Problems with the Central Business District

A problem in the world’s most CBDs is that the volume of traffic caused air pollution and was a danger to health and safety of shoppers and other pedestrians. Fortunately this problem does not apply to Vienna anymore. In the past it used to be a problem in Vienna too but the government acted fast and used certain precautions to end this problem. What they did was that they placed many different types of public transport like buses, trams and trains. These encouraged people to not bring their cars out to the first district and so pollution was reduced.The government also came up with another solution and that was to increase the prices of parking in the first district. This discouraged people to use their cars in the CBD because they would have to pay a lot of money for parking. All these ideas helped and now there is almost no pollution in the CBD of Vienna. In most CBDs increasingly taller buildings were built to try and offset the high rates and rents that resulted from the high land values. This is a big problem in a city like Chicago or New York, where all the buildings are very high and have many small apartments.This is not a big problem in Vienna though because the government does not allow people to build houses which are taller than the roof of stephansdom, and so there are no tall buildings in Vienna’s CBD. Although there aren’t many very tall buildings, the land prices are very high and that results in not many people living in the first district. A major problem in most CBDs is that larger shops moved out and re-located on less congested sites in either old inner city area or on the rural urban fringe.This problem leads to not having many large shops in the city and also many shops will be forced to move. This is also a problem in Vienna’s CBD since many large shops and department stores like furniture and carpet shops were forced to move out of the CBD and go to other locations outside the city to the old inner city part and many shops like electrical shops were forced to move to rural urban fringe parts of the city. Another problem which is similar is that smaller shops like butchers and groceries were also forced to close down because of the city becoming increasingly expensive.This made many people change jobs or go bankrupt. This is still a problem in the first district of Vienna as more and more small shops close down and large shops move out and the government can’t do anything to stop this. Another major problem in some CBDs is that the city centers were not planned modernly and carefully and so they do not consider peoples economical, social and environmental needs. This is not at all a problem in the CBD of Vienna since there are many parks, shops, offices and other entertainment facilities like restaurants, bars, cinemas and clubs.This could be a big problem in the CBD of LEDCs since the cities were not so carefully planned like the CBD of Tehran which has this major problem. In Vi enna the CBD has many parks like the burggarten and other small parks to help the people’s environmental needs. There are also many different shops and offices in the first district which are the economic parts of the CBD and of cores there are many social facilities like cinemas, bars and clubs where people can meet. The CBD of Vienna can fulfill all economical, social and partly environmental needs of any citizen.In many city centers, there is a large need for change. There should be typical changes occurring like reducing traffic congestion and pollution. This can be done in various ways. One is to make better public transport like buses and trains to the CBD and another way to do it is to place pedestrian zones in the CBD in the most crowded part of the city. This will make the visitor a much pleasant environment and will encourage more people to come to the CBD. Pedestrian zones are also a solution for segregating shoppers and traffic. Pedestrian zones solve two problems by just doing making one change.It’s like the old saying â€Å"hitting two birds with one stone†. If these pedestrian zones are placed well and have some nice decorations to it, then it makes the CBD a more pleasant and safer place too, but placing a couple police stations around would also do well. These will all attract more people and the economy will have a good boost. Improved technology has encouraged home shopping and reduced the need for offices to be centrally located. This would decrease traffic a lot and would bring the prices in the CBDs down since there will be more buildings for homes.It would also make a lot easier for some people like old people who do not have the power to come out and do their shopping. It would also bring the shop prices down because the demand of shops will decrease. This change is good for people but not so good for shop owners and land developers. Doing so will also open up a lot of areas in which leisure amenities. These leisure amenities could be restraints arcade centers and for night amenities, they could become bars, clubs and cinemas. This will make the CBD more interesting and will make it busy through the night as well as through the day.These changes will make the city more fun and amusing for the younger generation and would make life easier for the older. In many countries, the city centers have had to undergo several changes in an attempt to reduce the loss of shops, hotels, and offices to out of town locations. The first and most important change which occurred was the creation of pedestrian zones. Pedestrian zones are mostly either traffic free or they allow limited access to delivery vehicles and public transport. A case of these pedestrian zones in Vienna is the Karntner Stra?e and the Graben.Both of these places are pedestrian zones but in Karntner Stra?e only delivery trucks are allowed and that’s only in the morning before 10oclock but in graben some public transport buses are allo wed to trespass. In the past cars have been allowed to go through both these places but now to reduce traffic pollution and accidents and to increase safety , the government has transformed these streets to pedestrian zones. Another development in worlds most CBDs which was a new invention, was the invention of shopping malls. Now in most CBDs there are many shopping malls but in Vienna’s CBD there are not many shopping malls.In Vienna most shops are by the streets and are not in one building, although there are a few exceptions where more than one shop is in one building like the steffel building which has many different brands on sale. Vienna’s CBD is unlike most CBD and has small shops rather than large shopping malls. This style of shops is what makes the CBD of Vienna very unique and unlike any other city. In the past years the demand for a relaxing atmosphere in the CBDs has increased and governments have tried to provide sitting areas, planting flowerbeds and sh rubs and adding small areas of grass.Other methods are providing cafes with outside tables and employing more staff to make sure the place is clean and undamaged. The city of Vienna has almost done all of these things. They have certainly provided many cafes, bars and restraints with outside tables like in the Karntner Stra?e and they have planted many trees and flowers in the streets like around the Ring strasse. They have also tried to make some areas of green and flowers. The CBD of Vienna has been through many changes in the past and is still changing.There have been many good changes and a few bad changes. The making of a long pedestrian zone where most the CBDs famous shops are, was a very good change and reduced a lot of traffic and pollution and made the CBD very pleasant and relaxing. Making a good public transport go through the city also decreased a lot of traffic and made it easier for people to go around the CBD and do their job. There are still many problems too in the CBD ad those will have to change soon, like the modernization of the buildings in the first district and the widening of some main streets.The CBD of Vienna is very interesting and has many amenities like cafes and parks for during the day and cinemas, restraints, bars and clubs for the nights. The CBD of Vienna has become very unique and is good for every age. It includes many large sidewalks and many pedestrian zones. The government of Vienna has made the CBD of Vienna very easy to get around and has also made it very relaxing and that’s why in my opinion it has become one of the world’s best Central Business Districts.

The AtekPC Project Management Office Essay

The Atek PC Project Management Office Case Study was assigned for this class to provide an overview of the challenges faced by management in the development and deployment of a PMO in an existing company. Based on the case study respond to the questions below incorporating not only the course reading materials, but any outside research that may be relevant. Be sure to cite the authority for any research included in your response. What were the changes in AtekPC’s business environment that caused the company to introduce a PMO? Based on your assigned readings and research, do these appear to be appropriate reasons for developing a PMO? Why or why not? â€Å"One might be cost reduction. Another motivation to get better on projects would be that we have to get more creative, adaptive, and agile in launching new products. â€Å" [1] â€Å"The PC industry was changing, and AtekPC was engaged in dealing with dramatic pressure from larger competitors such as HP, Dell, and Lenovo. To compete in a changing industry in which consolidation was occurring, AtekPC had implemented a corporate Planning Office. Recognizing the  role that IT would likely play in enabling AtekPC to respond to the industry pressures, the senior vice-president had supported the creation of a PMO within IT. â€Å" [1] Somewhat true but not sufficient Here are some other reasons of why we should have PMO. (of course it cannot represent everything) In mature organizations, the PMO is the focal point for improvement and enhancement in project management through the implementation of the enterprise-oriented functions. Enterprise-oriented functions are intended to bolster the overall capability of the organization for long-range benefits. The enterprise functions will provide the long-term stability and backbone  for the project management success. This mission is met by establishing, and maintaining, a project historical database, by developing and disseminating project management best practices, by providing training in all project management knowledge areas, and by providing visibility for the value of project management to the organization. [2] Distinguish between project-focused and enterprise-oriented duties of a PMO? The specific duties of a PMO were typically divided into two categories: project-focused and enterprise-oriented. Project focused responsibilities such as consulting, mentoring, and training were services that enabled the success of individual projects. On the other hand, enterprise responsibilities addressed services that might improve all projects such as portfolio management, PM standards, methods, and tools, and project performance archives. [1] PMO’s are more effective and can better impact the bottom line, when they are operating at the corporate enterprise-wide strategic level, rather than at the departmental level. Departmentally based Project Management offices are successful in their own silos but not accepted outside their span of influence, and therefore, are unable to influence the organization as a whole. This is because many project management offices started off from a grass roots approach. [3] A PMO that is organizationally based versus departmentally based is more likely to get executive support. After all, project management should not be a departmental strategy; it should be an organizational strategy. The Enterprise PMO will oversee the management of all strategically aligned projects. [3] Describe the primary issues faced by AteKPC management under the two organizational models that were under consideration for the PMO. Explain the limitations of each of these models.

Personal Development Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal Development Plan - Essay Example is goal is going to develop my skills during the transition period and enable me to make the right career decision by helping me develop intellectual and emotional ability and helping me overcome my anxiety of entering into the professional world from the academic world. The goal is relevant and attainable because I intend to develop my career in a field whereby I’d require confidence and excellent public speaking skills to excel. Thus, I realize that not only do I have to be successful in my academic life but also in my professional career. I have the ambition and conviction to attain it and also have ample time before I enter into my professional life. Part 3) Goal 4: The action I’d take is to book a hall for my presentations at Community Club in my neighborhood by 15th November, 2011. The resources required shall include around $300 for books, another $250 for online classes and Joe, my mentor. These resources shall pinpoint the areas of improvement for me. I might have to collect more pocket money from my parents and earn from a part-time job which is a challenge. If I do well, however, I shall reward myself by hosting an event at my school. Goal 5: The action I’d take is calling the Yoga centre to enroll for the Yoga classes by 13th November. The resources I shall require include a yoga mat costing around $30, $300 for the Yoga classes. I’d do Yoga for 2 hours a day for 6 weeks and I’d also take along my friend Harry for the Yoga. I shall mark my attendance everyday and mark my stress each day on a scale of 10, a higher number indicating higher stress. If I succeed I shall reward myself by buying myself a videotape of the world’s best Yoga experts. Part 4) I developed a PDP where my goals were to create an effective PDP that results in my getting at least 18/20 points of a length of roughly 2 pages using MLA referencing style. The action required was writing a draft and researching on the essentials of a PDP. The resources required were 2-3

Film report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Film report - Essay Example The discussion will do this by providing in-depth evidence as appears in Akira Kurosawa’s film, The Seven Samurai. The story mostly circles around a small village that is striving to protect itself from bandit attacks, a condition that forces them to form a coalition with their samurai, who in this case appear rather impoverished. Though the relationship between them is a strained one, they maintain a mutual bond that sees them through a tough wartime in which the community’s needs and individual selfishness dominate and succeed in portraying the theme [importance] of communism and unselfishness over individualism (Wallace n.p.). To start with, Akira introduces the theme of community spirit early in the film through the character Kimbei, who is one of the Samurais. To do this, his film highlights the importance of hair in the culture as we see different hair styles appearing on the heads of many characters. Then contrast cuts in when Kimbei decides to shave his hair so that he can trick some bandits into releasing a small boy who falls into their hands. He shaves his head clean so as to f eign the image of a village priest, and at the end of it all, he succeeds in saving the boy. The act of a Samurai shaving his head is sacrificed because the culture views shaving hair as a breach of the culture’s norms. Kimbei’s life does not go back to normal, but he takes up the role of serving and leading his community because he open up to realities that his community has needs that need addressing, such as protection from the bandits, and dedicates his life to serving them. Further evidence appears when he is seen opening up to his servant telling him that they would rather die serving. The perspective of â€Å"we† shows his call for oneness, thus communism. To further in this, Akira tactfully applies a direct quote through Kimbei at the scene where he forces a group of villagers to return to their posts during

Legalizing Prostitution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Legalizing Prostitution - Essay Example Today, most countries consider prostitution as illegal, unacceptable, and subject to sanctions. However, these conditions have not killed this practice, as it continues invisibly from the law. Due to this case, authorities cannot address the problems that emanate from prostitution, since they cannot be reported as well. This therefore, puts the whole society at risk. Nonetheless, it is wise for countries to legalize prostitution so that it is practised in an organized manner that will ensure the safety of the prostitutes, their clients, and the society as a whole. According to Floyd, there are differences in the way prostitution was practised in the past, and how it is practised today. These changes are in the form of society’s perception of the practice, and the changes in prostitution itself over the years. Ancient Samaria, which is the present Iraq, holds the record of the earliest prostitution in 2400 B.C.E. This was in the form of temple maidens pleasing the gods and ensu ring land fertility through soliciting for temple donations in return for sexual favors. However, in later years, the Greek started practicing prostitution as business. This practice later spread to other areas, including Rome, China, among others. Today, prostitution is practised in almost all world countries in different ways. Weitzer notes that legalizing prostitution means that prostitution is tolerated provided it adheres to the set standards and regulations to ensure control. Legalization therefore, is part of regulation and aims at controlling all activities related to prostitution. When prostitution is legalized, it may involve conditions such as compulsory medical tests, registration of prostitutes, location, or zoning conditions, and registration and licensing of brothels, as well as escort agencies (â€Å"Legalizing Prostitution: From Illicit Vice to Legal Business.† 49). All these conditions and new prostitution laws will have to be enforced by the police. In lega lized prostitution therefore, any prostitute found operating outside the laid down set of rules is considered a criminal, as they will be guilty of engaging in unlawful prostitution (Dressler 102). Today, in most countries, including the USA, where prostitution is illegal, the government, through the legal system, penalizes prostitutes and their clients for actions they are involved in as consenting adults. In this situation, government finances are spent on efforts aimed at arresting prostitutes and their clients, and enforcing laws regarding prostitution. According to Weitzer, when prostitutes and their clients are arrested, the government incurs costs in the series of their prosecution process (â€Å"Legalizing Prostitution: From Illicit Vice to Legal Business.† 48). However, the resultant issue is that the police force and courtrooms are burdened with numerous prostitution cases they have to address, and finally, have very little or no impact at all on the case of prostit ution in the country. The prostitutes and their clients are always set free after paying their fines, and so they go back to the streets to continue with their business of prostitution. Therefore, the approach of catch and release employed by the legal system to curb prostitution has never worked nor has it registered any alleviation in the prostitution level in the country (Lehman & Shirelle 88). According to Weitzer, the rate of prostitution has sharply increased in the present years. This increase is attributed to the role the

Sector Matrix Framework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sector Matrix Framework - Essay Example This paper aims to evaluate â€Å"Sector Matrix Framework† for its usefulness in analyzing demand and supply linkage. This evaluation will compare Froud’s Sector Matrix Framework with Porter Value Chain concept and Gereffi’s Global Commodity Chain Framework. Value Chain Approach Concept Michael Porter in his 1985 book â€Å"Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance† gave the management concept of the value chain. A value chain is a firm’s chain of activities to produce its output. It focuses on the organization’s process view. Porter classified the hundreds of activity of converting input in to output in two categories. Particularly, primary activities, which include â€Å"inbound Logistics, Operations, Outbound Logistics, Marketing and Sales, Service† (Porter, 1998). These activities are â€Å"Involved in the physical creation of the product and it sale and transfer to the buyer as well as after sales assist ance† (Porter, 1998). The other category is of Support activities, which includes â€Å"Procurement, Human Resource management, Technological Development, and Infrastructure† (Porter, 1998). ... Porter believes that a firm to achieve competitive advantage should focus on its discrete activities in â€Å"designing, producing, marketing, delivering, and supporting its products† (Porter, 1998, p.33). That is why he introduced value chain as a valuable tool for systematically analysing these activities. Analysis of Demand and Supply Porter value chain approach analyse demand and supply on the bases of value adding procedure and the industry structure. Porter believed that the interdependent processes of the value chain adds value to the product and, as a result, finally generate demand. He was further of the believe that as value chain delivers value to the customer with firms obtaining competitive advantage for the production of the product it helps to determine the supply (Sople, 2012, pp. 37-41). According to Porter, the demand and supply balance is very much dependent upon the structure of the industry. As the industry structure plays a vital role in determining an or ganizations profit, it has a significant role in achieving and maintains demand and supply balance of a product. Evaluation Although, chain concept is one of the most applicable and successful concept for achieving competitive advantage it is not without drawbacks. Chain concept is not of much help for a diversified firm operationally defined as one sells related and unrelated products thus compete in different industries. It works for commodities, which do not need infrastructure and complementary services before there usage. The chain value analysis of Ford would evaluate that the company due it to it being involved in more than one generic strategy suffers from lack of competitive advantage and exhibits below average performance. There may be some

The NHS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The NHS - Essay Example This free treatment policy of the NHS needs to be revised, as this is not only unfair to the taxpayers but is likely to bring economic collapse to the NHS budget with the increasing number of diabetic and cancer patients (Hardman, 2012). Diseases of lungs cancer, diabetes, and metabolic syndromes are the ones which require expensive and prolong medical treatment. Lungs cancer is the most known form of cancer which can cause malfunctioning lungs of patients and could also result in a painful death. Doctors researching on this ailment have clearly stated that 90% of the lung cancer is due o cigarette smoking or tobacco consumption. As the number of active smokers have increased, so is the rate of lung cancer, and there is no other major factor contributing to this disease (Groves, 2012). Report of the American Lung Association on world diseases, reveals that the among all cancer deaths including Breast and Colon cancer, lung cancer has the highest number of deaths (American Lung Associ ation, 2013). In the course of just 50 years, this disease has taken lives of more than 6.5 million people in the UK alone. The major reasons for this is the contribution of globalization, which has hundreds of cigarette, cigar and tobacco manufacturing companies, which has decreased the prices of these drugs and has made it easily accessible to everyone (Cancer Research UK, 2012). The other reason is the lack of government attention on this matter and the failure of introducing applicable and futuristic policies. In the ongoing debates to whether the NHS should change its funding and free treatment policies for lung cancer patients, these facts can provide a firm ground to the argument of restricting those funds. In this regard, Phillip Lee, a GP practitioner, raised the point that if the government kept paying for smokers and diabetic patients, it is in a way encouraging other smokers. He said in the NHS conference (2012) that people are free to consume whatever they wish for, but only at the cost of their own money. If the NHS is not going to cut down the treatment expenses funded to the smoking patients, then there is no way the country will get rid of smoking health disorders (Groves, 2012). It is evident from these facts that the disease of lung cancer is due to the bad appetite choice and smoking habit of the patient. Moreover, these people have harm the health of other people in their surroundings, as anyone who inhales the smoke of cigarette is also affected to some extent. Medical researchers have outlined the fact that passive smokers, the ones who are exposed to cigarette smokes of a smoker, have more chances to develop lung cancer than those who are not (Groves, 2012). This explains that smokers have not only put their lives on risks, but also the lives of many others who come in the vicinity of their smoking zone. One encouraging fact for these smokers is their free treatment from the healthcare budget of the country (Groves, 2012). The purpose o f providing free medical treatment to patients is to help those who cannot afford for the medical expense of their diseases or disorders, which have developed naturally or accidently and they are not the ones responsible. Providing this facility to lung cancer patients will not make them realize their act of ignorance and immorality. Therefore, if individuals who are addicted to smoking or tobacco are

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) Essay - 2

Nutrition and fitness (answer the questions) - Essay Example While exercising, muscular endurance is essential because the continual pressure exerted on the muscles makes it possible to carry out heavy tasks without becoming tired. There exists a relationship between muscular strength and muscular endurance because one cannot exist without the other. Muscles occupy forty percent of body mass. The body depends on muscles for movement and because of this mass they are responsible for a portion of the metabolism that takes place inside bodies. Strong, well toned muscles help make work that had seemed difficult become easy to do and complete. To increase muscle endurance, an individual has to have strength in the muscles. This is because if a person has the strength, then building up endurance will happen rather quickly while a person with little or no muscle strength may take longer to increase muscle endurance. The continual exertion of force on the muscle with much heavier loads over a long period causes the muscle to harden and expand thus increasing the endurance level the muscle has to stress. This goes to show that muscle endurance goes together with muscle strength. This means that these two processes depend on each other for optimum results. Training teenagers is usually very difficult since they are impatient. This is usually very difficult since they work on gaining muscle endurance without first putting on muscle strength and want results in the quickest way possible. They use any avenue to get the results they need. This is usually very difficult since they work on gaining muscle endurance without first putting on muscle strength. Such actions lead to catastrophic results and injuries such as strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures and tendonitis. Further disregard may lead to other chronic complications, for example, nerve damage, bone stress injuries, muscle overloads and rotator cuff

You can choose the topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

You can choose the topic - Research Paper Example In the ‘experience machine’ proposed by Nozick, we may be brought to ask – how can one be infinitely happy in a setting where no knowledge or feeling of pain is evident? How is it ever possible in a virtual sphere of living to attain true happiness if in this world we have no way of distinguishing pain from pleasure since pleasure is all there is? Apart from any form of suffering or unpleasant experience, it would be difficult to figure out what being truly happy is like for our basic concept of happiness is normally derived from the notion of its opposite. Moreover, Nozick’s virtual machine, as it is by nature, would bear no potential of subjecting us to the challenges which form the essence of life as we have been significantly aware of through our regular encounter of reality. Dwelling in an ‘experience machine’ occurs to be an equivalent of living in a place where no one can be expected to pay regard for the value of ethics. All that matters herein is pleasure in its ultimate level or concentration so that each individual finds no required commitment to care or even think of someone else’s welfare. Apparently, such person may go through the typical course of virtual life in which one solely lives for oneself, a rather selfish endeavor to ponder about. To assure there could be eternal bliss in a place that mechanically generates object of happiness and takes full control of our senses to be conditioned towards the state of mirth alone and with no trace of low-spiritedness is impossible. As human beings who have initially become acquainted and accustomed to the several truths found in reality, we see our external differences from each other and know primarily that our distinct character traits from the rest of our kind exhibit the fact that each one of us is unique. Because of this, the meaning of happiness may be established as one and the

Study Guide History Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Study Guide History Questions - Essay Example The paper "Study Guide History Questions" presents a set of study guide questions regarding different periods of world history such as World War I and World War II and the Chinese Qing dynasty. Total war is a conflict characterized by military targeting civilian resources and infrastructure, food blockades, as well as a military draft for men and production of materials. During the Great War, the central powers comprised of Austria-Hungary, Germany, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. During the Great War, the defensive techniques included the use of barbed wire and trenches while the offensive power were machine guns, flamethrowers, mustard gas, submarines, tanks, and aircraft (zeppelins, planes). Therefore, the primary demands and messages conveyed by nations’ propaganda posters in the Great War were "Women of Britain say GO!", "The empire needs men!", "Canada’s new army needs men like you", "I want you for U.S. Army", "Who is absent? Is it you?". Also, the pro-war messages could be found in George M. Cohan’s song â€Å"Over There†. The song is calling upon the young and energetic members of the society (male) to take up arms and fight the enemy. It also emphasizes the cultural perception of masculinity as the protector of the community. During the Great War, the government control mechanisms were required such as buy war bonds (propaganda posters), the military draft, government control of private industries, munitions factory workers needed, rationing, anti-sedition legislation.

Transport Economics of Ktmb Essay Example for Free

Transport Economics of Ktmb Essay Introduction Generally, transportation is the safe, efficient, reliable, and sustainable movement of persons and goods by over time and space. Several available types of transportation are used widely in the real life, which including railroads, buses, air, automobile, truck and, etc. In addition, the value-added activities, for example, door-to-door service, for transportation is essential to the elderly or disabled. No one can doubt the important of transportation to the economy, for instance; an excellent transportation spurs economic development by giving mobility to production factors, which permits scale economics and increase efficiency. Whats more, it also enlarges the area that consumers and industries can draw on for resources and products. KTM Komuter in Malaysia is a well-known transportation company, because it earns its great reputation by the profound history, advanced management, and all. The following parts will focus on the background, the success and limitation, the role and importance of the KTM Komuter to the economy. It was on June 1, 1885 where the first train in Malaysia to take its schedule during British colonial era. Previously it was known as the Federated Malay States Railways (FMSR) and the Malayan Railway Administration (MRA). Keretapi Tanah Melayu acquired its current name in 1962. 30 years later, which was on 1992, the company was corporatize but remains wholly owned by the Malaysian government. During the times, fares offered by KTMB are generally reasonable, but the low frequency of the intercity trains does make them competitive with other modes of transportation. However, KTMB has made numerous changes that lead to its current success. Until recently, the turnaround effort to steer KTMB back on track with reasonable profit or at the very least self-sustainable to cover its operating cost has been way too long overdue. Over the years, many of that turnaround effort have been proven failure. In KTMBs latest publicly available financial statement as at December 2009, it was reported that the company managed to rake in net profits of between RM9mil and RM15mil from 1993 to 1995.

Black Culture Essay Example for Free

Black Culture Essay During the Harlem Renaissance, writers, especially black ones, portrayed the black culture and style in their writing. They used black assumptions, generalizations and stereotypes to show, what they thought was, the black culture. Not all of this was far from the truth. Three writers, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and Sterling Brown are examples of writers that emulated black culture in their works. Langston Hughes works, â€Å"†The Negro Speaks of Rivers,† â€Å"Mother to Son,† â€Å"When Sue Wears Red, † â€Å"The Weary Blues,† I, Too,† and â€Å"Harlem† are examples of the portrayal of black culture through writing. In â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers,† Hughes focuses on important accomplishments and places where Negroes were heavily populated. â€Å"I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. / I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. /I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. / I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln/ went down to New Orleans, and I’ve seen its muddy/ bosom turn all golden in the sunset† (Hughes 1291). In â€Å"Mother to Son,† he describes advice of a mother given to her son. She tells him how her life was no â€Å"crystal stair† and how she had to struggle to get where she is and that she is still struggling to get even further. She describes her trials and tribulations as â€Å"tacks/†¦and splinters/ and boards torn up/ and places with no carpet on the floor/ bare. † (Hughes 1292). She tells her son never to give up on his dreams and to keep climbing that â€Å"crystal stair. † This is because the mother knows how hard it is to get ahead in the world when you’re black and that everything that blacks have they have worked hard to get. â€Å"When Sue Wears Red† describes the beauty of the black woman. He compares Susanna’s face o â€Å"an ancient cameo/ turned brown by the ages. † He also compares to â€Å"a queens form some time-dead Egyptian night† (Hughes 1293). â€Å"The Weary Blues† portrays the musical side of the black culture, describing a man playing â€Å"that sad raggy tune like a musical fool† and singing in â€Å"a deep song voice with a melancholy tone† The music that â€Å"comes from a black man’s soul† (Hughes 1294). â€Å"I, Too† show the degrading manner in which black people were treated. The black house workers were treated as if they were inferior or not fit to be around white people. This is shown when the worker tells us, â€Å"they send me to eat in the kitchen/ when company comes. † Due to the high hopes and determination of black people, this does not discourage the speaker. He knows that, one day, he’ll â€Å"be at the table/ when company comes. / Nobody’ll dare/ say to me/ ‘eat in the kitchen’/†¦they’ll see how beautiful I am/ and be ashamed† (Hughes 1295). He believes that one day black people will be accepted and will be able to â€Å"eat† with the whites. This attitude is what kept blacks striving to succeed. â€Å"Harlem† questions what may happen if black people put off their dreams and progression. This delay may be willing or by force but either way the dreams may â€Å"dry up/ like a raisin in the sun† or stink like rotten meat† or even worse â€Å"explode† (Hughes 1309). Stopping black people from fulfilling their dreams would at worst cause a rebellion. This rebellion may not be nonviolent. Sterling Brown uses poems such as â€Å" Odyssey of Big Boy,† â€Å"Southern Road,† â€Å"Slim Greer,† and â€Å"Ma Rainey† to describe black culture in his eyes. Brown wrote mostly of the working class black population. He wrote his poems as though it were a work song that they used to keep time. Thus, you see a lot of repetition in his works. This is seen in both â€Å"Odyssey of Big Boy† and â€Å"Southern Road. † In â€Å"Odyssey of Big Boy,† Brown gives sight to some of the folklore heroes of the black culture, such as â€Å"Casey Jones† and â€Å"Stagolee† (Brown 1248). This not only shows the heroes represented in black culture but also their use of stories past down through the generations to keep the culture alive. He goes on to describe the manual labor that black people have done over the ages. This includes how they â€Å"skinned as a boy in Kentucky hills/druv steel there as a man/†¦striped tobacco in Virginia fiel’s/†¦mined de coal in West Virginia† etc (Brown 1249). These are prime examples of the jobs that the lack culture held whether it is when they were slaves or after they were freed. It was characteristic of them to hold jobs that involved a great deal of manual labor. â€Å"Southern Road† depicts some of the struggles that a typical black man may have dealt with during those times. He speaks about working in a chain gang, a father dying, going to jail and white men degrading the black man. â€Å"Slim Greer† is about a black man that passed as white. He met a white woman who â€Å"thought he as from Spain/ or else from France† (Brown 1256). It was not until he played â€Å"some mo’nful blues† that they found out that he was indeed black (Brown 1257). This depicts the musicality of the black culture. Music was one of the many ways they used to express themselves, so, for the most part, they had a great talent in it. â€Å"Ma Rainey† is also a poem about the musicality of the black culture. Whenever Ma Rainey came to town â€Å"folks from anyplace/ miles aroun’/†¦flocks to hear/ Ma do her stuff† (Brown 1258). Black people enjoyed gathering around to listen to music. This was probably because not only was it entertaining but it also told a story. Zora Neale Hurston depicts black culture through her works entitled â€Å"Sweat,† â€Å"How IT Feels To Be Colored Me,† and â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God. † Hurston wrote a great deal about the togetherness in the black community. Many of her stories, including these three works, took place in an exclusively black town and included at least one seen where the entire community sat outside together talking, usually gossiping, and watching passersby. In â€Å"Sweat† they gossip about Delia Jones, mainly they talk about how her husband, Sykes, beats and abuses her and how he is having an affair with a woman named Bertha. They badmouth Sykes, saying how horrible and stupid he is for cheating on a god woman like Delia, especially with such a fat woman. This also shows how it was common in the black culture, especially in the south, for men to like thicker women. â€Å"Their Eyes Were Watching God† also has a few scenes in which we see the black community together. In the beginning, Janie is seen by the whole community walking back in overalls. They immediately begin to talk about her. They make assumptions, such as Tea Cake stole all of her money and abandoned her. They talk about how silly she was for taking off with a younger man in the first place and whatever happened to her probably serves her right. In conclusion, the black culture is evident in many works by various black writers. They show the good and the bad, the truth and its exaggerations. Reading works written in the time gives us a good look into what the black society was actually like back then.

Free Will Is An Illusion Philosophy Essay

Free Will Is An Illusion Philosophy Essay In my research I shall be investigating whether individuals can hold full moral responsibility for their actions if free will does not exist. Firstly I shall be exploring why it is claimed that free will is an illusion and looking more closely at the deterministic route. Then I shall be looking more closely at moral responsibility to see if we hold full responsibility through determinism/ causality. I will be looking into different areas of determinism from soft and hard determinism and compatibilism; looking at philosophers such as Kane and Hume. I shall conclude in my research that it is possible to hold full moral responsibility but yet be determined. This argument is supported by analogies such as the Frankfurt argument. Free will and determinism defined To investigate whether moral responsibility can exist without free will, we firstly have to explore the arguments of free will and determinism. The first approach that will be examined is libertarianism. Libertarianism states that humans have free will, and that there is a free action, therefore denying the thesis of determinism. Determinism being the opposite branch; denying free will and obtaining that for everything that happens in the universe there are conditions, and given those conditions, nothing else could happen or be changed. Already we can see how they conflict, actions cannot be free, but yet determined. Libertarianism is based on the belief that not all events in the universe are subject to causation  [1]  . After distinguishing both libertarianism and determinism I shall then move on to my next chapter to examine how the both collide with one another; to come to the conclusion that free will is unable to exist because determinism stands to strong. I will now explai n what each definition means with philosophers ideas. Libertarianism- Libertarians are revolved around an agent being able to do otherwise. If an agent has the choice and decision to do otherwise, then they are therefore free in their action. Kane is a well-known philosopher who defends the position of free will. In order to define what we mean by free will, he first describes what he means by Will. After distinguishing what Kane means by Will, he moves on to explain how our Will is free. He states to be a self or person or rational agent was to have reason, or the capacity to reason, and this was essential, as they viewed it, for the existence of anything we could call free will  [2]  . In order to have free will, we must be capable to reason, but as Kane explains we also need to recognise the capacity to reason has two kinds; theoretical and practical. Theoretical reasoning meaning intellect and practical reasoning meaning will; this allows us to act rationally as humans. He defines the term rational will as a set of powers defined in terms of a family of concepts whose focal member is practical reasoning or deliberation  [3]  . Kane moves on to explain what he means by practical reasoning; reasoning about what to be done. This means what one ought to do or should do, or what one chooses or decides; which signifies two kinds of judgements. The Will is a set of conceptually interrelated powers or capacities, including the power to deliberate, or to reason practically, to choose or decide, to make practical judgements, to form intentions or purpose, to critically evaluate reasons for action, and so forth. Kane describes the meaning of Will, to be rational and to reason. In order to have free will we have to be rational being. We can prove that we are rational beings as we have to have to capacity to reason, which every human attains. Therefore, to have the ability to reason as rational beings enables us to be free in our actions. We are able to look into situations and reason which is the best course of action to take. If we were pre-determined from the beginning of the universe to follow certain actions, then it means our reason would be pointless. Kane claims that being a rational being means we have freedom as humans, because we have the ability to reason. Humans generally act as if they possess free will. We dont see ourselves as being robots were we are being told how to function, but we like to believe that we are autonomous. We are able to freely choose what path we would like to take without any external factors influencing our decisions. However, it could be claimed that we are affected by the domino effect, our feelings effect our motives, which then effect our actions and so on, so technically we are always being influenced by something rather than being totally autonomous. Skinner explores this area of argument in later chapters with his behavioural studies. Foot explains, our actions may be determined by our past motives, feelings, or desires, but that doesnt necessarily prove that humanity has been pre-determined from the beginning of the universe. Foot comes to this conclusion because an action said to be determined by the desires of the man who does it is not necessarily an action for which there is supposed to be a suffic ient condition. In saying that it is determined by his desires we may mean merely that he is doing something that he wants to do, or that he is doing it for the sake of something else that he wants. There is nothing in this to suggest determinism  [4]  . Jean- Paul Sartre has an interesting view of human freedom; he argues that human actions usually tend to be something new, something they have never done before, a new experience. They think about going from present, to think about future actions that do not yet exist. Sartre argues that in this sense, humans are capable of standing part from the world, they are conceived and moved by the future that they see which does not exist yet. Sartre states that human-reality is free becauseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is perpetually wrenched away from itself and because it has been separated by a nothingness from what it is and from what it will beà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦freedom is precisely the nothingness which is made to be at the heart of man and which forced human reality to make itself instead of to simply be  [5]  . Although we may believe this is true, every action we tend to take is a new experience. But this new experience has to have been brought on by past experiences; it cant just be a random a ct that has never been thought about before. Such as, I want to go on holiday to America. A new experience, I have never been there before. But at some point in my life, past experiences have led me to come to this conclusion of wanting to go to America. Whether relatives have gone before, or someone has recommended it to me. A random thought cannot just appear in our heads, it had to be brought on by past acts/experiences. Therefore, we are under the illusion that we are free, but actually looking beyond the illusion, we see that in reality we are determined in some way or another; environment, heredity, experiences etc. Hard Determinism/ Causality However, determinism stands at the opposite end to free will. Determinism states that every event in humanity; decisions, actions, feelings is a consequence of state of affairs. Therefore, we are unable to be autonomous in our actions. Determinism can be placed into two different categories; Hard and Soft determinism. The basic outline of hard determinism is that humans have no free will. This is an incompatible position that both free will and determinism cannot exist. But this raises issues; if hard determinism is true then no one can possible be responsible for their actions? This is my area of investigation which will be explained later in more depth. Hard determinism holds 3 theses; 1) free will is incompatible with determinism and 2) free will (in an incompatible sense) does not exist because 3) determinism is true  [6]  . Hard determinism leaves no room for decisions and choice, as our lives have been determined for us. We may believe that we have choices and free will, but this is an illusion. Determinism lies within the idea of reductio: every action or event is the strict effect of a cause, and because this cause is itself the necessary effect of a previous cause, and convincing explanation requires a return to the very first cause, in other words the prime mover. Whatever its nature   [7]  . Determinism/Causality is the relationship between cause and effect. It is the thesis that every event is causally determined by previous events in accordance with laws of nature . It is a view that mankind has a say in determining its fate and choices of the agents future. If the agent was free to choose otherwise, then they must be free. They had the decision and to choose otherwise, but also the natural laws is unable to change. The past is fixed and out of anyones control, to say that if I had done that, the past would have been different (natural laws would have been different). However, the past cannot be changed, and therefore we are not free to choose, as we are always been influenced, determined by our past and natural laws. Determinism is what I shall be arguing for; we are able to hold full moral responsibility through determinism, which again will be explained in later chapters. Soft determinism Soft determinism differs from hard determinism. Hard determinism is one strict belief that free will cannot exist, but we are totally determined in our ways. Our choices, decisions, desire have all been determined for us, we are unable to prevent or change these. However, soft determinism is the belief that determinism and free will are compatible with one another. It is possible to believe in both without them conflicting. Compatibilists believe that it is possible to believe in both determinism and free will without being logically inconsistent. Freedom can be present or absent in situations; its about acting free in according to ones determined motives. Augustine and Hume have different ideas on their view of soft determinism, but yet still sum up the same conclusion that both determinism and free will are compatible. Augustine is a soft determinism but is also referred as a compatibilist too; we are still determined but nonetheless we are also free. Augustine is a prime philosopher of soft determinism, although his determined differs as he follows the route of theological soft determinism; events are caused by a higher power, known as God, yet we still obtain free will. St Augustine argued that just because God is omniscient does not mean that we do not have free will. God has foreknowledge of our choices and the decisions we will make. This does not mean man doesnt make decisions freely; rather it emphasizes Gods omnipotence. Augustine argued for three type of events; those that appear to be caused by chance, those caused by God (such as birth and death), and those caused by us (whether or not we take the decision to lead a morally good life). Whereas Hume didnt believe there was a higher power affecting agents, but believed that soft determinism operates through the mind and allows for flexible response. But it is still deterministic, because the way the various circumstances that constitute moral causes operate is to establish a set of motives or reasons that render a peculiar set of manners habitual  [8]  . What he means by this view is that soft determinism is about human nature that our morals sentiments are aroused by the characters of agents; where he claims that nature has made the minds of all people similar in their feelings and operations  [9]  . Soft determinism overall is belief in both determinism in some aspect, and a belief that we still hold free will. They still hold the view of universal causation (hard determinism), that everything is caused by a series of casual events. But it is also possible to hold freedom too, such as we are able to be moral responsible agents. One is able to act in accorda nce with ones nature, which has been determined by factors such as heredity, family or the environment. We have now distinguished what we mean by free will, and the different aspects of determinism. In order to answer this research question to find out whether moral responsibility can exist through determinism, we must first prove that free will is an illusion; which is my next chapter. Free will and determinism compatible? Free will and determinism collide with one another. My aim in this chapter is to conclude that free will is an illusion; it is unable to be compatible with determinism. My reason for arguing that free will is an illusion is so I am able to investigate whether it is possible for determinism alone (hard determinism) is able to be compatible with moral responsibility. As agents, do we have we the right to take praise and punishment, if our actions that we act upon werent our choice? However, I first have to disprove free will existing. As Kane states, we would like to believe that we feel it is up to us what we choose and how we act; this means we could have chosen or acted otherwise  [10]  . But is this the case? My argument is that agents are unable to act otherwise, as there is always an influence of determinism which limits their choices and decisions. I shall be exploring arguments from a free will view, but defending the determinism approach by claiming we are misled to believ e that we have free will, it is an illusion. In Kants critique of Practical Reason and Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals he argues that we must admit that we are free, otherwise morality cannot exist. Reconstruction of Kants main argument of free will goes as follows; 1) we accept morality on intuitive grounds. 2) Morality implies rationality. 3) Rationality implies free will. 4) Therefore we conclude we have free will  [11]  . In order for us to maintain morality as agents we must also maintain free will. Kant argues that; Firstly, morality involves a law-a moral law-that commands me to act in a certain way. Secondly, this moral law is universal in that we conceive of it as binding on everyone without exception. Since that moral law binds everyone, I cannot, or at least ought not to, excuse myself or a friend for any crime. Evidently, then, morality as a moral law, and indeed, the moral law, is an imperative in that it demands something of every person, and in particular, each persons will  [12]  . Moral law according to Kant is an act in accordance with the demands of practical reason, it is a categorical imperative (commands us to act in accordance to reason) rather than a hypothetical imperative (action required for a personal motive or desire). Our rationality needs to come from both reason and morality; we can use a priori reason to derive necessary actions or duties, the basis on which we are to act, from one of the several formulations of the categorical imperative  [13]  . Kant defends his claim that rationality implies freedom. This is because; rationality must appoint rules of both reason and morality. The categorical imperative as an imperative of rationality gives us a command to act in a certain way. It acknowledges us to use our priori reason in order to come to a conclusion of our actions and duties on what we act upon. Kant claims that of these formulations, the one that accords best with the conception of freedom is the formula of autonomy  [14]  . Acco rding to this formula, it means that the categorical imperative instructs the Will to act in a way that it both legislates law for itself, and at the same time subjects to those same laws. But these laws must conform to reason and reason is universal to every rational being. Therefore, Kant concludes that when the will acts accordance to this formula of autonomy, it is the autonomous will  [15]  , resulting that we must be free as rational beings. However, Spinoza flaws Kants argument; rationalism takes place the most strict identity between cause, reason and nature in which cause is the same thing as reason, reason is the same thing as cause, and cause is the same thing as a necessary causality or determinism. From a given determinate cause there necessarily follows an effect  [16]  . This results in the opposite of Kantian approach, as rationality is incompatible with freedom. This is because determinism results in the same causes producing the same effects, like a chain. Instead of looking at a philosophical approach on free will and determinism, lets take a look at the psychological approach too. Such as B.F Skinner, instead of using analogies Skinner uses hard and reliable evidence of studies and experiments to conclude that we are determined as humans. Skinner was a psychologist but also a very important proponent when it came to the debate of free will and determinism, he was well known for his behaviourist approach. Skinner stands as a hard determinist by stating that; If we are to use the methods of science in the field of human affairs, we must assume that behaviour is lawful and determined. We must expect to discover that what a man does is the result of specifiable conditions and that once these conditions have been discovered, we can anticipate and to some extent determine his actions  [17]  . Skinners system was based on operant conditioning, where an agents behaviour is modified by its consequences such as reward and punishment. Rather than our free will of choice and desire, we are instead determined or conditioned by our environment. Skinners aim of operant conditioning was to prove that our past experience does determine our actions in the future. If an individual finds something pleasant from their past experience, then their behaviour is likely to be repeated in the future. And vice versa- if the behaviour is followed by an unpleasant consequence then it is unlikely the individual would not repeat it- this is known as Law of effect. In order to prove his hypothesis of determinism skinner used an experiment called the skinner box. The Skinner box was created in order for an animal in the box to manipulate a lever that they can press to access food or water- a type of reinforcement. There was a light on the lever, and only when the light was on the food would be real ised by pressing the lever. Through this form of learning the animal was able to realise that the lever they pressed released food when the light was on rather than off, therefore the likelihood was the behaviour of the animal would repeat when the light was on, as it was a positive reinforcement. The animal learnt that the lever would not release any food if the light was off. Skinner relates this to our physical and social environment- the idea that we learn from our behaviour. When we find a positive consequence, we will repeat the behaviour, a negative response, we wont repeat the behaviour. For example, we learn from our peers when the best time is to ask them for a favour. If they are miserable, you know not too. But if they are cheerful you know that is the best time. The reason for this is because we have learnt from our past experience. We have learnt that persons facial expression and emotions when the best time is to ask for a favour wanting a positive reinforcement. Skin ner also gives different scenarios in which we learn from past experience which now determined our behaviour today; you also know that your professors are more likely to respond to your raising your hand if they are facing you than if their backs are turned. A green traffic light, another type of discriminative stimulus, signal that driving though an intersection is likely to be reinforced by a safe passage  [18]  . Skinners studies shows that we are affected as humans by our past experiences, through reward and punishment, bad and good affects. But these past experiences now determine us as agents, they are constantly influencing us in what we do. The past cannot be escaped and no matter how much someone claims they have free will they will constantly by determined by early/past experiences. We can never be totally free in choice or decision making, it is impossible. However, Kane recognises this conflict that Skinner picks up on. That we cannot be free because we are always being influenced by external factors, such as heredity, our environment and past experiences. Therefore, to defend the libertarian approach Kane forwards an example linked to B.F Skinner. Suppose a young man is on trial for an assault and robbery in which his victim was beaten to death. Let us say we attend his trail and listen to the evidence in the courtroom. At first, our thoughts of the young man are filled with anger and resentmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦But as we listen daily to how he came to have the mean character and perverse motives he did have-parental neglect, child abuse, sexual abuse, bad role models- some of our resentment against the young man is shifted over to the parentsWe wonder whether some residual responsibility may not belong to him. Was he determined this way through his upbringing and environment, or was his choice totally free? Kane would claim he was total ly free in his decision making, with no influence or deterministic route. To explore the understanding of free will and Skinners claim more Kane elaborates on the idea of garden of forking paths. To illustrate suppose Jane has just graduated from Law school and she has a choice between joining a law firm in Chicago or a different firm in New York. If Jane believes her choice is a free choice (made of her own free will) she must believe both options are open to her while she is deliberating  [19]  . Therefore, there is more than one path available to her in her future and she believes this choice is entirely her own free will. We can see how determinism threatens the picture of free will but Kane carries on to defends the libertarian view; if we stopped believing in free will then we would lose our sense of morality/ responsibility so free will must exist. But we cant just claim we have free will because we are under the illusion we have more than one choice. There could be a mil lion choices, but the matter of the fact is only one of those choices is going to happen because we are determined. We are unable to choose otherwise. However, it could be argued that our reasoning is just an illusion. We like to believe we have a choice and be able to reason in situations, but it is possible that we have been pre-determined to make choices, but we just reason because we like to believe we are free. Its an illusion. We could deny determinism throughout our past and present future, but it doesnt mean we are not pre-determined. Pereboom reacts to Kanes argument and re-examines the libertarianism arguments. He argues that event-causal libertarianism cannot secure responsibility-conferring control  [20]  . He proves this through his own analogy. A business woman; Anne, who is in a dilemma to either decide to stop and help an assault victim, or she can refrain from so deciding. Pereboom argues that relevant causal conditions antecedent to this decision-agent-involving event, or, alternatively, states of agents-would leave it open whether this decision would occur, and she has no further causal role of the antecedent conditions already given, whether the decision occurs or not then settled by anything about the agent- whether it be states or events in which the agent is involved, or the agent herself  [21]  . Perebooms argument is that the agent has limited control required for her to be morally responsible. She cannot choose, nor have the desire to act upon this situation by helping the assault victim. She has no choose to do otherwise, and free will collides with this. Schopenhauer- Schopenhauer expressed that every man, being what he is and placed in the circumstances which for the moment obtainà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦can absolutely never do anything else than just what at that moment he does do. Accordingly, the whole course of a mans life, in all its incidents great and smell, is as necessarily predetermined as the course of a clock  [22]  . A man is able to desire what one wants to do, but his actions are predetermined for him, and isnt able to choose otherwise. To explain this, Schopenhauer implies that determinism relies on two factors of an agent; their motive and their character. Our motive is causality that passes through our cognitive side; ones attention, memory, their reason. And a situation that happens at a particular time in particular circumstances depresses the switch on the detonator causing the explosion. This presupposes the nature of electricity and of the materials used for combustion  [23]  . Another word, motivation from ones action is roo ted from their personal character. This is known as their nature of the will. But what makes an agent determined, Schopenhauer explains is a reaction to the same motive will always differ in every individual. This alternatively makes up their individuality of their character. Schopenhauer calls this the empirical character as it is by its means that the way in which various motives affect the given man is determined  [24]  . An individuals character, their mental and physical attribute is constant throughout their life, no matter what it is always immutable. On looking back over our past, we see at once that our life consists of mere variations on one and the same theme, namely our character, and that the same fundamental bass sounds through it all. This is an experience a man can and must make in and by himself  [25]  . It could be argued that one is always changing, their character, and their physical and mental individuality. But no matter what we adapt to, or change our views, our character is always constant throughout our life because it roots back to our motive, which is our character. It is clear that free will is a weak position, and it could be claimed it is an illusion. Determinism can follow off into many routes, as Skinner has proved- a psychological approach, and Schopenhauer through an approach of our character and motive. But it is clear that determinism holds a very strong stance. Kane recognises the conflict of determinism and free will, but doesnt do much to hold his argument. To claim that just because we feel we can debate about a choice, and we think we can do otherwise does not prove we have free will. Its an illusion that we think is happening, but in reality, we have been determined. As Skinner and Schopenhauer have proved, our environmental, and character determined who we are today and who we will be. Now we have proved free will to be an illusion, this raises another issue. If we are totally determined in our actions then how are we expected to take full responsibility for our actions. If our actions have been pre-determined from the beginning of the universe, or through our character of environmental basis, then how could we possibly take responsibility for our actions? We have no freedom in choosing our actions, therefore why shall we be punished for them? Is Determinism/ Causal determinism compatible with moral responsibility? After establishing that the libertarianism view cannot exist, the deterministic route now has to be examined in more depth. Free will is an illusion, admitting this means everything is determined; either through a theological, psychological, behaviour or environmental path. But this raises a significant and relevant issue within philosophy which has been evolved for many centuries; can moral responsibility exist if everything has been determined? How can we claim we have responsibility or take responsibility for our actions e.g. punishment and reward, if we have been determined this way as an individual? Firstly I shall be exploring what I actually mean by moral responsibility so the argument is more specific and clear. Then I shall be deepening my argument to see whether hard determinism can exist with full responsibility of our actions; concluding that through the hard deterministic route it is possible to have full moral responsibility. Defining moral responsibility and determinism Concentrating on the issue of moral responsibility, I first have to define what I mean by this. Moral responsibility refers to whether an individual holds full responsibility of their actions and morals they act upon. As Pereboom explains the term meaning for an agent to be morally responsible for an action is for it to belong to her in such a way that she would deserve blame is she understood that it was morally wrong, and she would deserve credit or perhaps praise is she understood that it was morally exemplary  [26]  . If we take to definition of moral responsibility and link it with determinism (holding that determinism is true and in no form can be compatible with free will) we now start to build an argument. If our lives our determined for us, then why are we held responsible for our actions if our actions are not a choice we can make, they cant be prevented or chosen. Can moral responsibility exist? Ogletree and Oberle examine whether we have the right to hold individuals responsible for their actions; blame and punish them, if they could not have done otherwise. In a research study by Nahmias, Morris, Nadelhoffer and Turner (2005); examining peoples thoughts on moral

Authentic Leadership Essay -- True Leaders

Authentic Leadership Leadership can be shown through any person in any type of situation. In a classroom discussion, on the playing field, or in public a sign of a leader is evident. A person is born a leader. Certain humans know what to do when the time calls for it. Many people in positions can be entitled a leader such as basketball players. Even a famous movie star can be given this title. These people are not true leaders. True leaders are the belaboring teachers and the intellectual speakers. These are the people who show that leadership is an action, not a position. Touching lives and affecting the outcome of so many futures a teacher is the epitome of a leader. Just as a leader has his or her own style, a teacher’s way of motivating his/her students, also plays an important role for a students success. Spending more time children then most parents do, a teacher is crucial in shaping with children of the future. If teachers are poor leaders then children suffer. When they shine as leaders, children blossom and the universe is wide open. As a teacher must fine tune their leadership skills and find the best style of teaching for the students who they are teaching. The intrinsic characteristics of a teacher can be categorized into a few main teaching styles or leadership styles. Directing, participating, delegating, and combined styles are the main forms of teaching and leading. The qualities associated with these styles are necessary to any teacher. The purpose ... Authentic Leadership Essay -- True Leaders Authentic Leadership Leadership can be shown through any person in any type of situation. In a classroom discussion, on the playing field, or in public a sign of a leader is evident. A person is born a leader. Certain humans know what to do when the time calls for it. Many people in positions can be entitled a leader such as basketball players. Even a famous movie star can be given this title. These people are not true leaders. True leaders are the belaboring teachers and the intellectual speakers. These are the people who show that leadership is an action, not a position. Touching lives and affecting the outcome of so many futures a teacher is the epitome of a leader. Just as a leader has his or her own style, a teacher’s way of motivating his/her students, also plays an important role for a students success. Spending more time children then most parents do, a teacher is crucial in shaping with children of the future. If teachers are poor leaders then children suffer. When they shine as leaders, children blossom and the universe is wide open. As a teacher must fine tune their leadership skills and find the best style of teaching for the students who they are teaching. The intrinsic characteristics of a teacher can be categorized into a few main teaching styles or leadership styles. Directing, participating, delegating, and combined styles are the main forms of teaching and leading. The qualities associated with these styles are necessary to any teacher. The purpose ...

War in Iraq Essay -- essays research papers

The war in Iraq brings up a lot of questions, about the future decisions of President of the United States of America, Mr. George W. Bush. After the terrorist attack on the United States, which shook the whole world, US went to war with Iraq. I believe that this is a war on terrorism, and not an â€Å"Oil War†, how other like to refer to it. United States want to liberate people in Iraq and bring up the standards of living in that very rich, but at the same time poor country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Before I come to my main topic of this essay, which is â€Å"Which Prince should G.W. Bush put in the Middle East?† I would like to talk a little about the history of international behaviors of the United States of America. After the Second World War United States was seeking for new allies. Well I should not be saying new, but for more allies. Also at that time there was an anti-communism in the US. As Soviet Union moved on across the Europe pushing the Germans back and defeating them. The countries which were left behind Soviet Union put socialistic governments, which brought new and more allies for Russia. But as timed passes United States saw that the best way to bring new allies is by putting democratic government. Which is United States did in Germany and Japan. But while US were busy with Europe and did not paid attention to the Middle East, Islamic countries were out of control. So now G.W.Bush would like to solve this problem, which brings another problem who is going to be...