Immanuel Kant - Metaphysics of Morals Essay Example for Free

Immanuel Kant Metaphysics of Morals Essay In his publication, Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Immanuel Kant supplies his readers with a thesis that claims morality can be derived from the principle of the categorical imperative. The strongest argument to support his thesis is the difference between actions in accordance with duty and actions in accordance from duty. To setup his thesis, Kant first draws a distinction between empirical and a priori concepts. Empirical concepts are ideas we reach from our experiences in the world. On the other hand and in contrast, a priori concepts are ideas we reach as an end point of reasoning prior to or apart from any experience of how things occur in the world. Kant then claims that moral actions are supposed done for the reason of morality alone. This train of thought leads to the conclusion that an understanding of morality must be based on a priori concepts of reason. Truly moral ideas are then universally valid if and only if they are based on a priori concepts. From this idea of a priori concepts, Kant begins his thesis with the notion that the only thing in the world that is a qualified good is the good will, even if its efforts bring about a not necessarily good result. A good will is good because of the willing that is involved. Two main implications arise with this idea of the good will. The first implication is moral actions cannot have impure motivations. There are many impure motivations but Kant tends to focus mainly on the motives of the pursuit of happiness and self-preservation. Second, moral actions cannot be based on the speculations of the probable results. This action is not good in itself but good because it brought about a more desirable outcome. Thus, Kant arrives at the conclusion that for an action to be considered to have genuine moral worth its motive must be that of dutifulness to moral law. In Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant lays out three propositions about duty. The first is the will is a morally good action if it is done in accordance from duty, as opposed to an action done in accordance with duty. The second proposition is that actions are judged by the maxim or principle that was the motivation behind the action. If someone undertakes an action with the only motivation being that of a sense of duty, they are following a valid a priori action. On the other hand if they decide to undertake an action in order to bring about a desired result, then their motivation is one that is beyond mere duty. Kants third proposition then explains that is not the respect for the power of the law but rather it is the moral motivation of an individual who acknowledges that the law is an imperative of reason that trumps our other interests. The will, as Kant describes, is of practical reason. A rational being is an individual who has the capacity to execute their behavior by the conceptions of laws. This discipline of action is also known as the will. Our judgment that advises us on our action is known as an imperative or a command to act on a certain motive. An imperative can be either hypothetical or categorical. In the hypothetical imperative one acknowledges an action as right or necessary if it is a manner in which to obtain or achieve a certain goal. As such you would act on an action if a previous circumstance has taken place. These types of actions come from our previous experiences and counsel us to a way in which our desires can be achieved. Thus, an action cannot be held universally valid at all times if its goal is to acquire some objective of desire under a certain set of conditions. If the goal is ultimately happiness, we are unable to set any universally hypothetical imperatives for happiness. This is because the definition of happiness differs from person to person. One mans happiness can very well be another mans misery. As Kant explains, a binding moral law then cannot be equivalent or parallel to a hypothetical imperative. Pure reason comes from the ability to consider neither a motivating condition accompanying another nor its intended results. With that, we then need to find a principle with universal validity or a principle that is valid no matter what issue is being considered. A priori principles of reason are the only principles that fit this standard on which a judgment or decision may be based. Hence, Immanuel Kant formulates that a moral imperative is one that is an unconditional or categorical imperative. A categorical imperative is our moral consciousness to do our duty because we ought to do our duty instead of pursuing our own desires attached to the duty. Such an imperative is driven by pure reason. Because we exclude our desires or maxims, we need only to focus on the form of our imperative. The form needs to be universally applicable or valid for all rational beings to follow. Thus, Kant gives us only one categorical imperative and it is Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law (Kant pg. 38). This universal law of morality states that we should act in such a way that we could will the maxim of our action to become universally applicable. This should be used as the criterion to determine whether or not a maxim is morally valid. Before we are able to apply a maxim to this categorical imperative, it is required that the maxim first, be fit to be a law of nature and second, is based on a notion that all actions have ends. The second pertains to the idea that men and women are ends in themselves. No maxim that does not impose or imply respect as a necessary accompaniment for men and women can be a moral law valid for everyone. Third, we must see every rational being as able to make universal laws. Last, the maxim requires the moral agent to act as a lawgiving member of all persons. From these points, two important ideas arise. The ideas deal with the autonomy of the will and dignity of the individual. Each person is essentially their own lawmaker, obeying the laws that they give themselves as a rational being. A person is not bound to a law by fear or hope of some reward, but freely bound to it by their lawgiving ability. This moral will is autonomous. Autonomy, which means self-law, is the only way Kant believes an individual to achieve the ultimate freedom. If an individual obeys laws from some other lawgiver, such as God and government, because of fear of punishment or hope of reward, he or she is not truly free. I feel the strongest objection to this thesis is Kant does not take enough consideration to human beings natural emotions. I believe his thesis weighs to heavily on mere reason alone without any emphasis on the emotional component of our morality. Kants perception that morality is a chore neglects the fact that by performing actions from duty individuals can obtain a somewhat subtle level of personal gratification from partaking in such acts that are not generally enjoyable to execute. I am not thoroughly convinced that if you are able to gain some happiness and reward from an action that is not generally alluring. The strengths of my personal view rely on the possibility of achieving a feeling of reward by completing an obligation. I feel there is an importance of doing something with a smile on your face. If you are unhappy to perform a moral action it will to reveal outwardly or make apparent that your heart is elsewhere, thus, tainting the action. However, if you perform these tasks seeking a somewhat level of enjoyment others will notice that you truly care about what it is you are doing and perceive the action to be a notable one. The weakness is obviously that you will be more probable to engage and look to engage in more actions that will give you this appeal and instant gratification. This is not an ideal situation because placing a slight neglect to a duty or obligation that you might not find appeal in defeats the purpose of completing all of the obligations set for us to go through with. Kants thesis has strength in the fact that the universal law seems closely related to the golden rule, which is do on to others as you would have others do on to you. With a statement as such it is awfully arduous to not perform a moral action. The weakness still lies in the fact Kant takes little to no consideration to humans natural emotions and feelings. Leading a moral life does not have to be a melancholy life, one in which you are bound to an endless amount of duties that you can seek no joy in. Whether or not Kant intended to make morality seem like torture, it appears it comes off in this manner. Kants overall view of morality appears near flawless. If there was a manner in which he could have incorporated a leeway for some emotions, I feel his thesis is in actuality how each individual should lead his or her life. .

What are the main risks faced by banks and how does a bank attempt to manage these risks?

What are the main risks faced by banks and how does a bank attempt to manage these risks? What are the main risks faced by banks and how does a bank attempt to manage these risks? All companies which have a profit maximising objective hold a certain degree of risk whether through microeconomic or macroeconomic factors. Banks also face a number of risks atypical of non financial companies due to the payment and intermediary function which they perform. Recent changes in the banking environment has lead to an increased pressure to maximise shareholder value, this means that banks take on a higher risk in order to gain a higher return. It is due to this increased pressure and market volatility that banking risk needs such effective management to ensure the banks continued solvency. Risk can be defined as an â€Å"exposure to uncertainty of outcome† measured by the volatility (standard deviation) of net cash flow within the firm. Banks aim to add equity to the bank by maximising the risk adjusted return to shareholders highlighting the importance of fully considering the risk and return business equation. Exposure to risk does not always lead to a loss, pu re risk only has a downside from the expected outcome but speculative risk can produce either a better or worse result that expected. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty will fail to repay the loan in part or full. This includes delayed payments or any default on the loan agreement. It is widely know that credit risk is one of the most damaging risks to banks, for this reason there is usually a separate credit department run around a credit culture of the managements views. The objective of the credit department will be to maximise shareholder value added through credit risk management. To manage credit risk banks do sometimes take a security over the loan such as property or shares which the bank can take possession of in the event of default on the loan agreement. If the market prices of the security become volatile the bank may ask for more security to offset the probability of marginal default increasing. Credit constraints are implemented to make sure there is a restriction on certain loan agreements to a specific category of borrower, well defined credit limits will reduce the risk of adverse selec tion. Pricing the loan is a technique which uses a risk adjusted premium to determine the rate of interest on a loan, with the riskier the loan the higher the premium, although a higher interest rate may increase probability of default so must be monitored regularly. The final credit risk management method is to reduce credit losses by building a portfolio with diversification between low and high risk lending. This essentially offsets high risk and return lending with low risk and return lending to minimise any losses incurred. A similar but more specific concept to credit risk is sovereign risk involving risk that a government will default on a loan agreement from a private sector bank. This case is unusual because if a government sates that the default is due to movement of resources to resolve domestic issues it can declare the loan agreement void due to immunity in the legal process, this will barrier debt recovery through the taking the possession of assets and often leave the bank with partial or full loss of the loan. Debt repudiation is an extreme case where the government no longer recognises their debt or obligations to creditors. Due to problems and the high risk associated with government lending a foreign currency sovereign credit rating was defined in an attempt to enable informed investor lending decisions. An interest rate is a premium paid in order to consume resources in the present rather than at a later date. Interest rate risk is loss or gain in the value of a position due to changes in the interest rate, it is a speculative risk because the changes in interest rates can lead to both a positive and negative result. There are two types of interest rate which are fixed rate and rate sensitive, the simpler form of risk lies with fixed rate assets and liabilities because a change in the interest rate above or below the fixed rate with lead to a loss or gain in capital. Simulation approaches are highly complex and involve an assessment of the potential changes of interest rates on earnings, future economic value and impact on cash flow. Static simulations assess only the cash flow of on and off balance sheet activity, whereas dynamic simulations build a model predicting the future changes of interest rates and expected changes in the banks activity. The best known interest rate risk m anagement method is gap analysis. This is a detailed analysis of the gap between interest rate sensitive assets and interest rate sensitive liabilities over a specific duration. A rate sensitive asset or liability is defined by an asset or liability in which the cash flow changes in the same direction as interest rates. The changes in interest rates have a detrimental effect if there is a mismatch between rate sensitive assets and liabilities, this is because if the level of rate sensitive liabilities is higher than rate sensitive assets, an increase in interest rates will lead to less profits. High quality interest rate risk management can effectively increase or decrease the gap in order to maximise revenue. Operational risk is defined at the risk of loss from a breakdown in internal processes and/or management failure. This can occur through different events such as a law suit, systems failure, or damage to assets and its effects can lead to an increase in unsystematic market risk and liquidity risk. Although there has been significant importance placed upon operational risk there is at present still no clear method of measuring its risk and effects on a general basis. The Basle II provided three suggested methods of calculating the operating risk of a firm. The basic approach allocates capital using gross income as an indicator for the banks exposure to operational risk. The Standardised approach divides the bank into business units and lines and uses individual indicators to calculate a department specific level of exposure to operational risk. The final method of calculating operational risk is the internal measurement approach which allows each bank to use individual internal loss data to determine the capital allocation. Market risk is the risk of movement in the price function of financial instruments, resulting in the loss/gain in value. It is a speculative risk, measured by the probability in potential loss/gain in value of a portfolio. The risk occurs in two separate forms; Systematic market risk is caused by the price movement of all financial instruments due to changes in the macroeconomic climate. Unsystematic risk occurs when an instrument moves out of line with the rest of the market due to internal factors with the issuer. Systematic market risk can be prepared for in event of downturn in the economic climate by capital allocation to the specific risk calculated by the risk adjusted rate on capital. Value at risk is a measure of potential losses incurred to a portfolio due to adverse market price movements often used in risk management. Unsystematic risk can be offset by diversifications of investments into several different countries and/or industries affectively spreading the risk in att empt to avoid huge losses in specific sector investment. The diversification of investment into foreign countries may increase the potential probability of currency risk. Exchange rate flexibility exposes all firms with a short or long term position in any given currency to currency risk. Globalised markets have lead to increases in multinational firms and foreign investment, increasing the level of foreign exchange and political risks. Any exchange of money in a currency other than the firms home currency would be expressed as a purchase of foreign currency. Foreign exchange transactions can involve many forms of on and off balance sheet financial instruments. Duration analysis can be used to compare the value of foreign bond to the foreign or domestic currency interest rates. Measures of net risk exposure for each currency can be assessed using gap analysis and will be equal to the difference between assets and liabilities in each currency. Political risk arises through the risk of political interference in the operations of a private sector bank, the exposure of which can range between interest rate and exchange regulations to the nationalisation of the financial service industry. The main factors which have been stated as to affect political risk is internal or external armed conflict, democratic government, and government stability. The level of Liquidity risk can affected by many of the other risks and is defined as the risk that the bank will have insufficient liquid assets on its balance sheet and is therefore unable to fulfil financial commitments without the sale of assets; this is generated from a mismatch in size and maturity of assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or due to loan defaults with a surge of depositor demands. Day to day liquidity risk (funding risk) relates to the daily withdrawals and is predictable due to low depositor withdrawals, if there was a surge of withdrawals then many banks would rely in loans from the interbank market to cover the short term illiquidity. A more unpredictable risk also arising from increased depositor withdrawals is a liquidity crisis. The increase in withdrawals often stems from lack of confidence in the bank, this situation will force the bank to borrow at an elevated interest rate or rely on central bank intervention and deposit insurance to avoid a run . In this situation the central bank can provide provisions in the form of high interest loans or advances, however this is costly and can further damage the banks reputation. Ideally the bank could use a method of maturity matching to guarantee liquidity and eliminate the funding risks. This is the coordination of cash flow by matching the maturity of an asset with the maturity of a liability. This is unlikely to be a widely used approach as asset transformation is a key source of banking profit. Usually the bank will hold a certain level of liquid assets to reassure creditors and signal to the market that the bank is doing well, an increase holding of liquid assets will avoid the liquidity problem but due to a trade off between liquidity and profitability lower return on investments. The most widely used technique of managing banks liquidity is Gap analysis, the liquidity gap is defined by the difference between net liquid assets and unpredictable liabilities. This gives the abili ty to monitor available capital over time. Financial services differ from other firms because of the high level of financial risks that they assume through the payment and intermediary functions. It is therefore critical to manage the risks faced to ensure solvency and to maximise the firms value added. In some cases the management of an individual risk can have a positive or negative effect on another risk which shows that they are not mutually exclusive. Many of the main financial crises have risen from a combination of risks surrounding losses due to poor credit risk management, it is important to highlight diversification of a portfolio and asset liability management as influencing factors in effective risk management as they can reduce the probability of several risks. In the future it is important to continue developing new formal and quantitative risk management processes to ensure continues solvency within the financial services industry.

Cost Management in Construction

Cost Management in Construction Client expect from the project manager to manage costs in a precise and responsive approach. It is essential, during the design progress, the project manager to have the ability to supervise a projects scope and costs. Budget control is a requirement for a successful project. For a successful budget control variances must be identified and informed actions must be taken at main design milestones. In order to ensure the client that the project will be on budget and on time, meeting the owners objectives, an efficient cost management and budget control program must be established from the conceptual phase to the bid phase. Cost management and control budget, during the design phase, is not a difficult goal but is a worthwhile goal. It is important because changes because it is easier, during the design phase, to accommodate changes and the cost of such modifications is lower compared to later phases. In order to achieve an effective cost management and budget control an organized metho dology and approach must be established. Furthermore, team members must understand their roles and responsibilities, and good estimating techniques must be used (Sundaram, 2008). The first typical objective of design phase cost management is to estimate a sufficient and accurate budget. The second objective is to ensure that bids are in budget. Then make sure alignment of budget, scope and owners requirements. The last typical objective is to reduce risks because of cost overruns. During the design phase, all the design team members must show a cost conscious approach. All members of the design team must use cost control, as a design tool, to reduce the risks of cost overruns (Sundaram, 2008). In order to approach an effective cost management design, team members must demonstrate a strong commitment to the project budget and target costs. A cost model must be established for the cost estimate in aid of managing the cost effectively and tracked easily variances to support decision-making (Sundaram, 2008). Requirements must be manage in order to balance requirements with owners affordability. Scope creeps must be monitored and controlled (Macaluso J., et al, 2004).Cost drivers must be considered in aid of establishing product specifications. Cost must be considered, during development, as an essential design parameter (Crow, 2000). Exploration of design alternatives to develop lower cost design approaches. Value engineering and value analysis must be used in order to improve product value at minimised cost (Crow, 2000). Use of constructability review in order to ensure, that the project will be finished in realistic, programmed cost parameters. Finally, documentation of revi ew meetings discussions and confirmations of design decisions must be done (Sundaram, 2008). The above mentioned objectives and approaches of cost management in design phase will result the following benefits. More precise estimates would be achieved and they have as a result to improve business decisions. Budget cost control would be improved. Change control would be improved and there will be less likelihood of unplanned scope creep. Finally it will improve the timely identification of problem areas (Sundaram, 2008). Methodology of budget control In a phased plan development with design milestones, the estimated cost is organized at each milestone. Furthermore, the cost is reconciled with budget at each milestone (Figure 1). The budget for the project is refined all the way through the different design phases. All elements of the budget must be plainly defined, captured and developed during each phase (Sundaram, 2008). According to Sundaram (2008) the recommended steps for a successful budget control are the following. First, the project scope and the project baselines details must be understand. At every design stage, schematic, design development and construction document phase must be prepared an updated estimate and track the updated estimate against the previous stage budget for any variations. In order to get the project back on track budget/scope alignment must be checked. The variances or scope creep must be identified and make right trade-offs between scope, quality and scope to contain the project on budget. A confirmation must be done that the differences among previous and current design costs are reconciled, in order to ensure that needless changes and costs have not take place, before proceeding to the next stage until the final stage. (Sundaram, 2008). Roles/Responsibilities of the architect, the estimator, owners and stakeholders for effective cost management and budget control Furthermore, for effective cost management and budget control, it is necessary that the estimator and the architect understand their roles and responsibilities (Sundaram, 2008). The role of the contractors estimator is vital to the success of the organization. The estimator is responsible for predicting the most economic costs for construction in a way that is both clear and consistent. Although an estimator will have a feel for the prices in the marketplace, it is the responsibility of management to add an amount for general overheads, assess the risks and turn the estimate into a tender (Brook, 2004). Estimator must understand that he plays an important role in the whole process of budget control. During the design phase the estimator must coordinate with the design team. The role of the estimator does not end in producing an estimate. It is essential the estimator to be involved from the early stages in the design process because things can be changed without great difficulty. The estimator must observe design decisions that influence cost and inform the design team, at the earliest achievable time, of the impact of design decisions. The estimator must make effort to understand the design aim in aim to predict cost implications. He must be able to offer the best potential construction information to the design team (Sundaram, 2008). Sundaram 2008 also state that estimator should convey to the design team, that in addition to the design factors, final cost is governed by other variables such escalation, union and non-union wages, and the nature of construction (Sundaram, 2008). A simplistic view of the role of the architects is that they create architectures, and their responsibilities encompass all that is involved in doing so. This would include articulating the architectural vision, conceptualizing and experimenting with alternative architectural approaches, creating models and component and interface specification documents, and validating the architecture against requirements and assumptions. However, any experienced architect knows that the role involves not just these technical activities, but others that are more political and strategic in nature on the one hand, and more like those of a consultant, on the other (Bredemeyer Malan, 2006). The architect, during the schematic stage, is bound by three constraints quality, cost and size requirements (Figure 2). The architect is responsible to assist the owner in choosing the priorities and also making the correct trade-offs. For example, if cost is the primary concern for the owner must try to contain costs and make the owner to realize the amount of size requirements and quality he will obtain to suit the budget. Furthermore, architect must also assist the owner to determine his second and third priorities (Sundaram, 2008). During the design stage architect can make adjustments to the materials, the quality or architectural effect and size requirements. Value engineering sessions, including a multidiscipline team, will make sure that owners functions are offered in the most cost-effective approach without reducing quality. At this stage, before going on to the construction stage, the architect and the owner must be sure of the cost. Architect must realize that except reflecting the design also determines the cost (Sherwin, D. 2009). A review of the design, specifications and contract documents before the bidding stage will have as a result competitive bids and fewer changes later on (Sundaram, 2008). The owner is a component of the design team and his decisions can influence the final bid value. The owner, before confirming the bid package, must think about the following considerations. According to Sundaram (2008) is better the bid package to be simple without confusing documents. Unreasonable requirements must be avoided and is wise to follow proven type of contracts. In order not to limit competition, the unnecessary use bidding limitations and the persistence on nominated suppliers and subcontractors, must be avoided. The risk considerations and the adequacy of contingency must be checked. For example, unit price items should be better for items of work which are difficult to quantify. The risk to contractor is removed and the owner has to pay for the work actually executed (Sundaram, 2008). An essential aspect of a successful project is the relationship with stakeholders. Freeman defined stakeholders as all those who can influence the objectives of the firm, or are influenced by the fir, in attaining their own objectives. The set of actors identified is extensive, and includes consumers and suppliers, employees, shareholders, environmentalist groups, trade unions, local communities and governmental bodies (Keijzers, 2005). Therefore, dealing with stakeholders is an issue of choosing the stakeholders that really matter. Mitchell et al. state that for this selection process there are three criteria. The first criterion is the power a stakeholder has over the company (Mitchell et al, 1997). Power focuses on the question of how much the company needs the resources provided by that stakeholder only (Keijzers, 2005). The second criterion is legitimacy. This criterion concerns legitimate claims of a stakeholder on the firm. (Mitchell et al, 1997). For example, governmental bod ies are essential in this respect, because they have the legitimacy to build up rules for companies (Keijzers, 2005). The last criterion is urgency. The claims of stakeholders can differ with respect to the urgency of a response of the firm. (Keijzers, 2005). Rowley states that stakeholders might have connections, and that company works in a network of stakeholders (Rowley, 1997). This implies that a stakeholder may not be crucial given the variables of legitimacy, power or urgency, but it still should be selected because it influences other stakeholders that are important to the firm. An example of this would be the local community of a crucial supplier of the firm. (Keijzers, 2005).

Creation and Destruction in A Clockwork Orange Essays -- Clockwork Ora

Creation and Destruction in A Clockwork Orange In the novel A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess shows his readers a society in which pure destruction seems to reign supreme. The lead character, Alex, and most members of his generation, spend their evenings recreationally beating passersby, having small but brutal gang fights, and generally destroying both property and people. Yet these images and instances of destruction constantly interact with images of art, of things created, usually thought to be the diametric opposite of such violence. Indeed, over the course of the novel, creation and destruction become almost indistinguishable. The motivations for creation and destruction are more important to the novel than the distinctions between the two. Alex and his three droogs, Pete, Georgie and Dim, commit many acts of violence in the first five chapters, vivid and graphic enough that even Burgess admits in his introduction that "my intention in writing the work was to titillate the nastier propensities of my readers" (Burgess ix).1 The crimes are always committed with a certain theatricality, giving Alex’s narration the tone of an artist’s pride. The "maskies" that the four wear are not only "real horrorshow disguises," but also provide dramatic effect (153). It is ars gratia artis (art that comes purely out of a desire to create art), as Alex does not cite any motivation for his violence besides the fact that he derives pleasure from it, and these four perpetrators consider their violence art. Alex’s repetition of "O my brothers," particularly in the more grueling scenes, gives the novel the feel of one of Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories,2 a creation myth. Both the manner of telling the tales a nd the tales themse... ... Alex eventually grows up. Violence, at the end of the novel, ceases to be his most desired form of creativity. Alex is ready to put his energies elsewhere. "At eighteen old Wolfgang Amadeus had written concertos and symphonies and operas and oratorios and all that cal, no, not cal, heavenly music" (189). The Ludovico technique that would have destroyed Alex would not have been something he could outgrow. A Clockwork Orange blurs the lines between creation and destruction, to the point where distinctions between the two become almost irrelevant. What is important to Burgess is the motivation behind each, and the ability of characters doing either, or both, to change their ways. Works Cited 1) Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange (New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 1986). 2) Rudyard Kipling, Just So Stories (New York: Doubleday and Company, 1974).

History of Ancient China Essays -- China Chinese Culture Traditions Hi

History of Ancient China China is located in East Asia. Ancient China is surrounded by Gobi Desert in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Himalayan Mountains in the southwest, and the Taklimakan desert in the west. This land has a wide variation of animals because of the different habitats provided for them. Most farming was done in the very fertile lands of the Yangtze valley. Present China is much bigger than Ancient China, which means that over time, the kings and different dynasties went gaining more and more land and wealth. All of the major rivers go in a western to eastern direction, and end up in the Pacific Ocean. The two major rivers of China are the Yangtze and the Huan He. The major river of North China is the Huang He, or  ¨yellow river ¨. This river left loess when the banks were flooded; desert winds brought this to this area. The Huang He also gained the name of â€Å"China’s Sorrow†, because in the past, it has destroyed large areas by flooding them. People used these rivers mostly for irrigation and transportation. The plant life In China is very varied. The natural forests are in the far-off mountain areas, where you can find are oak, ginkgo, pine, azalea, and camellia. Also, a tree that would come to everyone’s mind as they think of China, is the bamboo. China is far away from any other civilizations at this time, so the people that lived there had to make their own goods, instead of trading things with other civilizations. Trade did exist, for example through the Silk Road, but not so many as in present day. Some of the species of animals in Ancient China were the paddlefish, some species of alligators and salamanders, water deer, giant pandas, apes, bears, leopards, wild horses, and birds of all types. Ancient China did have mineral resources. The most common and used were tin and copper, to make bronze. Chinese worked very well with bronze. Also iron was very important. Jade was more precious than gold for the Chinese. GOVERNMENT China’s government was ruled by an emperor (king). The king had to do a very good job, and his people would have to like his work and effort, if not, they overthrew him and someone else came to rule. The mandate of heaven, or approval by the gods, was very important. For example, if the crops were good, and everything was moving along fine, it meant that the gods liked you. But if the... ...LIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY Encarta Encyclopedia McDougal Litell World History GOVERNMENT http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html McDougal Litell World History http://www.crystalinks.com/chinadynasties.html RELIGION http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm http://www.bright.net/~jimsjems/taoism.html http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#CONFU SOCIAL CLASS/DAILY LIFE http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#CONFU McDougal Litell World History WRITING/EDUCATION McDougal Litell World History ECONOMY http://search.britannica.com/frm_redir.jsp?query=ancient+china+economy&redir=http://hanwei.com/culture/coin.htm Encarta Encyclopedia McDougal Litell World History SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY McDougal Litell World History Encarta Encyclopedia http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~felsing/cstuff/history.html ART/ARCHITECTURE http://www.users.bigpond.com/wernerschmidlin/ancientchina.html http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html FAMOUS PEOPLE/PLACES Encarta Encyclopedia http://www.unesco.org/whc/sites/438.htm ENTERTAINMENT/FASHION http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#CONFU History of Ancient China Essays -- China Chinese Culture Traditions Hi History of Ancient China China is located in East Asia. Ancient China is surrounded by Gobi Desert in the north, the Pacific Ocean in the east, the Himalayan Mountains in the southwest, and the Taklimakan desert in the west. This land has a wide variation of animals because of the different habitats provided for them. Most farming was done in the very fertile lands of the Yangtze valley. Present China is much bigger than Ancient China, which means that over time, the kings and different dynasties went gaining more and more land and wealth. All of the major rivers go in a western to eastern direction, and end up in the Pacific Ocean. The two major rivers of China are the Yangtze and the Huan He. The major river of North China is the Huang He, or  ¨yellow river ¨. This river left loess when the banks were flooded; desert winds brought this to this area. The Huang He also gained the name of â€Å"China’s Sorrow†, because in the past, it has destroyed large areas by flooding them. People used these rivers mostly for irrigation and transportation. The plant life In China is very varied. The natural forests are in the far-off mountain areas, where you can find are oak, ginkgo, pine, azalea, and camellia. Also, a tree that would come to everyone’s mind as they think of China, is the bamboo. China is far away from any other civilizations at this time, so the people that lived there had to make their own goods, instead of trading things with other civilizations. Trade did exist, for example through the Silk Road, but not so many as in present day. Some of the species of animals in Ancient China were the paddlefish, some species of alligators and salamanders, water deer, giant pandas, apes, bears, leopards, wild horses, and birds of all types. Ancient China did have mineral resources. The most common and used were tin and copper, to make bronze. Chinese worked very well with bronze. Also iron was very important. Jade was more precious than gold for the Chinese. GOVERNMENT China’s government was ruled by an emperor (king). The king had to do a very good job, and his people would have to like his work and effort, if not, they overthrew him and someone else came to rule. The mandate of heaven, or approval by the gods, was very important. For example, if the crops were good, and everything was moving along fine, it meant that the gods liked you. But if the... ...LIOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY Encarta Encyclopedia McDougal Litell World History GOVERNMENT http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html McDougal Litell World History http://www.crystalinks.com/chinadynasties.html RELIGION http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.htm http://www.bright.net/~jimsjems/taoism.html http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#CONFU SOCIAL CLASS/DAILY LIFE http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#CONFU McDougal Litell World History WRITING/EDUCATION McDougal Litell World History ECONOMY http://search.britannica.com/frm_redir.jsp?query=ancient+china+economy&redir=http://hanwei.com/culture/coin.htm Encarta Encyclopedia McDougal Litell World History SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY McDougal Litell World History Encarta Encyclopedia http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~felsing/cstuff/history.html ART/ARCHITECTURE http://www.users.bigpond.com/wernerschmidlin/ancientchina.html http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html FAMOUS PEOPLE/PLACES Encarta Encyclopedia http://www.unesco.org/whc/sites/438.htm ENTERTAINMENT/FASHION http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#CONFU

Effect of the Internet on Society Essay

The world in which we live is vastly different than that of even those who lived in the generation that came before us, especially in the arena of computer technology. Few would debate that the most revolutionary innovation of the last several decades, along with the home computer is the Internet. It is through the Internet that the average person can access the largest libraries and art galleries of the world, instantly review the news and weather up to the minute, and communicate with others-all without leaving the classroom, home or office. In fact, Internet technology has also made it possible for online access from the local coffee shop or fast food restaurant. Like other advances that came before it, however, the Internet brings up questions as to whether the Internet helps or harms society, what the implications are for an Internet society, and other key considerations. This research will analyze and discuss these various issues in an effort to better understand where the Internet began, where it will go in the future, and what it means to the modern society itself. The Birth of the Internet Before the Internet can fairly be examined and discussed, it is important to take just a slight step back in time and look at the origins of the Internet. Many people falsely believe that the Internet was the creation of marketing gurus who sought a better way to sell products and advertise to the masses in an instant, or the brainchild of a certain former vice president of the United States, but in reality, nothing could be farther from the truth. What many do not realize is that the Internet was, in the beginning, a top secret American governmental creation to allow for the effective sharing of information between the many government authorities. The first version of what we today know as the internet was launched in 1969 by the Advanced Research Projects Administration, ARPA (Vangelisti). Eventually, to make a long story short, the Internet was introduced to the general public, and soon gained massive popularity that in the 21st century has included use by people virtually from age 1 to 100. Just as quickly, the debate of the utility and best use of this awesome technology arose. Use and Usefulness of the Internet On a typical day in the United States alone, over 55 million people of all ages and demographic backgrounds access the Internet for purposes ranging from business to entertainment to academia and beyond (DiMaggio, et al). Any media form with this type of influence and allure for the general population will undoubtedly have its share of supporters and critics, legitimate users and abusers. With this consideration, it is worthwhile to discuss exactly why people use the Internet and if the Internet itself, in the end result, is really as useful as the hype surrounding it seems to indicate. A common denominator for the ultimate utility of almost any technology or product is of course money- if something cannot create monetary value, in the eyes of many, it is essentially useless. This traditional view was quickly realized by those who pioneered Internet usage in the general public in the 1980s. Before that time, anyone who wished to engage in the selling of any commodity, from shares of stock to cardigan sweaters needed to physically set up a physical place of business for customers to visit for the transaction of business, keep regular business hours and so forth, spending many thousands of dollars in the process and of course being limited to doing business in a realistic geographic area. Thanks to the Internet, however, a great deal of business can in fact be done from anywhere, as long as both parties in the transaction have computers and Internet access (Monthly Labor Review). Beyond the traditional business arrangement, in recent years, what has come to be known as telecommuting has emerged. Basically, telecommuting allows a worker to complete assigned work tasks away from the traditional office setting by using computer/Internet technology for communication, transference of data, etc. Additional popular uses for the Internet are in education, allowing for school children to access libraries thousands of miles from their classroom, or for homebound individuals to study the curricula of some of the top universities in the world. Certainly, the Internet has demonstrated already that it has a wide range of uses, and with time, more of those uses will emerge. This being understood, however, the issue of the usefulness of the Internet needs to be weighed. In researching the idea of the Internet as either something highly useful or causing more harm than good, it is fair to say, and is in fact supported by evidence, that the Internet can in fact be highly useful in a complex and fast moving world such as the one in which the people of the 21st century live. Even before the Internet was brought forward for the general public to use in more traditional settings, it is not unreasonable to assume that the technology had protected the citizens of the US from a military and governmental standpoint in countless ways that most people would not be aware of for obvious reasons (DiMaggio, et al). In the public arena, Internet technology has made it possible for physicians across the globe to consult on medical cases to save lives; essential news and information has been spread in split seconds, and billions of dollars of revenue has been generated through the use of the earlier discussed e-commerce applications of Internet technology. These uses are hard to dispute or to question the value of; however, there are likewise some areas of question for the usefulness of Internet technology. It was discussed earlier that the Internet has in fact made it possible for many people to work or conduct business away from the traditional sites of that work or business-telecommuting, virtual study for eager young minds and the transmission of vital data at the speed of light. The natural assumption would be that these features would bring pure benefit with no ill effects. However, the reality is that with many other things, those will less than pure intentions have turned the Internet into an open season for criminals. In brief, the Internet has given rise to a new breed of criminal who harnesses the power of computers to steal valuable information from its rightful owners, defraud innocent people, and victimize innocent children (Vangelisti). No innovation is without danger; therefore, the key for society to safely interact with the Internet in the future will be to use common sense and be aware that there are those that would harm them in the online world. The debate of the usefulness or lack thereof, as well as safety or danger of the Internet could take up thousands of pages and never fully be satisfied; what can be looked at in a more defined way, however, are the implications for a society that seems to spend much of its waking hours online. Implications for an Online Society For a generation of adults who changed their everyday lives due to the advent of the Internet, as well as a generation of children who were literally born and raised in the age of online interaction, there are of course implications that have been seen and are worthwhile to discuss. While the implications for the material world as it were has already been covered, the implications from a social and psychological vantage point are just as significant, if not more significant. For children who are sat in front of a computer keyboard as soon as they are able to use their hands to touch the keys, it seems that the first effect that multimedia like the Internet will have on the developing mind of a child is again what some would call a double-edged sword. Obviously, a child who has the ability to hear classical music, view priceless art, and learn as much as possible as their young mind is in its formative years would have a much better chance of maturing into an intelligent adult than the child who spent his or her early years taking in the often obscene content of cable television programs. On the other hand, if a child is enabled to access the Internet without restriction and precaution, they could in fact be exposed to content that is in fact worse than anything that has ever been seen on television. Either way, this is a key consideration for an online society, as there have been countless studies which prove that an early childhood which consists of the viewing of obscene and violent content can spur mental disorders in these people in childhood and moving into adolescence and adulthood. Additionally, even in the cases when the child does not evolve into a criminal or problem individual, there are also social problems which take place when children, or even adults, substitute an artificial media source such as the Internet for the traditional communication methods such as having face to face conversations with other people. Research proves that the activity of interacting with people in person helps children to develop key social skills that are necessary for the proper development of the human personality. Adults also have to continually sharpen their interpersonal skills. Therefore, when the Internet becomes the main outlet for the communication between people of all ages, what is seen is a society of isolated people who lack the necessary social skills to be fully functional members of that society itself. This can lead to increased psychological problems over the long term (The Classroom in Cyberspace). The physical wellbeing of society, especially children, is also affected by the Internet. The wide appeal of the Internet is without question and as a consequence, the children who are growing up with the Internet as a regular part of everyday life are spending a majority of their waking hours using the Internet not only for studies, but also for communicating with other children via e-mail, playing online games, etc. When a child picks up the computer mouse instead of engaging in physical activity such as playing outdoors with a soccer ball, for instance, the affect on developing humans is staggering. Research proves that when human beings choose sedentary activities like endless hours of Internet usage as opposed to engaging in outdoor activities that include physical exercise, the occurrences of obesity skyrocket, which in turn can lead to chronic ailments such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer (Wartella & Jennings). It would appear that for all that the Internet has to offer, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Conclusion As we have seen in this research, the Internet is both a benefit to society when used properly and a threat when abused or used to excess. Looking back through the history of innovation, this same conclusion applies to the introduction of motion pictures, radio and television, yet society has managed to survive, even with those in it that would seek to cause problems and harm others. Therefore, in conclusion, what can fairly be said about the effect of the Internet on society is that the ultimate effect is in the hands of every member of society. The challenge going forward will be for individuals to realize that the Internet can be the best invention of the age- if they will only allow it to be. References â€Å"The Classroom in Cyberspace. † The Mail on Sunday (London, England) 11 Feb. 1996: 30. Dimaggio, Paul, Eszter Hargittai, W. Russell Neuman, and John P. Robinson. â€Å"Social Implications of the Internet. † Annual Review of Sociology (2001): 307. â€Å"Telecommuting or Work Invasion. † Monthly Labor Review 123. 3 (2000): 62. Vangelisti, Anita L. , ed. Handbook of Family Communication. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2004. Wartella, Ellen A. , and Nancy Jennings. â€Å"Children and Computers: New Technology-Old Concerns. † The Future of Children 10. 2 (2000): 31.

Impulse to Create Art Essay

This paper will provide a brief explanation on why humans have a great tendency to be creative and impulsive in creating art. This presumption will be based on the readings that have been used for class. Although not greatly thorough in it is depth and breadth in its analysis, Raymond Carver’s Cathedral and Emily Dickinson’s I died for Beauty are but an infinitesimal example on how humans have always had great capabilities in creating whatever it is they put their minds into. The Possibilities of Change and Creation: An Essay on the Human’s Impulse to Create Art To Live. That is one of Man’s most basic instinct. This is so intrinsic that one of the last taboos of the modern world is the acceptance of self-annihilation. Robert, the main protagonist in Carver’s Cathedral is more than just an ignorant man, he is the kind that couldn’t even bear to name the blind man who was his house guest. Compare him to the speaker in Dickinson’s I Died for Beauty, who has â€Å"scarcely adjusted herself† when she befriends the man who had died for truth. These two very dead people are more alive than the whiskey-sipping Robert. But there is the inevitable change, of the possibility of change: â€Å"I dwell in Possibility– /A fairer House than Prose– /More numerous of Windows– /Superior–for Doors—† (Dickinson, 1886, p. 926). It is this possibility, this impulse of life that makes us different from the written lives that we are constantly made to read. Give any child a pen and a paper, regardless of its ability to write, it will surely know as if by instinct that the pen is used to create something on paper. This same child with its impulse to throw or to taste plastic blocks will also surely put one block on top of the other, to form something even a shape crooked and unstable. It is a genetic imprint in us, and will remain in us as long as we live—because, that possibility exists. Moreover, as Dickinson had equated Truth and Beauty, those two noble purposes of artistic creation – this is Man surpassing time and death. To create is to leave a testament to our existence that we are reading the words of long-dead people attest to the supremacy of creation over time and death. Robert, dead-like in his ignorance and inarticulacy, and the other man, blind but seeing the possibilities of life—together these two men who are temporarily brought together by death (the blind man’s wife) are drawn to create a Cathedral. The cathedral, that massive structure of faith, stone and of the ego that Robert is unable to describe to the man but with whom now he is able to draw with – that pen and paper drawing of that idea: â€Å"So we kept on with it. His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now† (Carver, 1984, p. 455). For until that time that we could do something on our own, even if it is riding our own bike or making our first lopsided ashtray, we are but half-alive. We to have these cathedrals in our minds, and as long as the moss has not covered our lips, â€Å"The spreading wide my narrow Hands/To gather Paradise—† (Carver, 1984, p. 455), we too are free to the possibilities of life. And with life is creation—with small fidgety fingers, we can still tap that subway tune or doodle in Chemistry class. We can still look at the sky with flight in our minds. It is life. References Carver, R. (1984). Cathedral. Ed. R. DiYanni. Literature, Reading Fiction, Poetry, And Drama. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. (p. 455) Dickinson, E. (1886). I Died For Beauty. Ed. R. DiYanni. Literature, Reading Fiction, Poetry, And Drama. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. (p. 926)