Buddhism Essay - 2598 Words

Buddhism Gautama Buddha, previously known as Prince Siddhartha (before his enlightenment) founded the religion of Buddhism. Gautama Buddha was born to Queen Maha-Maya at Kapilavastu, Nepal, Indian. Buddha taught and organized the Sangha, monastic orders, until his death at Kusinagara, at the age of 80. There are 308,000,000 Buddhist devotees in the world today. They believe that there has been Buddha before Him; Bodhisattvas who come as Saviors of all and that all beings are Buddha whether they realize it or not. There are 4 cardinal events in the life of Buddha that represents 4 major pilgrimage centers for Buddhists: His Birth at Kapilavastu, His Enlightenment at Bodhgaya, His First Sermon at Sarnath, and His Death at†¦show more content†¦Four angels kept guard to ward off all harm from the Future Buddha and the Future Buddha’s mother. After carrying the Future Buddha, for ten months, Queen Maha-Maya, was sent on her way, with great fan fare, to visit her kinsfolk in Devadaha. Between the two cities, in a pleasure grove of sal-trees, called Lumbini Grove, she decided to stop and give birth standing up. She reached to hold a branch, and immediately her pains came, while people hung a curtain around her. At that moment four pure-minded Maha-Brahma angels came bearing a golden net and received the Future Buddha on it and placed Him before his mother. Then they delivered Him to the four guardian angels, which delivered Him to men who received him on a coil of fine cloth and let Him unto the ground. Gods and men made offerings to him saying â€Å"Great Being! There is none your equal, much less your superior.† After Buddha has surveyed all the ten directions, he went forward followed by Maha-Brahma holding over him a white umbrella, Suyama bearing a fan and other divinities the other symbols of royalty in th eir hands. Queen Maha-Maya tells the King Suddhodana of her dream of His Divine Birth. The king invited Brahamans to interpret the dream who said â€Å" You will have a son. If he continues to live the household life, he will become a Universal Morarch; but if he leaves the household life and retires from the work, he will become a Buddha, and roll back the clouds of sinShow MoreRelatedBuddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism1009 Words   |  5 Pages Zen Buddhism isn’t exactly a â€Å"religion†, but a way of living. It creates peace within the human mind that allows one to grow, develop and look at the world more positively. Originating in China in 650 C.E., Zen Buddhism is a combination between Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism. Mahayana Buddhism promotes bodhisattva, which is practicing the way of life in the direction of Buddha. Taoism is a religion developed by Lao-tzu, a Taoist philosopher, and focuses on obtaining long life and good fortuneRead MoreBuddhism, Buddhism A nd Buddhism1371 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism is one of the largest religions in the world that started in India. Later spreading to China,Burma,Japan , Tibet and other parts of southeast Asia. Buddhism is a religion that Is concentrated on spiritualism than religious teachings. Established by the buddha, one must obtain their own spiritual awakening, or nirvana through meditation. There are three main branches of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism , Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism. About 2,500 years ago, Prince SiddharthaRead MoreBuddhism : Buddhism And Buddhism982 Words   |  4 PagesBuddhism is a philosophy that is often viewed as a religion and dates back to approximately 6th century B.C.E. Buddhism originated in the Indian subcontinent by a man known as Siddhartha Gautama. The original language of Buddhism is often debated as some scholars believe that it was first practiced in Pali while other believe it was first spoken in Sanskrit. The practice of Buddhism first spread to China in the 2nd century A.C.E and was translated to Mandarin in 3rd century A.C.E. Today, there areRead MoreRelics Of Buddhism And Buddhism847 Words   |  4 PagesRelics are thought to be present in Buddhism since the 5th Century B.C.E, when the original Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, was said to have lived, and Buddhism itself was a new religion. They continue today as sacred objects of worship. Relics that are as old as Buddhism itself are said to exist and still be wo rshipped. Although the idea of relics may seem contradictory to many of Buddhist beliefs, they actually do resonate with many ideals of Buddhist teachings and practices. To see whether relicsRead MoreBuddhism : The Philosophy Of Buddhism1198 Words   |  5 Pagesnever be one true answer. The theory I mostly identify with is the philosophy of Buddhism, its teachings, and the importance of meditation. Some people would argue that Buddhism is a religion not a philosophy, and vice versa, but nonetheless the Buddha has an idea of self in our current life. Buddhism teaches us that life is, and full of suffering and that nothing in life is eternal. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is Nirvana, which means liberation from the constant cycle of life and death, andRead MoreThe Teachings Of Buddhism And Buddhism939 Words   |  4 Pagesfamous religion icon of all time the Buddhism. Many people became followers of this very wise man we know as the Buddha. Buddhism is based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha, who was born in the Ganges River Valley, the foot of the Himalayas. The Buddha led people in meditation and enlightenment to the next level. Philosophers such as Santideva and Thich Nhat Hanh, have led the life to follow the Buddhism ways and live their day to day life off of it. Buddhism gave them the enlightenment toRead MoreThe Religion Of Buddhism And Buddhism1730 Words   |  7 Pageslife. The religion of Buddhism is one of these that had this effect when it began to spread from India where it originated, to many Asian countries especially China where it would have the biggest impact. In China, Buddhism would take root and would grow to become a popular religion in the country much like the other major religions of China, Confucianism and Taoism, which together with Buddhism would later be known as the â€Å"Three Teachings†. Additionally, at some point Buddhism would began to loseRead MoreReligion Of Buddhism : Buddhism963 Words   |  4 Pagesinterested in the religion of Buddhism. After I watched Oprah Winfrey’s television series, Belief Buddhism has become something I wished to look into on a deeper level. Therefore, On October 9, 2016, I visited Wesleyan college East Asian studies facilities to participate in their Sunday meeting of Practice and Talk. During this hour and a half meeting, individuals who are exploring Buddhism wil l learn the surface practice of Buddhism more specifically shin Buddhism. Shin Buddhism or the teachings of ShinranRead MoreBuddhism, Buddhism And The World Essay1999 Words   |  8 PagesBuddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, with more than 5 million believers in the world. Buddhism is a kind of religion and law that contains various traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices. Buddhism from India, between the sixth and fourth centuries BC, and gradually spread to Asia. Although Buddhism originated in India, China has many believers in the dissemination and contribution. Chinese Buddhism began in the Han Dynasty and became the most powerful in the Tang Dynasty. WithRead MoreBuddhism : The Popularity Of Buddhism1306 Words   |  6 PagesBuddhism Culture in China Instructor Dr. Jack Name: Zhoudongxue Zhang Student #: 100311725 Date: 26/11/2015 The Popularity of Buddhism in China Buddhism is one of the most popular religions in the world. The Pew Research Center reports that nearly 488 million people practice Buddhism, which represents 7% to 8% of the world’s entire population. Buddhism is mainly practiced in the Asia-Pacific region with approximately 481,290,000 Buddhists, which means 99% of Buddhists live in Asia-Pacific

The Working Memory Model Proposed by Alan Baddeley and...

That our memory isn’t veridical is not a novel idea. This means that we don’t perfectly remember everything that we have seen or experienced in the past. Broadly speaking, there are two fundamental memory errors that occur in everyday life. One is forgetting events that have occurred, and the other is remembering something that did not transpire (or misremembering them in the way that they occurred). The first error, forgetting, is very common, and needs no explanation. We can all think of instances where our memory has failed us. However, the latter error is a more curious scenario. Often times, when a friend mentions a funny episode that happened at a party you were at, you might incorporate that into your memory even though you†¦show more content†¦This is to say that the brain works on the information even after we store it in our memories. And therein lies the problem. The fact that our cognitive system processes raw data in order to make better sense of it is a probable cause of the aforementioned lapse in our memory. This experiment aims to study whether the information processing in our cognitive systems leads to the formation of false/illusory memories, and if so, what are the possible reasons as to why these false memories take shape. The experiment was in the form of a word recognition test. Participants went through a list of 12 words; the words were all thematically related (car, wheel, bike, motorcycle †¦), with the exception of one of two in the list (pencil). After they had gone through the list, they were presented with another set of words, and were asked to recognize which of those words had been present in the initial list. Each of these ‘recognition sets’ contained at least one word that belonged to the same overarching theme of the initial list, but wasn’t actually present in it (brakes). Thus, there were three types of words participants could have chosen on the ‘recognition setsâ₠¬â„¢: words that appeared on the list, words that did not appear, but were related to the ones on the list, and thoseShow MoreRelatedThe Original General Model Of Memory Essay1529 Words   |  7 PagesThe original general model of memory was proposed by Richard Atkinson and Richard Shiffrin in 1968. The Attkinson-Shiffrin theory of human memory states that human memory can be classified into three components: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory (Atkinson, Shiffrin, 1968). Sensory memory is where sensory information is brought into memory and maintained by the senses. For instance, when a person perceives an environmental stimulus for a short time before it fades, the objectRead Moreworking memory18399 Words   |  74 PagesCHAPTER Working Memory 6 Le arn i ng O b j ec t i ves 1. Using Working Memory 1.1. A Computer Metaphor 1.2. Implications of the Nature of Working Memory 2. From Primary Memory to Working Memory: A Brief History 2.1. William James: Primary Memory, Secondary Memory, and Consciousness 2.2. Early Studies: The Characteristics of Short-Term Memory 2.2.1. Brevity of Duration 2.2.2. Ready Accessibility 2.3. The Atkinson-Shiffrin Model: The Relationship of Short-Term and LongTerm Memory 2.4. The Baddeley-Hitch

German Expressionism Free Essays

German Expressionism: â€Å"Nonstarter† vs.. â€Å"The Cabinet of Dry. We will write a custom essay sample on German Expressionism or any similar topic only for you Order Now Calamari† German expressionism is a movement that started post World War 1, and before the Second World War. It used a unique technique of shadowing and distinctive camera angles. The films during the movement told stories that mimicked the forbidding reality of the German’s life. For example, in â€Å"The Cabinet of Dry. Calamari,† the set design was painted to get the specific diagonals and claustrophobic atmosphere. Throughout the film, the viewer almost experiences the madness that is happening on the set. The music pushes down on your brain, creating a feeling of uneasiness. The monotone music combined with the asymmetrical diagonals represent the mindset of Francis, who is in the insane asylum. The overall film presents a horror-like impression. The film â€Å"Nonstarter† also falls into the category of German Expressionism. However, it is more sped-up and includes several montages, especially during the scene with Count Oarlock. â€Å"Nonstarter† like, â€Å"The Cabinet of Dry. Calamari† takes on similar traits of darkness and delusion. The directors partaking in such a movement often used it as a cry for help, considering the after math of WWW for Germany. â€Å"Nonstarter† uses any shadowing techniques; personally, I think they symbolize the issues the society was going through with humiliation and disease. Count Oarlock, throughout the beginning of the film was only seen in shadows, and the first time the viewer sees Oarlock is the first time Hotter encounters him at gate of the mansion. Oarlock plays the part as the cursed vampire well; it adds the finishing detail to the film of German Expressionism. â€Å"The Cabinet of Dry. Calamari† and â€Å"Nonstarter† take on a deeper meaning than what is shown on the screen. They include a lot if inner thoughts and emotions that can allude to the general public of Germany at the time. How to cite German Expressionism, Papers

Libor Scandal 2014

Question: Consider the libor scandal 2014 which many banks of the uk banks were involved in .explore the causes of this scandal and evaluate the impact? Answer: Introduction: Libor stands for the London Interbank Offered Rate. It is the rate at which banks can borrow funds from each other. Previously it was known as BBA Libor (for British Bankers Association). Libor is generally defined as a benchmark interest rate through which banks can lend unsecured funds to each other. This rate is also published by the British Bankers Association. Libor is calculated against ten different currencies and fifteen different maturities that is why Libor is considered as a global benchmark to lend short term interest rates. Eighteen banks participated for the US Dollar Libor. The Libor rate being a global benchmark, it is used for giving mortgages, loans and other financial products traded around the world. Therefore an attempt was made to make the current market in favor of labor rate. That led to increase in the profits and it made an advantage over others. The labor Scandal arose with the fact that banks started getting aware about lending loans to one another and this cause led to increasing Libor rate. The higher the rate that they were charged to borrow, the more likely a bank was to collapse. Libor rate affected the global borrowing because many banks used Libor as a base rate against interest rates on corporate and consumer loans. According to US Commodities Future Trading Commission, hundreds of trillions of dollars were linked to Libor which included auto and home loans. It was also important to note that banks involved with securities business were more likely to fail. From facts it was seen that 5000 banks failed in the 1920s.During the Great Depression more than 25% banks failed and even some were closed down. Banks involved in the LIBOR Scandal: The American banks those were included as the panel for fixing US dollars was The Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Citibank, NA. Apart from this 16 other non- US banks were involved in the US dollar fixing in London. These banks are: HSBC, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, and of Nova Scotia, BNP Paribas, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Credit Agricole CIB, Credit Suisse, Rabobank, Royal bank of Canada, Lloyds TSB Bank plc, UBS AG, The Royal bank of Scotland group, The Norinchukin Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (Hou, 2015). Causes Of Libor Scandal: The LIBOR Scandal was brought in by the GFC so that Barclays could maintain its creditworthiness in the market. It was also found out that the manipulation was not just restricted to the managers and traders in Barclays, but also catered to other banks in US as well over the years. The LIBOR scandal was caused by the regulators and rogue employees who even pose a stop to the government as well. This scandal was considered as a form of price fixing. The answer to the cause of this issue was suspecticious because of the presence of political parties and issues. There were no standard operating procedures and they did not abide by the law (https://www.clpuk.co.uk, 2015). Controversy of the Libor Scandal: There was a controversy with this scandal that manipulations was done by Barclays in the cost submissions that lead to downsizing of their financial health and therefore they could not make any profit out of it. It was also pointed out that traders were placed in between with direct communication and this made the bankers to be affected. This brought an insight by the traders to set the labor rates as per convenience (Claudio, 2014). Impact of the Libor Scandal: LIBOR had following impact on the financings in the US. Libor decides on the rate of interest that can be adjusted along with residential mortgages used such as collateral for derivative securities which are sold both in the private and public market places. It also sets the rate of interest for the next period by which floating bonds can be sold within or outside US. The outstanding bonds are necessarily to be redeemed as and when the international financings are issued. All the proceedings of the bonds are directed of the issuer in Guaranteed Investment Contracts (GICs). This was a part of the investment offered by financial service institutions. There were two main forms of manipulation that were discovered. Firstly traders were acknowledged to ask Barclays employees to change their rates. Secondly initiatives were taken to improve the fiscal health manipulating the rates downward. It was projected that the new rate calculation will be based on increasing rates of interest rate in the market. It was also proposed to make the rates transparent in the market for international use (LBC, 2015). Penalties for the Libor Scandal: Certain amount of fine was imposed against manipulation of the Libor rates. Barclays Bank was fined $200 million by the Commodity Futures trading Commission, the United States Department of Justice fined $160 million and 59.5 Euros by the Financial Services Authority. During the global financial crisis of 2007-2012, the interest rates were made lower (When the Bollinger bankers' bubbles burst, 2013). Regulation and Sanctions made by the government on Libor Scandal: There was a need of labor rate manipulation that was reported by the Wall Street Journal in 2011. It was necessary for the government to make necessary changes in form of amendments to the Parliament or Banking Reform Bill. The government wanted to control the credibility of LIBOR by officially replacing British Banking Association as operational administrator and this also restore the reputation of LIBOR in market (Horton, 2012). Process and purpose of how banks set their LIBOR rates: The process of fixing or setting the LIBOR rates is transparent and simple according to the BBA LIBOR 2013. Certain questions were raised in the market according to which the business was to be conducted. It was also necessary to specify the rate at which funds could be borrowed which is prior to the market size as well. All the contribution from the banks involved are taken into the account for producing the final Libor rate in the market within each currency. These final official rates are then published by Thomson Reutors who is considered as the designated distributor of these rates. After that it is made available to thousands of banks around the world (Voxeu.org, 2015). The official LIBOR rates are used by the banks itself as benchmarks not only for the customers but it also helps in the settlement of contracts. For example maturing interest rate contracts on derivatives exchanges. Therefore Libor rate is considered as an integral element of the international financial system of world. The next step is to make avail these rates to be monitored and examined by the Foreign Exchange and Money Market Committee. The sub committees play a crucial role in determining and solving necessary issues related to the disciplinary actions and LIBOR submission process as well. It was determined that there was a transparent calculation mechanism that was widely used and considered as strength for over-the-counter derivatives. Role of Libor in the Commercial Sector: The role played by the LIBOR rate was mainly to serve as a benchmark rate for financing of loans and funds across the world. The rate was used as a debt instrument to the corporate bonds and government, credit cards, loans given to the students, and also as a derivative to other financial products. It also helps to calculate the current state of the banking system that is being operated in the world (Yeung, 2013). Impact of LIBOR on its own business and consumers: Libor rate became a focus of significance in determining the credit policies. It poses a level of confidence that banks have on one another. The rate at which banks charge on loans and mortgages depends on the ability at which banks can raise money as well. If there is a certain increase in the percentage of pounds it can add to hundreds of households. If banks can borrow more cheaply then there is no need to offer good returns. For example if the base rate was 2 percent then Libor would be 2.1 percent (BBC News, 2013). It is very essential for a consumer to know which rates are tied up with Libor. Consumers must know the original terms and conditions for it. The Libor rate also affected the financial markets as well. It was necessary for the banks to know to know about the actual borrowing and lending rates. The central bank should have monitored the rates accordingly as Libor does. The new contractors wanted a transaction based benchmark for the Libor mechanism to work along with the existing contractors as well. Libor was now considered as an instrument to check how healthy a bank is and it also depicts which banks are deemed with poor financial health (Gatarek, Bachert and Maksymiuk, 2006). Conclusion: It can be concluded that recommendations needed to be given for improving the rates imposed by the Libor rate that can be implemented in UK in the near future. The Libor Scandal controversy reduced the circumstances of the market activity and this led to swapping of index overnight. This helped banks to make short term transactions. It was also necessary to ensure a more reliable benchmarking system that would enhance the funding costs of the banks. This also enabled to provide a legal aspect to make it more transparent and open to the financial industry. References BBC News, (2013).Timeline: Libor-fixing scandal. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-18671255 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Council on Foreign Relations, (2015).Understanding the Libor Scandal. [online] Available at: https://www.cfr.org/united-kingdom/understanding-libor-scandal/p28729 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Gatarek, D., Bachert, P. and Maksymiuk, R. (2006).The LIBOR market model in practice. Chichester, England: John Wiley Sons. Global Research, (2015).Two Years after the Libor Scandal, Banks Get Token Fines for Rigging Global Foreign Exchange Rates. [online] Available at: https://www.globalresearch.ca/banks-get-token-fines-for-rigging-global-foreign-exchange-rates/5413850 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Hou, D. (2015).LIBOR: Origins, Economics, Crisis, Scandal, and Reform. 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/staff_reports/sr667.pdf [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Hou, D. and Skeie, D. (n.d.). LIBOR: Origins, Economics, Crisis, Scandal, and Reform.SSRN Journal. https://www.clpuk.co.uk, F. (2015).Interest Rate Swaps - Interest Rate, LIBOR Rates, Base Rates, Euribor Rates, Gilt Rates, Historic Rates and Trends. [online] Swap-rates.com. Available at: https://www.swap-rates.com/BBALiborrates.html [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Insider, B. (2012).The LIBOR Scandal Explained in One Simple Infographic - DailyFinance. [online] DailyFinance.com. Available at: https://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/07/11/the-libor-scandal-explained-in-one-simple-infographic/ [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Karacadag, C., Sundararajan, V. and Elliott, J. (2003).Managing risks in financial market development. [Washington, D.C.]: International Monetary Fund, Monetary and Financial Systems Dept. Kawai, M. and Prasad, E. (2011).Financial market regulation and reforms in emerging markets. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. Kelley, M. (2012).INFOGRAPHIC: The LIBOR Scandal Explained. [online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/infographic-the-libor-scandal-explained-2012-7?IR=T [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Konchar, S. (2014).The 2012 LIBOR Scandal: an Analysis of the Lack of Institutional Oversight and Incentives to Deter Manipulation of the World's Most "Important Number". Lawdeb.us, (2013)."The Libor Scandal, its Implications, and Effect on the Corporate Trust Industry" by Romano I. Peluso. [online] Available at: https://www.lawdeb.us/our-history/blog/2013/January/Libor%20by%20Romano%20I%20Peluso [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. LBC, (2015).What Is The Barclays Libor Rigging Scandal. [online] Available at: https://www.lbc.co.uk/the-barclays-libor-rigging-scandal-explained-56812 [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Taylor, J. and Williams, J. (2008).A black swan in the money market. Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research. The LIBOR Scandal. (2015). 1st ed. [ebook] Available at: https://www.bu.edu/rbfl/files/2013/09/The-LIBOR-Scandal.pdf [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Voxeu.org, (2015).The LIBOR scandal and reform | VOX, CEPRs Policy Portal. [online] Available at: https://www.voxeu.org/article/libor-scandal-and-reform [Accessed 27 Feb. 2015]. Yeung, T. (2013).From LIBOR to HIBOR. Hong Kong: Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Claudio, L. (2014). From Scandalous Politics to Public Scandal: Corruption, Media, and the Collapse of the Estrada Regime in the Philippines.Asian Politics Policy, 6(4), pp.539-554. Horton, R. (2012). Offline: The scandal of device regulation in the UK.The Lancet, 379(9812), p.204. When the Bollinger bankers' bubbles burst. (2013).Strategic Direction, 29(2), pp.13-16.

Running head Business ethics an Example of the Topic Business Essays by

Running head: Business ethics Abstract. With the rise and growth of capitalism as a mode of production, and the push for profit maximisation, businesses have surged forward into the corporate world with an aim of minimising expenses ( such as the cost of labour, and the operational costs ), while at the same time, maximising the profit. The above state of affairs has led to the massive cases of exploitation of citizens by the commercial world, leading also to the need to enforce business ethics. In particular, there have been cases of fraud which in turn resulted to massive collapse of renown firms such as Tyco International, Enron, WorldCom, Peregrine Systems and Adelphia. It is this state of affairs that led to the creation of the Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act so as to bring in ameliorations into this tumultuous state of developments geared by human avarice. Need essay sample on "Running head: Business ethics" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Students Very Often Tell EssayLab professionals:How much do I have to pay someone to make my assignment today?Specialists advise: Essaylab.Com Offers A Top-Quality Academic EssayBuy Essays Online Write My Essay For Me Grab My Essay Review University Essay Writing Service However, with the enforcement of the business ethics and the Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act, critics have emerged, citing the side effects of carrying out these stipulations. It is against this backdrop that this research paper has been written, with the principal aim of demonstrating how the pitfalls pointed out by critics can be sealed off, so that the Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act can become more effective. Introduction. The Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act which is also known as the Public Accounting, Auditing and Investor Protection Act, the SOX or the Sarbox Acts was enacted in the Federal Law of the United States on 30th July 2002 as a response to the preponderance in the corporate and accounting scandals. Some of the firms that had been affected included Tyco International, Enron, Worldcom, Peregrine Systems and Adelphia. The scandals were so severe in effect, to an extent that billions of dollars of share prices were forfeited, leading to the collapse of these companies and the subsequent dissipation of the national confidence in security markets. The Act was named after its sponsors, Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Oxley G. Michael, after that the Act was approved by a 423- 3 vote in the House and 99- 0 in the Senate. This development was followed by George Bush signing the bill into law, and thereby ratifying the most comprehensive American business reforms ever since the times of president Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Act operates by establishing new and quasi- public agencies such as the Public Oversight Board for Accounting Companies (PCAOB) which is given the mandate of supervising, inspecting, regulating and disciplining all the accounting firms that assume the role of auditing the records of accounts for all public companies. The Act also bolsters concepts such as the independence of auditors, internal control assessment, corporate governance and at the same time, enhances the concept of financial disclosure to the public. Research problem statement. Critics such as Ron Paul (a Congressman), have countered that SOX Law was unnecessary due to the fact that it hands the US firms a disadvantage in competing with foreign firms. The critics maintain that the same state of affairs, brought about by the law has been responsible for the driving away of businesses out of the US. Paul in his April 14th 2004 speech in the US House of Representatives, was citing the report by the Wharton Business School's findings. The lucidity of these accusations are bolstered by the fact that research conducted by the Wharton Business School released findings that, ever since the Sarbanes- Oaxley bill was passed into law, American companies have been deregistering from the US Public Stock Exchange. At the same time, it was found that in New York for instance, the New York Stock Exchange had only ten new entrants into the stock market ever since 2004. Ethics statements. This research paper mostly employs the use of academic books that have dealt on the issue of business ethics. At the same time, thoughts that have been borrowed, have been acknowledged so as to both avoid cases of plagiarism (intellectual theft) and uphold the standards of intellectual ethics. All the above measures have been taken to account, in the bid to show clearly the fact that no proper business activities can thrive without the observation of the business ethics. Purpose statements. This research paper seeks mostly to show the need for the observation of business ethics in both the corporate sector and the public sector. This paper does this by analysing the setbacks that bedevil these sectors as a result of not observing business ethics. The research paper does this by analysing the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act under the context of the US. Thoughts on how to seal the loopholes so as to fully realize the benevolence of observing of business ethics are discussed also. Significance. This paper can be deemed as relevant due to the fact that it spells out the pros and cons of adopting business ethics (in this case, the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act) by delving into the American context. This is not an end to itself since this research paper does this, while espousing the dominant aim of encouraging the observation of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as a form of business ethics. The fine tuning of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act's modalities have also been dealt on, so as to avoid the inconsistencies and the misgivings that critics have towards the adoption of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as a form of business ethics. CHAPTER 2 Literature review. Studies have been carried out by different authors who all have different opinions about the importance of adopting the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as a form of business ethics. For instance, the Wharton Business School (Manz, 2003 pp. 75) in its findings from a research that it had conducted in 2006, maintains that the adoption of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as a form of business ethics has only been instrumental in ushering in plummeted growth and development of the American Stock Market Exchange. The representatives of this school point at the fact that there has been a lot of cases of deregistration of traders in stock market. The Wharton Business School maintains that this trend has been persisting, following the signing into effect, the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. The Korn- Ferry International in the same wavelength posits that the implementation of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act has only catalyzed the reluctance on the side of small scale businesses from entering the American Stock Market Exchange. Korn- Ferry International points out that this has been due to the fact that 500 companies have been reported to have lost an average of 5.1 million as compliance expense in 2004 alone (De Vay, 2006 pp. 121). In the same vein, Foley and Lardner law firms have as a rejoinder to the above arguments against the adoption of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act pointed out that the Act has only been very instrumental in increasing the expenses of publicly held or owned companies by 130% from the time the law was enacted. Foley and Lardner law firms continue that this state of affairs has also led to giving foreign businesses an edge over local ones, due to the fact that the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act hugely rests its burdens and injunctions on local business firms, compared to the foreign firms. Other economics pundits such as John C. Dvork (Hartman, 2004 pp. 84) also argue that the adoption of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act leads to the stifling of creativity in the field of computer and technology. Dvork continues that this is likely to cause a downturn in the Information Technology sector. Dvork, a technology and computing journalist explains that this was seen in 2005 when the oldest and the most independent user group of IBM announced its speculations of closing down, citing the fact that the policies of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act was constantly exposing it to wasteful dispensation of resources. CHAPTER 3 Approach. This research study activity has been conducted mainly by analysing the scholarly books that have been written on business ethics in relation to the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act, and its underpinnings. Hypothesis. This paper has been written to prove that the adoption of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as a way of instilling the observation of business ethics is only going to benefit the US. This is to be actualized by showing clearly, both the pros and cons of adopting Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as a form of business ethics. Causative analysis. There are different reasons that stand in the way of effective realization of business ethics. Some of these reasons are: Additional expenses being imposed on the firms. High operational costs especially for the IT firms since subscribing to the injunctions of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act requires that these firms upgrade their systems. At the same time, these firms are expected to upgrade their systems following the fact that different non IT firms depend on IT systems and controls to implement the stipulations of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. The high rate of incursion of foreign business firms at the expense of local businesses due to the fact that the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act stipulations are country specific, applying much pressure on the domestic firms. CHAPTER 3. Goals and expectations. It is expected that the majority of businesses in America are going to do well as a result of having subscribed to the laws of business ethics. This cannot be far from the truth, especially if the measures are taken to seal the loopholes of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. At the same time, the citizens are also likely to be well covered from exploitation, upon business ethics and Sarbanes- Oaxley Act being followed fully. Expected outcomes. It is expected that full enforcement of business ethics policies and the fine tuning of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act will usher in the following accruals: Cases of fraud are likely to take a plunge in the business and corporate sectors in the US. The US business sector is likely to thrive as a result of the above gain. There is likely to be the restoration of public confidence in the American Stock Market Exchange. Growth of the American Stock Exchange Market is inevitable as a result of the restoration of public confidence. CHAPTER 4. Problem statement. There are many problems that are being realised as a result of failure to totally instill the dictates of business ethics upon the business sector and failure to revise the stipulations of the of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. Some of these setbacks that are going to be encountered are: the departure of the US borne businesses from the business scene; the unproportional infiltration of foreign businesses into the American scene; and the collapse of the US Stock market. Description of selected solutions and calender plans. There should be the revision of the Title 2 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act so that the independence of the auditors should be extended to the private and foreign firms. All private and foreign business entities are to be subjected to the Title 3 of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act of Corporate responsibility. There should be the enhancement of the Title 4 Sarbanes- Oaxley Act of Enhanced financial disclosure. The concept and practice of the Title 5 of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act of Analyst conflict of interest should be also extended so that it pervades the entire corporate world. The Corporate Tax Returns of Sarbanes- Oaxley Act as the Tenth (10th) Title should also be stretched so that all businesses be made subject to its stipulations. CHAPTER 5. Discussions on recommendations. Revision of the Title 2 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. At the present, Title 2 of this Act authorises the independence of the auditors at the public sector alone. However, to ensure that the concept of egalitarianism is followed to the latter, the powers of the auditors must be extended to the private sector and the foreign companies so that these do not have an edge, at the expense of local firms and the public sector in a way that is not warranted or earned. Reviewing of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act Title 3. This act should be reviewed so that the observation of corporate responsibility be observed by both local and foreign businesses. However, since it is expedient that foreign investors be attracted, it is necessary that foreign businesses be subject to lower or manageable levels of corporate responsibility. Expanding of Title 4 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. Both the public sector and the private sector- including foreign corporations must be made to send their statements of accounts at the end of every financial year for taxation, and for investigative purposes. However, this is only possible if Title 4 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act is abrogated. Abrogation of _ Title 5 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. Title 5 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act should also be abrogated so that it is not only the officer in a business that belongs to public sector who is barred from holding certain portfolios so as to ward off cases of conflicts of interests in decision making. Businessmen in the private sector and foreign investors should also be subjected to such stipulations since these are also hugely prone to succumbing to conflicts of interests. Reviewing of Title 10 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act. As stated in the third recommendation, Title 4 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act must be abrogated so that Title 10 of collective taxation of both the private and public, local and foreign investments can be realized. Conclusion. It is now clear that implementing business ethics and specifically, the Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act presents both merits and demerits in the economic sector. For instance, one of the merits is that the American Stock Exchange Market is bound to grow due to the renewed public confidence in the stock market. On the other hand, if not properly checked, the implementation of the Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act as it is presently, will continue to trigger the exit of the US businesses from the American scene. The above matter must be taken as a matter of grave concern by the government since it is likely to lead to the unfavourable preponderance of foreign investments over the local ones. However, since the above state of affairs have been shown to exist as a result of the loopholes in the Sarbanes- Oaxley 2002 Act, the US government must therefore be seen to make strident measures to ratify the above recommendations so as to avert this danger. References. De Vay, D. (2006). Effectiveness of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act in combating fraud. New York: Prentice Hall. Manz, W. H. (2003). The legislative history of Title 4 of the Sarbanes- Oaxley Act: Corporate fraud _ responsibility. Michigan: Michigan University Press. Hartman, P. L. (2004). Business ethics: collective perspectives. New York: John Wiley and Sons

Canadian Justice System essays

Canadian Justice System essays Since the dawn of our existence, when we had the freedom to pretty much do anything our inventive minds could conjure up, there arrived a changing point when our ideas went too far or too extreme. There were actions that people of the past and present societies couldnt accept because it felt wrong in every way. This led to a rule called a LAW. All of the countries, states, provinces, and small communities have these laws which keep us under control and keep an orderly society on our planet. Without it there would be chaos and of devastated world. First lets define what a law actually is; a law is a ...body of official rules and regulations, generally found in constitutions, legislation, judicial opinions, and the like, that is used to govern a society and to control the behaviour of its members. The purpose and functions of law have varied throughout history. In todays society, a politically appointed body of systems lies out or makes the rules that can be agreed upon the standards in society. Laws are in a written form, which has the appropriate punishment that meet, the type of crime. Laws serve a variety of functions. Laws help to maintain a orderly, relatively stable society. Courts provide a social stable existence for us by resolving disputes in a civilized manner. Property and contract laws assist business and private conduct. Laws also limit the potential powers that the government could have to help provide some degree of freedom to society. Law can also been used as a stepping-stone for social change; for instanc e, some laws have been passed to control the social world and to improve the quality of individual life such as health, education, and welfare. Substantive law is defined as the rights and duties of persons and deals with procedures for enforcing those rights and duties . Substantive law covers a wide variety of matters - for example; what is required to form a contract, what...

Interview of A Family Friend Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Interview of A Family Friend - Essay Example The interviewee discussed issues concerning his hobby is football. He also discussed issues related to his dating experience during his college days. Moreover, the informant clearly stated his position regarding gender roles in the contemporary society today. For example, the informant viewed equality in terms gender roles in the society. According to McCarter, both men and women should be accorded equal opportunities in promoting societal growth. Currently, the interviewee is married with two children and considered a senior citizen. He also works in an information technology firm and believes in Christianity. It is believed that family usually comes first in most households today. Families play important roles in the nurturing and growth of family members. Usually consisted of the father, mother and siblings, the father is normally perceived to be the head of the family. Family ensures that all members get access to the basic needs such food, clothing and shelter. They also ensure members are comfortable in their daily experiences. Each and every individual has various life experiences that he or she goes through. The informant, Mr McCarter had an interesting experience in terms of the family experiences. Being the only boy among their siblings, he faced various experiences in terms of the daily chores performed in the house and the general way of living. As a child, McCarter related well with his family members. He performed the tasks assigned to him in time. As he grew into the adolescent stage, at times he ignored chores assigned to him. For example, he says there was a day he deliberately refused to clean the fridge and it was his turn. Grounding was the consequence of his actions. As he matured he had no problems with his parents or sisters. Generally, McCarter had good relationship ties with his family members. This was enabled by the good moral values that were constantly taught by his parents.

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY - Essay Example This sort of anticipation has led to the further fall in oil prices. Another issue that the researcher discusses is that of the fluctuating exchange rates that has in turn caused variability in interest rates. The main aim of the research is to analyse the various issues faced by the global economy and how has the economy dealt with the challenges. The research allows the researcher to study the various economic issues across the globe and the main reasons behind such issues and derive a solution to overcome these issues. The crude oil prices in the economy have experienced a recent decline which had serious impacts on the economy. The global demand and supply conditions for the crude oil has led to the possible decline in crude oil prices (Fornari, et al., 2002). Prices are expected to change rapidly based on the anticipation of the researchers before the actual change. Expectation for the global oil demands have been anticipated downwards in the economy and the growth in oil prices was expected to be much lower in the economy (Jimenez-Rodriguez and Sanchez, 2005). Further, the intensity of the rise in oil prices have become half of what it was during the previous years. It had resulted in declining oil intensity and the energy efficiency of the oil prices. The researcher has found that Saudi Arabia has reduced OPEC’s oil supply and the prices were stabilized (Jimenez-Rodriguez and Sanchez, 2005). The oil price fluctuations and the inflation rates have a positive correlation in the economy (Kim and Roubini, 2000). High inflation led to high rise in oil prices within the economy and it had an impact on the oil producing companies as there was a very low demand for crude oil. The low demand was due to rise in price for crude oil. As a result, there was excess supply of crude oil in the economy and gradually the prices fell in the later years. Rise in oil prices has led to lower output production in the

Politics & Parliament in Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Politics & Parliament in Britain - Essay Example The concept of parliamentary supremacy, defines parliament as the legislative body with absolute sovereignty. This serves to indicate that it is the British parliament that is superior over the other arms of government, considering that the United Kingdom parliament is able to control both the executive and the judiciary, through enacting and passing laws that would then require the other arms of the government to adhere to . Simply put, parliament is the only sovereign body in the United Kingdom, which is not bound by any law. This is because; the legislative body can change or repeal the existing laws, so that it is no longer bound by the laws. This way, it becomes a sovereign body that makes laws, but which is not bound by any written law . How has the meaning of these words, which help define responsible government, changed in Britain during the past 25 years?The statement â€Å"Parliament is the Supreme law of the land† has changed slightly during the last 25 years, most especially due to three significant developments, namely devolution, constitutional reforms and ratification of the European Union membership. In this respect, the United Kingdom has tried to establish other body entities that have powers that control the Parliament in certain way. DevolutionDevolution in Britain was established in 1997, with the establishment of three other legislative bodies, where the Scottish parliament was established, in addition to the establishment of local assemblies in Ireland and Wales .

Health and Safety Requirements in Nursery Setting

Health and Safety Requirements in Nursery Setting Nomatter Nyawo 1. Analyse the working practices that need to be in place in the nursery setting to ensure that children are protected. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety. Under this act the employers, its workers and individuals being supported have responsibilities to ensure safety is maintained in the nursery. A copy of the act must be displayed in the main communal area of the staff work premises. Working with children is very interesting it is a job that requires consecration and has to be planed very careful, you need personal skills for you to be able to communicate, problem-solving and you must have the ability to work with others. You must have skills to organise and plan activities for the children, you must know the importance of reporting and recording what young children do and how this is used in planning appropriate. How to evaluate your own contribution in creating nurturing and professional servers for the children. The main purpose of legislation is: To ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff. To protect children from risks arising from activities. To control the use and storage of dangerous substances. To control the emissions into the atmosphere of noxious or offensive substances. In nursery and child care setting it has been observed by Ofsted that the most effective way of ensuring that children stay safe is to build activities into the day where adults are able to educate the children about staying safe. It will be good if you seek assistance from the road safety officers who are more experienced in teaching the road safety to the children in an informative and funny way so that the children will enjoy it. A description of the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and outdoor activities and services. It is important for the nursery to have security like to have a member of staff monitor the door so that children can be signed in and out as they arrive or depart. This will minimise the risks of parents letting unknown adults into the nursery. 2. Explain the various health and safety requirements that are necessary for children attending the setting and describe the ways in which these health and safety requirements need to be adopted to cater for the differing age groups. The nursery have to ensure that the suitability of adults who have contact with the children promote good health, manage behaviour, maintain records and follow policies and procedures. The provision employs whether paid or voluntary it has a responsibility to any other people who may be affected by its activities and have to have sufficiently aware of and practice safe systems of working in nursery settings the children are put in different groups and these will go like how old they are for example: Babies (6 weeks to 12 months) Young toddlers (12 months to 2 years) Older toddlers (2years to 3 years) Pre-school (3 years to 5 years) Staff should always monitor and maintain health and safety and encourage safe working. Any setting should have clear policies and procedures about all aspects of health and safety. All rooms and equipment used by children and young people should have regular checks to ensure that everything is working well and is safe. Some of these checks are required by law for instance electrical equipment must be checked by a qualified electrician at least once a year. The dilemma between the rights and choices of children and young people and health and safety requirements is identified by the UN Convention on the rights of the child. It identifies that children learn through exploration, making choices and during new experiences. Carers have the responsibility to identify potential hazards and judge if it is safe enough while allowing freedom to experience new learning opportunities. An example of this is to guide and explain the dangers of crossing the road with a child before allowing them to do it themselves. Another example is internet safety. If a child has access to the internet the parental control setting must be used. Children are also at risk of bullying and being contacted by adults who can be a danger to them. A child needs to be warned and advised on what to do should this occur, while being monitored by their carer. In the case of a child being sick at school, for example vomiting the child has to be sent home. The child may take their personal belongings and made to sit in the reception area with a sick bucket as they wait for their parents. The reception should provide a comfortable environment for the child to rest in waiting. If a child has a bump on the head that has caused a large bump or some bleeding again the child is sent home. An ambulance is called if the child has significant bleeding and discomfort or is drowsy. Regular fire drills are carried out to prepare the children so that they don’t panic. Once they hear the alarm they should stop what they are doing and walk out calmly through fire doors and know where to line up. The staff are kept to date regularly of risks. All adults have a duty of care. If a member of staff becomes aware of a risk for example if the gate has been left unlocked, it is their responsibility to make sure it is locked and to make a report to the caretaker or head. The children are also informed regularly of risks during assembly for example if the playground is too icy they are advised to be extra careful or informed if it is necessary to stay in at play times. The Health and Safety Act poster has to display in a prominent place as it details safety advice. A COSHH poster covers advice on dangerous substances and how to prevent injury. Manual handling operations Regulation 1992 supplements the general duties placed on employers and others by Health and Safety Regulations. 3. Evaluate the procedures required to cover good hygiene and explain how this should be implemented in the nursery setting. This can be presented within a table. Young people are taught to clear and clean up tables before or after meals. They should be reminded about good hands hygiene when assisting with preparation of food and after visiting the lavatory. The general environment should be clean and safe. The equipment must be used and stored safely Working practices must promote the health and safety of children. Every employer should aware of the written statement of safety policy that is required in their setting. The Act also provides for the employee’s protection. The workplace should be safe and not pose a risk to the employee’s health. Safe systems of working should be in place. Adequate substances should be stored and used safely. Appropriate information, training and supervision should be made available for health and safety of employees. Certain injuries, diseases and occurrences should be reported to the Health and Safety executive. The diagram below shows the different types of risks that need to be considered: Physical risks Personal safety risks Security risks Types of risks Emotional risks Food safety risks Fire risks Effective risk management should become automatic as one becomes more experienced. For every activity one plans, they should think about the hazards, the likelihood of the hazards occurring and the control measures. If one sees a hazard as they go about their everyday activities, the simple rule is to deal with it. This can be as simple as moving a toy left on the floor or cleaning up spilt water. Risk assessment forms are used to assess hazards and identify control measures for all activities and outings. The table below shows some examples of risk assessment for two common activities for younger children. Activity Hazard Control measure Junk modelling Use of scissors Sharp points and blades Very young children use round ended scissors. Ensure that children know how to use it. Containers and other material being used They may have held food or unsafe substances egg cleaning fluids Make sure to put the tins in the bin. Cleaning up after the activity Wet surfaces and floors present a risk of slipping Always mop the floors Recent rain Lack of water proof clothing Children should stay in doors 4. Identify and describe what should be included in a first aid kit for a nursery, and discuss why paediatric first aid training for nursery staff is important. There has to be a first aid kit in every class and each MSA should be equipped with a first aid pouch for the playground. Small wounds can be cleaned and dressed outside with phials of purified water and dressed. The teacher is informed at the end of break. For head wounds a cold compressed applied and a letter sent home with the child giving advice on how to care A first aid kit should include: Plasters in variety different shapes and sizes Small, medium and large sterilised Bandages At least two sterile dressings Triangular bandages Crepe rolled bandages Safety pins Disposable sterile groves Seasons Alcohol-free cleaning wipes Sticky tape Thermometer preferably digital Antiseptic cream Distilled water for eye cleaning In the nursery setting, it is important for every staff to know where the first aid kit box is kept and what is in it. A named person should be responsible for checking the kit and replacing missing items although anyone using an item from the kit has responsibility to report this. Ofsted states that it is ‘good practice for first aiders to be reliable and have good communication skills and have the aptitude and ability to absorb new knowledge and learn new skills and the ability to cope stressful and physically demanding emergency procedures. First aid certificates need to be renewed in three years from the completion date of the previous qualification. It is the responsibility of the manager to keep records as regularly reviewed to ensure that staff receive refresher training and when it is required. In the nursery setting a paediatric first aid qualification satisfies Ofsted requirements. Although first aid qualifications are essential paediatric first aid qualifications are tailored to Early Years settings and cover the various situations and scenarios that staff may find themselves in. For example, resuscitation is given on a paediatric resuscitation model instead of an adult one. As part of health and safety at work act 1974 and the associated regulations, if any setting does employ more than five staff it should have a safety policy. The policy should cover emergency procedures in the event of fire, a gas leak, bomb scare and all adults should know what to do. In the case of fire, all doors and windows should be closed and the children taken out of the premises by normal routes. Children should not be left unattended. An urgent call should be made to the fire brigade by dialling 999. Under certain circumstances accidents may need to be reported to health and safety executive particularly if the child is seriously injured, for example a major injury such as fractured limbs, electric shock and unconsciousness. Even a minor accident requires an entry to be made in the accident book. Preventive measures may be as simple as having more adults supervise the children at outdoor play or there may be the need to change equipment or to put further safety protection in a place such as more matting under swings. Bibliography: Penny Tassani, Kate Beith, Kath Bulman and Sue Griffin; Children and young people’s workforce, Early Learning and childcare (Level 3 Diploma), Heinemann, 2010

Self-Worth and Moral Knowledge :: Philosophy Morals Traditions Papers

Self-Worth and Moral Knowledge I argue that persons are unlikely to have moral knowledge insofar as they lack certain moral virtues; that persons are commonly deficient in these virtues, and hence that they are regularly unlikely to have adequate moral knowledge. I propose a version of this argument that employs a broad conception of self-worth, a virtue found in a wide range of moral traditions that suppose a person would have an appropriate sense of self-worth in the face of tendencies both to overestimate and underestimate the value of one’s self. I begin by noting some distinctive features of this argument that distinguish it from more common arguments for moral skepticism. This is followed by an elucidation of the virtue of self-worth. I then consider some connections between self-worth and moral knowledge and, more briefly, the extent of self-worth among persons. Finally, I respond to the objection that the argument is incoherent because it presupposes moral knowledge that it later undermines. My aim is to offer a brief defense of an argument for a moderate moral skepticism that is rooted in morality itself as often understood. In general form, the argument is based on the contention that persons are unlikely to have moral knowledge insofar as they lack certain moral virtues; it continues with the claim that persons are commonly deficient in these virtues, and it concludes that they are regularly unlikely to have adequate moral knowledge. I will propose a version of this argument that employs a broad conception of self-worth, a virtue found in a wide range of moral traditions that suppose a person should have an appropriate sense of self-worth in the face of tendencies both to overestimate and underestimate the value of one's self. I begin by noting some distinctive features of this argument that distinguish it from more common arguments for moral skepticism (section I). This is followed by an elucidation of the virtue of self-worth (section II). I then consider some connections between self-worth and moral knowledge (sections III and IV), and, more briefly, the extent of self-worth among persons (section V). Finally, I respond to an objection that may be made against this argument (section VI). I. The argument I defend here is in several respects different than familiar arguments for moral skepticism. First, moral skeptics often purport to show that there is no moral knowledge and sometimes that there can be none. (1) The present argument claims only that persons commonly are likely to be deficient in moral knowledge and hence that there is less moral knowledge among persons than might be thought.

My Thoughts About Science

â€Å"Thoughts About Science† by Robert Sager, write a one-half to one page (no longer) reflective essay on your thoughts about science and environmental science. Reading â€Å"Thoughts About Science† intrigued my research towards what science really is. Whether or not someone may believe that the earth started out with a great boom, the amount of research we have today about why we can survive living on this planet explains other theories.The scientific method shows how we can take thoughts and turn them into facts with a reasonable ay of doing so. I think the scientific method is great to use as humans because it involves tons Of research and not just a thought we claim is true. Questioning our mind and putting it into actions such as testing if the thought may be true or not shows we can explain our reason here on earth.Although there are many other contradictions, such as religious and cultural beliefs, I think as humans we have to accept scientific facts in our liv es because it makes up our development of humankind. Without science, we could be living in a world where all humans die because we don't know how to survive n terms of what to do if we get a fever, what to do to nourish our bodies and so forth. Science, in my opinion, is all about testing hypothesis so that we can better ourselves.Some scientists may go back to a hypothesis or theory that was proven a long time ago, yet touch back on it to see if we can improve a certain formula / truth. Think science helps our environment because the environment has so many factors that we need in order to survive (animals, plants, heat, etc). Knowing that we need these through the help of science will better ourselves even if we go through negative times where a thought may not be able to be proven.

Interpretations of GoetheFaust essays

Interpretations of GoetheFaust essays Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote his book Faust throughout his lifetime. Goethe began writing his book in his twenties, then worked on it in intervals up until his death at the age of eighty two. When I first saw the book Faust I immediately thought of the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil in return for supernatural powers. This story Im talking about is really dependent on Christianity for its plot. Faust was an educated man who wanted to learn more than God allowed man to know. Faust gains superior knowledge, and enjoys magical powers. But, in the end Faust gets carried down to hell with the devil. Without a doubt this story is a Christian cautionary tale, it warns you that you will lose your soul if you try to outsmart God. This traditional story is a German one. Moreover, there was a real Dr. Faustus who lived in Germany, but examples of his life are unknown, or are impossible to find out. The legend of Faust has been used by Poets, writers, and opera composers. Christopher Marlowes Dr. Faustus was published in the early seventeenth century, and is more in tune with the traditional tale. Goethes Faust, however, differs from the traditional stories. Many critics credit Goethes Faust as opening a whole new era of Western thought. Modern society are wandering aimlessly in a technological world, searching for meaning in life. Western people at the time achieved salvation through religion and Christianity. But Faust achieved his salvation through action. Goethes Faust does not sell his soul to the devil at all he makes a bet with him. An important factor to note is that I am only discussing part I of Faust. Although, in part II the Devil, Mephistopheles, ends up losing this bet. Moreover, Faust does not disobey Gods command, like he does in the traditional tale. God, in Goethes Faust, has complete confidence in Fausts good sense and gives Mephistophe...

Gen X essays

Gen X essays We Do Not Xactly Care About the Government What is the point of the government? This is a question I often ask myself. I am a member of Generation X, or so I've been labeled since I was born in 1981. I have been labeled as lazy, irresponsible, and apathetic. One of those words applies to me right now, and that is my apathy toward the government. At this time in my life it does not matter what happens in the government, it will continue to run without my input. Perhaps our indifference toward the government is one of the many "problems" with my generation. There are many reasons why young people do not vote, or get involved in political actions. They range from apathy to just plain not having enough time. One of the larger reasons is that most candidates are much older then those 18-25. Generation X has lead a different life style since birth then those of older generations. We like different music, different movies, there is not much we have in common. Generation X has grown up in a world of money and quickly changing technology. In order to be the President of the United States of America, one must be thirty-five years old. Automatically that is at least a ten-year age difference between the two groups. There is an ever growing generation gap between candidates and youthful voters. In the case of the 1996 Presidential election, Bob Dole was in his seventies, my grandfather is not even seventy. Bob Dole and many other candidates in recent and past years have had trouble relating to Generation X and vice versa. Another reason why Xers are turning away from the government is lack of political education. The last of the Generation Xers will be entering college in the 2000-2001 school year, to most of us college is much more important then politics. I know if I had the option of watching a presidential debate or studying, I would opt for the studying. At this point in my life getting good grades is a lot m...

Marketing journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Marketing journal - Essay Example Normally surveys are conducted demographically to determine various segments of buyers according to age, sex, education, location and other factors. However this kind of division fails to highlight the motivation of the consumer and often marketing based on such results is disappointing. A good method of measuring this has been devised by SRIC-BI who has conducted psychological survey of thousands of consumers from every walk of life during 1987-92. They call it VALS. This survey attempts to analyze the inherent instincts or psychological traits of the consumer that have developed over his/her experiences and knowledge and have become the drivers of purchase decisions. This has provided an insight about why we buy. I undertook this seemingly incongruous survey that seemed simple and somewhat inconsequential. However the results highlighted my attitude and aptitude and I must admit that it was able to capture the essence of my personality. The survey categorized me into the segment called Thinkers. Under VALS terminology the three segmentations of consumers are determined by their motivation. These are Innovators, Thinkers and Survivors. The descriptions are indicative of their capabilities; the innovators are daring and will be easily induced to trying new products and experimenting with the unknown; the thinkers are conservatives but willing to try new products within the existing parameters of their attitudes and aptitudes; while the survivors are those who are practical and will make decisions only according to their means. Recently I decided to buy a laptop for use in my consulting profession. My requirements were that the product had to be easily portable, that would not fail at a critical moment, should be reasonably priced and, since it was a high-tech gadget, good and prompt after sales service should be available whenever and wherever needed.

Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 43

Discussion - Essay Example In addition, the student portal is a crucial place to visit regularly since I get updates and information about my current school grades for the past years and it is easy to note any changes on such grades. With the school email, regular access makes me remain updated on things like course soft copies and presentations as sent by respective teachers. If I were driven by fear of consequences, being informed through the school notice board, school email, and student portal would be to gain critical information like exams and other dates that would affect my course completion. For instance, missing on exam dates would result to facing disciplinary action or expulsion, which is a big blow to my education and good grades. I believe the drive by fear of consequences is the best option. The university has set clear rules on all assignments and coursework submission. Some of the consequences of course requirements include penalizing like in late or plagiarised assignments, likelihood of expulsion for failed submission without notice, and sanctioned for disciplinary action for repeated failure. Additionally, I have some self-set goals and objectives to assist me in attaining the best grades for my career. In this case, I have to pass in my entire course works for fear that they would lower my cumulative grade. For me, this would mean missing the career of my dreams while observing time and instructions in my course work would maximize my chances of attaining a high grade. I would also gain high confidence in all my work and this would instil a sense of problem analysis, and solving that would be useful even in my real life (ODonnell, Reeve and Smith 132). If I followed my sense of obligation, there are high chances of relaxing and not being so keen on time and coursework instructions especially where the tutor is not strict. This would also increase the possibility of losing my research skills and self-dependence, and

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 16

Accounting - Essay Example First, there are numerous advantages of using marginal costing over absorption costing. It is easier to carry out the control and determination of production costs. This is through the management avoiding the arbitrary allocation of the fixed overhead costs thus having an achievement and maintenance of a uniform and marginal cost that is consistent (BANERJEE, 2006). Second, marginal costing helps in planning for short-term profit. This is through the easy demonstrations using the break-even charts and profit graphs. Unlike the absorption costing, comparative profitability can easily be assessed and hence be brought to the notice of the management so that there is decision making (Avis, 2009). Third, with the implementation of marginal costing, there is ready appreciation and assessment of the effects of the production policies and alternative sales. This ensures that there will be maximum yield to the business due to the decisions arrived. This gives it a notch higher than in using absorption costing (V., 2010). The method eliminates any large balances that are left in the overhead control accounts. This thus indicates that there is a difficulty in ascertaining the accurate recovery rate of overheads. With the elimination, it becomes easier to determine the accurate overhead rate of recovery (Drury, 2007). On the other hand, there are the disadvantages of using marginal costing over the absorption costing technique. First, there is difficulty in separating costs into the fixed and variable costs. This is because, in the long run, all costs are variable. Such classification may sometimes lead to misleading results to the cyber firm (Hill, 2012). Second, under the marginal costing, stocks and the work in progress are usually understated. The exclusion of fixed costs, especially from the inventory, affects the profit. With this, the true and fair view of the

OPower Essay Example for Free

OPower Essay Answer the following questions that are based on the article reading below. Keep your responses to 1-2 paragraphs (150-300 words) per question. Posts must be clear and concise, and must address the questions being asked. You must also respond to at least one of yourpeers Discussion Questions: Even though Laskey and Yates are of the opinion that OPower has been extremely successful in the years since its inception, they also believe that the behavioral science-based approach could produce even better results. They also feel that they needed to work on convincing more regulators to adopt this new version of behavioral energy efficiency. 1. What changes could they make to drive more positive results? Laskey and Yates have done an outstanding job with a marvelous business model idea. This business model definitely has the Win, Win, characteristics; OPower, the consumer and the environment all win. The behavioral science strategy of a little competition with the neighbor and a little fear of judgment is obviously working well. However, OPower could rise the level of competition to a different level by rewarding the biggest saver in a designated area. This could be done by announcing the winner in everyone’s bill in that area, and reducing his next month electrical rate to a lower rate. In other words, the less a consumer consumes the less is the charge per unit cost. This competition level could be raised, to city level or even state level. Such incentives could help Laskey and Yates achieve the 5% energy use reduction. 2. Were there other things they could do to have an impact on energy uses—or on the environment more fundamentally? Information-based energy management is one of the most exciting innovations in the utility industry. Behavioral science and targeted, multi-channel communications make it possible to stimulate utility customers on a large scale, leading to increased engagement and sustained energy savings. However, there is more that can to be done to reduce our negative environmental impact. OPower model only stimulates consumer for less energy consumption. It does not create incentives to use sustainable energy. I believe that any problem can be most effectively solved when prevented rather that cured. If we were using sustainable, renewable, and cleaner resources rather than non-renewable, highly dangerous and, polluting resource to create energy, it would be a better solution. OPower could generate a study and show the impact difference in coil generated electricity versus so lar generated electricity to promote cleaner electricity producing resources. 3. What could they do to more quickly move state governments to approve their program?  The OPower program has already received our current Presidential recognition. This is a huge leverage to influence other State representatives to recognize the impact the energy saving could have at a state level. The company representatives could use the President’s endorsement as a leader’s opinion, and lobby their services to influence other possible leaders such as governors and presidents of other countries. I also like the idea of Opower to provide their services to bigger consumers. It obviously would show greater energy reduction if the consumer is larger user of energy. It would also be a great way to market their service, because the corporation using OPower could let their customers know that they are using less energy by utilizing OPower services.

Nike Brand Analysis

Nike Brand Analysis Nike brand has been around since the 1960s. This brand has become known as one of the top brands of sports gear. This has not happened because of an accident. A lot of work has gone into making this brand what it is today. The amount of different brands that Nike makes help them reach out to every kind of person in the world today. The competition for Nike has also helped them succeed by making them try and stay ahead of their competition. Also if you take a look at their SWOT analysis you can see the different things that make Nike one of the top brands in todays world. The idea of Nike began way back in the 1950s. A track coach by the name of Bill Bowerman was at the University of Oregon training his team. Bill was always looking for a competitive edge for his runners, like most of us today look for any advantage we can get. Bill said he tried using different shoes for his runners as well as trying other things to try and make his athletes better. Bill tried to contact the shoes manufactures in attempt to try out his ideas for running shoes. This however failed. In 1955 a track runner by the name of Phil Knight enrolled at Oregon. Phil was on the track team under Bill. Phil graduated from Oregon and acquired his MBA from Stanford University. Phil went on to write a paper that talked about how quality shoes could be made over in Japan and they would be cheaper. Phil called a company in Japan and became a distributor of Tiger shoes in the United States of America. Phil sent some pairs of shoes to his old track coach trying to get Bill to buy the shoe s. Instead of buying these shoes Bill offered Phil a partnership to create better running shoes. In 1964 Bill and Phil shook hands and formed Blue Ribbon Sports. The companies first move was to order three hundred pairs of shoes from the company in Japan. While Bill examined these shoes and tried to make them better Phil was out selling the shoes. Bill had his track team at Oregon try out his new creations. This became the foundation of Nike. Due to the fact that Bill and Phil still had a full time job, they hired Jeff Johnson as their first full time employee. Jeff soon became a invaluable utility man for the company. In 1971 Jeff created brochures, marketing materials and even shot photos for a catalogue. The very first Blue Ribbon store was opened by Jeff. Meanwhile the relationship between Blue Ribbon and the company from Japan was starting to deteriorate. Bill and Phil made the jump to manufacturing and designing their own footwear. The trade marks swoosh which was introduced a t this time. The Nike line of footwear was unveiled in 1972, during the U.S. Track and Field Trials. One pair of the shoes had a huge impression on a dozen multiple runners that wore the new shoes. These shoes incorporated a new style of soles that that had nubs on them that resembled the ridges of a waffle iron. These shoes were also a lot less heavier than most running shoes at the time. With the new image Nike started looking for athletes to wear, promote and elevate the new shoes. The first athlete they found was Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine never lost a race that was over a mile in distance in his college career between 1969 and 1973. Prefontaine challenged Bill , Phil and their new company to stretch their talents. In turn Prefontaine became an ambassador for Blur Ribbon Sports and Nike. In 1975 Prefontaine died at the age of 24, but his spirit still lives on within Nike. Prefontaine became the soul of Nike. When 1980 hit Nike entered the stock market and became a publicly t raded company. Once this happened many of the people that started the company moved on with their lives. This included Phil Knight who resigned from his president spot for over a year. In the mid-1980s Nike started to slip from top of its industry. This started to change when Michael Jordan released a new shoe through Nike. When this happened Nikes bottom line got a boost. In 1988 the slogan that we all know today Just do it was introduced as a way for Nike to build on its momentum from their Revolution campaign. The Just do it campaign included three advertisements in which a young athlete by the name of Bo Jackson was involved in. By the end of the decade Nike was at the top of their industry once again. The 90s brought a series of outreach for Nike. At this point in time Nike deepened their commitment into others sports such as soccer and golf. In 1995 Nike signed the whole World Cup wining Brazilian National Team. This also allowed Nike to create jerseys for the team. Nike also landed contracts with both the mens and womans teams for the United States. The biggest thing that Nike was criticized for was when they signed a young golfer by the name of Eldick Tiger Woods for huge deal. All of the competition said this was a dumb idea till Tiger won the 1997 Masters by a record 12 strokes. In 2000 a new shoe was introduced. This shoe went by the name of the Nike Shox. This shoe combined more than 15 years of dedication and perseverance. Nike is still the industry leader in their markets and continues to grow more and more each year around the world. This company will have much more to offer in the future. Nikes products do not just cover one area like some companies products. Nike prides itself in having a product for most every sport out there. Also they do not just stick to shoes. They also produce everything from socks and compression shorts to sunglasses and hats. Nikes first products started with track shoes. Today they still are huge into the shoe industry but Nike also makes jerseys, shorts, baselayers etc. Nikes products never stop involving. As a person who wears a lot of Nike gear, my favorite thing about the brand is that they always find a way to make the products better. Take their basketball shoe line for example. When Nike made their first pair of basketball shoes they probably had no idea what they were doing. Today Nike has one of the best lines of basketball shoes out there with the Air Jordan line. These shoes are always light weight and they feature great support and breathable leather which are both needed in a good basketball shoe. Also Nike makes their products stand out with their brilliant use of colors and unique designs. Everyone in todays society wants to be seen in the swoosh. In 2009 Nike introduced the Nike+ products and teamed up with Apple. This allows runners to sink their shoes with their IPods and it will allow them to see how far they have run, how many calories they have burned and also keeps time for them. Nike has also done this with their basketball shoes which allow players to link up through their IPods again. However this new design helps measure a players vertical, quickness, and other aspects of their game. Nikes products keep improving with the time and there is no end in sight to what Nike can do with their products. Nike has many competitors in their industry. These companies include but are not limited to Puma, Underarmor and Addidas. These competitors drive Nike to strive for new innovations every day. Nike competes with Addidas in the basketball market. Nike owns over 80% of U.S. basketball market to as where Addidas owns only about 14%. Addidas is trying to keep up with Nike in innovation but is having a really hard time in doing so. Nike and Underarmor are major competitors in the work out clothing industry. Both of these companies make very good products that will help an athlete get better in their sports. In this industry I would have to give the advantage to Underarmour because when you go to a gym you always see people working out in Underarmor clothes. Puma and Nike compete in the shoes market. They are both big in the track shoes industry. Both of these companies make extremely comfortably light weight shoes. If you watch the Track and Field events at the Olympics you will see most r unners are wearing Nike shoes or Puma shoes. In this competitive match up I would have to say Nike has the clear edge. If you look at the past Puma use to have every track athlete in a pair of their shoes. Over the past decade that has shifted towards the shoes that are produced Nike. Nike has the overall competitive advantage in their industry. The people that buy Nike brand differ immensely. The target Market for Nike clothing and other accessories are people between 18-35 years of age. Some characterists about the people that buy the Nike brand include many things. One main thing for most of the Nike customers are that they watch or play a lot of sports. This is said because Nike uses major sports icons to promote their products. These athletes include Lebron James, Tiger Woods, Mia Hamm and many more athletes from all different sports. By using these athletes it makes people want to wear the brands that their favorite athletes wear. Some more characteristics of Nike consumers are that they are into extreme sports. Nike has come out with the 6.0 line to appeal to the younger generations thrill of extreme sports. These are just a few characteristics that Nike buyers have in common. Nike is a great company in its industry and it will be a very long time till anyone ever knocks them off of the top of their industry. However Nike has had issues with violating Human rights. Their factories are under scrutiny in countries like Mexico and Vietnam. Their factories in Vietnam have been in violation of minimum wage and overtime laws. Nike states that these violations are no longer happening. In the 1990s Nikes use of faced child labor in Cambodia and Pakistanis was being closely monitored. However Nike still has factories in places where the monitoring of child labor has bad regulations.. In 2001 BBC documentary uncovered the use of child labor by Nike. The documentary was based around 6 little girls, who worked every single day and were all working over 14 hours shifts. In July 2011 Nike admitted that 66% of their factories do not meet regulations for worker treatment. I conducted a SWOT analysis on the Nike Brand. One of Nikes key strengths is their use of popular athletes to help promote their products. The idea behind this is that most individuals will remember what a star athlete is wearing. A major weakness is that the market that Nike operates in is very price sensitive. Most of Nikes income comes retailers purchasing the products they produce. This indicates that margins tend to get squeezed as retailers try to get low price competition on Nikes products. Opportunities include things such as the constant change in technology. The ability to generate more money by having a wide range of products helps Nike a lot. Nike is not just involved in sports wear they are also in regular clothing and sunglasses. Also Nike has a huge base all over the world which allows them to have a larger global market. Finally some of the threats are that the retail sector is becoming substantially price competitive. This means that shoppers are looking around for b etter deals rather than just buying the top brands. The consumer now controls the manufacturing. If a consumer wants to find the lowest price on identical products, then they will go store to store in order to find the lowest price. In conclusion Nike has a lot going for it. It started with a track coach and a track runner. This brand has become known as one of the top brands of sports gear. This has not happened because of an accident. A lot of work has gone into making this brand what it is today. The amount of different brands that Nike makes help them reach out to every kind of person in the world today. The competition for Nike has also helped them succeed by making them try and stay ahead of their competition. Also if you take a look at their SWOT analysis you can see the different things that make Nike one of the top brands in todays world. Their number one position in the world is will continue far into the future if they stick with what they know. Work Cited About NIKE, Inc.ÂÂ  NIKE, Inc. -. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. . History Heritage.ÂÂ  NIKE, Inc. -. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. . Nike, Inc.ÂÂ  Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2012. .

Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues - Vermont’s Permission of Same-sex Marriage :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

The Irrationality of Vermont’s Permission of Gay Marriage This essay explains the rationale behind the Vermont decision - and its effect upon conservative groups especially. In December of 1999, the Supreme Court of Vermont decided that it was, on balance, a violation of the Constitution of Vermont to withhold from couples of the same sex the benefits that flow to married couples. But the court did not think it proven that the laws on marriage had been animated by any intention to discriminate against women, lesbians, and gays in the way that other laws, in the past, had discriminated against blacks. The laws in Vermont were meant to secure marriage, or to establish marriage as the proper setting for sexuality, not to saddle people with disabilities. But just why legislators in the past bore such convictions-or whether those convictions were any longer defensible-the judges did not think they were in a position any longer to say. Nevertheless, they recognized that it was portentous to install, on their own, a novel form of marriage. A move of that kind, they admitted, "may have unforeseen and disruptive consequences." They refused to hold then that the "plaintiffs are entitled to a marriage license." The judges declared, instead, that "judicial authority is not ultimate authority," and so they put back, in the hands of the legislature, the question of whether couples of the same-sex might receive the benefits of marriage without having the union described as a "marriage." The decision in Vermont set off alarms in the community of conservatives, with broadsides fired off once more against "judicial activism." But a closer look at the text of the decision yields a slightly different response: Yes, and yet no; it is not as bad as it appears-but it may be even worse. The judges would no doubt bridle at the charge of judicial activism, but their surprise would only confirm just how deeply the premises of that activism have penetrated. For the judges may no longer even be aware of how much they have detached themselves from any constraints contained in the constitutional text, or in the principles of jurisprudence themselves. Consider what the judges offer earnestly as the ground of their judgment in this case-the so-called Common Benefits clause of the Vermont Constitution, which reads: That government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people, nation, or community, and not for the particular emolument or advantage of any single person, family, or set of persons, who are a part only of that community.

New Historicist Criticism: Macbeth and the Power Essay

Stripped of Shakespeare’s poetic style and skilful characterization, Macbeth is revealed as little more than a petty tyrant. Like Machiavelli’s Prince, Macbeth seeks power as an end in itself and sees any means as justified provided it helps him achieve his goal. It is a standard image of power: an individual, or small group, occupying a position of authority from which he (seldom she) attempts to force his will upon others. Today’s equivalent of a feudal monarch is the power-hungry politician, the cult leader, or the ruthless business tycoon. But the new historicist conception of power is different; rather than being a top-down affair that originates from a specific place or individual, power comes from all around us, it permeates us, and it influences us in many subtle and different ways. This idea of decentralized power, heavily indebted to post-structuralist philosophy (see Derrida and Foucault), is sometimes difficult to understand because it seems to have a n intangible, mystical quality. Power appears to operate and maintain itself on its own, without any identifiable individual actually working the control levers. This new historicist notion of power is evident in Macbeth in the way in which Macbeth’s apparent subversion of authority culminates in the re-establishment of that same type of authority under Malcolm. A ruthless king is replaced with another king, a less ruthless one, perhaps, but that is due to Malcolm’s benevolent disposition, not to any reform of the monarchy. Similarly, the subversion of the play’s moral order is contained, and the old order reaffirmed, by the righteous response to that subversion. In other words, what we see at the beginning of the play–an established monarch and the strong Christian values that legitimize his sovereignty–is the same as what we see at the end of the play, only now the monarchy and its supporting values are even more firmly entrenched thanks to the temporary disruption. It is almost as if some outside force carefully orchestrates events in order to strengthen the existing power structures. Consider, for example, a military leader who becomes afraid of the peace that undermines his position in society. In response to his insecurity, he creates in people’s minds the fear of an impending enemy–whether rea l or imaginary, it doesn’t matter. As a consequence of their new feelings of insecurity, people desire that their leader remain in power and even increase his power so that he can better defend them from their new II enemy. II The more evil and threatening our enemies are made to appear, the more we believe our own aggressive response to them is justified, and the more we see our leaders as our valiant protectors (Zinn,Declarations of Independence 260-61,266). Military or political power is strengthened, not weakened, when it has some kind of threatening subversion of contain ( Greenblatt 62-65). The important point about the new historicist notion of power, however, is that it is not necessary for anyone to orchestrate this strengthening of authority. Duncan certainly doesn’t plan to be murdered in order that the crown will be more secure on Malcolm’s head after he deposes Macbeth. The witches can be interpreted as manipulating events, but there is nothing to indicate that they are motivated by a concern to increase the power and authority of the Scottish crown. It is not necessary to believe in conspiracy theories to explain how power perpetuates itself; the circular and indirect, rather than top-down, way in which power operates in society is enough to ensure that it is maintained and its authority reinforced. The theater illustrates this point in that the Renaissance theater–its subject matter, spectacle, emphasis on role-playing–drew its energy from the life of the court and the affairs of state–their ceremony, royal pageants and progresses, the spectacle of public executions (Greenblatt 11-16). In return, the theater helped legitimate the existing state structures by emphasizing, for example, the superior position in society of the aristocracy and royalty. These are the class of people, the theater repeatedly showed its audience, who deserve to have their stories told on stage, while common people are not worthy subjects for serious drama and are usually represented as fools or scoundrels. Revealing the inherently theatrical aspects of the court and affairs of state runs the risk of undermining their authority–if people on stage can play at being Kings and Queens, lords and ladies, then there is always the possibility that the audience will suspect that real Kings and Queens, lords and ladies, are just ordinary people who are playing a role and do not actually deserve their position of wealth and privilege. But the very existence of the theater helped keep the threat of rebellion under control by providing people with a legitimate, though restricted, place to express otherwise unacceptable ideas and behavior (Mullaney 8-9). Within the walls of the theater, it is acceptable to mock the actor playing a king, but never the king himself; it is acceptable to contemplate the murder of a theatrical monarch, but never a real one. Macbeth deals with the murder of a king, but Shakespeare turns that potentially subversive subject into support for his king, James I. Queen Elizabeth died without a direct heir, and a – power vacuum is a recipe for domestic turmoil or even war. The consequences of Macbeth’s regicide and tyranny illustrate the kinds of disruption that were prevented by the peaceful ascension to the throne of James, son of Mary, Queen of Scots. The â€Å"good king† of England ( 4.3 .147) who gives Malcolm sanctuary and supports his cause as the rightful successor to the Scottish crown is an indirect reference to James I. Macbeth is about treason and murder, but Malcolm’s description of the noble king (147-59), and the stark contrast between him and Macbeth, reinforces the idea that good subjects should see their king as their benefactor and protector. Shakespeare was not coerced into flattering his king. There was official censorship in his time, but it is unlikely that he needed anyone to tell him what he could or could not write; he knew the types of stories that were acceptable to authority and desirable to his paying public. Whether or not Shakespeare felt constrained by these limitations, or even consciously recognized them, is not the point; the point is that he worked within a set of conventions and conditions which relied upon and reinforced the governing power relations of his time, and so there was no need for him to be manipulated by a government censor looking over his shoulder. If Shakespeare had not known the boundaries of the acceptable, or had not conformed to the demands of power, he would never have become a successful playwright. According to new historicism, our own relationship to power is similar to that of Shakespeare’s: we collaborate with the power that controls us. Without necessarily realizing what we are doing, we help create and sustain it, thus reducing the need for authority figures to remind us what to do or think. Once we accept the cultural limitations imposed on our thought and behavior, once we believe that the limits of the permissible are the extent of the possible, then we happily police ourselves. .