Knowledge, Power and Control :: Philosophy Religion Papers

Information, Power and Control In this paper, I propose to analyze a portion of the issues that emerge because of the connection among information and power, and explicitly those that worry who should control information and spread it in the public eye. This subject is examined in the compositions of Plato and is likewise remarked on by such medieval masterminds as Averroes (Ibn Rushd), Moses Maimonides and St. Thomas Aquinas from the Islamic, Jewish and Christian conventions separately and their perspectives will be quickly sketched out here. In spite of the strict, recorded and social contrasts which recognize their methodologies from each other, what is wonderful is the closeness in the ends that they reach about how noetic force and control is obtained and worked out. They all demand that information ought to be made specifically accessible to specific people and gatherings as per noetic capacity and social situation with regards to the conceived socio-political model of network that is in activity. Informatio n is seen as a saving impact on individual and political life, to be transmitted ideally in a basically unaltered state so as to keep up continue the ideal socio-social worth framework and force structure. The accentuation is on regard for convention and for the inceptions and status of the noetic substance to be transmitted through the skill of those appointed to go about as transmitting operators. The substance of information is as often as possible depicted as secretive and bewildering, just equipped for appropriate understanding by delegated masters. The job of educating is subsequently significant since the educator is the network's selected master for scattering information, as and when suitable, as indicated by the responsive capacities of the individuals who learn. This epistemological methodology seems, by all accounts, to be in sharp complexity to the contemporary perspective on somebody like Paulo Freire who demands that information must be fairly accessible to everybody so as to politically change society change through social justice.(1) This point is accomplished when the noetic procedure turns into a basic perusing of the real world, an appearance in real life which is applied with the goal that customary perspectives establish a perpetual subject for reevaluation. Information is seen in Freirean epistemology as a vehicle of correspondence between individuals, a procedure wherein there is no for all time unaltered noetic information yet rather a continuous rationalization deliberately sought after through logical inconsistency and continually focused on fundamentally reclassifying how individuals can exist together in a condition of social balance. As indicated by this view, information offers everybody the likelihood to ponder the world to follow up on it in an all the more refining way.

Aldi case studies Essay

QUESTION 1 Aldi is a main retailer with more than 8,000 stores around the world. They work an ordinary store sells around 700 items, contrasted with roughly 25,000 things stock at conventional general store. Since opening its first store in 1913, Aldi has effectively settled itself as one of the most dependable retailers in the universal business advertise. In industry business, organization were accomplished their upper hand in working administration dependent on contending a distinction, contending cost and contending a reaction. ALDI have an alternate method of their administrations in retail shop industry. Truly, staple shop is very normal however they accomplish an upper hand through an administrations characteristics in retail industry. ALDI‘s methodology lead to upper hand thorugh their image that related with an incentive for cash. Working supervisor in ALDI works a successful arrangement so as to underscoring their item and administrations that will impact potential incentive to the client. Its accentuation is on giving great items and fantastic incentive for clients. As essentially, ALDI have given the client an effective method to shop. As we probably am aware, clients need the best quality items at the most minimal potential costs. With such intense rivalry it is crucial for associations to comprehend what their clients need. As a respectable retailer, ALDI comprehends that its clients need an incentive for cash however would prefer not to settle on quality. ALDI’s system rotates around giving great quality staple goods to low cost. For ALDI quality is significant that ensures item sold with a no inquiries posed to unconditional promise. In light of case, ALDI accomplishes its ease system yet at the same time keep up to create quality items. They applied a few strategies, for example, purchases enormous amounts of thing from confided in providers, exploiting amount limits and economies of scale. ALDI didn't squander their expense towards racking, areas and distribution center since they used an adequately assets. Something else, ALDI have a speedy reaction in term of conveyance item as a result of Just in Time (JIT). The staffs in ALDI work the checkout just as restock things by supplanting beds and this is very adaptable. They orchestrate an amazing planning of their exhibition, for example, limit overhead expense. QUESTION 2 ALDI is a retailer that offers a minimal effort system as one of its quality in retail industry in Germany. Despite the fact that relate an ease technique, there is no such things that ALDI offer a low standard of items. They could keep up to offering a decent support quality since they prevail in redid the utilities of its assets limit. ALDI utilizing a period based administration that necessary them to meet changing business sector and client needs. Notwithstanding serious technique, quality is imperative to make an incentive to pay. That is to say, clients didn't had lament purchasing our items and keep to get it that comparable guideline utilized by ALDI that ensures item sold with a no inquiries posed to unconditional promise. Other than, a great help is one of a piece of value. It is on the grounds that, administrations, for example, meet client need on schedule, promptly accessible and accommodation stores could fulfill a client on their normal day by day staple sho p.

Are Bookworms Killing The Bookstore

Are Bookworms Killing The Bookstore Here in Memphis, The Booksellers is going belly up â€" causing an emotional shock among my friends almost as great as the election. Since I’m a senior citizen Book Rioter, Ive seen countless bookstores come and go. I remember the thrill of their openings  and the depression of their closings. I know of only one bookstore older than myself, and I think Ill outlive it. But hell, nothing seems to last anymore. Im truly sad bookstores are going out of business, but arent we to blame? Among my bookish friends lamenting the demise of our favorite bookstore, we feel something significant has changed in our lives. The Booksellers used to be Davis-Kidd Booksellers, which at one time had several locations across Tennessee, with legions of devoted fans. Evidently not enough. Will any bookstore stay in business in these changing technological  times? I admit my guilt. I’ve bought dozens of books this month.   None from a new bookstore. I now prefer digital books â€" either Kindle editions or Audible audiobooks. I own over two thousand books I carry around in my iPhone 6s Plus. I’d need a Class 4 truck do that with hardbacks. I went to Barnes Noble Monday, our last remaining bookstore selling new books, and spent $35. But I bought two expensive computer magazines and a remaindered coloring book no new books. For over forty years in my younger life, I’d visit bookstores two or three times a week, always hanging out in the science and science fiction sections. My Barnes Noble have large sections for those books. However, I didn’t even glance at them. I’ve decided it’s unfair to use their shelves for perusing books I would only buy at Amazon. And if I’m extra honest, how I select books is far more sophisticated than the old days. I used to spend a few minutes flipping through a volume before making an impulse purchase. Now I research books on the internet before I hit the order button, getting to know them in ways no store clerk could. If I only buy magazines and pick over the remaindered books will bookstores stay in business? Are my buying habits typical? Even those buying habits are changing. I subscribe to Texture where I have access to 200+ digital magazines, and I’ve been thinking about subscribing to  Comixology because young Book Rioters are making me feel I’m missing something by not reading comics. By the way, am I wrong in thinking comic fans mostly buy their comics digitally, rather than collect paper editions? What will bookstores sell in the future? Now that I think of it, all the comic book stores I used to see are no longer in business. Most bookworms wail and gnash their teeth when their favorite bookstore  dies, but aren’t we killing their business? Aren’t we killing libraries too? We’re living through a paradigm shift. Some younger Book Rioters will even wonder why I’m writing this essay because digital books are all they’ve ever known. Most bookworms, of all ages, still love physical books and will riot over the idea of them disappearing. Yet, how many of you buy books at your local bookstore paying full list price? I feel really bad that bookstores are going out of business, but arent we bookworms to blame? Or is that fair? Is this a natural business evolution and no one is to blame?  Bookstores are going the way of video stores. That’s deeply sad. I often lament not owning a typewriter or an 8-bit computer. I miss them. But if I owned one, they’d be gathering dust in the attic. Change is relentless. If you live long enough everything becomes nostalgia.

What Makes People Virtuous - 732 Words

What makes ppl virtuous...... Virtue is defined as the quality of moral excellence, righteousness, and responsibility (Pg.73) While studying what makes a virtuous person their character rather than actions are studied. Honesty, courage, moderation, compassion, wisdom and loyalty are a few examples of the characteristics of a virtuous person. (pg.82) Virtue is the moderate option. For example a person can be greedy or a person can give everything they have away, but the person who takes care of themselves and others in virtuous because they are being responsible for themselves and others. In relation to what constructs a virtue is the origin of virtue in a person. Virtue is not born in a person, rather†¦show more content†¦Virtues can be taught through the family or by guardians. When a child is young he/she does not know much about the world. What they do know was taught through experience and being reprimanded or rewarded for the action committed. In other words, the child learned through reinforcement. Virtues can be taught this way, a child must learn the middle path rather than vices. Virtue ethics strives to create a good person and combine reason and emotion. (Pg.86) AShow MoreRelated Aristotle and the Book of Nicomanchean Ethics Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pageshappiness. Aristotle states that activity is an important requirement of happiness. He states that a happy person cannot be inactive. He then goes on to say that living a life of virtue is something pleasurable in itself. The virtuous person takes pleasure in doing virtuous things. T he role of virtue is an important one for Aristotle. Without virtue, it seems one cannot obtain happiness. Virtue acts as a linking factor to happiness. Aristotle states that the human function is the life activity ofRead MoreEssay about Socrates Views on Virtue and Happiness1049 Words   |  5 Pageshappiness before he discusses virtue and its relation with happiness. He seems to hold a unique definition of happiness states that the usual definition of happiness just makes one think that they are happy; however, the real happiness consists of something much deeper. He says, The Olympian victor makes you think yourself happy; I make you be happy (Apology 36e-37a). The constant questioning he practices, according to Socrates himself, is in effect helping the Athenians be happy because it is helpingRead MoreGovernment And Virtue By Benjamin Franklin1197 Words   |  5 Pagesis a country well-known for the phrase, â€Å"we the people;† it is a nation created by the people for the people. â€Å"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters† (Franklin, 1840, pg. 297). This statement by Benjamin Franklin strongly emphasizes the importance of virtuous citizenry in a country founded on claims to freedom. This gives rise to the question of what makes a person virtuous and how that virtue should be cultivated. RegardlessRead MoreEssay Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle1464 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing happy. A virtuous person is a person with a disposition toward virtuous actions and who derives pleasure from behaving virtuously. Aristotle distinguishes between two types of human virtue: virtues of thought and virtues of character. Virtues of thought are acquired through learning and include virtues like wisdom and prudence; virtues of character include bravery and charity, which are acquired by habituation and require external goods to develop. As a consequence, not all people can acquireRead MoreAristotle And Jean Jacques Rousseau And Rousseau On The Origin Of Inequality979 Words   |  4 PagesPeople such as Buddhist monks devote their lives to the search for virtue through isolation and meditation. Others believe that just simply living your life as a generous person and practicing self-preservation is virtuous. These two different, yet similar ideas of virtuous living came from the two philosophers known as Aristotle and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and their works in the Nicomachean Ethics and Discourse on The Origin of Inequality. Aristotle believed that the individual had to meet multipleRead MoreEssay on Aristotles Notion on Eudaimonia and Virtue 1550 Words   |  7 PagesIn Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics he accounts that humans should make sacrifices and should ultimately aim first and foremost for their own happiness . In the paper I will argue that it is really in a person’s best interest to be virtuous . I will do this by first describing Aristotle’s notion on both eudaimonia and virtue , as well as highlighting the intimate relationship between the two . Secondly I will talk about the hu man role in society. Thirdly I will describe the intrinsic tie between humanRead MoreVirtue Ethics : A Theory Of Morality1448 Words   |  6 Pagesthe consequences or rules as above stated. This also means that people can learn to improve their moral life by becoming more virtuous. Those in oppose to Virtue Ethics argue that the rules of deontology and consequentialism provide the rigid action guidance lacking in v-ethics and because of this, what is â€Å"right† or â€Å"good† is’ obliviously’ more clearly defined. Without clarity in what is right/good, how can we know what is more virtuous of a decision? In this paper is will refute the objections toRead MoreThe Good Man Must Choose Virtuous Action For Its Own Sake1557 Words   |  7 Pagesthe good man must choose virtuous action for its own sake. A man who is drawn towards vice, but acts rightly, but doesn’t want too, is not at all a virtuous man. Passion and pleasure must be felt through virt uous actions in order for his passions to naturally draw him toward virtue and away from vices. Therefore, habits allow us to train our passions in the right way, so that we do choose virtue for its own sake and recoil away from vice (Mertz, 1997). Although many people adopt the rules taught toRead MoreIs A Man Truly Virtuous With Excellence Of Character?991 Words   |  4 PagesCan a man really become virtuous with excellence of character by training himself in virtuous deeds and actions? Can an unvirtuous man become a virtuous man by forming habits and then adjusting for his mistakes by acting more and more virtuous? The answer is yes, both according to Aristotle and by right reason. If a man is truly acting in accordance with reason and directed towards truth, he will then see how his unvirtuous acts affects others and by creating good habits the consequence will resultRead MoreComparison Between Aristotle And Kant1388 Words   |  6 Pagesviews on the topic. Aristotle and Kant have two totally different views on virtue, one being based on the soul and how you character depicts you virtue and the other which is based of the fact that anyone has a chance of being morally good, even bad people. There is a lot of disagreem ent between Aristotle and Kant, which has examples to back the disagreements. Aristotle takes virtue as an excellence, while Kant takes it more to being a person doing something morally good in the society and for them

Bismarck And Kaiser Wilhelm s Foreign Policy - 1150 Words

Maya Epstein Mr. LeRoy Honors History 1 21 October 2015 1. Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm were two German officials around the time of world war one. They both had foreign policies and they were both pretty different. Bismarck’s foreign policy had many aims. One of the aims was to leave territorial expansion behind. He unified Germany and to do so had to incorporate many other states into Prussia. He was also very much in favor of peace instead of war. He also never tried to strengthen the naval forces of Germany especially not to ruin the relationship with England. Next, he decided to keep France isolated as well as friendless so that could not start a war as revenge. He also focused on Germany s relationship with Austria and Russia. He also distrusted Italy. Kaiser Wilhelm’s foreign policy differed from Bismarck’s in many ways. Whereas Bismarck did things based on logic Kaiser Wilhelm did things more based on emotion. This resulted in incoherence and inconsistency in the German relations with other nations. He wanted an empire that could rival the size of the british. He also managed to alienate the English by aggressively expanding the navy. He was more aggressive and wanted Germany to be the best. Their decisions were significant to World War one in many ways. One of the ways was it fueled European tension prior to the war. The different countries did not like some the things either of the leaders were doing, and that did not help much. Also, because of the alreadyShow MoreRelatedThe Franco Prussian War Of 18711600 Words   |  7 Pagesassimilated by Bismarck into the Northern German Confederation in the Treaty of Frankfurt in mid-1871. Bismarck then took the honour of proclaiming the then King Wilhelm I, Kaiser Wilhelm I, the first Kaiser of the newly formed German Empire in late 1871, who was the leader of a united, single nation Germany for the first time. Napoleon III dissolved the French Empire and a new Republic was formed, the Third Republic in French History, under Adolphe Thiers. Late Political Career Thiers. Bismarck was instatedRead MoreKaiser Wilhelm And Otto Von Bismarck s Policies Differed1620 Words   |  7 PagesWorld War I Essay Questions 1. Both Kaiser Wilhelm and Otto Von Bismarck’s policies differed. In reality, Kaiser based his ideas and was influenced off of Bismarck. Wilhelm II was mostly concerned with the power of the German Navy. He consistently tried to get the best of the best for the navy and always got the latest weapons for them. Also, he attempted to make Germany the predominant world power. His aim to get allies for Germany was a complete failure. When Kaiser tried to reach out and get helpRead MoreU.s. Honors Pre Wwi1668 Words   |  7 PagesChandni Rajesh Mr. LeRoy Honors U.S. History (4A) 10/19/15 U.S. Honors Pre-WWI 1. Bismarck s foreign policy was entirely based on preserving his power and Germany’s throughout Europe. After 1870 he was against the idea of expanding Germany and believed that the country was â€Å"satiated.† Instead, Bismarck wanted to keep the peace among European countries rather than engaging in war, therefore keeping Germany safe from attack. He planned to do this through the use of gaining european alliances whichRead MoreThe First World War As The Result of Anglo-German Rivalry1225 Words   |  5 PagesThe First World War As The Result of Anglo-German Rivalry When Bismarck resigned in 1890, and Kaiser Wilhelm II took over, rivalry was increased between Britain and Germany. This was largely due to Wilhelm IIs more aggressive foreign policy, and desire to build up the German Navy, which threatened Britain. This provided the basis for long-term problems, which led to World War 1, however there were many other causes. For example the alliances, the Schleiffen plan, TheRead MoreRealism Theory And The International System Essay1862 Words   |  8 Pagesdeclining militarily. This growing insecurity is the key to understanding Germany s actions and motives for entering WWI. This essay will discuss the overarching theme of insecurity through realism theory used to examine the international system during this Westphalian era, and how inept governmental policies supplemented by specific human decisions, societal factors, and public opinion contributed to Germany s   entry into WWI.  Ã‚   The Westphalian era of international relations began in 1648, theRead MoreThe Success Of The Doomsday Machine1252 Words   |  6 Pagesdiffering the balance of power principles in separate countries of europe Europe, the bullying strategies by Germany, the poor diplomatic alliances of Germany, Austria, France, Britain and Russia, and the lack of understanding of differing Military policies by Germany all lead to the Doomsday Machine. The Doomsday Machine was made up of all the actions that resulted in the ripping apart of the diplomatic alliances, with each alliance having too much at stake to permit the Concert of Europe diplomacyRead MoreEssay The Outbreak Of World War One and Germany1168 Words   |  5 Pagesstates and individuals were also significant in pulling Europe into World War One. In 1871, following a series of Prussian wars, a new nation of Germany was created which significantly altered the politics of Europe. The new Kaiser, Wilhelm II, determined the direction that this nation took, and it was his attitude that created so much fear of the new state. At times, understandably, they felt threatened and vulnerable. Already, she had found enemies in neighbours FranceRead MoreEssay about Europe and World War I1428 Words   |  6 PagesLorraine, an area of much dispute for many centuries, caused many of the French harboured hostile feelings towards the Germans, and this public opinion may have put pressure on the French government to pursue a vengeful, aggressive foreign policy based on revenge. Many countries, especially France, became cautious of Germany, a newly unified country that would soon become a formidable force in European affairs. The European climate of opinion was also a cause for tensions;Read MoreOutbreak of World War I and Germanys Responsibility Essay2798 Words   |  12 Pagesconclusion is not drawn from this quote, which would be to present Russia or France with an ultimatum, which would unleash war with right on our side.2 Germany definitely saw war as a way to escape her problems, following the example of Bismarck in 1871, but the war council in itself is not evidence enough to prove that they were planning on starting a war. It only reveals that they were prepared to take a huge risk on European safety to achieve their aims and due to theirRead MoreIn Considering The Process Of Change On German Political Systems Over The Whole Period 1890 22484 Words   |  10 Pagesa new era of allied control, marking a significant and radical change of powers, marking a key turning point. The subsequent defeat of the Nazi’s broke the continuous goals and ideologies surrounding lebensraum and ethnic cleansing, seen since the Kaiser Reich. The Potsdam conference in 1945 sought to divide Germany. Original plans to form a single allied unit were abandoned due to growing tensions between the huge superpowers to the extent that a follow up war may ensue. The Federal Republic of

Stop! Wait! I Am Pulling Down a Menu! Free Essays

San Jose, CA, with the smallest officer-to-resident ration in the country, is named one of the safest cities in the United States. From 1990 to 2004, officers worked on a daily basis with a text-based mobile dispatch system, which they had no problem with. A major issue happened when, in 2004, this system was replaced by a new Windows-based touch screen software, developed by Intergraph. We will write a custom essay sample on Stop! Wait! I Am Pulling Down a Menu! or any similar topic only for you Order Now In this new project, a new touch screen computer was installed in every patrol car. The idea of the software was correct, it was supposed to bring many benefits and simply help officers, make their life easier. The new software was designed to receive orders, send messages, write reports, receive maps of the city, and use the GPS to let officers know where they are located. The success of the software was not as planned. Even before it was installed, officers were already upset that their input was not asked about the design of the interface; nobody asked their opinion and suggestions for the creation of the new system. The software itself had way too many complications. Officers were not satisfied at all with it. Some of the issues included were the increasingly difficult to use code 99-emergency, the time it took them to find whether a person they stopped had violent criminal record, mapping and GPS inaccuracies, and unneeded information that took screen space along with difficult font to read. The software simply did not work, it crashed after two days of its debut. It was fixed and debugged, but still had major issues. Dispatchers were also very dissatisfied with the Intergraph system because of the risky delays in task execution, because it could not perform multiple tasks simultaneously, between many more. They too, thought should have been consulted during the interface design stage. To fix these issues, SJPOA provided more training to officers and hired a consultant to see what could be done. The consultant realized there were too many complex hierarchies that did not make sense for anyone who had to be using the system while driving a car. Even with all these disagreements, San Jose did not replace the system. While looking at the examples given about Chicago and San Diego, I can see there is still hope for San Jose and the implementation of the new system. Are the problems encountered by the police officers due to hardware or software? The problems encountered were due to both, hardware and software. Hardware refers to the physical components of computers and related electronic devices such as PDAs. It was stated in the case that older officers were having more trouble than the younger ones and I believe it is because they are not used to the new computers and devices. The input devices are the ones that receive signals from outside the computer and transfer them into the computer. The most common input devices are the computer keyboard and mouse, but some advices accept voice, imagine, or other signals (Oz, E. , 2009). In this case, their problems were with the touch screen computers, which can serve both as an input and output device. Software was the major problem in this case. The software implemented simply did not work; there were too many bugs and mistakes. The idea of the software was to make officer’s lives easier and not more complicated. It seems that the software was too complex and slow to be used by police officers and fire fighters, who can most of the time be in danger and in need of fast and accurate information. Whom do you think is at fault for the unsuccessful implementation of the new software? Why? I believe the fault is to be blamed on the police and city officials. Their thought was good, they wanted to improve their system, but did not get any input from the officers to know what kind of system would work for them, what they need to most, if it is speed, accuracy, GPS, what would make their lives easier. I believe it lacked communication between them. With all this information, police officials could have gone to Intergraph and explained what kind of system they were looking for, how they wanted it to be, what should have its emphasis on. People, specially the â€Å"technologically challenged,† are often not receptive of new technologies. Was this a major issue in this case? I don’t believe it was a major issue, but it was one. The case stated even the tolerant and receptive officers were having obstacles to adapt to the new system, and it also said the older officers were having more trouble than the younger ones. Technology is changing so fast and some of us can not get caught up with it many times. The older officers were used with the paper and pen method, some of them probably do not even have (or if they do they got it not too long ago) a computer at home. If they are used to computers I am sure it is not the touch screen one, it is the laptop or desktop type. All of these make it more difficult to accept the new technology but it is not something that can not be converted with training. After getting familiar with the computers and systems they will realize it is going to make their job much easier and simple. If you were the CEO of Intergraph before it assumed the project for San Jose, what would you do differently? As the CEO of Intergraph I would have talked to the officials to know exactly what they are looking for in the system and try to create one that is as easy as possible to use. I would hold a lot of training sections to the officers to make sure they knew what they were doing and how they could use the system to their advantage. I believe Intergraph probably created a system that is not compatible with what they were needing. They should have held sections with the officers to know how familiar they are with computers, what they do and do not know about it. I am sure with useful information like this the system created would have been much more user friendly and therefore more effectively used. My recommendations for this case are as follow: Hold more training sections: I believe with training this situation can be solved in a simple way. I know that much of it depends on the effectiveness of the software itself, but once it is solved and free of bugs, training sections will be helpful for officers to get very familiar with the system and start using it to their advantage. Nowadays they can no longer work with paper and pen, computers will save them a lot of time and effort if used correctly. I also believe the training sections should be done with touch screen computers instead of desktop or laptops. Officers need to be able to practice on a screen just like the one they are going to work with in the car. This will make them feel more comfortable when using the software on the job. Get input from officers: the best way to make officers and dispatchers satisfied with the new system and computers is to get them involved in the process. They should be able to give their opinion about the whole situation and give inputs on what they believe would make a difference and what would not. They are the ones who will use it al all times so they should know what kind of system they want and will fulfill their needs when time comes. Fix software error: I am sure this is something they are already working on, and as stated in the case, San Diego also had the same problem when started using the same software and now it is working much better. They worked with Intergraph to fit the system to their needs and I believe San Jose needs to do the same. Get officers more adapted to technology: with time they will understand that technology is there to make their personal and professional lives better. Resistance is an emotional response based on feelings. You cannot talk people out of their emotions. In fact, their emotions become fiercer when they sense that their feelings are being challenged. An alternative and more effective approach is to ask about the concerns regarding the change. Talk to the officers to know what is holding them back. I think some workshops and/or meetings with experts in technology would give them an idea of what is available to them. I am sure a touch screen computer with many icons and items can be scary to some of them, but after they understand how to use everything they will truly take advantage of it. How to cite Stop! Wait! I Am Pulling Down a Menu!, Papers

John Wallis Was Born On November 23, 1616 In Ashford, Kent, Essays

John Wallis was born on November 23, 1616 in Ashford, Kent, England.When Wallis moved from his school in Ashford to Tenterden, he showed his potential for the first time as a scholar. In 1630 he went to Felted where he became proficient in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He later went to Emanual College Cambridge and became first interested in mathematics. Because nobody at Cambridge at this time could direct his mathematical studies, his main topic of study became divinity and was ordained in 1640. During the Civil War, Wallis was so skilled in cryptograghy that he decoded a Royalist message for the Parliamentarians. Because of this, it was suggested that he was appointed to the Savilian Chair of geometry at Oxford in 1649. The then holder of the chair, Peter Turner, was dismissed and Wallis held the chair for over 50 years until his death. In London there was a group that was interested in natural and experimental sceince that Wallis was a part of. The group became the Royal Society and Wallis is a founder member and one of its first Fellows. Wallis greatley contributed to the beginning of calculus and the most influentail English mathematician before Newton. He studied the works of Kepler, Cavalieri, Roberval, Torricelli, and Descartes. He then went to introduce ideas of the calculus going beyond that of these other authors. In Arithmetica infinitorum, around 1656, Wallis evaluated the integral of (1-x2)n from 0 to 1 for integral values of n, building off of Cavalieri's method of indivisibles. In an attempt to compute the integral of (1-x) from 0 to 1, he devised a method of interpolation. While using Kepler's concept of continuity he discovered methods to evaluate integrals that were later used by Newton in his work on the binomial theorem. Wallis also established the formula 3.14/2=(2.2.4.4.6.6.8.8.10...)/(1.3.3.5.5.7.7.9.9...) During 1656 Wallis described the curves that are obtained as cross sections by cutting a cone with a plane as properites of algebraic coordinated without the embranglings of the cone in his Tract on Conic Sections. He followed methods in the style of Descartes' analytical treatment. Wallis was an important early historian of mathematics and in his Treatise on Algebra he has a wealth of historical material. The most important feature of this work, appeared in 1685, is that it brought to mathematicians the work of Harriot in a clear exposition. Wallis accepts negative roots and complex roots in Treatise on Algebra. He shows that a-7a=6 has exactly three roots and that they are all real. He criticises Descartes' Rule of Signs stating correctly, that the rule which determines the number of positive and the number of negative roots by inspection is only valid if all the roots of the equation are real. Wallis introduced our symbol for infinity. Wallis also restored some ancient Greek texts such as Ptolemy's Harmonics, Aristarchus's On the magnitudes and distances of the sun and moon and Archimedes' Sand-reckoner. His non-mathematical works include many religious works, such as a book on etymology and grammar Grammatica linguae Anglicanae along with a logic book Institutio logicae. Wallis had a bitter dispute with Hobbes, who was a fine scholar and far from Wallis's class as a mathematician. In 1655 Hobbes claimed to have discovered a method to calculate the area of a circle by integration. Wallis's book with his methods was in press at the time and he refuted Hobbes's claims. Hobbes replied with a pamphlet Six lessons to the Professors of Mathematics at the Institute of Sir Henry Savile. Wallis then replied with the pamphlet Due Correction for Mr Hobbes, or School Discipline for not saying his Lessons Aright. Hobbes wrote the pamphlet The Mards of the Absurd Geometry, Rural Language etc. of Doctor Wallis to Wallis. The dispute continued for over 20 years, becoming extended to include Boyle, and ending only with Hobbe's death. John Wallis later died in Oxford, England on October 28, 1703.

Exceptional Butterfly Essays - Lepidoptera, Animal Flight

Exceptional Butterfly Essays - Lepidoptera, Animal Flight Exceptional Butterfly April McNabb Townsend September 19, 2000 An Exceptional Butterfly The grass was covered with delicate, colorful flowers and the meadows were never-ending. Each natural object was carefully placed as if Mother Nature had a specific place in mind. The warming sun shined brightly on the beautiful green grass. The hills, with their perfectly rounded tops were very distant but still visible to the naked eye. The flowers of exotic colors, insects chirping to many different tunes, and the smell of fresh rain in the springtime filled the air. Observing the insects was enlightening and enjoyable, especially the butterflies. In the meadow, many grasshoppers chirped piercingly, but the insect that stood out the most was a butterfly. She was shades of canary yellow, lavender, orange, and green. Seeing an insect quite like this marvelous one was rare. The colors were exquisite, brightly distinctive yet soothing to gaze upon. Her shape was elegant; it was Mother Natures hand crafted work. The wings were defined just perfectly to let the tiny butterfly flutter about, enjoying natures indefinite beauty. Her long, pointed antennas seemed to move about continuously in a circular pattern, as if the two were trying to contact another creature. Her body, elongated and a dismal shade of black, was ribbed and rigid, protecting itself from sudden attackers. Her wings were soft, almost like a delicate, sensual feather. The butterfly left the flower to go explore the rest of natures home. She ascended at a high pace, wings flapping together like a heartbeat amplified one hundred times. She flew about, gliding to the left and then to the right. Her pattern was offbeat and when the wind blew it threw her even more in different directions. Trying to find another favorable place to rest, she hurried to find a flower before the wind blew her down again. Moments had passed and the butterfly found a soft spot of grass instead of a tiny flower. Now the job was done. She had successfully beat the wind and found a resting spot; the antennas twirled and the wings flapped. A curious butterfly catcher noticed the extravagant colors on the butterfly and tiptoed toward it. Net in hand, the catcher swooped to capture the delicate creature but missed. The insect was now in flight once again, scurrying to escape the human. She flew a great distance, treading against the wind to anywhere but near the catcher. She found a large daisy to cling her tiny body upon. She rested there for a long while, and one could swear that the two became one. The butterfly catcher was so astounded by the colorful, exotic creature that he tried once more to catch it. This time, he crept a little more quietly and swooshed his net right upon the little insect. The butterfly scrambled to the top of the holey net, frantically trying to find a passageway out. There was no escape. The butterfly was stuck The catcher placed the butterfly inside a huge cylinder shaped jar and observed it for a moment. The butterfly was desperate for the fresh springtime air she had minutes before sensed. After observing her for a while, the catcher surprisingly set the butterfly free, back into the meadows. The butterfly flew out of the jar quickly, not stopping to rest this time. She flew and she flew, until finally the catcher could not see her anymore. Her wings fluttered once more off into natures beauty.

How to Make Red Fire

How to Make Red Fire Road flares contain strontium nitrate in addition to other ingredients (potassium nitrate or potassium perchlorate, sawdust, charcoal, maybe some sulfur, magnesium, or aluminum). Strontium salts burn bright red. Obtaining Strontium Salts If you want to make red fire and arent in a position to order strontium salts its easy to harvest material from a road flare. Heres what you do: Take a pocket knife or steak knife and carefully cut open the cardboard tube of the flare.Pour the powder into a bowl or jar.You can sprinkle this powder sparingly onto a campfire or fireplace fire.You can store unused powder in a paper bag. Keep it dry, but away from heat and flame. How To Create the Fire Alternatively, you can ignite the powder directly. Put about a tablespoon of powder onto a fire-proof surface. Pour a little accelerant onto the base of your powder (try ​Heet, which is methanol). Light the accelerant. If you are using methanol, it will burn out and the powder will begin to burn. The flame will be very bright. You may wish to cut the mixture with powdered sugar or charcoal before lighting it.

Undertaking the Analysis of a House and a Unit Essay - 1

Undertaking the Analysis of a House and a Unit - Essay Example Clayton is located at the middle of Liverpool City Centre. The house consists of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and has got a garage and is pet friendly as the unit discussed above. The furniture is not sold together with the house and the person interested should incur extra costs to buy furniture or to pay for those which he or she will get in the house. Anyone wishing to rent the house should as well pay the house deposit together with the rent for the month of entry into the house. The house is spacious and comfortable and is close to the Clayton Station as it takes less than five minutes to reach the station from the house (Jeanette, 2012). There are essentials which have to be considered when it comes to the inspection of a house or a unit that one may want to purchase or rent. Some of them are the details of how the house has been constructed or built, the coverings of the floor and the walls, and finally the convenience of the house setting. However, the process of inspection starts with inspecting the overall appearance of the house or the unit. This means that a person has to identify the location of the house, whether the location is strategic and safe. One has to look at the houses of similar or almost the same age so as to see the difference or the similarity that these houses have. This will help in determining the best kind of houses and that which is according to the standards that one wants to buy or rent from. The general inspection of the house will help the client come up with an idea of how they can be come up with ways of ensuring cleanliness and tidiness within and outside the house (Koulizos, 2012). After the inspection has been done on the nature of the hose and the unit, the client would look at the exterior front of that particular house. This is done in order to have a complete view of the house on each face of that house. This will help in

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 32

Philosophy - Essay Example As the children learn new concepts, their brain cells form synapses among themselves (Ghaye, 21). Gradually, these connections define the knowledge base of infants. As shown, learning can occur from a very early age regardless of the background or social status. Therefore, such children should also be actively taught by their guardians. Good manners should be among the first things that children get to learn. Such excellent forms of conduct can form cornerstone for the development of character and personality. Language is yet another aspect that can be learned and taught from infancy. Children learn to speak like their parents or guardians. In many instances, children under five years of age show admirable ability to speak the entire language system (Ghaye, 32-35). However, teaching and learning ought to extend beyond the basics of language and articulation. Elementary schools are the first step towards proper teaching and learning. They imbibe children with valuable speaking and writing skills. Each language has certain rules that govern its speakers. Language rules ensure uniformity and consistency. They also facilitate proper understanding and communication between regular speakers. The alphabet forms the fundamental part of language. Subsequent teaching and learning depends on the grasping of all language rules inclusive of the alphabet. Other subjects such as mathematics hinge on the foundation laid by learning and teaching of language. Other languages have modified forms of the alphabet to guide their speakers. For instance, Chinese-speaking persons rely on characters instead of an alphabet (Jadrich and Bruxvoort, 56-59). In addition, other languages focus on phonetic sounds rather than individual letters. Teaching and learning ought to be a gradual and continuous process. This implies that teachers have to be careful not to impart too much information. Learners too need to exercise restraint so as not to attempt to grasp much more than they

The Promise of Sociology Essays -- C. Wright Mills Sociological Imagin

According to C. Wright Mills, what occurs in any one individual's life is interrelated with society as a whole. The sociological imagination gives us the ability to understand the correlation of one's biography, history, and traditions along with the knowledge of the social and historical impact and/or influence society may have on that person or group of people. Mills' notion compels us to investigate into an individual's biography and lifestyles, and place their findings within the surrounding circumstances in which events occur in order to perceive the whole picture of the society in which the individual lives. Mills says to understand this "imagination" would be to see the connection between personal troubles and public issues. Personal troubles meaning, problems that are felt personally which are caused by occurrences or feelings in an individual's life; and public issues meaning, issues that affect a group or mass of people with their roots interwoven within an organization or institution and history of a society. A person can become homeless for many reasons: a family member throws them out of their home because they do not contribute financially, or they become incapable of caring for themselves due to mental illness, or they become addicted to drugs and lose their home trying to support their habit. These are a few examples of personal troubles which most would think are brought about by the individual alone and therefore can be solved by them. But, when using sociological imagination, one can see that homelessness is also a social problem. Unemployment rates are high and public assistances rates being low could leave a person unable to sufficiently contribute financially, therefore being forced to leave... ...ety in this period?." Whereas, taking into consideration the interaction between individuals and their societies, sociology sees where people and groups of people are products of whole societies in which they live. In studying Mills however briefly, I am beginning to see where my life and the lives of others are interrelated with biography, history, and traditions. We are all just a part of a whole, which is now beginning to make a great deal of sense to me. I am beginning to ask questions in order to understand clearly what shapes our lives. It seems to me Mills gave sociologists a format to open the doors to a better understanding of the whole picture. As Mills indicated, humans have the capacity to change the social structures around them; I believe seeking knowledge gives one the wisdom to change and make changes which in turn affects us all.

Discuss The Factors That Influence Our Judgement, Thinking And Decision-Making

?Discuss some the factors which influence our thinking, judgement and decision-making Our everyday lives are filled with many choices and decisions which will impact on our lives both in the short and long-term. Our perception of the impact of these decisions on our own lives and those around us will affect how much time and effort is given to arriving at these decisions.There are several factors which impact on thinking, judgement and decision-making and it is important to note that often these occur simultaneously rather than as individual areas but in order fully understand the entire process we must analyse the factors in each individual area. While it is neither practicable or possible to consider all the factors in every decision, knowledge of the factors, process and how they interact can be of critical importance.By understanding the factors, we can ascertain how we make decisions and by gaining knowledge on the entire process, we can ultimately arrive at better decisions by being conscious of our thought and application process. How we think and apply our thought process to the decisions often determine the paths we choose to take. There are two systems, or modes, which determine how we think (Kahneman, 2011). The first system is fast, automatic, emotional and frequent and the second system is slow, logical, infrequent and conscious.The title of the Kahneman’s book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, gives us an indication of the two systems. The first system, thinking fast, is associated with quick response taking into consideration the environment in which we are in which then allows us to respond immediately. This can be important especially in times of danger and the system relies heavily on general rules and guidelines, known as heuristics. These heuristics are primarily geared towards helping us in the moment and protecting us from immediate danger and are very useful in this regard.However, the heuristics are designed to work in the environment fro m which we have evolved and outside of this environment can lead to errors. The second system, slow thinking, is the one we would normally associate with the thought process in the strictest sense. The process is a slow one which is both deliberate and conscious and we would feel that we are in control. The slow system may be used to determine what clothes we will wear today or which shares we should invest in to gain a higher return of investment. While both these systems operate in different ways, they too are interconnected and rely on each other.Any impressions that are formed through system one will be fed into system two. In situations where system one encounters an environment to which it is unfamiliar, it will automatically mobilise system two to give assistance. The information and thought process in system one is crucial in protecting us from day to day; it is nevertheless much less effective for any long term planning. Any short –comings of one system is made up fo r by the ability of the other system and combined can ensure better outcomes whether in the immediate or longer term.While the way in which we think, using either of the systems or modes of thinking described by Kahneman, is important, so too will logic play an important role in our thought process and how we reach decisions. Deductive reasoning, also known as deductive logic or logical deduction is the process of reasoning from one or more general premises or statements to reach a logical conclusion which is certain. Deductive reasoning makes a clear link between premises and conclusions and it recognises that if all premises are true and the terms are clear and the principles of deductive logic are followed then the conclusion that is reached is true.For example, if all students eat in the canteen, and Martin is a student, then Martin must eat in the canteen. Inductive reasoning, on the other hand, is reasoning whereby the premises would seek to supply strong evidence for the trut h of the conclusion. While a deductive argument is supposed to give certainty, inductive will giveprobable certainty. Using the example above, more evidence would need to be sought in order to determine of Martin does indeed eat in the canteen and it would not be taken as given until further evidence is provided.The application of either deductive or inductive reasoning will be a vital factor in our decision-making. In certain circumstances it may be suitable to apply either, depending on the importance and certainty required in decision and the impact of making assumptions. However, there are also some factors which can distort the outcome of any decision and the logic may not be true where a fallacy exists. A fallacy is â€Å"a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound arguments† (www. oxforddicionaries. com). An argument can be fallacious, irrespective whether or not the conclusion is true.There are two types of fallacy, formal and informal. A formal fallacy is an e rror that stems from a poor logical form whereas an informal fallacy is an error in reasoning that does not originate in improper logical form. A formal fallacy results in a pattern of reasoning that will always be wrong due to a flaw in the logical structure of the argument which will render the argument invalid. A fallacy can be of presumption which fails to prove the conclusion by simply assuming that the conclusion in itself is proof. A fallacy of weak inference would fail to prove the conclusion without sufficient evidence.Fallacies of distraction are those that fail to prove the conclusion with irrelevant information such as emotion while a fallacy of ambiguity would fail to prove the conclusion due to the impreciseness of the words or grammar. Some fallacies may be committed intentionally in order to either manipulate or persuade by deception or unintentionally due to a lack of understanding or carelessness. Either way, such situations can result in an alternative action than that which may have being taken if complete or accurate information was supplied.As with all information supplied for the basis of decisions, it should be checked to ensure greater accuracy throughout the decision-making process and to reduce the likelihood of judgemental biases. â€Å"Decision makers are susceptible to a number of judgemental biases that systematically lead to predictable inconsistencies and decisional errors† (Nisbett & Ross, 1980). We often use our judgement to quicken the decision-making process and we will use of judgement to assist us during this process. However, as Nisbett and Ross have identified, this process can often lead to errors.Selective perception, impression effects including primacy, regency and halo as well as framing and presentation effects and hindsight are all examples of judgemental biases with can distort our analysis and ultimately impact on our decision-making. Selective perception is whereby an individual perceives what they want from a message, in any form of communication including a picture or an advertisement, and ignoring everything else. People tend to see things from within their own frame of reference and as a result the message they receive may be distorted or inaccurate.This may occur due to the amount of information we receive and our inability to accurately process all the information our brain receives. We subconsciously scan the information that we receive and as a result we often not only see what we want to see but also what we expect to see (Plous, 1993). An example of this bias is the Hostile Media Effect, which refers to the finding that people who have strong biases towards a certain issue perceive media coverage as being biased against their opinions, irrespective of the reality. The results of a study carried outin Stanford University (Valone, Ross & Lepper, 1985), which showed news clips from the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut to both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli students, fo und thatboth sides considered the clips to be slanted in favour of the other side. The strength of our emotional attachment can have a significant influence on how we can perceive situations and can therefore distort our perception and influence our decisions. We have often heard that first impressions last so we are advised from childhood right through to preparing for interviews to make a good first impression.The basis for this is the primacy effect which â€Å"occurs when initial impressions are believed to be more relevant and important in rendering a decision than later impressions† (Williams, 2002). While this instinctive reaction is often correct, it can also be misleading and allowing us to form the wrong opinion. In such cases, because our opinion is already formed, it can be difficult to change this as we are unlikely to allow ourselves time to develop the relationship further.As well as the primacy effect occurring in instances such as the interview, it can also o ccur in situations when, for example a presentation that is presented first will leave a greater impressions, irrespective of the value of the content. In certain situations, it is, however the most recent incident which will be perceived to be most relevant and this is referred to the regency effect. This is often the case when recalling words or number or even items such as when contestants on TV shows such as The Generation Game would recall the items that had previously passed before them on a conveyor belt.Research showed that in most cases, contestants recalled the last item first in most instances (www. bbc. co. uk). The timing of when a decision will be made is a crucial factor and if a decision is to be delayed by as much as a week, then the primacy effect will take precedence whereas if the second or final argument isn’t delivered until a later date then the regency effect will carry more weight. Another factor which may influence our judgement and decision making i s the so-called ‘halo effect’, a cognitive bias whereby the judgement of a person’s character is influenced by one’s overall impression.The manner in which this can manifest itself it best illustrated with an example: you are at a party and meet a friendly person. Later that week you have asked to become involved in a charity event and are seeking sponsorship. You contact the person you met at the party as you suspect they will make a donation. In reality, there is no link between the pleasant nature of the person you met at the party and generosity. Yet, the halo effect is leading you towards the assumption that the two are connected.Many people use the halo effect to sway peoples judgement and it very often exploited by politicians. A local GP may seek election to local or national government having made numerous promises in their bid for election. The electorate may determine that because they are educated and medically qualified they will make good pol iticians. In reality, there is no correlation between the two but the halo effect in many cases convinces the electorate. The opposite of the halo effect is known as the devils horns effect and is essentially the reverse.If a negative characteristic is identified in an individual, then further negative attributes may be associated with them without sufficient evidence. In order to try and form a balanced and more objective opinion, it is important to be aware of the existence of the halo or devil’s horns effect and begin to ascertain what the actual characteristics or traits rather than simply forming an opinion without sufficient evidence. How information is both presented and framed to the decision maker can impact on their final judgement.The manner in which the information is received can impact on how the information is processed. For example, if we are asked how if we consider if someone is tall or small, or if the question of weight is presented as how large or small i s someone, we may give different opinions. Similarly, anchoring may occur when the questions is presented with data which may influence the decision-maker. Anchoring is the â€Å"act of basing a judgement on a familiar reference point that is incomplete or irrelevant to the problem that is being solved† (www.businessdictionary). Again, the manner in which the information is presented may influence the decision-maker. In the event of a company deciding on a projected return-on-investment, the CFO may ask the general manger if a 15% return would be acceptable. The general manger may anchor to the figure of 15%, whereas this should not be a reference point at all and if the information was presented with a certain tone, the general manager’s opinion may be swayed by this too.â€Å"When information becomes an anchor, we adjust insufficiently form that amount when making decisions† (Williams, 2002). Our decisions are also influenced how a problem is framed. This effe ct can occur when decisions makers are more inclined to avoid risk and problems are famed as gains and when they may seek risk problems are viewed as losses. Framing can also influence the decision maker when the information is presented in a positive rather than a negative manner. For example, there is a 90% chance of a positive return of investment rather than a 10% chance of a loss.In order to minimise presentation and framing effects and reduce the tendency to anchor, it can be beneficial to review the number of items under consideration in order to get a better picture of the situation in question. This can remove any bias by ensuring a greater range and reduces the focus from the presented information to increases the overall assessment and reduce and judgement bias. Hindsight, or the ‘knew it all along effect', can also have an impact on our judgement. It refers to the inclination to recall past events as being more predictable than they were prior to the event taking p lace.Hindsight bias may lead to memory distortion whereby those recalling the past events can reconstruct the event in such a manner that it leads to false or misleading theoretical outcomes. Studies carried out by Kahneman and Tversky show that the effect can cause problems when trying to analyse, interpret and understand results. One of the basic problems with hindsight it that the person may consider that they â€Å"knew it all along†, and examples have been cited in historians accounts of battles and in judicial systems when responsibility is being attributed.In business, hindsight may influence a decision and may cause an element of overconfidence in the decision when the decision maker sees themselves who remember correctly when in fact they are forgetting they made the wrong decision the first time. â€Å"The illusion that we understand the past fosters overconfidence in our ability to predict the future† (Kahneman, 2012). When faced with new information, hindsi ght can cause the distortion in the original analysis and can lead impact on future similar decisions In making any decisions, as outlined above, how we think and the factors that influence our judgement are critical.However, the factors that influence our decision making process is not limited to those. Groupthink, the levels of risk associated with the decisions, the rationality of the decision-maker as well as cultural and political influences all play an important role in influencing our decision making. Understanding the role of all these factors and how they ultimately influence to decision-making process us can assist us in making better informed decisions. Groupthink can occur within a group of people when a desire for conformity within the group results in an incorrect outcome in the decision-making process.The members of the group, in an effort to avoid conflict and reach a general consensus, do not critically review or evaluate the ideas sufficiently as doing so may resul t in isolation. As a result of groupthink, there is a loss of creativity and there is little or no encourage for independent thinking, which can lead to a dysfunctional group. The group is likely to encounter an illusion of invulnerability, an inflated certainty that they have made the right decisions and â€Å"to deterioration in mental efficiency, reality testing and moral judgments as a result of group pressures†, (Janis, 1972).Janis has extensively researched ways to avoid groupthink including the examination of all alternatives, an independent leader and the appointment of a ‘devil’s advocate’. He also advocated the â€Å"vigilant appraisal â€Å", (Janis, 1982), as used by President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the President invited experts in to give their opinion and allowed those experts to be questioned. The level of uncertainty and risk is an important factor influencing the decision-maker. The entire process is an attempt to t ry to reduce, or, if possible remove risks and uncertainties.The decision makers risk preference will also impact on the level of risk and uncertainty which will remain. In the face of uncertainty, key decisions may be put on hold until such time as the level of uncertainty is eliminated or, at least, reduced. It is important to note that there is a distinction between risk and uncertainty. Uncertainty is the situation whereby multiple outcomes are possible but are not yet known whereas risk is a situation of uncertainty whereby the possible outcomes will involve some degree of losses dependent on the actual outcome of the situation.The decision maker’s perception of risk, the framing of the risk and the level of personal involvement will also be a factor in the final decision and these will assist to determine the level of control the decisions maker has over the situation. The level of control the decision maker will play an important role because while a particular action may be riskier it may be taken if greater control can be exerted on the possible outcomes.In most situations the level of risk will never be completely eliminated, however it is important that all actions are taken to reduce its impact and in this regard a good understanding of our perception of risk and risk preference is a key consideration. In making any decision, it is usually assumed the person or persons making the decision will act in a rational manner. A rational decision maker will use â€Å"a method for systematically selecting among possible choices that is based on reason and facts† (www.businessdictionary. com). During the process those tasked with making the decision will often use a number of analytical steps to review the facts and possible outcomes before they decide on what course of action to pursue. A rational decision is one that is not only reasoned but one that is the optimal one for solving a problem or for achieving a goal. Determining the optimum cou rse of action will require collating and quantifying information and making several key assumptions.These assumptions must be clearly identified, otherwise, the decision maker may be seen to be acting in their own self-interest, and thus in an irrational manner. â€Å"Good decision making involves sufficient search for possibilities, evidence and goals, and fairness in the search for evidence and in inference†, (Baron,1991). However, the decision-maker may also be limited bounded rationality by the amount of information available to them, the time constraints imposed upon them, the cognitive limitation of their minds or the amount of resources, financial and non-financial at their disposal.This notion of bounded rationality was proposed by Herbert Simon whereby â€Å"the decision-makers lack the ability and resources to arrive at the optimal solution, they instead apply their rationality only after having greatly simplified the choices available† (www. princton. edu). Thus, it can be argued that the decision maker’s choice will be limited given the information available to them and the ability of those to act in rational manner, and they will often become satisfiers, seeking a satisfactory outcome rather than an optimal one.We constantly strive to make the best possible decisions and to make the most rational decisions can. However, as outlined above, we are subject to bounded rationality and therefore must, in reality try to determine the best possible outcome. The decisions we make are also affected by our nature, our chemical make-up, our environment and importantly, the role our emotions play. Our emotions can often overrule our reasoning and affect our logical approach to decisions, and it is important that we take time to consider options and alternatives before making unnecessary impulsive decisions.The desire to make quick and compulsive decisions can result in good decisions on occasions but finding an ability to restrict our incl ination to make compulsive decisions, which can be strongly influence by our emotions, can often result in improved decision making. Decision making is part of everyday life both personally and professionally. As outlined above there are many factors which influence our thinking, judgement and decision-making.However, the factors and process is not limited to those mentioned but also involves consideration of a cost/benefit analysis, which will impact of the rationality of the decision, as well as the emotional condition and level of involvement of those making the decisions and there may even be an element of luck, however â€Å"the idea that large historical events are determined by luck is profoundly shocking, although it is demonstrably true† (Kahneman, 2012). The time horizon and the effects of any decision should, where possible, be considered in the context of both the short and long-term to fully understand its implications.It is evident that the entire process does n ot involve one, or even several of the factors mentioned, but is rather a combination of both conscious and subconscious actions which, when combined, will impact on the decision. It is also clear that the correct or most favourable decision will not always be reached but recognition of the processes and the factors which influence our thinking, judgement and decision making will ensure that the choices we make will be better informed and therefore result in greater probability that the decisions we make are the optimal ones.

Oil Spill Emergency Response Case Study - 1039 Words

CASE STUDY #2 INSTRUCTIONS: Students should read the scenario below and respond in the form of an essay, which should consist of several paragraphs and appropriate priority or task lists. Responses should be supported fully and completely. A well-thought-out response can be accomplished in 300-500 words (one or two pages, double spaced). Any published material used to support a response should be cited per the APA style guidelines. SCENARIO: You are back at your plant the Monday after the Dangerous When Wet leaking tanker incident happened, and you are telling your fellow HazMat Team Coordinator how you handled the situation. Before he has a chance to offer his opinion, a call comes in over your radio that a forklift has punctured a 55 gallon drum at the door between the oxidizer storage area and the production department. There is a spill, and no one is injured; however, the production employee does not know what was spilled. You make an immediate page to all emergency response team members in the area, and then you head out the door to the scene with your fellow HazMat Team Coordinator (the production department chief engineer). While en route to the scene, you call the plant manager and apprise her of what you know and that you will report back as soon as you have more information. The incident command center can either be the production office or the conference room near the plant managers office. In this case, your first choice is the production office.Show MoreRelatedBp : The Spill Of The Gulf Of Mexico921 Words   |  4 PagesApril 20, 2010, an explosion occurred aboard BP contracted Transocean Ltd Deepwater Horizon oil rig stationed in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven workers were killed instantly. Unfortunately, the BP management did not wake up that morning (or countless mornings before) expecting the event to occur for it took them almost 4 months to clean up the spill. 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