Leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Leadership - Research Paper Example intelligent guidance that an exceptional leader can provide, the employees and shareholders are motivated towards achieving the goals which management sets out. Likewise, when low standards are set, the employees will not strive to go above and beyond because little is expected of them. As such, expectation has a great deal to do with the differences between good and exceptional leadership. A good manager gets the job done according to schedule, according to the metrics assigned, and follows an ethical process in order to achieve these goals. A great leader not only meets and fulfills the assignment requirements, but inspires his/her employees to such a degree that they are able to accomplish more and greater feats than they previously believed possible. This instillation of belief and success within the team, coupled with the previously mentioned timeliness and ethics, is what powerfully sets apart a great leader from merely a good manager. In regards to question three and the choice offered by two differing styles of management, I would be hesitant to pursue the job with the charismatic leader and would be more drawn to the job of a transformational leader. The reason for this is the fact that I have personally witnessed too many charismatic leaders whose own unique viewpoints ran against the grain of the culture or against the wishes of more senior leadership. Even though these â€Å"rogue† and charismatic leaders sometimes have exceptionally good ideas and ingenious ways to present them and to motivate the employees who work for them, the issue is that at the end of the day, the employee is judged by the quality of the management that represents him/her. If this management is seen as a free spirit, one who is not necessarily a team player, and one who is often so charismatic as to not ascribe to the company culture, the employee’s value within the firm is diminished and as such his/her job security com es into question. Schachter, H. (2012, August

Hamlet is very much a play about seeming and not doing. Discuss the Essay

Hamlet is very much a play about seeming and not doing. Discuss the difference between seeming and doing, and how those caught up in seeming are paralyzed and u - Essay Example Hamlet, even at the onset, is disappointed as much as mournful about the turn of events (Act I, scene ii (129-158). He is not there when his father dies and when he gets home his mother has married his uncle. He gets suspicious that the marriage is rather done in haste Instead of confronting his mother and demanding an explanation, he just keeps his miserable feelings and doubts to himself. He seeks for justification but does not let it out so he becomes all the more burdened with so many questions and no answers. It is in this scene that he shares his opinion that humankind is more impressive in "apprehension" or understanding than in "action;" he himself being an epitome of this idea for he is more prone to apprehension than to action too. He keeps delaying for so long before putting to action his revenge on Claudius. The most famous soliloquy of Hamlet in Act III, scene i (58-90) displays his hesitations that leads more to his delayed action. It is also in this passage that his reasons for delaying his actions are enumerated. The very familiar line, "To be, or not to be: that is the question," speaks of Hamlet's reflection on whether he would choose to live (to be) or to commit suicide (not to be). To die means to end one's sufferings and pains on earth: He does not know what lies ahead. ... Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. This is another form of seeming but not doing. He advises his son not to let others see his true feelings and to act with caution Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice: Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. His advice seems contradicting though because he tells his son to appear in certain manners and then he ends by saying This above all,-to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Back to Hamlet, when he comes face to face with his university friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act II, scene ii (287-298), he expresses his melancholy I have of late,- but wherefore I know not,- lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory." It is in this scene that he shares his opinion that humankind is more impressive in "apprehension" or understanding than in "action;" he himself being an epitome of this idea for he is more prone to apprehension than to action too. He keeps delaying for so long before putting to action his revenge on Claudius. The most famous soliloquy of Hamlet in Act III, scene i (58-90) displays his hesitations that leads more to his delayed action. It is also in this passage that his reasons for delaying his actions are enumerated. The very familiar line, "To be, or not to be: that is the question," speaks of Hamlet's reflection on whether he would choose to live (to be) or to commit suicide (not to be). To die means to end one's sufferings and pains on earth: Whether 'tis nobler in

Reward Management To Motivate Employees Commerce Essay

Reward Management To Motivate Employees Commerce Essay From the inception of organisational science, pay has been considered an important reward to motivate the behaviours of employees (Taylor Vest, 1992). A consistent literature on rewards has been that to influence performance, pay level must not only be high enough in the absolute sense, but must also be adequately different to reflect the differences in contribution, human capital and efforts that exist within an organisation (livernash, 1957:143). For this reason, Hamilton and Macy (1923:15) maintain that differences in pay must reward excess ability, knowledge, skills, training, diligence possessed by its recipient over the common labourer. In addition, Lawler and Jenkins (1992), also agree that the impact of reward systems cannot be discussed without considering what behaviours they affect in an organisation. They argue that a number of factors influence reward system and this in turn influences organisational effectiveness. Research has shown that the attraction and retention of workers in an organisation is influenced by the kind, and level of rewards an organisation offers (Mobley, 1982; Mobley, Hand, Meglino Griffeth, 1979). Thus Lawler (1971) posits that organisations which give the most reward would attract and retain the most people, as individuals satisfied with their jobs would want to stay within the same organisation. According to Alan Price (2007), the term reward management covers both the strategy and the practice of pay systems. Traditionally, human resource or personnel sections have been concerned with levels and schemes of payment whereas the process of paying employees the payroll function has been the responsibility of finance departments. There is a trend towards integrating the two, driven by new computerised packages offering a range of facilities. Financial rewards normally come in the form of monthly salary or hourly wages (Bratton Gold, 1999). Most employees that work in organisations or company that have professional human resource management in the UK will attend appraisal which will allow both employees and employers to discuss about their current pay and if it should be increased. According to Allen Kilmann, (2001) his studies has shown that assumption is not always true because solid evidences have confirmed that employees earning less than  £25,000 per year can be motivated with the use of financial reward, while those who earn more than  £25,000 per year are willing to stay with one job and do their best if they have high level of job satisfaction. This shows the more money an employer pays his or her employee the more job satisfaction expected by the employee in order to stay in the job leading to more reward management. Reward Management Research studies have shown that organisations have an interest in reward management because of two reasons. Cost effectiveness and profitability, which is based on organisational type and relative cost of workers (Romero Kleiner, 2000). Organisations can save cost of employees in order to gain competitive advantage in the UK market, Which are done by reducing the cost of employees and make use of the benefits of reward management to motivate employees to apply their best efforts. They must also ensure that its pay meet the minimum requirement of employment law. Organisation use reward management as a tool to motivate their employees, influence their attitude and change their behaviour, with an aim to improve their work quality and responsibilities. Organisation can use reward management to help it maintain its competitiveness in its marketplace. Which are done by reducing the cost of its employees and make use of the benefits of reward management to motivate employees to put their best efforts in the organisation. Bratton and Gold (2003), state reward can be divided into individual rewards, team rewards and organisation rewards Individual reward: This reward system will be paid directly to the employees which would lead to having different rate of pay depending on their years of experience in the organisation and energy commitment. Organisational rewards: In this case organisation offer rewards in form of profits with its employees which is increasingly employed by many organisations who has a custom driven culture. This enable organisation gets the best outcome in terms of employees performance, staff commitment and organisational productivity. Team rewards: This reward has been increasingly been used and recognised in the UK. This is because the work system recognised self-management team in the organisation. Team reward is also believed to give greater performance and productivity from each worker (Yahya Goh, 2002). According to Gratton (2004) he states while motivation is determined by both monetary and non monetary factors, money has come to play an overly important role in our thinking about the causes of behaviour. In most companies, very limited time and effort are spent on considering non-monetary sources of motivation This has prove that financial rewards are important as a mechanism to aid recruit and retain talent, and as a means of providing tangible recognition of effort in the organisation. Financial Reward This the use of money as a tool to motivate employees in a working environment, whereby employees are rewarded in the form of pay, bonuses thereby leading to applying more effort to better financial reward in an organisation. 1 Instrumental theory This theory states that money provides a means to achieve an ends. It is an instrument for gaining desired outcomes and its forces will depend on the strength of the need and the degree to which people are confident that their behaviour will earn the money they want to satisfy the need. Gellerman (1963), state that money in itself has no intrinsic meaning and acquires significant motivating power only when it comes to symbolize intangible goals. Firms use money as the powerful force which linked directly or indirectly to the satisfaction of all the basic needs of employees in the organisation. 2 Equity theory This theory was developed by Adams (1965) which argues that satisfaction with pay is related to the perception about the ratio between what one receives from the job and what one puts into it compared with the ratios obtained by others. Lawler (1971) state equity theory is related to discrepancy theory which indicates that satisfaction with pay depends on the difference between the pay people receive and what they feel they ought to receive. According to Jaques (1961) he states they exist in an unrecognised system of norms of fair payment for any given level of work, unconscious knowledge of these norms being shared among the population engaged in employment and an individual is unconsciously aware of his own potential capacity for work, as well as the equitable pay level for that work. Organisation can establish this principle; its pay must be felt to match the level of work and the capacity of the employees to do it in the organisation. Non Financial Reward This is a method of identifying individual employees for a particular praise or acknowledgement. Rose (1998) state a non cash awards given in recognition of a high level of accomplishment or performance such as customer care or support to colleagues, which is not dependent on achievement of a pre-determined target. 1 Self-actualisation Self-actualisation model is one of the most famous models of motivation. It was developed by Abraham Maslow (1954). This model explains that a person has a need to fulfil his/her capability and potential because a person has a desire for growth. Self-actualisation model is one of the most famous models of motivation. Ambitious and determined employees will seek and find these opportunities for themselves, although the organisation needs to clarify the scope for growth and development it can provide. Mullins, (1996) state once a lower need has been satisfied it no longer acts as a strong motivator, the needs of the next higher level become the motivating influence Organisation can use the self actualisation model to motivate employees to their best efforts if they know their highly demanded need, e.g. Staff member wanting to build a career goal and development in a firm. Thus, putting the staff in the right training and human resource development program cannot only increase positive outcomes, but also gain his loyalty in the organisation. 2 Achievements Achievement needs by McClelland (1975) is known for competitive success measured against a personal standard of excellence, which can be increased by organisations through processes such as job design, performance management and contributing skill in the organisation. McClelland also mentioned that power was a prime motivating force for managers, the needs for warm friendly relationships with others was also present to managers. Organisation policies for involvement can provide motivation by putting employees into situations where their view can be expressed, listed to and acted upon, thereby forming a means of empowerment in the organisation. Motivation Many contemporary authors have also defined the concept of motivation. Motivation has been defined as: the psychological process that gives behaviour purpose and direction (Kreitner, 1995); a predisposition to behave in a purposive manner to achieve specific, unmet needs (Buford, Bedeian, Lindner, 1995); an internal drive to satisfy an unsatisfied need (Higgins, 1994); and the will to achieve (Bedeian, 1993). Seligam(1990) also states that motivation may be rooted in the basic need to minimize physical pain and maximize pleasure, or it may include specific needs such as eating and resting, or a desired object, hobby, goal, state of being, ideal, or it may be attributed to less-apparent reasons such as altruism, selfishness, morality, or avoiding mortality. Conceptually, motivation should not be confused with either volition or optimism. Workers in any organization need something to keep them working. Most times the salary of the employee is enough to keep him or her working for an organization. However, sometimes just working for salary is not enough for employees to stay at an organization. An employee must be motivated to work for a company or organization. If no motivation is present in an employee, then that employees quality of work or all work in general will deteriorate. A) Intrinsic motivation This is described as the process of motivation by the work itself in so far as it satisfies peoples needs or at least leads them to expect that their goal will be achieved. This is also a self-generated in that employees seek the type of work that satisfies them, but management in an Organisation can enhance this process through its values as well as empowerment, development and job design policies and practices in the firm. Research studies have indicated that this type of motivation is generally involved with educational enjoyment and achievement of many higher education students (ODonohue et al., 2007). Intrinsic motivation has also been discussed and referred to by many researchers, such as attribution theory of Fritz Heider and cognitive evaluation theory of Ryan and Decis (Guest, 1989). Under the concept of intrinsic motivation, it can be assumed that a person can be intrinsically motivated or influenced if they give credit of their hard work outcomes to internal factors that they cannot control, e.g. an employee of an Organisation works hard to make sure that all of its customers get served within five minutes after their entrance into the restaurant. An employee can also be intrinsically motivated if he or she believes that their skills, knowledge and hard work can help the firm to achieve the desired goals. Intrinsic rewards can be explained under the scope of enjoyment, while another one is based on obligation, it also occurs when people are internally motivated to do something because it either brings them pleasure, they think it is important, or they feel that what they are learning is significant. (Herriot et al., 1997). Obligation refers to motivation of an employee and its based on what he or she thinks it should be done or completed. E.g., an employee has a responsibility to serve customers well under limited time, but the quality of the service should exceed expectation. This would be seen as a challenge for the employee when they exceed the standard set by the firm, thereby leading to motivation in the organisation. B) Extrinsic motivation This is what is done to and for people to motivate them. It arises when management in a firm provides rewards as increased pay, praises or promotion. Research studies have revealed that threat of punishment is also recognised as common extrinsic motivations (Cooper et al., 1999), e.g. management of an Organisation can deduct their pay if they are more than 15 minutes late for work. This kind of punishment is part of extrinsic motivation that can influence employees to get to work on time in the restaurant. Incentive theory of motivation This refers to a reward, which are both tangible and intangible forms. Incentive reward is likely to be presented to a person after the occurrence of an expected action or behaviour. Such reward is given to a person with an intention to cause desired behaviour to ensure that it happens again. This can be done by relating positive meaning to action or behaviour of a person (Clutterbuck, 2005). If an incentive reward is not presented immediately, it is likely to decrease satisfied behaviour (Guerrero Herrbach, 2008). This can be believed that if an organisation uses repetitive action reward combination, it can lead to certain action or behaviour to become a habit. Applying proper motivational techniques can be much harder than it seems. Steven Kerr notes that when creating a reward system, it can be easy to reward A, while hoping for B, and in the process, reap harmful effects that can jeopardize your goals (kerr, 1995). Expectancy theory Victor Vroom (1964) was the first to put forward his theory of expectancy, which was specifically aimed at work motivation. He produces a motivational force notion, whereby the product of valence and expectancy, is the motivational force. Vroom Valence expectancy theory is that employee effort will lead to performance and performance will lead to rewards. The employee would be more motivated when the reward is positively high, the more negative the reward the less the employee will be motivated. Galbraith and Cummings (1967) found little support for Vrooms model they outline difficulties with the methodology and the concepts involved and found it very hard to apply to organisations. This theory is applied by organisation by setting a target for employees e.g. sales target; this will enable employees to carry out his or her daily activities effectively in return for values, goals which lead to an effective performance in the organisation. Vroom distinguishes valence from value Mullins (2002) This is shown in that a person may not gain as much satisfaction from receiving an object as from the desire of obtaining it In this situation an employee may not gain as much job satisfaction from receiving an object e.g. money and employee may find more satisfaction in the working environment than expected from an object in the organisation. (Armstrong,2006 Mullins, 2002) THEORY OF MOTIVATION According to Maslow, employees have five levels of needs (Maslow, 1943): physiological, safety, social, ego, and self- actualizing. Maslow argued that lower level needs had to be satisfied before the next higher level need would motivate employees. Herzbergs work categorized motivation into two factors: motivators and hygienes (Herzberg, Mausner, Snyderman, 1959). Motivator or intrinsic factors, such as achievement and recognition, produce job satisfaction. Hygiene or extrinsic factors, such as pay and job security, produce job dissatisfaction. Vrooms theory is based on the belief that employee effort will lead to performance and performance will lead to rewards (Vroom, 1964). Rewards may be either positive or negative. The more positive the reward the more likely the employee will be highly motivated. Conversely, the more negative the reward the less likely the employee will be motivated. Adams theory states that employees strive for equity between themselves and other workers. Equity is achieved when the ratio of employee outcomes over inputs is equal to other employee outcomes over inputs (Adams, 1965). Furthermore in some specifiable conditions, reward has been observed to motivate performance (Blinder, 1990; Vroom 1964). Majority of literature on motivation strongly upholds the view that rewards such as pay has a huge impact on an employee (Vroom, 1964; Lawler, 1971). In recent times, important rewards have been perceived to be tied to performance. Study after study has shown that an effective pay system can increase motivation of individuals to perform well (Kerr, 1975; Blinder, 1990). Armstrong and Murlis (1994) went further to state that reward process would most likely improve motivation, performance and commitment if they are operated fairly and the rewards are equitable in the sense that they are proportionate with the value of the job and of the person to the organisation Conclusion

Dramatic impact in Act 3 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William

Discuss the dramatic impact of Act 3 Scene 5 in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Act 3 Scene 5 is a significant scene in the play as within this one scene there are changes in the atmosphere, the relationship between the characters, and the characters themselves. At the beginning of this scene Shakespeare needs to make the audience believe that Romeo and Juliet truly are in love, as Romeo not long ago said he was in love with Rosaline and likewise Juliet stated at the Capulet ball she would be OK with marrying Paris. At the start of the play, Romeo and Juliet had just spent the night together as a married couple. Just as Romeo has left, Lady Capulet (Juliet’s mother) comes to Juliet and tells her that she’s going to be marrying Paris. Before Juliet met Romeo at the Capulet Ball, Juliet said that she wouldn’t mind having to marry Paris, so her parents a bit taken aback by Juliet when she says refuses to marry him. Lord Capulet in particular gets extremely angry, as children were forbidden to disagree with their parents. I personally think that he was angry at Juliet for disagreeing with him and also a bit surprised by her sudden change of heart. â€Å"Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch! I’ll tell thee what, get thee to church a Thursday or never look at me in the face!† This quote from Lord Capulet is showing him telling his daughter that she has to marry Paris in the church on Thursday otherwise he’ll wash his hands of her. The language that is used in this part of the play in particular is really effective because with only reading the text of the play the reader can visualise easily what’s going on in the room and can create a clear image of the drama, anger and tension in the room without seeing it in a film or on stag... ...the friar, to know his remedy. If all else fail, myself have to power to die’. When she says this she’s talking about going to see the friar (who married her and Romeo the day before) to find something that can either kill her or to help stop her from marrying Paris, as she probably knows that without it she’ll have to marry him to keep her family happy even though it would be against her will and not to mention illegal. Basically, she’s a young girl in love. She isn’t a bad, rebellious horrible teenager - she’s just been carried away with her love for Romeo. I think that when she argues with her mum and dad, she struggles to try and tell them why she doesn’t marry Paris without telling the truth about Romeo. I feel that she’s a typical teenager who feels the world is against her doing what she really wants to do, and in her case, the world actually is against her.

Student’s Must Read Books

In our generation, gadgets and technologies have increased, and because of that many of us change their likes and the way we enjoy our free time. Because of gadgets and technologies many of us now are spend less time in reading. Good afternoon, I here speaking in front of you to tell what can you get through reading books. â€Å"A room without books is like a body without a soul† a hero, a martyr, and great writer named Jose Racial in his early time of his life. Reading books is one of his building blocks. If I were knew Racal's family had their own library on their house.He grab that opportunity to read many books and learn something that some other Filipino doesn't know. That's why in his early of age he was enlighten and inspired to help his countrymen. He read books and he made books and he is now the well known great Filipino hero. You see, the key to success is to have some knowledge, knowledge that will help us to be a better person. There are lots of different books th at can help us or make us become smarter and better like encyclopedia, where we can get some information that would help us to define or to answer our questions.And dictionaries here we can learn different kinds of languages in order for us to communicate to others like foreigners. â€Å"So many books, so little time† these generation that we live now is the generation where we students are too lazy on reading books. When we have assignments and projects we Just surf on the internet and find the words we needed to; and then ‘WALL EH† we Just copy and paste. We people doesn't learn on a copy paste technique it's Just tolerate us to become lazy and ignorant, sorry for the word but it is the reality, we have many information that is already written and the only thing that e should do is to read it.But what? We are Just ignoring the books, and hide it on the shelves and continue playing video games, or to watch some entertainment. We are Just wasting our time focusing on the thing that is not beneficial to us. Reading books helps our vocabulary become broader. It sharpens our mind to think critically wise and it can widen one's imagination and also it can develop our verbal abilities. You wanted to be smart? Remarkable? Start making some action start on reading books of information and share what you have learned in that order others may inspire too

Marysville General Hospital

As the CFO of Marysville General Hospital, I realize we have a serious accounts receivable problem here. It has gotten out of control, and we are going to get it back in control. All it takes is a little effort from everyone to get us back on here. With the process improvement plan I am proposing, I will need the assistance and cooperation of the medical staff, the clinical departments, the business office, health information management, and all other departments.To propose my plan of improving the current situation of the hospital, I will need to get a current report on all past, current and future collection data from the finance department to determine how much we are actually losing at this point. I need to collect the admissions and registration information from the business office. I also need electronic medical records information from health information management. I need a current report on charge captures from the nursing staff.I need a current report on the status of claim s processing, payment posting, and secondary billing/patient follow-up. For this plan to be a success we will need complete cooperation from everyone. We need to get some experienced personnel or train our current personnel to do the admissions more accurately. The nursing staff should not have to check vitals and register patients also. Patient registration should be done before the patient even sees the nurse unless it’s a life or death situation.Clear instructions will be given to these staff members to ensure that we have all the current contact and billing information and legible copies of all documents and claims are processed appropriately. With verification of all information, we should see a more smooth billing process and the correct plan codes being applied to the various accounts. The implementation of the electronic medical records has been very helpful to all departments because all patient information is in the system and accessible if needed.However, we have t o ensure that our physicians are charting their patient’s information in a timely manner and giving detailed information about diagnosis and plan of care. If the physicians are not completing their charts on time, we will have to put them on some type of suspension until they are up to date on their charts. We cannot let them continuously see patients and not complete their charts because they would have too many to try to catch with. Therefore, we should have time period deadline for all patients’ charts. If the physicians are not being  compliant, they will go into suspension.We understand they have a busy schedule, but if we have to constantly remind them that there are charts that need to be completed, we will do that. We will designate a couple of staff members to stay on top of the physicians if we deem it necessary. To help with charge captures, we will invest in the â€Å"Clean Claims Module† from MedXL to ensure that all the claims requirements for th e various insurance companies are current and up-to-date. It will also ensure that we are notified of any changes that may occur.I would much prefer if we invest in this program to ensure clean claims processing to ensure we receive payments for services provided in a timely manner. Every little bit helps. As far as self—pay patients, we should look into some type of discount plan that may assist these patients with the cost of their services. If we can offer some kind of discount or financial assistance to our patients, it may prevent us from having to send so many of their accounts to the collection agencies where we are losing monies because of the fee the collection agencies charge to collect on our behalf.We can also remind patients about their bills when they come in. There should be a notification that pops up when we go into a patients account that lets us know they have an outstanding balance. With the cooperation of all departments and staff members, we can bring Ma rysville General Hospital back to previous accounts receivables standings. Teamwork is required and not optional. Let’s keep our community happy.

What We Know About Planets

What We Know About Planets Ormel and Kobayashi state that considerable time and mass are required to form a gigantic planet (1). In 1990, scientists discovered a planetary system around a millisecond pulsar. Later on, the scientists were able to measure the movement of the 51 Peg star (i.e. 5th magnitude star) located in the constellation of Pegasus.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What We Know About Planets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This discovery marked the first evidence of the existence of exoplanets (planets surrounding other stars). Since then, astrologists have discovered the existence of numerous exoplanets (Havel et al., 1). For instance, Sahlmann and others employed the radial-velocity method to detect the existence of extrasolar planets (1). Discovering other Planets Many astrologists find it extremely hard to capture straight images of exoplanets. This is because they must observe the light reflected by the far-flung parent star. The imaging is compounded further by the fact that the light projected by an exoplanet is million of times weaker than the parent star itself. Thus, exoplanet imaging is comparable to an attempt to spot a moth moving around a lighthouse from several miles away. Astrologists have (in the past few years) spotted a number of exoplanets as direct sources of the reflected light. In reality, these are far-flung gigantic planets which are orbiting their own solar systems. Thus, the direct imaging of exoplanets remains an extremely complex task which may take a long time to accomplish (Perryman 1). On the other hand, astrologists have been able to ascertain the existence of exoplanets by detecting their properties using astronomical telescopes mounted in the space and ground (Sahlmann et al., 1). One of the most effective strategies used to spot an exoplanet is detecting the manner in which the gravitational force of the planet acts on the parent star. Scientists can measure the gravi tational force of an exoplanet because both the parent star and the planet orbit their respective centre of mass. Since the parent star has substantial mass, it experiences a smaller tremble compared to the exoplanet. However, both the star and the planet have an identical orbital period. Thus, astronauts are able to detect the presence of an exoplanet (i.e. The star’s Doppler shift) by examining the wavelength of shadowlike lines produced by the star over an extended period of time. The technique explained above must be repeated several times in order to detect an exoplanet. This technique has enabled astronauts to discover over 200 planets to date. In addition, approximately 10 percent of the stars visible to the human eye are surrounded by exoplanets (Kasting 1).Advertising Looking for essay on astronomy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Astronauts are currently using the velocity of the parent star to deter mine the mass of the exoplanet. It is important to note that scientist discovered the first exoplanet in 1999 via a high-tech spectroscopic measurement gadget. Currently, the findings by several astronomical instruments such as the US HIRES (Keck 10-m) telescope located in Hawaii have facilitated the discovery of planets with masses comparable to that of the Earth. Scientists have also found that it is possible to spot an exoplanet that has mass corresponding to that of the Earth if the velocity of the host star is computed with a precision of approximately one meter for every second. Astronauts have also detected the presence of a star by examining the light it generates. For instance, the targeted star can be detected from the microscopic reduction in the brightness of the parent star when the planet happens to move across its face. The result is synonymous to the transit of the Venus as gleaned from the earth. Although astrologists are able determine the variation in brightness, they are nonetheless not capable of detecting the transit of the planet across the parent star. Although the transit mark (dimming) can be visible for several hours, the star must be screened for several years in order to detect a recurring pattern (which implies the existence of an excellent). It deserves merit to mention that the photometric transit technique has facilitated the discovery of over 100 exoplanets ever since 1999. Some of the exceptional breakthroughs are those of the US Kepler Satellite (set up in 1999), French-led CoRot Satellite, and the UK-led WASP Satellite (Ormel and Kobayashi 2). There are two reasons why astrologists appear to favour photometric transit technique in detecting exoplanets. First, they can use the Doppler measurements to compute the planet’s mass on the basis of the gravitational force exerted on the host star. Second, the diameter of an exoplanet can be computed using the microscopic amount of dimming as it moves across the face of the p arent star. Thus, the degree of the dimming will be higher if the exoplanet in transit is gigantic. Astrologists can use these planetary characteristics (mass and size) to approximate the density of the planet. In addition, it is possible to ascertain the atmosphere and chemical compositions of a star by monitoring variations in the spectrum of the parent star. Astrologists are now able to partially determine the constituents of the exoplanet atmosphere (Kasting 1). The Creation of Planetary Systems Pierre-Simon Laplace, Immanuel Kant and Emmanuel Swedenborg are among the first scientists to propose theories relating to the formation of the planetary system. For instance, Laplace proposed that gravitational force caused nebulae (gaseous rings) to gradually rotate, crumple and even out resulting in the formation of planets.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What We Know About Planets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In other words, Laplace’s theory suggests that planets emerged as a result of the disintegration of a distinct system of gaseous clouds wherein impulsive gravitational force resulted in the formation of planets. However, the theory was discarded in the 20th century since it did not explain how the matter could be disintegrated in a manner that the planet retained over 99 percent of the entire angular force in their orbit while the sun ended up with over 99.8 percent of the entire mass of the planetary system. There are other theories relating to the solar system. For example, the Chamberlin-Moulton theory proposed that materials from an exploding sun led to the formation planets. On the other hand, the star-Sun collusion model suggests that a gigantic star collided with the Sun and resulted in the formation of the planetary systems (Kasting 3). However, the solar nebula theory is currently the most recognized model that explains the manner in which planetary systems are formed. This model suggests that planets were created from dust particles and hydrogen gas. These components were by-products of previous cycles of stellar progression. The intricate interstellar shock waves processes caused the hydrogen gas to subside. As a result, the dust particles and hydrogen crumpled into a massive proto-planetary disk resembling a pancake. The bottom-up process is believed to have taken place within the disk planes. In addition, fusions and collision continued via several phases typified by qualitative disparities in each particle interaction. In other words, the primeval dust elements collided and combined on a continuous basis leading to the formation of rocks (approximately 10 meters in size). These rocks then proceeded to collide and developed into mini-planets (approximately 10km in size) after thousands of years (Kasting 3). The gravitational force caused the mini-planets to develop further into rock-strewn terrestrial planets (such as Mars and Earth). The int erior formations of the terrestrial planets were characterized by the chemical and physical delineation. In addition, the spherical outline of these planets was manipulated by their respective gravitational forces. The gaseous giant planets (i.e. Saturn and Jupiter) formed far away from the parent star. This happened because their moderately small cores quickly amassed the hydrogen gas that emanated from the flattening disk. If the process of planetary formation takes place in a systematic way, the ensuing planets will emerge in spherical trajectories and their orbital paths will be parallel to the spinning axis of the parent star.Advertising Looking for essay on astronomy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In addition, their trajectories will be perpendicular to their rotation axes. In general, the gigantic planets will form far away from the parent star where additional disk matter is present for accumulation. It appears that the broad characteristics of our solar system emerged from the process described above. Scores of scientists believe that the snowline played a significant role in the formation of the planetary systems. It is an established fact that water turns into ice when the temperature falls below 180K. It appears that the snowline in the primordial solar nebular declined by approximately three times the distance between the sun and the Earth. There is a basis for this assertion since the C-class (water-rich) asteroids are principally located on the exterior part of the asteroid belt (Havel et al., 4). The Structural Design of the Planetary System The solar system is organized in an extremely intricate manner. The overall picture of the Sun, a limitless number of comets, the eight planets and their respective moons are simply astonishing. Their isotopic and chemical compositions, age, density and mass depict an elaborate record of primordial development and successive evolutions manipulated by gravitational force and moulded by the phenomenon of quality. According to the radiogenic experiments on meteorites and seismological studies, the solar system is believed to be approximately 4.5 billion years old. It is believed that the solar system was formed from the disintegrating dusts particles and hydrogen gas that came into existence around this period. Some scientists also believe that the eight planets were created from the systematic synthesis of protoplanets, planetesimals and rocks. Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury (terresial planets) formed adjacent to the Sun since there was a limited amount of disk particles (Kasting 3). Scientists have made some major breakthroughs relating to the origin and characteristics of exoplanets. These discoveries hav e been made possible because previous theories relating to the formation of the solar system laid the basis for comprehending the composition and dynamics of the solar system. However, these theories have undergone substantial adjustments in order to facilitate better understanding of our marvellous solar system. The current ground and space exploration missions are expected to new discoveries and augment the existing knowledge about the solar system. Havel, Mathew, Guillot Tristan, Valencia Diana and Crida Aurellen. The multiple planets transiting Kepler-9: Inferring stellar properties and planetary compositions. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 2011. Web. Kasting, James. â€Å"Habitable Planets: What Are We Learning from Kepler and Ground Based Searches?† Astrobiology 11.4. (2011):1-5. Web. Ormel, Cris and Kobayashi Hiroshi. Understanding How Planets Become Massive: Description and Validation of a New Toy Model. Berkeley, CA: University of California, 2011. Web. Salmon, William, Lovis Christophe, Queloz Didier and Segransan Damien. HD 5388b is a 69Mjup companion instead of a planet. Switzerland: University of Geneva, 2011. Web.

Free Essays on Birth Rank

that describe each birth position, first-born, middle born, last born, and only children. The subjects then had to rate each word they used in terms of positive or negative using a scale ranging from -5, being most negative, to +5, being most positive. The subjects were grouped according to their birth rank and sex. The favored position, started with first-born middle, youngest, and then only-child positions. Characteristics that some peoples found positive were considered negative by others. This contrast reflects the complications of personal dynamics. The eldest birth position was viewed as dominant-aggressive, a quality that reflects both strength and weakness. The middle birth position identified with social able characteristics, thoughtfulness, responsibility, ambition, and independence. The youngest birth position was viewed as social and thoughtful. Independence, ambition, socialabl... Free Essays on Birth Rank Free Essays on Birth Rank Beliefs about birth rank and it’s contribution, personality, family role, and peer influence have been studied greatly by man psychologists and sociologists. The ideas about birth rank can reflect a different image of reality for siblings and parents. Birth orders can effect attributes of oneself’s personality because of the constraints they may feel from another sibling. In contrast to multi-child families single-child families have their own statistics about how only children develop in regards to personality, family, occupation and peers roles. Though some may feel it yields drastically different, many studies have found that it only slightly differs. The Identification of Birth Order Personality Attributes, views the first born child as the favored birth position followed by the middle, youngest, and only-child positions. The author Lawrence Nyman found that subjects ranked their own birth position similar to ways other s ranked that position. Nyman took 139 undergraduate and graduate students and asked them to list three words that describe each birth position, first-born, middle born, last born, and only children. The subjects then had to rate each word they used in terms of positive or negative using a scale ranging from -5, being most negative, to +5, being most positive. The subjects were grouped according to their birth rank and sex. The favored position, started with first-born middle, youngest, and then only-child positions. Characteristics that some peoples found positive were considered negative by others. This contrast reflects the complications of personal dynamics. The eldest birth position was viewed as dominant-aggressive, a quality that reflects both strength and weakness. The middle birth position identified with social able characteristics, thoughtfulness, responsibility, ambition, and independence. The youngest birth position was viewed as social and thoughtful. Independence, ambition, socialabl...

Character Analysis of Roderigo in Othello Essay -- Othello Essays

The play begins with a conversation between Roderigo and Iago. The opening lines are significant in that they set the tone and initiate the plot. Roderigo’s thematic purpose is portrayed through Iago’s manipulation in the lines, â€Å"Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/ As if the strings were thine shouldst know of this.† (1.1.1-3). Roderigo learns about the elopement of the Moor and Desdemona. He questions Iago in pursuit of the money he has given him in order to woo Desdemona. These lines show that even before the play begins Iago greatly influences Roderigo. The relationship and trust the two characters have is made apparent through the first lines. Iago takes enjoyment in influencing people, as seen through his first soliloquy: Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; For I mine own gain’d knowledge should profane If I would time expend with such a snipe But for my sport and profit. (1.3.374-377). Iago states that the only reason he spends time with Roderigo is for his own wealth and pleasure. His plan is to continue giving Roderigo unfulfilled promises. Iago continues to manipulate Roderigo. He convinces him that Desdemona will soon grow tired of Othello and begin to search for a younger, handsome man to fulfill her desires. Continuing to build on Rod sake of his reputation, Iago persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio. In doing so, Roderigo only injures the lieutenant. Iago sees his plan collapsing and rushes in to kill Roderigo. Betrayed by his friend, Roderigo died in pursuit of Desdemona’s love. As a minor character, Roderigo has a significant impact on several themes such as manipulation, jealousy and betrayal. Throughout Shakespeare’s drama, Roderigo is manipulated into performing tasks in which Iago does not want to take part in. Roderigo’s jealousy towards Othello increases as the play progresses. His endless love for Desdemona leads him to his tragic death where he has be betrayed by a person in which he once called his friend. At a first glance, a minor character may appear to have an insignificant role, but upon observing them in detail, their role can be much more significant that first perceived.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Research Paper

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - Research Paper Example When Congress identified the need to share information among the department involved in the homeland security mission, it created an act in 2002 (Randol, 2010). The act defined the relationship between the departments concerned. Critics observed that the mandate of the Department of Homeland Security could be susceptible to challenge if the congress did not constitute an act, which protected the operation of the department. The act passed by the Congress defined the framework of activities, which were relevant to the promotion of interest of the America people. The legality of the organization must have a backing from the constitution. This explains the move made by the Congress to initiate an act, which could support the mandate of the organization in full. DHS has developed various changes in activities that it discharges to the society from its inception to date. The inception of the DHS defined its mandate, which included being a member of the Intelligence Community. This mandate subjected the organization to liaison between other relevant organizations in fighting the menace of terror attacks. However, major adjustment has occurred in the organization, which includes the following. The establishment of Intelligence and Analysis department within the organization in 2003 led to the reorganization of duties performed by the organization. The mandate of the Intelligence and Analysis department was to fuse, coordinate, and analyze the information received by the organization (Randol, 2010). The idea that propelled the move was to create a common picture in the operation of the organization. The intelligence and Analysis department acted as a bridge between the Intelligence Community and the DHS. The ability of the firm to discharge its mandate effectively depended on common operation idea, which involved the support of the state, private sector and the local partners. The commonality in handling the information of the DHS was very crucial

California advocacy paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

California advocacy - Research Paper Example Legalizing marijuana would free up law-enforcement funds and manpower so they are free to tackle more urgent social issues such as gangs and violent criminals. There is precedent in other countries such as the Netherlands where, although not fully legal, use of marijuana is openly tolerated. It can be legally purchased and consumed in Amsterdam at specially licensed ‘coffee houses’ without undue risk to the general public. This fact proves that opponents claims of rampant anarchy should the drug be made legal are baseless. Available evidence in California and elsewhere proves that legalizing marijuana within the state would be beneficial to society, contribute to the welfare of the state and improve quality of life for many. A movement to make the drug legal was voted down last November in the form of Proposition 19 but was revived last month in the form of the Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform 2012. Proposition 19 "would have allowed adults to grow and possess mariju ana and authorized cities and counties to legalize and tax sales" (Hoeffel, 2011). Proposition 19 failed by a vote of 46-54 percent last November, but may win in 2012 with larger voter turn-out due to the Presidential election and with some adjustments to the bill. Because Cannabis Policy Reform is based on the same arguments brought forward in Proposition 19, it is appropriate to examine some of the issues that were addressed by Prop 19 in examining the topic. It is important to remember in this discussion that possession of marijuana in quantities of less than an ounce is merely a civil infraction within the state rather than a criminal misdemeanor as it is in many other states after the enactment of SB 1449, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in October of 2010. In addition, medical marijuana use and growers are also legal under state, but not federal law, following enactment of Proposition 215 in 1996 (Gieringer, 2011). This is because marijuana has proven more effective in re lieving numerous health issues than prescription drugs as is attested to by a cancer patient and former police commissioner. In addition to relieving his nausea, Jo Daly said he was â€Å"able to drastically reduce my dependence on more powerful prescription drugs that I was prescribed for pain and nausea. With the help of medical marijuana, which I ingest only occasionally and in small amounts, I no longer need the Compazine, Lorazepam, Ativan and Halcion. No combination of these medications provided adequate relief. They also caused serious side effects that I never experienced with marijuana† (1997). Proposition 19 was designed to extend the benefits of marijuana to the state and the average citizen without the need to go through the farce of obtaining a medical prescription. The provisions given under Proposition 19 would have changed things very little from where they already are today on an individual level but could have given the state numerous benefits. Individuals o ver the age of 21 would be allowed to possess and consume the drug in quantities of less than one ounce at a time in non-public places and could grow marijuana plants in a private residence with at least 25 square feet of personal space (Legislative Analyst's Office, 2009). The only difference here would be that those growing and using the drug already wouldn't need to fear being caught and

Safety at home for Senior citizens Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Safety at home for Senior citizens - Essay Example So senior citizens today are more and more hesitant to leave the safety of their homes. But how safe are the homes that we live in today. There are many things even at home that can harm us. Burglary, fires, faulty floor work or even a wet floor are just some of the things that can hurt us in the confines of our homes. Elderly people are even more prone to such accidents. This is because ones perception, senses, reflexes and presence of mind decreases as a person grows older. Also senior citizens have a weaker judgement of depth perception (Regnier, 1994). Older people have weaker and brittle bones that make them more vulnerable to accidents. According to the Home Safety Council, there are nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year because of home related accidents. Just by some simple precautions and a few adjustments we can make our homes a much safer place to live in. One out of every five Americans needs help to see, hear, speak, walk, use stairs, or lift objects - and a well-designed space plan can mean the difference between an independent, home-based lifestyle or a severely hampered one (Leibrock, 1994). Mr. James Hall is a 91 year old widower who lives alone. He is my neighbour and suffers from Alzheimer's disease. A man in such a situation can be prone to many harmful situations so it is important that he takes preventive measures and is extra careful. I visited Mr. Hall at his home in an effort to educate him about home safety. My aim was not only to advise him on how to maintain safety but to also make sure that he remembers it and tries to implement the same in the future. At first like most people Mr. Hall did not take things serious and probably thought that he has been doing things for over 90 years and what could a person like me really teach him, but I soon changed his mind and managed to get his attention. I started by explaining Mr. Hall of the general safety measures that all houses must have. To keep focus on the topic I used pamphlets that seemed to interest Mr. Hall even more. I know that the pamphlets were effective since Mr. Hall was able to review them in my presence and he also wanted to keep a few of them for future reference. I next began to explain Mr. Hall about the potential dangers that an old man like himself can face especially when living alone. This I realised made him really pay attention and listen. Then I began to talk and explain of safety measures to avoid harmful situations in general after which I got specific about how safety should be maintained in each room. The following are the safety precautions that I advised Mr. Hall to follow. First the general precautions:- Every telephone in his house should have besides it a list of emergency numbers along with a few of them on speed dial. It would also be advisable to carry a cell phone at all times. In case of a fire I helped devise an exit plan and also asked to make sure each window can be opened easily from the inside. Smoke detectors must also be installed. Door handles must be levers and not circular knobs (Tremblay, 2007). Locks must be easy to operate but not easy to brake or pick. To prevent tripping, door thresholds must be removed or must be low. Also there must not be small rugs or even carpets

Data Collection Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Data Collection - Research Paper Example A researcher can design a survey very easily as compared to other methods. In a survey, a researcher can collect a wide range of data at a time e.g. opinions, values, beliefs, attitudes etc. this helps the researcher to limit several errors which could otherwise be assumed (Thanos & H. Debas, 2010). Surveys have the following disadvantages. Respondents may not feel the confidence to give accurate information. They may give false answers at the expense of pleasing the researcher. Furthermore, the respondents may not be aware the questions due to lack of prior knowledge or have forgotten. These tools are useful for recording events or circumstances for the occurrence of health issues by the use of registers. When there is an injury incident, records are kept in various health organizations for future records of curbing the same problem. There are various registries to record unique information. These registries include health service registries, treatment registries, specific information registries, etc. in case of any information need; registries provide a good information source (Rubin & Babbie, 2009). Registries offer exact surveillance data required in the precise format required. Registries allow computations of incidence rates at the fundamental level. In case of follow up, registry provide relevant information on exacerbation, survival, prevalence and remission. Above all, registries aid in translation of information for better understanding and treating diseases. However, registries are bias to some extent. They creep unrecognized into the data sets thus leading to false conclusions. Biases affect case definition as well as inclusion for registries. This results in misplacement of patients’ registry data. Lastly, surveillance registries relating to data registry is not central to only health care delivery. Data recording requires time

Decreasing Car Accidents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Decreasing Car Accidents - Essay Example (WHO 2009) Several campaigns have been conducted across the world promoting the safety of road transport. ‘Make Roads Safe’ campaign is one such organization which is trying to spread the importance of knowing the safety measures of car driving and the implications of car accidents across the world. (Make Roads Safe, 2011) The predicted statistics estimate that accident deaths could go up to 1.9 million in the next years if no proper action is taken. These organizations clearly state that car accidents are a major problem and there is a need for an immediate intervention. There is an urgent need for the governments across the world to enforce the rules strictly and enable severe punishments for those breaking these rules. In addition, public needs to be made aware of the importance of road safety and with the technological advancements happening across the world, publicizing such safety measure and the impacts of car accidents would be the best way to progress forward in decreasing car accidents. The solution introduced above has two parts. The first part deals with the role of the government in enforcing the rules strictly and making the punishments severe. It is important for all the nations to work together in decreasing the number of car accidents. They could either restrict the numbers of cars used by people and make them travel by a common public transport or they could enforce strict rules. Enforcing strict rules does not mean that they have to reduce the speed limits and check each and every drunken driving case. With the growing population, it would be practically impossible to reduce accidents by these rules alone. Instead, other options would be to enforce rules on the commercial side where hotels, bars can be forced to check on their customers’ status and make sure that they are not allowed to drive if they are

Back turned to Open Window by Matisse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Back turned to Open Window by Matisse - Essay Example The essay "Back turned to Open Window by Matisse" explores the piece of art by Henri Matisse. Henri Matisse was born in 1869 in Le Cateau-Cambresis, Nord, France. In 1889, after a bout with appendicitis, his mother gave him a set of paints for something to do while he recovered. The act of painting became an obsession for him and he developed his work throughout the rest of his life. Matisse had experienced a great deal of difficulty in creating a career that was respected and appreciated. A founding member of the Fauvists with Andre Derain, his use of color and light provided expression that was predominant over the use of detail. The artists from Munich who had supported the development of Expressionsim, Kandinsky and Jawlensky, as an example, believed that the work of 1905 that was most worthy of their attention was coming from the Fauves, their eye now to France in order to observe the advancement of their movement. His work post 1919 represented a softening of his approach and a ‘return to order’ in which he once again looked back to the Masters, such as the Dutch painter Vermeer of the 17th century, for inspiration. Vermeer worked with exploring the use of light within his work. The piece Seated Woman, Back turned to Open Window (1921-1923), was from a collection of work in which he was examining the uses of color and form towards representation but through the lens of expression for emotional context. The piece was sold in 1947 through a catalogue by Durand-Ruel that offered the work. for fifteen thousand dollars along with works from Manet, Degas, and Renoir which situated Matisse in the position of being one of the modern masters (O’Brien, 1999, p. 56). In the work Seated Woman, Back turned to Open Window (1921-1923), Matisse uses linear movement in order to direct the eye towards the focal point of the woman. The horizontal lines converge with the vertical in order to frame the exterior view as the shutter acts as a frame for her a s she sits in front of it. Repetitions of rectangular shapes within the window are mimicked in the horizontal brush strokes of the water. Their shape has been morphed to be more organic, but still reflect the frame that holds them. While the work is representational, it holds a bit of the abstract as the forms and shapes create the imagery of what they reflect, rather than precisely reflecting reality. The brush strokes are expressive and reflect the Fauve aesthetics while revealing his return to a more classic form and holding their representative value. The painting is somewhat flattened, the roundness of the objects pushed back with the abstraction of their essence visually defined by shape and color. The refined use of primary colors, predominately of blue and red, are enhanced with touches of an ochre yellow in order to create interest and definition. Light

Decreasing Car Accidents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Decreasing Car Accidents - Essay Example (WHO 2009) Several campaigns have been conducted across the world promoting the safety of road transport. ‘Make Roads Safe’ campaign is one such organization which is trying to spread the importance of knowing the safety measures of car driving and the implications of car accidents across the world. (Make Roads Safe, 2011) The predicted statistics estimate that accident deaths could go up to 1.9 million in the next years if no proper action is taken. These organizations clearly state that car accidents are a major problem and there is a need for an immediate intervention. There is an urgent need for the governments across the world to enforce the rules strictly and enable severe punishments for those breaking these rules. In addition, public needs to be made aware of the importance of road safety and with the technological advancements happening across the world, publicizing such safety measure and the impacts of car accidents would be the best way to progress forward in decreasing car accidents. The solution introduced above has two parts. The first part deals with the role of the government in enforcing the rules strictly and making the punishments severe. It is important for all the nations to work together in decreasing the number of car accidents. They could either restrict the numbers of cars used by people and make them travel by a common public transport or they could enforce strict rules. Enforcing strict rules does not mean that they have to reduce the speed limits and check each and every drunken driving case. With the growing population, it would be practically impossible to reduce accidents by these rules alone. Instead, other options would be to enforce rules on the commercial side where hotels, bars can be forced to check on their customers’ status and make sure that they are not allowed to drive if they are

Civil Rights After Civil Rights Essay Example for Free

Civil Rights After Civil Rights Essay Brown versus Board of Education, and the 1964 civil rights act, was major milestones in the civil rights movement, but they did not end segregation, and did not eliminate the need to talk about race in today’s culture. The civil rights act itself was a law that allowed loopholes to be exploited, and was not an act that ended the need to continue to fight civil rights. Brown versus Board of Education outlawed segregation in public schools, but the fight to desegregate proved difficult. Today segregation exists in schools, but it exists from different methods. A prime example of how the Jim Crow South was lied in St Louis, a border city. Today, segregation of housing still exists in Cities and it resembles the Jim Crow south more than one might think. Maybe the biggest accomplishment of the Civil rights movement was the drifting away from the deep seeded racism common throughout the country, not just in the south. But the past must be understood to understand the current problems faced in this country regarding race. The race problem has not gone away, and not acknowledging is not going to solve it. The Civil rights movement and the acts seen as its milestones changed the way race is viewed in this country, but it did not eliminate it as an important feature of the way this country exists today. The 1964 Civil rights act was passed, but not before its language had to change so congressmen from southern states in particular would vote for it. It changed voting requirements, but kept the Literacy test, which was a major factor preventing blacks from voting. It outlawed discrimination in public places, but left out private places, without defining what private meant. It outlawed employment discrimination, but enforcement of this law was considerably weak. Its two biggest features were the provisions outlining desegregation, and the employment cause. The biggest thing, however, that the law did was to do something to protect the rights of African Americans. When looking at this law, it seems that it was almost more symbolic in nature, and it was a major stepping-stone for African Americans in getting Washington to back the rights they were fighting for. In the Jim Crow South, schools were segregated, and they were not separate but equal. The schools denied black students a future in which they could choose. They were taught a different curriculum; the buildings were much more run down, and teachers were given less of a reason to work hard at their jobs African Americans did not live in luxury either. Students often had to leave school to help the demand for sharecropping, and to help their families survive in poverty. As a result, students only went to school around 70 days a year with a limited curriculum. It was a vicious cycle, as a lack of education forced students to stay poor, and their children would continue as they did with little opportunity to grow from it. Brown versus Board of Education outlawed segregation in public schools, but it was only a step, and very little was done early on to enforce it. Barack Obama talked about in one of his presidential campaigns of the education gap between today’s students. He mentions how over hundreds of years of drastically different access to education as well as poverty problems today, todays students have slightly different levels of achievement in the classroom. Ways of addressing this solution have come up to â€Å"solve† this. A process called â€Å"Tracking†, which sort’s students into different levels based off perceived academic skill, has been developed. The argument for this is that it allows students with less â€Å"ability† to not compare himself or herself to better students, and allow more freedom to learn at their own pace. The problem with this is that academic achievement is often associated with upbringing and poverty. So, in turn, an argument against this is that it educates based off the persons social class. Most scholars agree that it in fact negatively affects disadvantaged students to go to separate schools based off of Tracking. It affects teacher’s expectations, lowers the curriculum, gives fewer resources, and denies many students the opportunity to progress past a certain level of learning. Many of the same problems of the Jim Crow South are repeated here, but this time it is not technically based off of race. Despite not being based off of race, African Americans have a much higher poverty rate, resulting in less access, which results in African Americans being put in schools often separated from white students. It is not completely the same as Jim Crow, but it puts African Americans at a disadvantage they cannot escape from unless there is equal opportunity to learn as the richer white kids do. St Louis is a city that lies on the border between north and south. When it came to after reconstruction, Jim Crow had its effect on the city due to this, and it is a good representative of what Jim Crow did to African Americans. During the great migration, there was a massive movement of blacks into cities like St Louis. A nice feature of St Louis was the prevalence of white hostility. Whites did not want blacks moving into their neighborhoods. So through politicians, neighborhood organizations, real estate groups, and fear, Blacks moved into a separate part of town, forming overcrowded black communities in small neighborhoods. Around the same time as migration, Jim Crow laws, creating separate public facilities for blacks and whites came into effect. To keep them separate, people used lynching’s, economic depravity, political oppression to keep them in their part of town. Black men were often used for labor-intensive jobs, or as servants, while black women often did not work at all. Due to overcrowding, there was little access for a lot of people, so people suffered in poverty that they could not escape. St Louis had unevenly applied segregation; meaning parts of the town were more representative of the North than the South. St Louis was a good representative for inequality in both North and South for African Americans. Barack Obama addressed poverty for black as well as schools. He talked about â€Å"concentrated pockets of poverty†, meaning that African Americans live in separated, overcrowded, and poor communities. He talked about the inability to amass wealth due to discrimination from property, exclusion from unions, from past generations affecting future generations. His point is that over many years African Americans have been subjected to slavery and segregation, and that has led to a huge wealth gap between blacks and whites. African Americans continue to face problems rooted in slavery and social barriers Segregation exists today, and blacks continue to resist desegregation due to familiarity and control over themselves. Whites resist integration into their neighborhoods, because they fear it would upset their social assets. There has also been a greater increase in the spread of jobs to cities. While blacks tend to stay close to home, they also move around more than they once did, allowing for greater integration into the workplace. With residential segregation staying the same, and workplace integration increasing, the jobs a white and a black man take are often still separated due to the unfamiliarity of private lives. A black man is still inferior, and often there are reports of men feeling like they do not belong. Over time, however, intermingling in the work place can only lead to a greater familiarity, and thus more opportunity to prove ones self. In South Central Los Angeles, blacks do disperse to jobs far away, but many have to stay close. There is less opportunity closer to home for blacks, and many are forced to stay close. Martin Luther King talked about rapid changes in the experience of segregation, which meant that a life for blacks in a segregated community was inconsistent and often unfair. While these communities see a greater increase in better jobs for blacks, there still remains many unsolved problems from the civil rights era. So what is the meaning of the legislation of Brown, and 1964, when today there still exists inequality in schools and in work? Did those acts do nothing for the good of the country? Following the civil rights movement, the south became the stronghold for republican presidential candidates. Ironically, Republicans, especially in the south, felt civil rights violated southern peoples freedom to choose. They felt that the southern way of life was compromised. So upon the passing of legislation, southern politicians fought tooth and nail to keep their way of life. It must be stated again that it was not the legislatures intent to solve civil rights, but only to strengthen African American protection of law. It did increase rights of African Americans, in the voting booth in 1965, and it empowered them when fighting for further civil rights. For the first time since reconstruction, African Americans had won rights they thought were given once the 14th amendment was passed. While not under the public eye, civil rights continued until 1973, as people drew strength from the law. If one thing can be gained from the civil rights movement, it is that it was no longer common to think of Blacks as less than human. John L Jackson came up with the idea of â€Å"Racial Americana† which means that ace returns to our everyday lives whether we want it to or not. Looking at the past problems, and current problems, are necessary for advancements to be made. Looking at the language of Jim Crow signs is helpful to understanding the past. In a book like â€Å"Getting Mothers body†, by Suzan Bri Parks, you can understand exactly what they say. In books like this, one can take away that the signs can be read, and understood today, but it must not define. What this means is that the problems of today can only be understood by the problems of yesterday, but the problems of yesterday cannot become the problems of today. Jim Crow no longer invades the south, but their still exists discrimination all over the place, and the greater problems of that time must be understood so the current problems can advance. It is like if a person has not eaten for several days, then he or she must understand that they must eat to survive, and understand that not eating for a few days is the primary factor of the hunger pains. Apart of learning from the past is to understand that race differences are not a problem that has disappeared in American society. Audre Lorde styles herself as a black, lesbian, feminist, socialist mother of two in â€Å"I am your sister† written in 1984. She talks about how white â€Å"woman† define woman as what they see, hear, and touch. They use all of their experiences and use that to define what they think is a woman. They completely ignore black woman, and the differences that contribute to their sense of what a woman is. They do not see a black woman as being woman and being black, they only see a woman. She argues that there must be a distinction stating† refusing to recognize differences makes it impossible to recognize different problems and pitfalls as women. Refusing to acknowledge a difference means there can be no understanding of who a black woman is, and how that is important in understanding women as a whole. She also uses that same context in talking about being a Lesbian, and that how being a lesbian is also an important identifier for her and the understanding of her attitudes and practices. It is these identifiers and acknowledgment of differences that help people understand one another. She states â€Å" The future of our Earth may depend on the ability of all women to identify new definitions of power and new patterns of relating across difference. Along similar lines to Audrey Lorde, Assata Shakur talks about the need for black women to be strong. 95% of the women in this prison are black or Puerto Rican, imprisoned for shoplifting, robbery, pick pocketing and Prostitution. Most of these crimes were committed by desperate women trying to survive and feed their children. This prison was actually a place under command of guards who did not punish, and where conditions were much better than in normal, more drastic prisons for black men. The guards tell the ladies to be â€Å"Ladylike† and to â€Å"always ask the officer. † The guards are also Black women and they generally feel like they should try to be like good white men and women. But Shakur argues that they need to know who they are, and stay strong as black women. There must be a separation of their identity to be citizens of this country. The words of Audrey Lorde and Assata Shakur apply to the race problem in general. Refusing to acknowledge the existence of a difference between races is the same as being fearful of the unknown. When someone fears the unknown, the unknown controls them, and actions toward the unknown are out of fear and generally harm what it is they fear. Separated schools, separated communities, a black man and a white man who have to work together, are all going to be hostile when confronted if they do not acknowledge differences. Not acknowledging means there will be a surprise when confronted with the differences, and that will lead to fear and hostility. Pretending everybody is the same does not solve anything, as people do not live in an ideal world. A black man or woman trying to conform, as in Shakur’s case, will lead to a loss of identity. By acknowledging differences, and keeping strong separate identities, people can understand each other better, and only then can the lives of African Americans in the United States of America improve. After the end of the civil rights movement, the issue of race came to its forefront, but did not end segregation, and the issue of race continues to be something that all Americans must not ignore. The civil rights act outlawed segregation, but it did not end segregation and the problems that come with it completely. The school systems improved from desolate to marginally better for blacks with integration, but recently there has been a trend, which seems to lead back to more segregation in schools. St Louis was a place of Jim Crow and Northern problems. Today, segregation exists in cities still, and it brings to mind many of the same problems under Jim Crow. The civil rights movement was significant in that it brought race to the forefront of our minds, decreased the inherent hatred with racism, and gave African Americans a chance to speak out against the wrongs the had plagued them for centuries. Today, America has a black president, and wealthy black T. V personality with a huge influence, and many other black men and woman who have been allowed to influence the masses. But it is vital also to understand that the movement brought forth the fact that race is a problem that can never be ignored in this country. It did not solve a problem that may never be totally solved, so therefore the issue cannot be ignored. Ignoring the issue will bring people to where it started, where there is a fear of the unknown and no good way of solving it unless it is understood.

EU’s Policy for Former Socialist States of Central Europe

EU’s Policy for Former Socialist States of Central Europe Josef Borocz on the Basis of the EU’s Policy Toward Former Socialist States of Central Europe Based on the Legacy of the Cold War Integration of Eastern Bloc states into the European Union (EU) has been markedly slow in comparison to its Western counterparts. Borocz and Larry Woolf assert that the stagnant, near-blocking motion of Western European-dominated organizations such as the EU carries with it a sociological, longue-duree contingent, identified by the historical and intellectual alienation of Eastern Bloc nations as a pervading â€Å"other† as perceived from the Age of Enlightenment. While there is significant merit to this argument, the geopolitical realities facing EU expansion throughout the continent outweigh the human facilities of traditional discrimination. With conflicted parties considering Turkey in the periphery of EU membership, the paradox of exclusion through minimal membership as outlined by Borocz and Woolf lends more toward matters of security and economic development rather than a notion as simplistic as the longue-duree facility of Eastern Europe as the â€Å"other.† Sch olars such as Gale Stokes contend that inclusion of the Eastern Bloc brings more than just European unity, adding the need for new defense strategies as well as trade systems, the incorporation of which would require a degree of phased membership so as not to disrupt the development of existing EU member state economies. After considering both proponent and contrarian arguments to the longue-duree assertions of Borocz and Woolf, it becomes evident that the geopolitical ramifications of full Eastern Bloc integration outweigh the possibility of traditional exclusion. Borocz states firmly that it would be a â€Å"mistake to attribute the European Union’s evident reluctance, condescension, and aversion vis-à  -vis one of its immediate neighbors solely to the recent legacy of the Cold War†[1]. Though the menace of Communism and the burgeoning global influence of the Soviet Union and its satellite contemporaries during the Cold War certainly harvested alienation from the capitalist West, the specter of Eastern Europe as the â€Å"other† existed long before Stalin began the ascension of the USSR as a world superpower. As Woolf states, â€Å"the intellectual structures of half a century are slow to efface themselves, but above all the idea of Eastern Europe is much older than the Cold War,† the distinction between East and West â€Å"produced as a work of cultural creation, intellectual artifice, and ideological self-interest and self-pronunciation†[2]. Borocz agrees, adding that â€Å"as critical work on the histor y of European ideas shows, a rational-Western self-image has produced, since the Enlightenment, the notion of ‘East Europeanness’ [sic] as a rudimentary, ‘rustic’ and low-scale version of itself†[3]. Where France, Germany, and England found themselves exploring philosophy, trade, and science, the common Western perception of the East developed as a darker side of Europe, one bordering the outside forces of Africa and Asia. All this developed despite the military action of nations such as Austria and Spain preventing the further advances of forces such as the Turks and the Moors, arguably leaving the remainder of Europe in the peace required to become â€Å"enlightened.† Such alienation, Woolf argues, gradually pushed Eastern Europe indirectly, lumping its association in such a way that Eastern Europe became an intermediary between Asia and Western Europe. The East was therein belittled further, diminished in intellectual capacity to the perceiv ed â€Å"barbarities† of the non-European world. The concept of the â€Å"East† was therefore manufactured intellectually by Western European nations, a manifestation of alienation due to the proximity to and exchange with non-European countries. Future â€Å"admission of the Hungarian (Polish, Czech, Slovene, etc) society to full membership in European Union as equal [sic] partners would thus require no less than the erasure and re-inscription of an over two-hundred year-old† image of West European identity construction,† a lofty goal to achieve in the relatively small period of time in which deliberation regarding membership would hence occur[4]. The human agent in such an action, the longue-duree proclivities of transcending centuries-old prejudice would therefore â€Å"involve reimagining [sic] the weaker, ignored, belittled scientifically and officially apprehended and described—hence objectified—other as a dynamic, inspiring, lively, a nd exciting partner characterized by a complex subjectivity†[5]. Such an adjustment in policy and personal perception would therefore facilitate the delay Borocz describes in his account of Hungarian attempts at EU membership. Adjustments of the aforementioned type paradoxically are warranted by existing Western European member states, not the Eastern state in question applying for EU membership. Borocz and Woolf speculate on the erstwhile definition of integration into the EU and the implications such an action would carry. Borocz concludes that the â€Å"essence of the European Union’s strategy vis-à  -vis the central and eastern European applicants is integration without inclusion, participation in the production systems, and appendance to the consumption markets of EU corporations without the attendant political, economical, social, and cultural rights conferred by European Union citizenship†[6]. That the Eastern Bloc is aware of this inequity suggests the a cceptance of said fact, returning the EU as an organization to a reincarnation of Enlightenment-era prejudice, exclusion, and exploitation. The concept of â€Å"Europeanness† here would be nominal at best, as Eastern Europe would be included at face value, never accepted as a contemporary of its Western counterpart. Appendini and Bislev argue in their Integration in NAFTA and the EU that the phenomenon of European integration is â€Å"reminiscent of the classical historical process of state and nation building† as perceived from â€Å"European history: a set of regulations being established for a territory (an expanding one, but at each moment precisely defined)†[7]. Contrary to Borocz’s observation of deliberate Western procrastination in the acceptance of Eastern membership, Appendini and Bislev suggest the vast requisite regulations which would ensure stable integration into the existing EU framework take time to implement, and suggest that the dismissal of the necessary implementation procedures would compromise the legitimacy of Eastern bloc membership, hence reducing membership to the aforementioned paradoxical state Woolf and Borocz describe. Most prominent among the issues faced by Western Europe were addressed by Denmark, who, despite descriptions of being â€Å"th e most knowledgeable and well-informed about European matters,† are â€Å"just about the most negatively inclined towards integration† owing to the question of â€Å"the welfare state, broadly defined†[8]. The relative economic underdevelopment of the Eastern Bloc, from a macro-economical standpoint, would beg the question of fiscal compromise on the part of Western member states. At which point would European integration serve existing members? The longue-duree aspect of political weight here manifests itself in the conceptualization of national discourse and the common interest formed by the EU. If the EU serves as a means to galvanize the continent in matters of policy and economic decision-making, at which point would Eastern European interests counterbalance and take precedence over the interests of Western Europe? The integration of Eastern member states would have to provide at the very least the potential to benefit existing Western members. Moving past fiscal issues brings to the forefront the question of protocol in the realm of geopolitical and global security realities. Gale Stokes suggests that â€Å"nation inclusion opens borders, creating the need for new defenses and changes in strategy†; for instance, â€Å"Poland and the Baltic nations are still redefining their defense strategies in the wake of the Warsaw Pact’s dissolution†[9]. The integration of most Eastern Bloc states would include the â€Å"onerous burden of having to create a new national defense policy,† conceivably overshadowed by the added weight of having to develop â€Å"national welfare and infrastructure building† to meet EU standards[10]. Were these nations able to achieve such goals independent of the EU, they would already have done so, begging the question of the true value of integration. In adopting Western Europe’s â€Å"particular set of basic values and beliefs† regarding â€Å"nationhood, popular sovereignty and democracy,† Eastern states would provide the Western EU members with added stresses, disrupting the function of an already uncertain establishment. From a security standpoint, Western states would be naturally apprehensive of the geopolitical changes and new threats that have emerged since the Cold War; in this sense, Borocz’s assertions of Western hesitation would be justified. The conflict in Bosnia, for example, is a quintessential example of the types of wars that deter â€Å"most aligned countries from seeking† full integration, as Western Europe was intent at the end of WWII to avoid such â€Å"explosive territorial, ethnic, or religious conflicts†[11]. Lengthy but legitimizing measures such as the temporal associate-member status of the Eastern Bloc are regulations asserted to be â€Å"superior to others†; legitimacy can only be attempted through the â€Å"decision-making mechanisms established† in existing EU membership protocol[12]. Gale Stokes notes Lithuanian Defense Minister Andrius Butkevicius’ hierarchy of threats, citing: â€Å"†¦instability in the former USSR, followed by ethno-religious and territorial conflicts, followed by crime and industrial disasters. With the threat of high-intensity conflicts unlikely in the short run, nations face subtler threats, including disaster-relief operations, peace operations, international crime and drug trafficking, illegal migration, and terrorism. The escalation of such threats to regional conflicts is a threat to long-term security [for the EU as a whole]†[13]. Since Borocz crafted his article, various Eastern Bloc nations have begun their integration into the EU. Their experiences, however, should be duly noted in modern issues such as Turkish ascension and the political ramifications of European inclusion of states such as Serbia and Croatia. Assertions of longue-duree such as those intimated by Borocz and Woolf are not necessarily negated by Eastern admittance (albeit partial) to the EU; the potential still exists for furthered exploitation, as full membership is contingent on Western attitudes and political action. Theoretically speaking, Eastern nations are never fully guaranteed equality in such integration; ironically, unity seems to be a concept extending only to those who have the political and economical clout to take the steps to make it a reality. The modicum of exclusion still existing in the minds of Western Europe limit the EU’s scope and function, as it â€Å"is probably not going to be a nation-state in the classica l sense† owing to the â€Å"fragmented and disperse elements of European identities† preventing the assembly of â€Å"anything resembling even a modest version of a national identity†[14]. The â€Å"associate membership† Borocz describes still has the potential to retard the EU’s abilities to function as a cohesive whole[15]. While the policies of the EU may not be largely based on an isolated perception of the Cold War Eastern Bloc nations, the essence of the EU strategy remains integration without full inclusion, the fact remains that a degree of inequity will pervade the EU’s future functions and day-to-day dealings on the global stage. The degree of integration and the increment steps coerced upon Eastern member ascension therefore remains in the eye of the beholder, so to speak; for the optimist daring to believe in the potential of integration, the inequity of the present is attributed to a genuine concern for the future. To the cynic, however, the remarkably slow process of integration and Western Europe’s modern policies smack of the prejudiced perceptions of old. BIBLIOGRAPHY Appendini, Kirsten A. and Sven Bislev (eds). (1999) Integration in NAFTA and the EU:Deficient Institutionality. Basingstoke: Hampshire Palgrave Macmillan. Borocz, Josef. (2000) â€Å"The fox and the raven: the European Union and Hungaryrenegotiate the margins of ‘Europe,’† pp. 77-83. Goldman, Minton F. (1997) Revolution and Change in Central and Eastern Europe:Political, Economic, and Social Challenges. Armonk: ME Sharpe, Inc. Nabli, Mustapha K. (1999) Financial Integration, Vulnerabilities to Crisis, and EUAccession in Five Central European Countries. Washington, DC: World Bank P. Schimmelfennig, Frank. (2003) The EU, NATO, and the Integration of Europe: Rulesand Rhetoric. Cambridge: Cambridge U P. Stokes, Gale. (1998) Annual Survey of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union1997, The Challenge of Integration. Armonk: ME Sharpe, Inc. Tang, Helena. (2000) Winners and Losers in EU Integration: Policy Issues for Centraland Eastern Europe. Washington, DC: World Bank P. Woolf, Larry. (1994) pp. 1-6. 1 Footnotes [1] Borocz 2000, p. 79 [2] Woolf 1994, p. 1 [3] Ibid [4] Borocz 2000, p. 81 [5] Ibid [6] Borocz 2000, pp. 81-82 [7] Appendini and Bislev 1999, p. 126 [8] Ibid [9] Stokes 1998, p. 130 [10] Ibid [11] Ibid [12] Appendini and Bislev 1999, p. 126 [13] Stokes 1998, p. 131 [14] Appendini and Bislev 1999, p. 126 [15] Borocz 2000, pp. 81-82

Is the Black Family Only A Myth? Essay -- Exploratory Essays Research

Is the Black Family Only A Myth? My objective for writing this essay on the black family was to examine and interrogate a myriad of stereotypes surrounding this family structure. Slavery and its inception need to be explored because it enables one to acquire a better understanding of the modern day black family. It is my hope that once we achieve this level of understanding, if not acceptance, that we may be able to start the healing process that is so necessary. THE MOYNIHAN REPORT. SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES. POVERTY. CHILDREN IN TROUBLE. The aforementioned are descriptions and reflections associated with the black family. Although these identifications are different, they all reflect one negative connotation. The connotation is that of families of African descent being "problem ridden" and "dysfunctional." Despite the fact that many families are dysfunctional, the question is: "Why are families of African descent frequently labeled as such ?" The state of black Americans and their families has been at the center of debate for decades. Biased and inaccurate reports such as the infamous Moynihan Report by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan have helped to solidify the false stereotypes surrounding the black family. Such reports and their counterparts have had a long and lasting detrimental effect . Em phasis has been placed on personal biases and racist testing procedures such as the Bitch Test instead of actual data and observation. The Bitch Test (as you can tell from its name), is very racist. It was an intelli gence test designed for children of African descent. This test unlike the Stanford - Binet IQ test, asked questions which were irrelevant to the child's IQ. Questions such as, "What type of car would you call a 'hoo... ...ression and inequality. Works Cited Bennett, Lerone. "The Ten Biggest Myths About The Black Family." Ebony November 1989. Billingsley, Andrew P.H.D. "Understanding African- American Family Diversity." The State Of Black America 1990., National Urban League, 1990. Bray, Rosemary. "So How Did I Get Here?" The New York Times Magazine 8 November 1992. Burgess, Norma. "Examining The Female - Headed Family." The Daily Orange 12 Ocotober 1992. Dubois, W.E.B. The Negro American Family. M.l.T. Press: Cambridge MA, 1970. Eshelman, Ross. The Family. Allyn & Bacon: Boston, Ma. 1991. Graves, Carl. "Challenges For The Black Family." Black Enterprise. December 1988. Mbiti, John. African Religions And Philosophy. Heinemann Educational Books: London, 1988. Yinger, Milton. A Minority Group In American Society. McGraw Hill: New York, 1965.

Plato and Confucius Essay -- Philosophers

Plato and Confucius There are thousands of credible philosophers for people to study today, therefore the choice of who to study becomes a burdening task. Each single one has amazing knowledge and insight that we could all learn something from. There are people who don’t call themselves philosophers but bring philosophical thought to us, and then there are those who dedicate their lives to the love of wisdom. Philosophers have existed for thousands of years, and as long as the sun comes up, there will be philosophers in the future. The human mind is made for philosophizing. So as we young, blossoming philosophers try and make sense of the world in general and the philosophical world specifically, we must find people to enlighten us and share with us their knowledge and theories. These people can range from ancient Chinese philosophers such as Confucius, to early Greek philosophers such as Plato, to more modern philosophers such as Descartes or Locke. Each philosopher brings a different aspect to our learning in their differences in time, culture, knowledge and personality. Many philosophers have a great and withstanding reputation attached to their name, therefore gaining worldwide respect and inquiry. Two of those philosophers are Plato and Confucius. They are perhaps two of the most recognized names in philosophy, and rightly so because of their contributions to the world. All the knowledge that is spoon-fed to us today was not available to these early philosophers, so it makes their ideas even more commendable. Both of these men dedicated their lives to philosophy, and because of that, they have everlasting places in the philosophical world. They are widely followed even today because of their breakthrough theories. Plato an... ...ey are; it is more about how rich and famous you become. I believe that either of these philosophers would be a valuable one to follow. There is no reason why you can’t take lessons from both in an effort to improve your life. They both incorporate fundamental human values like justice, truth, wisdom, goodness, and righteousness in their efforts to improve the human condition, both individually and in society as a whole. Confucius’ ideas may be a little easier to follow since it doesn’t require you to throw your current way of life out the window. His emphasis on simplicity, respect, and understanding could drastically improve the lives of anyone who studies him. However, Plato’s focus on reason is something that could lead you to want to change in an effort to live better. It is obvious that both men have a love of wisdom, and are therefore true philosophers.