Utilitarianism Essays (677 words) - Utilitarianism,

Utilitarianism Utilitarianism is the ethical doctrine which essentially states that which is good is that which brings about the most happiness to the most people. John Stuart Mill believed that the decisions we make should always benefit the most people as much as possible regardless of the consequences to the minority or even yourself. He would say all that matters in the decision of right versus wrong is the amount of happiness produced by the consequences. In the decisions we make Mill would say that we need to weigh the outcomes and make our decision based on that outcome that benefits the majority. For Mill, pleasure is the only desirable consequence of our decisions or actions. The Judeo-Christian ethic embraced by Augustine places questions of right and wrong under the authority of a divine creator - God. The Judeo-Christian ethic can be summed up in one word - Love. In Matthew 22:40 Jesus says: ?Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love you neighbor as yourself.? When Augustine said, ?Love God and do what you will?, I believe he is asserting the fact that when a person loves God truly he or she is in God's will. John 14:15 says, ?If you love me, you will obey what I command.? If a person obeys God which is loving God and loving his creation then a person is in his will. The decisions made by a person in God's will are thus ethical decision in view of the fact that God is the ultimate moral authority. To help his creation in determining right from wrong he has provided the Bible. Although not every ethical question is covered in the Bible he has also given us his Spirit for guidance. Utilitarianism like the Judeo-Christian ethic is viewing others in a high regard. Utilitarian desire the greatest happiness as an end and the Judeo-Christian perspective seeks love and obedience to God. These two ethical systems seem to be similar in this aspect of caring what happens to all people. Both Utilitarianism and the Judeo-Christian ethic take the focus off the individual and place it on others. The Utilitarian is aiming to bring about the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest amount of people. The Judeo-Christian ethic is God-centered with the commandment to truly love Him. This love places a person in his divine will. People operating in this system are also called to love others as themselves. Being in God's divine will is the end by which love is the means. A person's commitment is to God and his divine will. On the other hand, in Utilitarianism a person's commitment is to pleasure. Another point of variance lies in the meaning of love and happiness. For Mills, happiness is the desired end regardless of the means. Thus there seems to be an absence of standards by which the means to obtain happiness are judged. If ten people would derive happiness by beating and robbing a man whose life affects no one, Utilitarianism seems to deem this ethical. On the other hand, the Judeo-Christian perspective clearly sets standards on actions. The commandment to love your neighbor as yourself dispels such actions of beating and robbing others. Love as a commandment doesn't always necessarily mean happiness for the greatest number of people. In the Judeo-Christian ethic discipline is often a part of loving someone. In Mill's ethics discipline is what may happen to the minority to provide happiness for the majority. In the Judeo-Christian ethic discipline may involve the majority such as in the case of God's disciplinary actions on Israel. In the process of forming a decision the Utilitarian must consciously weigh outcomes for the greatest happiness. This system places ultimate morality on the individual making the decision. This is in stark contrast to the moral authority found in the Judeo-Christian ethics of God. Philosophy

theories in psyche essays

theories in psyche essays - based on advancements in chemistry and philosophy - introspection: process by which people closely examine their own thoughts - Method of introspection was too restrictive, therefore the good was observations of actual behavior, including animal behavior - Concerned with how behavior and mental abilities help people adapt to their environments - behavior influenced by feelings and wishes buried deep inside - people often unaware of them, therefore these thoughts often contradict those in which we are aware - process of bringing unconscious feelings to the surface - Freud used hypnotism and free association - Ex someone who fears water might be asked to free associate with the word water ( first word that comes to mind-drown) - 1900s Watson argued against introspection as a way of studying behavior - observable behavior should be the only focus of the study - surroundings determine personalities - no such thing as free will, we are not responsible for or actions - ex. Criminal doesnt choose life of crime but rather depends on how person was sharp - B.F. Skinner most famous-he expanded on Watsons Theories - Albert Bandura-behavior is most influenced by observation and imitation - at the same time as behaviorism, this arose in Germany - behaviorists focus on learning and observed behavior - study how five senses help us extract information from the environment - overall shaping of things is determined by how people perceive/interpret series of separate sensations - whole is more important than individual parts - behaviorists oversimplified process of learning - focus on how people perceive, store and interpret information - interested in the way we use our knowledge to fill in the gaps ...

Respond to the article Malware in Hack Linked to Russian, WSJ, January Essay

Respond to the article Malware in Hack Linked to Russian, WSJ, January 23, 2014 - Essay Example He never wanted to use the code to enrich himself, but rather help to find a solution. The only problem is that the code fell into the wrong hands and was used inappropriately. If the companies had bought the virus, then they would have prevented the harm they suffered. Therefore, what Mr. Shabaev did was not unethical. Another situation that involved hacking happened when five men, were charged for stealing credit cards summing up to $300 million (Coleman 23). The five collaborated to enter into top companies systems such as J.C. Penney Co, JetBlue Airways Corp, NASDAQ, French retailer Carrefour SA and Visa Inc. licensee (Coleman 23). The five are said to have stolen at least 160 payment card numbers which in turn resulted to the loss of about $300 million. The five went for so long unnoticed by simply disabling their victim’s antiviruses and hiding their loot on multiple hacking programs making them invisible (Coleman 24). This cybercrime is deemed the biggest ever, in the United States, and it affected so many companies. The cost they had to incur to update and repair their security systems and the number of credit cards they had to replace really dug into their finances. Some were even bankrupt. This truly illustrates the consequences that can result from cybercrimes. The loss of custome rs is another problem they had to face, they feared for the safety of their life long savings and opted to seek more secure and theft proof investment platforms. The Shabaev virus has really dented the image of TARGET as a trustworthy investment partner. It no longer attracts customers and the ones it had do not feel save in it, therefore, decide to move elsewhere. TARGET also had to spend about $30 million mostly to replace the cards that were affected. The breach also scared away TARGET’S customers leading to decline in its share price by 20%, and also decreasing its profit as compared to the previous year. All these problems

Nursing scholarly articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nursing scholarly articles - Essay Example The article has provided educational interventions that may trim down burnout among nurses working in secure settings through the use of a systematic review. Some of the proposed methods of reducing burnout include the use of clinical supervision and PSI training (Stewart & Terry, 2014). This is because of the uniqueness in style, philosophy and objective of the techniques. Clinical supervision is crucial because it is based on interpersonal relationships and reflective dialogue while PSI training is more of a formal educational intervention that increases participants’ knowledge of serious mental challenges. Stewart and Terry (2014) argue that there are only two areas of focus when it comes to educational intervention. These two areas of focus are reflective learning which is central to clinical supervision and enhancement of professional development and the other area is improvement of knowledge, skills, and attitudes that promote understanding of various patient factors. According to Stewart and Terry (2014), reflective learning can help in analysing challenging encounters and develop good management plans apart from promoting emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence may help in regulating nurses’ moods as well as enhancing job performance, decision making skills and promotes resilience. Increased knowledge is also believed to promote understanding and improves attitude and empathy which have strong therapeutic effect on service users’ mental and social

Research and Application Business Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

And Application Business - Research Paper Example This Strategy emphatically promises to increase business and maintain a competitive edge in its own segment for JetBlue. The Customer Value Proposition of JetBlue: The marketing strategy and its success so far suggests, JetBlue has relied heavily on Operational excellence as the thrust area of its Customer Value Proposition. The success of the airline so far has been attributed by its focus on an array of operational goals like maintaining a high level of customer service with low costs and stimulating demand with low fares. They strive to maintain a sustained growth pattern by increasing frequency on their existing routes. The results have shown that such initiatives have been well received by the market and the customers have responded well to these efforts. This is further accentuated by feats like attainment of highest completion factor, the highest on time performance and the lowest incidence of mishandled bags. These achievements reflect a high level of operational and manageme nt excellence. They obviously enhance the customer experience and perception and augur well for the business. The airline strives to achieve competitive advantage through customer intimacy in certain areas, For example, the high level of customer service measures like maintaining transparency in operations contribute to the value proposition. However, it does not succeed in attaining customer intimacy, though it does succeed in achieving customer loyalty to an extent. It also makes effort to achieve product leadership. However, the efforts in the direction like increasing Live TV channels from 24 to 36; new aircraft and leather seats are not the source of competitive advantage, though they do mean product differentiation to an extent. b) Business risks: The 10 K/A of JetBlue report an array of risks that could harm the business to some extent or the other. However, amongst them the risks that could really affect profits to an extent wherein the ability of the airline to meet the sto ckholders’ expectations could be threatened are as mentioned hereunder. The basis of differentiation of these risks from the remaining set of risks is the extreme nature of consequences that they may have on the profits of the company in a relatively short span of time. Besides, once incurred, the said risks will require considerable effort and resources to contain and control. Last but not the least, the risks mentioned here are the ones specific to Jet blue and not the ones facing the Airline industry in general, since the general risks are usually responded to better with the industry and Government help. In addition, the stockholders understand and are already more aware of such risks and thus the expectations of the stockholders regarding these risks can be better managed. As such, these risks are more imminent in nature. The critical Risks: a. If JetBlue fails to implement their growth strategy, the business is at a great risk. The growth strategy is aimed at increasing the number of flights in underserved and overpriced areas. The aim is to maintain high quality customer services with low fares and generate more demand. The Low fares are to be compensated for with a high level of operational excellence. This will considerably make up for the low fares and bring costs down while maintaining the rate of bookings at the same time. This means a high profit margin

Thomas Hobbs Theory On Human Nature And Ethics Philosophy Essay

Thomas Hobbs Theory On Human Nature And Ethics Philosophy Essay Many people are content with the way things are. I believe that the majority of todays civilization is in a neutral state of understanding and dont really care to know how this state of contentment became. One word can sum up the many reasons that things are the way they are today that word is fear. Throughout history, there are examples of how certain events can happen that will cause people to become overwhelmed with fear. Part of the reason for this, is these events have shaken the confidence that many will have in their various leaders and political systems. Once this takes place, it means that the social fabric holding society together, will completely deteriorate. When this happens a majority of people will begin to fend for themselves, versus attempting to work within the social frame work. In some cases, a new society will quickly emerge to fill this void because the masses are desperate for some kind of law and order. To achieve this objective, many will often give up their personal freedoms for the benefit of the group. A good example of this form previous times can be seen in Germany after the end of World War I. Where, the majority of the people would lose confidence in their leaders, because of the economic and social upheavals that were occurring. (Holocaust Encycl opedia )This is significant, because it shows how the loss of confidence in a political / social system can have devastating consequences down the road. To understand this aspect of human nature and how ethics affects thinking one can examine the ideas of Thomas Hobbes. I will illustrate Thomas Hobbes theory on human nature and ethics by using William Goldings Lord of the Flies. I will also attempt to use firsthand knowledge of the state of nature that still exists in some societies in todays modern times. Together, these two elements will provide insights as to how Hobbes theories can explain human nature and ethics. Thomas Hobbes discusses his different ideas on human nature and the role of ethics in a multi-volume work that he wrote called Leviathan. Wherein all he would write a total of four volumes underscoring his views. Volume one (Of Man), volume two (Of Common-wealth), volume three (Of Christian Common-wealth), and volume four (Of the Kingdom of Darkness), of these volumes, volume one is where Hobbes establishes the basic foundation for his theories, as he would use the other volumes to elaborate on specific aspects of his theory. (Hobbes Moral and Political Philosophy) At the heart of Hobbes political and social philosophy is his social contract theory. This merely means that the people will have an agreement with the government for certain protections, economic well being, and freedom. This balance between the people and the government is what Hobbes refers to as civilization. This state of civilization is made possible by human laws or as Hobbes states Lex naturalis. With Hobbes social contract theory people are willing give up a certain amount of their freedoms, to receive the above benefits from the government or Leviathan. According to Hobbes, this is the basic social foundation that exists in all societies around the globe, (with some kind of balance taking place in one form or another). (Hobbes Moral and Political Philosophy) Yet, when you look further, it is clear that there will be times that these kinds of social contracts will become no longer valid. Once this is occurs, is when a state of nature exists or as Hobbes states Jus natural. This is where everyone would have the right, to do any actions or activities of their choosing. The reason why, is because there are no rules or regulation to guide the actions of everyone. At which point, more people would begin to use these activities as a way to achieve their own objectives and survival. When this takes place, it means that there will be a constant state of war between everyone in society. A survival of the fittest mentality quickly sets in and takes shape. At which point, the overall quality of life will decline, while the rates of what civilization refers to as immortality, increases. To escape this atmosphere of lawlessness, the people will form some kind of social contract with each other. This is when they will create a society and government th at will have the authority over everyone. Where, they will establish various rules and regulations, by having the people surrender a certain amount of their natural rights, to achieve order. The overall abuses that could occur at the hands of the government are a small price that is being paid to be a part of civil society. As a result, Hobbes believes that a strong central government can be able to achieve this objective, by effectively controlling and providing the services that the people require. This is significant, because it shows how within all societies there is some form of social contract that will exist on a certain level. The problem occurs when there is break down in society. People will revert to a more animalistic type of survival, creating increased amounts of instability. It is at this point, that new societies could emerge, to address these changing realities that are taking place. (Hobbes Moral and Political Philosophy). In order to determine the relevance of Hobbes theories, we will examine them by comparing his ideas with William Goldings book Lord of the Flies. Where, this piece of literature discusses the basic foundation of human nature in comparison with law and order. This will provide the insights, as to how the social contract theory is the basic foundation for societies around the world. In Lord of the Flies, the story begins in the midst of war with a plane evacuating a group of schoolboys. The plane is shot down over a deserted tropical island. Two of the boys, Ralph and Piggy, discover a conch shell on the beach and Piggy realizes it could be used as a horn to summon the other boys. Once assembled, the boys elect a leader and begin devising a way to be rescued. Ultimately Ralph is chosen as their leader, and Ralph appoints another boy, Jack, to be in charge of the boys who will hunt food for the entire group. Ralph, Jack, and another boy, Simon, set off on an expedition to explore the island. When they return, Ralph decides that they must light a signal fire to attract the attention of passing ships. The boys succeed in igniting some dead wood by focusing sunlight through the lenses of Piggys eyeglasses. However, the boys pay more attention to playing than to monitoring the fire, and the flames quickly engulf the forest. A large swath of dead wood burns out of con trol, and one of the youngest boys in the group disappears, presumably having burned to death. At first, the boys enjoy their life without grown-ups and spend much of their time splashing in the water and playing games. Ralph, however, complains that they should be maintaining the signal fire and building huts for shelter. The hunters fail in their attempt to catch a wild pig, but their leader, Jack, becomes increasingly preoccupied with the act of hunting. When a ship passes by on the horizon one day, Ralph and Piggy notice that the signal fire which had been the hunters responsibility to maintain had burned out. Furious, Ralph confronts Jack, but the Jack has just returned with his first kill, and all the hunters seemed to be enchanted while reenacting the chase in a kind of wild dance. Piggy criticizes Jack, and then hits Piggy. Ralph blows the conch shell and reprimands the boys in a speech intended to restore order. At the meeting, it quickly becomes clear that some of the boys have started to become afraid. The littlest boys, known as littluns, have been troubled by nightmares from the beginning, and now the boys believe that there is some sort of beast or monster lurking on the island. The older boys try to convince the others at the meeting to think rationally, asking where such a monster could possibly hide during the daytime. One of the littluns suggests that it hides in the sea, a proposition that strikes fear in the entire group. Not long after the meeting, some military planes engage in a battle high above the island. The boys, asleep below, do not notice the flashing lights and explosions in the clouds. A parachutist drifts to earth on the signal-fire mountain, dead. Sam and Eric, the twins responsible for watching the fire at night, are asleep and do not see the parachutist land. When the twins wake up, they see the enormous silhouette of his parachute and hear the strange flapping noises it makes. Thinking the noises that they here are that of the beast, they rush back to the camp in terror and report that the beast has attacked them. The boys organize a hunting expedition to search for the beastie. Jack and Ralph, who are increasingly at odds, travel up the mountain. They see the silhouette of the parachute from a distance and think that it looks like a huge, deformed ape. The group holds a meeting at which Jack and Ralph tell the others of the sighting. Jack says that Ralph is a coward and that he should be removed from office, but the other boys refuse to vote Ralph out of power. Jack angrily runs away down the beach, calling all the hunters to join him. Ralph rallies the remaining boys to build a new signal fire, this time on the beach rather than on the mountain. They obey, but before they have finished the task, most of them have slipped away to join Jack. Jack declares himself the leader of the new tribe of hunters and organizes a hunt and a violent, ritual slaughter of a sow to solemnize the occasion. The hunters then decapitate the sow and place its head on a sharpened stake in the jungle as an offering to the beast. Later, encountering the bloody, fly-covered head, Simon has a terrible vision, during which it seems to him that the head is speaking. The voice, which he imagines as belonging to the Lord of the Flies, says that Simon will never escape him, for he exists within all men. Simon faints. When he wakes up, he goes to the mountain, where he sees the dead parachutist. Understanding then that the beast does not exist externally but rather within each individual boy, Simon travels to the beach to tell the others what he has seen. But the others are in the midst of an elaborate feast even Ralph and Piggy have joined Jacks feast and when they see Simons emerge from the jungle, they fall upon him and kill him with their bare hands. The following morning, Ralph and Piggy discuss what they have done. Jacks hunters attack them and their few followers and steal Piggys glasses in the process. Ralphs group travels to Jacks stronghold in an attempt to make Jack see reason, but Jack orders Sam and Eric tied up and fights with Ralph. In the ensuing battle, one boy, Roger, rolls a boulder down the mountain, killing Piggy and shattering the conch shell. Ralph barely manages to escape the ensuing onslaught. Ralph hides for the rest of the night and the following day, while the others hunt him like an animal. Jack has the other boys ignite the forest in order to smoke Ralph out of his hiding place. Ralph stays in the forest, where he discovers and destroys the sows head, but eventually, he is forced out onto the beach, where he knows the other boys will soon arrive to kill him. Ralph collapses in exhaustion, but when he looks up, he sees a British naval officer standing over him. The officers ship noticed the fire raging in the jungle. The other boys reach the beach and stop in their tracks at the sight of the officer. Amazed at the spectacle of this group of bloodthirsty, savag e children, the officer asks Ralph to explain. Ralph is overwhelmed by the knowledge that he is safe but, thinking about what has happened on the island, he begins to weep. The other boys begin to sob as well. The officer turns his back so that the boys may regain their composure. The plot and the story of in Lord of the Flies, underscores the different views that Hobbes would have on how societies were structured. In Lord of the Flies, the boys were somewhat traumatized from the plane crash and the backdrop of the war. This would create the basic foundation, for the overall amounts of fear that they would have, when they first arrived on the island. This fear was hidden, as the social contract that existed in the military school would remain in place in the beginning. Over the course of time, the lack of rules and these fears would begin to take on a life of their own. As it would work similar to a cancer, that would eat away at the old social contract theory. Once this began to occur, it meant that no one would take responsibility for maintaining this basic foundation. At which point, the social structure began to unravel, with the lack of rules (state of nature) and fear manifesting the changes that were occurring. Where, the majority would begin to become victims of their own fear, by believing the fact that monster was on the island. It is at this point, that the state of nature would take over and two different sub societies would emerge (one loyal to Ralph and the other loyal to Jack). This rivalry would cause the boys to engage in actions that were prohibited, in the society they came from. As their fears about the monster attacking them, would force them to kill one of their own. When confronted with this reality, the state of nature would continue to evolve in a perverse way, by denying what happened. As the majority of the boys, would seek out Ralph, in an effort to kill him. It is as this point that a total state of nature exists, as the old social contract has been destroyed and a new sub society has been created in its place. This confirms the ideas of Hobbes, by highlighting how a social contract exists on some level within all societies. This is because the various rivalries as well as individual competition; have caused many people to seek out: safety, comfort and protection. When this take place, it means that the actions of individual will begin to change, based upon these new social norms that exist. In Lord of the Flies, this is best illustrated at the end of the book, with Ralph becoming the hunted. As the former social contract that existed at the military school was: no long relevant. Instead, a state of nature took place, with a new social contract theory emerging. Where, Jacks group will dominate and determine what is best for everyone. This is significant, because it highlights how shifts can occur in all societies. Where, when the people will become fearful and lose faith in the leadership is when, changes will take place. It is at this point, that they will seek out new social contract, as the underlying confusion from the state of nature, will force everyone in this direction. At the same time, it can cause the ethical views that someone would have about various issues to change, based upon the underlying state of nature. Using the book Lord of the Flies, the changes in ethics occurred with the indiscriminate killings of the other boys. As this state of nature and the lack of rules, would allow this kind of behavior to be acceptable. At which point, the underlying social contract and the ability to enforce the different rules will change. This is important, because it underscores how the ethics of someone, will be influenced based upon the overall state of nature. Clearly, the book Lord of the Flies highlights how Hobbes theories on human nature and ethics are correct. Where, a social contract, that exists in all societies; will form a basic foundation for how various individuals will behave. This will affect the ethics of everyone, as the different rules and regulations will determine the most acceptable behavior. When the people lose confidence in the social contract that exists, a state of nature (lawlessness) will begin to take shape. Over the course of time, this will cause the individual to act differently, as they do not have the social contract restricting their actions. However, a constant state of battle exists within society, as the lack of ethics will cause everyone to constantly clash with each other. To provide some sort of stability, a social contract is created between: the people in society and the government they have. Where, the people are agreeing to lose a certain amount of their natural freedoms, in order to have some kin d of stability in their lives. The trade off, is not engaging in various activities allowed in a state of nature. In doing so, the social contract will have an impact upon the ethics and behavior of everyone within society.

An Argument Against a Presupposition Essay -- Political Science

In The American Democracy and Its National Principle, Herbert Croly makes an eloquent and poignant case for adopting a nationalistic frame of mind. According to Croly, we are rapidly approaching a junction where we must choose between the traditional values, measures and mind set of our past or embrace the opportunities of the future. As a people we should realize that the future holds great promise, and that is why we should focus on empowering a centralized system of governance that replaces the antiquated approach to governance: regional centricity whose players are driven by their self-interest rather than the common good. This may sound like nationalism but this is an inadequate assessment. To Croly, nationalism is a much grander thing. Nationalism requires substantially more than â€Å"merely† centralizing the government; there must be a shift in how people see themselves, from a collection of states into a single American people. Nationalism is a philosophical ide al that far outstretches any tangible thing. Nationalism requires a unified frame of mind focused on a single point of governance. Croly’s opinion, while not revolutionary, was still regarded with suspension by many people in 1909 (the year Croly’s essay was published). People who were wary of a nationalistic government and a unified frame of mind had a good argument against Croly’s essay. Much of this essay focuses on this argument against Croly’s presuppositions regarding the â€Å"progressive† outcome of nationalization. First off, Croly bases everything in his argument on the claim that the â€Å"national interest† is predicated on democratic principles (as cited in Eisenach, p19). This is why people should have nothing to fear from a nationalistic government: i... ...al level (Eisenach, viii). I do not buy the argument that consolidating more power into the national government invariably leads to progress. At the same time, Croly‘s argument against nostalgic dogma is well founded and enlightened. Indeed, there are several interesting points Croly makes about the ramifications of inaction and indifference regarding amending the constitution. However, it was evident to me after reading the essay that his call for progressivism had, at best, several logical flaws and, at worst, paralleled fascism to an alarming degree. Works Cited Croly, H. (1909). The American Democracy and Its National Principle. (as cited in Eisenach, p#) References to the introduction section are in roman numeralsEisenach. (2006). The Social and Political Thought of American Progressivism. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc. (Eisenach)

Maintaining Romantic Relationships

Maintaining Romantic Relationships When two people choose to forge an interpersonal involvement through communication and believe the bond to be romantic, they have chosen to be in a romantic relationship with one another. In the beginning, being in a romantic relationship seems effortless, magical, and exhilarating. This is before conflict arises and negative emotions cause things to get real and bring the relationship down from cloud nine.While enjoying the initial stages of the relationship is important, it is also imperative that the two individuals are simultaneously building a foundation of appreciation, respect, forgiveness, and trust. Without this effort, once the â€Å"honeymoon stage† is over, the relationship will most likely crumble and leave both partakers hurt and confused (McCornack 326). With this said, a romantic relationship is one of the most rewarding, complex, and significant entities in a person’s life, and though it seems as if maintaining one sho uld come easily, at times it can be one of the most difficult challenges.However, if effective communication is executed and both partners share the desire to be together, the challenges of misunderstanding one another and accepting shortcomings can be surmounted and a successful romantic relationship can be achieved. Because there are two people deeply invested emotionally, mentally, and possibly physically in a romantic relationship, the stakes are higher than those in a friendship.The chance of actions and words exchanged causing destruction to a point of no retribution is greater than in a platonic relationship, where forgiveness is more easily granted. In an intimate relationship, both people must meet each other halfway. The inherit nature of the human race is to focus primarily on personal needs, but in a committed romantic relationship it is important that the needs of the other partner are also taken into consideration, which may require compromise on how communication and expression of feelings are exchanged.Typically men are less sensitive than women, causing many unnecessary disagreements between the two. Men need to realize that at times the criticism or suggestions they believe will be helpful actually sound mean and hurtful to women, and women should realize that usually men do not have negative intentions with their blunt words but instead do not know any other way to communicate as they were created to interact that way.A helpful tactic in preserving an intimate relationship is for the couple to be able â€Å"to create and maintain ‘positive illusions’ about each other, that is to be less negative and more kind in their evaluation and feedback of their partners, [which] can help to enhance relationship satisfaction† (â€Å"How to Build & Maintain Happy Intimate Relationships†). This applies to both sides of the relationship. For example, the man can be gentler in his communication and the woman less harassing in hers , resulting in both of them being happier with the way they are treated, bringing them closer together. Partners are happier and more committed when positive interactions between partners outweigh negative ones by a ratio of at least 5:1† (â€Å"How to Build & Maintain Happy Intimate Relationships†). The risks are greater in a romantic relationship than in a platonic one, but so are the rewards, causing the necessary determination and effort worth the gamble. As life progresses, changes are inevitable, and relationships are affected by the continuing evolution of a person’s life.An individual’s wants and needs change as a relationship develops, and this change should be embraced as an opportunity for the relationship to grow and reach a deeper level instead of resisted and ignored. By periodically setting aside time to check in with one another on these changes, the couple can assure that they are aware of the other’s changing expectations and goals , therefore enhancing the intensity of their connection (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†).Sometimes, couples forget that they must make the conscious effort to keep the relationship going, which leads to it falling into a rut. Thus the exploration of each other’s hobbies and interests is essential in maintaining the excitement of sharing experiences with one another (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). Having a significant other is like always having a best friend around, but better because there is affection and deeper feelings involved.The point of a best friend is to have someone to share enjoyable experiences with, so to not include one another in activities and adventures in an intimate relationship is counter-intuitive and defeats one of the main purposes of being in one. Long-term relationships are difficult because sometimes the couple loses sight of why they are together in the first place. They begin to view th e relationship as a job instead of a thrilling, positive addition to their lives.From personal experience, I know that even though avoiding this unfortunate situation sounds simple enough, it can happen all too easily, for I am guilty of it as well. A year ago, after I realized that my relationship with my boyfriend was becoming more stressful than fulfilling, I knew I had to make a change. I told him that I wanted to be â€Å"the cherry on top of his life sundae† and be a positive appendage to his life instead of an exhausting obligation. By this time it was too late and we broke up for a few months.I feel as though if my boyfriend and I had taken the time to sit down and talk to each other about the changes that were occurring in our lives and in our relationship, as well as make the effort to experience fun activities together instead of falling into a routine of going to each other’s houses with the occasional trip to the movie theater, our relationship might not h ave transformed into such a tense monster that seemed to spiral out of our control. When conflict arises, communication is the key to a resolution.Because a common source of conflict is unrealistic or unreasonable expectations, the two members of a relationship must be willing to be open and honest about what they anticipate from one another and whether these expectations are being met (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). Each of the romantic partners must be willing to attempt to see the issue from the other’s point of view. Sometimes, the way that conflict is dealt with speaks enormously about a person’s past experiences and family history.No two people have grown up exactly the same, so it is impossible for two people to have the exact same way of dealing with issues. In some families, communication is not a big priority, yet in others it is constant. It is important for an individual to be aware of his or her partner’s background s o that an understanding can be met and communication can effectively solve an issue instead of prolonging it. Another important aspect of solving a conflict is timing. There is no perfect time for a conflict to occur, but the partakers of one have control over when they solve it.In the past, it was believed that it was best to never leave a fight unresolved and that the issue should be fixed immediately; however, it is now recommended that people take some time to â€Å"cool off† so that hurtful things are not said that could potentially cause irreversible damage to the relationship (â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start†). This personal time can allow each person to alleviate the initial anger or hurt and rationalize their thoughts.The most important aspect in the approach to solving a conflict is for both partners to do their best to communicate in a way that the other will understand. The main obstacle that makes maintaining a romantic relationship so challenging is that men and women communicate so differently, and it is impossible for them to ever communicate in the same manner no matter how much each of them try. When it comes to communication, men and women are on two completely different planets, stated by the best-selling book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.In this relationship guide, the author John Gray states, â€Å"Men are motivated when they feel needed while women are motivated when they feel cherished† (â€Å"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Quotes†). This could not be truer. Men approach the world with the mindset that they are an individual in a hierarchy where life is a contest of social order, while women engage the world â€Å"as an individual in a network of connections† where life is a community and the main focus is to evade isolation and sustain intimacy (Tannen, Ph. D. 24-25).For effective communication to occur, understanding and compromise must be implemented. This i s vital in maintaining a healthy romantic relationship because ineffective communication leads to frustration, confusion, and eventually termination. In order to avoid this, both the man and the woman in the relationship must be willing to accept each other’s way of interacting, even if it seems strange or ridiculous. To many people, opening the lines of communication seems impossible because they view the difficulty of communicating as an inevitable problem and a flaw of the other person.However, this is not the case, and it is achievable as long as both partners are prepared to attempt to see communication from the other’s point of view (Tannen, Ph. D. 297-298). There is no one set way to do anything in life; instead, there are many methods of approaching an issue or situation and the â€Å"right† one depends on personal preference. This applies to maintaining a romantic relationship as well. Each couple has their own unique way of interacting with one another , and in each of those couples, the man and the woman also have different ways of communicating and expressing themselves.John Gray also wrote in his book, â€Å"When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom† (†Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Quotes†). A relationship cannot grow without proper communication, and for this to be accomplished both partners must be willing to give up their stubborn pride and come to terms with the fact that their way of handling situations is not the only way. Once this level of respect is present, misunderstandings will be a misfortune of the past.The best approach to maintaining a healthy intimate relationship is to not overlook each other’s flaws and shortcomings but to accept and embrace them. Though this can be challenging and at times overwhelming, the success of maintaining a romantic relationship is one of the most fulfilling triumphs known to mankind. Work s Cited â€Å"Building a Healthy Relationship from the Start. † UT Counseling and Mental Health Center. The University of Texas at Austin. Web. 7 Mar 2013. How to Build & Maintain Happy Intimate Relationships. † Counseling Center Resources Articles and Brochures. Roosevelt University. Web. 9 Mar 2013. McCornack, Steven. Reflect and Relate, an Introduction to Interpersonal Communication. 2nd. Boston: Bedford/st Martins, 2009. 326. Print. â€Å"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus Quotes. † Goodreads. N. p.. Web. 6 Mar 2013. Tannen, Ph. D. , Deborah. You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. NewYork: William Morrow and Company, Inc. , 1990. Print.

The Burning Giraffe – Salvador Dali

2 â€Å"The Burning Giraffe† is a surrealistic painting by the artist Salvador Dali, done circa 1936. Using a variety of blues, blacks and browns, the piece depicts a bleak, sad, and cold scene. Scenery such as this was very popular amongst modernist painters. The painting, through color choice, showcases the futile, dark, and dreamy feeling epitomized by modern art. Beyond the color scheme, subjects of the painting, also, are clear representations of what modern art is. The two female figures fall in line with the rest of the painting, giving off a sense of loss, despair, and once again, a dream-like quality.The very definition of surreal is â€Å"marked by the intense  irrational  reality of a dream. † There’s no possibility that the images depicted in the painting would ever take place in reality. There’s no clear rational for what’s present in the painting. Both of the figures have unclear oblong objects sticking out of their backs. These ob jects are propped by what look like crutches. The first female figure seems to be missing a layer of flesh on her arms and face, revealing muscle beneath.Farther back into the painting, the second figure is holding something looking similar to meat or muscle tissue. In the distance of the painting is a giraffe on fire. Even the stance and figure of the two females shows the dreaminess. The lines are very fluid and relaxed as in the overall scenery of the painting. There’s a very ominous feeling to it all. Surreal artists and  viewed their work as an expression of the philosophical movement,  inspired by psychologist Sigmund Freud, and placed much emphasize on the unconscious.This particular painting was inspired by this thought process as Dali took much interest in it. The movement was centered on the idea that there were certain thoughts and emotions only accessible though psychotherapy. The drawers protruding from the first female figure’s chest and legs represen t the opening to deeper subconscious thought and feeling. The draws show a literal representation of this. All are characteristics of a surreal piece, found in modernistic art.

William Gladstone essays

William Gladstone essays A sophisticated rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity, and gifted with an egotistical imagination that can at all times command an interminable and inconsistent series of arguments to malign an opponent and to glorify himself, once said by Benjamin Disraeli, a former Prime Minister of England and competitor of William Gladstone for the position. He also stated ,He has not one single redeeming defect. William Gladstone was a very successful and caring man. This was shown through his work and family life. On May 19th, 1898 Gladstone died at Hawarden. He was then buried in Westminster Abbey. William Ewart Gladstone was son of John Gladstone a very wealthy man. John Gladstones1828 fortune would be worth a modern 25 million pounds. He had gotten this from his early Liverpool days when he was primarily a corn trader that brought him to the Mersey the skill which he had developed in Leith, and he also made mostly Baltic purchases. He then became a partner of the East Indian house, which dealt with mainly subcontinents, and coming up against the restrictive privilege of the East India Company. In 1843 he turned himself from a merchant adventurer into a rentier. The West Indies stake was down and his shareholdings were up. Sugar was the core of his West Indies activities, but tobacco and cotton were also important. He did not trade in slaves, even before the slave trade was outlawed in Britain in 1807. However, The plantations he operated were under slave labour throughout his time as a West Indian magnate. In 1818 John then became a member of Parliament. His career in Parliament never prospered due to starting at the age of fifty-four. He also had to buy his favors, and failed to make neat William Ewart Gladstone was born in Liverpool on December 29th, 1809 and was the forth son of Sir John Gladstone and his second wife ...

How smart phone change or life(draw back and advantage) Research Paper

How smart phone change or life(draw back and advantage) - Research Paper Example The dominant perspective is that smart phones are killing personal computing, citing the tremendous growth in usage, mobile technology and capability. According to a report in The Guardian, smartphones are already poised to be the dominant device where people connect to the Internet, hold data, run programs and organize their lives - functions that have been what the PCs are made to do. What is important from these developments is that smartphones are changing the way people live, including the way humans perceive themselves and what it actually means to be human in the modern times and in the near future. Here, smartphones are showing what the author P.G. Wodehouse called as â€Å"the frozen limit† or that which breaks the barriers set by constraints and limitations in our society and the world. What are Smartphones Motorola has been credited to have introduced the first truly mobile hand help phone. A team from this organization led by Martin Cooper developed the first hand set in 1973 and it was huge, weighing a staggering two kilograms (Teixeira, 2010). Back then, the cost of manufacturing a mobile costs at least $1 million as opposed to the cost of making the latest iPhone today, which is only estimated to be $191 (Associated Press 2013). In 1978, the analog cellular system was introduced and the most advanced of this technology was build in 1983, with a cost of $100 million and took almost a decade to reach consumers (Associated Press, 2012). The phones in this technology were sold for almost $4,000 each and it only has an average of about 30-minute talk time (Associated Press 2012). By 1990s, the second generation 2G phone was introduced. Around this time, the SMS - a new way of mobile communication was introduced. This began the rapid development of mobile phones as handsets began featuring capabilities for rich media content. This is now the time when mobile phones became feature phones, then, finally, smart phones. As usage became widespread, p eople start to demand more mobile data and this led to the third generation (3G) mobile technology, which was typified by reliable data speeds. New media capabilities such as video streaming became possible. Recently, the world was introduced to the wonders of 4G mobile technology, which features more incredible data speed than 3G technology (Thomas 2013). The development in data speed has been complemented by the rapid evolution of mobile phone hardware. From the first hand set back in 1973 to the current iPhone and Android phones, the changes have been revolutionary especially in terms of size, display, user interface, appearance, and battery life. The implications of these developments are that today people can communicate while on the go in numerous ways: through telephony, video, VOIP, SMS, and so on. The advances in mobile technology also magnify the tremendous benefits of the Internet. And this is further highlighted by the fact that mobile phone users have grown. Last year, the UN has reported that there are now six billion mobile phone subscribers all over the world (BBC, 2012). Impact on Human Lives There are many studies that provide empirical evidence showing how telephony has favorable effects on a country’s economic growth. For example, Unwin (2009) documented the relationship between economic growth

Arctic Plankton Bloom Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Arctic Plankton Bloom - Assignment Example When a scientist says that productivity is a rate, he/she means that it is the rate at which organic matter is produced (National Geographic, n.d.). More clearly, in a scientific perspective, biological productivity is the annual rate of biomass production expressed in tons per hectare per year. Before discussing the factors that influence productivity in various ocean environments like the surf zone, mid-ocean and the deep abyss, it is important to understand the fact that oceans account for only one-third of Earth’s productivity although they cover roughly two-third of the Earth’s surface area. In oceans, coastal regions are characterized with the greatest net primary production. Thorne-Miller (1999) states that diversity of species in surf zone is low but the species that remain in this ocean environment is unusually productive, making the surf zone one of the most productive marine habitats. Wave action is a major factor that influences productivity in the surf zone indirectly. It supplies â€Å"nutrients and suspended food particles to plants and animals attached to the rock† (p. 68). In addition, the wave action keeps seaweeds wet in times of low tide, leading to a favorable photosynthesis rate during the period of greatest light intensity. Thorne -Miller also says that seaweeds and invertebrates living in the surf zone have the capability to adapt to the challenging physical conditions there (p.68). In the words of Foulger (2011), the major factors that determine productivity in mid-oceans include the local plate boundary configuration, temperature, and source composition such as volatiles. Productivity is notably improved by enhanced source fertility. A high fertile source will be characterized with a lower solidus, and this in turn would yield a higher level melting at a given temperature resulting in the thickening of the oceanic crust (p.87). Tyler (2003)