Ethics, Metaphysics and Epistemology

Ethics, Metaphysics and Epistemology Poyan Keynejad Group I: Ethics (#2) According to Aristotle, humans highest good involves the pursuit of deriving happiness from living and thinking well. To this end, Aristotle justifies this particular claim through explaining: the chief good is evidently something final. Now we call that which is in itself worthy of pursuit more final than that which is worthy of pursuit for the sake of something else. Now such a thing is happiness, for this we choose always for itself (Aristotle 570R/571L). In this light, Aristotles argument here is that the highest good can only be that which is achieved through actualizing something which is worthy of actualizing in and of itself, and for Aristotle nothing fits this description better than that of happiness, whether such happiness be derived from theoretical or practical pursuits. On the other hand, the Socrates of Platos Crito takes a slightly different approach to the highest goodness. Toward the beginning of Crito, Socrates remarks that the good life, the beautiful life, and the just life are the same (Plato 42R). To this end, the highest good for Socrates involves living responsibly and thoughtfully at all times and regardless of the context of ones circumstances. Socrates puts this idea of the highest goodness into action by refusing to flee his death sentence in Athens. Socrates makes the argument that in being an Athenian citizen, he has taken an oath to follow the rulings of Athenian law, regardless if such a law is used to condemn him to death. In defense of his responsibility to the rule of law, Socrates bemoans us to not value either your children or your life or anything else more than goodness, (Plato 46L) or, other words, living thoughtfully and responsibly. In weighing both of these arguments for the highest good against one another, I must say that while I do not inherently disagree with Socratess argument, I find Aristotles account of the highest good to be more compelling. This is because in Platos Crito Socrates only vaguely lays out a general philosophical conception of what it means to live a good life, whereas in Aristotles own conception of the highest good he lays out a structured argument for what such goodness entails, namely that the highest good must be something which is worthy of pursuing for the sake of itself, which for Aristotle is embodied in the actualization of happiness. In this light, I find Aristotles account of goodness more compelling than Socratess account because it is structured in a clear and logical manner. Though I will also qualify my remarks by saying that I do generally sympathize with Socratess conception of goodness; I just find it less compelling than Aristotles competing conception. Group II: Metaphysics (#4) Saint Anselm argues for the existence of god on the basis that god is something à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [of] which nothing greater can be conceived, and thus according to this line of thought such a god cannot exist just in the understanding, [because] we could conceive it to exist in reality too, in which case it would be greater (Anselm 40R/41L). To this end, Anselm is maintaining that if one accepts the premise that god is something à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [of] which nothing greater can be conceived, then it logically follows that such a god must exist, in that the only thing greater than having the concept of such a god in ones mind is the reality that that god exists outside of the mind, therefore fulfilling Anselms premise of god being something à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [of] which nothing greater can be conceived (Anselm 40R). On the other hand, Saint Aquinas argues for the existence of god on the basis that every cause must have an action and thus that there must have been a first cause that was caused by god, seeing as how, at least in Aquinass eyes, the universe is finite and as such it must have originated from a first cause. To this end, Aquinas maintains that everything has been changed by something else, But this cannot go back to infinity. If it did, there would be no first cause of change and, consequently, no other causes of change, (Aquinas 43L) meaning that without a first cause there would be no universe in the first place. In this light, Aquinas posits that the only thing capable of causing the first cause is god, and thus he bases his argument for gods existence on the idea that such a god would have been necessary to cause a finite universe. From my own amateur perspective, I find Aquinass aforementioned argument for the existence of god to be stronger than Anselms argument. This is because Anselms argument for gods existence seems grounded purely in rhetoric and semantics, as if his argument were just a word game. On the other hand, Aquinass argument for gods existence is grounded in a problem of physics that, short of modern science, only the existence of a god could reasonably resolve. The premise that a finite universe must have had a first cause is a premise that virtually any person could easily accept. Thus on the basis of its premise and its logical conclusion, Aquinass argument for god seems stronger than Anselms argument. With regard to persuasiveness, Aquinass argument for gods existence is certainly persuasive in the sense that one cannot rationally conceive of a finite universe that did not bear a first cause, in that such a universes very finiteness requires an originary causation. Thus, short of having any knowledge of the Big Bag, Aquinass contention that god must have caused the first cause is a reasonable one, as it would be difficult to come up with an idea of any other entity that could be capable of causing the first cause. Group III: Epistemology (#6) Descartes imagines an evil demon at the end of Meditation because he uses this concept to illustrate that most knowledge is dubious and that one must start from a position of skepticism if they are to be able to truly find a trustworthy foundation for verifiable knowledge. To this end, Descartes remarks how, in realizing that he would need to start his pursuit of knowledge from scratch, I would need to tear down everything and begin anew from the foundations if I wanted to establish any firm and lasting knowledge (Descartes 157L). Thus, in devising a theoretical evil demon that can mislead humans into positions of false knowledge, Descartes is beginning to tear down everything and begin anew in his pursuit of firm and lasting knowledge (Descartes 157L). Zhuangzi makes similar arguments in pursuit of establishing skepticism in his own scholarship. For one, Zhuangzi makes the skeptical argument that knowledge is ultimately impossible because, for him, the divide between subjectivity and objectivity cannot be overcome. He argues such because he maintains that Everything is merely subjective; there is no such thing as objectivity. So there is no such thing as knowledge (Zhuangzi 322). In this sense, he views knowledge as impossible because humans are only capable of having imperfect subjective perspectives. Building off of this contention of ultimate subjectivity, Zhuangzi makes another skeptical argument on the basis of universal variability, with universal variability being the notion that since everyone perceives things differently, There is no way to decide which perceptions ought to be trusted, (Zhuangzi 322) which again provides us with the implication that objective knowledge is impossible. The main similarity between Descartess skepticism and Zhuangzis skepticism is that both philosophers make certain theoretical arguments in order to illustrate how, in many cases (or in all cases for Zhuangzi), what we take to be knowledge is in fact quite untrustworthy. On the other hand, the main difference between Descartess skepticism and Zhuangzis skepticism lies in what both are trying to achieve through their skeptical arguments. Descartess only endeavors in skepticism so that he can weed out all false knowledge from his perspective and thereafter establish a firm foundation for real knowledge. On the flip side, Zhuangzi does not have a constructive end to his skepticism, in that he maintains his skeptical arguments solely for the purpose of illustrating how there can be no firm foundation for real knowledge. In this sense, Descartess goals and Zhuangzis goals are quite different when it comes to skepticism.

Energy and Water Saving Ideas for Schools

Water-Saving Ideas for Schools Free ? Repair leaky faucets and toilets throughout the school building. ? Encourage maintenance staff to avoid using hoses or pressure washers to clean sidewalks and other paved areas. ? Never allow water to run unnecessarily, and avoid using the toilet as a trash can. ? Avoid overuse of the air conditioning – the harder it works, the more water (and energy! ) is used to cool the building. ? Encourage your school’s cafeteria staff to avoid using trays when possible. Fewer items to wash means less water is used to wash them! ?Research the water needs of the plants currently found on the school grounds. Determine how often they require water, and request that maintenance staff only water the plants and grounds as required by the plants. ? Make sure sprinkler systems are watering plants and not spraying water onto sidewalks or other paved areas. ? Develop a poster campaign to help educate the school community on water-conserving behaviors suc h as repairing leaks, turning off the water while washing hands, avoiding overuse of air conditioning, landscaping with native plants, etc.Low-cost ? Install faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads and other water-saving devices throughout the school. ? Construct a rain garden or native plants garden on the school grounds. ? Install rain barrels on school grounds. ? Place mulch around plants to reduce evaporation. ? Install timers and moisture sensors on irrigation equipment used on school grounds. ? Research the WaterSense program and encourage the school administration to purchase WaterSense products when equipment needs replacing.National Environmental Education Week is April 11-17, 2010 Be Water and Energy Wise! www. eeweek. org Energy-Saving Ideas for Schools Free ? Set the classroom (or school-wide) thermostat so it is slightly warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. ? Start a carpooling program at your school and encourage students to ride the school bus or carpool rathe r than having their individual parents drive them to school. ? If your classroom has windows and gets plenty of natural light, open the blinds and turn off the lights when not required. Check for and repair leaks around windows and doors where air conditioning and heat can escape. ? Plug all computers, televisions, printers, copiers, and other equipment into power strips, and turn off the strips when the devices are not in use. Even when turned off, many electronics use energy even when they're in standby mode. ? Pack lunches (in reusable containers! ) that don’t require heating. ? Ensure that heating and cooling vents are clear of obstruction. ?Create a schedule and put students in charge of turning off energy-consuming devices in the classroom (printers, computers, lights, etc. ). ? Increase the amount of insulation on water heaters and hot water pipes. ? Develop a poster campaign to help educate the school community on energy-conserving behaviors such as turning off lights , computers, and other equipment when not in use, keeping doors and windows closed to reduce heating and cooling system waste, washing clothes and dishes in full loads using cold water, etc.Low-cost ? Replace classroom light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. ? Research the Energy Star program and encourage the school administration to purchase Energy Star products when equipment needs replacing. ? Plant deciduous trees around the school building. Trees help reduce heating and cooling costs by shading the building during warm months and by providing a wind break during the winter. National Environmental Education Week is April 11-17, 2010 Be Water and Energy Wise! www. eeweek. org

Work Related Cross Cultural Training - 1017 Words

Work-related cross-cultural interactions are very often failed costing organisations large amounts of money and significant effort. In addition, according to EEOC reports for 2011, nearly 100,000 filings for workplace discrimination had took place in the private sector, representing an all-time high. Workplace adjustment is another significant reason associated with organisation’s turnover and costs. According to Oberg (1954), people have the tendency to suffer from culture shock when they moved between different types of cultures. The phenomenon of culture shock is crucially important on the grounds that it results into both psychological and physiological effects such as depression and insomnia. As a respond to the above social, financial and functional issues, organisations along with scholars and researchers have put a lot of effort in order to find a solution to these problems. One proposal is the concept of cross-cultural training, a method which has been supported by many advocators as a proper and efficient mean of facilitating the above problems coupled with supporting increased diversity (Brislin, 1981; Landis Brislin, 1983; Mendenhall Oddou, 1986). Under the right circumstances, cross-cultural training could be proven a method for addressing prejudice, stereotyping and many other biases (King et al. 2010). From the one hand, one more general definition of training has defined it as â€Å"any interaction aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of individuals,Show MoreRelatedSelection And Training Of Managers For New Plant1023 Words   |  5 PagesResource Management FROM: Seun Gbadehan, Human Resource Specialist SUBJECT: Selection and Training of Managers for new Plant in Sonora, Mexico. I am writing to you in regards to the recruitment of staffs to suit the managerial position for the new plant created in Sonora, Mexico. This memo will be proposing the criteria under which the potential transferees will be selected and also a three months training program will be administered by eligible trainers in each of the identified areas of selectionRead MoreEssay about Report on Cross-Cultural Management1127 Words   |  5 PagesManagement Perspective vii. Summary viii. Bibliography Executive Summary This paper is a report on cross-cultural management, with the issues related to cross-cultural management being discussed in the paper. Additionally, the report has produced the future way of cross-cultural management, including how it can be improved in offices relying much on this strategic approach. â€Æ' Diversity of Cross-Cultural Management Introduction In the beginning of globalization, organizations have started redefiningRead MoreChallenges Faced By Ethnic Minority Supervisors1216 Words   |  5 Pagessupervision, multicultural literature for children and adolescents, and a course on survey design in educational research) to help me better understand the cross-cultural supervision and different challenges supervisor’s face in cross-cultural supervision. These courses helped me to look into how ethnicity and clinical supervision are related at a much deeper level, and how same/different ethnicity of supervisors and supervisee affect the supervision process. The UF doctoral program has givenRead MoreCross Cultural Psychology And Social Psychology1723 Words   |  7 PagesUnit 13 Signature Assignment Cross-cultural psychology involves the examination of relationships between cultural context and human behavior (Berry, Poortinga, Breugelmans, Chasiotis and Sam, 2011, p. 2). Research in the area of cross-cultural psychology is aimed at comparing specific covert and overt behaviors of two or more cultures. More specifically, cross-cultural psychology examines the â€Å"†¦similarities and differences in psychological functioning in various cultural and ethnocultural groups†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Read MoreBenefits Of Television Travel Programs Essay1449 Words   |  6 Pagesprevious work suggested the importance of TV programs in promoting China’s image to the world while other researchers have theoretically investigated those programs’ communication strategy. But most studies of TV travel programs are with the attention being given to tourism management and tourism economy, there has been few studies on the cross-cultural communication of travel programs. Therefore, the s tudy of Travelogue’s past prosperity and today’s running state in the perspective of cross-culturalRead MoreCultural Intelligence1554 Words   |  7 PagesCultural Intelligence Cultural Quotient is the organizational psychology and management theory, and it is all about the continuous learning and aptitude to develop personally through this learning. The differences in the intercultural do remains in the momentous challenge stage in all multinational organizations. Hence to face the challenge there is a need of a new domain of astuteness which immense relevance to the era of escalating globalization and the workplace diverse. For every manager whoRead MoreMental Health Needs And The Process Of Cross Cultural Adaptation1175 Words   |  5 Pagesmental health treatments are effective, feasible, and cross-culturally modifiable for utilization in low- and middle- income countries (LMIC), there are well-known mental health needs and treatments gaps. †¢ The current study identifies mental health needs and treatment gaps which are examined in the literatures. Also, the authors describe the process of an intervention selection to meet the particular population’s needs and the process of cross-cultural adaptation. †¢ In the current study, community-basedRead MoreTeam Essay980 Words   |  4 Pages1.  How do the approaches used by Nordam Europe seem to support high performance work, drawing upon the ideas presented in this chapter? As stated in the text, Nordam Europe always strives to have people who are experienced and knowledgeable. Because of the need for high-precision parts it is critical to have  workers  who are skilled. This company believes in continuous improvement for their employees; so they are constantly being trained and kept up to date on technologies such as in the contextRead MoreChurch Leadership : The Key Community Of People1593 Words   |  7 PagesRelationships hold the keys to success Church leadership, along with teams that are sent to the mission field should work together in identifying what needs to be done for the particular community of people. A relevant example of critical caring was in a local church body. The Worship Experience team, made up of a 200+ member choir, had clearly identified a group within this church community that would care for one another in satisfying common goals, and to accomplish the task of helping people getRead MoreAtlantis Global Corporation Case Study853 Words   |  4 Pages To: John Dawson and Board of Directors From: Alayah Williams, Shawn Williams, and Cross-Cultural Team Subject: Results of Change Management Process Diagnosis: â€Å"Implementation of the strategic human capital plan is a key step in an agency’s progress to build a highly effective, performance-based organization by recruiting, acquiring, motivating, and rewarding a high-performing, top quality workforce. The plan becomes the roadmap for continuous improvement and the framework for transforming

Epic of Beowulf Essay - 980 Words

Beowulf’s Three Fights In the epic poem Beowulf, the character Beowulf is seen to have three battles. The first battle is against Grendel, the second is against Grendel’s mum, and the final battle is against the dragon. In each of these battles Beowulf is portrayed as a great hero (well he should be since it’s a characteristic of an epic poem to glorify the hero) and is always seen to be brave and fearless. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The first battle he fights is versus Grendel. It takes place in Hrothgar’s Hall of the Hart where Grendel has been plaguing them for twelve years. Beowulf comes because he is told by people from Geatland to help the Scyldings. To get ready for the battle the hero takes off all his armor and sets aside all†¦show more content†¦This battle takes place in a cave after Beowulf had tracked her to a bog until he found the spot where the water was on fire. Once there he jumps in and swims for a whole day until he found the cave. In this battle he wears his armor and takes a sword by the name of Hrunting. It was Hrothgar’s sword and Unferth carried it for the sea-geat. So with all this gear he swims through the water until he happens upon Grendel’s mum who grabs him and tries to hurt him, though to no avail. Beowulf gets pinned and the sea monsters come around him and tear at him, which does hurt him a little. He finally gets his arm fre e and swings Hrunting at the mother of evil but it breaks upon her head. Then she pulls a dagger on him and tries to stab him but his armor protects him. Then he sees a sword off to the side that he grabs and stabs her with. The sword is supernatural and doesn’t break on her but after he cuts the head off of the hell thane, the sword dissipates and only the hilt is left. The hilt depicts a great flood, which supposedly was supposed to have killed Grendel and his mum but they were able to survive in their cave and made it alive. So the bold thane has fought with Grendel and his mum and still he stands. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The third and final battle takes place back in Beowulf’s homeland, Geatland. Beowulf is an old man, possibly eighty, and is now the ruler of the Danes. The dragon has justShow MoreRelatedBeowulf : The Epic Of Beowulf1027 Words   |  5 Pages To begin, Beowulf the poem has a unknown author, Beowulf is an epic poem. In Beowulf he is challenged by the murderous monster Grendel, Grendel is eating and slaughtering Hrothgar the King of the Danes men and people, the king needs Beowulf s help in defeating Grendel, Beowulf ends up killing the monster and is now tormented by the monster s mother that is much larger, she is no match for Beowulf and he kills her as well, lastly it is Beowulf’s last battle after he has been king of Geatland forRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf By Beowulf2577 Words   |  11 Pagesoriginal aspects of these different religions. Due to the construction of this Beowulf, students and professors are able to study and get a true unde rstanding of a pagans’ demeanor and how life evolves through their eyes. Throughout the epic poem Beowulf, paganism is exemplified as this epic hero falls victim to fate while embarking on his journey through life fighting monsters and chasing after his fame. To begin with, Beowulf was composed in Old English by an anonymous writer between the sixth and seventhRead MoreThe Epic of Beowulf733 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf is the oldest anglo-saxon poem written in English. The poem describes the heroic deeds of Beowulf in his fight against monsters. Even if the events narrated in the poem take place in Denmark, the poem was transmitted by oral language between the anglo-saxon even 200 years after its creation. Anglo-saxons did not consider themselves british, but vikings, and their heroes were always from Scandinavia. The author of Beowulf is anonymous. The original poem was written on sheep tanned leatherRead MoreBeowulf as Epic823 Words   |  4 PagesWhat makes an epic? Is Beowulf an epic? ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · What is an epic poem, and how does it differ from other kinds of poetry or storytelling? How have epic poems traditionally been transmitted from generation to generation? How do tellers remember these long and complicated stories? According to Robert Harris’s Glossary of Literary Terms, he defines an epic as the following: Epic. An extended narrative poem recounting actions, travels, adventures, and heroic episodes and written in a high style (withRead More Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf as Epic Hero844 Words   |  4 PagesBeowulf as Epic Hero Epic heroes usually exemplify the character traits most admired in their societies, and Beowulf is no exception.   Beowulf is set in the Anglo-Saxon society, a time when war was rampant among the many peoples trying to take over the different kingdoms of England.   In this dangerous, violent time people lived in constant peril and jeopardy.   These conditions only allowed people of great bravery to survive and men of outstanding courage were admired the populous.   TheseRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf As An Epic Hero1519 Words   |  7 Pageswhisked away following a journey, you have most likely read an epic. An epic by definition is â€Å"a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation†. Every epic has a main character that undergoes the same archetypal journey as all other heroes, an epic hero. There are specific qualities one must have to be considered an epic hero. Each epic hero possesses superhuman strength, displays a strong senseRead MoreComparing Beowulf And The Epic Of Beowulf937 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Roman Empire. In the story Beowulf, his actions portray him, indeed be an epic hero. Both Christianity and Paganism are both portrayed throughout the epic Beowulf. Beowulf frequently speaks of God throughout the story, while there are also many Pagan elements that are evident throughout the story as well. In addition, It s hard to ignore the Christian and Pagan elements in Beowulf. These types of elements are what define the heroic warrior in the epic Beowulf(Vengeance the Pagan and ChristianRead MoreThe Epic Of Beowulf As An Epic Hero711 Words   |  3 Pagesthan the writer. These â€Å"epic heros† are protagonists that fulfill their potential of greatness through using their bravery, strength and humility for good. The near ancient tale of Beowulf is a classic example of an epic story that contains an epic hero. In this tale Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, has been terrorized by a beast known as Grendel. This beast has been murdering the king’s people and no one has come close to stopping this killer. A Geat warrior named Beowulf hears of the King’s predicamentRead MoreThe Epic : An Analysis Of The Epic Of Beowulf701 Words   |  3 PagesBeowulf is one of the longest surviving Anglo-Saxon poem. The epic takes place in the sixth century in what is now Denmark and Sweden. The poem opens with Hrothgar, whose successful rule is signified by a glorious mead-hall called Heorot. For 12 years, a massive man-like ogre named Grendel, a descendant of Cain, has raided Heorot and killed the kings warriors. Beowulf, a young warrior from Geatland (Sweden), comes to Hrothgar’s aid, bringing 14 of his best men with him. At a feast before the endRead MoreBeowulf : An Epic Hero930 Words   |  4 Pages The story of Beowulf shows its reader many characteristics of why this Anglo-Saxon poem is an epic. First of all, Beowulf is a warrior of epic renown by the time he formally introduces himself in the poem. Next, Beowulf is the warrior that many strive to be in life. In addition, Beowulf finds himself tackling many quests that involve dangerous beasts, or as he might call them, demons. The next quality shown by Beowulf is his bravery and honor. The reader is able to easily identify this characteristic