electrons are attributable to the qualities of waves in which they exhibit a type of diffraction pattern caused by the electrons interfering with each other, therefore, positing that matter, at least microscopically, acts as a wave (1). Hence, it seems as though electrons do not follow a static pattern, but interact with the world dynamically in a more probabilistic manner. With a probabilistic view of the world there leaves room for the chance of other possible outcomes within our world that could happen, allowing for a realistic possibility of other worlds concurrently occurring. Hugh Everett III was the first to publish a theory on the concept of particle wave simultaneity leading to the possibility of multiple universes resulting from every possible particle event creating a new world (2). Everett, then, could solve the problem of Schrodinger’s cat allowing for the fact that the cat lived and died but in different universes—broadening the idea of superposition. David Deutsch has brought a realist’s point of view to the Multiple Worlds Interpretation (MWI), explaining that there is a tangible self (the self that we see) and a shadow self (the self that splits off), and that the interference created during the double slit experiment happens from the shadow and tangible passing through the different slits. Multiverses, however, offshoot from the MWI and posit that each quantum fluctuation creates a brand new big bang, explaining how it’s possible for our world to have had the six numbers perfe... .... But the likelihood of such events is slim, since it is far more likely that Earth will be destroyed before we are able to consider such travel. So in conclusion, multiverses are quite exciting and intriguing—not only to scientists, but to laymen; one need only glance at popular culture to see we as a people are fascinated with the possibilities. But in reality, the science and reality of multiverses is far from concrete; so until we are able to gain more knowledge, we will have to be content with our dreams. Sources Cited: http://online.redwoods.cc.ca.us/DEPTS/science/chem/storage/Schrod/ http://everythingforever.com/everett.htm http://www.csicop.org/si/2001-09/fringe-watcher.html http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/science_fair_projects_encyclopedia/Multiverse http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/hangar/6929/manyworld.html

Circulatory System Essay -- essays research papers

Circulatory System A simple definition for the circulatory system would be that it is the main transportation and cooling system for the body. Red Blood Cells have an important job in this system in that they carry all sorts of packages that are needed by all the cells in the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells, which is needed in order for cells to survive. Besides red blood cells there are also White Blood Cells moving in the circulatory system. White Blood Cells can be considered as the paramedics, police and street cleaners of the circulatory system. Anytime we have a cold, a cut, or an infection the white blood cells go to work. From research I also came to find out that white blood cells also help cuts or wounds to heal quicker. Something I did not know was that puss which appears during an infection are actually white blood cells that are attacking the infection. The highway system of the Circulatory System consists off a lot of one-way streets. The main routes used by the circulatory system are the veins and arteries. Veins are used to carry blood to the heart. Arteries then carry blood away from the heart. Most of the time, blood in the veins is blood where most of the oxygen and nutrients have already been delivered to the cells. This blood is called deoxygenated and is very dark red. Most of the time blood in the arteries is loaded with oxygen and nutrients and the color is very bright red. There is one artery that carries deoxygenated blood and there are some veins that carry oxygenated blood. In order to get more research on this I had to look up some information on the heart and lungs. The heart is not hard to imagine in ones mind because it is simply a two sided, four chambered pump. The heart is mostly made of muscle and is very unique because it is the only muscle that does not become tired like other muscles. . Imagine what would happen if every 15 minutes or so ones heart becomes tired and decides to take a little break! If this were to happen it basically means that in a few moments ones circulatory system will shut down since the heart is the powerhouse of this system. Since it never rest, the heart muscle is always expanding and contracting, usually at between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Since the heart is divided into two sections this means that each section has a specific job. The right side of the heart ... ...ch it is then distributed to the rest of the body. The descending aorta goes behind the heart and down the center of the body. From the aorta, blood is sent off to many other arteries and arterioles (very small arteries) where it gives oxygen and nutrition to every cell in the body. At the end of the arterioles are, guess what, capillaries. The blood gives up its cargo as it passes through the capillaries and enters the venous system. The venous system carries the blood back to the heart. The blood flows from the capillaries, to venues (very small veins), to veins. The two largest veins in the body are the superior and inferior vena cavas. The superior vena cava carries the blood from the upper part of the body to the heart. The inferior vena cava carries the blood from the lower body to the heart. . Many people believe that the blood in the veins is blue but in actuality it is not. Venous blood is really dark red or maroon in color. Veins do have a bluish appearance and this may be why people think venous blood is blue. Both the superior and inferior vena cava ends in the right atrium. The superior vena cava enters from the top and the inferior vena cava enters from the bottom.

Kurt Vonnegut and Slaughter House Five :: Biography Biographies Essays

Kurt Vonnegut and Slaughter House Five Kurt Vonnegut is one of the favorite dark humorists of the past century. Combining humor and poignancy, he has become one of the most respected authors of his generation. For twenty years, Kurt Vonnegut worked on writing his most famous novel ever: Slaughter House Five. The novelist was called "A laughing prophet of doom" by the New York Times, and his novel "a cause for celebration" by the Chicago Sun-Times. However, Vonnegut himself thought it was a failure. He said that, just as Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back, so his book is nothing but a pillar of salt. Kurt Vonnegut tied in personal beliefs, characters, and settings from his life into the novel Slaughter House Five. Kurt Vonnegut grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. He alluded to Indiana in his writings frequently and considered himself a Midwesterner. There were three traumatic experiences Vonnegut talked about in this novel that happened to him as he was growing up. One was when his father took him to the pool when he was young and taught him to swim by the "drown if you don't" method. Another time, he and his family went out to see the Grand Canyon. As he was looking over the edge his mother touched him and he wet his pants. The third experience he mentioned was when his family was touring a cave, he was very scared and then the tour guide asked everyone to turn off all their lights and it was pitch black except for two glowing red dots from his dad (Modern Critical Interpretations 4). These experiences showed through Vonnegut's novel as his alienation from others throughout the book (Novels For Students 464). Kurt Vonnegut's personal beliefs in life, we also in Slaughter House Five. Vonnegut believes that only heart believes in freewill but it is non-existent. In his novel he writes about a group of aliens called tralfamadorians who come and take Billy to their world and put him in a zoo (Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 75). While Billy is with them, they teach him this also, and they are obviously the far superior race. Another belief that Vonnegut has, is that war is horrible, he says "war is not an enterprise of glory and heroism, but an uncontrolled catastrophe for all involved" (Novels For Students 265).

Libraire Gallimard Essay

With people nowadays trying find the meaning of their existence and the true way to live, one can understand why there would be confusion among the members of society since there will, inevitably, exist differences and approaches on how to find the answers one is looking for. Yet we tend to forget the basics and focus on the outside, on the world and let other people dictate how we are supposed to live our lives and who we are supposed to be. I, on the other hand, believe that existentialism is the only way to truly live one’s life. To live is to ‘hold the reigns’ and refuse to let other people define how you must act. Quoting one of the passages from the book by Albert Camus entitled The Stranger: â€Å"With death so near, Mother must have felt like someone on the brink of freedom, ready to start life all over again. No one, no one in the world had any right to weep for her. And I, too, felt ready to start life all over again. It was as if that great rush of anger had washed me clean, emptied me of hope, and, gazing up at the dark sky spangled with its signs and stars, for the first time, the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe. To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I’d been happy, and that I was happy still. † The protagonist in the novel clearly demonstrates the basic idea of existentialism—where man is free and is the author of his life and his decisions help shape his destiny, personality and where his life will lead him; a man who is free also asserts himself and does not conform and is â€Å"against totality or the collectivity or any tendency to depersonalization. † (Copleston 22). The protagonist, in the end, realized the indifference of the cosmos and accepted the fact that in the end, there is no meaning and letting one’s care (for how other people see him) control him entraps him in the label that is ‘unhappy’ when in fact he was happy all along. With these tendencies, it is not surprising that individuals themselves forget how to live and concentrate on pleasing others by living by the terms that are imposed by other people. In the novel, The Stranger, the protagonist was on trial for the murder of a man—what condemned him in the end was not the murder itself but for the fact that he refused to show remorse at his mother’s wake, which is absurd. Yet, if we think about it, in principle, those situations tend to happen, from simple gossip of ordinary people to the accusations hurled by powerful figures in the government. People tend to set a definition of good or evil, what is socially acceptable and what is not; the tendency is that people are trapped by these set definitions whereas in the total schema of things, life and the world itself is meaningless. There is no real definition since definition itself is manmade. In the end, the protagonist realized that he was happy and he was free despite the fact that other people have ‘defined’ him as a heartless murderer and an indifferent son. Most of us tend to take into consideration how other people see us; how we ‘fit in’ our society and refuse to be ostracized and be different; example is the wake of the protagonist’s mother in the novel. In a wake of a loved one, one is expected to show remorse. If one fails to do so, one is automatically branded negatively. If one would let go of these ‘cares’ and live life according to their definition, one can be happier and can truly live. What is ‘happiness’ or ‘being alive’ for us will and must be defined by none other than ourselves; for if we let other people set the standards for ‘happiness’ and ‘living’, it is not our ‘happiness’ and ‘life’ but theirs. Of course, one must never see existentialism as an excuse to murder a man or commit a wrong—one should always remember that even if ‘existentialists’ would live life by their own definitions, these people are still principled people and answer to themselves. Works Cited: Camus, Albert. The Stranger. France: Libraire Gallimard, 1943. Copleston, F. C. â€Å"Existentialism. † Philosophy Vol. 23, (1948): 19-37.