Socrates - The Republic Essays - Ethics, Morality, Crime, Sin

Socrates - The Republic The theme of The Republic is very complicated in some ways; it is a manual of sorts, which demonstrates how society can achieve virtue. In the beginning of the Republic, we are introduced to the fundamental question of the rest of the text, whether it is more beneficial to live justly (moral) or unjustly (immoral). It is also important to note that The Republic is not arguing which is better, but rather which is more beneficial, whether the just or unjust life will make one happier. I believe that morality is both instrumentally and intrinsically valuable and when morality is compared to immorality. First, let's take a closer look at morality. Morality is simply the politics of the passions, and it is often classed as a respect for manners and customs. Morality is that action which is acceptable to others, and mainly the majority. Many have said morality is our prejudices learned, as we grow older. Power often controls our morality. Yet, moral happiness should be the road all would choose, as it is the path of highest reward. Though morality is no more than a personal choice, more people could make the best choice, if it became monetarily easier to do so. Truth may be the founding father of morality, and universally unites morality, and immorality Moral rules must be flexible, society changes and with it so does morality. Morality must be as Agreed upon by, religious and non-religious alike, because morality, as everything else is part of an evolutionary process. By manifesting religious or scientific laws you manifest prejudice, ignorance and introduce immorality Morality is often vice to power, especially in decadent times. Yet, scientific morality knows the moral to be the best, and we should all know morality ends where force begins. To become totally moral is impossible, but to throw away morality is to throw away the human soul. On the other hand, many show that immorality has its advantages materialistically, but not realizing the dangers of being immoral. Socrates was one of the most influential philosophers, and his views on morality and immorality are equally beneficial, depending on the views and actions of people. There are many instance when moral conduct could be considered immoral and visa versa. ?Let's put it this way,' I said. ? A moral person doesn't set himself up as superior to people who are like him, but only to people that are unlike him; an immoral person, on the other hand, sets himself up as superior to people who are like him as well as to people who are like him.' (Page 34, 349c, The Republic) This paragraph is trying to illustrate the difference between what being moral and immoral is. A person who is moral only thinks of themselves superior over those that are immoral, because an immoral person is a less moral person. But the person that is immoral thinks of himself or herself as superior to everyone, making that one of many reasons they are considered immoral. Thus, bringing a better acknowledgement of the difference between moral and immoral. Socrates proves that justice brings unity to any group of people, since it allows them to trust and rely on each other. He points out that the gods are just, so an unjust person is their enemy. He proves that justice is the virtue of a person's soul, and permits it to function well, a just person will function well, live happily, and an unjust person will not. He also demonstrates that morality is more beneficial to its possessor. An individual gains happiness by being moral, whether or not they accumulate anything material. ?The point is that immorality has a bad name because people are afraid of being at the receiving end of it, not of doing it. (344c, page 27, The Republic) Although people take pleasure from material things, it is safer being moral than immoral, because immoral actions have consequences. People would behave immorally, only if they knew they could get away with it, having no consequences. Society often favors those who are moral than those who are immoral. Morality is more acceptable and makes that person more influential, knowledgeable, intellectual, and analytic. A moral person has many opportunities that

Comparison of television violence and solid parenting essays

Comparison of television violence and solid parenting essays The people of this country have a problem with facing facts. Everyday we turn on the news only to hear about children dying in the streets, the playgrounds, and even in there own homes. Many will blame TV for problems with children and teenagers citing that kids today have no morals or conscious. But it isnt the problem the problem is abusive parents, fewer after school sponsored activities, and children practically raising them selves while both or one parent works all the time. When children are neglected they find activities to get them attention including becoming violent, this is not the result of watching to much TV. Charles Oliver from REASON magazines cites For 30 years or so television defined a broad-based popular American culture. But beginning in the 80s, that culture began to break down, dividing into small subcultures, as technology, deregulation, and market demand made it increasingly difficult for the broadcast networks to attract a broad national audience. In turn each of these subcultures influences each other, producing a mainstream culture that is currently evolving at an ever more-rapid rate(Oliver 58). By this he shows that each generation is different from the others and what defined one group wont define the others. Obviously this shows the generation gap, and also why older folks dont understand the younger generations psyche, the television dosent influence but takes the place of the missing mommy and daddy. Others such as David Grossman who wrote the article Trained to kill will argue that children are taught to be mindless drones through the television. Killing is a learned skill. And they learn it from abuse and violence in the home and, most pervasively, from violence as entertainment in television, the movies, and interactive video games(Grossman 114). Grossman a former military psychologist has seen many soldiers and taught them how to adj...

The difference between chinese and british consumer behaviour on Literature review

The difference between chinese and british consumer behaviour on coffee consumption - Literature review Example The literature review will give information on how the attitudes affect consumer behaviour. It will investigate the actual and post purchase behaviours where it will include information such as where and how coffee is purchased in the two countries. It will also explain about the factors that affect the post purchase behaviour of the consumers. The literature review will describe the coffee shop atmosphere and how it will influence consumer behaviour. Other models of consumer behaviour will also be discussed under this topic. Consumer behaviour on coffee consumption in China Gillespie, Jeannet and Hennessey have argued that coffee consumption depends on the consumer income. Starbucks gave coffee market in China a priority as it believed in Chinese youth consumers. Coffee sales have increased and shown a positive growth. Starbucks has improved its marketing strategies by reducing coffee prices. The writers have stated that coffee is mostly consumed by elite consumers, tourists and exp atriates as they are the most targeted group by the coffee operators. They influence other consumer to have a coffee preference. Consumers that are attracted or like the luxury products tend to consume more coffee than other consumers. Increase in consumption level has lead to increase in coffee stores in the country who are competing amongst themselves (Gillespie, Jeannet, & Hennessey, 2010). Nagel has also argued that Starbuck has helped to increase coffee preference in China. An increase in coffee consumption has been experienced in the large cities such as Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. These cities have been flexible enough to adapt western culture such as coffee drinking, due to the attraction of the western lifestyle. The Chinese in the big cities have changed their consumer behaviour due to the influence of different cultures and westernisation. The growth of coffee consumption in some cities has been affected by the government and the Chinese traditions. Nagel also believ es that consumer behaviour among the Chinese youth have changed towards coffee consumption. They have accepted the coffee culture and its associated lifestyle. They now prefer premium coffee and they are drinking grounded coffee, due to its sweet smell compared to instant coffee. Nagel also complements that coffee consumption in China is seen to be a luxurious lifestyle, due to its exceedingly high cost. He concludes that the coffee consumption in China is increasing especially among the youth who grew after culture revolution (Nagel, 2008). Zinzius has states that China has been a tea drinking country but it has slowly adapted coffee drinking culture. This has been greatly influenced by the coffee shop atmosphere. Coffee consumption in China is quite low as many have not adapted to its bitter taste. Others complain that it is keeping them awake till late in the night. Starbucks is one of the companies that have affected the consumer behaviour on coffee consumption in China. The com pany has opened stores that increased coffee consumption and has targeted the youth such as students, young managers and employees. Despite the coffee being expensive, the consumers prefer coffee shops to tea shops as they are mostly filled with smoke and a lot of noise. The tea shops are mostly dominated by the adult population. The company has also offered training in coffee classes to enlighten them

Free Will and Fate in Sartres No Exit and Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Essay

Free Will and Fate in Sartres No Exit and Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus - Essay Example Although they conceded that man had the power to choose and make decisions for himself, they felt that these decisions inevitably ended up playing into the hands of fate. This can be seen clearly in Oedipus Tyrannus. Oedipus learns from the Oracle that it is his fate to murder his biological father and sleep with own mother. Upon learning of his fate, Oedipus flees from the land of his youth in an attempt to escape his fate. After he becomes king, Oedipus seeks to learn the truth behind the murder of his father which caused the land of Thebes to be cursed. He summons the blind prophet Teiresias who hints at the truth which eerily echoes the oracle's prediction: Even though Oedipus tried to escape his fate by attempting to flee, his destiny overrides his free will as he ignorantly winds up fulfilling the oracle's prophecies of patricide and incest. In this play, fate is seen as the master of man's destiny and it shows how man is virtually helpless when it comes to living out his preordained destiny. By contrast, Jean Paul Sartre's No Exit has the major underlying theme of existentialism; that is that man and man alone controls his destiny. Existentialism is the belief that there is no God or fate and therefore man is in charge of his own destiny. Basically, the past is past and has no bearing on today, what is here and now is the reality. Man has the free will to choose to be free or he can be imprisoned by letting other people choose his destiny for him. Also by allowing himself to become imprisoned by the past, man is condemning himself to a life that can't be lived. Of the three main characters in No Exit, two are doomed to an eternity in Hell because of their failure to take responsibility for their actions which got them there in the first place. Besides blaming others for her problems, Estelle even blames her death on fate, "then two years ago I met the man I was fated to love. We knew it the moment we set eyes on each other. He asked me to run away with him, and I refused. Then I got pneumonia and it finished me." Estelle is saying that because she denied her destiny, her punishment was death. In life and in death, Estelle allows others to create her self image rather than take responsibility for her own life, this can be seen when she asks the others repeatedly how she looks and through the use of Inez as her mirror, she shows how she is still letting other people determine who she is. Estelle and Garcin both refuse to give up the past, as they go over and over the events that brought them to Hell. Their inability to live in the present, in effect condemns them to Hell. In Hell as on earth, Garcin continues to leave his existence in the hands of other people. Garcin let other people decide who he was on earth, at one point even declaring, "I've left my fate in their hands." In Hell, he allows Estelle to determine who he really is by allowing her to define if he is a coward. Garcin's inability to leave Hell even when the door is open shows how he lets his fear of being responsible limit his choices and eventually condemns himself.

Understanding Primary Source Readings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Understanding Primary Source Readings - Essay Example Robert Strayer scholarly work is primarily based on world history and has also written various books on the same subject. Among them â€Å"The Ways of the World† narrated by him describes about the various aspects about the ancient world. The chapter 2 of the book â€Å"The Occupations of Old Egypt† generally reflects the various elements and aspects pertaining to the lifestyle and occupation of Egyptian people during the ancient time3. More specifically, the author, Robert W. Strayer in this chapter describes about the occupational trend of the Egyptian civilization. This document demonstrates about the division of labor and social hierarchy existed between â€Å"Paleolithic communities† and â€Å"agricultural village societies† in Egypt. The occupational system of Egyptian civilization is commonly known as â€Å"First Civilizations which is described in an Egyptian text known as â€Å"Be a Scribe†4. Robert W. Strayer describes the variation in the standard of work and various communities living during the Egyptian Civilization according to their hierarchical positions. This was the period of middle kingdom the author in his document â€Å"The Occupations of Old Egypt† of the book describes about the worst standard of living of Paleolithic people, which included washer man, potters, cobblers and merchants and crewers as well as the â€Å"agricultural village societies† which primarily included peasants and mansions. They have to struggle to have existence of life. During Egyptian civilization in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Barter System was extensively used as the system of exchange. This system was abundantly used by â€Å"Paleolithic communities† and â€Å"agricultural village societies† to exchange the materials such as food and clothing and other necessary requirements essential for every individual of the society. They used to give some material which they procured and in exchange, they take

Portrayal of Schizophrenia in Clean, Shaven

Portrayal of Schizophrenia in Clean, Shaven Elizabeth Davis Abstract Media portrayals of mental disorders often provide the only contact one may have on the topic. Because of this, filmmakers have a duty to accurately portray the disorders. Clean, Shaven provides first-hand look into the frightening symptoms of schizophrenia in an attempt to humanize the disorder and admonishes society for false presuppositions based upon those suffering from mental disorders (Lim, 2006; Owen, 2012). Portrayal of Schizophrenia in Clean, Shaven In Clean, Shaven, Lodge Kerrigan attempts to place the viewer in the mind of Peter Winter, a schizophrenic recently released from a mental institution, through the use of strange camera angles and a bizarre, glaring soundtrack (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). The film seeks to humanize the day-to-day struggles of life dealing with the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as auditory and visual hallucinations. One of Winter’s auditory hallucinations fits especially well with this theme: â€Å"For you it’s paranoia. For me it’s a reality† (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). In addition, the film comments on society’s discrimination against mental illness by allowing the viewer to falsely assume Winter murders a young girl (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Symptoms and Diagnosis According to the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, one must exhibit at least two of the five active symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior, and negative symptoms (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). Additionally, at least one of the symptoms must be one of the first three (delusions, hallucinations, and/or disorganized speech) and must occur for at least one month (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). Clean, Shaven only provides a brief glimpse into Peter Winter’s life, however during this time, he does exhibit both delusions and hallucinations, as well as catatonic behavior and inappropriate affect (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Winter suffers from delusions that during his commitment to a mental institution he underwent a surgery to implant a radio transmitter in his finger and a receiver in his head (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). In two separate scenes, Winter attempts to remove both the transmitter and the receiver, speaking to the persi stence of the delusions (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Additionally, Winter suffers from both visual and auditory hallucinations, the latter of which he believes originate from the transmitter in his finger (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). According to Oltmanns and Emery (2015), catatonic behavior may be expressed through excited and over-activity, such as pacing or repetitious movements. Repetitious movements appear at several times throughout the film, especially in times Winter is exceptionally stressed, such as in a scene in which he repeatedly bangs a card catalogue in a library (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Winter also exhibits inappropriate affect. Upon reuniting with his daughter who was placed for adoption when Winter was committed, Winter expresses increasing agitation instead of happiness (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). The DSM-5 enumerates additional criteria for diagnosis. The B-level criterion addresses the level of dysfunction in major areas of life, such as self-care, work, and interpersonal relationships (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). Because Winter has spent an unknown quantity of time in a mental institution and is just being released in the beginning of the film, his job performance cannot be analyzed, however, the viewer will note a steady decline in personal grooming throughout the film (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). In the beginning, Winter exhibits fastidious grooming habits, keeping his clothes meticulous and his hair neatly trimmed (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). During a shower scene, Winter is seen scrubbing down with steel wool, suggesting a compulsive aspect to his hygiene habits (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Towards the end of the film, Winter becomes markedly disheveled (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). An interaction with his mother reveals strained interpersonal relations (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). The remainin g diagnostic criteria were not addressed in the film due to the limited dialogue and the time constraints of the film. However, judging by the age of Winter’s daughter and comments on the onset of the symptoms made by his mother, it can be inferred that his symptoms have persisted for a time period exceeding the necessary six months. The quality and duration of symptoms along with the level of dysfunction confirm the diagnosis claim of schizophrenia. Causes of Schizophrenia According to Oltmanns and Emery (2015), the interaction of both biological and environmental factors combine to cause schizophrenia. A wealth of data supports a physiological and genetic component to schizophrenia, based upon brain scans showing structural abnormalities and evidence of neurotransmitter dysfunction (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). However, this evidence only supports a predisposition to the disorder that may remain dormant until an environmental factor triggers the expression (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). Oltmanns and Emery (2015) state environmental triggers include complications during pregnancy or birth, maternal malnutrition, certain viral infections. A correlation between schizophrenia and various social factors has also been found. For example, the highest concentration of schizophrenia occurs amongst those with the lowest socioeconomic statuses (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). According to Oltmanns and Emery (2015), two theories exist to explain this phenomenon: social causation, in which the status causes the disorder, and social selection, in which the disorder forces the status. Additionally, higher rates of schizophrenia occur in those who immigrate from another country, perhaps causing social adversity that triggers the disorder (Oltmanns Emery, 2015). It is unclear what combination of factors caused Peter Winter’s disorder. His mother mentions that as a child he had a strong attachment to a neighbor’s dog and became despondent and uninterested in enjoyable activities when the dog passed away (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Additionally, she mentions that he dropped out of college after only a few months, lost 20 pounds, and cut contact with the family, which is within the typical age of onset (15-35 years of age) for schizophrenia (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Judging from setting elements in the film, such as the fishing industry and farm houses, Winter lived in a predominantly working class town, which supports the social causation hypothesis (Byrne Kerrigan, 1993). Media Messages on Schizophrenia and Mental Health Filmmakers, when representing a mental disorder, have a moral obligation to accurately portray that mental disorder. According to Owen (2012), many cinematic depictions are based upon misinformation. In her analysis of 42 film characters, Owen (2012) found all depictions of schizophrenics carried some form of incorrect information. For example, 79 percent of these characters were male, a much higher rate than in actual occurrence (Owen, 2012). Additionally, 95 percent were Caucasian, whereas schizophrenia occurs at a much higher rate with African-Americans (Owen, 2012). Byrne and Kerrigan (1993) are guilty of dissemination both of those inaccurate depictions in Clean, Shaven. Owen (2012) found that while Clean, Shaven did rely on some inaccuracies, they were â€Å"inconsequential and did not detract from an overall accurate and compelling portrayal of schizophrenia† and praised the film for providing a â€Å"realistic and sympathetic representation [of the] day-to-day struggl es to cope with symptoms.† Of additional note, Kerrigan allows the audience to formulate presuppositions about Peter Winter’s guilt. In the opening scene, Winter sits in his car as a girl bounces a soccer ball against the windshield. Startled by the sound and frightened by the glare she gives him, Peter steps out of the car and walks off out of camera range. Next the viewer hears loud bangs and a girl screaming, then Winter gets back in the car with a large item wrapped in orange plastic bags. In a later scene, Detective Jack McNally is called on a case of the murder of a girl who looks similar to the girl with the soccer ball. Throughout the movie, McNally, and the audience as well, believes Winter murdered the girl, however he is unable to find any conclusive evidence. In a final scene, McNally rips open the orange plastic to find nothing but newspapers. This interplay comments on society’s false notions that the mentally ill are much more likely to commit violent acts (Oltmanns Emery, 2015; O wen, 2012). The viewer is left questioning whether the sounds of violence from the beginning were just another of Winter’s auditory hallucinations. In conclusion, Clean, Shaven provides a unique, sympathetic view into the life of someone suffering with schizophrenia. Byrne and Kerrigan (1993) portray auditory and visual hallucinations realistically and in a way that the viewer experiences them as if his own, providing more understanding for the development of the delusions. References Byrne, J. D. (Producer), Kerrigan, L. (Director). (1993).Clean, Shaven[Motion picture]. United States of America: DSM III Films. Lim, D. (2006). Clean, Shaven: Inside man. The Criterion Collection. Retrieved from http://www.criterion.com/current/posts/453-clean-shaven-inside-man Oltmanns, T. F. Emery, R. E. (2015). Abnormal psychology (8th Ed.). Boston: Pearson. Owen, P. R. (2012). Portrayals of schizophrenia by entertainment media: A content analysis of contemporary movies. Psychiatric Services, 63(7), 655-659. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201100371

Cold war responsibility Essay -- essays research papers

Activity #4 – Essay â€Å"Truman was more responsible for the Cold War than Stalin was.† President Truman was convinced from the beginning that Stalin intended to take over countries based solely by the fact that there were communist parties present in them. France, Italy and even China, are perfect examples of this. And in the Greek civil war it wasn’t the USSR that was giving aid to the communists, it was Yugoslavia. It was obvious that Stalin had no major plans for any kind of global communist domination. But nevertheless, Truman placed the blame for the growing popularity of communism’s ‘political poison’ on Stalin, and convinced the American people to share his outlook. Without even looking at the fact that no USSR troops were in Greece, Truman and his advisers jumped on the chance to put forward their ‘domino theory’. This was a theory that said that if the communists won the Greek civil war, the end result would be Russian control of the whole middle east. He used this theory to justify military intervention in Greece, and ultimately, his ‘Truman Doctrine’ telling the entire world that the US was ready for a war. He told the ‘free peoples’ of the world that the time had come to choose between alternative ways of life – the communist way, or the democratic way. Stalin did not do this. President Truman worked with the British Prime Minister to introduce the Deutschmark into West Berlin. While it did eventually achieve his goal of creating an economically viable Germany, i...

Marriage versus living together

Trends are showing that there is a change in the way intimate relationships are constituted throughout the world. Cohabiting, in the absence of a marriage contract has only become so common over the past few decades. This practice of living with a partner in an intimate relationship that does not involve signing a marriage contract, referred to by any of the terms consensual unions, cohabiting unions, cohabitation, or living together, is evidenced both in developed and developing countries. Mokomane (2005) notes an increase over marriage in this type of relationship (p. 57). Kenny and McLanahan also observe that, in the U. S., cohabitation has surpassed marriage as the preferred mode of intimate unions. It is useful, therefore, to understand differences between a cohabiting and a marriage relationship, in order to determine why couples are now choosing this type of union over marriage. The most apparent difference between a marriage and a cohabiting relationship is in their institutional makeup. A marriage is, by its very nature, a contractual type of relationship where both couples agree to an intimate union. A cohabiting relationship is also an agreement between two partners. The difference is that a marriage requires signing a legal document representative of the couples’ legal obligations to each other. In a cohabiting union such legality is not evident. Marriage relationships are therefore more permanent than cohabiting unions specifically because of this legality. A cohabiting couple may choose to end a relationship at any time without facing much external difficulties but a married couple has to apply for a divorce. Simply put a married couple is legally accountable for either staying together or separating while this is not so in the case of cohabiting couples. Mokomane (2005) notes a further difference in the average age of individuals who enter either union. She has observed that couples in a cohabiting relationship are usually much younger than those in a cohabiting relationship. From her research it was discovered that cohabiting men and women average 37.9 and 32.8 years respectively while their married counterparts average 51.3 and 45.6 years respectively based on the 2001 census in the U.S. (p. 63). This is suggesting that cohabiting relationships is usually the first choice relationship and later there is the transfer into a marriage union when the individual gets older. It has also been noted that married couples earn more than their cohabiting counterparts. According to Clarkberg (1999), income is usually a predictive factor for individuals to get married. She argues that, since individuals with more income seem to be the ones that enter into married unions, then a good income is probably seen as a requirement for entering into a married union. Clarkberg cites research conducted in Puerto Rico in which it was concluded that cohabiting relationships are ‘a poor man’s marriage’(p. 947). Markowski, Croake and Keller also found that cohabiting couples had more lifetime partners than married couples suggesting a higher rate of promiscuity in the former group. They establish that cohabiting couples are more likely than married couples to have had more than six sexual partners (p. 33). Finally research has found that there is a higher rate of domestic violence among couples that are cohabiting than those that are married. Even further there are also higher rates of homicide within this group (Kenny & McLanahan, 2006). In consistent cases it has been found that the rate of domestic violence among married couples is significantly less than the rate among cohabiting couples. These researchers estimate that cohabiting relationships are between two and four times more likely to involve domestic violence than married relationships. It appears therefore that, for reasons of economy and because of its perceived permanence, more persons are staying away from marriage relationships, at least in their younger days, while enjoying the privileges of an intimate living relationship with their partner. Related essay: â€Å"My Ideal Wife† Reference Clarkberg, M. (1999). The price of partnering: The role of economic well-being in young adults’ first union experiences. Social Forces, 77(3), 945-968. Kenny, C. T. & McLanahan, S. S. (2006, Feb). Why are cohabiting relationships more violent than marriages? Demography, 43(1), 127-140. Markowski, E. M., Croake, J. W. & Keller, J. F. (1978, Feb). Sexual history and present sexual behavior of cohabiting and married couples. The Journal of Sex Research, 14(1), 27-39. Mokomane, Z. (2005). A demographic and socio-economic portrait of cohabitation in Botswana. Society in Transition, 36(1), 57-73.   

Free Essays on Alan Paton

Alan Paton teacher, author, and politician was one of South Africa's most remarkable people. Repelled by the racism he saw all around him in his homeland, he wrote Cry, the Beloved Country, the book that had the most profound effect in the worldwide struggle against apartheid. It is in this book, that he portrayed his life through so many characters and scenes to give the best explanation possible for his fight for justice and equality. This book remains one of South Africa’s greatest novels. It is a true-life portrait of its author, Alan Paton. Alan Paton was born in 1903 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal. He was the oldest of four children and the son of Eunice and James Paton. He was taught to read and write before he started school and as a result he was rapidly advanced all throughout his school years. At the age of fifteen he was starting his college education for a science degree in teaching. After receiving his degree, he was sent to a small farming town of Ixopo, as a housemaster at the high school there. Ixopo would later become increasing familiar in his book, Cry, the Beloved Country. While in Ixopo, Paton took long walks in the hills, which he described in his book. There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond and singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa. About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear the forlorn crying of the titihoya, one of the birds of the veld. Below you is the valley of the umzimkulu, on its journey form the Drakensberg to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and East Griqualand (Paton 33). This would become the famous start to the first two parts of the novel, Cry, the Beloved Country... Free Essays on Alan Paton Free Essays on Alan Paton Alan Paton teacher, author, and politician was one of South Africa's most remarkable people. Repelled by the racism he saw all around him in his homeland, he wrote Cry, the Beloved Country, the book that had the most profound effect in the worldwide struggle against apartheid. It is in this book, that he portrayed his life through so many characters and scenes to give the best explanation possible for his fight for justice and equality. This book remains one of South Africa’s greatest novels. It is a true-life portrait of its author, Alan Paton. Alan Paton was born in 1903 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal. He was the oldest of four children and the son of Eunice and James Paton. He was taught to read and write before he started school and as a result he was rapidly advanced all throughout his school years. At the age of fifteen he was starting his college education for a science degree in teaching. After receiving his degree, he was sent to a small farming town of Ixopo, as a housemaster at the high school there. Ixopo would later become increasing familiar in his book, Cry, the Beloved Country. While in Ixopo, Paton took long walks in the hills, which he described in his book. There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond and singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa. About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear the forlorn crying of the titihoya, one of the birds of the veld. Below you is the valley of the umzimkulu, on its journey form the Drakensberg to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and East Griqualand (Paton 33). This would become the famous start to the first two parts of the novel, Cry, the Beloved Country...

Free Essays on Politics In Business

What is Power? â€Å"Power is defined simplistically as the ability to get others people to do something that you want them to do† (Buhler, 2001). Power is control and many people are given the power to control other in their every day task. When one person controls the power and politics, that individual has complete domination. There are a number of people in this position, CEO, CFO, Human resources or just your manager has the power to change your life. â€Å"Just a decade ago, most organization reflected the traditional pyramid with the power concentrated at the top–most levels of the hierarchy. Today the reality is very different in many organization. Now, power is distributed more evenly throughout most organizations. This is a result of the empowerment of the workforce. This empowerment, however, has resulted in a major paradigm shift. It has required that everyone think very differently about the concept of power today† (Buhler, 2001). Every organization has politics that dominate the everyday lives of it workforce. The politics usually begins at the top of the pyramid. The whole political environment within a company can determine how long your employment will be and how much you will be paid. â€Å"Politics is one of the mechanisms that enable you to get things done through other people. Politics even helps share the culture of your organization. Organization politics is concerned with the use of actions to meet individual goals through means that the organization doesn’t necessarily sanction. Political behavior is generally outside the formal authority of the organization. You can use political behavior to achieve organizational or individual goals. It is the misuse and abuse of power and politics that has given both bad names. Politics is defined as the process of gaining and using power in the organization† (Buhler, 2001). We s... Free Essays on Politics In Business Free Essays on Politics In Business What is Power? â€Å"Power is defined simplistically as the ability to get others people to do something that you want them to do† (Buhler, 2001). Power is control and many people are given the power to control other in their every day task. When one person controls the power and politics, that individual has complete domination. There are a number of people in this position, CEO, CFO, Human resources or just your manager has the power to change your life. â€Å"Just a decade ago, most organization reflected the traditional pyramid with the power concentrated at the top–most levels of the hierarchy. Today the reality is very different in many organization. Now, power is distributed more evenly throughout most organizations. This is a result of the empowerment of the workforce. This empowerment, however, has resulted in a major paradigm shift. It has required that everyone think very differently about the concept of power today† (Buhler, 2001). Every organization has politics that dominate the everyday lives of it workforce. The politics usually begins at the top of the pyramid. The whole political environment within a company can determine how long your employment will be and how much you will be paid. â€Å"Politics is one of the mechanisms that enable you to get things done through other people. Politics even helps share the culture of your organization. Organization politics is concerned with the use of actions to meet individual goals through means that the organization doesn’t necessarily sanction. Political behavior is generally outside the formal authority of the organization. You can use political behavior to achieve organizational or individual goals. It is the misuse and abuse of power and politics that has given both bad names. Politics is defined as the process of gaining and using power in the organization† (Buhler, 2001). We s...

Legal issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal issues - Assignment Example The increase of the patient’s blood pressure to 40 mm Hg within just an hour is a pertinent issue, which the nurse should have reported to the physician immediately. Nurses are also mandated to speak to physicians about changes in patient conditions, rather than leaving messages (Wolf, 2012). Therefore if the nurse in this scenario claims that she left a message for the physician about the rapid increase in the patient’s blood pressure before going for lunch, she would have violated the legal obligation of nursing practice. The professional code of conduct as presented within the Nursing Practice Act provides that nurses must go further up in the chain of command in an event when they are not able to get the physician (Mikos, 2011). Therefore inability to get the physician would not be an excuse for the nurse’s behavior in this scenario. The nurse violated the procedures and policies of nursing practice and is therefore liable to the violations and penalties of the Nursing Practice Act. Nurses are responsible for knowing and adhering to the procedures of care, such as reporting patient conditions. It is through education and training that nurses are made aware of nursing policies and procedures. Despite the knowledge of the nurse of the procedures of reporting the conditions of the patient, she ignored implementing them. Negligence is a legal issue in health care processes, which described the inability of practitioners to demonstrate due care (Mikos, 2011). In this scenario, the nurse was negli gent because she did not show due care in reporting the high and increasing blood pressure of the patient, and instead went for lunch. When a health provider fails to do what should prudently and reasonably done, then negligence is reported. A breach of duty is also categorized under negligence (Wolf, 2012). The nurse breached her duty of reporting the change in the patient’s condition. The critical nature of the patient’s blood

Human Resource Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Human Resource Information Systems - Essay Example The HR departments came under pressure with routine work trying to cope with administration and providing more services online, that they could not provide value-added services such as knowledge management, culture management, and strategic direction and renewal. Gradually the focus shifted from playing a purely technical administrative role to being actively involved in the strategic planning and management of an organization. It became essential to add value to enhance competitive advantage. The second perceived need was to incorporate IT in HRM practices. HR functions were transferred to digital formats and even though technology is underutilized, it is increasingly being used in functions such as recruitment, selection, training, promoting, terminating and in complying with legal requirements. IT systems led to the introduction of e-HRM which saves time and costs particularly with online recruitment and training systems. While HRIS can bring substantial savings to an organization , it is necessary that the managers and employees understand the benefits of the new system and are actually ready to use it. Getting the system to adapt to a new system is the greatest difficulty according to Beulen (2009). E-HRM can increase the amount of information provided to people as they obtain online access to HRM policy and practice handbooks. Online notification of holidays and other events facilitate strategic processes while people can even register for training courses online (Paauwe & Farndale, 2004, p11). E-HRM enables help people be constantly ready for change while encouraging online training and learning activities. It also facilitates collaboration between individuals through discussion groups and video-conferencing. It is also known to enhance employee interaction, work-life balance as they can deal with certain personal tasks while at work. In addition to improved accuracy, timely and